MISS PAINTER, YOUR ART HAS COME ALIVE!

These few days of training had clearly allowed Kaelis to feel her body improving significantly.

Her spiritual capacity had also reached the milestone of one hundred twenty-five.

Although Kaelis felt she still had plenty of room to grow, since the simulation had begun, she wouldn't waste even a few extra minutes arguing about it.

As for her gradually healthier body... Kaelis thought most of that was probably psychological, like how people always feel slimmer after exercising.

After pondering for a moment, Kaelis slightly shook her head.

By now, she had already entered the simulated world, and her surroundings had changed.

No longer was it her lonely abandoned mansion, but rather a somewhat backward town, resembling a medieval fantasy setting.

There were no paved stone roads, only loose, yellow dirt paths. The buildings on either side weren't made of concrete, but simple wooden houses.

The people walking the streets wore monotonous farmer's clothing.

They were now gathering toward the town center, rarely speaking to each other, appearing unusually silent.

“Conscription again...”

Kaelis was quite familiar with this by now.

In her four simulations, aside from the first time when she had blindly fled, the other three times she had taken the path of enlisting. Among those three, except for the second time when she actively approached to try it out, the other two times she had been forcibly drafted.

She had considered just hiding until the scenario ended, but this simulator didn't seem to allow that.

“In the first simulation, I managed to escape forced conscription, but after wandering outside for a few days, I suddenly lost connection... meaning I must stay near the battlefield.”

And on the battlefield, an unknown wandering villager was clearly more dangerous.

Thinking to herself, Kaelis began walking toward the town center.

When she arrived at her destination, over a thousand people had already gathered, scattered across the area.

A squad of lightly armored soldiers had just finished their demonstration, and several recruitment officers were busy propagandizing.

“This is a golden opportunity to achieve glory and distinction... Don't you want to shed your farmer status and become a noble?”

“Don't you want to live a life where you eat meat every day, free from financial worries?”

“Don't you want...”

“If you desire all this, then come forth! The Kingdom has already reached the capital of Dias! Just a little longer, just a few days, and your life will be transformed! You'll obtain everything you've ever desired, just like me!”

The recruitment officer waved his arms vigorously, trying to stir up enthusiasm among the crowd.

But aside from a few young, easily swayed boys, the vast majority remains coldly indifferent.

The war had already been going on for over five years.

Although future-knowledge-bearing Kaelis knew this battle was the final decision one, to the ordinary people here, the future was unclear. All they knew was that over the years, their husbands, children, and lovers had been conscripted, and few had returned.

Those who did survive were mostly disabled, receiving only a few gold-plated coins as retirement pay...

For this remote border town, their patriotic fervor had long since disappeared after previous drafts.

All that remained was numbness.

Seeing the scene before him, the once-excited recruitment officer gradually became embarrassed.

Yet he still refused to give up.

After all, his superiors had given him a recruitment quota of one hundred soldiers; he'd barely gathered fifty so far. This was the last town under his jurisdiction. If he fails to meet the quota, he'd be sent straight to the front lines as cannon fodder.

Yes, it was true the allied forces of three nations had reached the capital of the Dias Empire, but in this world, territory size didn't correlate with how difficult it was to conquer.

Even if the Dias Empire was utterly despicable, centuries of accumulation had left them with considerable strength. The reason the three nations were still recruiting before the final battle was to gather all possible forces for one decisive strike. Without capturing the capital, all territories gained over the past five years would be meaningless!

“Everyone, I know you have various concerns, but battle reports don't lie, this time, it's your chance...”

The recruitment officer tried to say more.

But no matter how desperately he shouted, no one responded.

Those silent eyes showed nothing but calm.

The officer's expression darkened.

'If only someone would step forward first...'

Watching the unresponsive crowd, the officer's heart sank.

He'd been in recruitment for several years, he understood how this worked. Right now, they needed someone to take the lead.

Among over a thousand people, it was impossible that not a single one had ambition... After all, what he promised, honor, wealth, status, were ordinary things people couldn't resist.

They were real rewards. Although obtaining them wouldn't be as easy as he described, it was still possible. There had to be at least someone with aspirations.

But these people see themselves as part of a collective. Without a leader, they'd suppress their own desires for various reasons.

