I Became a Retired War Hero the Heroines Are Obsessed With – Chapter 13

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuziro
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Around the time Amy felled the Magi-tainted beast, the oblivious students tackled their exams with varying degrees of success.

“Die!”

One shouted.

“You can’t kill me, you idiot!”

Another retorted.

A battle royale erupted as soon as their eyes met. Elsewhere, a different kind of struggle unfolded.

“I’m hungry… Can I eat this?”

“No, it’s poisonous. Don’t eat it.”

Survival in the unfamiliar wilderness tested not only their skills but also their knowledge. This was the midterm exam in all its challenging glory.

Because the exam presented real dangers, safety measures were firmly in place.

“Damn it! I failed again!”

“Better luck next year!”

“I’ll kill you when we get back to the Academy…!”

The student’s outburst was cut short as a transparent sphere enveloped him, whisking him away before he could finish his threat. He was transported to the island’s center, where Hines waited.

On the Isle of Wisdom, anyone wearing the owl robe of Minerva Academy became virtually invincible.

The island’s magic protected them from life-threatening danger. However, this safety net was a last resort, insufficient against a determined attacker with clear murderous intent.

That was why Hines had cast a transcendental spell.

He believed no threat to the students existed, save for an external enemy.

Yes, save for an external enemy.

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Deep within a cave somewhere on the Isle of Wisdom, a professor, who had come to check on a treasure chest, lay writhing on the ground.

“Ugh… How…!”

The moment he stepped into the chamber holding the chest, black thorns pierced his abdomen. Neither the protective magic woven into his owl robe nor his own sand armor, crafted from earth magic, had been enough.

“You’re- so- unlucky-.”

A languid voice drawled, as if just awakened from sleep.

A woman with half-closed eyes, framed by delicate lashes, met his gaze. The sight evoked a strange, unsettling feeling. The professor coughed up blood.

“The… Thorn Princess?! Cough…!”

Her real name was Espina Pereza, codenamed Thorn Princess. She was a witch infamous for wiping out an entire city simply for disturbing her slumber.

The Kingdom of Suoman, having lost a city to a single mage, had sent countless soldiers to capture her. None returned.

“You… know me-? That’s- a little outdated, don’t you think-?”

She yawned, stretching languidly on her bed.

Only then did the professor notice the luxurious bed, embroidered with red thread on black cloth, a stark contrast to the dark, rough cave.

The incongruity amplified his terror.

“From now on- call me- the ‘Archbishop of Sloth’-.”

The professor’s eyes widened, the shock momentarily eclipsing his pain. The Archbishop of Sloth had perished in the Southern War.

Espina had taken his place.

One of the world’s ten most wanted criminals had become a heretic. It was a catastrophic turn of events.

“I have to tell…!”

He gathered his remaining magic, desperate to escape. Even if it meant his death, he had to relay this information.

Fortunately, his specialty was information magic…

“I’m sorry- but you can’t.”

With a flick of Espina’s wrist, the professor began to sink into the ground. He realized he was being pulled into an endless abyss only when he was already half-submerged.

“Help… me…”

He gurgled.

In an instant, he vanished.

Espina gazed out of the cave, tilting her head. Then, she closed her eyes.

“Not- yet-.”

She murmured.

Another yawn escaped her lips as she drifted back to sleep. This was how Sloth gained power.

As the Archbishop of Sloth succumbed to slumber, a sound echoed through the cave.

Thump- thump-

The source was a massive egg nestled beside the sleeping Espina. It greedily devoured the Magi emanating from her.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

With each surge of Magi, the egg’s pulsating grew stronger, its surface twitching and shifting.

Crack!

Slowly, ever so slowly, the shell began to crack, as if on the verge of hatching.

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In the safe zone at the center of the Isle of Wisdom, the eliminated students gathered. Cain surveyed the growing crowd.

“The pace is a bit faster than expected, isn’t it? About a third have already been eliminated.”

“Indeed, but it’s still within the projected range.”

Hines replied, stroking his beard as he watched the setting sun.

“It will be dark soon. I wonder if they will all endure.”

“I’m sure at least a few will be fine,”

Cain said, thinking of Reinhardt and Ariana, the two students who constantly complained about his classes, claiming Allen’s were too difficult.

Yet, they handled his own teachings with ease, often tempting him to increase the difficulty out of spite.

“Are you referring to the students in Professor Allen’s class?” Hines asked.

“You knew, Headmaster?”

Cain looked at him, surprised.

“And you thought I wouldn’t? All the professors are paying close attention to Professor Allen’s class.”

“I thought you were too busy. Honestly, even the professors don’t know exactly what he teaches in ‘Survival Against Barbarians’.”

They only knew that the students who took his class consistently improved, even the two ducal daughters whom every other professor had given up on.

“Everyone is curious. Some professors even tried asking the students directly.”

Cain admitted, scratching his head. He decided to seize the opportunity.

“Do you know, Headmaster? Professor Allen’s secret?”

“Secret… How would I know such a thing? Just know that he is an excellent professor who does his best for his students.”

“Saying that makes it sound like the other professors aren’t doing their best.”

Hines chuckled, stroking his beard. Cain, even more curious, pressed further.

“Come on, tell me something. It would help me improve…”

Suddenly, a tingling sensation shot through his neck. Cain whirled around. His ability, ‘Danger Sense,’ had activated.

“What is it?”

Hines asked, following Cain’s gaze.

