I Was Mistaken as a Genius Mage in a Game

A week passed in the blink of an eye.

From 1 PM to 3 PM, I attended Alter’s lessons with Lir, collapsed afterward, woke up after a brief rest, reviewed, and collapsed again. Repeating this routine made the days fly by.

“A letter from Captain Velua.”

Just as I finished my afternoon meal, a young servant handed me a tightly sealed letter. I carefully broke the seal and began reading its contents.

[Regrettably, a large force of mutants and demons has been detected 20 kilometers away in the swamp near the forest. Additionally, multiple mana mines and other traps have been discovered within the forest itself.]

As expected.

The demons had not missed the loophole in our contract and were preparing an ambush.

Velua’s ominous prediction had been proven entirely correct.

“…Tsk.”

True to their reputation, the demons were cunning and insidious. We had never expected them to simply overlook the contract’s ambiguity.

Acknowledging the situation, I gripped my quill and quickly penned a response.

[I’ll handle it. Prepare for Operation ‘White Anvil.’]

If I made a mistake, it was my responsibility to rectify it.

That night, I went to bed earlier than usual.

Tomorrow was going to be a busy day.

***

As the sun began to crest the horizon, I awoke four hours earlier than usual. After gathering my robe, hat, and spellbook, I stepped out of my room.

Unlike before, both Alter and Lir were already up, waiting to accompany me. This time, however, they were fully clad in battle accessories—staves, robes, and enchanted trinkets.

Past the castle’s gates, instead of the usual luxurious royal carriage, a military wagon awaited me, accompanied by a large company of soldiers.

Rows of well-armored dwarves stood at attention, flanked by human, orc, and elves soldiers. Taking in the crisp morning air, I exhaled deeply.

“Today, we reclaim what is ours.”

Tension was evident on the soldiers’ faces. They knew. This was not a simple forward base construction mission.

We were turning the tables and ambushing the demons instead.

A battle was inevitable. There would be injuries—perhaps even casualties.

Losses that would not have occurred if I had been more careful.

‘…Damn it.’

Once again, that wretched scent of corpse carts wafted through my memory.

“This expedition was supposed to be much simpler. But due to my mistake, we now face unexpected challenges.”

I didn’t know how to rally soldiers.

Just a month ago, I had been an unemployed dropout fiddling with MIDI compositions in my room. What did I know about the minds of soldiers about to enter battle?

“So, the battle ahead… perhaps it could have been avoided had I been more cautious. But I wasn’t.”

Instead of feigning confidence, I chose honesty.

“I will formally apologize once this is over.”

Once battle was decided, sacrifices were inevitable. I understood that in my head, but…

“It will be quite the sight—a general bowing to his soldiers.”

My only wish was for every soldier here to return safely to their families.

The last graveyard I visited had been too suffocating—so heavy it felt like my shoulders might break under its weight.

I never wanted to go back to such a place.

Though I knew it was impossible, I still wished for it.

“So please… don’t die before I have the chance to bow.”

A faint smile appeared on the soldiers’ lips.

Had their tension eased, even slightly?

If so, good.

Perhaps, though, they were merely amused by the sight of a young, inexperienced general fumbling to lighten the mood.

Either way, I didn’t care.

They were smiling, and the heavy atmosphere had lifted.

For a rookie commander, I’d say that was good enough.

“We move out.”

“All troops! Mount up!”

The moment I finished speaking, Velua’s booming voice rang out. The dwarves let out a spirited cheer, climbing onto their horses. Meanwhile, Lir and Alter, covering their ears from the noise, boarded the carriage with a grimace.

“General.”

Amid the bustling soldiers, a familiar voice pierced through the commotion.

“…Lieutenant Rex.”

The orc platoon leader, bearing a massive axe on his back, approached me with a mechanical right arm.

Without a word, he saluted.

I returned the salute quietly amid the departing soldiers.

The prosthetic arm that replaced his severed limb bore a bold, crimson-painted ‘6.’

As soon as I lowered my hand, Rex snapped his arm back into place with precise, practiced motion. He had only had the prosthetic for a month, yet he wielded it like his own flesh. It was nothing short of astounding.

“General, you’ve created an opportunity that would have otherwise been unthinkable. The Akliptus Forest was once beyond our reach, but now, thanks to you, there is a massive opening. That alone is more than enough.”

His deep, crimson eyes held a depth of emotion I couldn’t quite place.

Was it empathy for a young prodigy shouldering heavy burdens?

Or was it a rebuke for a foolish human who thought he could control everything?

“None of us are perfect. Even the great Sword Saint makes mistakes—why should we be any different?”

Rex ran his hand along the curved horns of his Komodo mount as he continued.

“So don’t feel the need to apologize afterward. Warriors fight to protect the innocent, knowing full well they may not return. No one here will complain that we weren’t given a ‘perfect’ battle.”

“I take it you’re not fond of my promise?”

“A superior bowing to their subordinates… That is unheard of among orcs. Of course, I respect the cultural differences, but…”

Orcs valued hierarchy and discipline above all else. Raised in such a warrior culture, Rex clearly found the idea of a general bowing to soldiers unsettling.