Contrary, if just one person stepped forward, others could justify following.

Just as the officer felt this town was hopeless, a sudden white figure slowly emerged from the crowd.

She said nothing, simply drawing her small frame out from among the masses, stepping forward one pace at a time under everyone's astonished gazes, until she stood before the recruitment officer.

Like a delicate white flower drifting through mud...

“I want to enlist...”

Kaelis's voice wasn't loud, but it was enough to shock those nearby.

“...You... want to enlist?”

Even the recruitment officer stared blankly at Kaelis for a long moment.

Only then did he widen his eyes in surprise.

“You want to enlist?”

He asked again.

“Yes. Is there a problem?”

Kaelis blinked, her tone still calm.

“Well... not exactly...”

The officer paused briefly before nodding.

He noticed some stirring within the crowd, but it quickly faded.

This meant some had been drawn by Kaelis's action, but it wasn't enough to push them into decision.

A flicker of inspiration lit in the officer's heart.

A moment later, an idea struck him.

“But... aren't you afraid of the danger?”

He loudly asked Kaelis.

“Danger?” Kaelis was momentarily taken aback, actually feeling puzzled.

This was the first time such dialogue had triggered during her enlistments.

But the officer didn't explain, silently pushing a paper towards her.

Although Kaelis couldn't read what was written, she could clearly see that two values on the document didn't match.

Kaelis wasn't stupid, within a blink, she understood his intention.

“Do you want me to help with recruitment?”

Kaelis blinked.

Previous simulation experience told her this man was worried about failing his recruitment quota.

If he didn't meet it, he'd have to stay here extra days, resorting to forced conscription... which would give Kaelis a few more days to breathe.

If this were past Kaelis, she'd definitely think “one more day alive is one more day”, after all, the reward for next simulation progress was on the fifth day.

But this time...

After a brief consideration, Kaelis gave her answer.

“I am afraid!”

This was her response to the man's earlier question about fear of battle.

“Huh?”

The officer was stunned, thinking Kaelis hadn't understood him.

Aren't you supposed to say you're not afraid, then deliver an impassioned speech to inspire others?

Saying you're afraid now... doesn't that undermine others' confidence?!

The officer immediately panicked.

But soon, Kaelis's following words brought him back to his feelings.

“But... if no one else is willing to step forward, then I must!”

“This...”

"Our home is a small nation, and the nation is our greater home... We've suffered Dias's oppression for far too long. This war will change our country's fate, it's a war we absolutely cannot lose. I don't want to continue living on the brink of starvation... and I don't want to remember the things we had to do just to survive..."

Kaelis spoke slowly. Simple words, yet gradually stirring everyone's memories.

Why had the three nations rebelled against the Dias Empire? Wasn't it because they could no longer endure Dias's years of tyranny?

Even in bountiful harvest years, people starved to death for failing to meet tax quotas... or worse, committed inhuman acts just to survive.

Those events hadn't happened that long ago...

At Kaelis's mention, many people's minds flashed back to past scenes. Instantly, everyone fell silent.

They absolutely did not want to return to Dias's rule!

“And...”

Kaelis paused here, her words hanging.

This brief pause heightens the anticipation of everyone present.

Kaelis didn't hesitate long. Once she confirmed she had everyone's attention, she continued.

“And... this is my only chance to change my fate... I don't want to live an ordinary life until death. I want delicious food, fine drinks. I want my own land, my own money. I want so, so much..."

“Joining the military is the fastest way for me to obtain all of this!”

Kaelis shouted. Her calm words shifted from abstract patriotism to raw, tangible desire.

This push-and-pull, combined with her small, unimposing frame, immediately inspired some of the youth.

Seeing such a tiny girl possess such resolution, then looking at their own strong, healthy bodies, a sudden surge of heat rushed to their brains.

Right... This wasn't trivial. It concerned the nation, and every single one of their futures. They didn't want to continue living in a dog-eat-dog world... If even this girl was willing to go to the battlefield and contribute, what reason did they have to hide?

Moreover, if they truly succeeded, they really could change their fate!

No more worries about food and shelter... and if they were lucky enough to earn a title...

Their lives will be completely transformed!

As the thought arose, many young people were drawn in.

More and more stepped forward, shouting their willingness to serve the nation.

