I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander

There are no signs of riots or protests in Nordia.

Beyond showing no signs, it was remarkably peaceful.

Looking out the office window, I could even see citizens chatting amiably with patrolling garrison troops.

‘…Shouldn’t they normally be afraid?’

It had already been two weeks since my appointment as the acting garrison commander.

Yet, not even a single trouble had arisen, leaving me utterly deflated.

Shifting my gaze from the outside scenery, I examined the document file in my hands.

It was the ‘Garrison Satisfaction Survey’ that Lucie had presented to me this morning.

《Garrison Satisfaction Survey Statistics》

Sample Group: 100 citizens from various city districts
Number of Respondents: Approximately 5,700
Question: What is your opinion on the garrison’s city policies?

• Frequency Analysis

Excellent – 2,365 (41.5%)

Good – 1,254 (22%)

Unsure (Need to observe further) – 684 (12%)

Disappointing – 855 (15%)

Very Disappointing – 542 (9.5%)

※ Please note that all surveys were conducted by local assistants, not garrison troops, to ensure objectivity.

Upon initially seeing this, I thought I had misread it.

After all, the statistics showed that over half the citizens, 63.5%, supported the garrison troops.

It also indicated that extreme protests or riots were unlikely to occur.

‘I wonder what the General Staff Headquarters will make of this report…’

A sigh escaped me, but I could not deny the reality presented by these statistics.

Turning away from the window, I tossed the document file onto my desk and sat down in the chair.

Leaning back with a half-resigned expression, I looked towards Lucie.

As she had been at the General Staff Headquarters, Lucie was seated at her desk in a corner of the office, attending to her duties.

Seeing her so absorbed in her work, oblivious to me, brought me a sense of relief.

‘Moreover…’

Despite the rapid promotion and acting commander position for over two weeks, it seemed the Union had not issued orders for her to attempt an assassination.

Amidst the unfavorable circumstances, this was at least a silver lining.

Still, I maintained my vigilance as I observed Lucie finishing her paperwork and stretching briefly.

Raising her arms with a soft groan, “Khrueung,” Lucie let out a sigh and lowered them.

Blinking her drowsy eyes as she stared ahead, she suddenly sensed my presence and turned towards me.

Inadvertently, our gazes met.

As I broke out in a cold sweat, Lucie blinked her crimson eyes a couple of times.

“…Major? Did you have something to say?”

What should I say? After briefly considering, I spoke as casually as possible.

“Have you finished your work?”
“Yes. There are still some afternoon documents to process, but not a significant amount.”
“Then that’s fortunate. You can take a proper rest once your shift ends. You’ve been working hard assisting me lately.”
“I have indeed been working hard, unlike you, Major, as I’ve been out in the field more often.”

She didn’t deny it.

“Speaking of which, you can take some rest time today as well, Major.”
“Ah, yes. In fact, I was planning to visit one of Nordia’s famous dessert shops today…”

As soon as the words left my mouth, I regretted it.

Lucie’s eyes had instantly lit up.

Come to think of it, Lucie had thoroughly enjoyed the parfait back in the Capital.

That gaze seemed to be awaiting an invitation to join me.

After a brief silence, I cleared my throat.

“…Would you care to accompany me?”
“While desserts are not to my taste, if you insist, Major, I won’t refuse.”

Hah? Look at this?

After devouring that parfait so enthusiastically, she was now playing coy, which only irritated me.

Furrowing one brow, I said.

“Then I shall go alone. I cannot intrude on my aide’s rest time.”

Lucie’s fingertips twitched.

Though her expression remained impassive, her actions betrayed her disappointment.

However, I had no intention of insisting further.

Playing coy was akin to insulting desserts.

“But if my aide would frankly admit to liking desserts, that would be a different story.”

Lucie’s eyes seemed to tremble as she pondered inwardly before lowering her gaze and clenching her fist discreetly.

“…I do not like them.”

There it was.

Annoyed by her stubbornness, I taunted her.

“The dessert I’ll be having is an éclair. Have you heard of choux pastry dough? It uses basic ingredients like water, butter, flour, and eggs, and is characterized by its light puffing up in the oven.”
“…”
“It’s already delicious straight out of the oven, with its rich aroma filling your mouth. But if that’s all there is, it’s just bread, not a dessert. The essence lies elsewhere.”

Leaning towards Lucie, I continued.

“Once the choux pastry is fully baked, it’s filled to the brim with vanilla cream. Then, a thick chocolate glaze is spread over the top. Can you imagine the flavor?”

Lucie gulped audibly.

Snapping my fingers at her reaction, I went on.

“Heavenly! The creamy smoothness and rich pastry harmoniously dancing in your mouth! And with the addition of chocolate? Even an atheist would praise the divine upon tasting it.”
“…”
“Of course, no matter how much I explain, you can’t truly understand without trying it yourself. But I can’t force you, a self-proclaimed ‘dessert hater.’ Isn’t that right?”

