I Was Mistaken as a Genius Mage in a Game

The hills were made up of mud and weeds were growing here and there. But they were so few that the soles of my heavy, thick military boots dug into the mud with every step.

The moon was high in the sky. The pitch-black clouds that had been there for the past few months had scattered after spewing out all the lightning they contained, and the full moon that had been hiding behind them illuminated the barracks and the surrounding area.

The air around me was cool, as if it had just rained.

The cool breeze and my experience of climbing the hill diagonally made the path not feel so arduous.

‘Why did that guy, who was so broken, climb such a high hill?’

I vented my petty complaints as the cool breeze hit me. It was a leisurely... ... and perhaps even peaceful moment.

On this hill, I could see faint flower buds sprouting among the weeds shining in the moonlight. When I saw the flower buds, I naturally wanted to take Lir up this hill later. It was a hill that could be said to have less of a smell of blood in the dirty and gloomy battlefield.

“Are you going to desert now?”

However, those peaceful thoughts disappeared in an instant at Rex’s one word from the hill.

‘Yes?’

Desertion.

An act of a soldier running away from the army without permission.

Desertion was a serious military crime, to the point that deserters in wartime were subject to immediate execution.

In addition, if I had the ability to survive the attacks of the overlords, it would have been a dream crime that I would have committed right away.

... ... It feels a bit strange to say a dream crime, but anyway, that’s it.

“Yes.”

Ed answered very calmly and coolly.

Since we hadn’t reached the top of the hill yet, I couldn’t tell what expression he was making.

“I am your superior. In fact, your current position was recommended to me. Are you planning to leave and embarrass me?”

“......Why did Rex come to the battlefield?”

“Because I am a warrior.”

Rex’s urging was a question that came back to him, but he answered Ed’s question without a second of hesitation.

“......I envy you.”

Ed spoke with a trembling voice. His voice was clearly tired. It was to the point where it was doubtful whether he was the same person who had such a cheerful and bright personality that it was annoying.

“I wanted to be a hero. Since I was little, everyone called me a hero, and I thought I would become one soon.”

If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

Ed’s voice was trembling. I don’t know what he saw on this mission, but it definitely wasn’t normal.

“......But, I found out today. I can’t do that.”

Ed, who is so weak. What on earth happened?

“I left someone to die. No matter how much I tell myself that it was for the mission, that it was a sacrifice for the greater good... I can’t get the screams of Private Danny, who was being dragged somewhere by those big, dirty hands, out of my head.”

Ed murmured in a voice that was almost crawling now.

The small voice barely reached my ears on the wind.

Who on earth could Danny be?

... ... What did he see?

“I saw Bin-nim embroidering the sky today. I wanted to be that kind of person.”

Ed took a moment to catch his breath and then continued his story in a tearful voice.

“But... I probably won’t ever reach that level. Only one or two people in a century are born with that kind of talent.”

I couldn’t tell if Ed was angry or sad just °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° from hearing his voice.

“I saw it. At first, I didn’t know what that look was... but now I know. Belle Artois. He is considered the most powerful of the current magicians, and he envied the child who decorated the sky.”

It could be both anger and sadness.

“Do you know what this means? It means that even those with talents like Belle’s can’t become heroes.”

“.......”

Rex didn’t say anything to Ed, who was swallowing his anger in a small voice.

He seemed to be just watching the child writhing in pain.

“Only a handful of people can reach that position... and in this day and age, there are only two: Black Star and Bin. I thought I was outstanding. I never doubted that I had talent. Although I couldn’t compare to the general, I thought I was strong in my own way...!”

Ed seemed to be unable to laugh in vain, thinking about how arrogant he had been.

He took a breath for a moment.

Immediately after, a sound of someone hitting his chest hard with a palm was heard.

“......I thought it was a foolish thought. Look at me. A hero who rides a spirit and decorates the battlefield is a piece of shit, but I can’t even properly protect the lives of my comrades.”

Ed soon sobbed and took a deep breath.

His clumsy and anxious breathing weighed heavily on my shoulders.

“A person who becomes a hero is determined from birth.”

After Ed’s despairing voice, the sound of mud slapping could be heard.

