chapter_0199

198 – A Guest Without Resentment

198 – A Guest Without Resentment

Daniel entrusted Bental to Frien and ordered all troops to rest.

The implication was that once Bental spilled the information, they would march rapidly, so they should conserve their strength in the meantime.

However, the one who issued the command, Daniel, was unable to enjoy a comfortable rest.

─ Aaaah! Just tell me what you want! Just say what you want!

─ Yes? Didn’t I already tell you? What I want is for Colonel Bental to repent.

─ There’s a limit to how insane one can be. This crazy woman…!

─ Given the vulgar words you’re using, it seems you haven’t repented enough. Hmm. Shall we try changing your equipment?

─ What? Why are you bringing that out…? Shit! Don’t come near me! I said don’t come near me! Aaaah!

The main reason Daniel couldn’t enjoy a comfortable rest was Bental’s screams.

Coincidentally, the place where Bental was being tortured was right next to the field command post where Daniel was, so there was no way to avoid it.

Listening to Bental’s screams throughout the night, Daniel sat in a chair in front of the table, unable to hide his weary expression.

The other personnel in the command post also seemed to have not slept well, their faces drawn as they carried out their morning duties.

As everyone silently performed their roles, the intelligence officer Pelf approached.

He held a steaming cup in his hand.

“You’ve been working hard since early morning. Would you like a cup of coffee?”

“Oh. Major Pelf. Coffee… that sounds good.”

As Daniel replied weakly, Pelf chuckled softly and offered the cup.

“It’s chicory coffee. It may taste different from the premium stuff we had in the Imperial City, but please understand that this is the best we can do right now.”

“I’m not the kind of person who is so picky as to seek out premium goods on the battlefield.”

Joking, Daniel accepted the cup and took a sip of the chicory coffee.

As the warm coffee slid down his throat, he felt a slight revival of energy throughout his body.

Even though it was a substitute, the taste was similar enough to create the illusion of drinking real coffee.

“It’s much better. By the way, how are the soldiers doing?”

“Yes. After surveying the encampment, everyone’s morale is high. They identified the anti-tank mines laid on the road after securing the bridge, and this time our company won against the enemy battalion.”

With all operations successfully concluded, the brigade’s soldiers and officers were supporting Daniel Steiner almost to the point of blind faith.

While this was a troublesome situation for Daniel, Pelf had no way of knowing that.

“Thanks to the brigade commander intentionally slowing down the marching speed, everyone is in good shape. This gives us a significant advantage in combat against the enemy…”

Before Pelf could finish his sentence, a scream echoed from the adjacent barracks.

Unlike when Frien first began the torture, the screams now were low and despondent.

Colonel Bental’s demeanor had also changed significantly.

─ Please! I beg you, stop! If you want something, I’ll tell you everything. So please!

─ Colonel? It’s only been half a day. If you start crying already, how will you endure the remaining time?

─ I beg you. I was wrong. So please forgive me.

Hearing the words from the adjacent barracks, Pelf clicked his tongue.

“It’s terrifying how they continue the torture without a break. It’s a relief that Lieutenant Frien is on our side and not the enemy.”

“I agree. I can’t even imagine what it would be like to face her as an enemy.”

As Daniel finished his coffee and set the cup down, he spoke.

“It seems his will is breaking, so let’s bring him here.”

“Understood.”

Pelf, having received the order, left the command post.

After waiting for a while, Pelf returned through the entrance of the barracks.

Behind him, Colonel Bental, with his hands bound, entered the command post with a listless gait.

Before coming here, Frien must have healed him, as his appearance was intact, but inside, he was clearly devastated.

There was no sign of life in his eyes, which were fixed on the ground.

“Colonel Bental.”

At Daniel’s words, Bental’s shoulders twitched.

Upon seeing Daniel seated at the head of the table, Bental knelt as if facing a beast.

“Stop! Just stop! You might as well kill me! If anyone can do it, it’s you! Give the order to kill me!”

Bental’s pleading figure was pitiful, but there was nothing Daniel could do.

“I won’t kill you. Moreover, if you answer my questions properly, there will be no more torture from now on. I will guarantee you the respect due to a commander. If you understand, nod your head.”

