chapter_0206

205 – Promise

205 – Promise

Meanwhile, in the central square of Penbarch.

“Push forward! Drive them out of the city!”

“The commander of the imperial army is currently absent! It’s nothing more than a rabble!”

“Don’t give them a chance to counterattack!”

As the officials of the Allied Nations shouted, soldiers rushed into the city.

As the soldiers exited the square, new soldiers appeared, enveloped in light.

This was clear evidence that spatial movement assaults using Etherium were actively underway.

Colonel Sampe, who had been quietly observing, turned his head as light spread nearby.

Moments later, as the light faded, a middle-aged man leaning on an elegant cane revealed himself.

Upon meeting the serpent-like gaze of Count Caledra, Sampe instinctively bowed his head.

“Count Caledra. You have arrived.”

Instead of answering, Caledra closed his eyes and listened to the sounds around him.

Amidst the gunfire, distant sounds of artillery could be heard.

Buildings were collapsing, and citizens were screaming, but Caledra paid little mind.

This was what war was inherently about.

Slowly opening his eyes, Caledra fixed his gaze on Sampe.

“Report on the situation.”

Nodding once, Sampe began his report, his voice tense.

“Yes! Currently, two regiments, including ours, are smoothly occupying the city. Additionally, reports indicate that the imperial army, lacking its commander, is losing morale and retreating in various locations.”

The imperial army, unprepared for the Etherium assault, had failed to properly prepare for urban combat.

‘It must be overwhelming to fend off the Allied forces suddenly invading the city, and with their commander missing, chaos must be at its peak.’

The confusion led to operational failures and decreased morale.

Facing such an army was not much different from wielding violence against the helpless.

‘And…’

All of this was part of Count Caledra’s plan.

He had ordered the advance team sent to Penbarch to report the moment Daniel Steiner entered the laboratory for the assault.

Caledra knew that Daniel Steiner’s choice of Penbarch among numerous cities was not mere coincidence.

To bring the Allied Nations to ruin, Daniel Steiner would act to secure evidence that “Lucy Emilia is the test subject.”

Thus, he set the trap and waited.

For the moment when Daniel Steiner would willingly walk into the snare, drawn by the bait of the laboratory.

“The prey is now in the trap. The encirclement must be firmly established, right?”

“Yes. However, there is one issue…”

Sampe hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“Communication with the advance team has been cut off. It seems they entered the laboratory first and were ambushed.”

One of Caledra’s eyebrows furrowed.

‘That fool Hamelton…’

He had entrusted the advance team to him, valuing his loyalty, but he was engaging in unnecessary actions.

‘Has excessive loyalty become a poison instead?’

Caledra, who had been biting his lip, let out a low breath.

“The advance team being compromised changes nothing. Form the encirclement tightly so that not even an ant can escape. The target is Daniel Steiner. You may kill him on sight.”

“Yes! Count Caledra!”

Hearing Sampe’s response, Caledra tightened his grip on the handle of his cane.

Despite the favorable circumstances, an unshakeable feeling of unease lingered.

As he listened to the distant gunfire, Caledra frowned slightly.

‘If we fail to capture Daniel Steiner this time…’

The next opportunity might never come again.

–

The sounds of artillery ringing through the chaotic city reached the laboratory as well.

“It seems it has begun…”

Feeling a faint vibration, Daniel leaned against a pillar and exhaled softly.

Beside him, Lucy was wrapping bandages around Daniel’s arm.

She had brought the first aid kit from the laboratory and was treating his wounds.

However, Daniel felt that Lucy’s efforts were in vain.

‘Perhaps it’s a side effect of using neural acceleration consecutively; I can’t muster any strength. It will probably last for hours…’

In this situation, receiving treatment would only leave him helpless against the impending enemy invasion.

“Lieutenant. That’s enough.”

Daniel tried to stop her, but Lucy did not relent.

Even though it was not a serious injury, she was carefully wrapping the bandages.

Her gestures made Daniel feel as if she were denying reality in some way.

“…You know, if the assault is real, there is no way for us to survive. Count Caledra must have brought more troops than my brigade.”

“The imperial army is not incompetent. They will surely hold out.”

Daniel couldn’t help but chuckle at Lucy’s assertion that “the imperial army is not incompetent.”

“You are right. They are not incompetent. But in the absence of a commander, facing an enemy assault, it would be wise to retreat first. The imperial army is not incompetent, so they must be retreating.”

“Colonel.”

“The imperial army is retreating, so the Allied Nations will quickly occupy the city. Moreover, they will encircle this place without any hindrance. No, they may have already completed the encirclement.”

Even breathing felt laborious.

Lucy, who had been silent with her head bowed, quietly opened her mouth.

“…It doesn’t matter if the imperial army gives up.”

Her hands tightened around the bandages.

“I have not given up on you, Colonel. I will fulfill my duty as your lieutenant. So please, entrust your body to me.”

“That’s an interesting thing to say. Are you suggesting you would carry me and break through the encirclement?”

