I Became the Academy’s Time-Limited Genius – Chapter 64

—————————————————————–

Translated By Arcane Translations

Translator: Silverriver

—————————————————————–

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

 
The return trip from Winter Castle to the academy was smooth. Without the blizzard hindering our progress, I could fully appreciate the majestic mountain scenery.

It was likely thanks to Arwen. My mother, residing somewhere beyond those mountains.

I bowed my head towards the mountain range. I didn’t know if she could see me, but… I felt like she could.

As we left Winter Castle’s domain, a wave of heat washed over us. I had forgotten it was summer.

“I’m going to melt. This is why I always go home during breaks,” Bell grumbled, taking off her coat. The warmth of the Imperial Capital must have been unfamiliar to someone born and raised in Winter Castle.

Arriving at the academy, the familiar air welcomed me. The fresh scent of the forest, absent in Winter Castle. The scent of… people, not the metallic tang of blood.

There were no orcs here. I was finally back. Yet, my hand instinctively hovered near my sword hilt, a habit I’d picked up in Winter Castle.

The Cold Iron sword, gifted by Count Cardia, hung at my waist.

“Agnes!”

Erina rushed towards Agnes the moment we arrived.

“Erina? What are you doing at the academy during the break?”

“I didn’t have anything to do at home, so I stayed with Han and Sophia!”

“Han and Sophia are here too?”

“Yep!”

Erina nodded. I already knew. They had no reason to go home. Han had nowhere to go, and Sophia wouldn’t have access to the academy’s resources for her magic research.

Staying at the academy was far more beneficial for them.

“I’m a bit tired. Do you mind if I head back first?”

“Oh, Deron, get some rest. And… be ready.”

I nodded. I knew why Bell was telling me to be ready. The intermediate-level dungeon. The dungeon Idrian had reserved for Crebiton and me, for combat experience.

Unlike Lenox’s Dungeon, which had been more of a trial, this was a real dungeon. I had no idea what to expect.

But it couldn’t be worse than Winter Castle.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

Back in my room, Petra and Medea were waiting for me.

“Young Master, I heard orcs attacked Winter Castle. Are you alright?”

“I managed to acquire some… souvenirs. And some combat experience. I was injured, but nothing serious.”

Petra’s eyes narrowed, then she sighed and handed me a small box.

“What’s this?”

“Elixirs. From the Duke.”

“I thought he terminated the supply.”

“It seems you’ve… earned back his favor.”

I stared at the box for a moment, then took it. There was no reason to refuse a gift. I leaned my Cold Iron sword against the wall and removed my armor. The tension that had been gripping my body dissipated.

Petra, seeing my sword, asked,

“Young Master, where did you get that… sword?”

“It’s a gift from Count Cardia. Forged from Cold Iron, apparently.”

“Count Cardia?”

Petra’s eyes widened. I added, as an afterthought,

“Oh, and tell Father I met Mother.”

“What?!”

Petra’s jaw dropped. Medea looked at her, as if wondering what was wrong with her.

“You met… Lady Arwen?”

“Yes.”

“H-How… No, never mind.”

Petra seemed flustered, then quickly composed herself. She told me to rest and left the room with Medea.

After they left, I sighed and reflected on what I had gained in Winter Castle.

‘Temporary control of the demonic energy, the advanced level, the Cold Iron sword, an unknown trait…’

I opened my status window.

I was a monster. Thinking back to my initial stats brought tears to my eyes. I was proud of myself for turning a dying, terminally ill body into… something almost human.

Anyway, the trait I had acquired in Winter Castle, after controlling the demonic energy and reaching the advanced level…

I still had no idea what it was. If there were a description, I could at least speculate. All I knew was that it was related to the demonic energy.

“Huhh…”

A trait related to demonic energy… I couldn’t see it as anything but a bad omen. Especially since it was hidden like that.

I lay down for a while, and my fatigue faded. I changed my clothes, grabbed my new sword, and returned to the academy.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

“Deron, you’re back?”

“Ah, Professor.”

Some professors remained at the academy even during breaks. Professor Akdin was one of them. He looked me over, then spoke.