It seemed that Ed was finally going on his way.

“Unpleasant.”

Finally, Rex spoke in a low voice.

“.......”

The sound of shoes mixing with mud stopped for a moment.

“It doesn’t matter how you were born. It matters how you die. You didn’t want to be a hero, you wanted to be a clown.”

Ed didn't respond to Rex's words.

Then came the sound of mud sloshing.

The sound gradually became smaller and smaller, and soon became completely inaudible.

For a while, only silence reigned over the hill.

I couldn't figure out when I would be able to climb to the top, which was almost there.

... ...Should I just go back down?

"Come up slowly."

Hmm.

Yeah. I guess I can go up now.

I slowly climbed up the hill at Rex's call. There was only a large orc and the footprints that were still clearly visible.

"Uh...."

Rex's back, as if looking in the direction Ed had left, looked very bitter.

"I'm sorry. You trusted me and gave me the right to greet you, but this happened."

"No, I don't mean to blame Rex. It's just... It's a shame, you know."

Honestly, I didn’t really feel as sad as I thought when Ed disappeared. It had only been a few days since I met him, and even then, my first impression of him wasn’t that good.

“He was like a child, always talking about being a hero. His behavior... He seemed so out of touch with reality. That’s why I’m not that surprised.”

Since he’s already gone, I guess I can talk freely now.

I told Rex my true feelings about Ed.

“He’s actually a child.”

“......I’m younger than you.”

“You’ve been through a lot, General. You’ve met the Overlord, and you’ve been in dangerous dungeons where artifacts were discovered since you were young.”

It was a lie that you’d been in dangerous dungeons since you were young.

I didn’t know that that vague lie would be used so usefully.

“In comparison, that guy Ed is a child. He only fought against weak demons and mutants compared to his talent and skills, and thanks to that, he has never experienced a miserable failure or defeat in his entire life.”

Rex quietly went down the hill and said this.

“......Twenty is the right age to become an adult. At least that’s what I think.”

I looked at Rex and wanted to ask myself, ‘What are you going to do about the reduced number of my escort troops?’

Ed left, and we had to prepare for the future.

Rex had known Ed since the beginning, so Ed seemed bitter about his departure, but I didn’t feel any such feelings about his absence.

Whether Ed becomes an adult or lives as a brat for the rest of his life, is it my business? He is no longer my escort, but just a deserter.

The generals’ barracks are always brightly lit until late at night.

Grisha had to record the total number of casualties and deaths that day, and Bell had to grasp the current situation and make plans for the future.

However, tonight, unlike usual, only a small lantern illuminated the barracks. Normally, the two would have to work late into the night on paperwork, but today, the workload was less than usual.

The reason Grisha's workload was less than usual was none other than alcohol and cigarettes.

Usually, soldiers who were extremely stressed would cause trouble or harm themselves, resulting in injuries, or they would lose concentration and use magic on their allies, making ridiculous mistakes. However, today, thanks to alcohol and cigarettes, the soldiers' stress was reduced, and such accidents were significantly reduced.

The soldiers who came to their senses proved that they were the best elite on the continent, and they held off the mutants and demons who came rushing in without much damage. The number of casualties today was only eleven at most, and there were no casualties except for Bell and those who went on a mission.

Bell would normally have been wrestling with his reports and maps until dawn, but today he was able to close his eyes early.

The operation to infiltrate the enemy camp and bury the parchment was successfully completed. In addition, the boy attracted attention more splendidly than expected.

The Demon Lords would not be able to sit idly by and watch this situation. They would launch an active offensive to eliminate the existence of Bin, and the Continental Army would only have to counter them.

The traps were set.

Now it was time to wait for crayfish or fish to be caught.

“General Bell, are you asleep?”

A small voice came from the entrance of the barracks, emitting a faint lantern light.

“What’s going on?”

Bell, who was lying on the bed with his eyes closed, asked as he was. Grisha and the boy were deep in sleep, even though it was early in the night.

“The letter has arrived.”

Bell opened his eyes as if what he had been waiting for had finally arrived and got out of bed.

“......Who is the caller?”

Bell slowly rang and he asked as he walked towards Kuro.

“I am the General.”