I Became the Academy’s War Hero Chapter 79

The number of speakers for the first agenda reached nearly 250.

Most of those who rushed to occupy the seats on stage were citizens.

The remaining seats were filled by nobles from fallen houses or members of the anti-Bernhardt faction.

Once all the speakers were seated, the moderator opened the discussion.

“From now on, we’ll begin the discussion on the first agenda—measures and prevention regarding refugees within the Empire. Those wishing to speak, please raise your hand.”

After that, the speakers dominated the floor for quite some time.

First, representatives from the Parcel and Ibrik regions pleaded their cases nonstop for about thirty minutes.

They were the two regions most severely damaged by the Beast outbreak.

Next, representatives from the capital city Arpe and the central city Centre, which had accepted most of the refugees, also voiced their difficulties.

Other city delegates and civic organizations each added a few words, with some nobles voicing their agreement.

Only the representatives from the Flock and Ardens regions, which had little connection to the Beast outbreak, remained silent.

When the nineteenth speaker finished, she—who had quietly listened without rebuttal—signaled to the moderator.

“Her Highness the Princess will now respond to the previous statements.”

At that, Rachel Ribenia opened her mouth with a benevolent smile.

“I’ve received your heartfelt concerns and counsel well. Let’s go over a few matters I can address immediately.”

She glanced down at the notes written on the podium as she continued.

“I understand that 400,000 Riben have already been secured as refugee support funds, but under the current circumstances, that seems somewhat insufficient.”

“Let’s add another hundred thousand—make it five hundred thousand Riben.”

“And to the representatives of Flock and Ardens, I apologize, but during these difficult times, it’s only right that we share the burden. We’ll be drafting an additional refugee accommodation plan, so I ask for your cooperation.”

“Lastly—”

“A large-scale Beast extermination operation will soon commence in the two battle-torn regions, so please endure just a bit longer. The Imperial Family is, and will always be, on the people’s side.”

“……”

Clap, clap-clap, clap-clap-clap.

Polite applause followed, and the moderator resumed the proceedings.

The questions and answers that followed were fierce and unrelenting.

I quietly observed, nodding to myself.

‘…Looking at the Empire as a whole, this really is the most serious issue.’

The Hokhma Incident was, of course, something that couldn’t be ignored, but it couldn’t compare to a refugee crisis involving half a million people.

The fact that 2.5% of the Empire’s current population were displaced by Beasts was undeniably grave.

It was such a large-scale disaster that direct intervention was difficult for now, but it was something I would have to deal with someday.

‘The longer I delay, the harder it’ll be to prevent ruin.’

Currently, Apocalypse Mode was in effect here.

A world on the brink of destruction. A world destined for destruction. A world that could not escape destruction.

The in-game playtime of MAGA was six years, and the achievement challenges were structured accordingly. There were no exceptions.

If this were just a game, I could have returned to the title screen after clearing it but that wasn’t something I could expect here.

Whether this place was truly inside the game or not wasn’t even certain.

Either way, when I reached the final destination, I would obtain the result called the salvation of all.

After surpassing the third year of calamity and the fifth year of achieving the challenge, I would witness the next journey unfold.

But after finishing all of that—who knew what kind of epilogue awaited me?

That was why I had to do everything I could.

At the very least, I didn’t want to regret it later.

The Q&A session that had lasted two hours was briefly halted as the moderator announced a recess.

After quickly visiting the restroom within the hall, I returned to find only Lea Bronte seated.

The faculty, including Michel, were scattered about, conversing with other participants.

I sat beside her and asked quietly,

“The witness?”

“Already handed over to the Imperial Court. Participant management is their responsibility, so they’ll bring them in on schedule. The participant and the witness are separate entities, so it doesn’t violate any regulations.”

“Isn’t there a chance it could be blocked?”

“No. The person in charge of the handover is on our side.”

“If the Crown Prince or the Second Princess intervenes, the attendants wouldn’t be able to resist.”

“…If they were that distrustful, I wouldn’t even have been dispatched to Karbenna in the first place, would I?”

That was true.

Even so, seeing my still-skeptical expression, Lea waved her hand with a wry smile.

“I know you’re suspicious, but do you really think something’s going to happen now? If it were going to, it already would have.”

“Hm…”

“So let’s just focus on how we’re going to land a solid blow on those treacherous bastards. We’re really just one step away now.”

“…It’s always at times like these that unforeseen variables strike.”

As I slowly glanced around, my gaze landed on a few people across the hall.

Jeff Halenber, sitting quietly with a composed posture, immediately turned his head away when our eyes met.

Just then, I spotted Eric Halenber returning from behind him.

As I alternated glances between the two, the clear chime announcing the resumption of discussion rang throughout the hall.

* * *

While the first agenda progressed smoothly—

Jeff Halenber kept his mouth shut, sighing again and again.

So many distracting thoughts swirled in his head that it felt like his skull would split.

Two days ago, it had partly been because of what Eric had said to him.

But right now, what Jeff Halenber couldn’t understand even more was the gentle attitude of the Second Princess, Rachel.

‘Rachel Ribenia was never that kind of person, was she?’

She was skilled at persuading others thanks to her extensive experience in high society, but her principle had always been the same: “Whatever the Imperial Family does is always right.”

In short, her usual stance was “I’m right, you’re wrong—so you must listen to me.”

But this time?

Throughout the discussion, she had only taken one of three possible stances—listening, adjusting, or deferring.

