Reincarnated as Nikolai II

Just as millions of troops on the Western Front were struggling to return home, the Eastern Front also began to disband rapidly with the end of the war.

General Mexmontan had already left with the Finnish forces, and the Russian Empire was in the midst of sending troops back by military districts.

"So your day to leave has finally come too."

"Of course. I came as a colonel, earned medals, and even became a general. I want to go back and brag about my achievements around the neighborhood, if only for that."

The day had come for the Korean Empire’s forces, who had fought for years in a foreign land, to board the train.

"It feels like just yesterday when the naive Colonel Lee came leading his unit, but four years have already passed. Seeing comrades leave like this makes me think the end of the war isn’t entirely good."

"Oh, Lieutenant General Brikhima, don’t say that. Our boys thought they could only return home dead. With no leave at all, we should go now at least."

"Right, it’ll take a month just to get there."

While the French army sent about 5% of their troops on leave and the British army allowed 5-6% of the BEF to return home, the Korean Empire’s forces had no such luxury.

Their homeland was too far, and the Trans-Siberian Railway lacked the capacity to accommodate their leave.

Even this early departure was only possible because they were foreign troops and received priority railway allocation.

At Warsaw Station, Lee Dong-hwi, now a veteran after years in the field, quietly looked at Lieutenant General Vertikov Brikhima who was watching him.

"...Thanks to you, Lieutenant General, our boys are returning home alive."

"Alive? How many Koreans died on this land? I’ll stay behind and try to recover as many of them as possible. As you say, it’s a human duty to at least send their remains back to their homeland."

"Sigh, at this rate, will we ever meet again...? We will, right?"

"Every meeting in life must have a parting. But if our friendship remains, won’t our connection continue?"

Seeing Lee Dong-hwi hesitate to leave despite wanting more than anyone to return home alive, Brikhima pushed his back.

"Go now. You’ll miss it at this rate."

"Please assign my next post to the Amur Military District. The war just ended, but we should share a drink together sometime later."

"Haha, is that up to me?"

Yet even Brikhima felt excited about this indefinite promise, thinking about the day they would meet.

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The past four years, from starting their connection as training center commander to serving together during the reserve force period, were unforgettable times for Brikhima as well.

Until the moment Lee Dong-hwi and countless Korean Empire soldiers boarded the train and departed with a roar...

"Farewell! Let’s never meet again!"

"Damn, you did well, you Chinks!"

"Live well back home! I hear you’ll be rich there now!"

Not just Brikhima, but many Russian soldiers who fought alongside them waved goodbye.

Although they came this far to participate in the war due to some deal between higher-ups and international diplomatic relations, for the soldiers who fought with guns, the reason wasn’t so important.

What mattered to them was that those leaving were comrades who risked their lives fighting together.

And the sad fact that there were more who couldn’t leave than those who were leaving.

That’s why the two armies, different in skin color and language, shouted to each other.

"We’re going home to eat home-cooked meals, you bread-eaters!"

"Always canned food, vodka, canned food, vodka! Thought we’d die of boredom!"

"Don’t know what you’re saying but take care, you big-noses!"

Burying their regrets at Warsaw Station.

Chiiiiiiik!

However, as the train accelerated...

It didn’t take long for this regret to turn into excitement.

Although it would take a whole month just to return, and they had to cross the continent from end to end...

Though they were returning with just about a sack of belongings, just as they had come with only a uniform and rifle...

They had survived.

No, not just survived.

"Will we really be rich when we get back?"

"They said our families are already getting money from the country! Just for me, I spent three New Years in this land, I must have earned a lifetime’s worth!"

"I’ll just be grateful if my wife hasn’t run off."

The Russian Empire paid participation allowances to the Koreans properly.

They sent 10% of the participation amount to those in the field and sent the remaining 90% to Korea, so these men just needed to return home intact.

Even though it might be a drop in the bucket compared to Russian Empire troops, even this was thankfully received. No, just surviving and returning would be hitting the jackpot.

’Maybe I’ll buy a house and farm when I get back. Want to live comfortably in the countryside.’

’Wonder how much my children have grown.’

’When I get back, I’ll find the prettiest girl in the village!’

Pride in having participated in and contributed to the victory in a war between great powers.

Allowances that adequately compensated for their sacrifices.

And the sheer joy of surviving that hell and stepping on homeland soil.

Amidst the whirlwind of emotions, if there was one thing everyone commonly felt, it was hope.

Now the Korean Empire no longer needed to suffer from foreign invasion.

The Russian Empire recognized them as allies, which meant they no longer had to worry about Japanese invasion.

Thanks to their noble sacrifices, the Korean Empire’s future would be bright, and only happy days remained for them.

All the soldiers on the train believed this without doubt.

Because that was why they endured in those damned trenches.

Because that was why countless comrades died in foreign lands.

Because that was why they had to survive and not die.

And so, the Korean Empire’s forces, full of hope, crossed Siberia to return to Korean soil, then dispersed across the country via the Gyeongui Line.

And what welcomed them back was...

"Wife! Wife, I’m back! I’ve returned alive!"

"..."

"W-where did everyone go! Man-sik is back alive in his homeland!"

At least, it was a reality they never imagined while on the train.

"...Could you be Man-sik?"

"Uncle Heo? Where did my family go? Why hasn’t the thatched roof been changed and why is the entrance blocked?"

"Your family... they all left. After you left, your wife tried to support the children with sewing work, but she got sick. Haven’t heard from them since they said they were going back to their hometown."

"The country, the country must have sent money. They must have sent enough to live on without working!"

"They gave decent money at first, but it kept decreasing until they finally gave nothing at all. Those bastards, they should have at least given enough to eat."

"..."

Kim Man-sik, who was conscripted and participated in the early war, immediately sensed something was terribly wrong when he heard his wife had left for her hometown.

"Those government bastards were saying something else too. Said they had no money because they were taking care of the families of the dead first."

"...That’s a lie. The Russian Emperor said he gave so much money. I know it all!"

Kim Man-sik, who knew nothing but his healthy body and couldn’t even read or write.