Reincarnated with the Country System

The sun was sinking below the horizon. The convoy stopped in a field near a small town. The soldiers of the 5th Infantry Brigade were exhausted, their bodies aching from hours of walking through the inhospitable terrain. They made a temporary camp there for the night. It was farmland. All the crops had been cut down.

Private Lucas sat slumped under the wheels of a GAZ-66 truck, his AKM resting on his knees. His boots were covered in mud, and his flak jacket felt heavy. Around him, the soldiers had set up tents, fires, and begun preparing their evening meal. The smell of canned stew and boiled potatoes hung in the air, mingling with the faint scent of wood smoke.

"Lucas, you look like hell," Corporal David said, sitting next to him and holding out a tin plate. He handed Lucas a similar plate, one with a gray stew and a piece of black bread.

"Thanks," Lucas muttered, poking at the stew with his fork. "The smell of victory."

David laughed and tore off a piece of bread. "Victory tastes like boiled boots and regret. Eat it, kid. You'll need the strength."

Lucas took a bite, grimacing slightly. "How can they make food so bad? It's like they're trying to punish us."

"Maybe so," David said with a chuckle. "Keeps us humble. Besides, it's better than eating nothing."

Nearby, Private Eli sat cross-legged on the ground, his SVD Dragunov rifle slung over his shoulder. He was writing in a small notebook, his face illuminated by the flickering light of the campfire. "You know," he said without looking up, "this town near us is centuries old. Plus, it doesn't have modern conveniences like electricity, clean water, or gas—nothing."

"I wonder what it's like," Lucas said, gazing toward the town. "How do they live without electricity?"

"I expect to see knights on horseback or farmers with pitchforks," Eli mused.

David snorted. "Careful what you wish for. Those pitchforks might come in handy if we run out of ammo."

The soldiers laughed.

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"Is there a tavern there, anyway?" asked Private Ivan, a slight soldier with a perpetual smile on his face. "I was thinking about having a drink."

"Maybe," said Private Sergei, his voice low. "But good luck getting past the guards. We're not allowed to leave here."

Ivan grinned, his eyes gleaming in the firelight. "Who said anything about asking permission?"

Lucas looked up, his interest piqued. "You're not serious."

"Why not?" Ivan said, shrugging. "We're stuck out here in the mud, eating slop, while there's a whole town right there. You're telling me you're not curious?"

David shook his head. "You're gonna get yourself shot, Ivan."

"Relax, old man," Ivan said, placing a hand on David's shoulder. "We'll get in before anyone notices. Besides, what's the worst that could happen?"

Lucas hesitated, looking toward the town. The idea was reckless, but the thought of seeing a real medieval city up close was tempting. "I'm with you," he finally said.

David groaned. "You're both idiots."

Eli looked up from his notebook, his expression unreadable. "If you get caught, don't drag me into it."

Ivan smiled. "Agreed. Let's go."

♦♦♦

Four soldiers—Lucas, Ivan, Sergei, and a quiet man named Eli—slipped past the guards under cover of darkness. The town was only a few hundred meters away, its stone walls shimmering in the moonlight. The soldiers moved quickly and silently, their boots crunching softly on the gravel road.

As they reached the town gates, Ivan raised a hand and signaled the others to stop. "Okay," he whispered. "Stick together, and keep your mouths shut. We're just here to look around, understand?"

The others nodded, their hearts pounding with a mixture of excitement and fear. The gate was unguarded, its heavy wooden doors slightly. Ivan pushed one open, the hinges creaking softly, and the soldiers filed in.

The town was eerily quiet, the narrow streets empty save for the occasional stray dog or cat. The buildings were made of rough stone, their windows shuttered. Lanterns hung from iron hooks, casting flickering pools of light on the cobblestones.

"It looks like something out of a fairy tale," Lucas whispered, his voice filled with wonder.

"It looks like a horror story," Eli muttered.

Ivan led the way, his eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement. The soldiers moved cautiously, their footsteps echoing softly in the stillness. They passed a blacksmith's forge, its anvil and tools neatly arranged, and a small chapel with a wooden cross mounted above the door.

Finally, they reached the town square, where a stone fountain stood in the center. The water was still, reflecting the pale light of the moon. Ivan grinned, spreading his arms. "See? Told you it'd be worth it."

Lucas couldn't help but smile. The town was unlike anything he had ever seen—a living piece of history. But as he turned to take in the sights, a sound caught his attention: the soft creak of a door opening.

The soldiers froze, their eyes darting toward the source of the noise. A figure emerged from a nearby building, cloaked in shadows. For a moment, no one moved. Then the figure stepped into the light, revealing an old man with a long beard and a walking stick.

"Who's there?" the man asked, his voice trembling but firm.

Ivan raised his hands, his grin fading. "Easy, old timer. We're just..."

The old man studied them, his eyes narrowing. "You're soldiers. From the Empire. I heard you were camped near the town. But why are you here so late at night?"@@novelbin@@

The townspeople had heard about the Bernard Empire soldiers who had come to help them. The old man had guessed who they were by their uniforms.

Lucas exchanged a nervous glance with the others. This was bad. If the townspeople found out they were here, it could mean trouble. They could face severe punishment for leaving the camp without permission.

"We mean no harm," Lucas said quickly, stepping forward. "We were just curious. We'll leave now."

The old man studied them for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he nodded slowly. "Go. And don't come back."

The soldiers didn't need to be told twice. They turned and hurried back the way they came, their hearts racing.

"That was close," Lucas said, his voice tinged with relief.

Ivan clapped him on the back. "Relax, kid. It was fun."

As they walked back down the alley, they noticed some people standing on the street corner...