Regression, possession, reincarnation.
These themes, frequently used in novels, unfold based on the superiority of information.
Knowing what will happen in the future or having access to information allows for selective decision-making.
Thus, the setting of regression, possession, and reincarnation seems like an overwhelmingly powerful ability that can influence the course of events.
However, its impact can be minimal depending on the situation.
For example, in a world where the future is so uncertain that one cannot gain an informational advantage,
or where there exists a being so overwhelmingly powerful that even the advantage of information is rendered useless.
After countless regressions, as I struggled to recall my fading past lives, I realized that I was in the world of a game.
. It was a strategy simulation game that, while not mainstream, had a significant following among enthusiasts.
The main story revolves around the aging emperor who had built the empire into the world’s strongest nation, and the process of the empire’s decline and the reestablishment of world order.
The player must use every means and method to protect the empire from external crises.
As the title suggests, the empire in the main story is on the brink of collapse.
The ways of collapse were varied, but among the many endings, the one that accounted for the most was the invasion by foreign tribes.
The developers said they were inspired by the history of numerous empires falling to foreign tribes.
For example, one of the foreign tribes, the Bow Tribe, was based on the Mongols, who were once the world’s strongest.
Given this setting, the empire faced many unreasonable conditions.
Especially among players, the most talked-about issue was the balance—the disparity in unit strength was too severe.
– The foreign tribe’s catapults launched rotting corpses into the city. A plague spreads. Morale drops!
– The elite Ron Empire legion is defeated by the foreign tribe’s mounted archers. Panic ensues!
– The elite Ron Empire knights are defeated by the foreign tribe’s axe cavalry. Panic ensues!
The overwhelming violence stemming from the disparity in strength.
I tried to salvage the retreating soldiers, but they were in a state of panic and wouldn’t listen to commands.
The foreign tribe’s overwhelming mobility led to frequent annihilation of the empire’s forces.
The most shocking was when my elite empire legions, which had been through numerous battles, were massacred by two freshly recruited foreign tribe cavalry units.
That moment is still unforgettable.
It was the event that made me delete the game.
*
Yes, that was all.
I played the game, got frustrated, and deleted it.
I was angry, but I didn’t leave a bad review and lived peacefully for a while.
I was living well, but then,
“Why suddenly! Of all things, why did I have to possess the third prince of the empire in this game’s world, and one without any real power at that!”
I was just tired and went to bed as usual, but when I opened my eyes, I was in another world.
There was nowhere to complain, so I cried out to the heavens!
But it was no use.
The maids nearby whispered among themselves at my inexplicable outburst, but I didn’t care.
I wasn’t in a state of mind to worry about others’ opinions.
What should I do?
I racked my brains.
Unlike the common possession stories, I didn’t have an encyclopedic knowledge of the game.
Instead, only the game’s unreasonable balance came to mind vividly, bringing a sense of helplessness.
But I couldn’t just sit still.
For some reason, the foreign tribes trembled with rage at the sight of the Ron Empire’s royal family.
If caught by them, I would die—a gruesome death at that.
“Hoo, let’s organize my thoughts.”
Third Prince Kenneth, the youngest of the emperor’s three sons and one daughter.
Though called royalty, honestly, all I had was my status.
Born to a commoner-turned-consort who had caught the emperor’s eye, I had no money, honor, or authority.
It got worse after the consort fell ill and died.
Many novel protagonists achieve great things even from a weak position, but whether I’m incompetent or fiction is just fiction, all I could do was go with the flow.
If I had possessed the first prince, the queen’s son and the highest in the line of succession, or the first princess, who had strong influence despite weaker legitimacy, I might have done something.
But alas.
I had to choose.
The rise of the foreign tribes was unstoppable.
To counter them, I had to do something.
Time passed, the emperor grew frailer, and the succession struggle intensified.
In this deathmatch where only one of the heirs would survive, that person would become the empire’s sun.
Honestly, it felt like a waste of energy.
We should have united to deal with the foreign tribes.
But as an extra who only knew the future, I had no choice.
The first prince had legitimacy and justification but was arrogant and cruel.
If he ascended the throne, my life would be in danger before we even worried about the foreign tribes.
Naturally, I sided with the first princess, known for her boundless kindness to her allies.
From my position, aiming for the throne was impossible, so my only option was to be a fox riding on the tiger’s back.
Against the foreign tribes, I might not know, but I was well-versed in tactics and formations against the empire’s forces.
Through the first princess’s connections, I identified the supplies the first prince was buying and the people visiting his palace, quickly assessing his strength.
It was likely elite heavy infantry.
To counter them, we needed crossbows, oil, and fire arrows.
When I first proposed preparing these supplies, the first princess’s followers, perhaps to check me, were busy insulting me rather than logically refuting.
They said things like, “Don’t let your half-blood speak out of turn,” or “What do you know about tactics?”
Some even accused me of being the first prince’s spy.
These accusations were both incomprehensible and a significant threat.