He cast a detection spell, but found nothing unusual.

“I think we may have to end the exam early.”

Cain said, a bead of sweat trickling down his face.

Hines bit his lip.

“Can you explain? We can’t just end it so easily.”

The title of the Empire’s most prestigious academy, the students’ futures, the professors’ reputations, even the Imperial family’s honor – a great deal was riding on this exam.

Even Hines, the Headmaster, needed a valid reason to stop it.

“You know I can’t articulate it clearly… It’s close to premonition, but not quite.”

Cain’s ‘Danger Sense’ only detected approaching danger, akin to an animal’s survival instinct.

If he could explain the danger precisely, he would be a renowned prophet.

“But… if we don’t leave this island soon, we might die. That’s… the feeling I get.”

Hines stroked his beard, watching Cain grimace.

He trusted Cain’s ability, but the weight of the decision was heavy.

“Do you think the danger is imminent?”

Cain narrowed his eyes, focusing on the direction his ‘Danger Sense’ had indicated.

“No. We probably have a few hours…”

The sharp, predatory feeling that had gripped him earlier had subsided. Whatever it was, it wouldn’t make a move tonight.

“Then let’s prepare for camp. It’s already dark, so it’s too late to gather the students.”

“But…”

“I’ll send out the emergency signal as soon as the sun rises tomorrow.”

Hines declared, his expression serious.

Knowing it was a carefully considered decision, Cain reluctantly nodded.

“Understood.”

As Cain busied himself with camp preparations, Hines sighed.

“Is this the right decision…?”

As Headmaster of Minerva, the Empire’s finest academy, Hines was a Grand Mage, one of the strongest in the Empire, though not as powerful as his master, a member of the Zodiac Knights.

Few could threaten him.

Yet, he had decided to stop the exam. Cain had never explicitly spoken of death before. He couldn’t gamble with the students’ lives.

Waiting one night was a reasonable choice.

Still, a nagging unease lingered.

“If only Professor Allen were here…”

With his vast experience, Allen could handle any crisis. Today, Hines felt a pang of resentment towards his master.

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“Like… this?”

Amy asked.

“Yes, good. Try focusing more magic.”

I instructed.

We were erasing the lingering traces of Magi.

Amy concentrated, and the faint remnants of Magi vanished under the continued application of flames.

“That’s it. We can sleep soundly now.”

I tossed more wood onto the embers, building a bonfire. Then, I handed Amy a sleeping bag.

“Here, use this.”

“Thank you… What about you, Professor?”

“I’ll keep watch. We don’t know when a magical beast might appear.”

Keeping watch alone was nothing new.

Solo missions in war zones had made it a habit.

He couldn’t afford to die in his sleep.

Amy blinked, then shook her head.

“I’ll stay up with you.”

“I appreciate the thought.”

I waved my hand dismissively.

Staying awake all night was easy for me, but not for a sheltered young lady.

She would just end up nodding off.

Better to get a good night’s sleep.

“But…”

“Don’t worry and sleep. You need your strength for the exam tomorrow. Well… assuming it continues.”

I planned to report the Magi incident to Hines at daybreak. If he hadn’t spotted the smoke from the beach, I wouldn’t have even met Amy. The timing was uncanny.

Whine…

Taxi whined, nudging my side. He seemed uncomfortable with me leaning against him.

“Quiet, you mutt.”

Groan…

I nudged him again, and he sullenly buried his head in his paws. Amy watched him with a perplexed expression.

“I’ve never seen a White Fang so docile. I heard they’re incredibly difficult to tame, even if raised from pups… How did you do it?”

“Really? He’s always been obedient with me.”

I said vaguely.

I couldn’t exactly tell her I’d pulverized his entire pack.

Amy continued to stare at Taxi with curiosity.

“You can pet him. He won’t bite.”

“Really?”

He wouldn’t bite if he valued his life. I shot Taxi a warning glance, and he hastily nodded.

Woof…! Remembering my instructions to be quiet, he barked in a near whisper.

“Wow…”

Amy cautiously reached out and stroked his forepaw.

“He’s surprisingly soft. And warm.”

Looking at her innocent expression, it was hard to believe this creature had incinerated a magical beast.

Magical beasts were animals corrupted by Magi, and the stronger the animal, the more powerful it became when tainted.

A bear, already an apex predator, became a formidable force as a Magi beast.

Even seasoned officers struggled against them, and this small girl had taken one down.

Pride swelled in my chest, and I absentmindedly stroked her hair.

Amy flinched.

I realized my mistake.

Even if we were professor and student, we were still a man and a woman alone together.

This could complicate her future marriage prospects.

I quickly withdrew my hand.

“S-sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it.”

“N-no, it’s okay. I was just surprised.”

“The sun’s set, so you should get some sleep. I’ll be a little further away…”

I started to get up, putting some distance between us, when Amy tugged on my robe.

“It’s okay. Stay with me.”

“But…”

“Please.”

She whispered, her head bowed.

A slight tremor in her voice betrayed her fear.

Despite her usual strong and composed demeanor, she was still a young student.

It was only natural to be afraid after facing such a dangerous beast.

I nodded and sat back down.

“I’ll stay here. Sleep tight.”

“Okay.”

Amy leaned against Taxi, then gradually shifted closer until she was pressed against me.

Was this soft feeling the sleeping bag, or…?

I pushed the thought aside and tossed another log onto the fire.

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