chapter_0039

38 – I Won’t Entrust Tasks to a Lieutenant Colonel

38 – I Won’t Entrust Tasks to a Lieutenant Colonel

Upon hearing Daniel’s orders, Lieutenant Mckell bound the enemy leadership and soldiers together with his troops.

During the binding process, several officers grimaced and bit their lips in displeasure, but no incidents occurred.

This was because Daniel had previously commanded, “Anyone who resists can be shot without hesitation.”

These were the ones who thought their own lives were more important than those of the soldiers.

With their lives on the line, they had no choice but to act like docile lambs.

Having bound all the military leadership and soldiers of the Kingdom, Lieutenant Mckell ordered a radio operator to inform the Imperial Army division headquarters of this fact.

The radio operator complied, and a response came back from the division headquarters acknowledging the message.

They even added that they would immediately send a guard unit to the location upon receiving the coordinates.

Lieutenant Mckell let out a wry smile at how absurdly easy everything was progressing.

‘Now…’

The division headquarters would soon disseminate the news that they had captured the commander of the Ironclad Division, both to their allies and the Kingdom’s forces.

If that happened, the morale of their side would soar to the heavens, while the enemy’s morale would plummet rapidly.

Some enemy soldiers, unaware that their commander had fled, would likely seek to verify the truth of the Imperial Army’s claims, and it was a foregone conclusion that chaos and fear would ensue in the process.

It was as if they had put a definitive end to a battlefield already tilted in favor of the Imperial Army.

‘The one who led this battlefield from start to finish was…’

It was Captain Daniel Steiner, standing alone at the pier, gazing at the coastline.

‘When I first saw him, I thought he was just a fool from the staff headquarters.’

But now, he appeared to possess a terrifyingly sharp intellect, a genius strategist.

As Lieutenant Mckell looked at Daniel with a sense of awe, Sergeant Glendy approached.

“Isn’t it amazing? Not only did he find the enemy’s supply route, but he also suggested using it against them, and now he’s captured the enemy leadership? Honestly, I still can’t believe it.”

Lieutenant Mckell chuckled and nodded in agreement.

“I feel the same way. How many people would believe that all those operations came from one person’s mind? In that sense, we might be witnessing living history.”

“…Are you talking about history?”

“Yes. Think about it. The battle we experienced in Nordia is certainly worthy of being recorded in history books, right? We common officers may not know, but the name of our company commander will undoubtedly be included.”

Indeed, there was no way the name of someone who had achieved so much merit would not be recorded in history.

Sergeant Glendy smiled as he spoke.

“Thinking about it that way makes me feel uplifted. I mean, I’m working under someone who might be hailed as a great figure of the Empire in the future, right? There’s nothing better than this for a conversation starter.”

A great figure of the Empire. It seemed a bit excessive, but the thought that Daniel might rise to such a status in the future crossed his mind.

“There is a title that suits him even better.”

At that moment, Frien entered between Sergeant Glendy and Lieutenant Mckell.

Startled, Glendy and Mckell had not noticed her approach when Frien spoke up.

“In my opinion, Captain Daniel is a saint sent by God to protect the Empire, which is in danger due to the brutal attacks of the Allied Nations.”

Frien narrowed her eyes as she looked at Daniel, a slender smile gracing her lips.

“If it’s Captain Daniel, he can surely show the beasts of the Allied Nations a hellfire. Thus, only the Empire’s people and those who follow them will remain on this land.”

Mckell and Glendy broke out in a cold sweat at Frien’s radical ideology.

While they were also among those who fervently wished for the destruction of the Allied Nations and the victory of the Empire, they did not harbor thoughts of punishing everyone except for the Empire’s people.

Since the battle with the supply battalion, they had sensed a certain madness in the eyes of this woman.

Yet, they could not fault Frien for the loyalty she displayed.

Glendy, sensing the tension, cleared his throat to change the atmosphere.

“By the way, what do you think the company commander is thinking while looking out at the sea?”

At Glendy’s words, Lieutenant Mckell turned his gaze to Daniel.

He had just achieved a military feat by capturing the enemy leadership, so he should have been pleased, but Daniel was quietly staring at the sea with a somewhat sunken expression in his eyes.

He was truly an inscrutable figure.

“How could mere mortals like us fathom the thoughts of a genius? Still, if I were to hazard a guess, he is probably contemplating various matters that need to be addressed after the war.”

“Indeed. It seems likely that the company commander would be doing just that.”

As Glendy and Mckell watched with envious eyes, Daniel, who had been absentmindedly gazing at a few seagulls floating above the sea, let out a quiet sigh.

‘I want to go home…’

Daniel simply wished for pastoral peace.

–

As news spread across the battlefield that the enemy leadership had been captured while fleeing, the Ironclad Division lost morale and began to surrender one by one.