“All beings on this continent complement each other’s strengths. You have already achieved remarkable results—there’s no need to apologize for every small mistake. Even the great Sword Saint moves with a party to cover his shortcomings, does he not?”

“…I understand what you’re saying.”

“Forgive me for overstepping.”

Having said his piece, Rex bowed his head in apology.

After all this time, he was still the same honorable warrior—proud, yet considerate of others.

“No, it’s fine.”

I smiled reassuringly, signaling that there was no need to worry. Upon hearing my response, Rex gave a firm nod, then turned and hoisted his massive frame onto his Komodo mount.

I watched him climb onto his steed before offering a brief farewell and boarding the carriage where the mages awaited.

Soon, the rhythmic clatter of hooves and the turning of wheels filled the air.

Inside the carriage, aside from Lir, Alter, and myself, there were four additional mages assigned to this unit.

These were mid-rank mages, ranging from 4th to 5th Circle, with considerable battlefield experience.

“…Hah.”

I exhaled deeply, closing my eyes.

Tension that had unknowingly coiled in my shoulders began to ease, and the weight pressing on my mind gradually faded.

I could finally look up at the sky again.

The weather was far too clear for a thunderstorm today.

Taking in the vast, unblemished sky, I inhaled deeply.

The air of this medieval world was far fresher and cleaner than I had expected.

***

A small swamp, just 10 kilometers from the Akliptus Forest.

Thick vegetation and numerous small caves dotted the area, and within them lurked grotesque mutants, their veins coursing with lethal poison.

“…Humans have entered the forest.”

A demon, eyes shut tight, spoke in a detached monotone.

Through the eyes of mutants secretly planted around the forest’s perimeter, the demon observed heavily armored dwarven infantry advancing cautiously into the wooded terrain.

“They appear to be a reconnaissance force. The main unit will reveal itself soon.”

“Considering the distance from the forest to this location… it would be most efficient to mobilize the mutants now. If we move quickly, we can strike before they establish a foothold.”

“I agree.”

Deep within the swamp’s caves, cold, eerie voices conversed. As their discussion concluded, the ground trembled.

Creatures laden with poison began to move toward the Akliptus Forest.

These grotesque mutants, wrapped in moss and leaves, were a fusion of rabbit and tree, or hybrid abominations made from orcs and elves.

Their mere presence corrupted the land and tainted the air with venom.

From within the depths of the cavern, ten demons commanded their mutant hordes to march toward the forest, toppling ancient trees and collapsing sections of the swamp in their wake.

As silence reclaimed the now-empty cave, the demons remained within, fully focused on controlling their mutant forces.

“…This looks like some cult ritual site.”

A quiet yet chilling voice echoed through the cavern, laced with unmistakable disgust.

“…?”

The demons simultaneously opened their eyes and turned toward the voice.

There, a white-haired boy stood, draped in a jet-black robe, holding a crimson lantern.

“How…?”

None of the demons present were unfamiliar with his identity.

The young prodigy mage who had survived an encounter with the Grand Lord. The strategist who had extorted a high-ranking demon.

The unexpected arrival of such a significant figure momentarily halted the demons’ thoughts.

“……”

With all their mutant forces dispatched toward the Akliptus Forest, none remained to defend the cave.

Even if they were to order an immediate retreat, it would take at least ten minutes for their forces to return.

Could they hold out for ten minutes?

Ten ordinary demons against a mage who had stood against the Grand Lord?

No.

Even if they had retained their full strength, even if they fought with all their forces intact—could they have won?

“……”

No matter how they strategized, every possible outcome led to the same conclusion:

Death.

“…How are you here?”

One of the demons, drowning in despair, voiced the meaningless question.

“Our scouts did a better job than expected. Credit goes to my capable subordinates.”

The boy set the lantern down carefully on the damp cave floor.

“And now, it’s my turn to return the favor.”

Crackle—

Faint sparks flickered between the strands of his white hair.

The sudden burst of light unsettled the demons, their eyes struggling to adjust to the brightness in the pitch-black cavern.

‘Ten targets… A perfect test to gauge my current strength.’

For nearly a month, he had trained relentlessly under an 8th Circle mage, honing his magic without rest.

He was undeniably stronger than when he had first arrived in this world.

Yet, he had no concrete measure of his current capabilities.

Due to [Bloom], which expended all his accumulated mana in a single burst, sparring to assess his limits had been impossible.

Wasting stored mana on a mere practice fight would have been reckless—what if an actual emergency arose and he had nothing left to fight with?

‘In the game, a one-shot mage needed to be at least level 20 to handle ten ordinary demons at once.’

Which meant…

These demons before him were nothing more than punching bags, a test of his true power.

“Bloom.”

Zap!

The lantern shattered as raw electricity erupted from his body.

The oil inside the lantern spilled across the damp cave floor, floating atop the puddles of stagnant water.

Sparks leapt from the shattered glass, igniting the scattered oil.

Then—

A surge of electricity burst from the boy, ripping through the cave’s ceiling and surging into the sky, connecting with the clouds above.