Imperial Academy Girl Magic Officer

“For the sake of protecting the Empire that breathes and flourishes by its people, I hereby solemnly declare: I shall root out the evil forces that gnaw at our nation!”
A man’s brief outcry plunged the world into a dark abyss.
Could there be a sight more befitting of the phrase ‘the world has been turned upside down’?
Madness forced bullets upon children who should be going to school to gain knowledge, and compelled young people who should have been enjoying fresh romance and vibrant lives to shoulder the burden of life and death.
Forests and fields where wild beasts would have lived peaceful lives were stained with red liquid and the acrid smell of gunpowder.
“F-Fuck, die!”
“Aaaargh!”
Peace no longer existed.
“Let’s give those filthy fascists’ asses a good kick!”
“Hurrah!”
The Great War that thrust the world into a battlefield only brought forth a crucible of madness.
However, isn’t it true that there’s no such thing as an eternal war? If there’s a declaration of war, an end to that war is inevitable.
“We’ve finally arrived.”
I smiled warmly as I looked out at the destination we had at last reached.
So this is…
[Welcome to Moscow]
The capital of the Federation.
As I took a few more steps forward, a welcoming signboard greeted me cheerfully. Behind it, as if to prove that the welcoming message wasn’t a lie, numerous buildings befitting the status of a nation’s capital were in place.
It’s nothing but ruins.
Though most of the structures were reduced to bare steel frames from the heavy bombing they had endured.
What a miserable sight for the capital of a superpower that once dominated the world. I shook my head disapprovingly while tightening my leather gloves.
To think a major city of the Federation would end up like this.
Compared to the countless corpses of Federation soldiers frozen to the ground along with the earth – it being winter at the moment – the bisected tanks and crashed, nose-diving fighter planes on fire were trivial sights.
The rows of shops that once bustled with crowds and bright lights were nowhere to be seen.

“Hell”
Only scenes befitting the above designation were unfolding.
“I-Is it finally over?”
“We can go home now… we really can!”
That’s why the Imperial soldiers cheered.
While this atrocious scene might seem horrifying from the perspective of Federation citizens, to the Imperial soldiers, it was simply a scene heralding the end of the war, nothing more, nothing less.
“H-Hooray! Long live the Empire!”
“The Great War is over!”
“F-Fuck! The goddamn mess has finally come to an end!”
Some embraced each other and wept with joy, some leaned against walls smoking cigarettes with exhaustion and emptiness, some prostrated themselves bursting into tears they had been holding back until now.
The tens of thousands of Imperial soldiers each expressed their own emotions with different reactions.
The same went for me.
“Haah…”
As I sighed, my heart pounded so violently inside my body that it felt like it might leap out of my mouth. Despite it being winter when I should feel the biting cold, my whole body was hot with excitement.
So this is what it feels like to be rewarded for all the hardships after breaking free from the shackles of the Great War.
“Ha, hahaha!”
I burst into laughter while grabbing handfuls of snow thickly piled on the ground.
I’m elated!
It was happiness I hadn’t tasted in a long time. The Federation’s territory was dozens of times larger than the Empire’s, so we had to fight like mad to occupy it and eliminate the ant-like Federation troops.
And now, at this moment, I was finally reaping the rewards for that.
Who could understand the euphoria coursing through me? I shuddered as I scattered the handful of snow into the air.
“Haha, you seem to be in quite a good mood?”
Until a middle-aged man suddenly approached.
“Ah, you’re here.”
Upon hearing the familiar deep voice and inexplicably friendly tone, I immediately tidied up my clothes after confirming his face, then stood at attention and saluted.
“Commander.”
It was Commander Derian, one of the main contributors to the victory in this Great War and the one who could be said to have led the battle for Moscow’s capital.
[Genius of Armored Warfare]
Whenever I saw his face, this epithet circled in my mind.
It wasn’t just some flattering description. Derian’s armored warfare tactics were truly ahead of their time. That’s why he held the high position of Commander.
If anything, it was special that I could communicate with Derian so casually.
“We were able to win thanks to you.”
“It’s all thanks to your innovative armored warfare tactics, Commander.”
“Khuhu, even if it’s just flattery, it feels good.”
Who else could speak with the Commander maintaining only minimal formalities? In a way, this moment proved that I too had accumulated considerable merits during the Great War.
“What happened to the General Secretary?”
“When I went to check behind the square, his corpse was lying there.”
“A fitting end for that bastard.”
“I think so too.”
I continued the conversation laced with jokes while gazing at Derian with an inexplicable sense of contentment.
“Where’s the Imperial newspaper reporter!”
“H-Here I am!”
“Quickly, take a photo of the Commander and the Magic Corps Commander meeting! For a picture commemorating the victory!”
“Y-Yes!”
Click! Click click─!
As if it might be used as propaganda material later, we were unexpectedly showered with camera shutters.
“Move quickly!”
“Wounded, gather over here!”
From the line of officers stretched out to the rear, to the Imperial soldiers deployed in every building in case of a surprise attack by Federation forces.
There sure are a lot of people.
I muttered as I walked through the streets in disarray with corpses and damaged military equipment. Just turning my head slightly was enough to see the many people bustling about.
They all looked different.
Their attire varied too.
“It’s the Commander!”
“Th-The Magic Officer Commander is here too.”
“Everyone, attention and salute!”

