‘In the end it becomes like this.’

A strengthless laugh.

However, i’m not surprised or feel unfair.

Because I knew that I was going to die like this.

“Whew.”

He let out a long breath.

The steam rising coming from his mouth rises to the sky.

“There was a bastard alive over there.”

Looking at the steam of his breath, some enemy soldiers came walking to him.

‘Just let me be. There’s a hole in my stomach, anyways.’

He wanted to say that but he just let it be.

He remembered the spring from 20 years ago.

‘Was I 18 years old when I ran out of the town saying that I would become a great commander that would command the entire world?’

After that, he kept going to the battlefield for 20 years.

And the result of that was that he only had a bit of money in his hands and that he belonged to the first corps of spearmen.

‘What great general. I’m going to die freezing. Damn it.”

His life passed through like a revolving lantern.

‘What would have happened if I had participated in that surprise tactic? No, if I had enrolled when they were enlisting soldiers in the region of Bate? No, no. If I went west in that winter when there was the monster subjugation?’

A crossroad with plenty of choices.

At that time, he chose one side without hesitating.

But the results weren’t that good.

And because of that, he had a hole in his stomach and was waiting to die.

Soon, he could see the evil expressions of the enemy soldiers very close.

‘Damn it.’

The curse ran through his throat.

Stab.

A steel sword stabbed his chest.

“Damn……it.”

His voice without strength rolled outside his mouth.

Roan of the first corps of spearmen from the Rinse kingdom died like that.

“Huff!”

The clogged breath exploded.

“Huff. Huff . Huff”

His chest beat like he had run the whole day.

‘Did I die?’

He felt strange.

His senses felt dull just like when he had just woken up from a dream, and his head hurt as if it would split.

At that time, he felt a strong impact in the back of his head.

Thwack!

“This bastard of a newcomer slipping out! You dare to get asleep while we are on standby for battle?”

Roan looked back with his cloudy eyes while touching the back of his head.

“Oh? Are you glaring at me right now?”

A robust man with a square chin.

He couldn’t see well because his field of vision bothered him, but Roan could know who he was.

“Mister Pete?”

It was certainly Pete.

The senior of the 7th corps rose unit he was first in 20 years ago.

‘But he died in the monsters subjugation 20 years ago……..’

Roan frowned.

‘In the end, you meet dead people again.’

At that moment, he stood up and extended his hand, feeling glad to see him again.

“It’s been a long time. Nice to see you.”

A greeting while he smiled.

However, Pete’s expression wasn’t that good.

“This bastard!”

A punch flew along with a curse.

Thwack!

“Kugh!”

Roan rolled after being hit.

A severe pain could be felt.

‘Damn it. Can you feel pain even after you die?’

He moved his chin.

At that time, he saw his right hand and his body.

A really feeble body.

On top of that, the back of his hand was soft and clean.

‘What is this? Do you get younger when you die?’

Everything made him question.

At that time, someone hurriedly came to him and stopped him.

“Roan. Are you crazy? Why are you so suddenly like this?”

A noise so small it seemed it was whispering to him.

Roan slowly turned his head and looked at the owner of the voice.

“Pierce?”

A surprised expression.

Roan’s face was much more surprised than when he saw Pete.

“Why are you here…….? No, you got younger on top of that?”

Pierce didn’t die.

On top of that, he couldn’t die.

Because after he became duke of Rinse kingdom, he didn’t show himself in dangerous places like battlefields.

However, he couldn’t understand more than anything how he got young. It made him remember the first time they met 20 years ago.

“Are you crazy?”

Pierce slapped him with a hurried expression.

Slap.

At that moment, Roan felt that his consciousness got clearer.

Just like the fog in his head was lifted.

And the dull senses became sharp just like before.

When that happened, he could clearly see the scene before him.

‘Is this the rose troop’s barracks?’

He was certain.

He was certain that it was the barracks the rose troop used 20 years ago.

