Reborn in a World of Knights and Magic

The department I'd just joined was slated for shutdown...

There was a friend of mine who loved novels.

"Right now, there's a mad alchemist who's crazy about explosions and trying to burn down the capital..."

That friend would go on endlessly about novels, even without anyone asking. At first, I brushed it off, but gradually, I started getting interested.

Maybe I should check one out.

Chronicles of Knights and Mages. I'd heard the title so many times it felt like calluses had formed on my ears, so I found it easily.

"Hmm..."

I read a few chapters, but having lived a life miles away from books, I couldn't figure out why it was supposed to be fun.

Magic, swords... wouldn't guns solve everything?

Of course, I understood that in the novel's setting, guns didn't make sense. But since I couldn't focus, random thoughts kept popping up. Especially since I was a total gun nut.

In the end, unable to enjoy it, I left a comment.

I closed the app after posting. Notifications popped up occasionally about replies, but the brutal content visible in the previews made me freak out and delete the app.

"What kind of novel is this? Let's play some games instead."

I muttered as I sat at my computer and put on my headset.

I would've forgotten all about it...

"Ah."

A typical day. After finishing work, I was resting under a tree's shade when an apple hit my head, jolting memories of my past life back to life.

...Looks like I've reincarnated into the world of that novel.

The Boern Empire's Weapons Research and Development Department. Main duties: improving existing weapons and developing new ones.

The name and responsibilities sound grandiose. But in reality, there's not much to do. Partly because it's a peaceful era, but mostly because new weapons aren't what matter in this world.

It takes over a hundred soldiers to take down one knight. A single spell from a mage can wipe out an entire company. Records of swordmaster-level knights holding off two thousand soldiers alone, or 9th circle mages erasing nations from the map, are easy to find.

In short, knights and mages decide the course of battles.

That's why nations pour resources into training exceptional knights and mages without holding back. Meanwhile, weapon improvement and new weapon development get neglected. How much progress can you really make refining medieval cold weapons, anyway?

So, the Weapons R&D Department doesn't have much to do. At best, improving weapon durability or developing new materials. Even that's just for show, to prove we're working.

Show up at 9 a.m., handle a few tasks, and you're done in two hours tops. The rest is chatting with colleagues or kicking back. That's the typical day in Weapons R&D. A total honey pot of a job. Perfect work-life balance, decent pay, light workload. No rough edges among the team members, no hair-pulling stress from the easygoing vibe. And as long as you don't screw up, it's secure until retirement—like civil service.

It's the dream department everyone in the Empire wants to join. The student career surveys confirm it as fact. How I got in...

Lucky break, I guess.

I still don't know how I landed in Weapons R&D. Sure, maybe I have some talent, but connections? As the son of a baron, what pull do I have? Normally, connected folks snag the cushy spots after passing the national exam, while people like me get dumped in the rejects. But somehow, I got the dream gig.

"Good things are good, right?"

Lost in such thoughts, I arrived at the department building before I knew it.

"Time to suck some honey today..."

I headed to my desk first, tidied up some work, and soon colleagues started trickling in.

"Oh, Brown. Early bird today? Not tired?"

"I'm good. How about you, James?"

"Exhausted. Getting old means hangovers linger. Youth's the best."

"Good morning."

Mid-conversation with my senior, the team leader and others arrived.

"Good morning."

"Yeah. Let's wrap up quick and relax."

The day started as usual.

After finishing tasks, an hour and a half had passed. Looking around, James was already dozing at his desk, and the other team members were nowhere in sight—probably off somewhere.

Time for my break.

I stretched and headed to the back of the building. Hardly anyone comes here; it's shady, cool, perfect for a nap. I lay down in my usual spot and started dozing.

"Ow!"

A jolt to my head startled me upright. Something rolled by my side—an apple.

"Ha... damn..."

Clutching my throbbing head, strange memories began surfacing. Unfamiliar, yet somehow familiar. Once I snapped out of it, I stared blankly at the sky and muttered.

"Am I losing it?"

Rubbing my still aching head and mumbling got no answer. Shaking off the unease, I headed back to the department.

"Brown, perfect timing. The director called all staff."

Arwen spotted me and spoke up.

"Something happen?"

"No idea. Emergency meeting. Others went ahead. Let's go."

"Right."

We rarely have meetings, maybe once or twice a quarter. An emergency one out of nowhere felt off. I followed my senior into the conference room. Most of the department was there. A quick glance at the director's face—it looked grave.

What's going on?

The director, who never lost her calm demeanor no matter what, wearing that expression meant big trouble. I quietly took a seat among the gathered staff, gauging her mood. Once seats filled up, she spoke.

"Anyone else coming?"

"Think that's everyone."

Team Leader 1 replied.

"Meeting starts, then. Word is, departments are getting reorganized. Weapons R&D won't escape it. You all know why, I assume."

The director scanned the room before ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠continuing.

"If it happens, no more coasting like now. So, if you've got ideas, speak up. Something to fend off shutdown."

Department shutdown?

I'd just celebrated landing the job. While I spaced out, ideas started coming from other departments.

"How about engraving magic circles on weapons?"

"That was pitched months ago. Upper brass already nixed it."

"Embed magic stones in weapons for mana or aura..."

"Magic stones don't grow on trees. Efficiency sucks. Shelved years back."

"More research on weapon quality improvements..."

"How much better can quality get here? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Upper ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠echelons say improvements are pointless."

The room fell silent. The director, frowning as she looked around, spoke.

"If you want to keep working here, come up with something feasible within a month. Meeting adjourned."

After she left, staff stood and headed back to their desks.

"Damn... this is bad. Shutdown means unemployment, right?"

James said as we returned.

"Am I getting fired? What now?"

Arwen looked stricken at his words.

"We'll get reassigned. But nowhere's as good as here. Trouble."

The team leader added.

"My old department was finance. No such thing as on-time quitting there. Colleagues say nothing beats this place. Good times are over."

"A solid proposal within a month..."

"Feasible stuff, they said. In a month. What more can we change here? Better work connections for a good spot..."

Team members discussed options, but I was lost ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in my own thoughts. The resurfaced memories meshed with the current crisis.

Did I really reincarnate into the novel world?

My past-life friend's words aligned perfectly with now, like I'd been reborn into his described story. And one more thing.

Memories of past-life weaponry flooded back vividly. Seems my old self was obsessed with weapons. If I use these, maybe I can save the department.

First things first—something I can make right away. I sat quietly at my desk and began drafting the proposal.