Trust Only Numerias!
Trust Only Numerias!
After finishing the cleanup of the battlefield, Daniel rested for a day and then invited Brigadier General Heinrich Schmidt to the mansion's reception room.
Heinrich gladly accepted and went straight to the reception room, stating there was no need to delay.
Thanks to that, Daniel now sat on the sofa in the reception room, facing Heinrich.
The scars etched across the lined face were striking as ever.
Feeling a vague pressure, Daniel steadied his voice.
"Brigadier General Heinrich, sir. It relieves me to see you remain in such robust health after all this time."
Heinrich's lips, which had been set in a serious line, twitched.
As if pleased by Daniel's words, Heinrich soon burst into laughter.
"How could I not be robust when I am leading the Empire's elite forces! More importantly, no matter how much I look at it, I still cannot get used to the stars pinned to your rank insignia. I distinctly recall you were a fledgling second lieutenant when we first met."
Daniel also remembered speaking with Heinrich as a second lieutenant the previous spring.
Suddenly aware of just how much time had passed, Daniel offered an awkward smile.
"The inability to get used to it is mutual. Though I am told I have accrued several merits, I certainly did not expect to rise to the rank of brigadier general so swiftly."
"Certainly, it is an unprecedented event. Even so, I consider your rank to be fitting. The foundational ideology of the Empire is strict reward and punishment, and the military is starved for competent talent, after all."
Heinrich, a hint of laughter still in his voice, pulled a pack of cigarettes from his coat.
"In truth, we merely lent our strength in this battle as well; did you not devise every plan alone? Though it was a bit of a letdown that the enemy surrendered before I could even properly warm up......."
As Heinrich took out a cigarette and placed it in his mouth, the adjutant standing behind him approached and bowed.
The adjutant drew a lighter, lit the cigarette, and then stepped back.
Heinrich, exhaling a stream of smoke through his lips, shrugged his shoulders.
"In principle, winning without fighting is the best method, so I suppose it should be regarded as exceptional. At any rate, summoning me here suggests you have urgent matters to discuss. Is that not so?"
As expected, he was perceptive.
Thinking there was no need to hide it, Daniel nodded.
"Yes. I wish to discuss the role of occupation zone commander to administer military governance in Penbark."
"What is your opinion?"
"In principle, it would be correct to follow the opinion of General Headquarters, but I personally believe Brigadier General Heinrich, sir, is suited for the role of occupation zone commander."
One of Heinrich's eyebrows twitched.
'He's planning to shove the occupation commander post onto me.'
Given that he commanded the Magitek Armored Army, Heinrich was clearly one of the Empire's warmongers.
For Heinrich, who considered fighting on the battlefield the highest honor, the position of occupation zone commander was no different from a sinecure.
Even if it was only temporary, being unable to leave Penbark was a point of dissatisfaction.
"......Why do you think I am suitable?"
Heinrich applied pressure with a stiff expression, but Daniel answered calmly.
"Though the Imperial Army has occupied it, Penbark remains a chaotic region. What is needed at such a time is strong military governance. No opportunity must be given to resistance forces or remnants."
"Hmm."
"In that respect, the general's very presence possesses powerful deterrence in itself. The citizens of the Allied Nations would not dare to rise in rebellion against the Empire's Magitek Armored Army."
It was not a false statement.
However, Heinrich, who did not wish to muck about atop stacks of paperwork and administrative orders, still had a reluctant air.
Daniel, observing Heinrich's expression, quietly continued speaking.
"Brigadier General Heinrich, sir. If it were up to me, I would perform the role of occupation zone commander myself, but the situation is not favorable. I must return to the Imperial Capital as soon as possible, even an hour sooner, for I must report to His Majesty the Emperor concerning the human experiments that took place in Penbark."
One pro-tip.
If persuasion seems difficult, invoke His Majesty the Emperor.
Just as Daniel had expected, Heinrich let out a sigh as if he had no other choice.
"As I sensed long ago, it seems I am no match for you with words. Very well. I shall submit my opinion to the higher-ups that it is best I take on the role of occupation zone commander."
Daniel chuckled softly.
"Thank you for your consideration. Seeing as the matter is well concluded, I shall take my leave now. There are still tasks that must be handled before returning to the Imperial Capital, you see."
Having said that, Daniel rose from his seat and bowed his head politely toward Heinrich.
When Heinrich gave a nod of understanding, Daniel turned and walked out.
Heinrich, who watched Daniel exit the reception room, let out a hollow laugh.
'It doesn't leave a bad taste, but for some reason.......'
He couldn't shake the feeling that he had just been played by Daniel's smooth talking.
*
Upon arriving at the commander's office prepared in the mansion, Daniel inwardly cheered.
'Excellent! Nicely shoved it off!'
For Daniel, who wanted to return to the Imperial Capital quickly rather than racking his brain over stabilizing the city, it was nothing short of a brilliant achievement.