As I gave her one last prodding look, Lucie’s lips quivered ever so slightly.

Just as I thought she was about to concede defeat and watched quietly, the office phone rang, interrupting us.

Thinking who it could be, I picked up the receiver.

“Acting Garrison Commander speaking.”

Soon, a tense voice came from the other end.

— Commander! This is Second Lieutenant Mecalla! I’m calling to report a strange discovery while patrolling an abandoned munitions factory.

Strange discovery? Intrigued, I inquired further.

“Explain in more detail.”
— Understood! We discovered what appears to be an underground facility constructed by the enemy beneath the munitions factory grounds. It seems to be some kind of research facility, but the structure… You’ll need to see it in person for a quicker understanding.

The enemy had concealed a research facility?

What could be the reason? Perplexed, I nodded.

“I will go and inspect it personally. Halt the search and wait at the entrance.”

After receiving an affirmative reply, I hung up the receiver.

As I rose from my seat, Lucie kept her mouth shut, pretending to focus on her work.

It seemed she had intended to concede defeat but missed her timing, resigning herself to not going.

Observing her intently, I began walking.

“It’s going to be delicious, they say. An éclair made by a master patissier…”

I noticed Lucie’s jaw clench tightly.

Savoring her reaction, I exited the office but paused after taking three steps. Turning back, I stood before Lucie once more.

“Last chance. Are you really not coming to the dessert shop?”

Lucie seemed engulfed in an internal struggle before slowly opening her eyes halfway and lowering her gaze.

“…I do want to go.”
“What was that? Speak clearly.”

After a brief, deep breath, Lucie’s lips parted.

“I…want to go…”

Only then did I nod.

“You should have spoken your mind from the start. I’ll tell you the location, so join me after your shift ends.”
“I shall do so…”

Responding in a faltering voice, a faint blush tinged Lucie’s face.

She truly was an enjoyable tease.

But I should be careful not to overstep boundaries.

‘Or I might end up dead.’

That was no joke, but the sincerest truth.

○

Imperial General Staff Headquarters.
Office of the Deputy Chief of Operations.

Knock, knock—

At the sound of knocking, Cedric Vendell lowered the document he had been reading and looked up.

“Enter.”

The door soon opened, and a middle-aged man with a gentle demeanor entered.

It was Colonel Ernst Bark, the Chief of Operations.

Ernst walked to the center of the room and saluted.

Though usually quite friendly with his superiors, he could not bring himself to be so casual before the Deputy Chief of Operations.

Those raven-like eyes sent chills down his spine whenever he met their gaze.

“Deputy Chief. I have come to report a matter to you.”
“It has been a while since you visited my office. What is it?”
“Ah, it concerns Major Daniel Steiner.”

Daniel Steiner. I was already aware of his exploits in the Northern Front.

After all, it was I who had appointed Daniel as the acting garrison commander.

However, entrusting the garrison commander position to a newly promoted major may have been a mistake.

‘Conquering is one thing, but governing is far more arduous.’

So Ernst must have come to report some incident or accident that had occurred in Nordia.

“Has something happened in Nordia? A civilian uprising or violent incident, perhaps?”
“…No. According to reports, the majority of Nordia’s citizens are satisfied with the garrison’s city policies. Intelligence suggests the citizens even claim their living conditions have improved compared to before the occupation.”

Cedric’s eyes widened.

From what Ernst knew, it was rare for Cedric to be so visibly surprised.

“He has… mastered civil administration?”

And in just two weeks since being appointed as the acting garrison commander?

Momentarily stunned by the remarkable feat, Cedric soon let out a dry chuckle.

“It seems I had misjudged Daniel Steiner.”

No matter how capable, once the grind of the battlefield sets in, even talented individuals succumb to fatigue.

I had expected Daniel Steiner to experience similar hardships, but judging by his outstanding performance, it seemed the battlefield only stoked his fervor instead of tiring him.

‘As if the front lines were his true home, allowing him to frolic freely.’

Having inwardly raised his evaluation of Daniel Steiner, Cedric spoke.

“We should swiftly appoint a permanent garrison commander and send them to Nordia.”

Ernst blinked blankly at the unexpected response.

“Deputy Chief? Is there any urgency? While Major Daniel Steiner is adeptly transforming the occupied territory into Imperial lands…”
“You only see one aspect, not the other two. Do you truly believe Daniel Steiner will be satisfied with merely being a garrison commander?”

Cedric’s hollow eyes took on a chilling aura.

“He has his sights set higher. On a momentous duty where he can dedicate himself to the Empire. Therefore…”

Regarding the sweating Ernst, a chilling smile graced Cedric’s lips.

“I intend to grant that wish of his.”