Episode 0

I never dreamed of being reincarnated in another world in my entire life.

Influenced by my father, who was a career military man, I decided to become a soldier from a young age.

I had even received my acceptance letter from the Army Officer Academy, the first milestone in my plan.

Books on war theory, military history, the history of weapons, strategies, and tactics filled my bookshelf on my desk.

I had read all of these multiple times, and they were neatly organized in my head, waiting for the day they could be put to use.

In short, I was a military geek, and to me, being reincarnated in another world was nothing more than a subject one would read about in fantasy novels.

Some people might argue,

“If you reincarnate into a fantasy world, you can enjoy wars, magic, and even adventures with pretty girls, right?”

But that was just talk for a night out drinking. Why would someone as rational, planned, and promising as a future soldier like me wish to be reincarnated in another world?

Especially when the world I’d be reincarnating into was the same one I’d just finished reading about a few days prior through a book I borrowed from an otaku friend… I really didn’t want to end up there.

But my reality was getting hit by a drowsy truck driver while crossing the street, so go figure…

When I woke up reincarnated, I found myself an orphan with no parents and was on the verge of being kicked out with just a few pieces of bread in hand, just half a year before turning 15.

Until now, I had been living in an orphanage attached to a city cathedral, so I didn’t have to worry about starving or freezing to death.

But soon, I’d be kicked out, left to wander the streets and join the city’s impoverished, constantly worrying about life and death.

However, I still had a trump card, having read the entire novel based on this other world.

“Reich Empire Academy Entrance Exam.”

Even though it was a fantasy world with a strict caste system, even a noble’s job as an officer was open to everyone.

Thanks to the teachings of the founding Emperor, anyone with exceptional talent could pass the test, graduate from the academy, and become an officer, changing their fate, even if they were a slave.

Moreover, I could achieve my unfulfilled dream of becoming an officer in my previous life, making it a win-win situation.

Although I wasn’t a genius, my head was filled with tactical and strategic knowledge from a world more advanced than this one, so I was confident I could make it.

I must succeed, no matter what.

So, the day before being expelled from the orphanage, I barely managed to pass the written exam that evaluated basic knowledge.

This earned me the opportunity to take the final interview.