I Became the Academy’s Time-Limited Genius – Chapter 5

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Translated By Arcane Translations

Translator: Silverriver

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Iliad Academy. Specifically, Class A, was said to be the most elite group of promising individuals on the continent.

Children with sky-reaching talent, destined for greatness.

Han cautiously opened the classroom door. He hadn’t slept properly, his eyelids heavy. It was all because of the strange energy he’d felt during the sparring.

It had made his body tingle, urging him to grasp his sword, and he couldn’t help but obey the sensation.

Now, however, drowsiness tugged at him, and the thought that he should have ignored it and slept nagged at his mind.

He stifled a yawn and surveyed the classroom.

Several students were already seated.

Han took a seat as quietly as possible. Next to him sat a girl with doll-like features.

‘If I remember correctly… her name was Agnes?’

He recalled her from the testing grounds—the magic and swordsmanship that had parried the instructor’s attacks numerous times.

Even if the instructor hadn’t infused his attacks with Aura, the fact that she’d parried them repeatedly was remarkable.

In a typical year at Iliad Academy, she would have been a contender for the top spot.

However…

“Hello, everyone…”

All eyes in the classroom focused on a single point. The monstrous talent considered the closest to the top rank among this year’s new academy students.

Startled by the attention, she quickly sat down in an empty seat.

It was natural for everyone to stare, given that she was Adele, the one who’d performed the unusual feat of catching the instructor’s sword during the test, but she seemed undeniably embarrassed.

Students continued to arrive, and until the professor finally entered the classroom, Deron remained absent.

“Alright, everyone, attention.”

The professor’s amplified voice, likely magically enhanced, filled the classroom.

The professor gave a brief self-introduction. A 6th Rank mage, a professor at the academy for over ten years, and…

a senior among the students.

The professor looked around at the new students and said,

“Normally, I wouldn’t bother with attendance, but since this is the first class…”

The professor slowly scanned the room, calling out each student’s name. Han, Agnes, Sophia, Adele…

And Deron.

“Deron? Deron Philasia? Could he possibly be skipping the first class already?”

“I’m here, Professor.”

A voice echoed from the entrance. Han, who had been taking out his notebook, Sophia, who had been gazing out the window…

Even Adele, who had been idly twirling her pencil…

Everyone’s gaze shifted towards Deron. He bowed his head towards the professor.

“My apologies. My health is not in the best condition.”

“No, no, it’s quite alright. Class hasn’t officially started yet.”

The professor waved off Deron’s apology. Only after the professor accepted his apology did Deron straighten his previously bowed back.

Click.

The moment Deron stepped into the classroom, the atmosphere shifted. A captivating, breathtaking appearance. A presence that could only be described as commanding. The grace and posture of a perfectly groomed nobleman.

His face held not arrogance, but dignity.

If it weren’t for the blood staining his lips and the slight tremor in his steps, no one would have believed he was ill.

Deron scanned the room, then fixed his gaze on a particular spot. Han couldn’t hear what he was saying, but he seemed to be muttering something in that direction.

Deron stumbled slightly as he approached Han’s side and asked, looking down at him,

“Is this an empty seat?”

Meeting Deron’s bloodshot eyes, Han unconsciously nodded.

‘Damn it…!’

He had been involuntarily intimidated by Deron’s presence. A violent and menacing aura that seemed impossible for a fellow student to possess.

Han broke out in a cold sweat.

Deron, seemingly satisfied, sat down. Maintaining his cold expression under the scrutiny of everyone’s gaze.

And for the next 80 minutes, Han watched as Deron sat through the class, his posture remaining perfect.

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“Fuck.”

I’m screwed. That was the conclusion I reached after careful deliberation.

The first class at Iliad Academy was crucial. It was the easiest time to interact with other students, gauge first impressions, and, most importantly, build relationships with the main and supporting characters.

But here I was, unable to attend class…

“Cough!”

…coughing up blood.

This damned body couldn’t even handle the stairs. Regardless of my increased lifespan, it shows a tendency to have spasms when it comes to stairs.

I didn’t know the specifics of this terminal illness, but the fact that I kept coughing up blood even when it wasn’t costing me lifespan was horrifying.

At least, once the bleeding stopped, it wouldn’t start again for a while. I climbed the stairs.

