Chapter 1: The Awakening of Frost
Adrian von Winterhall awoke with the metallic taste of blood in his mouth and a phantom pain in the back of his neck — as if someone had crushed his skull and then rebuilt it.
Seventeen years old. A young body, tall, slender but defined. Long silver hair, piercing ice-blue eyes. Handsome in a way that bordered on dangerous — the kind that made maids lower their gaze and married ladies hold it for too long.
But the memories… they weren't all his. A past life? A transmigration? It didn't matter. What mattered was the decaying castle around him, the wind howling through the cracks, the torn banner of the white wolf.
A translucent ice-blue window appeared in his vision, cold as winter itself:
[Winter Lord System – Activated]
[Class: Winter Mage (Level 1)]
Initial Status (no bonuses):
Strength: 10 Dexterity: 11 Constitution: 9 Intelligence: 17 Wisdom: 13 Charisma: 15 Mana: 170/170 HP: 85/85
[Monster Compendium – Empty]
Kill and record to grow. Goblins don't speak. Goblins don't negotiate. Goblins only die.
[Daily Report – Day 1]
Treasury: 187 gold, 412 silver. Main debt: 1,850 gold to Baron Harlan Blackwood (due in 47 days). Active threat: Goblin tribe "Bloodfangs" — 102 confirmed individuals. Planned attack on Silver River Village: tomorrow, 04:30–05:00. Opportunity: Baroness Lydia Blackwood arrives tomorrow at noon. Declared reason: discuss debt. Real reason: neglected, curious about the "handsome young lord who inherited too early."
Adrian read everything twice. No panic. Only calculation.
"I'm not a Goblin Slayer," he said quietly, rising from the cold bed. "I'm the mage who records plagues before freezing them."
He donned the dark blue tunic with the embroidered white wolf, tied his silver hair with a black ribbon, and took the family's ceremonial sword — a long blade with faint ice runes etched into the steel. It wasn't an ordinary sword; it was a catalyst. It channeled mana for ice spells when needed.
He descended to the courtyard. The few guards and servants looked at him with a mix of reverence and fear. He was too handsome, too young, too cold for that miserable place.
"Meeting in the main hall. Now," he ordered, voice deep and calm.
When everyone was gathered — 28 trained guards, 41 village militiamen — Adrian pointed to the old map on the table.
"We don't defend the village. We lure the goblins to the eastern ravine. Snow-covered trenches with stakes. Oil barrels at the exits. Flaming arrows. Total extermination. No goblin leaves that ravine alive."
An old guard frowned.
"My lord… this is different from what your father used to do. He went straight in, fought with honor…"
"My father died for honor," Adrian cut in, eyes icy. "I don't die for honor. I cleanse the land so it survives."
The system flashed:
[Plan Registered: Eastern Ravine Ambush – Total Extermination]
[Success Probability: 82%]
[Potential Reward: First kills for Compendium – Common Goblin]
Adrian ended the meeting with a simple order:
"Have everything ready by dusk. I'll go to the ravine myself tonight. Any goblin that survives will be my first entry in the Compendium."
End of Chapter 1