Let's Put on a Play
Let's Put on a Play
As Frien's sobbing echoed sorrowfully, Daniel's eyes narrowed with a cold gleam.
'This was nothing short of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.'
Out of hundreds of cycles, this was the first time Daniel had ever been able to read Frien's memories.
'So there won't be a second chance. To prevent Frien from being sent back to the past, I have to make this cycle a success, not a failure.'
Daniel kept racking his brain while holding Frien in his arms.
He was thinking about who was responsible for shoving Frien into the hell of infinite regression.
'Doll technique of such an advanced degree that no one could imitate it, combined with future sight. As far as I know, the only person capable of both is...'
Seraile, who called herself an Archmage in the original work.
Nationality unknown.
Age unknown.
Gender unknown.
She wasn't a character players could control and existed only as a background figure in the lore, so most users were curious about her true identity.
The game company had hinted she was connected to Lucy, so everyone was merely speculating that she'd eventually be released as a new character.
'However...'
According to the information the game company had disclosed, Seraile was only described as being well-versed in magic — there had been no mention whatsoever of her wielding doll techniques or possessing future sight.
So even Daniel, who knew the original story, had been unable to prepare for it in advance.
On top of that, the dolls were so exquisitely crafted that they were indistinguishable from real people.
Even Frien, who had repeated the past over and over, only caught on to the doll's true nature upon reaching the 91st cycle.
'Looking at it this way, it seems like we have no chance of winning...'
But Daniel had found a breakthrough within Frien's memories.
Among the countless cycles, there had occasionally been moments where Seraile's doll failed to kill Daniel or made a mistake.
If Seraile's future sight worked on Daniel too, such things would never have happened.
'I don't know the exact reason, but Seraile cannot read my future.'
It was too early to be certain, but betting on that possibility offered the highest probability.
"Frien."
If that was the case, now was the time to act.
"Listen carefully. The soldiers who heard the gunfire will come swarming here soon."
He wanted to comfort Frien more, but there was no time for that right now.
"When that happens, we have to put on a play. Even if it's only to deceive the enemy."
At the word "play," Frien's crying gradually subsided.
Eventually the crying turned into sniffles.
By the time even the sniffles had diminished, Frien looked up at Daniel with tear-streaked eyes.
"...A play?"
"It's simple."
Daniel drew his revolver from its holster and held it out.
"When the soldiers arrive, shoot me. Just enough to avoid a fatal wound."
Frien's eyes trembled once.
Because she couldn't understand.
"...Shoot Major General Daniel?"
"It's to let the enemy know our relationship has fractured. Also, if you're detained for shooting the division commander, the enemy will see it as a golden opportunity. After all, the Republic knows about the miracle you pulled off during the reconnaissance in force."
She understood Daniel's reasoning.
But whether things really had to go this far was still beyond her.
"This is reckless! If I'm detained, Major General Daniel could be in danger."
"Don't worry. You saw it yourself across all those cycles. After the doll disguised as Major Rodel is destroyed, it doesn't attack me for about a week. Even if it does attack, I won't go down easily this time. And Lucy will be by my side as well."
She didn't fully grasp it, but Daniel's eyes were brimming with certainty.
"...Is there truly no other way?"
Frien's tearful plea felt pitiable, but for now there was no alternative.
"Yes. Trust me. I will never let you down."
Hearing those sincere words, Frien finally nodded.
Just as Frien took the revolver, they heard soldiers' footsteps approaching.
"Gunfire! It's around here!"
"Couldn't it be an accidental discharge?"
"The shots went off one after another, you dumbass bastard!"
If they could hear voices, that meant they were already close.
Taking a deep breath, Daniel stepped backward out of the field tent.
The soldiers who saw him began murmuring.
"...Isn't that the division commander?"
"Why's the division commander coming out of there?"
Now that everyone's attention was on him, that was the right moment.
Daniel nodded toward Frien.
As if to say, right now.
Frien bit down hard on her lip, then raised the revolver.
Aiming at Daniel's shoulder, Frien pulled the trigger.
Taaang─
A flash burst from inside the tent as the bullet pierced through Daniel's shoulder.
In an instant, blood spurted and Daniel fell backward.
"...Huh?"
A stunned gasp escaped from among the soldiers.
Frien immediately used black mana to restore Daniel's shoulder, but there was no way the soldiers could know that.
