Chapter 44

Chapter 44

[Translator – Angel Dust]

[Proofreader – Prototype]

Chapter 44

The festival has ended. Although there was a slightly strange incident on the first day, it passed smoothly.

The Academy once again began to squeeze out students’ passion for learning as the Ivory Tower of the Empire.

“The midterm exams are just around the corner. Aren’t you all looking forward to it, students?”

The students who saw the devil in the laughing professor scratched their heads in frustration.

Discussing exams right after the festival seems a bit excessive. There are still two weeks left, so why use the expression ‘just around the corner’?

As the students of the Academy returned to their studies, leaving behind the joy of the festival.

Self-proclaimed ordinary returning student Karl found himself in an awkward situation due to the expected incident.

“Senior, what exactly happened on the first day?”

“That? It’s just that the booth was a mess.”

“Senior Karl, you jumped on someone with your fist...”

“Oh, come on. I’m not that violent, junior.”

“Senior, there’s a rumor that you were about to assault someone. Is it true?”

“What the hell? What nonsense... Ahem. Junior, do you want to die?”

The last one seems like something was seriously wrong, but it’s actually not wrong at all.

My actions indeed resembled an attack.

During the festival, everything seemed to have gone smoothly without a word.

It was assumed that Shulifen, Wilhelm, Alexander, and Joachim stepped forward in time to cover it up.

However, it was a misconception. It was just because of the festival period. There were many more important matters than uncertain ones.

But as the festival ended and life returned to normal, the events that had occurred began to spread little by little.

As a result, the most anxious party at present was not the Special Forces, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“If the kingdom and Hyzens make an issue out of this, it’s going to become troublesome!”

The fact that the Luzerne would cause trouble was expected long ago. They were even aware that they would target foreign students instead of imperial officials.

Yet the Empire did not take any preemptive action. Rather, they waited.

As a result, they succeeded in seizing the Luzerne leadership during the operation.

However, as the operation was exposed by an unfortunate incident, there was an increased possibility that they would get closer to the truth.

If this happened, the Empire could face criticism for using foreign officials for its own gain.

Actually, receiving criticism wasn’t much of a concern.

It was more about whether the pro-empire factions of the two kingdoms would falter.

Ultimately, the relevant ministers hastily convened, and this was the result.

– The Luzerne instigated trouble to drive a wedge between the Empire and the two kingdoms, as well as Hyzens.

– The Special Forces, by ‘coincidence’, was preparing an operation to eliminate their leadership but hadn’t paid attention to that aspect.

– It was almost a disaster, but ‘coincidentally’, someone who saved foreign officials appeared.

– It was none other than the Medal of Honor recipient, Karl Adelheit!

If it had been Karl, he would have been stunned, wondering why it was escalating.

As a returning student who just wanted to quietly lead his life at the academy, why did this keep happening to him?

Frankly, even the Minister of War couldn’t hide their mixed feelings towards him.

But the problem was that there were no better options from my perspective.

Honestly, unless it was Karl, unless it was the recipient of the Medal of Honor who ‘coincidentally’ prevented the attack, wouldn’t it be forced to say it was a ‘coincidence’?

Moreover, it’s a crucial issue that could distort relations with the Empire.

‘But this is going too far. You said they would let me rest.’

My insides boil with anger. It’s too different from what was initially agreed upon.

I took on the role of commander because I was guaranteed breaks and time off.

It’s natural for me to get angry when they keep changing the terms of the contract.

“Crack! Keung! P-Please, spare me! Spare me!”

“Shut up. You won’t die. Don’t worry.”

Among the things developed in the Empire and seeped into elf society is something called ‘carbonated water.’

At first, those who asked why they should pay for such water soon became captivated by its taste.

There was nothing else that could replace the refreshing feeling that came the moment they drank it.

Ordinary elves started to be fascinated by this new drink and began to drink it like water.

Meanwhile, some of them found new possibilities in that carbonated water.

“Come on. Drink it all up.”

“Gasp! K-Keung! Keung!”

My method, which I called ‘a little stimulation to extract the desired information.’

And to explain as it is, it’s just pouring carbonated water continuously into the nostrils.

It’s not a method of torturing flesh and breaking bones. It’s just pouring water.

Thanks to that, there were hardly any issues that could arise, and it was enough to instill a fear of death.

“How does it feel? Having your nose cleared up?”

“Kahak! Kuk! Kweok!”

“Let’s take it easy. I want to go rest for a bit. If I add up all the sleep I’ve had in over a month of work, it might barely amount to two days. I barely slept for more than an hour a day.”

My question to the prisoners was simple.

What happened that day? Did your leader really die? If it’s certain that he’s dead, why did such a crucial figure meet such a futile end?

“Kahak! Kuk! Wait, wait! I’ll tell you! Please!”

This is a question about people who are already dead. This is a question about Luzernes, which has already collapsed.

Deciding that there was no point in pushing further, he quickly continued speaking.

“He died! Yes, it was then! Just as our Luzerne was about to launch a massive counterattack. The moment when we were closing in on the isolated Imperial troops to annihilate them in one fell swoop! A bullet suddenly flew and pierced his heart!”

“Is that really all?”

“Yes, yes! He died on the spot. There was no chance to try to heal him or anything!”

Quietly listening to his words, I gently grabbed his hair.

Then, I leaned his head back and resumed pouring carbonated water into his nose.

“Kahak! Kuk! Khek!”

“Do you have anything else you want to say?”

“I-I’ve said everything! Please! Kahak! Kuk!”

This time, I poured carbonated water mixed with juice and salt generously.

Perhaps due to exhaustion, my eyes were droopy. It was rather eerie.

“Kyahak! I-I don’t know anything else! Kuk! He died like that. I really don’t know anything else!”

He knew. He knew this woman was thinking of killing him. If he wants to live, he must say something.

“Yes, yes! Because of the chaos that day, we withdrew our troops! That day! Taking advantage of that, some Imperial troops withdrew from the encirclement! I really don’t know anything more than that! Kweok! Kuk!”

[Translator – Angel Dust]

[Proofreader – Prototype]