Chapter 1
Chapter 1
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Prologue
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Synopsis
‘If only I had known a little sooner…….’
Rian enlisted at fourteen, dreaming of commanding the continent.
His second life begins when he stumbles upon the bow by chance.
But during an operation, he suffers a grievous wound and meets his end.
Opening his eyes in the afterlife reveals a rundown old barracks and comrades long dead... or so he thinks, yet everything feels far too vivid for the grave!
Even his boyish face from years past.
If he has truly returned to the past...!
‘This time, I’ll become a true Grand General!’
◈ Genius Divine Archer Who Became a One-Man Legion (1)
‘Aeron, that son of a bitch…….’
I tried to talk him out of this operation, saying it wouldn’t work, but he was blinded by the promise of promotion and got all our men killed.
At least he saved about thirty of our boys. I’ll settle for that.
“Hoo…….”
His long exhale turns white, scattering into the frigid air.
Rian glances back at the trail he staggered along.
He’s lost too much blood.
Soon, the enemy soldiers will catch up.
Thud.
But it doesn’t matter anymore.
The wound is too deep anyway.
‘I’ll be dead soon.’
He’s brushed death countless times before, but he knows for sure now.
This is where he dies.
Slumping to the ground, Rian stares at the broken bow clutched in his hand.
If only he’d met this guy a little sooner—would his future have changed?
He enlisted at fourteen with one burning dream: to become a Grand General.
But Grand General, my ass.
He barely clung to life as a lowly spearman for sixteen years.
Then, at thirty, a chance arrow led to his selection as an archer—belatedly.
As it turned out, he had insane talent as a bowman.
A year later, he was promoted to squad leader for the first time.
The next year, he commanded a platoon of fifty.
‘If only I’d met this guy sooner…….’
Would he have gotten closer to becoming a Grand General?
A hollow chuckle escapes him.
But it’s all pointless now.
With the end so near, he can only regret the path he walked.
A torrent of regrets and what-ifs floods his mind.
And so, Rian of the Artian Kingdom’s 3rd Legion closed his eyes forever at thirty-four, on some nameless, snow-blanketed hill.
“Hah!”
With a bizarre yelp, Rian’s eyes snapped open.
“……Huh?”
The sight that greeted him was strangely familiar yet alien.
‘Do they still use these old barracks these days……?’
It looked just like the outdated ones from when he first enlisted long ago.
Guess they use these relics in the afterlife.
Heh.
Rian unwittingly curled his lips into a smirk.
It was absurd—and oddly amusing—to end up in an army barrack even in death.
But then,
“Hey! What the hell are you doing? Move your ass!”
A booming curse rattled his eardrums, and Rian turned.
A man loomed right in his face, glaring daggers.
“Squad Leader Bark……?”
Bushy brows, thick lips.
A square jaw and sturdy build.
Rian recognized him instantly.
The only odd thing was how different he looked from what Rian remembered.
Like seeing Bark from way back when?
“Did you... die too, Squad Leader?”
“You crazy bastard, talking bad luck before deployment!”
Smack!
“Ugh!”
Rian winced as Bark’s kick slammed into his chest.
The pain shot through to his back.
But he gritted his teeth and endured. Bark’s brows twisted in fury.
“You little shit!”
Bark clenched his fist.
Knowing the guy’s temper, he’d see enduring the kick as defiance.
Just then, someone burst into the barrack, shouting,
“What the hell’s going on here!”
Another familiar face.
‘Even Platoon Leader Derek…….’
What in the world is happening?
This can’t be the afterlife—it’s too bizarre.
And this hand.
‘Not a single callus... this is my hand?’
Rian bolted up and dashed outside. He scanned around, then spotted a water bucket.
His reflection in the water.
“Is this even possible……?”
Regression, straight out of some wandering storyteller’s tale.
Rian pinched his cheek without thinking.
“Ow!”
Yeah, he wouldn’t feel pain like this if he were dead or dreaming.
No, whether it’s the afterlife or a dream doesn’t matter.
If he’s been given another chance...
Grab.
Bark grabbed him by the scruff from behind.
“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me!”
“Sorry, Bark sir. I’ll prepare for deployment right away.”
Rian turned calmly to the fuming Bark.
His excitement had settled; his jumbled thoughts cleared. The pre-battle barrack heat felt familiar again.
‘Situation assessed.’
Whatever this is, it doesn’t matter.
‘I can start over.’
Devil’s trick or god’s blessing—who cares.
If he’s really gone back in time...
‘This time, I’ll become a true Grand General.’
Determination flashed in Rian’s eyes.
‘What the...?’
Bark flinched at Rian’s sudden gaze.
Rookies often spaced out before their first deployment.
The cure was a good beating to knock sense into them.
But...
‘That rookie’s eyes... what the hell?’
Like a veteran who’d seen it all?
No, something tougher, untouchable, dwelled within.
Bark cleared his throat awkwardly.
“Ahem! Get your head straight! Slack off, and you’ll be the first to die!”
“Sorry for the worry, sir! I’ll prepare now!”
“G-Good!”
Bark nodded at Rian’s crisp, disciplined response.
Rian returned to the barrack, swiftly donning his armor and packing.
For rookies like them, it was just a half-plate chestguard for the heart, leather helmet, greaves, and boots. Shoddy stuff.