But the same emotion of ‘happiness’ was evident on all their faces.
Perhaps because of this, I stepped forward more brightly at the soldiers’ cheerful expressions.

Crunch, crunch─!

Amidst the battlefield filled with the acrid smell of ammunition carried by the wind, passing through fragments of buildings scattered on the ground and sticky bloodstains…

“Is it here?”
“Yes.”

To the front of an enormous building.
“This is the Red Palace.”
“It seems more appropriate to call it the Black Palace though.”
Derian raised his hand, pointing to the air. At the tip of his finger was the Red Palace, once called the symbol of the Federation.
Of course, epithets like ‘symbol of the Federation’ were now nothing more than stories of the past. The palace had long since been burned black, no longer matching its name.
The Federation soldiers inside must have all turned to ashes.

Rustle─

As I bent down and brushed the ground with two fingers, black powder that must have fallen from the outer walls clung thickly.
Although I hadn’t experienced it firsthand, I could imagine how fierce the battle must have been.
I’m proud of the soldiers,

Because of this, I felt an even deeper affection for the Imperial soldiers guarding this space and the officers who had commanded the battles until now.
Amidst a situation where entire buildings were shattered, tens of thousands of Federation soldiers desperately resisted with bullets raining all around, and comrades were falling one after another, they held on with that pride of protecting the Empire! That intense determination to achieve victory!
Isn’t it that they endured with just those feelings?
As there’s nothing in this world as lovable as soldiers who faithfully carry out orders, I inwardly sent them words of gratitude and praise.
“Then come this way.”
“Yes.”
I then stepped forward vigorously, taking the sporadic cheers as background music.
“…”
“H-He’s coming.”
And as I moved closer to the blackened palace, the festive atmosphere that had enveloped the square gave way to silence.

‘It’s quiet.’
I looked around while dusting off the dirt that clung thickly to my clothes.
At some point, all the officers and commanders had closed their mouths and met my eyes. Their sparkling gazes seemed to want something.
And I knew well what they were hoping for.

“This was the entrance, right?”
“Probably so.”
“Then I’ll leave the final task to you.”
“I’m honored.”
“Thank you for all your efforts for the Empire until now.”

Derian handed over a slender pole wrapped in cloth.
“It’s an honor.”
Even though he didn’t make any additional comments, I politely accepted the object, understanding the meaning of his action.

The national flag
It was the flag of the Empire.
Swoosh─!

I skillfully shouldered the Imperial flag to do the next task, and leapt into the air, kicking off the ground.
Zing!
A white light leaked from the Magic Officer military boots that wrapped my feet.

“Finally…”
“If we just go up there…”

As I flew higher and higher to a dizzying height, the soldiers’ voices could no longer be heard. However, I could clearly tell that they were watching this scene.

Swoosh!

Only when I reached a height where clouds were at eye level did the top of the palace come into view.
Fortunately, despite being bombed, the rooftop was intact. That meant it was perfect for planting the flag, making it ideal for truly completing this scene of ruins.
I grasped the Imperial flag I had brought along.

Thud!

Then I drove it in with enough force to pierce the outer wall.

[Congratulations on your clear!]
[You have completely secured the Federation’s surrender!]

Then a notification window popped up along with the sound of fireworks.
At last, even the symbolic meaning of occupation had been established in the Federation’s capital. I had added the final brushstroke to decorate this landscape of ruins.
“The damn war is over, sniff!”
“Is it really over?”
Cheers louder than before reached even this high place.
When I returned to the ground, one soldier was kneeling and shedding tears of emotion.
What a masterpiece.
My nose tingled at the moving scene.
Even the scabs of dried blood on their hands seemed like rose petals. Although it was probably just an interaction of the program, I felt a poignancy that made my chest ache.

