Illusion Sword Master

＜ Imperial War Academy (1) ﹥

I opened my eyes to find myself in a different world.

There were elves, dwarves, and other various races.

Knights who could cleave mountains and mages who could summon meteorites.

Goddesses who bestowed miracles and their priests.

A massive empire and a royal family that had continued for hundreds of years.

And in this world, an evil existence that sought to devour everything existed.

In this crazy world, I, Ethan, was a 10-year-old orphan who had been abandoned on the battlefield with no family, wealth, or friends.

After that, I suffered for 10 years.

#

[1st year]

It just so happened that my starting point was the frontline of a war against the orcs, and there was no special treatment for someone who had been suddenly transported to this world.

The weakness of a modern person and the ignorance of an outsider were the only things that bound me.

What could a 10-year-old orphan do in a desolate wasteland where only mercenaries and soldiers were present?

I was half-kidnapped by passing mercenaries and began my life as a servant.

Mercenaries were a bunch of scoundrels composed of cruelty, coarseness, and cunning.

To get even a single piece of bread from them, I had to prove that I was worth feeding.

I desperately tried to curry favor with the mercenaries, and somehow, I managed to gain some respect.

Thanks to that, I gained some personal time. I spent all of it practicing swordsmanship.

“If I don’t get stronger, I’ll just slowly die.”

Luckily, I seemed to have some talent.

When I wielded my sword recklessly, I felt an inexplicable, mystical energy that seemed to be related to the “Aura” that knights possessed.

Yes. It was unfair that I had been transported here, but not giving me a talent would be even more unfair. I had found a glimmer of hope to survive.

I would awaken my Aura and become a knight.

So, I had to escape this miserable life as soon as possible.

[2nd year]

The mercenaries had become somewhat attached to me, and my situation had improved significantly.

However, the leader, Danjang, looked at me with an annoying gaze that made my skin crawl.

For now, I had no choice but to avoid him.

As a hobby, I even taught them swordsmanship and survival skills.

I trained, but my Aura didn’t awaken.

When I wielded my sword, I felt a mystical energy enveloping me. But I didn’t know how to unleash it.

Yes. If I had awakened my Aura at 11, I would be considered a genius, renowned throughout the empire. That was my selfish desire.

[3rd year]

I won a swordsmanship match against a mercenary.

As a promising young mercenary, I received proper education from senior mercenaries and was soon deployed to battle.

It was a hellish place where humans and non-humans with green skin were entangled, spilling blood everywhere.

My first kill (mercenaries called it “first experience”) took place there. My opponent was a goblin affiliated with the orc tribe. Strictly speaking, it wasn’t a kill, but the sensation of slashing the belly of a creature with limbs made me feel like skipping a meal.

Thanks to that, my status rose from servant to rookie mercenary.

I could finally taste the beer supplied to us.

Or maybe it’s because I’ve been gaslighted in this crazy world, but I thought, “It wouldn’t be so bad to become a mercenary like this.”

Ah, the sweet and bitter memories of the ale I first tasted in this world.

I trained, but my aura didn’t awaken.

[4th Year]

I killed 13 goblins. I also caught an orc, along with other mercenaries.

As I got used to chewing on dried meat and stabbing with my sword, the mercenary captain, who had been looking out for me, suddenly visited my tent one night. He gave me a suspicious glance, so I put on my helmet and ran away.

To avoid being chased by other mercenaries, I ended up at the imperial army’s camp, where the officers, who were struggling with a lack of manpower, made me a volunteer soldier with just one piece of paper.

My status changed from mercenary to imperial soldier, and my 4-year mandatory service began.

But if I can just complete my service, I’ll receive a decent amount of severance pay. I just need to hold on for 4 years. And after I’m discharged, I’ll find a proper knight to teach me swordsmanship.

My aura still didn’t awaken.

Is my training insufficient?

I’ll reduce my sleep and increase my training.

The only way to live a decent life in this crazy world is to awaken my aura.

[5th Year]

Unlike my relatively flexible life as a mercenary, the imperial army’s front line was even more intense. The orders from above were “Fight bravely and die,” so I had no choice but to follow.

I became a meat shield in the battle against the orcs. I don’t know how I survived. All I remember is holding onto my shield and screaming.

At this rate, I’ll die before completing my service.

I decided to desert.

Even in the midst of this chaos, I focused on my training, but my aura still didn’t awaken.

[6th Year]

I tried to desert but got caught.

The battalion commander, who had been keeping an eye on me, gave me a choice.

Death by military law vs. becoming a junior officer

I became an imperial junior officer.

