I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander

In the midst of my bewilderment, Ernst looked at me.

His eyes were brimming with expectation, as if saying, “My capable subordinate has accomplished another feat!” It only compounded my sense of burden.

“How did you manage to open up that tight-lipped fellow? As an interrogator, do share some advice.”

At Ernst’s words, Sergeant Vendelin also regarded me with a smile.

I understood. Since I had turned off the microphone during yesterday’s interrogation, they were unaware of the content.

As an interrogator, Vendelin must have been curious about how I persuaded the previously tight-lipped prisoner.

However, no matter how I thought about it, I had simply engaged in a normal conversation with Reginald.

There was no interrogation technique involved, so I felt at a loss when faced with such a question.

As I struggled to find a response, perhaps sensing the awkward atmosphere, Vendelin spoke up in a bright tone.

“In all my years as an interrogator, I’ve never seen a method as swift and decisive as yours, First Lieutenant Daniel.”
“Oh, really?”
“Truly. After you left the interrogation room, that bastard Reginald sounded like he was on the verge of tears, saying he would cooperate with the Imperial forces. It was so satisfying!”

On the verge of tears? That stubbornly composed Reginald?

“Most prisoners usually curse or resort to violence during interrogations, but you, First Lieutenant, consistently spoke in a gentle, smiling manner. It exuded a sense of dignity!”

Vendelin, while well-intentioned, his flattery was excessive.

Feeling his exaggeration was going too far, I considered stopping him, but Ernst seemed to believe it wholeheartedly.

He regarded me with even greater expectation than before.

“Hearing the sergeant’s account only makes me more curious. What kind of conversation did you have with Reginald?”

He had asked twice. To remain silent after being asked twice would be unbecoming of a subordinate.

I had no choice. After a moment’s hesitation, I answered.

“It was nothing special. I merely discussed Reginald’s family a few times.”

At the mention of “family,” Vendelin and even Ernst were taken aback.

A few officers eavesdropping on our conversation also glanced over.

An indescribable silence then descended upon my surroundings.

Just as I wondered about the shift in atmosphere, Ernst cleared his throat and nodded.

“It’s certainly an effective method. Did you hear that, Sergeant? Take a lesson from First Lieutenant Daniel.”
“Ah, of course! I may have been too lenient with the prisoners up until now.”

…They seemed to have misunderstood in an odd direction.

While it felt strange, I decided not to offer any excuses.

From experience, attempting to explain in such situations often led to further misunderstandings.

So, with a simple nod, Vendelin snapped a vigorous salute.

For some reason, his saluting posture appeared slightly stiffer than when I had first seen him.

“Then I shall return to the Military Police Corps! Enjoy your meal!”
“Do so. You’ve worked hard coming all the way to the General Staff Headquarters.”

Acknowledging Ernst’s reply, Vendelin respectfully turned and marched away stiffly, like a tin soldier.

Just as I wondered about his behavior, Ernst spoke while picking up his utensils.

“Anyway, congratulations. By getting Reginald to open up, you’ve earned another merit. Honestly, your capabilities have been astonishing lately. At your age, I could barely handle the tasks assigned to me.”

While I wanted to say that this “merit” had nothing to do with my will, making such a remark before the Chief of Operational Planning would undoubtedly lead to a scolding.

“You’re too kind.”

So, I simply feigned humility and picked up my utensils.

As I cut into the steak served, Ernst seemed to recall something and spoke up.

“Ah, that’s right, your aide is coming today. They should have arrived at the General Staff Headquarters by now.”

An aide? Raising my head, I blinked dazedly.

“…An aide, you say?”
“Yes, didn’t I mention it before? That you’d be assigned an aide once you officially became an Operational Planning officer? From what I’ve heard, the high command put in some effort to assign an elite aide of suitable rank for you.”

Seeing my bewildered expression, Ernst smiled and said:

“Your workload has increased significantly lately, leading to frequent overtime, hasn’t it? It’s only natural for an operational planner to be busy during wartime, but now that you have an aide, you should be able to ease your burden.”
“Indeed… that’s true.”
“This is your first direct subordinate, isn’t it? Make sure to provide proper guidance.”
“Understood.”

I responded calmly to Ernst’s words.

While minimizing any outward signs of joy, inwardly, I was on cloud nine.

‘Finally, I’m getting an aide too!’

No, let me rephrase that. ‘Finally’ might be premature, considering the timing after receiving two accelerated promotions.

Of course, such trivial details weren’t particularly important.

The crucial thing was that I now had an aide.

‘And one handpicked by the high command as an elite, no less! I won’t have to be overwhelmed by work.’

