"Death... Why do I feel like I'm dead?" Darkness surrounded me from every direction, as if I were a bird trapped in an endless cage.
My body was cold, my breaths were almost nonexistent, and a strange feeling of lightness consumed me, as if I were just an idea in the void.
Was this the afterlife? Or was I...? Suddenly, a wave of memories hit me like knives tearing through my mind.
Unfamiliar faces, sounds of battles, screams, fires burning palaces, armies collapsing, and then... the moment of death. I remembered everything.
My name was "Yuji Shirao", just an ordinary Japanese young man, who spent his life obsessed with strategy games and fantasy.
I was known for being one of the best players in a popular game called "War of the Seven Worlds" - a game based on building empires, waging wars, and forging alliances to survive in a world full of betrayal and intrigue. But I... died.
The last thing I remembered was sitting in front of my computer after a grueling gaming session, drinking coffee, and then... nothingness. But now, here I was. In a strange place, with a strange body, and a life that wasn't mine.
I slowly opened my eyes, and found myself lying on a huge royal bed, in a vast hall that shone with golden lights.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, luxurious curtains covered the walls, and servants stood in rows on either side of the hall, all staring at me with frightened eyes.
And among them... an elderly man with a white beard, wearing luxurious attire, who seemed to be the chief minister or advisor of the palace.
"Your Majesty... are you okay?!" His voice was filled with fear and tension.
I looked at him in confusion, and then heard a voice inside my head... no, not just thoughts, but information flowing into me as if it were a part of me.
"Kyles the First, Crown Prince of the Empire of Estaria, the rightful ruler of the throne after the death of the Emperor-father, the one who is destined to lead his kingdom in the coming World War... and is fated to die within just fifty days." ... What?!
"Astonishment washed over me. This wasn't just a dream; it was reality. I had become Kaelen the First, the Crown Prince of the Estarian Empire, the very empire I used to play with in the strategy game I'd spent years mastering.
But there's a huge problem…
In the game, Estaria was always the weakest empire, and the player controlling it was invariably defeated within the first two months!
Which means…
I'm doomed.
"Your Majesty?" the advisor spoke again, trying to suppress his nervousness.
I felt my heart pounding, but I tried to compose myself. If I was going to survive, there was no time for panic. I had to act fast.
"I'm fine," I said in a low voice, testing the extent of my control over this new body.
My muscles felt weak, as if I hadn't moved in weeks. Yes, of course… Kaelen the First had been bedridden for weeks after being poisoned!
In the game, the story began with a conspiracy that led to the death of the old Emperor and the poisoning of Crown Prince Kaelen with a rare venom that nearly killed him, resulting in the collapse of the government and the nobles seizing control of the palace.
But now… it seems I've returned to life just before the moment of the real Kaelen's death.
In other words… I've been given a second chance.
A chance to break fate.
A chance to save the empire.
A chance to stay alive…"
I looked at the old advisor and said in a stronger voice:
"Bring me a report on the state of the empire. I want to know everything about the army, the economy, and the internal politics."
Everyone stared at me in astonishment, as if they had seen a ghost speak. Even the advisor opened his mouth slightly before regaining his composure.
"As you command, Your Majesty!" he bowed quickly, then gestured to one of the servants, who ran to fetch the documents.
At that moment, I felt like I finally had control of the situation.
If I was in a strategy game world… then I would do what I do best.
I will plan. I will fight. I will win.
This time, I will not lose.