My service period became indefinite.

For the first time, I had a match against an orc and won. He was twice my size, but I was consumed by anger, and when I stabbed him with my sword, he didn’t seem threatening at all.

I had more time to focus on my training than before.

Even when I concentrated my mind, I could feel a strange energy, which grew stronger, but my aura still didn’t awaken.

[7th Year]

The war intensified. Battles broke out every day. I felt like I was going crazy. Maybe I already had.

When I came to my senses, I was making a necklace out of the ears of the orcs I had killed.

From the day I killed three orcs in one battle, the soldiers started calling me the “Orc Slayer.”

People who wanted to learn swordsmanship from me came to find me. I taught them a little in exchange for dried meat.

I heard that Hans, who had been in the same unit and learned swordsmanship from me, awakened his aura and entered the imperial military academy.

I, on the other hand, still didn’t awaken my aura.

Maybe I just don’t have the talent?

[8th Year]

Orc. Orc. Orc.

Training.

Orc. Orc. Orc.

Su-ryeon.

Two of my fellow squad members, who had been following my lead, awakened to their Oracle abilities. One of them even got scouted by a renowned knight.

My swordsmanship has also improved. Now, just by wearing my sword, I’m surrounded by an aura that others can’t sense.

Yet, I still haven’t awakened to my Oracle abilities.

[9th year]

A superior officer, who had been observing me as I wore an orc-tooth necklace and played soccer with the skulls of those guys, offered me a different mission.

I thought I might go crazy if I continued like this. I was about to put everything aside and enjoy my life here, but…

The mission was to escort a mage who was going to inspect the front lines.

It was an offer I couldn’t refuse, so I naturally accepted.

What a relief to be able to avoid those orcs and their green faces!

As I spent my days in the front lines, I asked the mage about the strange aura I sensed in him.

He replied, “That’s mana. Can you sense mana?”

“Yes, I’ve been sensing it for a while now, but I just can’t awaken to my Oracle abilities.”

“…That’s natural. It’s a magical ritual called ‘ana sensitivity.’ Knights can’t sense mana, so it’s only natural that it settles in their bodies.”

“What do you mean? Is that some kind of joke?”

“Perhaps you have a talent for magic. When I return, I’ll prepare for you to take a magical aptitude test.”

I had been trying to awaken to my Oracle abilities for nearly ten years, and now he’s saying I might have magical talent?

It was a statement that was hard to accept due to the sudden cognitive dissonance, so I brushed it off as if it were nothing.

#

And now, on the 10th anniversary of my life in this world…

I received a sudden summons and was on my way to the battalion commander’s quarters.

“There’s no reason for that fatty to call me out separately.”

There are only two possibilities when a superior officer suddenly calls for me: either I’ve done something great or I’ve made a huge mistake.

“What have I done wrong?”

I might have gotten caught sneaking a drink from the officers’ hidden stash, or played cards with the supply officer’s cigarettes, or even stolen and cooked the chicken raised by the company commander.

But aren’t those just cute mistakes that can be called “unit traditions”?

Since I hadn’t done anything particularly good either, I couldn’t help but feel anxious.

When I arrived at the quarters, I saw the battalion commander standing like a screen, and an old man sitting in the seat where he should be.

Even the battalion commander was someone I couldn’t talk to, but who was this old man who had taken his seat?

My survival instincts were on high alert. If I messed up here, I’d be in big trouble.

I had to be more careful with this old man’s words than with the orcs I’d encountered.

“I bring glory to the Empire! Ha-sa E-tan, I’ve received your summons!”

I greeted him with a loud voice, about three times my normal volume, and a perfectly angled Imperial salute.

“Are you E-tan? Nice to meet you.”

“Yes! That’s me! It’s an honor!”

“Haha. This guy, you don’t even know who I am, and yet you talk about honor. Sit down for now.”

At the old man’s request, I sat down across from him. Although the chair had a soft cushion, it felt like I was sitting on a bed of thorns.

“You volunteered for the military as a teenager? You must have had a strong sense of loyalty even back then.”

I was just a deserter who got caught on the way out of the mercenary group. I didn’t have any sense of loyalty.

But I didn’t say that out loud, not stupid enough to do so.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve the Empire and His Majesty the Emperor!”

“I chose to stay in the military even after my mandatory service period was over. Even noble-born officers from the 6th Division wanted to return to the rear lines after a few years, but I’m not like that.”

“I couldn’t just abandon my comrades and the enemies we had to kill!”

I was also caught while trying to desert and was forced to eat my words.

