The Power of a God
The Power of a God
Meanwhile, in the indoor garden of the Imperial Palace.
"Good. You're listening well now."
Sunlight filtering through the glass dome ceiling gently wrapped the entire garden.
In the garden, where flowers in full bloom were falling one by one and fresh green leaves were taking their place, Daniel was spending a pleasant time with the Doberman that had followed him.
Daniel lightly stroked the Doberman, who was panting with its belly exposed.
"Who did you take after to be this pretty? Hmm? Just who did you take after, you little rascal."
Selvia, seated at a nearby table, was quietly watching Daniel.
'It was I who gave permission, and I knew Daniel likes dogs, but.......'
Watching Daniel play with the dog without tiring stirred a strange jealousy within her.
'When he's never once shown me any open displays of affection.......'
Selvia knew.
The fact that Daniel Steiner liked her.
After all, if he didn't like her, why would he save her multiple times over and even say, 'For you, I would lay down everything I have'?
So when she had called Daniel to the indoor garden today, she had even fretted to the point of indecency.
She had wondered what she should do if Daniel were to confess or make some bold physical advance.
However, Selvia's anxious anticipation vanished the moment they met face to face.
Because upon entering the indoor garden and offering a courteous greeting, Daniel had spotted the Doberman and immediately blurted out, 'Would it be alright if I played with it for a bit?'
She had felt a bit awkward refusing, so she had given her permission, and he had already been petting the Doberman for 10 minutes.
'And looking terribly happy about it too.......'
It was the first time she had seen Daniel, who always maintained his composure, smile so happily.
Selvia, who had been sulkily shifting her gaze between Daniel and the Doberman, found herself thinking involuntarily.
That the affection Daniel was pouring onto the Doberman should be coming to me.
Having unconsciously become jealous of the Doberman, Selvia suddenly flushed red and let out a dry cough.
'......What a foolish thought.'
It was simply embarrassing even to herself.
Just as Selvia, having failed to control her emotions, was flustered, Daniel turned his head.
"Your Majesty. If you happen to have any spare treats......."
Daniel stopped mid-sentence and closed his mouth.
Because Selvia, having met his eyes, hastily averted her gaze and began to fidget.
Like someone who had been caught indulging in an impudent fantasy.
"......Your Majesty?"
Selvia, who had picked up a teacup filled with black tea to hide her burning face, spoke in a shrinking voice.
"There are no treats. I was told I shouldn't give them too often."
"Is that so. But are you feeling all right? A rosy hue is spreading across your face—"
"More importantly!"
Having cut off Daniel with a small shout, Selvia calmed her heart as much as possible and continued speaking.
"Is there any progress regarding the arrest of the collaborators lurking in the capital?"
To hide her embarrassment, changing the subject was for the best.
Though it was a bit abrupt, Daniel found it natural for Selvia to be curious and nodded.
"It is progressing smoothly. Though Duke Belvar is refusing to talk, there are always multiple avenues of approach. I intend to find and judge the remnants of the Noble Union by any means necessary."
"I am relieved to hear you say that. Then, what do you intend to do after that?"
The post of Chief of Public Security that Daniel Steiner had seized was a temporary one.
Once all the collaborators lurking in the capital were arrested, Daniel would return to being a soldier who had to receive orders from his superiors.
In preparation for that time, Selvia was subtly asking Daniel if there was a specific post he wanted.
Having understood Selvia's intention, Daniel deliberated for a moment.
'Securing a key post in the capital would be the most ideal, but.......'
If he did that, there was a possibility that rumors of Daniel Steiner standing above the Emperor would spread.
Even if he controlled the press, it was clear that failing to win public favor would lead to a bad outcome later.
For now, the citizens of the capital were wildly enthusiastic about the name Daniel Steiner, but if he were to wield power as he pleased, people would certainly start looking at him with eyes that said, 'Isn't that guy a bit off?'
The moment they even reclassed into a Resistance, things would become uncontrollable.
Therefore, telling Selvia to give him an important post was, in effect, no different from making an unforced error.
Thinking it was best to take a step back here, Daniel rose from his seat and placed his hand over his heart.
