chapter_0218

217 – Warning

217 – Warning

Securing Lucy’s safety, Daniel immediately led his troops to advance on the mansion.

While he had personal grievances against Caledra, it was best to demoralize the enemy to end the exhausting battles occurring throughout the city.

The soldiers of the Allied Nations stationed near the mansion raised white flags upon seeing Daniel Steiner approaching with tanks and troops.

The fact that the Imperial Army had pushed into the mansion close to the center meant that the city had effectively been occupied, leading them to abandon their futile resistance.

Thanks to this, Daniel was able to neutralize the Allied forces and easily occupy the mansion.

“Even if the enemy has surrendered, we cannot let our guard down! There may be ambushes, so search the mansion thoroughly!”

“Get the civilians into the reception room for now! If they resist or act violently towards the Imperial Army, they can be subdued immediately! The enemy may be disguised!”

“Hurry and find the enemy command post! Why are you all so slow? You sluggish worms!”

As the officers shouted, the Imperial soldiers busily moved through the corridors of the mansion.

Amidst them, Daniel walked leisurely, letting out a sigh as he turned to look back.

He saw Lucy quietly exhaling with a somewhat fatigued expression.

He had told her not to follow and to rest in a safe place, but she insisted on coming along, and her condition was far from good.

“…Lieutenant. I can call for the medic, so how about you go back and rest now?”

“No, I can endure it, even if I have a slight fever.”

“It’s not about whether you can endure it….”

Daniel shook his head, realizing he couldn’t win against Lucy’s stubbornness.

“It seems you have someone you’re worried about in this mansion. Or perhaps there’s something you need to take care of? Hmm. It wouldn’t be Count Caledra, who is likely to have fled. So, is there something you need to do with the servants here?”

Lucy’s eyes flinched as if her thoughts had been exposed.

Noticing that small change, Daniel crossed his arms.

“I just ordered the civilians in the mansion to gather in the reception room. They should all be there by now. Go check on them.”

“But I must assist you as your aide.”

“Listening to your superior’s orders is also part of an aide’s duties.”

Allowing independent action during wartime was a significant concession.

Thanks to this, Lucy, who had been hesitating, looked up at Daniel.

“Understood. Then please just tell me where you will be. I will rush there in case of an emergency.”

There was no reason not to tell her.

“I plan to find their command post. I made quite a commotion while advancing, so Count Caledra must have fled, but there should be traces left behind.”

“…There should be a few radio operators and some officers left to inform about the situation in the mansion.”

“Right. So I intend to have a brief conversation with Count Caledra.”

Understanding Daniel’s intention, Lucy nodded lightly.

Daniel gently wrapped his arm around Lucy’s shoulder.

“Don’t overdo it. If it gets too hard, you can rely on me anytime. My promise to protect you still stands.”

Lucy’s face turned slightly red.

Before she could express her gratitude, Daniel patted her shoulder and turned to walk away.

Lucy, who had been staring blankly at Daniel’s retreating figure, tried to calm her racing heart.

It was only after Daniel disappeared around the corner with the soldiers that Lucy could collect herself.

‘…Don’t act foolishly.’

Advising herself, Lucy took a deep breath and turned her steps toward the reception room.

“Lieutenant Lucy.”

“Welcome.”

Receiving the salute from the soldiers guarding the reception room, Lucy opened the door.

What she saw were numerous neatly dressed servants.

There were some unfamiliar faces, but also many familiar ones.

They were the people who had treated young Lucy coldly.

As soon as they saw Lucy, they bowed their heads as if they were criminals.

Watching their fearful faces, someone pushed through the crowd.

“Please move! Just a moment! Over there…!”

The woman emerging from among the servants was slightly shorter and had freckles.

She resembled a maid named Melia, with whom Lucy had been close in her childhood.

“Please move! Ugh! Seriously…!”

Seeing Namerias struggling to get forward with her small frame naturally brought a smile to Lucy’s face.

Finally breaking free from the crowd of servants, Namerias spotted Lucy smiling and beamed back.

“Lady! You’re alright! I’m so glad!”

Saying this, Namerias hurriedly approached Lucy and took her hand.

“Do you know how worried I was when the soldiers took you away? They were such bad people! I tried to stop them, but they pushed me away saying not to interfere!”

While everyone else feared Lucy, Namerias chattered away as if she had just met a long-lost friend.

Lucy didn’t mind that at all.

In fact, she welcomed it.

“So I kept praying for your safe return, and it seems God has heard me! The only thing I’m worried about is that the Imperial soldiers are all here….”

Namerias paused, taking a deep breath.

She had just realized that Lucy was also an officer of the Imperial Army.

Seeing Namerias glancing at her nervously, Lucy spoke softly.

“There’s no need to worry.”

Looking down at Namerias, Lucy continued quietly.

“I told you before, the brigade commander won’t attack civilians.”

“…Do you think the same, Lady?”

“Yes.”

As Lucy recalled Daniel’s face, a gentle smile spread across her lips.

“I feel the same way.”

–

Meanwhile, Count Caledra and his staff, who had escaped the city using spare Etherium conversion stones, were quickly retreating in three military vehicles.

The confidence they had when assaulting Penbarch with two regiments was now replaced by a heavy silence.

Among them, a staff officer, looking at the map, let out a low breath and spoke.

“Major, I think it would be best to detour northwest at the next intersection. The enemy may conduct aerial reconnaissance, so it’s reasonable to move through the forest as much as possible.”

No one pointed out that the major was the one driving.

The situation was that dire.

Perhaps having accepted defeat, the air felt heavy, making it hard to breathe.

As a result, the communications officer, sitting tensely in the passenger seat, hurriedly operated the radio.

He had heard static from the other side.

Curious about the content, the communications officer picked up the receiver and brought it to his ear, only to be taken aback.

─ This is Daniel Steiner. Connect me to Count Caledra.

It was an unexpected call from Daniel Steiner.

The communications officer, unsure of what to do, swallowed hard and turned to the back seat.

“Your Excellency, Count. Daniel Steiner is….”

Caledra’s eyebrows twitched.

He reached out as if he didn’t need to hear the rest.

As the communications officer handed over the receiver, Caledra pressed the transmit button.

“Do you have something to say to me?”

The response came a moment later.

─ Surrender.

Caledra, incredulous, gritted his teeth.

“Surrender? Do you think capturing Penbarch has led to a victory in this war? Don’t be so arrogant. As long as I’m alive, the Allied Nations will never surrender to the Empire.”

After a brief moment of static, Daniel’s voice came through.

─ Then, as you wish, I will turn the Allied Nations into a sea of flames. I will find you screaming in that terrible hell and make sure to kill you.

A chilling voice followed.

─ Those who follow you will meet the same fate.

Hearing the voice coming from the radio, the staff members broke out in cold sweat.

Then the transmission was cut off.

In the silence, Count Caledra, who had put down the receiver, touched his forehead with trembling hands.

Daniel Steiner would emerge from this battle as the Empire’s unparalleled master strategist.

Caledra, who had been grinding his teeth in silence, bit down harder.

‘One day… I will surely see this through to the end.’

While harboring hatred for his only rival, Daniel Steiner.