The Last Morning of Lakedrapol
The Last Morning of Lakedrapol
The General Headquarters, which had issued Daniel his recall orders, dispatched a new military administration commander to Lakedrapol.
About ten days later, Colonel Hontar arrived to take over the administration of Lakedrapol, succeeding Daniel.
Though Hontar had been extremely nervous about meeting the legendary hero Daniel Steiner, once they actually met face-to-face, Daniel's unexpectedly kind and human demeanor put him at ease.
Thus, Hontar received a thorough handover of the military situation within Lakedrapol, along with details on administration and governance—information covering public order, the economy, popular sentiment, resources, and culture.
When that process had gone on for about four days, Daniel dusted off his hands with satisfaction.
"That should about do it. Any further questions?"
At Daniel's words, spoken from his office in City Hall, Hontar shook his head.
"I have thoroughly absorbed the material. It will fall far short of what you, Major General Daniel, have accomplished, but I shall do my utmost to carry out the military administration in Lakedrapol."
"Good. Many people here are well-disposed toward the Empire, so it won't be too difficult. Maintaining the status quo should suffice—it shouldn't be too hard."
Hontar saw it that way too.
Because Daniel had handled the stabilization of the occupied territory almost to perfection, there was nothing in particular that Hontar needed to fix.
"That must be thanks to you, Major General Daniel. How on earth did you manage to stabilize the occupied zone so flawlessly? I can only marvel. You must have put in a tremendous amount of effort."
"No. I didn't really do anything here with any particular intention, but......"
He had won the hearts of Lakedrapol's people more by external circumstances than by his own will, but Hontar had no way of knowing that.
And since Hontar wouldn't believe it even if he tried to explain, Daniel decided to simply let it pass.
"Anyway, I entrust Lakedrapol to you. Before I leave, let me give you one useful piece of information—it'd be wise to get friendly with a man named Professor Meranto. He's practically a local notable, so being on good terms with him can only help you."
Nodding, Hontar pulled out a notepad and jotted down Daniel's words.
The sight of a full colonel, a senior officer within the military, behaving more like a green lieutenant drew an inadvertent laugh from Daniel.
'Well, I suppose.......'
From Hontar's perspective, Daniel was essentially a hero among heroes, having been decorated with the White Dragon Medal of Military Merit not once but twice.
It was only natural—indeed, inevitable—that he would feel he couldn't afford to miss even the smallest remark.
Just as Hontar finished his notes, a knock sounded and the door swung open lightly.
The person who stepped through the door was Daniel's adjutant, Lucy.
After exchanging brief eye contact and a slight nod with Hontar, who had turned to look back, Lucy faced Daniel.
"Division commander. The escort unit for your return to the Imperial Capital is ready. They are standing by in front of City Hall, able to depart at any moment. Additionally, a gathering of citizens—led by Professor Meranto—has assembled to see you off."
The former was something he had personally ordered, so he knew about it; the latter was news to him.
"......The citizens have gathered to see me off?"
"Yes. If it is inconvenient for you, I will mobilize troops to disperse them."
"No. That won't be necessary. It's a bit startling, but I'm sure it'll be fine."
Daniel picked up his briefcase and rose from his seat.
"This works out perfectly. Colonel Hontar? I'll introduce you to Professor Meranto right now—use this opportunity to build a connection."
"Ah. Understood!"
Having heard the reply, Daniel stepped out of the office.
As he walked down the corridor and descended the stairs, the staff in City Hall paused in their work and bowed their heads toward Daniel.
"Division commander."
"General Daniel."
Not only the soldiers, but the civilian collaborators as well, were showing their respect to Daniel.
Hontar could tell it wasn't respect born of fear or pressure, but the genuine, heartfelt kind that rose from deep within.
Marveling anew, he stepped outside, where a great crowd of citizens could be seen gathered in front of City Hall.
The moment Daniel appeared, the citizens each burst into cheers.
Amid the ear-ringing acclamation, just as Hontar was feeling a bit dazed, a middle-aged man approached together with his daughter.
The man gave a brief nod toward Daniel and then smiled warmly.
"General Daniel. To think you would leave so suddenly. Had you given us any forewarning, we could have held at least a modest banquet."
"You already treated me to a banquet not long ago, so there is no need for another. And simply having you all come out to see me off today is more than satisfying to me."
Daniel raised a hand and indicated Hontar.
"This is Colonel Hontar, who will be administering Lakedrapol after I return to the Imperial Capital. He is a talented man dispatched directly by General Headquarters, so I believe he will manage the city's operations without much difficulty."
This time, he gestured toward the middle-aged man.
"Colonel Hontar? This is Professor Meranto, who concurrently holds the post of director of the historical research institute in Lakedrapol. There is nothing about Lakedrapol he does not know, so cooperate closely with him."
Nodding, Hontar extended his hand toward Professor Meranto.
"A pleasure. I have heard about you from Major General Daniel."
Meranto extended his hand as well and shook Hontar's.
"The pleasure is mine. If you are General Daniel's successor, then I trust I can confidently leave matters in your hands."
In the midst of the cordial atmosphere, Meranto's daughter, Rabi, interjected.
"......Daniel oppa. Are you really leaving?"