It wasn’t a thing such as heaven or hell.

On top of that, the people that were seated in a line on the floor.

They were all familiar faces.

‘My comrades from the rose troop from 20 years ago? What happened? Did I not die?”

A confusing situation.

However, his thoughts didn’t last for long.

“This bastard!

Because Pete approached him and kicked him.

Bang.

“Kugh.”

Roan rolled in the floor and quickly curled himself.

He hid his vitals by instinct.

But fortunately, Pete couldn’t continue kicking him.

It was because the entrance of the barracks opened and a middle aged man with scary eyes appeared.

“What are you doing!”

A sharp voice.

Roan recognized the owner of that voice even without looking at him.

‘Squad commander Tane.’

His head started to roll.

‘I didn’t die.’

He slowly pinched the inner sides of his tigh.

An intense pain.

‘It’s not even a dream.’

Then only one thing remains.

‘Did I return to the past?’

It was difficult to believe, but it had the highest probabilities.

If that also wasn’t it, maybe the past 20 years of his life was just a dream.

‘Whatever it is, i’m still alive.’

It was enough for him with just that.

Roan slowly stood up from that place and returned to his seat.

Tane frowned but he didn’t keep talking.

He didn’t have the leisure to do so right now.

“Everybody prepare. We will pass through Ale village and reach Pedian’s plain.”

At that moment, everybody’s faces became distorted.

“Oh damn. For it to be Ale village.”

“If we went to Varen’s castle I was planning to densely ease myself.”

“That bar last time was fine, right?”

“Yes. The female owner killed it.”

They talked among themselves and soothed their regretful feelings. Tane clapped.

Clap!

“Everybody shut your mouths and move quickly! Oliver take care of the newcomers.”

“Yep!”

Oliver that was tall and had a slim body replied in a loud voice and approached Roan.

“Everybody take your helmets and your armor.”

At his words, the newcomer soldiers including Pierce started to slowly equip their armor.

Oliver looked at Roan and said as if he was growling.

“You stupid bastard. You too wear it quickly. I’m looki…….”

He couldn’t finish his words.

Roan had skillfully equipped the armour and even finished organizing his luggage in an instant.

‘What is this bastard? Why is he so skilled?’

Oliver was at a loss of words for a moment.

Only looking at how he was packing the luggage was even a step higher than himself.

‘I did these kind of things for 20 years.’

Roan put a bitter smile.

Oliver wanted to say something else, but as he had nothing to point out he turned back with a disappointed face.

At that time, Pierce’s voice rang through his ear.

“Roan.”

A voice so small it seemed he was whispering him.

As Roan looked back Pierce pointed the luggage bag and put a pitiable face.

‘You really are the same as 20 years ago.’

He was also like this back then.

Pierce at that time was timid and didn’t have any talent. But on top of that he had a small body so he always asked him for help.

Roan walked towards him and shook his head after packing his luggage in the bag.

‘For this guy to become the duke of Rinse kingdom surpassing the commander in chief……..’

Just looking at him right now, was something unbelievable.

‘He was lucky. His life became better when he became apprenticed to the genius spearman Reil Baker……..’

At that moment, Roan’s eyes became round wide.

His fingers trembled.

“Roan. What happened?”

Pierce put on a worried expression but it wasn’t a situation where he could mind that.

‘If it’s true that I returned to the past, then I know what’s going to happen from now on.’

Although he didn’t remember all of the small details and accidents, he did remember the news that made the world shake.

Especially, the battles and wars he faced the past 20 years. He remembered it all clearly to the point that if he was asked to make a report of it, he could write it all down.

Thump thump.

His heart beat faster.

‘I can become one.’

His two eyes became filled with hot passion.

‘This time, I can become one.’

Roan’s face became bright red.

‘This time, I can really become a great commander. A great commander that can really command the entire nation.’

His smile became dim.

‘No, no.’

