I Am Reborn in the Kingdom: I Will Be the Greatest General

Chapter 1: A Second Chance

---

"Weakness is a chain placed on a man's back. But for some, that chain becomes the strongest foundation of power."

---

I was never strong enough to make a difference in my life. Kim Sung, an ordinary man, a worker in the transportation business. Wake up, go to work, get scolded by the boss, return home. This monotonous routine often leads one to question the true meaning of existence. But even questioning felt like a luxury for me. My only purpose was to survive, pay my bills, and make it to the next day.

Early in the morning, I had already begun working in the cold storage of the transportation company. The rules were clear: Be on time, stay quiet, and work. Even a second's delay meant punishment. My boss took it upon himself to make my life hell with his constant yelling and berating. Today was no different.

---

"Hey, Kim Sung! Thirty-four seconds late today. That's ten dollars docked from your pay!"

Before he even finished his sentence, anger was already etched on his face. I wanted to say something, but I knew better. Any protest would lead to more yelling, maybe even getting fired. Taking a deep breath, I slumped my shoulders and nodded.

"Yes, sir. I'll get back to work right away."

As I returned to my task, a mix of anger and helplessness burned inside me. The weight on my shoulders was crushing—bills, rent, food expenses… there was no one else to bear these burdens but me. Losing my job would mean losing everything. Yet amidst all this struggle, there was one thing that gave me a shred of peace: Kingdom, the manga.

Every night after work, I'd collapse onto my bed and dive into its epic tale. Xin's determination, dreams, and battles on the field gave me a flicker of hope. Yet a thought always lingered in the back of my mind:

"If only Xin were a bit smarter."

That thought made me smile. Perhaps it was my own intelligence I was doubting. Life in the world of Kingdom seemed dangerous and unforgiving, but deep down, I envied the passion, the struggle, and the courage those characters lived with.

---

Life's Cruel Joke

That day, my task at work was to oversee a heavy shipment. Loading and moving trucks was usually routine, but this time, things went horribly wrong. One of the trucks hadn't had its brake fully engaged. It started rolling downhill—straight toward me.

"Is this really happening?"

My legs wouldn't move; my mind froze. The last thing I heard was my coworker's desperate shout:

"Kim Sung!"

And then, everything went dark.

---

The White Void

When I opened my eyes, I found myself in a blank, white space. There was nothing—no sound, no wind, not even the sensation of standing on solid ground. But before me, figures began to take shape. Sun Tzu, Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar… The greatest military leaders in history stood before me.

"What… what's happening here?" I stammered, my voice trembling.

One of them spoke. His voice was powerful and deep.

"Kim Sung. You were born to be the greatest general. We're here to give you a chance. You will be reborn in the world of Kingdom, and you will alter the course of history."

This had to be a joke. A general? Me, an ordinary worker who had spent his whole life obeying others' commands—how could I possibly lead an army?

"Is this… is this some kind of prank? I'm just an average guy! I can't be a general!"

But the response was firm and unyielding:

"This is no joke. In your new life, you will discover your true potential. Make the most of this opportunity."

A burst of golden light blinded me. As I lost consciousness, a storm of emotions churned within me. Was this new life truly what I wanted?

---

Rebirth in the World of Kingdom

When I opened my eyes again, I was on a battlefield. The air was filled with the cries of war, the clash of metal swords, and the stench of blood. This world was completely different. What I had once seen only on the pages of a manga was now real, and I was here in flesh and blood.

But something felt strange. My body was small. Glancing down, I realized I was a baby in the arms of a man. This man, carrying me amidst the chaos, stood surrounded by enemy soldiers. His resolute expression filled me with a sense of security.

"Let the child live!" the man shouted, his eyes fixed on the enemy commander.

But the enemy was merciless. I watched as over ten arrows pierced the man's body. Yet he refused to let me go, clutching me tightly.

"At least let my child live…" he whispered, his voice barely audible.

The enemy commander looked at me with a cruel grin and said, "Very well. I'll spare the child. But as a slave! By the time he's five, he'll be sold off!"

Even as the man drew his last breath, he did not release me. Tears streamed down my face. In my previous life, I had been an orphan, but here, even for a brief moment, I felt the love of a father.

"Damn this fate!" I screamed internally.

---

A New Life, A New War

That day, I realized once again that in this world, survival was only possible through strength. But this time, things were different. In my past life, I had been a mere laborer, but here, I had been granted a system that offered me the chance to become one of history's greatest generals.