“I will do so if necessary.”

Daniel let out a groan mixed with laughter at Lucy’s determination.

It was a short, thin laugh.

“You are mistaken. It is uncertain whether I could break through the encirclement while carrying such a burden as myself, and even if I did, how would I shake off the pursuers?”

“As you know, I am a monster created in the laboratory. So somehow…”

“You are not a monster. And anyone who hears that would think you have no limits.”

Daniel closed his eyes and slowly opened them.

“I don’t know about alone, but I cannot break through the encirclement while carrying you. It would be even harder if it were a unit commanded directly by Count Caledra. That is why I said there is no way for us to survive.”

Daniel’s fingers moved lightly.

“However…”

With effort, Daniel raised his hand and gently enveloped Lucy’s hand.

“Lieutenant. If it’s just you, you can certainly survive.”

“What are you saying…?”

“I have something to show you.”

Daniel reached into his pocket and pulled out a document.

It was a combustion document that would ignite upon leaving the laboratory.

Given the magic placed on it, it was undoubtedly classified information.

As he handed it over, Lucy accepted the document.

Her eyes widened in surprise as she unfolded it, realizing it was about her.

The truth she had doubted all along.

It was the moment when it became clear that the Allied Nations, not the Empire, had conducted the experiments.

“I apologize in advance for having looked into your past without permission.”

Leaning his head against the pillar, Daniel exhaled softly.

“Also… I must apologize for having used you. Perhaps what that man Hamelton said just before he died was not wrong. I aimed to make you an ally to create a more favorable situation for survival.”

Tremors began to show in Lucy’s hands as she held the document.

“I deceived you. For a very long time. I toyed with you while pretending not to know, even though I knew everything. Perhaps I am receiving my punishment for that now.”

Daniel’s eyes opened slightly.

“As an act of atonement, I wish to put an end to the shackles of your life that have only been used by others. Lieutenant. No… ”

His closing eyes slowly opened.

“Lucy Emilia.”

Called by her name, Lucy looked at Daniel.

The emotions reflected in Daniel’s eyes were surprisingly calm.

“There is no time. Right now, you could escape alone. Get out of here and break through their encirclement. And somewhere…”

Lucy understood the meaning behind that gaze.

It was the resignation often seen in those facing death.

“Live in a peaceful village where the flames of war do not reach, baking bread. Live your life without needing to be used anymore.”

Daniel Steiner sought survival.

Born an orphan and having experienced all kinds of hardships up to the monastery, Daniel’s rules of life naturally aligned with survival.

However, if he found himself in a situation where survival was impossible, he would not beg for his life in a cowardly manner.

Thus, instead of asking his lieutenant Lucy to save him, Daniel ordered her to leave.

He believed that was the only atonement for his life, which had been lived by using others for survival.

But there was one thing Daniel Steiner overlooked.

“I…”

That was the heart that Lucy had kept hidden.

“I am not being used by you, Colonel.”

Lucy spoke sincerely, her lips trembling.

“My desire to save you is entirely my own will. So do not dare to try to use me. I will find a way to save you from here, no matter what.”

Tears welled in Lucy’s red eyes as she continued.

She shouted, not hiding the frustration rising within her.

“Even if you give me any orders, Colonel!”

As if she no longer needed to be bound by the thoughts of the past, Lucy threw the document away.

Seeing this, Daniel squinted in regret.

“But there must be a way to break this situation…”

“There is!”

Lucy pulled a processed gemstone from her waist pocket.

If neither of them could escape, Lucy was equally determined to save the other.

As Daniel gazed at the blue-hued gemstone, he was taken aback.

“That is…”

“It is a prototype of the Etherium conversion stone I received from the technology department before leaving the Allied Nations. Since I reported that it was used at the headquarters, Count Caledra will not know that I have it now.”

As Lucy infused the gemstone with magical power, it began to crack with a ‘crackling’ sound.

“Being a prototype, it is designed for one person and has limitations on the distance of transfer, but it should allow for safe movement outside the city. So, Colonel…”

Lucy placed the gemstone in Daniel’s hand and continued.

“Please survive.”

At the same time, voices from the Allied Nations could be heard not far away.

─ Over here! Block the entrance and let the special forces in! Hurry!

As the troops began to seal off the entrance, even Lucy would not be able to escape.

Perhaps they would never meet again after today.

But this was the best option.

“Colonel. Being able to serve you as my superior has been…”

Her voice was sorrowful.

As Daniel looked at her with a confused expression, Lucy offered a somewhat sad smile.

“It has been the greatest fortune of my life.”

Her words carried the weight of farewell.

Daniel, displeased by this, tightened his grip on the Etherium.

“Lucy Emilia. Wait for me here in Penbarch. I promise. I will retake the city…”

The special forces of the Allied Nations began to storm in.

At the same time, the Etherium shattered completely, and a bright light enveloped Daniel.

“Surely…”

Ignoring everything else, Daniel focused solely on Lucy and spoke.

“I will come for you.”