The story follows Touri Noel, a young girl who was formerly a professional FPS gamer in Japan. Reincarnated into a world constantly at war, she finds herself conscripted into the army as a combat medic due to her aptitude for healing magic. Her primary motivation is to earn money for the orphanage she grew up in, as fallen soldiers' families receive a "consolation payment" that can support the orphanage.
Touri's initial deployment is to the Western Front, a brutal and bloody battlefield where territorial gains are measured in meters and measured in lives lost. She is assigned to Sergeant Garback's platoon, a notoriously aggressive and callous commander who views his subordinates as expendable. Her first day is a chaotic baptism by fire, where she witnesses the horrors of real war firsthand and realizes her previous life's gaming skills are largely irrelevant due to strict military command.
She quickly learns that healing magic, while rare, is crucial. Under the tutelage of the veteran medic, Lieutenant Gale, Touri begins to learn basic healing spells and the defensive "Shield" magic, essential for survival. However, she also discovers the grim realities of the military hierarchy: orders are absolute, and disobedience, even to save a comrade, can lead to severe punishment or even death.
Touri experiences the loss of her childhood friend, Barney, on his first day of deployment, a tragedy that deeply affects her. She also witnesses the brutal efficiency of Sergeant Garback's tactics, his willingness to sacrifice his own men for tactical advantage, and the grim acceptance of death as a constant companion on the front lines. The war is a protracted stalemate, characterized by trench warfare, heavy artillery, and a constant drain on human life.
During a particularly brutal defensive battle, Touri's platoon is caught in an enemy bombardment. In a moment of instinct, she uses her nascent Shield magic to protect her comrades from a grenade, saving many but inadvertently causing her close friend and fellow rookie, Salsa, to be caught in the blast while shielding her. Salsa dies in her arms, a profound loss that weighs heavily on Touri.
Following this incident, Touri is subjected to severe punishment by Sergeant Garback for using magic without his direct permission, despite her actions saving lives. She is beaten and forced into grueling physical training, highlighting the harsh discipline and the disconnect between military command and the realities of combat.
Later, during a period of relative quiet, Touri works in a field hospital, witnessing the overwhelming number of casualties and the constant struggle for resources. She also learns about the grim realities of war, including the widespread use of soldiers as expendable resources and the psychological toll it takes on everyone involved. The war's seemingly endless nature and the casual acceptance of death by many soldiers begin to wear on her.
The narrative also touches upon the pervasive corruption and moral decay within the army, with rumors of female soldiers and even Lieutenant Gale participating in prostitution to earn extra money, and the casual acceptance of male homosexual encounters as a form of "stress relief."
Touri's training intensifies, focusing on improving her physical stamina and defensive magic. She learns about the different roles of soldiers, the importance of terrain, and the strategic limitations of trench warfare. The constant threat of death and the loss of comrades like Salsa force Touri to confront her own emotional fragility and the harsh realities of her new life. Despite the trauma, she continues to fight, driven by a sense of duty to the orphanage and a growing resolve to survive. The story concludes with Touri facing further grueling training and the ongoing grim reality of the war, hinting at the long and arduous path ahead.
