The Demon Is Coming
The Demon Is Coming
After the meeting, as unit commanders returned to their positions, the order—'The division commander wishes to withdraw!'—spread like wildfire.
Whether fortuitous or not, the soldiers did not question Daniel Steiner's order to prepare for withdrawal.
No, rather, they erupted in cheers that were almost a roar of exultation.
The soldiers were no fools either, and they had vaguely grasped the truth.
The Intelligence Department had deliberately fed them false information, exposing the 7th Armored Division to an enemy ambush.
Looking back, precisely because Daniel Steiner had sensed the signs and secured a withdrawal route in advance, the 7th Armored Division had been able to withdraw with minimal casualties.
Furthermore, Daniel Steiner hadn't simply ordered the operation and retreated like other commanders; he had risked his life and fought alongside the soldiers.
On top of that, a heroic tale was circulating that he had personally picked up a rifle and eliminated a sniper hundreds of meters away—so to the soldiers, Daniel Steiner was an ideal commander the likes of which they'd never seen.
Since such a man, acting as the division commander, had ordered a withdrawal, the soldiers resolved to follow him willingly.
Amidst this overwhelming support, withdrawal preparations proceeded, a day passed, and morning dawned.
Daniel, who had been resting in his personal tent with his military uniform neatly pressed, was inwardly taken aback.
Lucy and Frien had come to his tent.
'Lucy's my adjutant, so I can understand that, but why is Frien...'
Unlike Lucy, who wore her usual emotionless expression, Frien's eyes were brimming with tears as if she had reunited with a long-lost family member, which doubled the burden he felt.
In the midst of his bewilderment, Frien approached and grasped Daniel's hand.
"Colonel Daniel, sir. I heard you were all right, but I worried nonetheless, and I'm relieved to see you seem fine. Are you truly unhurt anywhere?"
Her face was close.
Feeling pressured, Daniel nodded awkwardly.
"Yes. More importantly, Lieutenant Frien. I heard from Pelf, the intelligence staff officer, that you rendered quite distinguished service on the battlefield. You did well, even though you must have been flustered."
He had heard the previous day, while receiving the casualty report, that thanks to Frien's healing magic, at least twenty people had been saved from death.
She wasn't at the level of being called the Saintess of the Empire yet, but it was clear that her ability was blossoming.
Pleased by Daniel's praise, Frien smiled softly and then suddenly looked up at him.
"...If it's true that I rendered service, may I receive a reward?"
It was a hesitant question.
However, since the Empire's foundational ideology was to reward merit and punish failure, it was also a reasonable question.
"Of course. What kind of reward do you want?"
"I would like a material reward."
"I see. When we return safely to the Imperial Capital, I shall report your distinguished service to His Majesty the Emperor and take measures to ensure you receive an appropriate monetary prize."
He thought it was an exemplary answer, but Frien simply shook her head.
"That's not the kind of material reward I desire."
"Then what do you want?"
"It may sound strange, but what I want is your affection, Colonel Daniel."
"Affection?"
"Hmm. There are many ways to express affection, but the most certain method would be physical contact, for example."
Physical contact? Depending on how one took it, that was a statement that could be quite embarrassing.
Conscious of Lucy's gaze, which seemed subtly displeased, Daniel, after some deliberation, raised his hand and lightly stroked Frien's head.
He figured that if he could satisfy Frien, who was steeped in nationalism and whose demands were anyone's guess, with a simple gesture, it was a cheap price to pay.
"...Will this do?"
When he asked, wondering if she would truly be satisfied, Frien smiled with the contentment of a child held in its mother's arms.
"I'm happy. Thanks to you, Colonel Daniel, today's me is far happier than the me of the past. I'll continue to render distinguished service, and someday, with Colonel Daniel..."
Feeling a sudden chill run down his spine, Daniel withdrew his hand.
"Let's stop here for now."
Frien made a face that said, 'Huh? Already over?' but she didn't raise any particular objection.
Relieved by that, Daniel unconsciously turned to look at Lucy.
And then he froze without realizing it.
Because Lucy's gaze had turned icy cold, like that of a woman who had just witnessed her boyfriend cheating.
Daniel, who couldn't understand why she was acting that way, was completely bewildered.
"....."
After staring at Daniel for a good while, Lucy hesitated briefly and then mustered the courage to speak.
"Division commander, sir. I, too, was no less active on the battlefield than Lieutenant Frien. Furthermore, while treating our allies is important, I believe dealing with approaching enemies is even more critical."
At this untimely loyalty competition, Daniel felt a wave of dizziness wash over him.
