Chapter 3
‘So… was their reaction earlier because I went along too nicely?’
I walked along the yellow line, mulling over various guesses.
“Ugh, this place is disgustingly huge.”
Even after walking for ten minutes, the path seemed endless.
During that time, I had seen a lot, but the most striking thing was the atmosphere.
‘Are they all walking around with swords like this?’
Maybe because of the wartime situation, the security was extremely strict.
“Could it be there?”
By the time I started sweating, the yellow line ended, revealing a vast parade ground.
‘Wow, quite a crowd.’
Hundreds, maybe over a thousand men…
‘Wait… there are women too.’
And not just one or two—roughly one out of every twenty.
‘Then my sister could have come too.’
Of course, if I asked, she would have said no, refusing even if I begged.
“All they have to do is offer a bounty, draft some commoners, and send them off. Why do we have to go? I don’t even want to imagine if something goes wrong.”
“That’s right. And since it’s the Emperor’s order, we can’t refuse.”
As I entered the parade ground, I could hear the conversations of the stiff-faced noble heirs.
‘Looks like everyone’s in a similar position as me.’
There were actual heirs here, and others like me who were promised rewards and pushed into service. Surprisingly, the former group was the majority.
‘Guess this participation is politically significant.’
From my experience living in Korea, I know this—once this war ends, participation will become a permanent label among nobles, sticking to them for life.
“Attention!!”
I had been crouching in a corner, unfamiliar with anyone due to lack of socializing, when a booming voice from the platform drew everyone’s eyes.
“We will now begin the enlistment ceremony. Cadets, form into 50-row platoons.”
“Platoons? What’s that?”
“More importantly… who’s he, speaking so casually?”
As expected, nobles could never stand casual speech.
“If you do not wish to enlist, step aside immediately. We will not force you.”
‘Ah, damn it.’
Familiar gaslighting.
It was so similar that I almost cursed naturally.
‘Holding swords and threatening us, and you say you’re not forcing anything?’
Someone had to be drafted—there was no choice.
“How about the cadet in front as the reference?”
Suddenly, a man raised his arm and pointed at me.
‘Why me of all people?’
If he had pointed ambiguously, I could’ve ignored it, but being singled out so clearly…
“Reference!”
Recalling my training days in the camp, I raised my right arm and called out “reference.”
At that moment, all eyes turned to me.
Even the soldiers on the platform seemed momentarily impressed.
“Form into 50-row platoons. Execute!”
“Execute!”
Habitually, I echoed the command.
The man on the platform openly smiled, sending a heated gaze as if pleased with me.
‘Damn it, this feels wrong from the start.’
Still, we managed to form the 50-row platoons, and the ceremony began.
“Brigadier General Chels, Commander of the Training Camp, will speak.”
After the dull, uninteresting national anthem, a high-ranking official appeared.
‘Brigadier… that’s one star, right?’
In the military, these people are basically gods. Their power is absolute.
“Salute the commander! Loyalty!”
“Loyalty…?!”
Following the master of ceremonies, I raised my hand and saluted.
The problem was that fewer than ten of us, including me, did it correctly.
“You still have no sense of being a soldier. That’s alright. You’ll learn properly while you’re here.”
Being right in front of me, I could see Brigadier Chels’ distorted expression.
“I have much I’d like to say today, but time is short, so I will be brief.”
He scanned the cadets from side to side.
“Peace, which seemed eternal, was broken after 20 years. Many of you here may not even know what war is. Most were not even born then.”
He wasn’t wrong.
The body I had possessed was only nineteen.
“As someone who has experienced war as a soldier, I can tell you—it’s horrific. Whatever you imagine, it will be worse. Soon, you will be thrown into the very heart of such a war.”
Was it the authority from experience speaking? Or was he truly talking about the imminent future we were about to face?
Gradually, the noisy parade ground fell completely silent.
“If you wish to survive, spend your time training yourself rather than whining. Regret after a sword is at your neck will be too late. I wish you luck. That is all.”
“Salute the commander! Loyalty!”
After Brigadier Chels stepped down, a man in an extremely luxurious outfit approached.
“W-Wait, why is a representative here?”
A few cadets recognized him and stammered.
‘Representative?’
I didn’t catch on immediately, but it didn’t take long to realize who he was.
“I will read the Emperor’s edict. Show proper respect!”
Perhaps because anyone born in the empire had learned this countless times, from the commander to over a thousand cadets, all bent their knees within five seconds.
“Ahem!”
The representative confirmed readiness and drew a scroll from a box that radiated not just luxury, but brilliance.
“I would have liked to attend personally, but due to the overwhelming affairs of state, I am sending this edict.”
His voice carried across the parade ground through a magical device that functioned like a modern microphone.
‘He wanted to come in person? Damn…’
The Emperor’s status in the empire is close to divine—if he had come here personally, who knows what would have happened.
“First, I am proud of those who voluntarily enlisted to practice noblesse oblige.”
‘Voluntarily?! Damn it!’
Gaslighting, again.
I wanted to frown, but it wasn’t the time.
“I will never forget your names. I have no doubt that you will lead the future of this empire.”
A guaranteed path by the Emperor himself. Faces around me began to brighten immediately.
“It will feel awkward, with the chain of command and the hierarchy you are being given. Yet I trust you will execute your duties admirably.”
As expected from the Emperor’s edict—it was long.
‘Feels like a principal’s long speech.’
Of course, no dozing allowed—any misstep could be punished as an offense against the royal family.
“1,307 cadets, as of this moment, you are the proud officer candidates of the empire. Fight for pride and victory. That is all.”
