I've returned to Commander, and I have a strategy simulation. 2

Episode 2 — “When I Returned, I Became a Commander: And I Have a Strategy Game” (English Version)

 

A tense silence settled over the forest.
Sergeant Park Seong-cheol, his uniform worn and his sergeant stripes faded, stared at Kang-hyuk with eyes sharp as a snake’s. Just moments ago, those eyes had been filled with the terror of near death.
Now they were the eyes of a veteran — one who had survived far too many battles.

“You said you’re a student soldier? What unit?”

“The 3rd Student Battalion, sir. At Dabudong… the unit got scattered.”

Kang-hyuk spoke the name of one of the fiercest, most chaotic battles of the Korean War — something he had learned in the 21st century. It was the kind of battlefield where no one could easily verify who fought and who didn’t.

“Sergeant, we’re alive thanks to the kid,” Private Kim muttered beside him, unable to stay silent. Gratitude and awe showed clearly on the young soldier’s face.

But Sergeant Park shut him down with a curt gesture.

“Quiet, Private Kim. Something’s off. The timing of this brat showing up… and that ghost-like accuracy of his shooting.”

Park’s mind went back to the mysterious “U.S. soldiers” he had glimpsed earlier — the ones who appeared out of nowhere, annihilated the enemy, and vanished like smoke.
And right after they disappeared… this student had appeared in their place.

It wasn’t a coincidence. It was too bizarre for that.

Kang-hyuk felt cold sweat trickling down his back, but forced himself to keep acting terrified.

If I get exposed, I’m dead.

Fortunately, the system was still on his side.

[ Converting 21 fallen souls in “The Mine of the Dead” into ‘Shadow Workers’. (Resource -210) ]
[ Conversion complete. Current resource production per hour: +21 ]

While outwardly he was facing mortal danger, inwardly he was experiencing the thrill of explosive growth — the start of a strange double life.

“…We move,” Sergeant Park finally said after a long silence. He pointed toward the southern ridge.

“If we run along that ridge, we should hit our defensive line. If luck’s with us.”

Right at that moment, Kang-hyuk’s minimap flashed red.

[ Warning: Following that route will result in enemy contact with a 12-man search squad in 15 minutes. Probability: 98%. ]

“S-Sergeant Park! We can’t go that way!”

Sergeant Park shot him a cold glare.
“What did you just say?”

“Before the gunfire stopped… I heard footsteps from that direction. They were coming this way. We should take the dried-up ravine instead—”

Kang-hyuk pointed toward the only area marked safe on his minimap.

Park’s face twisted.

“What the hell do you know? You ever had real military training? A ravine becomes a death trap if artillery lands. The ridge is the fastest route!”

“It’s still too dangerous!”

“You arrogant little—!”

Just as Park was about to grab him by the collar, Private Kim blocked him with watery eyes.

“S-Sergeant… just once. Please. Let’s trust the student—just this once. We were as good as dead before he showed up anyway!”

Park froze.
It was true — they had been as good as dead. And survival had come only through something that could barely be called luck.
And at the center of that miracle… stood this inexplicable student.

“…Fine.”

Park stared hard into Kang-hyuk’s eyes for a long, suffocating moment before grinding out the words:

“Lead the way. But if you’re wrong, I’ll kill you myself.”

The three of them moved silently through the dried-out ravine Kang-hyuk indicated. Every tumble of gravel made their hearts drop. It felt like walking on thin ice.

After some time, faint voices floated from the direction of the southern ridge — the route they had originally intended to take.
The group ducked behind a boulder without thinking.

“Hey, comrade Ri. Let’s take a smoke break, huh?”
“Yeah. What’s the rush? The southern dogs all ran off anyway.”

NORTH KOREAN ACCENTS.

A search team — at least a dozen men — strolled along the ridge they would have taken. If they had gone that way, they would have run straight into them and been riddled with bullets.

As the enemy voices faded, Private Kim collapsed onto the ground, pale as a ghost.

Park remained standing in stunned silence, eyes flicking between the ridge and Kang-hyuk.
The suspicion in his expression was gone.
In its place were fear of the unknown… relief at survival… and something close to reverence.

He approached Kang-hyuk slowly, voice hoarse.

“…Hey, kid.”

“Yes, Sergeant?”

“Where… do we go next?”

In that moment, command of the squad passed quietly into Kang-hyuk’s hands.

After all, he was the only one on this hellish battlefield who held a walkthrough.

 

#isekai
# war fantasy
# alternate history
# korean war setting
# military strategy
# RTS system
# game mechanics in reality
# unit summoning
# commander protagonist
# survival
# resource management
# dark fantasy
# grim world
# tactical combat
# supernatural warfare