chapter_0221

220 – I Did It, But I Didn’t

220 – I Did It, But I Didn’t

As Namerias watched with suspicion, Lucy cleared her throat.

She felt that if she remained silent any longer, her true feelings would be exposed.

“I’m really fine. By the way, were you on your way to the command post?”

As Lucy subtly withdrew her hand, Daniel nodded.

“Yes. I need to prepare for the upcoming battle and there are reports I need to receive. Where is the adjutant headed?”

“Oh. As I mentioned yesterday, I’m on my way to speak with the religious leaders in the city for civil operations.”

“Ah, so you’re going to gauge the social trends and request their cooperation. It’s important to quell any discontent within the city. Good luck with that. I’ll call for you if necessary.”

Daniel patted Lucy on the shoulder and moved on.

As Lucy watched Daniel’s retreating figure, she felt Namerias’s gaze upon her.

Wondering why, she turned around to find Namerias exhaling with a frustrated expression.

“Lady, please be honest with me. Do you like Major General Daniel Steiner?”

Startled, Lucy turned to look at Daniel.

Fearing that he might have overheard, she felt a wave of relief wash over her.

They were far enough apart that he surely wouldn’t have heard.

Letting out a quiet breath, Lucy opened her eyes slightly and murmured.

“Yes. I like him.”

It was more than just liking; she was in love.

She wanted to experience the things lovers do with Daniel.

‘If only it were possible…’

She wanted to travel together.

In spring, she wanted to go to a place filled with blooming tulips and create memories just for the two of them. In summer, she wanted to talk late into the night on a cool beach. In autumn, she wanted to walk hand in hand along a path lined with colorful leaves. In winter, she wanted to chat while making snowmen in the snowy fields.

What might be ordinary for someone else would become special memories for Lucy.

However, she knew these wishes couldn’t be spoken aloud.

As long as the war continued, peace would not come.

“And what about Major General Daniel Steiner?”

Namerias’s question broke her reverie.

Blinking in confusion, Namerias whispered.

“Does the Major General like you too?”

“That is…”

Lucy hesitated, unable to respond immediately, lost in thought.

Daniel had devoted himself to Lucy, both in reality and in memory.

But could she arbitrarily conclude that his actions were out of ‘liking’ her?

It was logical to think that it could simply be out of duty to a subordinate or sympathy.

“…I’m not sure.”

It was only natural not to know since she had never asked him directly.

Namerias, who had been gazing at Lucy intently, broke into a sly smile.

“Alright then. I think it would be good to confirm the Major General’s feelings. I have a few methods I’ve used before, and I’ll share them exclusively with you, Lady. Would you like to hear them?”

Indeed, when it came to romance, Namerias was Lucy’s senior.

After a moment of contemplation, Lucy ultimately couldn’t suppress her curiosity and nodded.

“Yes. I’d like to hear.”

She thought a little wouldn’t hurt.

–

As Daniel entered the command post, the staff members who had been discussing stood up in unison.

“Brigade Commander.”

“You’ve arrived.”

Daniel acknowledged their greetings with a nod and moved to the head of the table set up in the command post.

Looking over the operational map, Daniel cast a glance at the intelligence officer, Pelf.

“It seems the enemy’s temporary division hasn’t crossed the river yet?”

“That’s correct. The bridge has collapsed due to the explosion of the sluice gate, and the river has swelled, preventing them from crossing. However, since the water level is decreasing, we anticipate they will advance towards Penbarch soon.”

“Though they have a large force, we can handle it adequately.”

The operations officer interjected.

“It’s reported that the enemy tank battalion crossing the bridge at the time of the sluice gate explosion suffered severe damage. There were around 500 drownings, and 30 tanks were submerged, meaning the enemy has lost significant power.”

Even so, the disparity in forces was still considerable, but it wasn’t a cause for concern.

“Intelligence officer, have you made contact with the Magic Mobile Corps brigade?”

Pelf nodded.

“Yes. We confirmed that communication is functioning normally. They said they would join us at the designated time. Also, Major General Heinrich asked me to convey a message to you.”

“Huh? What message?”

“That is…”

Pelf, who had been hesitating, cleared his throat and shouted in a loud voice.

“O wolf of the Empire! You’ve worked hard tearing apart the enemy commander! Now that we’ll watch your back, don’t worry and go wild! I want to meet you soon and catch up! See you on the battlefield!”

Pelf delivered the message with a fluent impersonation and cleared his throat.

“…that’s what he asked me to convey.”

“Was the impersonation also a request from Major General Heinrich?”

“Yes.”

It was almost absurd, and Daniel couldn’t help but chuckle.