'Brigadier General Heinrich, sir. Please do not resent me too much. It is merely repayment for what I suffered during the Nordia matter.'
With that thought, Daniel sat down at his office desk. Once his excitement had settled, he began recalling the tasks he needed to handle next.
Tok-tok─
When he looked up at the sound of a knock, a voice came from beyond the door.
"Brigade Commander, sir. This is your adjutant, Lucy Emilia. May I come in?"
A question mark immediately appeared above Daniel's head.
'I clearly told her to rest fully today.......'
He had ordered her to take the day off, considering her hard work, but seeing her come to work as usual was baffling.
Unable to turn her away at the door, Daniel granted her permission to enter.
Then the door opened, and Lucy entered.
Unlike usual, Lucy was dressed in civilian clothes, and perhaps because she wore a halter-neck blouse, her shoulders were entirely exposed.
Needless to say, this outfit was not something Lucy had purchased.
It was clothing that Namelias had lent her, saying she would help Lucy seduce Brigadier General Daniel, sir.
Daniel, who hadn't seen Lucy in civilian clothes for a long time, opened his mouth in a dazed manner.
"......Civilian clothes?"
"Since it is a rare day of leave."
Does this woman not know what leave is?
"Adjutant? Leave means liberation from work, by definition."
"I am not unaware."
"Then why did you insist on coming to work?"
"I merely stopped by on my way. I remembered a task that needs to be handled quickly......."
Daniel did not know how to respond to Lucy's excuse.
No matter how urgent the task, it did not seem normal to come to work during leave.
Daniel, who had been racking his brain to understand Lucy, arrived at a quiet realization.
'Is this what they call a workaholic?'
Wrong.
Lucy simply wanted to be with Daniel while dressed in civilian clothes.
Daniel, who had no way of knowing that, nodded, though somewhat puzzled.
"If you wish it, I shall not stop you. Sit down and finish your work before you go."
"Thank you for your consideration."
Lucy, answering naturally, sat at her own desk and took out documents from the drawer.
For a while, pretending to look over the documents, Lucy recalled Namelias's advice.
─ My lady! Men, as creatures, are prone to having their hearts flutter at a woman's careless and defenseless exposure! Therefore, I think it would be good for you to try tying your hair up in front of Brigadier General Daniel, sir!
She wasn't quite sure how tying her hair up was supposed to be a charm point, but she wanted to attempt it at least once.
The problem was that she had to catch Daniel's attention while tying her hair.
How could she make Daniel look at her?
Lucy, who had been shooting furtive glances for no reason, suddenly let out a dry cough.
"Perhaps because it is midsummer, it feels terribly hot."
"Indeed. I must issue an order to wear field caps in peacetime as a heat countermeasure."
Contrary to Lucy's expectations, Daniel answered without lifting his gaze from the documents.
After hemming and hawing, Lucy mustered her courage and murmured.
"Ahh. It's so muggy. It's so hot, I think I need to tie up my hair......."
Thanks to that, Daniel looked up at Lucy.
It wasn't because he reacted to the act of tying hair.
It was because Lucy's voice had sounded as unnatural as if she were reading from a textbook.
Lucy, unaware of that, thought this was her chance and placed the hair tie she had brought with her in her mouth.
Then she raised both hands and gathered her hair at the back into one.
Thanks to that posture, her chest pushed forward, emphasizing her bust.
Also, since her armpits were exposed, Lucy felt a sense of embarrassment without even realizing it.
She wanted to lower her hands immediately, but according to Namelias's words, this was the method to seduce a man, so she desperately endured it.
Daniel, who had been staring blankly at Lucy in that state, thought to himself.
'Why is it taking her so long to tie up her hair?'
Unable to fathom the reason, Daniel suddenly checked the time and rose from his seat.
It was because the time for a meeting with the staff officers was approaching.
"Adjutant. I have business to attend to and will be heading to the command post, so once you are finished, return and rest."
"Mmph...."
A strange sound escaped her.
Spitting the hair tie out of her mouth, Lucy nodded, her face flushed.
"......Understood."
Thinking it hadn't worked on Daniel, she felt a sense of shame well up inside her over nothing.
Daniel, seeing Lucy unable to lift her gaze, let out a low laugh.
After organizing the documents, Daniel looked back at Lucy before leaving the office.
"It is slightly unconventional, but it suits you incredibly well."
Lucy, startled, raised her head to see Daniel smiling faintly.
"The blouse you wore here."
Having said that, Daniel exited the office.
Lucy, left alone to ponder Daniel's words, felt her face heating up.
After biting her lip for no reason and mulling it over, Lucy squeezed her eyes shut.
'I was clearly trying to seduce Daniel.......'
Rather, it was Lucy herself who had been seduced.
'Somehow.......'
It seemed that after today, she would only come to like Daniel even more.