I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander

Since I had received orders, as a soldier, I had no choice but to fight.

I, too, fell under the category of ‘soldier’, leaving me unable to refuse the order.

In the end, I had to lead my belatedly arrived company as the rear unit supporting the brigade’s advance into enemy territory.

Relying on flashlights, we advanced through the dark tunnel until discovering a ceiling emitting light. Passing through it, we emerged into the enemy’s supply base.

It was a vast warehouse-like structure piled high with various supplies, but the Kingdom soldiers guarding it lay scattered as cold corpses, riddled with bullets.

Seemingly the handiwork of the brigade soldiers who had entered first.

Wrinkling my nose at the stench of blood, the officers and soldiers of my company climbed up one by one.

“Well, they certainly held a grand festival.”

Second Lieutenant Mecalla was the first to speak among them.

After nodding vaguely, I exited through the wide-open warehouse door.

Instead of dim lighting, the vast sunlight brightly illuminated the surroundings.

Glancing around, it was little different from inside the warehouse.

The Union soldiers guarding the base had all become corpses.

Amid them, Imperial soldier casualties were hardly visible.

Even accounting for the element of surprise, the disparity in skill was staggering.

It was pitiable for the Kingdom forces.

As I openly clicked my tongue, the sound of artillery fire echoed from not too far away.

Turning my head, I saw the city center being bombarded.

Fortunately, it was not indiscriminate shelling.

The strikes focused solely on the enemy’s military installations, avoiding civilian casualties, demonstrating the Empire’s adherence to the laws of war.

However, it remained uncertain whether the Imperial soldiers themselves upheld those same laws.

Through the open warehouse door, I could see Imperial soldiers massacring the Kingdom soldiers.

In some buildings, Kingdom soldiers fell from shattered windows.

Even in urban warfare, they were suppressing the enemy with near-perfect efficiency.

‘So this is the arcane mobile brigade, renowned as the Empire’s elite…’

As I inwardly marveled, a woman with auburn hair stopped beside me.

It was Prien.

“A harrowing sight, indeed.”

Wondering why she was speaking sensibly, I turned to find her assuming a reverent posture, as if praying to God.

“They, too, were once human. How could they not realize that allying with beasts would turn them into beasts as well? They deserve divine punishment, but their transgressions are profoundly lamentable.”

Right, it couldn’t be you speaking reasonably.

Regarding Prien with disdain, Second Lieutenant Mecalla spoke up.

“While I expected a decisive victory after hearing the operation’s outline, I did not anticipate such overwhelming dominance. I almost feel guilty, as if we’re inflicting violence upon children.”

Mecalla’s jest elicited laughter from Sergeant Glendy.

“An apt analogy! Moreover, to exploit the enemy’s supply route for infiltration, the Company Commander truly seems to be several steps ahead on the battlefield!”
“…I was merely fortunate.”
“Hahaha! And modest, too! For that, you have my utmost respect. But now, will we join the brigade soldiers in their assault?”

Was he insane? Suggesting we enter the heart of the enemy’s firestorm to fight?

Doubting his sincerity, I turned to find him brimming with anticipation.

Not just Sergeant Glendy, but the other officers and soldiers also seemed to itch for combat, their faces eager.

Only Lucie maintained her ever-expressionless demeanor, appearing relatively normal.

‘A bunch of warmongers, really…’

It sent chills down my spine.

While they all seemed to desire battle, I had no intention of granting their wish.

“We’re heading for the shoreline.”

The shoreline? As if not understanding, Prien spoke up.

“Captain Daniel? With our pincer attack, aren’t the enemy forces concentrated on the front lines or the city center? The shoreline should only have civilian evacuation processions right now.”
“…Surely you don’t mean to attack civilians?”

What did she take me for, to ask such a question?

I suggested the shoreline simply because it would likely have the fewest enemy forces.

If combat was unavoidable, choosing the area with minimal engagement would increase our survival chances.

Of course, I couldn’t explain this, lest these irrational warmongers criticize me, so I brushed it off vaguely.

“I have a plan, so follow me without further questions.”