The effect even stunned the recruitment officer.

Then he turned to look at Kaelis, who had quietly turned and walked away from the crowd.

This girl... wasn't simple at all...

...

“Quota met... Thank you.”

At sunset, the recruitment officer approached the solitaries, Kaelis sitting off to the side, giving her a deep nod.

The thick stack of enlistment forms in his hand meant he'd fulfilled his quota.

In fact, besides those registered, many more wanted to enlist, but he had refused them.

He understood clearly that joining the army was practically a death sentence. Ultimately, this was the battlefield of superhuman beings. Ordinary people like them were merely numbers used to overwhelm common spiritual adepts.

He knew exactly what he was doing. Thus, for every recruitment order from the Kingdom, he aims only to meet the quota, not exceed it.

This might sound hypocritical... After all, he'd already sent thousands of people to their deaths. Yet he always believed, meeting the quota was duty, exceeding it... was conscience.

This time, he owed Kaelis greatly. Without her few words of inspiration, others' enthusiasm wouldn't have been so easily stirred... recruitment wouldn't have been this smooth.

Had he truly failed to meet the quota... he might have resorted to extreme measures.

When Kaelis heard the man's thanks, she slightly lifted her head, gazing at him, then silently resumed drawing.

Seeing Kaelis act as if nothing had happened, the man awkwardly stroked his beard.

But he hadn't approached just to thank her, he had a real reward in mind.

“Do you have any requests? If I can help, I'll do my best.”

After all, Kaelis had done him a huge favor. Although he didn't understand why such a young child wanted to enlist, he sensed she likely had her own hidden reasons.

He wouldn't make empty promises, but... he'd lend a hand where possible.

As long as it wasn't too difficult...

“Really?”

Upon hearing the man's words, Kaelis suddenly raised her head.

“I'll try my best...”

He hadn't noticed clearly while processing registrations, but now seeing her up close, the man couldn't help but marvel, Kaelis truly had a lovely appearance.

But this only makes him feel more poignant.

Over the years, he'd seen many cases where, after the war, the family's main provider, the eldest siblings, still children themselves, had to take on the family's burden.

Perhaps Kaelis also had someone she absolutely had to care for?

The man felt a pang of sorrow.

But soon, Kaelis's words left him stunned.

“...Then I want to go to the front lines immediately!”

“Huh?”

The recruitment officer froze, thinking he'd misheard.

He looked at Kaelis again, his face full of confusion.

But Kaelis's words were firm.

“I want to go to the front lines.”

“...You're serious?” The officer couldn't comprehend it at all. “The front lines... are far more terrifying than you imagine.”

“I know...”

Kaelis nodded.

After confirming that in this simulation she absolutely had to participate in the main battlefield, Kaelis had consulted Old Struth, asking if she had no choice but to fight, which was better: the front or rear lines?

Old Struth's answer: In small-scale wars, the rear was safer. But in large-scale decisive battles like this capital siege, there was little difference between front and rear.

It was merely a matter of dying sooner or later.

To truly survive, one had to find a way to get promoted!

And for an ordinary person with no connections or background, the only way to be promoted is through military merits!

She shouldn't avoid fighting, she should fight... not only from the very beginning, but fiercely, desperately!

Only by using the period before the war fully unleashed to earn merits, promotion to commander rank, would her chances of survival significantly increase.

This was exactly why Kaelis had helped the man, because she wanted to reach the battlefield as soon as possible to earn merit points.

In the past, Kaelis wouldn't have dared to imagine such things. But now, she was after all a second-stage Ascender. She had the capability to earn some military merits.

One way or another, she had to be promoted to centurion before the actual battle began... or at the very least, become a squad leader.

Otherwise, once the battle truly commenced, her situation would be perilous.

“Why?”

The recruitment officer didn't know Kaelis's thoughts. He simply couldn't understand, what was she after?

Normally, recruits were always reluctant to leave their families, wishing to stay a few extra days?

Why was Kaelis eager to go?

“I need to earn military merits quickly and become a commander...”

“...Just for that?”

The officer hesitated. He felt he couldn't quite understand Kaelis.

But seeing the girl's determined eyes, he knew persuasion was futile. He could only sigh.

“If you really want a promotion... I actually have a safer path you could take...”

“Huh?”