Faith (Revised at 5:05 PM)
Faith (Revised at 5:05 PM)
As soon as Daniel's operational orders were issued, the brigade moved swiftly.
After contacting General Staff Headquarters to explain the operation and obtain support authorization, they conducted night movements based on information obtained from interrogating defense force prisoners (reconnaissance routes, guard posts, observation networks, etc.).
Since they also knew the enemy's aerial reconnaissance timings and routes, Daniel's brigade was able to hide in the forest and move safely for about ten days.
When morning broke, Daniel ordered the unit to halt and set up camouflage nets over the vehicles and tanks, just as on other days.
Though cumbersome, this was the most effective method to avoid revealing their position to the enemy.
"Left flank! I said left flank!"
"Bring grass or branches to cover the nets! Quickly!"
"Triple the security perimeter! 3rd Company takes the outer line this time!"
Everyone was shouting, but the volume stayed low.
They were exercising maximum restraint, worried their voices might leak outside the unit.
Listening to their voices, Daniel opened the hatch of the armored vehicle and dismounted.
As he watched the soldiers bustling about, Daniel heard footsteps approaching from behind.
When he turned around, it was the intelligence staff officer Pelf and the medical officer Frien.
Seeing Pelf and Frien bow their heads, Daniel spoke.
"What is it?"
As both raised their heads, Pelf spoke first.
"Brigade Commander. According to radio communications, Allied forces are assembling at the enemy bridgehead. As you said, Count Kaledra appears to be intent on attacking the fake friendly forces beyond the bridge."
It was a report the intelligence staff officer Pelf had received under the communications restrictions (10 minutes per day) due to concerns about enemy interception.
Hearing that, Daniel nodded but did not seem particularly pleased.
'It's an obvious move. Count Kaledra would want to eliminate me by any means.'
Count Kaledra was not currently trying to eliminate Daniel Steiner simply because he had inflicted massive damage on friendly forces.
It was because he knew the 'secret' of the research institute and wanted to erase him from this world as quickly as possible.
If Daniel Steiner returned to the Imperial Capital and publicized what he had seen at the Penbark Research Institute, it would be the Allied Nations that found themselves in a difficult position.
'So he must have thought it was a golden opportunity when he heard I was preparing a counterattack.'
Impatience often clouds judgment.
Not wanting to expose his shameful secrets, Kaledra became so fixated on the idea that 'Daniel Steiner must be eliminated' that he even assembled forces meant for city defense at the bridge.
This was because Count Kaledra believed the fake unit's communication that 'once reinforcements from Headquarters arrive, we will launch a general offensive.'
On top of that, a few days ago, General Staff Headquarters had even gone a step further and scattered newspapers bearing the headline 'Daniel Steiner Has Not Abandoned Penbark!' throughout the Imperial Capital.
'It must have been the Chief of the General Staff's order. It can be seen as assistance given to deceive Count Kaledra. I had only resented being sent to Penbark...'
Seeing that they had immediately approved the support request and were providing help in various ways, he felt a vague sense of gratitude without quite realizing it.
'Of course...'
If one were to trace the chain of cause and effect, the root of all problems was indeed the Chief of the General Staff.
Feeling unsettled, Daniel, who had been mulling over the Chief of the General Staff, set aside his idle thoughts and spoke.
"Attention must have naturally drifted away from the water gate. Now is the opportune moment. Send infiltration troops to the water gate and have them stand by."
"Understood. I will select swift personnel and order them to carry out the operation."
Pelf bowed his head deeply, turned around, and walked away.
As he watched Pelf leave, Frien approached a little closer.
"Brigadier General, sir."
Frien, who had spoken in a clear voice, was holding a thermos in her hand.
When Daniel looked at her, Frien smiled faintly, unscrewed the thermos lid, and poured coffee into it.
"Here."
Having poured the coffee, Frien handed the lid to Daniel.
"Have a sip."
Receiving the lid, Daniel looked slightly surprised.
"This is... not chicory coffee. It doesn't taste like a commercial product, either. Did you bring ground coffee beans and brew it yourself?"
"Yes. I heard you like coffee, Brigadier General."
During wartime, such high-quality coffee was a rarity.
Savoring the aroma, Daniel took a sip of coffee and let out a quiet breath.