Still, it wasn’t entirely bad.

‘If the Magic Mobile Corps brigade helps, we can easily subdue them. Then we can consider the occupation of Penbarch a success. If that happens…’

He could return to the Imperial City.

It meant he could spend time in the safe and prosperous Imperial City instead of a bloody battlefield.

‘When I return to the Imperial City this time, I’ll tell His Majesty the Emperor that I will never go to battle again.’

He was tired of the battlefield.

Although things had gone well this time, resulting in victory, the opposite could have led to a disaster.

That said, his desire to deal with Count Caledra had not diminished.

He simply wanted to serve in a safe rear area rather than fight on the front lines.

‘I’ve done enough, haven’t I? The Chief of Staff wouldn’t refuse my request.’

No matter how dedicated the Chief of Staff was to the Empire’s victory, he wouldn’t dismiss the request of a soldier who had achieved numerous merits and push him back into the battlefield.

‘Alright. I’ll retire from the battlefield after this battle. To ensure that…’

As he formulated a concrete plan in his mind, a knock sounded.

─ Brigade Commander. It’s Lieutenant Frien, the medical officer. Mayor Kaimborett has urgent matters to discuss, so I’ve come with him.

Already? When Daniel told them to come in, the door opened, and Frien and Kaimborett entered.

Unlike Kaimborett, who was pale and gasping for breath, Frien wore a benevolent smile.

The staff members, who knew what Frien had done, would never judge that smile as ‘benevolent.’

As Kaimborett scanned the command post and spotted Daniel, he knelt down.

“I’ll tell you everything! Please, just tell me to stop this madness!”

Seeing Kaimborett’s pleading demeanor, Daniel gestured towards Frien.

Frien approached Daniel, blinking innocently.

“What’s wrong? Is there something you’re curious about?”

“I knew it would come to this, but it’s happening faster than I expected. Didn’t you say the ‘confession’ started this morning?”

“Oh. Actually, this time I adopted a new method of repentance. Thanks to my healing magic improving day by day, I can now use methods I couldn’t before.”

“…Methods you couldn’t use before?”

“Brigade Commander, do you know that the greatest pain a person feels is the burning pain?”

Daniel decided not to ask any further.

Curiosity could kill the cat.

Feeling a strange fear towards Frien, Daniel looked down at Kaimborett.

“Are you admitting that Count Caledra conducted human experiments in Penbarch?”

“I admit it! That’s the truth! But…”

Kaimborett looked up at Daniel, feeling fear.

“…I will not forget that the Imperial Army also tortured civilians.”

“Torture, you say.”

Daniel chuckled softly as he approached Kaimborett.

“Can you prove that we tortured you?”

“What do you mean…?”

“I’m asking if you can prove it.”

Kaimborett struggled to answer that question.

It was true that he had been burned by Frien.

However, there were no traces left on any part of his body.

Healing magic is not omnipotent.

Even if used, it’s common for recovery to be slow or for scars to remain.

Yet Frien’s healing ability was so exceptional that it could restore the body to its original state.

Without any signs of burns, there was no way to prove he had been tortured.

“Or do you have any witnesses?”

Once again, Kaimborett couldn’t respond.

There had never been any witnesses to begin with.

Only then did Kaimborett realize he couldn’t escape from Daniel Steiner, trembling his hands.

Before Kaimborett, Daniel Steiner knelt on one knee.

In an instant, their gazes met.

Daniel’s cold eyes made Kaimborett flinch.

“Kaimborett. If you have a conscience, don’t lie. You, a civilian? Can you truly call yourself a civilian when you stood by while hundreds of orphans perished in the laboratory?”

As Daniel growled, Kaimborett’s gaze naturally fell.

“If I had my way, I would want to end your life right here and now. Yet I endure because you still have some value to me. So do not test my patience. This warning is only given once.”

With that, Daniel stood up.

Regaining his smile, Daniel looked down at the trembling Kaimborett and said.

“Now, let’s ask the question again. Mayor Kaimborett, have you been tortured by the Imperial Army?”

Kaimborett’s breath hitched.

“No. I merely…”

Kaimborett, eyes tightly shut, bowed his head towards Daniel.

“It’s merely a confession of Count Caledra’s evil deeds.”

To comply and submit.

That was the only way to survive against Daniel Steiner.

Author’s Note:

Thank you to Haedaljoa for the 10 coin support! Thank you for your support again today! I hope you enjoyed reading! Thank you!

And thanks to all the readers who are reading my work!

I hope my work helps you have a fun weekend!

Then, I’ll see you again tomorrow!