Since my promotion from acting Operational Planning officer to Operational Planning officer, I had realized that the workload was excessive.

Primarily responsible for reviewing documents and forwarding them to superiors as a staff officer, reports and approval requests poured in from all directions.

While truly important documents would go directly to superiors, during wartime, an astonishingly high number of unusual requests and reports flooded in.

One example that stood out was a regimental commander’s request for beer supplies via combat aircraft because his troops desired to “enjoy a cold one.”

Initially perplexed, I had forwarded the request for approval without holding it back, and somehow, it received final authorization, allowing me to witness combat aircraft ferrying beer crates.

Amidst the countless requests pouring in, I rarely had any free time.

Having a day where I could leave at the regular quitting time, like yesterday, was fortunate.

At this rate, I might exhaust myself to death before even deserting the Empire, so Ernst’s timely announcement of an aide’s assignment was undoubtedly a cause for joy.

Lost in thought about my new aide, Ernst, having finished his meal first, picked up a napkin and wiped his mouth.

“Ah, by the way, spend the afternoon shift in your personal office today, not the Operational Planning room.”
“…Is that permissible?”
“Yes. You should take the time to get acquainted with your new aide, shouldn’t you? It would be awkward to have personal conversations with your aide in the planning room, with everyone watching.”

Ernst made a fair point.

Offering a faint smile in agreement, I replied:

“Thank you for your consideration, Chief of Operational Planning.”

While the planning room wasn’t a battlefield, in emergencies, I would have to entrust my aide with handling critical tasks – no, with watching my back.

Therefore, building rapport with my aide was an important mission.

After finishing my meal with Ernst, instead of immediately heading to my office, I took a stroll outside the headquarters.

It was to purchase a gift for my new subordinate.

After some deliberation, I opted for a few bread items suitable as snacks from a bakery near the headquarters, rather than a bouquet of flowers.

Aside from their aesthetic appeal, bouquets lacked practicality, whereas bread could satisfy one’s hunger.

Returning to the General Staff Headquarters’ office with the bag of bread, I took a deep breath.

‘I’m a bit nervous.’

The aide waiting inside the office was likely feeling equally nervous.

Just five months ago, I had been in that position, waiting for my superior while breaking into a cold sweat.

I vividly remembered it.

When I had first been commissioned, instead of receiving a gift, that bastard Karl Heimrich had hurled insults at me the moment I reported for duty.

Recalling the humiliation and trauma I had felt then, I resolved to treat my new subordinate well.

Initially, I planned to assign them simple, easy tasks to help them adapt to the work.

‘Alright.’

With the mindset of an exemplary senior and superior, I smiled and opened the office door.

“Did you have to wait long? I stopped by a bakery near the headquarters to get some bread for a snack, which is why I’m a bit late. Of course, I intended to share it with you…”

As I spoke in a friendly manner, I confirmed the aide’s appearance and inadvertently froze.

The aide, who had turned her head slightly towards me, had a slightly disheveled short hairstyle.

The hair, reaching down to her neck, was a pure silvery-white, like sunlight falling upon a fresh snowfield.

In contrast to her clean, beautiful hair color, her eyes were a deep red, resembling fresh blood.

While her gaze was sharp, there was no hostility – merely an expressionless demeanor.

She exuded an air of refinement and elegance.

Had I been unaware of her true identity, I would have certainly perceived her as such.

Lucie Amelia.

She was the protagonist character and the infamous “Butcher” of the game “Empire of Emperors.”

So why was Lucie, of all people, sitting in my office, immaculately dressed in an Imperial military uniform?

“……”
“……”

After a momentary silence, our eyes meeting, I closed the door.

‘Wait a minute.’

Why was Lucie here? Shouldn’t she be actively engaged on the frontlines at this point in time?

Moreover, why was a character affiliated with the Allied Nations assigned as my aide in the Imperial military?

‘…A spy?’

Given the prevalence of intelligence activities by both the Allied Nations and the Empire, it wouldn’t be implausible for her to have infiltrated the General Staff Headquarters as a spy.

‘But why?’

Why, out of countless positions, had she specifically become my aide?

Perplexed, I shook my head vigorously.

‘Have I reached the point of overwork where I’m seeing things?’

No matter how I thought about it, there was no way Lucie could be here. No, absolutely not.

Regaining my confidence, I reopened the office door.

“…First Lieutenant?”

And immediately closed it again.

Even after another look, it was undoubtedly Lucie.

Her appearance matched the in-game illustrations perfectly.

‘Why is this happening to me…?’

It was truly no easy task.