"It tastes even better after a long while. Thank you."
"If you're grateful, I'd like you to buy me a meal sometime. Not at the staff headquarters cafeteria, but at a nice restaurant or something."
"Sure. That shouldn't be a problem. I'll treat you to that mint ice cream you like as well."
"That sounds great! Together with Captain Lucy..."
Frien's voice trailed off after mentioning Lucy's name.
In the awkward atmosphere, Frien averted her gaze and spoke.
"She's doing well in Penbark, right? I hope nothing's happened..."
"As you said, nothing will have happened."
Daniel gazed in the direction where Penbark lay.
"Because Lucy is a strong woman."
*
Rain was falling over Penbark.
The first to notice it was Lucy Emilia.
Because ever since being confined to the estate, she had been holed up in her room, always staring out the window.
"......"
The falling raindrops, slanted by the wind, struck the window.
The raindrops touching the window began to coalesce one by one and trickled downward.
Lucy, who had been staring vacantly at that sight for an hour, suddenly twitched her hand.
Because the voices of soldiers drifted in from beyond the door.
─ Is it shift change already? I was dying of boredom.
─ You've worked hard. Go have a smoke.
─ I guess I should. By the way, did you guys hear that news?
─ What news?
─ That the Count even assembled the city defense forces at the bridge.
Lucy's half-closed eyes slowly opened.
─ Ah, I heard. That's why the army is currently moving out of the city.
─ Being assigned to estate security is fortunate, if you can call it that.
─ Right. If we weren't lucky enough to be stationed here, we'd be heading to the bridge by now too.
─ But why are they suddenly assembling the army at the bridge, anyway?
─ I don't know. Seems like he intends to deal with Daniel Steiner while he has the chance.
Startled, Lucy drew in a sharp breath.
The soldiers, thinking Lucy was asleep, continued to blabber on.
─ That Daniel Steiner? How?
─ I don't know the details either, but I heard the intelligence department intercepted communications going to and from Daniel Steiner's unit.
─ Then they've pinpointed his location too?
─ If they did, isn't that why they're assembling the army now?
─ That's welcome news to hear. Is the famed Daniel Steiner finally going to die at the Count's hand?
At the sound of Daniel Steiner dying, Lucy bit her lip tightly.
However, her agitation did not last long.
As Lucy took a deep breath, the maid Namelias spoke up nearby.
"My lady."
Worry was evident on Namelias's face reflected in the window.
"Are you alright? I mean..."
According to rumors overheard, Lucy Emilia had spared Daniel Steiner's life.
Not many knew of it, but Namelias, who had picked up various stories while working at the estate, was somewhat aware of the situation.
Including who had gifted Lucy the necklace hanging around her neck.
That was why she was wary of the voices heard beyond the door.
For fear that Lucy might hear those words and have bad thoughts.
However, contrary to Namelias's expectations, Lucy had regained a calm demeanor.
"I'm fine."
The rain grew slightly heavier.
Looking out the window, Namelias could see the army moving in the distance.
When a quiet silence settled amid the sound of rain, Lucy half-opened her eyes.
'It would be a lie to say I'm not anxious...'
But not to the point where she would outwardly express it.
The maid Namelias approached Lucy's side.
As she did, she followed Lucy's gaze for a moment.
She wondered what she was looking at so intently, but it didn't seem like she was looking at anything in particular.
She was merely staring vacantly at the raindrops streaming down the window, not the scenery.
'It's already been over ten days since I began attending Lady Lucy...'
Lucy did not order or demand anything of Namelias.
On the contrary, she showed consideration for her comfort, yielded food, and quietly listened to the stories Namelias chattered about, one-sided as they were.
To Namelias, Lucy was a good person.
So much so that there was no reason for her to be treated like a prisoner in the estate.
Namelias, who had been rooting for Lucy in her heart, carefully spoke.
"...I hope you'll be alright. I'm sure nothing will happen?"
Though the subject was left unspoken, Lucy knew exactly whom she meant.
After a moment of silence, Lucy touched the amber stone necklace around her neck and answered.
"Yeah."
A faint smile bloomed at the corner of Lucy's lips as she thought of Daniel.
"Because he is a strong person."
Just as Daniel believed in Lucy, Lucy also believed in Daniel.