chapter_0209

208 – Faith (Revised at 5:05 PM)

208 – Faith (Revised at 5:05 PM)

As soon as Daniel’s operational orders were finished, the brigade moved quickly.

After contacting the General Staff to explain the operation and obtaining support approval, they conducted a night march based on information obtained by torturing the defense force prisoners (reconnaissance routes, guard posts, observation networks, etc.).

Knowing the timing and routes of enemy aerial reconnaissance, Daniel’s brigade was able to move safely for about ten days, hiding in the forest.

As morning broke, Daniel stopped the unit’s movement as usual and ordered camouflage nets to be set up on vehicles and tanks.

Although cumbersome, this method was the most effective way to avoid revealing their position to the enemy.

“Grab the left! I said grab the left!”

“Bring bushes or branches to cover the netting! Quickly!”

“Set up a triple perimeter! This time, the 3rd Company will take the outer perimeter!”

Everyone was shouting, but the decibel level was not high.

They were restraining themselves as much as possible, fearing that their voices might leak outside the unit.

Daniel, who was listening to their voices, opened the door of the armored vehicle and got out.

As Daniel watched the soldiers moving busily, he heard footsteps coming from behind.

Turning around, he saw Pelf, the intelligence officer, and Frien, the medic.

Daniel opened his mouth as he saw Pelf and Frien bowing their heads.

“What’s going on?”

As they both raised their heads, Pelf spoke first.

“Brigadier General, according to the radio, the Allied Nations are gathering at the enemy bridgehead. As you said, Count Caledra seems to be planning to attack the fake allies across the bridge.”

It was a report that Pelf, the intelligence officer, had received amidst communication restrictions (10 minutes a day) due to concerns about enemy eavesdropping.

Hearing that, Daniel nodded but was not particularly pleased.

‘It’s a natural move. Count Caledra will want to eliminate me at all costs.’

Currently, Count Caledra was not trying to eliminate Daniel Steiner simply because he was someone who had inflicted enormous damage on the Allied Nations.

He was trying to get rid of him as soon as possible because he knew the ‘secret’ of the laboratory.

If Daniel Steiner returned to the Imperial City and publicized what he had seen at the Penbarch laboratory, it would be the Allied Nations who would be in trouble.

‘So he must have thought it was a godsend when he heard the news that I was preparing a counterattack.’

Impatience often clouds judgment.

Caledra, who did not want to reveal his weaknesses, was so obsessed with ‘eliminating Daniel Steiner’ that he even concentrated the troops that should have been used for city defense at the bridge.

This was because Count Caledra believed the communication from the fake unit that ‘when reinforcements arrive from headquarters, we will launch an all-out offensive.’

In addition, a few days ago, the General Staff went even further and scattered newspapers with the headline ‘Daniel Steiner has not given up Penbarch!’ throughout the Imperial City.

‘It must be the Chief of Staff’s order. I can see that he helped to deceive Count Caledra. I only resented him for sending me to Penbarch…’

Seeing that he immediately approved the support request and was helping in many ways, he felt grateful in some ways.

‘Of course…’

If you look at the cause and effect, the Chief of Staff is the culprit of everything.

Daniel, who was thinking about the Chief of Staff with a queasy feeling, stopped his thoughts and opened his mouth.

“Naturally, interest in the sluice gate must have waned. Now is the right time. Send the infiltration force to the sluice gate and have them stand by.”

“Understood. I will select those who are quick on their feet and order them to carry out the operation.”

Pelf bowed his head and turned to walk away.

As he watched him go, Frien came closer.

“Brigadier General.”

Frien, who had a clear voice, was holding a thermos in her hand.

As Daniel looked at her, Frien smiled shyly and opened the lid of the thermos, pouring coffee into it.

“Here you go.”

Frien, who had finished pouring the coffee, handed Daniel the lid.

“Have a sip.”

Daniel, who received the lid, looked a little surprised.

“This is… not chicory coffee. It doesn’t feel like a ready-made product either. Did you have ground coffee beans and make it yourself?”

“Yes. I heard that you like coffee, Brigadier General.”

Such high-quality coffee was special in wartime.

Daniel savored the aroma, took a sip of the coffee, and let out a low breath.

“It tastes even better after a long time. Thank you.”

