Only I Know the War Hero’s Secret Chapter 11

Mona’s steps felt strangely light as she left the Dean of Academic Affairs’ office.

Early graduation.

Those four words floated around in her head.

She had thought Professor Thomas’s suspension would inevitably delay her graduation, but now she had been given an opportunity like this.

“Once you join this project, it will be difficult to withdraw midway. It deals with sensitive matters, after all…”

The Dean of Academic Affairs had added a meaningful warning, but it went in one ear and out the other. The words ‘early graduation’ had already been firmly lodged in Mona’s mind.

She could skip the troublesome thesis evaluation process and graduate in one fell swoop.

That alone made the risk worth taking.

There was nothing worse than having her graduation delayed until she was forced into marriage.

Seeing how determined Mona was, the Dean of Academic Affairs handed her an envelope.

It was a dark brown envelope, firmly sealed with red wax.

‘This envelope contains the details of a project known to only a tiny handful of people within the Academy…’

Clutching the envelope sealed with red wax tightly against her chest, Mona hurried toward the dormitory.

“Phew.”

After taking a deep breath and firmly locking her dormitory door, Mona used her trembling fingers to break the red seal.

“……!”

The moment she took the paper out of the envelope, her eyes widened.

No. 011-S-Rank-Imperial-Family-Direct-664

Date of Official Issue: October 15, 664 Imperial Calendar

[Imperial Family Direct Invitation]

In the name of the Imperial Family, you are hereby granted special participation privileges in a classified project.

The Imperial Family’s seal was stamped prominently at the very top of the document.

‘Good heavens. So the Imperial Family is behind this project.’

That must have been why the Dean had confidently assured her that she could graduate early if she made a significant contribution to the project.

‘……But something seems strange.’

A project under the direct authority of the Imperial Family had actually made its way down to the Department of Monster Studies, one of the least popular departments in the entire Academy?

Most people didn’t even know the Department of Monster Studies existed. What on earth could the research topic be?

Feeling somewhat dazed, Mona continued reading the document.

This project concerns an investigation of the Land of Chaos. Detailed guidelines shall be disclosed exclusively to participants on the day of the assembly.

There wasn’t much information written in the document.

Just a brief explanation of the project, along with the date, time, and location of the assembly.

However, one phrase stood out clearly to Mona.

An investigation of the Land of Chaos.

‘So that’s why the project was assigned to a researcher from the Department of Monster Studies.’

After all, the Land of Chaos was a monster habitat on an enormous scale.

Some people even called it the Demonic Realm, considering it an unholy place.

For many years, it had been the domain of Baelmos, the Black Dragon. It was considered cursed land, and access to it had been prohibited.

Most people would have immediately recognized the danger and tossed the document aside the moment they realized the project involved monsters. But Mona, on the contrary, felt her blood begin to boil.

‘Perhaps I’ll get to discover monsters that have been all but forgotten, creatures I’ve only ever read about in ancient books.’

Her heart suddenly began to pound, and Mona instinctively rubbed her chest.

Until now, she had been stuck collecting monster nuclei and making solvents for hair-loss remedies, none of which had anything to do with actual monster research.

But the thought that she might finally get to conduct ‘research worthy of a monster scholar,’ with the Imperial Family’s support no less, made her heart flutter.

‘Could I have just stumbled upon an incredible stroke of luck?’

Her hopes grew hotter and hotter.

She could almost picture a golden future: conducting fascinating research, graduating early, somehow saving up enough money, and eventually establishing her own monster research institute.

‘No, don’t get your hopes up too much.’

Mona pursed her twitching lips, picked up her pen, and marked the project’s first assembly date on her calendar.

She even drew three stars beside it.

Completely unaware that the day would become a turning point that changed her destiny.

 

***

 

Time passed quickly, and the day of the project’s first assembly arrived.

The meeting was to be held in a massive stone building nestled among the hills on the western outskirts of the capital. It had once served as a military headquarters.

Nervous, Mona had started getting ready early that morning and arrived at her destination well before the meeting was scheduled to begin.

“Phew.”

Good thing she had arrived early.

The building stood atop a high hill that shared carriages didn’t travel to.

Hoisting the worn-out bag containing her research notes and writing supplies onto her shoulder, Mona made her way toward the towering structure.