"Fuck! Shots fired! The division commander's been attacked!"
"Medical unit! Request support from the medical unit! The division commander is down! Hurry!"
"Who the hell is it!? What son of a bitch would dare...!"
The soldiers running toward the tent to save Daniel came to a halt.
Because the one emerging from the tent entrance was none other than Frien, the Saintess of the Empire.
"Captain?"
"Why is the Captain in there...?"
The soldiers wore expressions of utter incomprehension, forgetting even to aim their guns. But the officer who had led them here immediately grasped the situation and drew his pistol.
"Captain Frien! Drop your weapon and surrender immediately! If you resist, I will shoot to kill!"
Hearing the officer's words, Frien nodded and dropped the revolver she was holding to the ground.
"You there! Don't just stand there gawking — restrain her now!"
Snapping to their senses at the officer's command, the soldiers approached Frien.
Frien knelt without resistance and looked back at Daniel.
As she exchanged glances with Daniel, who lay collapsed on the ground breathing faintly, the soldiers drew near and bound Frien's arms with restraints.
Other soldiers were supporting Daniel.
"Medical unit! Is the medical unit still not here! The bleeding is severe!"
The soldiers still mistakenly believed Daniel had sustained a grave injury.
Perhaps because Daniel was clutching his shoulder and putting on a desperate act for his life.
"We've come from the medical unit! Where is the division commander!"
"Over here!"
In the midst of all this, medical unit soldiers arrived and loaded Daniel onto a stretcher.
Immediately transported to the medical unit, Daniel was handed over to the chief medical officer.
"Stopping the blood flow is the priority! Secure a tourniquet! We need to prepare for complex penetrating wound surgery, so hurry! And division commander! Can we see the wound!"
Amidst the chaos of the medical unit, Daniel checked his surroundings and slowly lowered his hand.
Because of that, the chief medical officer couldn't help but be baffled.
He had been told there was a gunshot wound to the shoulder, but there was no wound at all — it was perfectly fine.
"...Division commander?"
Having no idea what was going on, the chief medical officer blinked blankly.
Daniel grabbed the chief medical officer by the wrist and spoke.
"Chief medical officer. Listen carefully. From this moment on, I will be placed in a coma due to excessive blood loss. You, as the chief medical officer, will verify that. Can you do it?"
The chief medical officer's mind, which had been reeling with confusion, gradually sorted itself out.
Accepting that this was part of an operation, the chief medical officer nodded as if he understood everything.
"Yes. I will do my utmost to make it appear so."
*
A few days later, inside the division commander's office within the Republic's headquarters building.
"Division commander! It's Adjutant Joram! May I enter!"
Palome, who had been examining an operations map inside the office, turned toward the door.
"Enter."
Having received permission, the office door opened and the adjutant entered.
The adjutant saluted Palome and began to speak.
"Division commander! Good news!"
"...Good news?"
"Yes! According to the intelligence we've gathered, Major General Daniel Steiner is currently in a coma."
Startled, Palome folded the map and rose from his seat.
"A coma? What on earth is the reason?"
"I don't know the details either, but it seems Captain Frien was caught by Major General Daniel while going around committing murders within the military. When Major General Daniel tried to stop her, Captain Frien shot him, inflicting a gunshot wound. That led to excessive bleeding, and he's now in a coma."
"...What about Captain Frien?"
"She's currently in detention, they say. A court-martial will be held soon. Word is openly spreading that she'll be executed."
Having heard the adjutant's full report, Palome let out a hollow breath.
'I don't know how she pulled it off, but did that woman Seraile actually succeed?'
Seraile was a master of doll technique.
Her condescending personality made her prone to drawing others' hatred, but her skill itself was beyond doubt.
If she had used her dolls to stir up internal strife, it was more than plausible.
'As expected, there's a reason Comrade Supreme Councilor trusts her.'
With Frien — who healed enemy soldiers in real time — detained, and Daniel Steiner in a coma on top of that, the Republic could not have asked for a better situation.
Troop morale had plummeted, and supply shortages had been plaguing them to the point where seizing the high ground was nearly impossible. But now that such luck had abruptly been handed to them, they had to exploit it by any means necessary.
"Adjutant!"
A vile smile played at the corners of Palome's lips, now convinced of victory.
"Inform all troops! Prepare to assault the high ground!"