With no other choice, Bental nodded.

“Good. Colonel Bental. Let’s go back to the beginning. Explain to me where the defensive line of the city is formed.”

Bental hesitated.

He couldn’t bring himself to betray his comrades.

However, if he didn’t answer, an eternity of torturous hell awaited him.

Not wanting to return to that horrific place, Bental opened his mouth through his sobs.

“Our defensive line is established along the outer railway line of the city. The high ground to the northeast from here is the main defensive stronghold. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that most of the defense forces are gathered there.”

“I see. I think I understand why the battalion carried out an ambush.”

The outline of the enemy operation was simple.

At the moment Daniel’s brigade stepped on the anti-tank mines and fell into chaos, Bental’s battalion would launch a surprise attack, inflicting significant damage before retreating.

If Daniel’s brigade pursued the retreating Bental battalion, the operation would be a success.

Daniel’s brigade, pursuing Bental’s battalion, would encounter the enemy artillery and infantry waiting on the high ground, exposing themselves to attack and suffering heavy losses.

But the moment Daniel noticed the laying of the anti-tank mines, everything fell apart.

Daniel, tapping the table, opened his mouth.

“Even if we engage in a delaying battle, to confront a brigade-sized force with a regiment-sized force, we have no choice but to concentrate our troops. If we disperse our forces and are breached at one point, the defensive line will easily crumble. Of course, this isn’t the only answer.”

Daniel’s hand, which had been tapping the table, stopped.

“Since you concentrated your forces on the northeastern high ground, there must be a relatively weak spot. Where is it?”

Bental remained silent.

He hesitated to sell his last shred of conscience.

As Daniel gazed intently at Bental, he spoke.

“Colonel Bental. I dislike repeating myself.”

The implications in Daniel’s words were driving Bental to the edge.

Thinking he could no longer oppose Daniel, Bental took a deep breath and lowered his head.

“…The southeastern storage area. It’s where there are a few old warehouses and a railway yard. There are no proper trenches, and the troop numbers are also low.”

With limited regiment forces, it was natural to concentrate troops only on the key axes since they couldn’t defend the entire front.

In other words, areas outside the key axes were practically dead zones.

Having heard all the information, Daniel stood up.

“Operations officer.”

The operations officer, who had been listening to the conversation, bowed his head toward Daniel.

“Yes, Brigade Commander.”

Without looking at the operations officer, Daniel spoke.

“Send a small reconnaissance unit to the southeastern storage area to verify if Colonel Bental’s words are true.”

Daniel’s gaze fixed on the operational map on the table.

He couldn’t understand why things were going so well, but as the brigade commander, Daniel had no other choice.

“If Colonel Bental’s words are true…”

Daniel internally sighed, but outwardly he maintained a serious demeanor, mimicking an ideal general.

“We will break through the enemy’s defensive line and capture Penbarch.”

–

A few days later, at the Penbarch defensive line.

On the outskirts of the southeastern storage area, at a temporary observation post.

“It’s foggy today, probably because it rained yesterday.”

At the words of the lookout on guard duty, Sergeant Melart, the post commander, frowned.

“Yeah. I dislike foggy days.”

“Me too. How many people actually like foggy days?”

“No, it’s not that simple…”

Melart began to explain but then fell silent.

He felt as if something was flickering in the fog.

“What is that?”

In the distance, vague outlines were visible.

He could faintly hear the noise of tracks crushing the ground.

The lookout also felt something was off and broke out in a cold sweat.

“Could it be…?”

Before the lookout could finish his sentence, Melart raised the binoculars hanging around his neck and stared ahead.

At the same time, he couldn’t help but take a deep breath.

Tanks, half-tracks, and armored vehicles were advancing, shrouded in fog.

Seeing the eagle emblem on the side, it was undoubtedly the Empire’s forces.

Behind them, a seemingly endless line of soldiers followed.

As his breath began to quicken, Melart’s lips dried up.

He lowered the binoculars and, with a dazed expression, muttered.

“They’re coming. This way…”

Recalling the infamous name of Daniel Steiner, Melart continued as if in a trance.

“Hell is coming.”

A word from the author (Author’s note)

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