The memories, experiences and information he had weren’t in the level to satisfy him only with being a great general.

Grip.

He strongly clenched his fist.

‘At least, I should become a monarch.’

From old times, they said to dream bigger.

The objective of his past life was becoming a great commander.

But he became a spearman.

So the objective in this life was becoming a monarch.

‘If that’s so, won’t I at least become a commander?’

On top of that, the starting line in this life was already different.

Because he knew what was going to happen from now on.

‘First………’

He remembered the memories from 20 years ago.

The first battle.

That fierce memory.

At that moment, Roan’s face froze.

“Damn.”

He remembered.

The heartbreaking and miserable first battle.

20 years passed, but he remembered perfectly.

‘Excluding me and Pierce, all of the newcomers died.’

It wasn’t only them, but Oliver and squad commander Tane had also lost their lives.

‘We got attacked near Ale town by the goblins.’

A gorge that got narrower.

That was where those bastards were hiding in ambush.

The rose troop that was moving carelessly almost got swept up.

‘What can I do?’

Tell the commander the truth that the goblins were hiding to ambush them?

‘It would be fortunate if he doesn’t cut off my neck.’

There was no way they would listen to the words of a newcomer without any proof.

No, in the first place he wouldn’t even meet him.

‘Should I tell squad commander Tane?’

It wasn’t a good option.

In his memories, he didn’t really have a friendly character.

‘Then, do I have to look how the squad gets annihilated?’

He couldn’t do so.

He didn’t want to also ruin this life.

Then, Roan’s face brightened

‘Ah! There was that.’

The corner of his mouth slowly rose.

He looked at Tane as if he was waiting for something with eager eyes.

“Ah! Also…..”

Tane, that was packing his luggage, yelled with an expression as if he had remembered late.

“Is there someone that’s familiar with the zone of Ale? Someone that lived for long in that zone, or spent a long time.”

‘This is it!’

Roan took a step and raised his right hand.

“I know it well.”

“You?”

Tane frowned.

‘The guy who was being hit by Pete.’

Pete wasn’t the type to get violent with no reason.

Then that meant that this guy in front of him had a problem.

‘Troublesome.’

The role of guide was certainly important.

If he made a mistake, he could put in danger all of the squad.

“Do you really know well the zone of Ale?”

“Yes! I do. I can go from here, Ellin’s fortress, to Ale village with my eyes closed.”

“Mmm.”

Tane frowned and looked at Roan.

‘Well, the decision is made by the adjutant.’

He didn’t keep thinking for long.

In the first place, he wasn’t the type to do so.

“Fine. What’s your name?”

“It is Roan.”

“You pack your things immediately and follow me.”

Tane walked and looked at general Lander.

“Lander. If you finish your preparations go to the drill ground with the guys.”

“Yes. Understood.”

Lander smiled as if telling him not to worry and nodded. Tane hit his chest and went outside.

Roan hurriedly followed his back.

As he went outside the barracks, a familiar smell tickled the tip of his nose.

‘The smell of war. No, the smell of death.’

Ironware, bonfire, horses, sweat, guys and blood.

A smell that had many things mixed.

It was a smell he sensed for the past 20 years until he got sick of it.

It was a disgusting smell, but somehow a corner of his heart got more comfortable.

‘The more you get to like this smell, the closer you are to death.’

Roan smiled bitterly and shook his head.

At that time, Tane that was one step ahead of him asked bluntly.

“Where are you from?”

“I’m from a small town in the mountains that’s in the borders of the mountain ranges of Grain.”

“Grain mountain range….. It’s a rough place.”

Tane talked like that and continued his steps.

‘A guy from Grain’s mountain range know the zone of Ale well?’

A feeling he got deceived.

‘Well, i’m not the one to get punished.’

Tane smirked and looked in front.

A middle aged man was looking at the pile of documents.

“Adjutant Dosen.”

Tane approached him and bent down.

