Chief of Staff? I Understand Your Intention
Chief of Staff? I Understand Your Intention
Colonel Sampe, who had been leading the Allied provisional division, raised the white flag after much deliberation.
It was an unavoidable choice.
With communications to headquarters severed and unable to push back Daniel Steiner's brigade while Imperial Magitek Mobile Army units advanced, there was no chance of victory.
Even worse, Daniel Steiner had threatened to kill every last commander if they did not surrender, so for Sampe it was as if he were trapped with no way out.
After confirming the ceasefire, Daniel moved his troops in, confiscated all the weapons of the Allied soldiers, and assembled them in one place.
In accordance with the conventions, Daniel granted the surrendered Allied troops their rights as prisoners of war and designated several additional temporary holding facilities in Penbark.
Only after ordering the Allied prisoners transported there was Daniel able to rest.
Though his rest amounted to little more than drinking coffee Lucy had brewed for him while watching the Allied troops board military transport trucks.
"Brigadier General. Congratulations on your victory. I think we can consider Penbark completely captured now."
Daniel nodded at Lucy's words.
"It was a difficult journey. I thought it might end quickly, but things kept getting tangled up."
"I think it's amazing. Because you unraveled it skillfully."
"It was just luck."
At Daniel's self-deprecating remark, Lucy gave a faint smile.
Because she knew this was not something that could be achieved simply by luck.
Still, she decided not to mention that fact.
Because she knew Daniel didn't want that.
Daniel, enjoying the moment of leisure in silence, quietly raised his cup.
The warm aroma of coffee tickled his nose.
Gazing down at the coffee, Daniel suddenly spoke up.
"By the way, where has Frien gone? I heard she was quite active on the battlefield."
"If it's Lieutenant Frien, I believe she is currently putting effort into treating the wounded."
"Is that so. Well, there must be many wounded besides the 3rd Company. When you see her, tell her I'm very grateful."
So saying, Daniel lifted the cup and took a sip of coffee.
Lucy surreptitiously studied Daniel's profile.
The sight of his dark circles, which seemed to have deepened from sleep deprivation, worried her.
It was just as she was thinking that he ought to rest even a little.
"But, you know."
Daniel suddenly chuckled.
"I just thought of it, but that doll back then—did you make it yourself? I doubt the servants at the mansion made it for you."
A doll? What doll? Unable to understand, Lucy tilted her head, and Daniel gave a mischievous smile.
"On the last day in that world of your memories, I witnessed our young lady clutching a doll that looked just like me to her chest."
Ah. Only then did Lucy understand what Daniel was talking about, and her eyes grew wide.
She had definitely hidden it right when Daniel burst through the door, but it seemed she had been caught.
Seeing the flustered Lucy unable to say a word, Daniel continued, holding back laughter.
"To think our young lady thought of me that much—I'm deeply moved. But if it was such a well-made doll, wouldn't it have been fine to brag about it to me?"
There was no way it would have been fine.
Because if he found out that every night before sleeping, she had clung to the 'Daniel Steiner doll' and whined, she would not have been able to show her face.
"It was merely..."
Blushing and fidgeting, Lucy said in a tiny, sinking voice.
"It was only a childhood folly."
"Is that so?"
Daniel nodded as if he understood, which only doubled the humiliation.
Glancing at Lucy, Daniel could not hold back and burst out laughing.
"I apologize. I didn't know my adjutant would be this embarrassed. Everyone has a couple of embarrassing secrets at that age, so don't worry. I'm not much different."
"...Are you saying you also have an embarrassing past, Brigadier General?"
"Of course."
Daniel finished the remaining coffee and recalled the past.
"When I was a child, I thought that if I swallowed a fruit seed, it would grow inside my body. So the day I accidentally swallowed a grape seed, I burst into tears all day. Do you know what I said to the abbot back then?"
As Lucy blinked as if she didn't know, Daniel pretended to check his surroundings and quietly whispered.
"I said this: 'Father Abbot! By tomorrow I'll turn into a grape! Please save me!'"
Hearing that, Lucy couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Because no matter how young he had been, it didn't match Daniel's usual image at all.
Gathering her laughter, Lucy looked at Daniel as if it was surprising.
"So the Brigadier General also had a time of innocent thoughts."
"Childhood is the only time when innocent thoughts are not scolded. More importantly, now that we know each other's childhood secrets, how about we keep our mouths tightly shut? It would be awkward if others found out."
At the playful tone, Lucy nodded.
"Fine. I'll keep it to myself."
Satisfied with the answer, Daniel chuckled quietly and looked straight ahead.
Soldiers were loading prisoners onto trucks.
Lucy's eyes half-opened as she watched the scene quietly.
"The war will end someday, won't it?"
"Of course."
It was an immediate reply.