With the removal of the “prospective” tag, the edict concluded.
“Long live the Emperor!! Long live!! Long live!!”
As the cheers filled the parade ground, the moment of no return as a soldier arrived.
For the first time since possessing this body, the cursed message appeared:
[Special privileges granted to those riding the wind of fate.]
[Status window unlocked.]
[Acquired skill: Physical Training.]
[All privileges will be lost if you abandon your soldier status.]
[May blessings await at the end of your fate.]
“Fate….”
‘No!!! Damn it!!!’
Even the timing and the words felt like mockery.
‘If I’m destined to be a soldier, just kill me! Why give me a second life!’
I thought I had gained a precious second life, but now I realized I hadn’t.
“Cadets, follow the instructors ahead to the barracks.”
The enlistment ceremony concluded, and we followed the line up the hill toward the building.
“Eight per room. Fill the room accordingly.”
“What is this?! You expect me to live here?!”
A man at the front ran to the instructor, raising his voice.
“What’s the problem?”
“There’s no personal space! The room is tiny! Even alone it would be small, but eight people?!”
‘Let’s see how bad it is.’
I peeked into the room.
Eight single beds and lockers, spaced out. Honestly, having spent two years in a 1970s-era dorm, this felt like a hotel.
‘Military facilities can be this good?’
No bunk beds, just single beds. My lips naturally curled upward.
“Cadets, this is the military. Return to your rooms.”
The instructor’s expression hardened. He was definitely pissed.
‘Bad sign.’
From experience, I knew that training instructors and drill sergeants are crazy enough to apply collective punishment for the slightest infraction.
“I can’t live here!”
The man continued complaining.
It didn’t take long for the instructor’s patience to reach the limit.
“Sigh… Down on the ground.”
“What…?”
“If you disobey again, points will be deducted. You know what that means, right?”
At the words “points deducted,” the man’s eyes flickered.
‘This affects training scores, right?’
The lower the score, the less chance of being posted where you want. Everyone knew the default assignment would be the front lines.
“Wait! There’s been a misunderstanding! We can talk—”
“Down on the ground. Execute.”
Faced with the instructor’s unwavering stance, the man clenched his teeth and pressed both hands to the floor.
“The rest, proceed to your rooms. Complaints can wait outside.”
No one dared complain after seeing a man on the floor like a battlefield casualty.
‘Why stir up trouble and make this place even more hostile?’
This is why nobles are always a problem.
Clicking my tongue, I went to Room 7, my assigned seat, waiting for the rest of the roommates.
Each one entering had a grim expression—except the last man, who came in smiling.
“Uh….”
“Hmm….”
The eight of us faced each other. Surprisingly, no one spoke first.
‘Might as well check my status while we wait.’
Opening the unlocked status window:
Name: Phalan
Family: Oclo
Unit: Adelp Military Training Camp
Rank: Cadet
Special Skill: Physical Training
‘This looks… pathetic.’
Normally, a status window shows stats like strength, intelligence, agility, stamina, all leveling up—a game-breaking system. But this? Useless.
‘And the special skill is just “Physical Training”? What’s that?’
I carefully opened the additional description.
[Physical Training]
A strong body builds a strong mind. Consistent physical training is mandatory for soldiers. Train your body and prove the results.
Effect: Increased muscle recovery and growth efficiency, unlocks stamina test.
‘Stamina test…?’
A term familiar from military life made me tilt my head.
[Stamina Test]
Grade: Not attempted
Next grade: Level 9
Evaluation: 3 km run in 15 min, 30 push-ups, 35 sit-ups
Reward: Shop access, 50 points
‘Oh….’
Unlike the military, passing this gave rewards—not punishments. Actually, just rewards.
‘Feels like a game.’
Especially the shop. That alone was exciting.
‘If this were my previous body, I’d pass immediately. Now… not so easy.’
With a flabby body lacking any base, starting from scratch was going to be tough.
‘And it’s still too quiet.’
Were they all introverts? The silence persisted longer than expected. I had no intention of breaking it.
‘The standout is the exception.’
Unless points are awarded for popularity, it’s best to act pragmatically.
Finally, a handsome-looking man spoke.
“Looks like we’ll be together for the next two weeks. How about introducing ourselves? I am Ion Belbrun of the Duke Belbrun family.”
Everyone’s eyes widened at the name.
‘A ducal family… no way.’
I was from a count’s family, still high-ranking, but a duke is untouchable.
“I’m Crushel Casle of the Baron Casle family. Nice to meet you.”
“I am Phalan Oclo of the Count Oclo family. I hope we get along.”
“Derick Rahila of the Count Rahila family! Hehe, I’m curious about the training, can’t wait to start!”
Once one started, the introductions flowed.
To summarize: four barons, one viscount, two counts, one duke. Pretty strong overall.
‘Laughing and excited to start training… already insane.’
Now it made sense why he came in smiling when everyone else looked like they were going to die.
“Wait… was the Rahila family really ordered to enlist? I thought they were exempt.”
Ion asked with puzzled eyes.
‘The Rahila family is famous for consistently producing royal knights.’
Even in my memory, they were renowned.
“Yes, technically exempt, but I just wanted to be a soldier. Thought it’d be a good opportunity.”
‘Whoa… insane.’
A true volunteer, then. Even a count’s son, living a privileged life, genuinely wanted to serve.
“So… a soldier is your dream. That’s impressive.”
“Hehe, now we’re all soldiers. Let’s do our best for the next two weeks! I’m so excited. It’s going to be fun.”
If he were joking, I’d retort—but everything about him, expression and voice, was genuine.