In truth, I had no plan.

‘Plan’ was merely a magic word that could quell subordinates’ dissent.

As expected, Prien and the other officers saluted me in acknowledgment.

‘Good.’

Now I could leave the fighting to the brigade soldiers and spend my time watching the ocean from the shoreline.

“The entire force will immediately follow me to the shoreline.”

Concealing my true intentions, I calmly issued the order and began marching.

○

“The front line… The front line has been breached!”
“We’ve lost contact with central city forces!”

Amid his retreat, reports of defeat reached the ears of Rafunai, the divisional commander of the Kingdom’s armored division.

While he had anticipated it to some extent, he had not foreseen the city falling so rapidly.

Gritting his teeth, Rafunai glared at the radio operator and spoke.

“Order them to hold their positions and withstand the Imperial attack for as long as possible.”
“But then our casualties will be…”
“That’s an order! Don’t you understand that buying us time to retreat is our only chance?”

Rafunai’s rationale was that while soldiers could be conscripted endlessly, losing the military leadership would make replacing them difficult.

However, his reasoning was akin to a defensive mechanism to justify his own desertion from the battlefield.

Qwaang—

The earth trembled from artillery fire, nearly throwing Rafunai off balance.

Barely regaining his footing, he resumed marching.

“Damn it! How much further must we go?”

At Rafunai’s outburst, a senior officer beside him spoke up.

“Just through these alleys, and we’ll reach the rendezvous point! The evacuation boats are disguised as fishing vessels, so we’ll be safe from Imperial attack.”

Rafunai nodded at the officer’s composed explanation.

The Empire generally adhered to the laws of war unless under special circumstances.

This meant they would not attack civilians, so by blending with the civilian evacuation procession disguised as fishing boats, they could escape easily.

“But, Divisional Commander. Are you truly going to evacuate?”

Without its leadership, the Kingdom forces would be like candles in the wind.

The officer’s remark stemmed from concern, but Rafunai was only angered.

“We had already lost the moment we were encircled! We had been barely holding on thanks to our supply lines, but the enemy exploited them to infiltrate! Do you see any chance of victory?!”
“While there is no chance, we could at least put up a final resistance…”
“Silence! It’s sheer folly to refuse retreat from a losing battle!”

Of course, Rafunai’s retreat did not include his soldiers.

“…Understood.”

Realizing he could not change the divisional commander’s mind, the officer fell silent.

After glaring at the officer, Rafunai turned the corner, revealing the shoreline beyond.

Just a little further, and they could board the evacuation boats.

Thinking they had finally survived, Rafunai and his entourage froze upon exiting the alley.

“Huh?”

They had come face-to-face with Imperial soldiers in black uniforms.

The Imperial soldiers numbered around 200.

The officer leading them had the Phoenix Order insignia pinned to his chest, glowing brilliantly in the sunlight.

Seeing this, Rafunai gulped.

The elite troops he had brought as escorts numbered no more than 50.

He had kept the number low to reduce the chances of being detected by the enemy.

In any case, engaging in combat now would only lead to a dog’s death.

‘But…’

How had these Imperial forces managed to establish a position here?

Having avoided communications to prevent interception, Rafunai found the situation incomprehensible.

Daniel, leading the company, shared his bewilderment.

‘…Why is the armored division’s high command here?’

Having merely aimed for the shoreline to evade combat, Daniel could not understand their presence.

However, his soldiers seemed to think otherwise.

Click—

In unison, the Imperial soldiers raised their rifles, aiming at the armored division’s high command.

Sergeant Glendy, too, aimed his rifle alongside the soldiers and spoke.

“Company Commander, was this your ‘plan’ all along? Now, I’m beyond admiration – I’m outright terrified.”

Daniel, too, felt terrified at the prospect of accumulating further military achievements.

Involuntarily sighing, yet unable to show it, he narrowed his eyes towards the armored division’s stunned high command.

“Apprehend them.”
“Eliminate any who resist.”

At Daniel’s chilling words, the Kingdom soldiers, demoralized, one by one dropped their weapons.

It was an admission of Nordia’s fall through their actions.