“It seems you had quite the productive time at Winter Castle. You even broke through a wall.”

“It was a valuable experience.”

I could say that now that it was over. It was only in retrospect that I could call the Winter Castle experience valuable.

Professor Akdin smiled slightly.

“I’m glad you returned safely. Agnes seems to need some… counseling, but at least she’s alive.”

“Agnes?”

“It was likely her first experience with…”

With death. With killing both humans and monsters. It wasn’t an experience one could easily forget. I knew Agnes was pretending to be fine, but she wasn’t.

Her drunken ramblings had revealed that much. She must be struggling.

“I expected you to gain some combat experience at Winter Castle, but I didn’t expect you to face… winter itself.”

“I didn’t expect it either.”

“Judging by that sword, you seem to have weathered the storm well.”

Professor Akdin glanced at my sword. I touched the hilt and nodded.

“Let me know if you need any… psychological counseling.”

He seemed to think I would need it, after such a horrific experience.

“I’m fine.”

I declined. I honestly didn’t feel anything. Perhaps it was the demonic energy’s influence. Professor Akdin insisted I could always request counseling, then left.

I watched him go, then continued walking. The academy was quiet, mostly deserted during the break. A sense of relief washed over me as I returned. But the demonic energy within me…

Conflicting emotions swirled within me, but I couldn’t identify them. I didn’t understand why I felt so indifferent to killing.

It was difficult to explain. I replayed the memories of Winter Castle in my mind. The fallen soldiers, the red flowers blooming on the snow.

The horrors of war. And me, laughing, reveling in the carnage. That’s what happened when the demonic energy took over.

Indifferent to death, consumed by the frenzy of battle. The sensation was still vivid.

I gritted my teeth. That wasn’t human. It was monstrous. I didn’t want to become a monster. So I remembered. Those who had died by my sword.

Because of that…I was still human.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

Despite returning from Winter Castle, my body wouldn’t rest. I couldn’t ignore the restlessness, the lingering thrill of battle. It had been a while since I’d done my morning exercises. I hadn’t even been able to consider it when I first arrived at the academy.

Agnes, Han, Sophia, and Erina had remained at the academy. Erina, who had been training diligently with Han, asked about Winter Castle, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

But Agnes didn’t answer. She still seemed to be haunted by the experience, her body trembling whenever Winter Castle was mentioned.

I wanted to help, but I didn’t know how. It wasn’t in the novel, and I hadn’t experienced anything like it myself.

It was a battle she had to fight alone.

“Hah… Hah…”

I ran until I was out of breath, but I didn’t cough up blood. The demonic energy had been dormant since Winter Castle.

It seemed to have settled down, but I wasn’t letting my guard down. I had tried to control it again, but it reacted violently whenever I touched it. It must have been weakened in Winter Castle, dispersed throughout the battlefield. Now that it was concentrated in my heart, its resistance was stronger.

I gave up on controlling it for now and focused on mana manipulation. What was unusual was that my mana now resembled the demonic energy.

The violet mana pulsed and thrashed, its movements more aggressive than before. Erina swung a practice sword at me, its blade imbued with Aura.

After returning from Winter Castle, Erina and Han had both challenged Agnes and me to spars. They were curious to see how much we had improved.

-Whoosh

Her Aura blazed with a crimson light. She had reached the intermediate level. It resembled the burning flames of the Philstine Earldom’s swordsmanship. And the future Sword Saint Erina’s advanced trait was also fire-based.

I swung my practice sword to meet her attack.

-Clang!

“What is that mana?!”

Erina’s eyes widened in surprise as our blades clashed. I didn’t know either. The moment it came into contact with Erina’s mana, mine devoured it.

Was this the trait one acquired upon reaching the advanced level? Like some mythical beast, consuming the energy of its opponents. I withdrew my aura, observing its unusual behavior. It felt more violent, more aggressive, than usual.

It seemed… my mana had fused with the demonic energy.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

Hey everyone, sorry I’ve been away for a while due to personal reasons. But I’m back now, and I’ll be bringing the missing chapters I owe you this weekend. Stay tuned!