I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander

The next early morning.

Lucie enters through the entrance of the tent.

“Captain Daniel Steiner. I have an urgent matter to…”

Lucie took a step into the tent but stopped, closing her mouth.

Daniel was lying asleep on a field cot at the edge of the tent.

Loosely covered by a blanket, he seemed utterly exhausted from his sleeping posture.

Well, while the other soldiers and officers rested upon arriving at the outpost, Daniel had been forcibly summoned to the operations center by the Divisional Commander before returning.

‘Which means…’

Right now, Daniel Steiner was defenseless.

Confirming there was no one else around, Lucie approached Daniel.

She quietly gazed down at him, sleeping on the cot.

The Phoenix Order insignia pinned to the left chest of his uniform faintly glowed.

‘Daniel Steiner.’

The man before her was the one accumulating terrifying military achievements recently.

As a result, interest in Daniel was gradually increasing within the Union as well.

However, the Union had not yet ordered Lucie to assassinate Daniel Steiner.

Her mission from the Union was merely to keep him under special surveillance and report on his every move.

But there was no telling when the special surveillance target might become an assassination target.

If her homeland ordered her to assassinate Daniel, Lucie would readily comply.

However, would she truly be able to do so without hesitation?

Aside from his dedication to the Empire, Daniel Steiner was an ordinarily decent man.

He would share food with her, his aide, lend her an umbrella, and even invite her to a dessert shop to share his hobby.

He had even prevented her from being suspected by the Security Police when she had disguised herself as a doctor.

She could not deny that Daniel had shown her kindness.

It slightly shook the chains binding her as a spy indebted to the Union’s favor.

‘If only…’

What if they had met not as a Union spy and an Imperial officer, but as ordinary people with regular occupations?

Shaking her head to dispel such a meaningless hypothetical, Lucie chided herself.

‘How foolish.’

There was no need for deep contemplation. As long as she devoted herself to her assigned mission and role as usual, that was enough.

So until the Union issued different orders, she would simply act as ‘Captain Daniel Steiner’s loyal aide.’

As if answering her own heart, Lucie gave a small nod and turned to leave.

However, she paused before exiting the tent.

For some reason, the disheveled blanket covering Daniel’s body irked her.

She didn’t know if it was part of her instincts, but she found it unacceptable.

After a brief hesitation, Lucie bent down and lifted the blanket.

She then neatly and evenly tucked it over Daniel’s chest before lightly patting it.

“Sleep well.”

Whispering those words, Lucie turned and left the tent.

Only after Lucie had completely exited did Daniel slowly open his eyes.

Confirming Lucie’s absence, Daniel abruptly sat up.

Inadvertently letting out a ragged breath, he seemed perplexed.

‘…What was that?’

In fact, Daniel had regained consciousness a short while ago.

Awakening to a sound, he had slightly opened his eyes to find Lucie looking down at him, so he had pretended to sleep.

The reason was simple: he was terrified!

‘Am I still alive?’

Raising his hand to feel his neck, Daniel was relieved to find no injuries.

Sitting on the field cot, catching his breath, Daniel’s nerves were set on edge when he heard the sound of two jeeps parking nearby, followed by approaching footsteps.

Just as he wondered what was happening, four soldiers briskly entered the tent and split into two rows.

Immediately after, the imposing Heinrich, with his bulky frame, entered the tent.

“Ah, you’re awake.”

Startled, Daniel promptly stood up and saluted.

“Brigade Commander! What brings you here…!”

Chuckling, Heinrich returned the salute and spoke.

“Congratulations, Captain Daniel.”
“…Congratulations? For what, sir?”
“Your prediction was accurate once again. A few hours ago, we received a report from the search battalion. They discovered the Kingdom’s underground tunnel.”

Daniel felt as if he had been struck by a hammer.

‘They found an underground tunnel? On the very day I voiced my opinion?’

While not logically impossible, the odds were exceedingly low.

Yet the Kingdom forces were indeed using underground tunnels for resupplying, and the search battalion had managed to locate them overnight.

It was such a preposterous notion that Daniel’s mind went blank for a moment. Then, Heinrich gestured towards him.

“For now, let’s discuss this elsewhere. Time is of the essence.”
“…Understood.”

Although he didn’t fully comprehend the situation, Daniel could not defy a superior’s order, so he followed Heinrich.