"I'm no longer Kim Sung… No, I can't carry

that name anymore. In this world, I will rewrite my destiny."

The battle had just begun.

Tears Still Wet

My tears hadn't yet dried. This new life, which reminded me of all I had lost in my previous one, had taken something from me even before it truly began. Just as I was sinking into despair, a voice echoed from the depths of my mind:

"Congratulations, Host, on successfully transitioning to the Kingdom world!"

The voice was calm and mechanical, yet carried a sense of authority. Startled, I looked around but found no one. The voice continued:

"Since the Host is currently only one year old, the system will activate at full capacity upon reaching the age of seven. In the meantime, the Host will be granted two compensation rewards. The first: Language Proficiency – Chinese. With this reward, the Host gains the ability to fluently speak and understand Chinese."

As the voice finished, words, sentences, and grammar began flooding my mind. A language I had never learned suddenly became as natural to me as breathing. It was a sensation unlike anything I could have imagined.

"The second compensation reward: The Mind of a Genius. This ability enhances the Host's analytical thinking, learning, and strategy development, enabling the Host to rewrite their destiny. Please take care of yourself, and we will meet again at the age of seven."

The voice ended with a final "Ding." I called out desperately:

"Wait! Don't go! I need more information! I don't know how to use this!"

But there was no reply. The voice had vanished, leaving me utterly alone.

---

On the Path of Slavery

From that moment on, I realized that in this world, I was truly alone. I had a new family, a new name, and a new identity, but their meanings were still a mystery. Time passed, and by the time I turned five, the harshness of my new life had only deepened. It began with the death of the man I could call my father, and now I found myself in a slave cart.

The cage was made of iron bars and packed with other children. Fear and hopelessness filled the air. Everyone was silent; speaking was forbidden, and even breathing felt like a luxury. Yet amidst the despair, one child caught my attention. He seemed ordinary, but his eyes burned with determination and ambition. I stared at him, wondering:

"Is this… Shin? Or just someone who looks like him? If that really is Shin, this story is about to get a lot more interesting!"

The cart rattled on, carrying us for days. Hunger, exhaustion, and fear gnawed at us. But Shin's unwavering resolve gave me strength. Slowly, I began to feel the effects of the Mind of a Genius ability. Despite my young age, I found myself analyzing and observing every detail of my surroundings.

---

Meeting Piao

After two days, we arrived at a village. Here, we were put up for auction as slaves. In the crowd, a rotund man raised his hand and pointed at me:

"I'll take those children!" he shouted.

Shin and I were bought by the same man. Together, we were dragged into the village. It was then that another child caught my attention. Though we hadn't been in the same cage, he now stood beside us. His eyes held a quiet determination. His name was Piao.

"Who are you?" he asked in a low voice.

"Me? I… I don't know my name." I didn't want to remember my real name; it belonged to a life that was long gone.

"I'm Piao," he said. "Looks like we're stuck together now."

After a brief exchange, I found myself swept up in the chaos of my new life. Piao, Shin, and I worked under the same conditions. Life for slaves in the village was brutal—long hours, little food, and harsh treatment. But having Shin and Piao by my side gave me a strange sense of strength.

---

Dreams and Plans

At night, Shin, Piao, and I would sit together and talk about our dreams for the future. Shin often spoke passionately about his ambition:

"One day, I'll lead armies! I'll become the greatest general ever!" His eyes shone with conviction.

Piao was quieter, but it was clear he had his own dreams. As for me? I didn't have a dream yet. But I was beginning to understand the power of the system I'd been granted. I knew that if I was ever going to make something of myself in this world, the opportunity wasn't far off.

---

The System Awakens

I now faced a daunting road ahead. I knew the system would fully activate when I turned seven. But I was determined not to remain idle in the meantime. Even as a child, I worked with Shin and Piao to find ways to survive.

This world was the same Kingdom I had once admired from afar in a manga. But now, it wasn't just abou

t admiration—it was about survival. Here, I would rewrite my destiny.

Gathering Wood and First Steps

Life in the village was grueling. As slaves, we were forced to work from the crack of dawn. Most tasks were heavy and exhausting, and the worst part was that they seemed endless. One day, the village's greedy, overweight overseer called us over. He slammed his massive staff onto the ground and barked:

"You useless brats! Today, you'll be gathering firewood! Winter is coming, and it's your job to stock up for the village. If you return with even one stick less than required, you'll pay dearly!"