Middle aged man, Dosen was one of the five aides in rose troop in charge of guiding.

‘He already picked quite a few.’

Tane’s gaze moved next to him.

He saw the other guides from the other squads.

They already numbered more than 10.

“Oh. Tane.”

Dosen smiled brightly and greeted him with his chin.

Tane fell to the side and pointed at Roan.

“There’s also a guy in our squad that knows the zone of Ale well.”

“Really?”

Dosen moved his sight and looked at Roan.

“It’s the first time seeing him. Is he a newcomer?”

“Yes. He came yesterday.”

“He’s a really hot guy.”

Dosen smirked and looked at Roan up and down.

“You know well the zone of Ale?”

“Yes.”

Roan replied without hesitating.

‘Only the amounts of battles in the zone of Ale amount to twenty. Twenty.’

Because of that, the surrounding zone was really clear to his eyes.

Dosen nodded at his reply.

“Then should I ask you a simple question? What’s the specialty product of Ale?”

A not difficult question.

“It’s Barley.”

“Then, the biggest village in the zone of Ale?”

“It’s of course Ale. Continued by Riven village, Moss village, and Ferbus village.”

Answer without stopping.

‘All places where had battles.’

Roan smiled.

Dosen nodded with a surprised expression.

“I didn’t know that you would even know Ferbus village. It seems like you have indeed lived in this zone for quite long. You are just perfect for a guide.”

Roan didn’t really talk about where he came from.

Because that wasn’t the important thing.

‘I find the hiding goblins one step ahead of them.’

He looked at the guides that were next to him.

‘Because of these guys not doing their job properly, many people died.’

Of course, he knew well why they couldn’t discover the goblins.

This was a safe zone with no monsters at all.

So they also thought that there was no way that goblins would appear.

‘This time, I am blocking them.’

Roan bit his lower lip.

“Take this. Don’t lose it.”

Tane gave him one spear.

Roan nodded and gripped strongly.

Grip.

A strong and heavy feeling.

‘Uncomfortable.’

His palms were excessively soft and smooth.

The injuries and hardened skin he got the past 20 years all disappeared.

‘It really is starting again.’

He smiled bitterly.

“Then, I will take my leave.”

Tane saluted at Dosen and moved his step to the drill ground.

Roan took in a deep breath while looking at Tane’s back getting farther away.

“Don’t be too scared.”

A soldier that was looking at him bumped his shoulder.

He seemed to have misunderstood that he was afraid.

“This much is nothing. Last year………”

He talked about his tales of heroism for quite a while.

‘I also have 20 years worth of tales.’

When he started to talk, the story had no end.

At that time, Dosen put aside the pile of documents.

“I think that this many guides will be enough. Mason. As you have the most experience, lead the other guides.”

At his words, the soldier that was talking without stop smiled brightly and nodded.

“Understood! Just leave it to me!”

An exaggerated answer.

A look that made you not able to trust in him at all.

‘This is why you got ambushed by the goblins.’

Roan frowned.

‘It’s a bit troublesome if the rose squad gets annihilated.’

In his past life, the rose squad got annihilated because of the ambush of the goblins.

Because of that, all of the surviving soldiers along with Roan, got separated and got enrolled in other squads.

‘Even if you pile your efforts, it gets taken by other guys.’

The stones that came rolling aren’t as appreciated as the fixed ones.

And originally, the soldiers that were in this squad already ignored him.

And taking the efforts of another was also a frequent thing.

Because of that even after he had caught a lot of monsters, he got reprimanded for moving alone.

‘I can’t live like this in this life.’

Grip.

He put strength in his hand.

“Well! We are also moving to the drill ground.”

Mason’s loud voice.

He moved one step ahead of them and started walking.

Roan followed his back and took in deep breaths.

‘This is the start.’

The moment his life starts again.

His heart beat faster.

Blow.

The wind that was blowing carried the smell of the battlefield.