Patriot(?) Daniel Steiner
Patriot(?) Daniel Steiner
Upon hearing Daniel Steiner's order, Reckella reported it to his superiors and opened the checkpoint gate.
Afterward, Reckella offered to guide them to where the regimental commander was, and Daniel accepted.
As Daniel Steiner entered the armored regiment's encampment, the attention of soldiers and officers naturally converged on him.
"...What the?"
"Isn't that Colonel Daniel Steiner?"
"That's the Golden Cross Medal on his uniform. Looks like it's him."
Everyone stopped what they were doing and just watched Daniel Steiner move with dazed expressions.
It was only natural for them to be bewildered.
Because the armored regiment had clearly come here for the purpose of 'arresting or shooting the traitor Daniel Steiner,' yet the man himself was strolling through the armored regiment's encampment as if nothing was wrong.
However, Daniel Steiner's current state of mind was anything but untroubled.
Rather, it was closer to a state of extreme tension.
'If I fail, I die.'
When Daniel heard the imperial edict from the armored regiment's messenger yesterday, he understood Belvar's plan.
Namely, they intended to provoke the 7th Armored Division into attacking or ignoring the Guards Division's armored regiment, thereby creating a pretext that 'Daniel Steiner disobeyed His Majesty the Emperor's order.'
Because of this, Daniel realized he couldn't run away and, at a gathering of the staff officers, put forward the opinion that 'he would go and persuade the armored regiment alone.'
The staff officers, naturally horrified, dissuaded him, saying it would be better to form a negotiation delegation instead, but Daniel refused to change his mind.
The reason was that sending a delegation risked having his intentions distorted, not to mention that the more time dragged on, the more advantageous it would be for the traitors who had seized the capital.
When Daniel remained firmly adamant, the staff officers had no choice but to nod their heads.
For all these reasons, Daniel was now striding through the armored regiment with nothing but his own body.
'First, let's calm down. Even if you enter a tiger's den, you can survive as long as you keep your wits about you.'
In any case, a frontal breakthrough was impossible without this method.
Furthermore, Daniel hadn't just rashly decided to go persuade the armored regiment.
'Given that those bastards seized the capital the moment I was appointed chief of staff of the 7th Armored Division...'
It was highly likely that the Noble Union, including Belvar, hadn't had enough time to prepare.
In other words, even if they had succeeded in buying off the Defense Commander, they probably hadn't managed to win the loyalty of the subordinate unit commanders.
If they were only obeying for personal gain or their superior's orders, not out of heartfelt loyalty, then he could persuade them as much as he wanted.
'So, therefore...'
It was time to act the part of the 'war hero' with everything he had.
*
Meanwhile, at the command tent of the armored regiment under the Defense Command Guards Division.
"...Daniel Steiner came here?"
At Regimental Commander Telberet's question, his adjutant nodded his head.
"That is correct. He came unarmed, saying he wants to speak with the regimental commander."
"Was he granted permission?"
"Yes. He is currently approaching the command tent with the checkpoint commander escorting him."
"Is he trying to surrender?"
"It's not certain, but it doesn't appear that he's here to surrender."
Having heard his adjutant's words, Telberet stroked his chin once.
'What's the reason? I don't understand the meaning of this. However...'
His courage in coming alone to this place, which was essentially enemy territory, was certainly worthy of recognition.
Telberet, who didn't dislike courageous young men, felt a stirring of interest in the character of Daniel Steiner.
Just as he was thinking he should at least hear what the man had to say, a beep sounded from the radio.
─ Regimental Commander. Daniel Steiner has arrived in front of the command tent.
After hearing the radio transmission, Telberet, just in case, took his pistol with him and stepped out of the tent.
Coming outside, just as he had heard over the radio, Daniel Steiner stood there quietly, impeccably dressed in his black uniform.
He could see soldiers and officers arrayed in a circle around Daniel Steiner.
They had all been resting but had come out to see the spectacle after hearing the news that Daniel Steiner had arrived.
Telberet had considered ordering them to return to their posts but decided to let it be.
He had heard Daniel Steiner was a neural acceleration ability user, and it was better to have more personnel around, in case of any unforeseen incident.
"Colonel Daniel Steiner, acting commander of the 7th Armored Division."
Telberet, who had called out to Daniel, slowly approached.
"You are such a famously talented person that I had wanted to see your face sometime, but I never expected to meet you face-to-face like this. I must express my regret."
Telberet walked closer to Daniel and stopped.
"I bear no personal grudge against you. However, please understand the position of a soldier who must obey the orders of his superiors. By the authority of His Majesty the Emperor's decree, I will arrest you here and now."
Daniel nodded as if he understood.
But that did not mean he intended to be arrested quietly.
"I sufficiently understand your position, Regimental Commander. But on what charge do you intend to arrest me?"
"Isn't your army emptying the front lines and heading for the capital? His Majesty the Emperor and the Defense Commander have judged that you are committing treason."
"Treason. Me, you say? Regimental Commander, do you sincerely judge it to be so?"
Telberet did not answer.
To be precise, he could not answer.
Because he knew nothing about why Daniel, who had been hailed as a hero of the Empire, suddenly emptied the front lines and decided to march back toward the capital.
As Telberet hesitated, Daniel turned to the soldiers around him and shouted.