○

Following Heinrich, they arrived at a clearing in the forest, 18 km north of where the enemy supply battalion had been found.

As Daniel exited the jeep, the first thing he saw were the soldiers of the arcane mobile brigade.

Fully equipped except for their field gear, they stood motionless in formation between the trees, like an iron army exuding an oppressive aura.

Frozen by their imposing presence, Daniel felt Heinrich grip his shoulder.

“Right over there. The Kingdom’s underground tunnel you mentioned.”

Shifting his gaze to where Heinrich pointed, a massive iron door stood open.

“We sent skilled scouts for reconnaissance, and they confirmed this underground tunnel leads all the way to the city. Astonishing, isn’t it? If not for you, we would have never known about its existence.”

Heinrich let out a hearty laugh, but Daniel could only stand dumbfounded.

As he opened his mouth to protest, the sound of artillery fire began echoing from the divisional headquarters’ direction.

“Qwaaang! It’s begun.”

Removing his hand from Daniel’s shoulder, Heinrich shouted towards the brigade’s soldiers.

“I have just heard the goddess of victory roar for us to advance! Surely, you men with ears have heard it too! Is that not so?!”

Heinrich’s shout brought grim smiles to the soldiers’ faces.

They were utterly ferocious.

“The Kingdom forces, in league with the filthy Union, have invaded our lands and mocked our fallen comrades. Recall the agonizing screams they uttered! The suffering they endured! The humiliation they withstood!”

Taking a step forward, Heinrich bellowed with bulging veins in his neck.

“Now, we shall return all of it tenfold! Tear open the bloated bellies of those greedy enemies, drunk on the blood of our comrades! Advance, elites of the Empire!”

The brigade soldiers roared in unison.

Simultaneously, they began marching towards the underground tunnel in orderly ranks.

Their mechanized movements as they filed into the tunnel in two columns were a testament to their rigorous training.

Silently observing them, I approached Heinrich and spoke.

“A pincer attack, then. While the divisional forces advance on the front lines and bombard with artillery to draw the enemy’s attention, using the underground tunnel to directly strike the city…”
“Will be a decisive victory. Clearly doomed in open warfare, these rats who have been hiding will surely panic once they realize the enemy has infiltrated the city.”

Indeed, the city’s fall was now only a matter of time.

Although not the outcome I desired, witnessing the soldiers’ advance in real-time made me grateful to be a staff officer.

‘At least I won’t be sent into the heart of the enemy…’

Preserving my life took precedence over escaping the Empire.

One needed to stay alive to seize the next opportunity.

Inwardly relieved as I watched the soldiers, Heinrich turned to me and spoke.

“You seem envious of the soldiers? A dedicated officer like you must yearn to crush the enemy directly, just as I did in my youth when such fervor overflowed within me.”

Not at all, but I couldn’t disagree outright.

“Indeed. However, I believe protecting our rear as a staff officer is also crucial. Though regrettable, I must leave the glory of attacking the enemy to the soldiers.”
“A commendable mindset. But if you wish, there is no need to merely observe from the rear. No, it would be more accurate to say you cannot simply observe.”

Wait, what? The conversation was taking an odd turn.

As I looked at him quizzically, Heinrich gave a subtle smile, as if pleased.

“The Divisional Commander has ordered your entire headquarters direct command unit, yourself included, to join the arcane mobile troops in the city assault.”
“…Pardon? But my company’s participation would only cause trouble.”
“The Divisional Commander initially shared your view. However, after conversing with you, he had a complete change of heart. When we were alone, he told me you are a wolf thirsting for blood.”

I could only gape in bewilderment. What nonsense was this?

“He said to allow you to sate your ravenous hunger, and instructed me to convey that to you.”
“…Are you certain those were his words about me?”
“Yes. The Divisional Commander rarely shows such favor, so seize this opportunity to prove yourself.”

I failed to comprehend why he would make such an outrageous statement about me.

Nevertheless, when ordered from above, I had no choice but to comply.

Letting out a brief sigh, I looked at Heinrich and asked.

“Brigade Commander, are you absolutely certain the Divisional Commander referred to me as a ‘wolf thirsting for blood’?”
“Hm? Haha. It seems you’re quite taken with that moniker. While meant as a jest, he did indeed say those exact words.”

This only reaffirmed my conviction.

My life was unraveling in real-time.