I Became the Academy’s Time-Limited Genius – Chapter 55

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Translated By Arcane Translations

Translator: Silverriver

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The moment I saw Winter Castle, I felt not relief, but… disappointment. The stench of blood that had initially repulsed me now felt… familiar.

I had been here for only a day, yet I was already slaughtering monsters with practiced ease. It was more than just the Genius trait.

This snowy landscape felt strangely familiar, welcoming. My body was adapting naturally, as if it had always belonged here.

“Deron.”

Agnes approached. Her body was covered in blood, her normally radiant silver hair matted with sweat and gore.

Her usual composure and elegance were gone, replaced by a disheveled mess. But even so, she looked… better than before.

At least she wasn’t frozen in fear from her first kill.

“I salute your valiant efforts.”

Agnes bowed her head, placing her hand over her heart. A military salute. I stared at her. The guides and knights were doing the same.

I had simply been lost in the thrill of battle, consumed by a momentary frenzy. Yet, in their eyes, I had fought bravely.

There was no need to correct their misconception. I spoke,

“Agnes, you did well too. And you three, as well.”

“It’s nothing compared to your battle prowess, Young Master. It’s rare to see someone handle monsters so effectively on their first visit to Winter Castle!”

One of the knights exclaimed. The other knight chimed in,

“Indeed. Most are paralyzed by fear upon seeing a monster for the first time, their bodies frozen by the killing intent. You showed no such hesitation.”

“A commendable feat, worthy of reporting to the Count.”

I noticed their lightly armored attire, optimized for agility. Their armor was dented and scratched. Just from looking at their armor, I could tell they were veterans, having spent years, even decades, defending Winter Castle.

To them, an outsider would have been nothing but a burden. But I was different. I had single-handedly taken down five orcs before their very eyes.

They recognized my worth. I had transformed from dead weight to a valuable asset.

“Thank you.”

I replied curtly and turned away. The thrill of battle had faded, leaving my heart cold and empty. It seemed I would have to stay here longer.

To find a clue about this terminal illness, this cursed fate.

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“Wahahaha!”

The Count burst out laughing. The commanders exchanged uneasy glances.

“He really took on five orcs at once?”

“Yes. He fought with a ferocity unlike any newcomer I’ve seen.”

“And his attacks were precise, targeting the orcs’ vital points.”

The two knights’ report made the Count laugh even harder. He was amused by the commanders’ bewildered expressions. They knew the knights weren’t lying. They simply couldn’t believe it.

Orcs were notoriously ferocious monsters. They weren’t particularly strong. A trained knight could easily handle one.

But their appearance and their killing intent were terrifying. It was a fear instinctively felt by those lacking combat experience. The commanders knew this firsthand. They had felt the same fear when they first encountered orcs.

Yet, the eldest son of the Philasia Dukedom hadn’t flinched. He had even dominated the Orc Warrior in their first encounter. It was a commendable feat, worthy of praise and celebration.

The commanders bowed their heads. The Count continued to chuckle.

“So, what’s this about ten orcs coming as reinforcements?”

The atmosphere shifted instantly. He was no longer a doting father praising his daughter’s junior, but the Count of Cardia, the one who had long protected this mountain range. His eyes narrowed.

“We confirmed one Orc Warrior and two regular orcs, and engaged them. Then, during the fight, ten more orcs emerged from the bushes at the Warrior’s roar, as if lying in wait.”

“You’re saying… the orcs set a trap?”

The knight nodded. The commanders’ expressions turned grim. The orcs were getting smarter. Smart enough to set traps.

“Our scouts didn’t detect anything. This wasn’t a coincidence.”

“So the orcs really did set a trap…?”

The discussion grew serious. If the orcs were indeed setting traps, it would be a serious problem.

“But there’s something… strange.”

One of the knights spoke.

“They definitely seemed to have set a trap. But… they were more desperate than usual.”

