I Was Mistaken as a Genius Mage in a Game

“Hah.”

I couldn’t stop laughing. I wasn’t sure if it was because I was happy, sad, or just dumbfounded.

Either way, laughter wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, was it? They say laughter is good for your health.

Given my disastrous physical stats of Strength 1, Endurance 1, and Agility 1, even this kind of laughter would probably help.

Yeah.

Let’s just think of it that way.

“The former Guiner Count’s estate spans approximately 20 square kilometers, with about 134 buildings designated for commercial use and 122 for residential use. Agricultural land is separately allocated, and there’s also the main mansion and several villas…”

In my room, a middle-aged servant was briefing me on my newly acquired territory while holding a thick stack of documents.

The sheer scale of the wealth was beyond comprehension. Nearly 300 buildings, farmland, a mansion, and villas…

How did all this just drop into my hands?

Still in a daze, I lay on my bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

“I’ll handle most of the paperwork myself. Many contracts contain illegal or unfair clauses, so it will take some time to sort them out. May I take care of it as I see fit? I’ll ensure it’s done in a way that benefits you the most.”

Hah, what do I know? Please, just take care of it for me.

I responded with a good-natured smile.

…Of course, I was still staring at the ceiling while doing so.

You might ask, what’s the point of forcing a smile if I’m not even looking at the person I’m talking to?

Sorry, but I had no energy to concern myself with such trivial matters right now.

“I… don’t really understand any of this. Just make sure people can live decently. I leave the entire estate’s management to you.”

I finally turned my head toward the servant, who was diligently flipping through documents and explaining everything.

“…That makes sense. You already have enough on your plate. Don’t worry about the estate’s management. When the war ends, I’ll ensure this place is developed into something truly beautiful for you to enjoy in peace.”

Hah, much appreciated.

…Though this time, I only thought about it instead of saying it out loud.

Couldn’t I just say it belatedly?

Sorry, but I had no mental capacity left for that either.

What even is this situation?

I have no clue.

“Lastly, please review the list on the table and select the unit you’ll take on this expedition. The sooner, the better. Each name on that list represents a key figure in our military, and we can’t afford to keep them waiting indefinitely…”

“…Understood.”

No response came.

Feeling something was off, I turned my head—only to find the room empty.

…When did they leave?

“This is insane.”

I lay in bed for a long while, staring blankly at the white ceiling.

After five to ten minutes of clearing my mind and taking deep breaths as if meditating, the sensation returned to my hands and feet, and my brain finally acknowledged that all of this was real.

‘Gaining an absurd amount of wealth all of a sudden is nice, but it doesn’t make me stronger. Right now, I need to focus on preparing for the expedition to the Akliptus Forest and establishing a connection with the spirits.’

[Composure] truly was an overpowered trait.

Even after earning lottery-level wealth 30 times over, my mind calmed so quickly.

‘I’ll figure out how to use the money later. Maybe I can hire people to locate random dungeons, purchase rare materials like the Dragon’s Heart, and have them crafted into equipment.’

At this point, I was even starting to feel scared of myself.

Am I actually insane? I almost wanted to consult a psychiatrist, but unfortunately, such a thing didn’t exist in this medieval world.

Here, a child with ADHD was just “restless,” and someone with depression was just “gloomy.”

Truly, the Dark Ages.

“Sigh…”

I refocused and started skimming through the list left on the desk.

The first entry was about a Barbarian company commander and his unit.

He commanded six infantry platoons, three archer platoons, and eleven mages—an elite force with considerable firepower.

Beneath his name was his background and personality profile.

Obelian, son of Ksart, and his unit had eliminated high-ranking demons twice. This elite force even included eleven mages of 5th Circle or higher, with one being a 7th Circle mage.

‘That’s a waste.’

Currently, the Akliptus Forest is nearly deserted, devoid of demons and mutants. Deploying such a high-caliber unit to an empty zone would be an enormous waste of manpower.

‘A unit with a significant number of Dwarves would be ideal. Skilled workers would shorten the time needed to build roads and set up camp.’

I quickly flipped through the list, searching for a Dwarf-heavy unit.

‘Oh.’

Near the bottom of the list, I finally found one that fit my criteria.

A unit led by a Dwarf woman named ‘Black Hammer Velua.’

Most of the infantry in this unit were Dwarves.

Although it was smaller in scale and composed of relatively inexperienced soldiers, the fact that it made the list meant their skills were exceptional.

‘Blue Brow Victor.’

‘Red Anvil Moss.’

‘Green Blade Vania.’

As I read through the names of Dwarves in the unit, a satisfied smile crept onto my face—until I saw a familiar name.

‘Rex Berzak.’

“……”

My gaze froze on the name listed as a platoon leader.

I recalled the conversation I had with him at the 6th Platoon’s funeral.

He had vowed to become a stronger warrior by getting prosthetic arms from the Dwarves… and now, he was already back.

“I’m looking forward to this.”

A unit filled with Dwarves—perfect for the ‘Forward Base Construction’ mission—and including a warrior whose strength I had personally witnessed.

There was no better choice.

I rang the golden bell to summon a servant.

“You’ve made your decision, I presume.”

Unlike before, a young servant in impeccably neat attire opened my door and entered.

“I would like to meet Black Hammer Velua.”

He responded that he would have her brought in within thirty minutes, then closed the door and disappeared.

***

“Greetings, General! I am Black Hammer Velua!”