‘To think she wouldn’t even make the usual self-assertive comment….’

Had she perhaps made some sort of prior arrangement with the subordinate nobles?

Or had she already decided that she was at a disadvantage in the coming struggle for the throne against Abel?

Was this her way of trying to boost her public support before the Emperor’s seat slipped from her grasp?

‘…Or perhaps it’s because of the Imperial Family’s reputation?’

After all, it was true that the image of the Imperial Family was at an all-time low.

Maybe she just wanted to impose a bit of restraint before the power of the Assembly grew any stronger.

But still—

‘She really thinks she can win over the people’s support with just this token gesture?’

The public support that was currently concentrated on Edel Ribenia?

Utterly impossible.

Compared to Abel, she might seem a bit better, but her past acts of recklessness were hardly few in number.

Trying to salvage things now was pointless—the concrete base of Edel’s support would not be shaken so easily.

As these thoughts ran through his head, the first discussion was already approaching its conclusion.

With no one raising a hand, the moderator looked toward Rachel and delivered the closing line.

“If there are no further questions, we shall now conclude the first agenda—measures and prevention regarding refugees within the Empire.”

Bang, bang, bang.

When the moderator, acting as the presiding officer, struck the gavel, Rachel extended her hands in thanks.

Cheers similar to those at the opening declaration followed.

Given that both citizens and nobles alike had suffered tremendous losses due to the Beast-related refugee crisis, there was no choice but to applaud the Imperial Family’s apparent resolve to resolve the matter swiftly.

As the standing ovation continued, the agenda and presiding members were switched.

“The second agenda is the current status and countermeasures for Hokhma addiction. Speakers for this agenda, please come up to the stage.”

Rachel Ribenia stepped down from the stage and handed the baton to Edel Ribenia, who had been waiting at the end.

Jeff brushed the dust from his knees and rose from his seat.

Across from him, the representatives from Karbenna were already heading to the stage.

Among them was his adopted son—Eric Halenber.

‘To think that taking you in back then would someday force me into this situation….’

Well, it didn’t matter anymore.

Wearing a solemn expression, he began walking toward the stage.

It didn’t matter who Eric had been influenced by.

Eric Halenber, who had lost his usefulness, was of no more value to him now.

“That was our agreement, wasn’t it?”

So understand me.

Even if, as your father, I must be the one to judge you.

After the first agenda concluded without incident—

Before the second agenda began, the speakers for the discussion slowly gathered onto the wide stage.

As we waited for Edel to arrive, we sat in our assigned seats.

The one who would be dancing on the blade’s edge this time—Eric Halenber—let out repeated sighs.

“Phew… to think this moment would really come.”

“Are you afraid?”

The boy shook his head firmly as he looked at his father sitting across from him.

“No, I think it’ll be fun.”

“Good. That’s the spirit. If you lose in terms of momentum, it’s over. Even if you get kicked out, the testimony will continue, so don’t worry too much.”

“…That’s… oddly reassuring.”

Then, Francia chimed in from the side.

“Yeah. I’ll never let that happen.”

From the cadet’s longsword hanging at her waist, waves of magical energy were faintly radiating.

Meanwhile, I glanced a few seats over at Michel Bernhardt, who sat in quiet composure.

Eyes closed, she was silently waiting for the discussion to begin.

Once over eighty speakers had taken their seats—

Finally, Edel Ribenia stood at the central podium on the stage.

Sensing her signal through a glance, the moderator immediately spoke up.

“From now on, we’ll begin the second agenda—discussion on the current status and countermeasures for Hokhma addiction. Those wishing to speak, please raise your hand.”

The first speaker was Minerva, the Dean of Glorious Academy.

Her speech was formal in tone—about the need to swiftly eradicate Hokhma, which had become rampant across the Empire.

“Next…”

Just as the moderator was about to designate the second speaker—

“Wait, Georg. This time, I’ll make the selection.”

Edel smiled, pointing toward the second group on the left.

“Would you tell us how many illegal Hokhma trafficking cases there were last year, Marquis Halenber?”

Having been suddenly called on, Jeff cautiously stepped toward the Orb.

“…About six hundred cases, as far as I know.”

“Are you aware that most of those were concentrated in Raus, the western port bordering the Albe Sea?”

“…Yes, I am.”

“And you also know that after the Halenber family took over the trading rights from Bernhardt, the number of smuggling reports dropped by more than half?”

“…Yes.”

As her tone shifted between cold and warm, Jeff’s expression gradually twisted.

Ignoring the raised hands of the other participants, Edel Ribenia floated the amplifying orb near her mouth and stepped down from the podium.

“It’s curious, isn’t it? Reports of damage from Hokhma addiction keep increasing, yet smuggling in Raus, the epicenter, has been cut in half… How should we explain that, Marquis Halenber?”

“……”

Caught off guard, Jeff failed to produce an immediate answer. Seeing that, Edel turned her body toward our side, as if she had been waiting for this moment.

Her finger pointed directly at the Karbenna delegation.

“What do you think, Chairwoman Michel Bernhardt?”

The one called upon, Michel, stood up in less than three seconds.

“Someone must be lying.”

“And that someone is… who?”

At Edel’s repeated question, I stepped forward to the Orb as though I had been waiting for it.

Then, glancing at the four heroines gathered on this stage one by one, I curved my lips into a triumphant smile.

“Don’t you have anything to say about Lady Chloe Bernhardt, Marquis Halenber?”