“You took the lead in the last battle, didn’t you? It takes a lot of courage to charge into the enemy lines when we’re at a disadvantage.”

“Someone had to do it. I’m just grateful that I got to take part in that glory!”

In reality, I was trying to run away at the time. It just so happened that there was an orc ambush on that path.

I didn’t hesitate to lie.

The old man thought I was some kind of nameless war hero, and I didn’t correct him because I didn’t know what kind of disaster would unfold if I did.

“You’re just giving typical answers. But the more clichéd the words, the more sincerity they convey.”

The old man savored his tea, then turned to the battalion commander.

“But, Battalion Commander, won’t you even offer this young man a cup of tea? He may be your subordinate, but he’s my guest.”

“Ah, I’ll prepare it right away!”

The battalion commander quickly poured a cup of tea.

This old man, he’s definitely a big shot.

“Ah, I’m late in introducing myself. I’m Rant, the Empire’s Minister of Justice.”

He’s an even bigger deal than I expected!

As the Minister of Justice, he’s one of the Emperor’s closest confidants.

Even the battalion commander and the knight division commander look up to him with reverence!

What’s someone like me doing in front of such an esteemed figure?

“Don’t be nervous. If I wanted to harm you, I wouldn’t have bothered to spare the time.”

That’s true.

You don’t need a sword to catch a snake.

I pushed aside the worst-case scenario and cleared my head, remembering what the magician said a while back.

“I happened to hear some interesting news while I was on patrol. I’ll test your magical aptitude myself.”

Rant handed me a crystal orb on the table.

“This is a magical tool to test your aptitude. The process is simple. Just place your hand on it and focus your mind.”

I placed my hand on the orb, maintaining my tension.

It was because I was worried about what would happen if Rant found out I was a fake, rather than expecting anything.

And as I focused my mind—

Bang!

The transparent orb started to radiate a blue light.

“Just as I thought, you have a talent for magic. And you’ve been wielding a sword with this talent… Ah, no. It’s fortunate that we discovered your talent now.”

As I cautiously lifted my hand, the orb returned to its original transparency.

Rant nodded his head in satisfaction.

I was just bewildered by the entire situation.

“Battalion Commander, prepare the documents.”

“Yes! I’ll get ready right away… What kind of document is this, sir?”

The battalion commander, who had been driving the car, looked startled and asked again. It seemed that the current situation was also bewildering to him.

“What kind of document is this? It’s this friend’s transfer order. We need to send him to the capital for a bigger role. Is there a problem?”

“No, I’ll get ready right away.”

The battalion commander rushed off somewhere. I was shocked by the fact that his stout body could move at such a rapid speed.

“By the way, there’s a vacancy in the Magic Department of the Imperial War University this year. I have enough power to recommend a friend, so congratulations.”

My thinking couldn’t keep up with the sudden change in situation.

“The Imperial War University… Are you serious?”

I couldn’t help but ask again in a dazed tone.

The Imperial War University. Among them, the Magic Department was an elite cradle where most of the students were from noble families.

Not only would graduates be appointed to important positions in the Imperial Army, but they would also receive special treatment as quasi-nobles, symbolizing their success.

“Are there other war universities?”

There weren’t.

“I can understand why you’re bewildered. The Imperial War University is a place where people who have been training magic since they were young go. You also have the qualities of a mage, but it’s a bit too late for that.”

I couldn’t help but nod my head.

“But you have a greater talent. It’s loyalty. That’s the quality that’s most lacking in young people these days.”

The tone of the Minister of Justice, who had been speaking in a refined manner, became slightly rougher.

“These days, mages are sick. They’re only interested in their own well-being, forming factions and looking out for their own interests, and dedication is an afterthought. The opportunity for education should go to young people like you who know loyalty and dedication.”

Only interested in their own well-being… That was exactly my story.

I had to focus my mind to avoid showing my surprise.

“Your new mission is to receive education in the Magic Department of the Imperial War University. You may struggle to keep up with others due to lack of foundation, but I believe that your loyalty can make up for it.”

In other words, I was being told to receive education to become a mage there.

Meanwhile, the battalion commander brought the document.

“Sign here. Great talent requires greater authority and responsibility.”

The fact that my ten years of sword training had been in vain was a bitter pill to swallow.

The joy of leaving this wretched battlefield and grabbing the ladder of success.

In the midst of confusion, like a mix of mint and chocolate, I signed with a half-crazed mind.

My fantasy life, which had been going on for ten years, was about to undergo a sudden change.

Of course, I didn’t realize it at the time.

＜ Imperial War University (1) ﹥ End