Ethan followed in the carriage driven by his grandfather for an earth-covered ground surrounded by forest. The old gray horse which pulled the carriage trotted for some kilometers, many times stopping to drink water; that day was very hot for everyone.

The way was very peaceful; because Ethan's grandfather went the entire way talking about how to speak with the higher-ups, formal greetings and other army-related things, Ethan did have time to read the white book yet. Thus, his anxiety was high.

Finally he could know how the life of the body's previous owner was. Respectively, he would know the body's previous owner's motives, belongings, way of life, or even clues about how he died — Ethan feared it was in the same way as his own…

Nevertheless, Ethan still had a problem to resolve before it…

The route towards the nearest city was a little long, and most of the time the surroundings were only forest and nowhere; sometimes they were passing by a sign, but it was very rare.

After being bored for a while listening to the old man's teachings, they were closer to the city. In these moments, Ethan's eyes scanned over that new architecture.

What caught his attention was actually the similarity with Europe's archaic eras. In addition to the traditional brown and white wooden houses mostly made with clay, there were also some imposing houses made with bricks and stones — a setting very reminiscent of Europe in ancient times.

At this moment, wondering about which epoch he was in, Ethan turned towards his grandfather and asked to him: “Hey, grandpa, which year is it?”

Followed by a sigh, he replied: “We are 250 years after the Bitter War, you dumb!”

‘Oh, thanks, now I know which era I'm in, crazy old man!’ He cursed to himself. ‘Although, was there a solid system for counting the years back then? I really don't know…’

“Thanks, old man.”

“Rude kid, you keep going on about calling me old man.”

“Well, grandpa, you have to accept that this moment came, haha!”

“Sigh… anyway, we are close to the recruitment tent.”

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“A… tent…”

“We are in a town in the interior, what did you expect?”

Ethan looked at his grandfather with a teasing gaze…

Finally they entered the humble and peaceful town and could see a white tent in front of themselves.

There was a line with a lot of young people, most of them with depressing looks.

Indeed, this was the unique destiny reserved for the pleb. In this epoch, many plebs believed that the lack of jobs, scarcity of food, and suffering was a tactic of the kingdom to compel them to enlist in the army, where they would ultimately perish as sacrifices… Anyway, Who could say no? It was a very plausible idea.

In the line, there were people who ruled at the top of the tower of hunger and misery, ultimately having to enlist to try to survive. It sounds contradictory in a way.

Seeing it, Ethan realized that he wasn't in a fantasy world, instead, he was in a world filled with misery and difficulties…

‘I thought I was the only one going through this…’

The world was cruel to everybody.

———◇◆◇———

“Yeah, many of us had nowhere else to go when the gang disbanded. Even our former boss enlisted recently. I heard that he lost control of everything in the city, and after some time, when the members started a rebellion because of non-payment, he did have to escape, hahaha!”

“I heard about it too. Lack of food and pay drives people crazy, kuhahaha!”

“Of course, the system's nightmares with hunger fear no death, hahaha!”

‘Former gang members enlisting in the army… It'll be hard…’

While Ethan was waiting in the line, he couldn't help but hear the talk of the other ones in it.

Some talked about their own everyday life, while others were talking about a lot of unusual things.

Sometimes they even talked about rebellions and coups d'état, like beasts waiting for any slip-up…

Nevertheless, Ethan was used to these kinds of people. In the Piles of Shacks, where he lived in his previous life, everybody was wild and suspicious, as well as treacherous and traitorous. Over time, he learned to trust only himself, and no one else.

Anyway, the line was decreasing little by little, until it was Ethan's turn.

During his walk towards the tent, he noticed some imposing soldiers patrolling the site.

Their armor was quite traditional to him.

They wore light leather armor over light, simple clothes. For a vision of the future, they looked like very weak protection, but for them, it was enough.

Ethan began to sweat cold when he passed through the tent's curtain. Inside, the tent was filled with darkness, but these people sitting side by side couldn't be unseen.

With a trembling voice, Ethan said respectfully: “good afternoon, gentlemen…”

“... Hi, young man, you must sit.” an imposing male voice echoed everywhere.

“Y-yes.”

There was a chair in front of the table where the people were, which Ethan sat.

Ethan didn't think this darkness was necessary, but he didn't say anything for your own good…

“Sigh… Well, young man, to begin we want to know your complete name.”

“Ethan… Ethan, sir, I don't have a surname…”

Without reply, noises of a pen touching a sheet of paper were heard.

“Okay. Somehow, do you have any military experience or weapon skills?”

“None in both.”

After that, this process, and the same type of questions, went on to ask about Ethan's physical condition, his tactical knowledge, etc.

Following the asks, the pen's noises continued until the end of the recruitment exam.

“Well, I think everything seems fine.” Someone declared. “You've been registered. I'm going to give you some important papers, especially your ID card, so be here with it tomorrow. You bring food, money or anything like that will be confiscated, you will go to a place where there will be food and the money you know will be useless.”

‘What do you mean? Everything seems so abrupt…’

Really seemed that he was cannonball to the army, one more to kill enemies and die destitute.

After hearing everything the unknown man said, a hand holding papers came out of the darkness, handing them to Ethan.

“Please, leave now.”

“Ok, thanks, sir. I'm looking forward to serving in the army.” Ethan tried to look as happy as possible.

‘It was strange, but expected.’