But wearing it boosted survival odds a bit.
Tight.
He wrapped the long boot lace around his ankle once more and tied it.
Bark watched Rian’s practiced prep in awe.
‘More skilled than me...?’
And that boot lace trick?
Boot laces sometimes came undone in battle, costing a shoe—and your life.
But Rian’s method kept it secured around the ankle even if loose.
Bark sidelined a glance at Rian, then mimicked it, wrapping his own lace around his ankle.
Then Rian approached.
“Squad Leader, where’s this deployment headed?”
“What kinda dumb question is that? Through Elter Plains to Phelon Gorge! I told you before—forgot already?”
‘As expected.’
Right on track.
If he’d regressed, he knew what was coming.
Old memories weren’t perfect, but this one stuck crystal clear.
Because an unspeakable horror unfolded at Phelon Gorge.
‘The barbarians ambushed right after Phelon Gorge.’
Past Elter Plains lay Phelon Gorge near Roil Village.
It was the prime spot for enemy caution—narrow terrain perfect for ambushes.
‘But nothing happened at Phelon Gorge.’
Relaxed after, the unit dropped its guard.
Then the barbarians struck, wiping out 70% of the force.
Rookies died to a man; even Platoon Leader Derek fell protecting his men.
‘This time... I’ll stop it.’
Rewrite that bloody defeat.
* * *
As deployment neared, the soldiers bustled more frantically.
Rian finished packing, grabbed a spear, and joined the lineup outside.
Fifty-one in total.
“Squad leaders, report readiness.”
“1st Squad, ready.”
“2nd Squad, prepared!”
“3rd Squad, ready!”
“4th Squad, ready!”
“5th Squad, ready! All clear!”
Ten per squad, fifty total.
Derek nodded.
“Deployment soon. Stay sharp and wait.”
“Yes, sir!”
They barked back with spirit. Bark eyed his squad.
“Slackers get beaten bloody later. Stay alert, stick to formation—no stragglers!”
“Yes!”
He glanced at Rian.
That rookie’s oddly composed vibe nagged at him.
Not irritating, just... off.
“Hey, you.”
“Yes?”
“Where’d you learn that boot lace trick? The ankle wrap.”
Rian barely suppressed a grin at Bark’s question.
Almost laughed.
‘Sharp eye, huh.’
Sure enough, Bark had done it too.
Rian replied,
“Learned from my soldier father.”
“Your dad was in the army?”
“Yes, sir. Platoon leader in the old Buffalo Company, he said.”
“Platoon leader, huh. Must’ve been a brave man. Still with us?”
“Died when I was twelve. But I enlisted to be like my true soldier father.”
“……I see.”
Bark’s gaze softened on Rian.
Mature answers for a rookie, full of grit.
‘Didn’t seem like this at first…….’
Weird feeling, but Bark turned as the deployment order came.
Eagle Company was renowned in the 3rd Legion. He’d been thrilled to join.
But at the plain entrance past Phelon Gorge, disaster struck.
‘Around five hundred, right?’
Eagle had just over three hundred. Nearly doubled by barbarian ambush, they died without a fight.
Survivors under a hundred.
‘Not that I’m attached, but I can’t let good men die pointlessly.’
Plus, stopping it would rack up huge merits on first deployment.
“Whew…….”
Marching across Elter Plains, Rian exhaled softly.
Phelon Gorge was close.
Officers must be mulling scouts before entering.
That’s where they’d settle it.
“Halt! Halt!”
As expected, the company stopped near Elter Plains’ end.
Open plains were one thing; narrow ambush-friendly gorges demanded caution.
“Send scouts into Phelon Gorge first to check, then move. Rest the men till then.”
Company Commander Raymond gathered platoon leaders.
The gorge was big—needed plenty of scouts.
“Five fast ones per platoon. Command to squad leaders with recon experience.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Got it.”
“Prepare quickly.”
Platoon leaders returned, selecting scouts.
Derek approached 3rd Platoon.
“We need five scouts. Tauran Squad Leader commands ours.”
“Yes!”
As Tauran stood, Rian’s eyes gleamed.
This was what he’d waited for.
Derek scanned the men.
“Anyone think they’re fast enough to volunteer?”
“I’ll go!”
Rian shot up first, hand raised.
This scout run was critical—above all else.
Amateurs would botch it.
“100 meters in 13 seconds. And I know Phelon Gorge well.”
“You know Phelon Gorge?”
“Yes, sir. Lived long in Roil Village. It was my playground!”
A lie.
But no way to check now.
Bark’s face twisted.
Cocky rookie, he thought.
“Hmm…… Fine. Step forward.”
Derek nodded anyway.
Volunteers were rare; force it otherwise. One less headache.
No more after Rian; they picked three vets from 3rd Platoon.
‘......Kinda awkward.’
Lone rookie among old-timers.
Their stares weren’t friendly, but it was laughable.
Rian joined the other 3rd Platoon picks, heading to the scout muster.
Soon, thirty from six platoons assembled.
Rian eyed them.
‘If these guys had scouted properly... no massacre.’
Not really their fault.
They only checked Phelon Gorge.
Which was clear. The problem came after.
‘But this time’s different. I’ll find them.’