Thanks to the enemy soldiers losing their will to fight, the Imperial Army easily entered Nordia, occupying the city’s major buildings, taking down the Kingdom’s flag, and raising the Empire’s flag.

Colonel Feldraham, who had solidified the Empire’s occupation of Nordia, ordered the connection of supply routes and the transportation of key figures from the Ironclad Division back to the homeland.

In the process, I too spent busy days dealing with post-war matters.

Feldraham, who had come to trust me completely, entrusted me with tasks related to selecting defense points in certain areas, maintaining public order, and protecting confidential information.

About two weeks later, Heinrich unexpectedly summoned me to the city hall.

I felt a sense of unease, but I had no choice but to obey the order and headed to the city hall.

Of course, although it was called a city hall, it was essentially the command building where the garrison commander conducted his duties.

Imperial soldiers were on guard all around, and one had to verify their identity to enter.

Feeling an oddly chilly atmosphere as I climbed the building’s stairs, the soldiers guarding the entrance saluted.

“Captain Daniel Steiner, I presume? It is an honor to meet you. You may pass.”

Nodding, I entered the building and ascended to the third floor.

After passing through a Gothic-style corridor, I arrived in front of the garrison commander’s office and knocked on the door.

A response came shortly after.

“Come in.”

Having received permission, I opened the door and stepped inside, where Heinrich and his aide, Philip, were standing.

As I walked into the office, I saluted.

“Your Excellency, the Brigade Commander. I heard you called for me.”

A smile played on Heinrich’s lips as he returned my salute.

“Yes. We’ve been busy with post-war matters, so we haven’t had a chance to see each other. I was feeling guilty for overlooking the great merit you’ve achieved.”

Changing to a position of attention, I spoke as if it were nothing special.

“I believe a soldier should simply follow orders and not expect rewards for their achievements.”

“That’s a commendable mindset. I wish other soldiers would emulate your humility. However, since the Empire’s foundational ideology is one of reward and punishment, we cannot simply overlook this.”

Heinrich continued speaking with a smile.

“As you know, the division commander and I will soon be leaving here to join the northern frontlines. Since the occupation has been completed, we have no further business in Nordia. This means the position of garrison commander will be vacant. Are you aware of this?”

“…Yes, I am aware, but why are you telling me this?”

“The reason I’m telling you is simple. I would like you to fill the vacant position of garrison commander. As the acting garrison commander, of course.”

Cold sweat broke out.

“Your Excellency? I am operating a unit directly under the staff headquarters.”

I appealed that I was merely a captain following the orders of the staff headquarters, but Heinrich calmly nodded.

“Why wouldn’t I know that? Of course, the staff headquarters has also given their approval. Until the headquarters appoints a garrison commander, you are to hold the position.”

No. What? Grasping my bewildered thoughts, I forced a smile and said.

“I appreciate the offer, but realistically, it is impossible. Even as an acting position, one must be able to command at least a battalion-level unit to fulfill the role of garrison commander.”

“And?”

“As a junior officer, I cannot command a battalion-level unit. I would not be granted the necessary authority to manage the garrison either. So please reconsider.”

I spoke sincerely, but for some reason, Heinrich’s lips curled into a playful smile.

“Of course, we have no intention of assigning the position of garrison commander to a junior officer.”

What? Was this a bad joke?

Taking a breath, I regained my composure.

“That’s a relief. In that case, I will prepare to return to the staff headquarters—”

“Aide.”

At Heinrich’s words, Lieutenant Philip approached me holding a box.

It was a small box wrapped in the Empire’s flag made of silk.

Huh? A box?

“Congratulations sincerely.”

Lieutenant Philip? Why is he using honorifics?

At the moment when my anxiety peaked, Lieutenant Philip unfolded the flag and opened the box.

Inside was a shiny major’s badge and epaulettes.

At that moment of disbelief, Heinrich burst into hearty laughter.

“Congratulations on your promotion, Captain Daniel Steiner! I cannot express how happy I am to witness the birth of the Empire’s youngest major! Ah! By the way, would it be alright if I pinned it on you myself?”

A major? Me? In a daze, I barely nodded.

Then Heinrich took the major’s badge out of the box.

“Consider it an honor. I have heard that His Majesty the Emperor has taken an interest in you after hearing the news from the Imperial City.”

Saying this, Heinrich removed the captain’s badge and attached the major’s badge to my uniform.

As I stared blankly at the series of movements, I involuntarily flinched.

Operations officer of the staff headquarters.

Holder of the second-class Order of National Security Merit National Virtue Medal.

According to the opinion of the commander of the 6th Magic Armored Division, a wolf starving for blood.

The foremost contributor to the Nordia invasion operation.

The youngest major in the Empire.

Acting garrison commander of the occupied territory.

As I reflected on all of this, the corners of my mouth twitched slightly.

‘Wait a minute. This…’

No matter how I looked at it, I was a “key member of the Imperial Army leadership” who would be perfect for a death sentence at a war crimes tribunal.