‘But I should end it now.’
Regrettably, because this wasn’t reality.

“System shutdown.”

With that brief statement,
Zzing─
In an instant, my vision went dark.
After a few seconds passed, the darkness before my eyes gradually brightened. Somehow the soldiers occupying the streets and the flags had disappeared, and familiar furniture came into view.
I rose from the capsule with its lid that opened horizontally like a hatch.
This was the virtual reality device I had bought for quite a lot of money, with its soft matrix and complex mechanical devices coexisting.
“…Water.”
My throat was parched, I felt thirsty. I headed to the living room as soon as I woke up.
“So this game is over too.”
I muttered in the living room I had finally reached.
I poured water into a glass with eyes filled with emptiness.

Gulp─ Gulp─
I tried to calm my mind with the refreshing sensation flowing through my body, but I couldn’t erase the regret that kept creeping in.

Academy 1945.
This game I had just played until now had various charms such as the existence of magic in the 20th century and a story modeled after actual history.
Moreover, since no one had cleared it yet, it received great love and attention.

Zing, zzing─!

Perhaps because of that, I was extremely busy.

[This is Han-ul Lee from ○○ Newspaper. Request for an interview…]
[This is △△ Media. We’d like to visit your home once…]

Notifications rang so much that my phone was getting hot, emails rapidly increasing in my inbox, etc. It hadn’t even been an hour since I announced the clear, but interest had already peaked.

Thud.

But I ignored all these messages and turned off the screen.
I didn’t reply even though I was the one who sent emails first.

‘There’s no need to come forward just yet.’

Living a life as a game critic, these were connections I had made along the way. If it was these people who knew my skills, there was no need to cling to them.
The value would only go up, not down.

Swish, swish
I just yawned and deleted the notifications.
That was all I thought about,

“Hm?”

Until I discovered an address that felt out of place.

[From: [email protected]]

This is?

I was about to pass it thinking it was just one of the many newspaper companies, but a special email was shining in the center of the screen.

“…It’s the first time I’m getting an email from here.”

No, I had never heard of this. Is it possible to get a reply from the official address of Academy 1945’s production company?

Even the company’s representative maintained a mysterious image with their face unknown, and it was normal not to get any response even if you sent a letter, but it should be that way…

Yet here it was, plain as day?

A first clear gift, a letter perhaps.

I put down the cup I was holding and immediately checked the contents.

Subject: Congratulations on your clear.

[Congratulations on clearing Academy 1945. We thank you, our dear user, for always cherishing this game. As a token of our appreciation, our development company has prepared a small gift. We would be grateful if you could check the attached file.

We can offer you a new thrill for you who no longer feel joy]

The content I read in an instant, despite its length.

“Ha.”

My impression of that long text was just a single exclamation. Indeed, when I scrolled to the very bottom of the screen, there was one file attached.
But I was more concerned about a different part than that.

Thrill, huh.
A phrase that particularly stood out among the long text. It was absurd that they suddenly contacted me like this, let alone saying they would give me joy out of nowhere, but,

…Should I check it out?
On the other hand, I was curious.
Doesn’t it seem like the production company is saying they’ve polished and prepared this work? I couldn’t help but check it.
[Starting transmission]

Without hesitation, I connected my phone to the virtual reality device and downloaded the file.
I hope it’s at least as good as the original.
I harbored a small wish.
To be honest, I hoped this revised version would fill the emptiness left by clearing the game. It was very regrettable to say goodbye to a masterpiece that might only come out once in a decade like this.
It was also the first time something had made me this happy.
Until now, virtual reality games I had played fell into one of two categories:
Either too easy,
Or unrealistic.
But Academy 1945 was different.
It was the first time I experienced a sense of realism that made me feel like I was in the actual world, and the story was not only not lacking but provided a perfect narrative no less than real history.
“A perfect work indeed.”
That’s why I came to anticipate it.
Ding!

[Transmission complete]

Finally. As soon as the download finished, I lay down inside the device and found the power button in the corner to press it.

[Once you start playing, it will be difficult to exit and the difficulty is quite high. Do you want to proceed?]

Then, along with my vision going dark, a translucent window filled that empty space.
‘Yes.’

I nodded towards the ray of light floating in the air with a gentle smile.
“Ugh, uuugh…”

Soon after, nausea accompanied by a headache came over me. I frowned at the unpleasant sensation that seemed to last longer than usual.
Is it a malfunction?
Fortunately, the pain didn’t last long. There were no more side effects, and as warm light entered between my eyelids, my surroundings became clearer.
When I finally regained my vision, I looked around.

