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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Silverriver
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The atmosphere in Winter Castle wasn’t exactly welcoming. I don’t know why, but I felt a sense of exclusion towards outsiders. Like they were being given the cold shoulder.
A sense of impending war hung heavy in the air. In this place, where battle seemed imminent, I was invited to dinner.
Agnes was invited as well. Bell Cardia seemed to have taken a liking to her ice-wielding Magic Swordsman junior.
I headed to the dining hall with Agnes, hoping to shake off the fatigue from our journey.
“We found an orc encampment at the foot of the mountain. About twenty households.”
“Can we handle them?”
“With the Iron Knights, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
When I arrived at the dining hall, the commanders were engaged in a serious discussion. The atmosphere was such that I hesitated to interrupt. They continued their conversation, seemingly oblivious to our presence.
“Over here! Over here!”
Bell waved at us from a nearby table. Beside her sat a massive man, nearly two meters tall, pounding his fist on the table. I sat down, and Agnes, after nervously glancing at the man, carefully took the empty seat next to me.
“You’re Deron Philasia?”
“Yes, Count Cardia.”
“Just ‘Count’ is fine.”
The Count scrutinized my face, then muttered,
“You’re certainly… unique.”
“I told you, didn’t I, Father?”
Unique in what way? Both father and daughter were looking me over. Then, the Count’s gaze shifted to Agnes, his expression now filled with interest.
“Agnes, is it?”
“Yes, Count… sir!”
“Just ‘Count’ is fine.”
“…”
Had Bell told the Count about Agnes as well?
“An ice-wielding Magic Swordsman… capable of simultaneous activation, I presume?”
Agnes nodded. The Count grinned, seemingly pleased, and stood up.
“My daughter tells me you came to Winter Castle for combat experience. Is that correct?”
“Yes.”
“Then you’ve come to the right place.”
The Count strode towards the commanders. They were still talking, their food untouched.
Discussing how to deal with the orc encampment, how to allocate their troops. It seemed like a complicated matter.
“Count, did you need something?”
“Find a suitable task for them.”
The commanders looked puzzled, then glanced at us. Realization dawned on them, and they began examining the map.
Figurines of various monsters were placed on the map. Likely the locations of monster habitats discovered by the scouts.
“This looks promising.”
The commander picked up a green orc figurine, its body covered in gruesome scars.
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I hadn’t expected to be sent out so soon. I scratched my head as I returned to my quarters. The Count had assigned us a task immediately, leaving me no choice but to fight the orcs.
Fighting orcs wasn’t a problem. In fact, I had been looking forward to it.
My heart pounded in my chest, urging me to draw my sword. I didn’t know why, but I felt… strangely at home in Winter Castle.
I drew my cane-sword. It was my only weapon for now. I could have used my fists, or a spear, but…
The sword felt most familiar. As I channeled Aura into the blade, someone knocked on the door.
“May I come in?”
“Enter.”
The door creaked open, and a massive figure, one who had to duck to enter, stepped inside.
Count Dietrich Cardia.
“I thought we should discuss your… condition in private.”
So that’s what he wanted. I offered him a chair, then sat down myself.
The Count stared at me intently, then spoke.
“First, I apologize for my men’s behavior. They’re on edge due to the constant monster attacks.”
“It’s nothing. They didn’t cause any trouble, and we are unexpected guests.”
I understood their coldness and vigilance. This was Winter Castle, in a perpetual state of war. It was only natural for them to be on edge.
“I appreciate your understanding.”
The Count finally relaxed his posture and sat down properly. I wasn’t short, but I felt like a dwarf next to him.
“Then let’s get straight to the point.”
“Yes.”
“What have you done to your body?”
“What?”
I stared at him, bewildered.
“Didn’t Bell explain?”
“Only that you’re skilled at distinguishing between hot and cold things while in Winter Castle…”
“Hahaha! That’s how she put it?”
The Count burst out laughing.
“Let me be more specific. The Cardia family possesses a unique ability. We can see a person’s aura.”
“Then what about your daughter’s comment?”
“She hasn’t fully developed her abilities yet. The older she gets, the clearer her vision will become.”
This wasn’t in the original story. I had never heard of this ability before. It wasn’t even mentioned in any of the books I’d read. The Count crossed his arms.
“In your case, three distinct auras are clashing within your body. No, to be more precise, two auras are suppressing a third.”
“Three auras… within my body?”
“Yes. That’s why I asked what you’ve done.”
I rested my chin on my hand, thinking hard. Three auras. One was likely my own mana, and another was Archxius’s.
‘Then what’s the third one?’
I couldn’t figure it out. Another aura besides mine and Archxius’s? The Count watched me ponder, then stood up.
“Well, it seems you don’t know either. You’ll be heading out tomorrow, so get some rest.”
He waved his hand and turned to leave.
Thud
“Ugh…”
He hit his head on the top of the doorframe.
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Agnes, when I saw her the next day, looked exhausted. She hadn’t slept well.
“I was too nervous…”
“Tsk.”
I understood how she felt. She had only experienced real combat twice. Lenox’s Dungeon and the Morax subjugation.
The former had been more about her growth than actual combat, and the latter had been a terrifying experience due to the overwhelming power of the opponent.
So this orc hunt would be her first proper combat experience.
“Three orcs regularly patrol this route. They’re our targets.”
The guide briefly explained the plan using a map, and we left the castle.
Agnes and I, and two knights the Count had assigned to us, just in case. The Count’s watchful gaze and Bell’s waving hand soon disappeared from view.
We walked across the snowy plains.
“Try walking without using mana as much as possible.”
The guide instructed us. I withdrew the mana I had been channeling into my legs and took a step. My feet sank into the snow, but thanks to my snow boots, it wasn’t as bad as before.
And the weather wasn’t as volatile as when we arrived. Bright sunlight shone upon the snowy landscape.
The guide was truly skilled. He navigated the snow-covered plains as if following a predetermined path. We walked for a while, then…
“We’re here.”
The guide raised his hand, and we stopped. The stench of blood wafted from beyond the bushes. My aura flared. I suppressed it. It wasn’t time yet.
Filthy, disgusting creatures came into view. Green-skinned monsters covered in blood.
Orcs.
The faint scent of blood tickled my nose. They were devouring something. The corpse was mangled beyond recognition.
The orcs roared and fought amongst themselves, tearing at chunks of raw meat. The smallest and weakest of the three scavenged for scraps dropped by the others.
A gruesome display, typical of monsters. The guide tapped my shoulder, as if asking for instructions.
“Are there any other monsters nearby?”
“None that we’ve detected. Just these three.”
I nodded. Three orcs. A Magic Swordsman, two knights, and me.
More than enough. I started walking, unleashing my suppressed aura. The energy I had been holding back erupted.
The orcs turned their heads, their gazes drawn to my aura. Eyes so menacing they would send most humans fleeing in terror.
But I didn’t run.
On the contrary, I grinned. My heart pounded, the scent of blood filling my senses. I reveled in the moment.
My body craved this.
“Raaaaaargh!”
The orcs roared, their eyes blazing with a red light. I drew my sword. The knights behind me moved into position. Agnes followed suit.
The pungent smell of blood filled the air, my head throbbing. A mixture of pleasure and pain. And amidst it all, a voice echoed in my mind.
I charged towards the orcs, that question lingering in the air.
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