"I will ask you soldiers as well! In your eyes, do I look like a traitor!"
The soldiers, just like Telberet, could not answer.
Daniel, who had been scanning the faces of those soldiers, opened his mouth after a brief silence.
"...My first battle was at Edelkral Gorge. My mission was to assist the 307th Special Mission Unit and kill Colonel Jeremy, who was retreating. As I waited for the bastard in the gorge, a bone-chilling cold came, but I paid it no mind. Because I thought that for the Empire, this much pain was nothing."
Daniel slowly approached the gathered soldiers.
"The mission was successfully completed, and thanks to that, General Headquarters highly valued my abilities and ordered me dispatched to the Nordia front as an operations staff officer. You soldiers would know! Who it was that planned the Nordia invasion operation and led it to success!"
The soldiers whose eyes met Daniel's lowered their gazes.
Every single face was tinged with guilt.
"After succeeding in occupying Nordia, who was it that negotiated with the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Eldreshia and brought enormous benefits to the Empire? Answer me, you soldiers! Who was that man!"
Daniel's voice echoed in all directions.
While everyone kept their gazes lowered, a few among the soldiers could not hold back and answered Daniel's question.
"...It is Colonel Daniel Steiner, sir."
That small shift shook the soldiers' hearts.
Daniel continued to shout.
"Then, at the time I was dispatched as a diplomatic envoy to Bellanos! Who was it that survived exposure to an enemy torpedo attack and brought gains to the Empire in negotiations with the Prime Minister!"
"It is Colonel Daniel Steiner, sir."
"After that, who was it that turned the enemy's attack against them to achieve victory in the basin on the border of the Kingdom of Belmore, and then captured Crown Prince Blef!"
The soldiers who had raised their heads answered with conviction.
"It is Colonel Daniel Steiner, sir!"
Voices that at first were only a few now became many, merging together and ringing out.
Daniel's sharp gaze turned toward the soldiers.
"I have always devoted myself to the Empire and have taken pride in it! Even when I was recently appointed as chief of staff of the 7th Armored Division, you all know that I saw through the enemy's operation and captured Allied brigade troops for the sake of the Empire!"
His loud and resolute voice held the soldiers' attention.
"Then, why did Daniel Steiner decide to march back toward the capital! You soldiers probably do not know! Because the collaborators in the capital are thoroughly concealing that fact!"
Question marks appeared not only on the soldiers' faces but also on the face of Regimental Commander Telberet.
"Those bastards joined hands with the Intelligence Bureau and tried to annihilate the 7th Armored Division! They aided the enemy by transmitting false information to friendly forces, trying to make them crawl into a deathtrap! You soldiers, can you tolerate this tyranny? Must you stand by and watch the collaborators' rampage!"
This was the first they were hearing of it.
However, distrust of the higher-ups rapidly spread through the hearts of the soldiers and officers.
Because they trusted the words of the war hero standing before them more than the dubious commands that had been issued amid the chaos of the capital since the late emperor's passing.
"The reason I ordered the march back toward the capital is not to defy His Majesty the Emperor's will! On the contrary, it is for His Majesty the Emperor and the Empire, to eradicate the collaborators lurking in the capital!"
In Daniel's eyes as he made his impassioned speech, a flame seemed to flicker for a moment.
"As you all know, I risked my life to save His Majesty the Emperor during the Banquet Hall Terror Incident. Furthermore, it was I, Daniel Steiner, who assisted and supported her in many ways so that the current His Majesty the Emperor could exist."
The Golden Medal of National Order he received after saving Selvia emitted a faint glow in the sunlight.
"Does someone like me look like a man who craves power! Do I appear to be a being who threatens the authority of His Majesty the Emperor! You soldiers know, don't you! The fact that I have no such intentions! Then, why did His Majesty the Emperor order me to surrender."
Daniel raised his hand and pointed in the direction of the capital.
"It is precisely because the one who gave the order is not His Majesty the Emperor! Right now, that capital is being seized by collaborators! It is clear that they are wearing the mask of His Majesty the Emperor and mocking you soldiers!"
The soldiers were silent, but heat was rising in their resolute expressions.
"You soldiers! I will ask once more! In your eyes, am I a traitor!"
No sooner had he spoken than the soldiers answered in unison.
─ No, you are not, sir!
Having instantly captivated the soldiers, Daniel let out a low breath.
Daniel, catching his breath which had become ragged from raising his voice, turned to look at Telberet.
Telberet, who had been listening to Daniel's speech in a daze, let out an empty sigh.
Daniel approached Telberet and spoke.
"Regimental Commander. Do you still see me as committing treason?"
Even if he succeeded in turning the soldiers' hearts, things would get complicated if he failed to persuade the commanding officer.
"If you still see me as committing treason..."
Noticing that Telberet was conflicted, Daniel quietly continued.
"...then finish me with that hand."
His tone full of conviction pressed down on Telberet.
Feeling his body stiffen as if he had encountered a wolf in snowy mountains, Telberet slowly raised his hand.
His hand holding the pistol went up slowly, as if caught in a net.
However, he did not aim the muzzle at Daniel.
Telberet, clicking his tongue, let out a low laugh.
"Do you not already know what answer you'll hear?"
Telberet threw the pistol to the ground and said.
"I don't have a hobby of shooting patriots."