“If you’re grateful, I hope you’ll buy me a meal later. Not at the General Staff cafeteria, but at a fancy restaurant.”

“Okay. There’s no reason why I can’t. I’ll even buy you your favorite mint ice cream.”

“That sounds great! With Lucy Emilia…”

Frien’s voice trailed off as she mentioned Lucy’s name.

In the awkward atmosphere, Frien said, averting her gaze for no reason.

“I hope she’s doing well in Penbarch. I hope nothing’s wrong…”

“As you said, nothing will be wrong.”

Daniel looked in the direction of Penbarch.

“Because Lucy is a strong woman.”

*

It was raining in Penbarch.

Lucy Emilia was the first to notice it.

Since being confined to the mansion, she had been holed up in her room, always looking out the window.

“…”

The falling raindrops were bent diagonally by the wind and hit the window.

The raindrops that hit the window began to clump together one by one and flowed down.

Lucy, who had been watching this scene blankly for an hour, suddenly flinched.

It was because she heard the soldiers talking beyond the door.

─ Is it already time for the shift change? I was bored to death.

─ Good work. Go and have a cigarette.

─ I will. But did you hear the news?

─ What news?

─ Count Caledra has even concentrated the city defense forces at the bridge.

Lucy’s half-closed eyes slowly opened.

─ Ah, I heard. That’s why the army is leaving the city now.

─ I’m glad that I was assigned to guard the mansion.

─ That’s right. If we hadn’t been lucky enough to be assigned here, we would be going to the bridge by now.

─ But why are they suddenly concentrating the army at the bridge?

─ I don’t know. It seems that they are planning to deal with Daniel Steiner this time.

Lucy, flustered, gasped.

The soldiers, who thought Lucy was asleep, continued to chatter.

─ That Daniel Steiner? How?

─ I don’t know exactly, but the intelligence department intercepted the communication between Daniel Steiner’s unit.

─ Then did they also pinpoint the location?

─ That’s why they are concentrating the army now, right?

─ That’s good news. Is the infamous Daniel Steiner finally going to die at the hands of Count Caledra?

Lucy bit her lip tightly at the news that Daniel Steiner was going to die.

However, the agitation did not last long.

As Lucy was taking a deep breath, the maid Namerias opened her mouth nearby.

“Young Lady.”

Namerias’ face, reflected in the window, was filled with worry.

“Are you okay? I mean…”

According to rumors, Lucy Emilia had saved Daniel Steiner.

Not many people knew about it, but Namerias, who worked at the mansion, knew the situation to some extent because she overheard various stories.

She also knew who had given Lucy the necklace around her neck.

That’s why she was wary of the voices coming from outside the door.

She was afraid that Lucy might have bad thoughts after hearing those words.

However, contrary to Namerias’ expectations, Lucy had regained her composure.

“I’m okay.”

The falling rain became a little heavier.

Namerias, who looked at the window, could see the army moving in the distance.

As a quiet silence settled in the sound of rain, Lucy half-opened her eyes.

‘It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t anxious, but…’

It wasn’t enough to express the emotions inside.

The maid Namerias approached Lucy’s side.

Then she tried to follow Lucy’s gaze once.

She wondered what she was looking at, but it didn’t seem like she was looking at anything in particular.

She was just blankly looking at the raindrops flowing down the window, not the scenery.

‘It’s been more than ten days since I started serving Lucy Emilia, but…’

Lucy didn’t ask or demand anything from Namerias.

Rather, she made things convenient for her, gave up food, and quietly listened to the stories that Namerias told her unilaterally.

For Namerias, Lucy was a good person.

So much so that there was no reason for her to be treated like she was being confined to the mansion.

Namerias, who was cheering for Lucy in her heart, carefully opened her mouth.

“…I hope you’re okay. I hope nothing happens to you?”

The subject was omitted, but Lucy knew who she was talking about.

After a moment of silence, Lucy touched the amber necklace around her neck and replied.

“Yeah.”

A faint smile appeared on Lucy’s lips as she thought of Daniel.

“Because he is a strong person.”

Just as Daniel believed in Lucy, Lucy also believed in Daniel.

One word from the author (Author’s Note)

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(The content was modified at 5:05 PM)