His words dripped with malice, and the twisted grin on his face made my stomach turn. Firewood gathering? This was nothing more than an excuse to send us into the forest, where wolves and bandits roamed. But we had no choice. Shin, Piao, and I were marched out of the village and into the forest a few kilometers away.

---

First Struggle in the Forest

Once inside the forest, the guards abandoned us. "Make sure to bring back the wood by sundown!" they called out before disappearing. Now we were on our own. The forest was eerily quiet, the kind of silence that was more unnerving than comforting. Even the birds seemed hesitant to make a sound.

Shin grabbed a small branch and scanned the area. "Alright! Let's figure out how we're going to gather all this wood," he said with his usual enthusiasm.

Piao was more cautious. "It's not just about gathering wood… Are we even safe here? What about animals or other people?" he asked, his voice low.

I paused for a moment, thinking. "Even without my system fully activated," I told myself, "I can use my Genius Mind to turn this situation to our advantage. First, I need to observe our surroundings."

---

Making a Plan

Quickly, I formulated a plan. "First, we need to set up a system," I said, turning to Shin and Piao. I could feel the budding effects of my abilities—logical thinking, analysis, and swift planning were becoming second nature to me.

"Shin, you look strong. Your job is to collect large, dry branches."

Shin frowned but quickly agreed. "Alright, big branches are my thing!"

"Piao, you're quieter and less conspicuous. Focus on gathering small, dry twigs and brush. Those will be important too."

Piao nodded in agreement. "Got it. What about you?" he asked.

"I'll keep watch for any dangers and direct you if something happens. I'll also scout for the best spots to gather wood."

With our roles assigned, we got to work.

---

First Challenge: Snakes and Dangers

As we ventured deeper into the forest, Shin reached for a large branch lodged beneath some dry leaves. Just as he tugged it free, a snake slithered out from the pile. Without hesitation, Shin jumped back and grabbed a rock, hurling it at the snake.

"Ha! A little snake won't scare me!" he boasted confidently.

But the snake hissed louder, and its movements became more aggressive. "Stop, Shin! Step back!" I shouted. The tension was thick. Piao quietly picked up a sturdy stick and tossed it to Shin.

"Use this!" he said.

Shin caught the stick and struck the snake with a swift blow. The snake went still. For a moment, none of us spoke.

"This forest is more dangerous than we thought," I said grimly. "We'll need to be much more careful from now on."

---

The Problem of Carrying Wood

After hours of hard work, we'd gathered enough wood. But now, a new issue emerged: How were we going to carry it all back? Shin, attempting to haul a large pile, was already worn out.

"This is too heavy," he said, wiping sweat from his brow. "At this rate, we'll never make it back to the village by sundown."

Piao sat down to catch his breath. "We need to figure something out, or we'll have to leave some of it behind."

My mind raced for a solution. I decided to use the branches and twigs we'd collected to create a makeshift sled. Using thin, flexible branches I found nearby, I tied the wood together tightly. The result wasn't pretty, but it was functional. Shin chuckled as he watched me work.

"Of course, this is your thing—brainy solutions. It's not exactly beautiful, but it'll do."

Piao helped me secure the wood to the sled. With this simple contraption, we could transport the firewood much more efficiently.

---

Exiting the Forest

The return trip was slow, but we managed to keep moving steadily. Shin grumbled under his breath, Piao kept a vigilant eye on our surroundings, and I scanned the area for any signs of trouble.

At last, we reached the village's outskirts. The overweight overseer greeted us with a sneer:

"Ha! You're still alive, huh? Must be your lucky day."

He inspected the wood we'd brought back and grumbled, "Hmm. It's barely acceptable. Now get back to work—your day isn't over yet!"

Shin muttered angrily but held his tongue. Piao remained silent. I, however, thought to myself:

"Life can't go on like this. One day, I'll show these men what real power looks like. But until then, I must endure."

---

The Effects of the Genius Mind

That night, as I lay on the cold, hard floor, my mind churned with plans. The Genius Mind ability was sharpening my thoughts, making me more analytical and strategic with each passing day. The sled idea was just a small example, but it was only the beginning.

"If I'm going to survive in this world, I need to seize every opportunity. I may look like a weak slave now, but this is just the start."

Shin and Piao had already fallen asleep, but I couldn't close my eyes. Bigger plans were taking shape in my mind. I wasn't just going to survive in this world—I was going to cha

nge it.

"When I turn seven and the system fully activates, that's when the real story will begin."