The commanders focused on the knight’s words. Orcs being desperate? It seemed like a given for monsters, but the knight wasn’t naive. There had to be a reason for him to use that word.

“They were different. Before, they seemed content with just wanting to take Winter Castle. Now… they were fighting like they had to.”

The knight reported. The orcs’ movements, their behavior, everything indicated a desperate need to win. They were afraid. Orcs, the dominant monster group in the mountain range, were afraid.

Silence fell over the room. Should they be relieved that the orcs were running scared?

Or should they be terrified of whatever had frightened the orcs so badly?

They couldn’t decide. The Count pondered for a moment, then spoke.

“Reduce the scouts’ patrol radius and have them work in pairs.”

“Yes, sir.”

“And stock up on supplies within the castle.”

The commanders responded in unison. The Count waved his hand, dismissing them. They stood up and filed out of the room.

The Count remained alone in the conference room, staring at the wall. Beyond it lay the mountain range. The mountain range where he had grown up. How many monsters lurked beyond those snow-capped peaks?

He didn’t know.

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“This isn’t right.”

I muttered, withdrawing my sword from the orc’s body. Blood gurgled from the wound. I looked down at the corpse.

It was similar in size to the first Orc Warrior I’d encountered, its arms thick enough to crush my throat. It had been a dangerous opponent.

But not enough to… awaken that feeling. My body, which had felt so alive earlier, had returned to its usual state.

Where had I gone wrong? What had I done differently? Five orcs weren’t enough, so I had charged into a group of seven.

Ignoring the knights’ shouts, Agnes’s worried calls. But I hadn’t felt any sense of danger. My heart, which had pounded with excitement, remained stubbornly calm.

“Impressive.”

The knights’ praise had become familiar. I had already slain dozens of orcs. I wasn’t tired. On the contrary, the longer I stayed here, the stronger I felt.

“Next.”

“You’ve already fought thirty…”

“I can still go. Next.”

The guide’s gaze shifted to the knights who had accompanied me. I followed his gaze. The knight looked at me, then at the guide, and sighed.

“The sun is setting. It will be dangerous for you once darkness falls on the plains, Young Master. We should retreat.”

I looked up at the sky. He was right. The sun was setting, painting the sky with hues of red and orange.

The colors of twilight. A sign that night was fast approaching. I swallowed hard, my gaze fixed on the mountain range. I felt like… something was waiting for me there.

“Deron, it’s dangerous once night falls.”

“Indeed. We won’t be able to see the monsters’ attacks in the dark. It’s best to return now.”

Agnes and the guide added their concerns. They were both genuinely worried.

“Sigh…”

I sighed. Had I been too impatient? Or was it because I was so desperate for that first clue?

I didn’t know.

“Alright.”

Agnes’s expression brightened at my agreement. Blood dripped from her sword. She had been following me, relentlessly hunting orcs.

Her hand no longer trembled when she killed. She seemed to have grown accustomed to the feeling of cutting through flesh. Her intermediate-level Aura and Jeolyeong had aided her growth.

When we returned to Winter Castle, the Count was waiting for us, his expression grim. He looked more serious than I had ever seen him. And it wasn’t just the Count.

The entire atmosphere of Winter Castle was heavy. Soldiers rushed about, and commanders barked orders.

A sense of foreboding hung in the air. Agnes, sensing the shift, approached Bell.

Bell, too, had a serious expression on her face, her body clad in armor. She was usually cheerful, always carrying a flask of alcohol since our arrival at Winter Castle.

But her hands were empty. Instead of a flask, she held a crossbow. Bell Cardia was a mage specializing in lightning and fire. The crossbow in her hand meant that the situation was beyond the scope of magic alone.

Her green eyes glinted.

“What’s going on?”

At Agnes’s question, Bell sighed deeply and replied,

“Winter has come.”

At her words, my heart resonated, as if…

…I had been waiting for this.

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