"When that day comes..."
After a brief pause, Daniel murmured softly.
"I'll have to publish on the front page of the newspaper that your doll-making skills are outstanding."
Lucy's face, which had been off guard, instantly flared red.
"...Brigadier General! Didn't you just say it was a secret!"
When Lucy snapped at him as if telling him to stop, Daniel burst out laughing.
Really, she was an adjutant who was fun to tease.
*
Meanwhile, the Grand Conference Hall of the Imperial Palace.
In the place where all the key figures of the Empire had gathered, the ministers reported to Selvia, who was seated at the head of the table, one after another.
After many discussions came and went, finally the Chief of the General Staff, Arman, made her report.
At first Arman went on about the situation on the front lines, then ended by conveying the fact that Daniel Steiner had completely captured Penbark.
Naturally she explained the process in detail, and on the faces of the ministers who had been quietly listening, various emotions bloomed.
Among them, the first to raise a question was the Minister of State Propaganda, Schiller.
"Wait. So, to summarize what the Chief of the General Staff said, you're saying that an enemy division-sized force used Ethelium for an assault on Penbark? That Brigadier General Daniel Steiner was isolated at that time? And that he broke through the enemy's encirclement and escaped all alone?"
Having organized his thoughts, Schiller continued in a daze.
"After that, Brigadier General Daniel joined up with the friendly brigade that had retreated first, moved his forces north, and lured the enemy across the bridge to the west, is that correct?"
"That's right. The General Staff Headquarters assisted Brigadier General Daniel Steiner's plan."
"Yes. According to your words, Brigadier General Daniel Steiner succeeded in deceiving the enemy like that, then at the opportune moment detonated the floodgates, submerging the enemy armored battalion and completely cutting off their route of retreat."
Schiller swallowed dryly and looked at the Chief of the General Staff.
"Having isolated the majority of the enemy forces, Brigadier General Daniel advanced on Penbark and retook the city. In that process he accomplished the remarkable feat of forcing the enemy command to retreat. Naturally, the Allied provisional division ended up with its communications to its command severed."
"That is correct."
"And... during the period of reoccupying the city, you say he found evidence that the Allied Nations had been carrying out biological experiments? The very shame of the Allied Nations that our State Propaganda Department and Intelligence Bureau had been so desperately searching for?"
Arman nodded again as if it was true.
"That's right. Afterwards, Brigadier General Daniel Steiner even subdued the enemy provisional division and succeeded in completely capturing Penbark."
"No. This is really..."
Schiller, who had been gauging Empress Selvia's reaction, lowered his voice.
"Is this really true? I want to believe it, but I just can't bring myself to believe it. How can one person accumulate achievements like this?"
As if agreeing with Schiller's words, the ministers began to murmur among themselves.
Selvia, who had been quietly watching the scene, let out a low sigh.
"Are you gentlemen trying to tell me that the Chief of the General Staff is lying to me right now?"
When Selvia spoke, the ministers killed their voices and bowed their heads.
Selvia looked around at the ministers and narrowed her eyes.
"Now is a time when the Empire must be more united than ever. So, just because it's hard to believe, should we disparage the achievements of a general who is active on the front lines? Since the facts have been confirmed, I would like you to set aside your doubts."
So saying, Selvia raised her hand lightly.
"We'll stop here for today. You may all withdraw."
At Selvia's order to leave, the ministers bowed deeply and stood up one by one.
As everyone began to exit the Grand Conference Hall, the Chief of the General Staff Arman also organized the documents she had brought.
Just as she was about to stand up, Selvia addressed her.
"Chief of the General Staff."
Wondering what it was, Arman stopped halfway and sat back down.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Selvia only opened her mouth after confirming that all the ministers had left.
"I understood."
"...What do you mean?"
"The current Empire needs someone who can earn the support of the people and the military. Because only by uniting the Empire as one can our chances of victory in this war increase even a little. Originally, that role should be mine, but because of Duke Belvar's rebellion, I must have lost all credibility."
As if it couldn't be helped, Selvia continued.
"Therefore, I also judge that it is right to lend strength to Brigadier General Daniel Steiner. I will continue to cooperate, so there's no need to worry."
She was saying that even if Arman exaggerated Daniel Steiner's accomplishments, she would pretend to believe it in front of the other ministers.
Arman, who understood what that meant, let out a low laugh.
"Your Majesty. It is my mission to lead the Empire to victory, but I have no intention of telling falsehoods to Your Majesty."
"Huh? Then could it be..."
"Yes. The things Brigadier General Daniel Steiner accomplished are facts that contain not a single speck of falsehood."
Selvia, who had been blinking blankly, asked again.
"...Really?"
Though she hadn't let it show in front of the ministers, Selvia had also found it hard to believe.