Perhaps unaccustomed to farewells, tears were welling up in both her eyes.
Daniel knelt down on one knee to meet Rabi at eye level and nodded.
"Yes. I'm a soldier, so I can't stay in one place for long."
"Can't you stay here just a little longer?"
"That would be difficult. In truth, I've already dawdled as it is. His Majesty the Emperor summons me, so I cannot delay any further."
Though she got a bit sulky, Rabi couldn't very well throw a tantrum and tell him not to go.
After all, she knew that adults' promises couldn't be changed by feelings alone.
"Alright. Then wait just a moment."
Having given up on persuading Daniel, Rabi took something out of the handbag she had brought.
Looking closely, it was a four-leaf clover pressed between sheets of wax paper.
"This is......."
"It's a four-leaf clover I always carry as a good-luck charm. I thought it would be better for you, Daniel oppa, to carry it instead of me, so I want to give it to you. It's a farewell gift."
The four-leaf clover proffered by the small hand somehow looked larger than life.
Perhaps he felt that way because he could see the great resolve of Rabi, offering someone else one of her precious possessions.
Thinking it would be rude not to accept, Daniel carefully received the four-leaf clover.
"Thank you. I shall treasure it as an heirloom all my life."
Brightening, Rabi smiled as if pleased.
"Yeah! Make sure you treasure it! When the war is over, I'll come to the Imperial Capital to see you, Daniel oppa. I'll check then, so you really have to!"
Chuckling quietly, Daniel stroked Rabi's hair.
"Alright. I shall look forward to the day we meet again."
When Daniel said that and stood up, this time Meranto retrieved a small box from his breast pocket.
"General Daniel. I also have a gift for you. Or, to be precise, I should say it is a gift prepared by pooling money from the citizens of Lakedrapol."
"......For me?"
"That is correct. They wish to repay you not only for allowing them to hold a festival in wartime, but also for saving my child, so they hope you will accept it without feeling any burden."
Nodding, Daniel accepted the box and opened the lid.
Inside was a luxurious tie pin that gleamed with a golden luster.
On the face of the pin, the figure of a cat standing upright on its hind legs was embossed in exquisite detail.
It was clearly a high-quality item, and as Daniel was admiring it, Meranto added an explanation.
"This tie pin was painstakingly crafted by Mr. Elaneld, the finest engraver in Lakedrapol. As you can see, the form of the divine cat is rendered with exceedingly fine raised detail. The divine cat is, as it were, a symbol that beckons good fortune, so it should serve you well, General."
"Thank you, but I'm not sure I can accept such an expensive thing......."
"Please consider that you are receiving not an object, but the gratitude of myself and the citizens of Lakedrapol. Should you not accept, we would be greatly disappointed."
After such words, he could hardly say he would refuse.
Daniel nodded and closed the lid of the box.
"I shall wear it constantly wherever I go. Truly, thank you."
"It is we who should give thanks. Ever since you, General, administered this city, the hardships faced by the citizens, and indeed my own, have greatly diminished."
Though, truth be told, the overall administration of the city had been Lucy's work.
Wondering if he ought to say as much, he glanced to the side, but Lucy shook her head.
Understanding Lucy's intent, Daniel placed the box inside his coat.
"Even after returning to the Imperial Capital, I shall remember the time I spent here in Lakedrapol. Well then......."
"Ah. I've kept you far too long, General. Please, be on your way."
As Meranto stepped aside, Daniel offered a final farewell, then walked toward where the armored car awaited.
The citizens who had been watching Daniel each added a word of their own.
- "General Daniel! We will miss you!"
- "Thanks to you, General, we didn't have to do forced labor—you can't imagine what a relief it was! Farewell!"
- "Because of the rations you distributed, General, my family made it through a critical moment! Thank you so much!"
Amid the deafening words of gratitude, Daniel boarded the armored car.
Then the armored car set off, and as it began to recede from view, the words of thanks gradually subsided.
Standing beside Meranto and watching the scene, Hontar could only let out a sigh of admiration.
'It'd be hard to receive such a grand sendoff even in one's own country.......'
He could not help but feel profound respect for Daniel, who had captured the hearts of the people in a foreign land—what was more, in an enemy nation's city.
Thinking that all he had to do now was quietly follow in those footsteps, Hontar cleared his throat.
"Pardon me, was it Professor Meranto? Should you continue to cooperate with the Imperial Army going forward, I will see to it that you are amply rewarded."
Hontar, who had been watching the armored car growing distant, turned to look beside him.
Feeling the gaze directed at him was not entirely benign, Hontar broke into a light sweat.
Just as he was wondering why, Meranto opened his mouth.
"You appear to be labouring under some misapprehension. We did not cooperate with the Imperial Army; we cooperated with General Daniel."
"Pardon? By that you mean......."
"If you hope for our cooperation, you will have to run the city as well as General Daniel did. Without that, you won't be able to win the hearts of the people here."
Thanks to that, Hontar got the distinct feeling that something had gone very wrong.
The bar was set far, absurdly far, too high.
'......Are you telling me to match Major General Daniel now?'
Feeling he could not manage even half of what Daniel had done, Hontar had no choice but to break out in a cold sweat.