"Your Majesty. Please withdraw your words. I am merely a soldier. A soldier is nothing but a sword for Your Majesty the Emperor to swing and a shield to protect the people. A tool must not possess its own thoughts."
The best outcome was for his superiors to make their own judgment without Daniel's intervention, resulting in him being assigned to a rear-echelon post.
That way, Daniel Steiner would be remembered not as someone who had marched on the capital to seize the Empire, but as a soldier who had made an unavoidable choice to arrest collaborators.
In short, Daniel had made the choice closest to survival.
However, from Selvia's perspective, it looked as if Daniel was considering only her until the very end.
'He's asking me to keep power from concentrating on him. So that my authority can be revived.'
How could there be such a selfless person?
Gazing at Daniel with affectionate eyes, Selvia nodded.
She had deliberated a little, but she decided that if it were this man, she could indeed trust him.
"Colonel Daniel Steiner. I understand your heart well. I shall convey your words to the General Staff Headquarters properly. Furthermore......."
Selvia, who had paused for a moment, spoke.
"I have become certain that Colonel Daniel may be allowed access to top-secret information."
"Top-secret? No way......."
"Yes. I did not summon Colonel Daniel to this place merely to exchange private conversation."
When Selvia clapped lightly, the garden door opened and an elderly man walked in.
The man, who had a somewhat gaunt appearance, was a figure Daniel had seen before.
He was Rembador, the Imperial engineer who had been repatriated during the prisoner exchange with the Kingdom of Belmore.
Though they hadn't spoken more than a few times back then, Daniel remembered that peculiar appearance.
"Your Majesty the Emperor. And Lord Colonel Daniel."
Rembador, who had approached closely, politely bowed his head to greet both of them.
When Selvia and Daniel accepted his greeting, Rembador offered a faint smile.
"To have Your Majesty the Emperor, who appointed me as an engineer, and Lord Colonel Daniel, who allowed me to set foot on Imperial soil once more, gathered in one place—it is truly deeply moving. In giving me a new life, Your Majesty the Emperor and Lord Colonel Daniel are no different from parents to me."
Being called a parent by someone who looked at least three times his age was hardly a pleasant feeling.
On the other hand, Selvia smiled to herself.
Being grouped together with Daniel and being called parents wasn't as bad as she had thought.
Rembador looked at Selvia and confirmed once more.
"Your Majesty. I ask out of an abundance of caution. Is it truly acceptable to inform Colonel Daniel of a top-secret matter?"
"Of course. Colonel Daniel is not only a trustworthy person but also an absolutely essential talent for us. There is no need to hesitate."
"Understood. In that case, I shall inform him."
Just as Daniel was wondering what on earth he was about to be told, Rembador composed his voice.
"First...... let me state upfront that this project is still in its very early stages. It will take years of research before it can be used on the battlefield. Therefore, for now, I would simply like you to be aware that such a project exists."
"What kind of project are you speaking of?"
"The development of a new weapon capable of changing the entire landscape of the battlefield. An object possessing destructive power incomparable to conventional bombs. To briefly explain the principle......."
Rembador, who had been choosing his words for a moment, spoke with a grave expression.
"You will be aware that the Empire demonstrated the nuclear fission of uranium through experimentation a few years ago. We discovered that shooting a neutron at uranium causes the atom to split in two, generating immense energy. Furthermore, this reaction can be triggered in a chain."
Daniel's eyes went wide.
Because he knew exactly what new weapon Rembador was trying to create.
"Theoretically, the moment this material is gathered beyond critical mass, a colossal explosion occurs."
Rembador raised his hand and extended his index finger.
"The firepower is at minimum ten thousand times that of a conventional bomb. The blast radius reaches up to 10 km. It is on a scale where a division-sized army or a small city would vanish in an instant."
Rembador slowly lowered his hand.
"Lord Colonel Daniel. This is no foolish joke. Though a few elements currently remain difficult hurdles, it is a weapon with sufficient feasibility."
He knew.
Because it was a weapon that had historically been realized.
It was also a weapon that, if successfully developed, could overturn the course of the war in an instant.
"Should our scientists and engineers succeed in developing this new weapon in the near future......."
Within the settled silence, Rembador's eyes narrowed sharply.
"The Empire will be able to wield the power of God."