A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity
Captain Varnrad's order was easily relayed to all troops.
The soldiers who first heard the command thought their company commander had finally gone mad from boredom.
They didn't understand the point of inspecting and cleaning a place that was essentially an abandoned forward outpost.
But the moment they heard 'Daniel Steiner is coming,' they immediately obeyed.
Just like Varnrad, the soldiers were well aware of Daniel Steiner's infamous reputation.
The soldiers, not wanting to die, rolled up their sleeves and inspected the facility's deficiencies, repairing whatever could be fixed on the spot.
Not only did they press the wrinkles out of their uniforms with the one iron at the outpost, but they also cleaned their firearms several times over, lest they get written up for anything.
They didn't forget to memorize the Weapons Fundamentals Manual by heart, just in case Daniel Steiner quizzed them on the usage and maintenance of military equipment.
About two weeks passed like that.
- They're coming! Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner... No! The battalion commander is coming!
Varnrad, who had received the radio call from the soldier on watch, raised the whistle around his neck and blew it.
At that, the soldiers gathered in front of the base split to either side and stood at attention.
These were the same men who, just two weeks ago, had been giggling and playing poker during duty hours. Now, upon hearing that Daniel Steiner was coming, they were acting like elite soldiers.
Varnrad, surveying them, let out a hollow laugh.
'...It's as if we've gone back a year.'
It was a level of discipline that hadn't been seen since high command had forgotten them and they had become what was known as a 'ghost unit.'
While Varnrad was reminiscing about the past, the sound of vehicles entering the outpost could be heard in the distance.
Tensing up, Varnrad looked straight ahead. Behind the military jeep leading the way, transport trucks were rolling in one after another.
'It was true that high command sent battalion-level personnel.'
Unlike Varnrad's abandoned company, this was a fully equipped battalion with no shortage of supplies.
'Are we about to start a special mission...?'
Just as Varnrad swallowed dryly, the lead military jeep gradually came to a stop.
Soon the doors opened, and the first to step out were women who appeared to be officers.
After them, a male officer with black hair emerged from the vehicle and straightened his uniform.
The man wore an officer's winter coat draped over his shoulders, and through the open coat, the Golden Medal of National Order and the Golden Cross Medal were visible.
"...!"
That man was none other than Daniel Steiner, the one called the hero of the Empire.
It was his first time seeing him in person, so his body tensed with nerves.
Daniel, who could not have known Varnrad's feelings, looked around and exhaled softly.
The breath that escaped his lips scattered as frost.
Daniel, who had been examining the forward outpost with sharp eyes, looked at Varnrad.
The moment their eyes met, Varnrad mechanically raised his arm.
"Welcome, Battalion Commander, sir!"
Daniel did not answer and walked slowly forward.
With every step Daniel took, the snow piled in the basin was crushed, leaving clear boot prints.
The sight of the tall Daniel striding forward, his coat tails fluttering, looked like a lone wolf.
Even though he was merely walking, his presence felt overwhelming.
Varnrad, utterly unable to meet his gaze, deliberately stared straight ahead. When Daniel reached close range, he slowly opened his mouth to speak.
"Your name?"
Varnrad lowered his hand and assumed an at-ease stance.
"Captain Varnrad, Special Warfare Company, Airborne Special Warfare Brigade, sir!"
"Troop strength?"
"Sir! I will report the current company strength. Out of a total of 47 personnel, excluding 1 wounded, all 46 are fit for operations, sir!"
Having heard Varnrad's report, Daniel nodded.
"Excellent. I thought discipline would have slackened, given that you've been on mission standby for a year, but it is well maintained."
"You are too kind, sir! However..."
Varnrad, gauging Daniel's reaction, hesitantly spoke up.
"If I may be so bold, may I ask why Lieutenant Colonel Daniel, the hero of the Empire, has come to such a remote place?"
"To rescue Hans Jernmehat, who has been taken prisoner by the Kingdom of Belmore."
"Understood, sir. Then how do you intend to maneuver the unit, Battalion Commander? If you give orders based on your plan, we will carry them out immediately."
Daniel exhaled a frosty breath and looked down at Varnrad.
"The order I will give you is one: maintain the status quo."
Having said that, Daniel walked past Varnrad and spoke.
"It's cold. Show me to my quarters."
Varnrad, who had been briefly dazed, hastily replied.
"Ah. Yes, sir! Understood, sir!"
Falling in beside Daniel, Varnrad was gripped by an inexplicable sense of unease.