Vroom!

Amidst a barren wilderness with nothing in sight, a scene of trucks running on rough dirt roads carrying people, kicking up swirling dust.
It was the opening scene of Academy 1945.

‘There doesn’t seem to be any change.’
I looked down at the clothes covering my body.
Starting with the black uniform, a peaked cap decorated with an eagle. A leather strap crossing from shoulder to waist, a belt wrapped around the waist, and small gold bars drawn on the collar.

The cadet school uniform hadn’t changed either.

“Hm?”

If anything had changed, it was this body I was now moving. Despite the uniform being no different from usual, I felt an indescribable discomfort.

Has it gotten smaller?
I furrowed my brows at the size that was noticeably different from my original body. The blood vessels and muscles that used to be clearly visible on my arms and legs were gone, replaced by soft flesh.

“Ah, aah─.”

Even my voice had changed to a typically soft female voice.

The changed appearance wasn’t just that.
When I glanced to the side, I saw long hair I had never had before.
Jet-black hair shining like obsidian covered my shoulders in soft curves, with some strands reaching down to my now heavier chest.

“Tsk.”

I clicked my tongue as I looked at those features.
Is this what they meant by making it more difficult?
Increasing the difficulty by changing the body?

As I touched my face, the straight bridge of my nose felt by my fingers and the thin double eyelids I felt as I blinked my eyes.
It seemed the gender had completely switched from the original protagonist.
‘Then I wonder if the name has changed too.’
My prediction was accurate.
[Yena Freud]
On the nametag shining in the sunlight – more precisely, the identification tag to be used only on the first day of admission – only the name had changed, with the original setting of the surname Freud remaining the same.
Certainly, playing the game with a body that’s not my original one, and even with a different gender, would make things a bit difficult.
But if these changes are all there is, it’s a bit disappointing?
Doesn’t this mean there are no changes to the game settings? This much wasn’t enough to bring me joy.
If this is really all there is, for someone like me who has already seen the end of the story, it would only take a little time.
‘I wish there were more differences.’
Now that I was even getting used to the heavier upper body, I earnestly prayed. For this revised version to please be interesting.
Living life as a reviewer, gradually becoming bored with life, it was this Academy 1945 that once again pulled out the joy of living and made my heart race.
That’s why I had a special affection for it. As a player, not a reviewer, I had formed a close friendship with this game.
As long as the game was fun, I could understand anything, whether the gender changed or the appearance changed.
‘As long as it’s not boring…’
I just hoped this expectation wouldn’t be shattered miserably and turn into disappointment.

“Ugh.”

At the same time, I resolved to either tie up or cut this hair that kept tickling my nape and causing me to sneeze.
“We’ll be arriving soon, so everyone get your luggage ready!”
I raised my head at the cheerful voice that suddenly rang out.
“Yes!”
“Understood!”
The various people – no, the various cadets on the truck with me straightened their backs and responded in unison to that command.

We’re about to arrive, huh.
Having played the game multiple times, I anticipated the situation we would soon face.
The fact that the cadets had opened their mouths was a kind of signal that we would soon arrive at the military academy. This meant that the opening of Academy 1945 was coming to an end.

“Is there really nothing else that’s changed…”

Screech─
I bit my lip as I leaned against the rattling truck’s wall.
I hadn’t logged out until now thinking there might be something, but there were no noticeable changes except for the gender. At least until the opening scene, it was exactly the same as the previous version.
Then I should prioritize what needs to be done.
I had to finish at least one interview today. By now, dozens more emails would have surely piled up, and I just needed to reply to the one offering the highest compensation,

I started braiding my thin hair but soon opened my mouth.

“System shutdown.”

I repeated again.

“…System shutdown.”

What’s going on?

There was no response. I had given the force quit command, but there was no notification sound, let alone any reaction from the program.
Whooosh─!
Only the wind passing through this wilderness brushed past my ears.

I can’t log out?
The sense of discomfort that finally hit me.
The thin hair that had been tickling my ears all along, the cold wind brushing against my skin, the rattling of the vehicle stimulating the cochlea inside my body, and finally the cold air passing through my lungs.

‘No, it can’t be possible.’

I stood up abruptly with growing anxiety. There was no way such realistic sensations, as if in reality, could be felt in a virtual reality game.