As I anxiously waited for the first princess’s decision,
…Alright, I’ll support you. Prepare it.’
Thankfully, the princess believed in my proposal over her ministers’ baseless criticisms, and I was able to achieve tremendous results in return.
Soon after, a conflict arose, and in a single battle, I dealt a crippling blow to the first prince’s forces.
‘You’ve done well. Without you, more blood might have been shed. Perhaps the tyrant-like first prince would have become emperor. You saved the empire.’
‘I am deeply grateful, Your Highness.’
With her position as heir secured, the princess placed great trust in me.
Honestly, it felt like an overestimation, but it was a good outcome nonetheless.
‘Do you have any wishes? As a hero of the new era, I’ll grant what I can within reason.’
‘My wish is…’
Usually, this is a formality.
Yet, without thinking of the future, I made my request.
We had only just begun.
‘Recently, the foreign tribes’ movements have been unusual. The news coming in is too significant to ignore. We need to prepare.’
…Foreign tribes, foreign tribes.’
‘Please allow me to build a great wall in the north.’
I recalled the historical walls built to fend off invasions, which had proven effective.
After much deliberation, it was the most feasible and realistic solution.
The game didn’t have a wall-building feature, but now that it was reality, it was possible.
However, large-scale construction projects could risk the nation’s fate, so opposition was inevitable.
Especially at this point, when most people didn’t recognize the danger of the foreign tribes.
Even I thought it was a distant possibility, but surprisingly, the princess, more favorable than expected, listened to my proposal and, after much deliberation, approved it.
Thus, I was able to head north as the project’s chief responsible.
Several years passed, and fortunately, the wall was successfully built.
Due to time and resource constraints, we couldn’t encircle the entire border, but as a compromise, we connected the rugged mountains with gaps in between, creating an effective wall.
It wasn’t ten thousand miles, but several thousand miles—enough to play a significant role in defending against foreign invasions.
The climax arrived sooner than expected.
The foreign tribes united faster than anticipated, and scouts reported their unusual movements.
It all happened within a month.
That day, as usual, I was handling miscellaneous tasks in the office when,
Boom!
“The foreign tribes are attacking! Everyone, battle stations!”
What’s going on?
The progression has changed.
According to history, they should have attacked weaker kingdoms or religious states first, not the empire.
‘Is it the butterfly effect?’
Certainly, what I did was no small flap of a butterfly’s wings—building the wall.
Sighing, I stopped what I was doing and headed outside.
The foreign tribe’s forces filled the area outside the wall.
Seeing them in person, their intimidation was no joke.
Hoo, but we have the wall. Let’s give it a try.
With determination, the battle began.
And thankfully, my choice proved correct.
After a fortnight of stalemate, the wall performed beyond expectations.
I even began to hope that holding out would lead to a strategic victory.
But that hope didn’t last long.
A messenger from the central command rushed in, panting.
“Disaster! The capital has fallen!”
??? What nonsense is this?
The sudden news left me dumbfounded.
The wall was still strong, so how could this happen?
Numerous possibilities flashed through my mind.
Teleportation?
No. While magic exists in this world, the foreign tribes had no mages.
Even if they did, teleporting an army large enough to take the capital would be difficult even for the empire.
Was there a civil war?
No. The princess, known for her virtue, wasn’t so incompetent as to lose control internally.
The unthinkable possibility—was there a traitor among the wall’s managers?
Did someone secretly open a path?
As these thoughts raced through my mind, the messenger provided the answer.
“…They went around.”
The foreign tribe’s cavalry, known for their incredible mobility.
In less than a fortnight, they had bypassed the empire’s concentrated forces at the wall and its vicinity, traveling thousands of miles to attack the empire’s eastern region.
After that, it was a landslide. The capital fell in less than five days.
Is this for real?
Once again, I felt the absurdity of the original setting.
The foreign tribes of this world possessed physical abilities beyond the comprehension of modern humans.
Ultimately, the wall, reliant on rear supply lines due to the harsh environment, quickly surrendered once central support was cut off.
Thus, despite my efforts, the empire fell overnight.
Bound and restrained, I was taken to the capital’s square as a symbolic figure of the military that built the wall.
To show what happens to those who resist, even the empire’s royalty could be made an example of, and I awaited execution before the eyes of all the empire’s people.
In the center of the capital’s square was a large cauldron.
Beneath it, numerous logs and flames caused the water to boil fiercely.
Oh no, surely not?
Why do my bad premonitions never fail?
Tied to a rope above the cauldron, I heard the sound of the rope being cut and was plunged into the boiling water.
Splash!
“Argh!”
Excruciating pain engulfed my entire body.
Boiling to death—a horrific execution method.
Even now, the thought sends shivers down my spine.
But strangely, what remains more vivid in my memory than that terrible death was.
…If only you had helped back then!’
Before I fell into the water, a girl crying in front of me hurled a colorful accusation at me,
and the fresh, floral scent of jasmine that wafted from her side, like a nostalgic memory.
It was from my first loop after possession.