It had looked enormous even from a distance, but up close, it was even more imposing.

‘They’ve lent us the old headquarters building as a conference hall?’

So this was what it meant to have a project sponsored by the Imperial Family.

After spending all her time in an aging laboratory that was constantly plagued by budget shortages, stepping into such a dignified and elegant place left her feeling rather peculiar.

The statues scattered throughout the grounds were works of art, and the landscaping was still being meticulously maintained.

As Mona walked along, admiring the antiquated scenery, she flinched the moment she passed through the main entrance, which bore an embossed dragon emblem.

A uniformed man with an imposing build approached and blocked her path.

He had short, dark brown hair and a firm jawline. With a Holy Cross necklace hanging around his neck, he gave off an austere impression.

His tone was as stern as his appearance.

“This area is restricted to authorized personnel only.”

Mona hurriedly rummaged through her bag, her face tense.

“Here. I’m registered as a participant in the project being held inside.”

“……Hmm.”

The man carefully examined the Imperial Family’s seal on her invitation and her Imperial Academy identification card. Only then did his expression relax, and he gave her a slight nod.

“Please follow me. I’ll escort you, Miss Mona Veloz.”

“Yes.”

Clack, clack.

The man leading the way with such disciplined steps hardly looked like an ordinary gatekeeper.

‘He looks incredibly strong.’

Just what kind of project was this, that security had to be so strict?

While Mona silently pondered the question, the man stopped at the end of the corridor and opened a massive stone door.

“Please, come in.”

Gripping her bag strap tightly, Mona cautiously stepped inside, her face tense.

Several people were already seated around a long rectangular table in the Gothic-style conference room.

As soon as she entered, the project participants all turned to look at her before quickly looking away.

“…….”

So this wasn’t the time for introductions yet.

With silence hanging in the air, Mona stood awkwardly by herself for a moment before eventually taking a seat at the edge of the table. She fidgeted with her fingers.

‘This is awkward.’

She felt like a drop of oil floating on water.

Unlike Mona, everyone gathered here looked dignified and imposing.

Even the man seated across from her looked wealthy, judging by his luxurious robe and the artifact hanging around his neck.

‘Will I be able to fit in here?’

Since this was a project under the Imperial Family, it was only natural that they would work as a team. How had she overlooked such an obvious fact?

She repeatedly ran her tongue over her parched lips when the man sitting across from her suddenly sprang to his feet, making her flinch.

“Sir Noel!”

It wasn’t just him. The other participants also began standing one by one, their faces filled with excitement.

‘Is he famous?’

A man Mona had never met before strolled leisurely into the conference room.

His long, deep-blue hair flowed down past his shoulders, and his refined, handsome features immediately drew the eye.

Swept up in the atmosphere, Mona reflexively stood as well. But then she realized how ridiculous it would be to pretend she knew someone she’d never met, so she awkwardly sat back down.

“I never imagined you would be participating in this project, Sir Noel.”

“It’s been a while since we last met. I believe it was at the victory banquet. Please, come sit over here.”

“Ah, thank you.”

The man had a refined way of speaking and a gentle voice that suited his pleasant appearance.

His arrival instantly brought the previously quiet conference room to life.

“…….”

What a completely different reaction from when Mona had entered.

‘I don’t even know who that person is.’

Has she really become that disconnected from high society?

Feeling awkward, Mona glared at her research notebook for no reason before quietly turning her gaze elsewhere.

That was when she noticed a map of the Empire hanging on the wall beside a faded military flag.

‘……Huh?’

The several pins stuck into the map caught Mona’s curiosity.

Since this building had once been a military headquarters, it would have been easy to assume that the map had been used for military operations and then simply abandoned. But something about it felt strangely familiar.

‘I’ve seen that pattern somewhere before…….’

Before she knew it, Mona had stretched her neck out, carefully examining the map as though analyzing it.

Just then—

“What are you looking at so intently?”

“……!!?”

A chilly voice suddenly rang out from behind her.

For some inexplicable reason, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.

With a chilling sense of foreboding, Mona turned toward the voice and nearly fainted on the spot.

A black uniform. Neatly swept-back blond hair. Cold, deep blue eyes……

A stunning face she could never forget once she had seen it.

……Ri-Richard Cronell.

Why, wh-why was this man here……!?