“What’s wrong with that one?”
“Why is he muttering strange things to himself?”

The cadets looked at my behavior as if it was strange and whispered among themselves. And I bit my lip harder at their reactions.

‘Something’s wrong.’
There’s no way characters in the game would talk about logging out, right? It’s basic etiquette not to respond when using external system commands.

But these people were whispering.
Moreover, those on the same truck as me even looked at me as if I was strange and moved their seats to distance themselves.

‘No, this is…?’
A tingling sensation enveloped my entire body.

Goosebumps rose on my skin, cold sweat not only trickled but soaked my spine, and my hands trembled.
I tried to calm my rapid breathing and dizzy head as I exhaled.

What kind of nonsensical situation is this? There’s a limit to what can be understood as common sense. How can I believe that the world that was just a game until a moment ago suddenly became reality?

“We’ve arrived! Everyone disembark!”

The instructor, who had no reason to care about my condition, stopped the truck.
“Yes, understood!”
The cadets jumped onto the ground in an orderly fashion and moved towards the military academy in front of them.

Thud!

I bit my lip but jumped down to the ground. No matter how incomprehensible the current situation was, I couldn’t just sit still.
There was some difficulty in getting down due to my smaller body, but I safely exited the truck.

[Astrakhan Military Academy]
As I twisted my body and raised my head, a massive compound as large as a modern university greeted me before my eyes.

It was a place anyone who had played the game would recognize.
This building right in front of me was the Awakened Officer Cadet School established to nurture cadets into Magic Officers, and the facility where all the game’s stories begin.
Of course, such settings were not of any concern to me right now.

This is reality?

Is it true that when a series of unbelievable situations hit you, your mind goes blank? I pressed my throbbing forehead and lowered my head to the ground.
“Haha, this is driving me crazy.”

Even the academy’s signboard, which had always appeared translated into Korean, was now displayed in the Imperial language. And I was reading it naturally.

“…”
I didn’t even have the strength to be surprised anymore.
No, I was dumbfounded.

Thud─!
I sat down on the ground with a stunned expression.
I had never felt like this in my entire life.
What on earth is this?
I closed my eyes tightly, holding back a sigh that was coming over me from the emptiness. The dark view matched my current mental state.
“…”

A moment of silence.

How long had I been in that position? Only when even the wind had died down and only the sound of sand grains brushing against my military boots could be heard, did I slowly open my eyelids.

“Whew.”

I took a deep breath with a calmer mindset than before.
‘Let’s calm down.’

While an ordinary person might have panicked, the mental fortitude built up through numerous games helped me hold onto my sanity.
Originally having a cool-headed personality, I was able to make rational judgments quickly.

Do I really need to be afraid?
I slowly chewed my lips while brushing aside my bangs tickling my eyes.

‘Isn’t this the kind of life you wanted?’
The game has become reality, haven’t you escaped from the modern world where you lived life like a wooden puppet, predetermined?
I was confident in my intelligence, and it wasn’t arrogance. However, it was difficult to find happiness. In reality, it was limited to fully pursue what I wanted.
That’s why I had been conquering various games that could at least give me some fun. To taste unrealistic pleasures that couldn’t be experienced in reality, I escaped into virtual worlds.
The previous Academy 1945 was also part of that.
But now things have changed, right?
Battles with enemies, shadowy struggles with politicians, battlefields with raining shells, isn’t it possible to vividly experience all of that now? Haven’t you escaped from the boring daily life?

…Not bad.

It really wasn’t bad. The change in gender was a slight flaw, but what does it matter if I can live in the world I wanted?
Judging coolly, it wasn’t something to despair about.

Swish─

I spread both hands and wiped my face with my palms. The fear and dread that had filled me were long gone.

Is there really a god?
There was only one who could be presumed to have sent me to this world. There was no doubt since this happened as soon as I played the revised version handed over by the production company.

I raised my head as the cadets’ voices and the truck’s exhaust sound faded.
Somehow I had regained my original stoicism, quickly mastering my emotions and moving my feet little by little.
Step─ Step─
I moved bit by bit towards the main gate of the military academy, feeling the sunlight illuminating my pale skin.
If this isn’t a dream, I’ll live overwhelming others completely and feeling happiness.
In a way, it’s an opportunity for a life that seemed impossible, so I should live this life without regrets.

‘Let’s go for now.’
Then, the first priority is to act befitting the status of a new cadet at the military academy. Without hesitation, I stepped inside the academy gates.
Astrakhan Military Academy
To attend the cadet induction ceremony.