Would I be late for class at this point? Sighing deeply, I entered the classroom and met the gaze of everyone present.

…The professor happened to be calling my name at that very moment.

I apologized for being late to the first class and looked around the room. According to the novel, they should all be in Class A…

“Found you.”

The protagonist himself.

The hero, Lee Han.

The protagonist of Becoming a Hero at the Academy.

This time, there would be no massacre route. I would save them all.

I politely asked Han if I could sit next to him and took the seat. The protagonist’s side. A good start.

The professor cautiously began the class. However, there was no need for me to listen. Even if Iliad Academy was the best on the continent, it’s something I’ve already seen in a novel.

‘…And my grades don’t matter anyway.’

I just needed to pretend to pay attention. I feigned note-taking while checking on the main and supporting characters.

And heroine number 5, who hasn’t shown up yet.

‘From this perspective, it really looked like a harem party.’

I rolled the pencil in my hand. I decided to forget about taking notes and focus on organizing information.

One of the perks of being transmigrated into this novel was that I could use magic to write instead of a pencil. I didn’t have to deal with the frustration of the pencil breaking.

‘Oh, right. Agnes.’

The character who would become the second strongest after Lee Han in this novel.

I carefully turned my head to look at Agnes. True to the novel’s description, she was diligently taking notes, her face an icy mask.

A Magic Swordsman. The general consensus was that they were fools who dabbled in both magic and swordsmanship without truly mastering either. But Agnes was the one who shattered that perception.

She was the reason I wanted to wield both magic and sword simultaneously. If one possessed overwhelming talent, being a Magic Swordsman was the best choice.

The image of her sweeping through demon army, wielding 5th Rank magic alongside her Aura, remained a vivid scene in my memory.

A beautiful appearance. Come to think of it, Petra wasn’t inferior to the heroines in terms of looks.

I considered following her after she left and identifying the source of the killing intent, but decided against it. My body wasn’t in good condition.

Besides, ‘that incident’ would be happening soon. I needed to conserve my lifespan as much as possible.

‘And I should seize any opportunities available at this point.’

Opportunities meant for the protagonist or his heroines, or even the villains. They would all be mine.

Why?

Because I needed to survive. I was already down to 118 days.

Black Dragon mana, core fragment, or whatever it was, I desperately needed of elixirs.

‘I’ll have to make a quick trip after this class.’

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The class was ridiculously long. 80 minutes of pointless lectures.

I hadn’t even done this in college. And because of this damned body, fighting off sleep made it even more difficult.

I gathered my belongings… oh, right, I didn’t have any.

Petra had forbidden me from carrying anything that might strain my body. That’s why I only carried a magically lightened sword.

I rose from my seat and headed towards the exit. The elixir’s effects would kick in soon and make me feel better. It had been the same when I’d consumed the Black Dragon’s core fragment and gained 200 days.

“Deron.”

Someone called out my name as I was about to leave. I turned my head to find the source of the voice, constantly reminding myself to maintain a noble’s demeanor.

“What is it?”

“I’d like to speak with you for a moment.”

Agnes Bayern. The future Magic Swordsman.

She had something to say to me? I considered it briefly before asking her reason.

“It’s a matter I’m a bit embarrassed to discuss here. Would you mind moving somewhere else?”

I recalled Agnes’s character traits. Chivalrous, noble, an icy personality that didn’t easily get along with others.

And a secret known only to her. ‘She hated losing.’ A competitive spirit that allowed her to learn even from her enemies, as long as it led to victory. If Erina possessed diligence, Agnes possessed passion. Whether it was studying, magic, or swordsmanship. That’s why she was ranked second overall in the academy in the original story. Of course, the protagonist was first.

Agnes would approach the protagonist, asking him to be her sparring partner. …Surely she wouldn’t ask me the same, right?

No, it was entirely possible. I was currently one of the two students who had defeated an instructor, along with Adele.

Though I secretly hoped otherwise, I agreed to her proposal nonetheless. Considering how difficult it would be to build a relationship with her if I refused, accepting was the far better option.

“Then lead the way.”

Agnes led me to the training grounds. My assumptions must have been wrong, right? Surely not.

“Please observe my swordsmanship.”

“What?”

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