With a booming voice that shattered the silence, a burly woman entered the room, exuding an imposing presence.

Though she stood at barely 1.2 meters, her arms and legs were packed with thick, well-defined muscles.

After shaking hands with her thick, powerful hands—hands that could probably crush me into paste in an instant—I greeted her and offered her green tea.

“My apologies that it’s not beer or wine. I’ve heard Dwarves are particularly fond of alcohol.”

“Haha! It’s true that we Dwarves love our drink, but we’re not so shameless as to indulge while on duty. Please, don’t assume otherwise!”

…But I had seen the Dwarven King sipping wine while receiving the Sword Saint’s report.

So was Velua calling her own king shameless…?

I have no idea…!

“Well, that’s a relief. Have you been briefed on the operation?”

I asked, still eyeing her with some skepticism.

“The forces of demons and mutants that previously occupied the Akliptus Forest have fully withdrawn, leaving the area effectively unclaimed. Our mission is to seize this unoccupied land and establish a forward base.”

“Good. Have your forces ready as soon as a detailed plan is finalized. It’s a simple task, so the sooner we finish, the better.”

I took a sip of green tea, smiling in satisfaction as I spoke.

But then—

“With all due respect! I believe we must not take this mission too lightly!”

Velua downed her steaming tea in a single gulp before speaking loudly.

“…Why is that?”

I asked, unable to hide my curiosity at her unexpected response.

“As I understand it, the agreement you made with the high-ranking demon in the Enker Highlands only stipulated the ‘withdrawal’ of demon and mutant forces from Akliptus.”

“That’s correct, which is why the area is effectively unoccupied. There won’t be any battles. Doesn’t that make this a simple mission?”

“The contract only enforced a withdrawal of forces, not a full ‘abandonment’ of the region.”

Velua’s words struck me like a hammer to the back of my head.

“Demons are cunning and treacherous! There is a high chance they will launch an assault to reclaim the area while we are busy constructing the base! Furthermore, since they merely withdrew their forces, there is a strong possibility they left behind traps such as ‘mana mines’ throughout the forest!”

Velua’s voice was deep and thunderous, yet her words were razor-sharp.

“…That is a valid concern.”

I let out a breath of genuine admiration at her astute observation.

Hearing my acknowledgment, Velua grinned broadly and slammed her hand onto the table.

…Did I just hear wood cracking?

“It’s a little embarrassing that I didn’t consider this. If I had insisted on using the term ‘abandonment’ instead of ‘withdrawal,’ this operation would have been much safer.”

“Forcing the enemy to withdraw was already an incredible achievement. Normally, we would have had to risk our lives storming an entrenched position, but thanks to you, we can now fortify our own position and make them come to us. There’s no need to dwell on it too much!”

Velua offered reassuring words with a bright laugh.

“…Well, I suppose.”

It felt awkward to say it myself, but it really was a significant accomplishment.

Considering that I had faced a high-ranking demon with just a single platoon, emerged without any casualties, and forced a strategic withdrawal—it was no small feat.

“Still, it’s frustrating. Just one word could have made everything so much easier.”

“There’s no need for regret! You’ve already shaped this into a highly favorable situation! No one can create a perfect scenario every time!”

No matter how much she tried to console me, the frustration didn’t fade. It was, after all, just one word.

For a moment, the scent of a corpse cart seemed to brush past my nose.

This minor oversight could lead to an unnecessary battle, and in that battle, lives could be lost.

Wasn’t it said that the best commanders are those who achieve their objectives without fighting?

It was obvious—I was nowhere near a top-tier commander. Maybe not even second-rate.

‘Had I known this would happen, I should’ve read a strategy book instead of making music with MIDI back then.’

…No, actually, that’s ridiculous.

Who in their right mind would read Sun Tzu’s Art of War in preparation for being sucked into a game and mistaken for a genius mage?

Even a psychiatrist would be at a loss for words.

“Besides, I personally believe that if you had used the term ‘abandonment,’ the demons might have refused to accept the agreement in the first place. That would have led to an immediate battle, and all that wheat would have been burned to the ground.”

“I know, I know… Let’s just focus on the operation now. I don’t want to waste more energy dwelling on this.”

Velua, seeing me shift back to business, smirked before raising her voice once more.

“First, we will deploy reconnaissance teams in two groups! One will scout the forest for traps, while the other will ensure no demons or mutants are lying in ambush beyond the perimeter!”

Unlike me, who had been parachuted into the position of general thanks to the Sword Saint’s backing, Velua was a seasoned soldier who had risen through the ranks through sheer merit.

“The main force will advance based on the information provided by the reconnaissance teams. This will be the safest and most reliable approach.”

Her words were flawless, leaving me with nothing but admiration.

“If there are demons waiting in ambush around the forest, we will deal with them first—”

In times of war, command positions were never given away lightly.

She had planned for every contingency, including backup strategies in case the primary plan failed.

“However, this is only my suggestion. The final decision rests with you, General Bin! If you wish, we can move out immediately—”

“No, I believe following your plan is the best course of action.”

There was no reason to reject the carefully crafted strategy of an experienced field commander.

“Then we will dispatch the reconnaissance teams at first light. As soon as we receive intel, I will have a servant relay the information to you immediately.”

“Thank you. I appreciate it.”

She left the room with the same confident laughter she had entered with.

Her voice was so loud that my ears were ringing, but there was no doubt—she was an exceptional officer and a reliable subordinate.