Just as he was wondering how he should respond, Frien narrowed her eyes and spoke.
"Lieutenant Lucy? Are you perhaps directing that remark at me?"
"Yes. I'm glad you're aware."
"That's unfortunate. I never imagined you, Lieutenant Lucy, would be such a narrow-minded person."
"I'm not narrow-minded. What's narrow might be your own bigoted way of thinking."
"...Are you proposing we have a verbal fight right now, in front of Colonel Daniel?"
"You were the one who provoked me first."
Whenever the two of them conversed, the air inside the tent seemed to grow heavier.
Just as the impulse to vacate the premises overwhelmed him, footsteps were heard from outside the tent.
The moment Lucy and Frien fell silent, aware of the footsteps, the entrance to the tent opened and Pelf, the intelligence staff officer, entered.
Pelf regarded Lucy and Frien, who were glaring at each other, with a puzzled look, but quickly shifted his attention.
"Division commander, sir."
Giving a brief greeting by lowering his head, Pelf continued.
"Withdrawal preparations are complete. Now, if you just give the order, we can withdraw to the Imperial Capital."
Had that much time passed already?
It was earlier than he had expected, but there was nothing to be gained by delaying.
This was, literally, a battle where their lives were at stake.
He wasn't sure exactly how the situation would unfold, but for the losing side, a brutal death was assured.
"Inform all troops."
After taking a deep breath, Daniel looked at Pelf and spoke.
"From this moment on, the 7th Armored Division will..."
Having made his resolve, Daniel clenched his trembling hand tightly.
"...march to execute the traitors lurking within the Imperial Capital!"
*
The Imperial Capital, Grand Conference Hall of the Imperial Palace.
"Since we have succeeded in seizing control of the Imperial Capital, I believe it is now time to seriously reach an agreement on the division of power. As you are aware, our family has undertaken numerous risks for this revolution."
"Is your family the only one that took risks? All of us here took risks of our own. Isn't that right, Your Grace the Duke!"
"Now see here! Baron Bentarto! Did you just say 'all of us'? How shameless of you, considering you merely provided anonymous financial support while hiding somewhere safe!"
In the Grand Conference Hall, where the Emperor and high-ranking officials of the Empire would originally gather to debate state affairs, the most prominent nobles had all assembled and were engaged in discussion.
Belvar, who had seated himself at the head seat where the Emperor was supposed to sit, looked upon the nobles who were arguing for their own interests and felt nothing but contempt.
'Clearly, the reason I summoned them here was to discuss the matters ahead...'
The nobles were already acting as if the revolution had succeeded, their eyes bloodshot as they fought to devour even one more slice of the pie.
"So, what do you plan to do about the nobles of the Imperial faction? If we purge them all, the administration will be paralyzed. Yet if we employ them, it gives me a headache worrying they might harbor ulterior motives."
"What is there to agonize over? Just fill all the administrative personnel with people from our side, and that's it."
"Don't talk nonsense! An administrative system doesn't simply start running just because you swap the people! Without their knowledge and expertise, the continuity of the administration will collapse!"
A meaningful topic of debate had finally arisen an hour into the discussion.
Just as Belvar was about to begin deliberating on the issue—
"Your Grace!"
From beyond the open doors of the Grand Conference Hall, Feliston, the Deputy Director of the Intelligence Department, came running.
Feliston, who had rushed in urgently, knelt on one knee before the command table in the Grand Conference Hall.
Seeing the pale complexion of Feliston, who was breathing heavily, Belvar tilted his head in puzzlement.
"...Deputy Director? I thought I told you I would call for you after the meeting ended. What business brings you all the way to the Grand Conference Hall?"
"I have come because there is an urgent matter I must report."
"Is that so. Then I shall vacate my seat momentarily, and the two of us can talk—"
"Remain seated! Everyone here must hear this!"
At Feliston's cry, the nobles who had been conversing quietly fell silent.
Just as they realized the situation was taking a strange turn, Feliston bowed his head.
"According to the report, the 7th Armored Division is currently..."
Feliston continued with a face that clearly showed he could not believe what he was saying.
"...The 7th Armored Division has broken away from the front lines and is conducting a large-scale movement. Judging by its direction, it is heading for the Imperial Capital."
Belvar sucked in a sharp breath, and the nobles froze, seized by shock.
Feliston, having delivered the shocking news, slowly raised his head.
"He is coming. That man..."
After a brief pause, Feliston cried out, his face filled with terror.
"Daniel Steiner is leading his division and advancing on the Imperial Capital!"