'Maintain the status quo...'
It sounded like he was saying he was going to do nothing.
*
He was, in fact, saying he was going to do nothing.
Now, ten days after joining the forward outpost in the border basin of the Kingdom of Belmore.
Daniel Steiner was engrossed in reading.
Having read the last page, Daniel closed the book, his heart warmed.
The book's title was The Baker Who Drank Tears.
'That was a good story...'
He was astounded that a book capable of moving him this much existed in this era.
Just as he was considering sending a fan letter to the author, the door to the operations command room opened.
Beyond the door stood Lucy.
"Lieutenant Colonel Daniel."
When he looked up to see what the matter was, Lucy let out a low sigh.
"Do you really intend not to issue any orders at all?"
"...I'm not sure what you mean. I clearly gave the order to maintain the status quo, did I not?"
"There are soldiers starting to think that means doing nothing."
Was that so. It was a little early, but it seemed discontent was slowly starting to leak out.
The soldiers of the General Staff Headquarters Direct Unit were elites who had volunteered for military service.
There was a possibility that if they arrived at an operational zone and their superior issued no orders, they would consider it dishonorable.
'It'll be troublesome if the soldiers' complaints become the general consensus.'
If a report went up to high command that Daniel Steiner was showing negligence in his duties in the operational zone, a recall order might be issued.
'I should use training as an excuse to do something...'
Daniel, wanting to avoid returning to the Imperial Capital, racked his brain.
Having been tapping the table, Daniel snapped his fingers as if an idea had just occurred to him.
"Inform all troops. At dawn tomorrow, we will climb the ridgeline of the western mountain zone. The objective is to conduct reconnaissance on enemy movements and trench construction training."
Lucy blinked slowly.
She did not understand.
"You mean the west, not the east, sir? But why... the border zone is to the east."
Exactly, so they had to go west.
If they went east and actually ran into the enemy, there was a risk of an unfortunate incident.
But since he couldn't say he was just reluctantly pretending to work, Daniel frowned as if looking down on someone who couldn't comprehend his genius idea.
"Adjutant. Do you think I'm saying this without any plan?"
Lucy shook her head.
From the Nordia Invasion Operation to the negotiations with the Bellanos Cabinet Minister, Daniel Steiner had repeatedly made the enemy surrender through unorthodox methods.
Thinking this was part of the same, Lucy bowed her head deeply.
"I've committed a discourtesy. I will inform all troops to prepare their field gear as we will move out starting tomorrow morning."
Having said that, Lucy left the operations command room and closed the door.
With that, Daniel, left alone, opened his book.
It was to re-read a passage he considered a masterpiece scene.
*
Kingdom of Belmore.
Border Zone Forward Outpost Command Tent.
"Are you aware of the news that Daniel Steiner has joined the enemy forward outpost located in the basin near the border zone?"
At Crown Prince Blef's words, a stir ran through the command tent.
While everyone was gauging the others' reactions, Colonel Galevalt spoke.
"Is that really true? That the Devil of the Empire is there..."
"It is. The information came directly from a source on the Imperial side, so it is certain."
"Good heavens. That means..."
Blef, wearing a splendid uniform, smiled viciously.
"God has given me a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If I succeed in capturing Daniel Steiner, I will no longer have to suffer this humiliation."
Although Blef was the Crown Prince, his position was unstable due to his younger brother pushing up from below.
As his brother racked up military achievements on the battlefield one after another, the support base for Blef, his elder brother, had begun to waver.
That was why he had been semi-forced to come to the front lines recently, and by sheer luck, he had heard that Daniel Steiner was located nearby.
'If I succeed in capturing Daniel Steiner, who has inflicted massive damage on the Allied Nations...'
It was clear that his fool of a younger brother would never be able to look down on him again, and his standing within the Allied Nations would also rise.
'I don't really know why Daniel Steiner came here...'
But it was no exaggeration to say that the moment they had acquired the information first, victory was already skewed in their favor.
Imagining the sweet glory he would enjoy after capturing Daniel Steiner, Blef opened his mouth.
"Colonel. Organize a battalion of elite soldiers right now. As soon as dawn breaks tomorrow, we will strike the enemy outpost."
The laughter that slipped through his lips quietly filled the command tent.
"Just you wait, Daniel Steiner..."
Greed-stricken Blef's eyes glinted sharply.
"For I shall personally hunt you, the one they call the Devil of the Empire."