Since There'll Be No More Battles Anyway
Since There'll Be No More Battles Anyway
Daniel, back in the Imperial Capital, gazed up at the clear sky through the armored car's window.
The sky was as blue as the sea, as if the clouds had melted away under the blazing sun.
When he lowered his gaze slightly, he could see citizens clustered together along the streets.
Most of them were children who had come out to watch the military procession out of curiosity, along with their parents.
A few were scattering flower petals they had brought from somewhere or vigorously waving national flags.
As he watched them, Lucy, who was beside him, quietly spoke up.
"There are more people on the streets than I expected. I thought they would all be gathered at the Grand Plaza."
A few days earlier, a radio communication had come in from General Headquarters.
It said that upon his return, a public promotion ceremony would be held at the Grand Plaza in the Imperial Capital, and that he should prepare for it.
So Lucy had assumed the citizens would be gathered at the Grand Plaza, but she was a little surprised to find the streets of the capital already thronged with enormous crowds.
Daniel felt the same surprise, though he knew why they were lining the streets.
"The Grand Plaza is probably already at capacity, so they've spilled out onto the streets, I imagine."
"I see. Everyone seems very eager to see Major General Daniel."
"What on earth makes me worth all this...?"
Daniel grumbled, feeling vaguely burdened by it all, but when he actually made eye contact with a child standing on the street, he smiled and waved.
At that, the child tugged at their parent's hand and shouted something in excitement.
It was probably something like, 'Major General Daniel looked at me and waved!' he thought.
He watched the scene with satisfaction before turning his gaze forward, and found that they had arrived near the Grand Plaza.
The first thing he saw was the honor guard at the entrance, lined up on the left and right holding national flags and military standards.
On the platform behind them, Emperor Selvia and the Chief of the General Staff were exchanging words with each other.
Countless citizens had gathered around the platform, their numbers easily numbering in the thousands.
Just as he was thinking this was quite a grand affair, the armored car slowly came to a stop.
Daniel opened the door and stepped out, noticing that the only path kept clear was the one the honor guard controlled.
It seemed they wanted him to walk to the platform via that path, so Daniel walked slowly forward.
As Daniel approached, the honor guard members who had been blocking the entrance with crossed swords simultaneously lifted their blades upward in unison.
As he passed between them, the citizens raised their voices.
"It's General Daniel!"
"Hero of the Empire! Daniel Steiner!"
"Thank you! Thank you for protecting our country!"
The voices swelled in an instant, becoming a single roar.
Unable to respond to each one individually, Daniel walked straight ahead, and soon he climbed onto the platform and came face-to-face with Selvia.
Beneath her platinum-blonde hair that shone like gold dust, her blue eyes, resembling lapis lazuli, blinked lightly.
Selvia, dressed in a pure white uniform with a red cape draped over her shoulders in place of a cloak, looked elegant.
Sensing that her aura had somehow become even more mature, Daniel smiled.
"Your Majesty the Emperor. It has truly been a long time."
At Daniel's words, Selvia answered with a smile.
"I missed you. I missed you so much I dreamed of you from time to time."
If it were up to her, she would have thrown herself into Daniel's arms and acted spoiled, but this was an official occasion.
Selvia, who had forcibly suppressed the impulse, glanced sideways at the podium.
"Shall we take care of business first?"
"Yes. That is what I was hoping for."
The two exchanged smiling glances and then moved to the podium.
Selvia, positioned on the podium, tapped the microphone a couple of times and spoke.
"Great subjects of the Empire! As you well know, I am the rightful ruler who governs this Empire, the sovereign of all, and also the one responsible for this war!"
Selvia's voice spread widely through the speakers.
"I have also been your father and mother, your dearest friend, and at the same time have shown you the face of a harsh conscription officer. The foundation of all these forms is but one thing. To achieve victory in this war!"
Voices of affirmation rang out here and there among the crowd.
"If my wish were to be expressed in human form, it would be none other than Major General Daniel Steiner standing before your eyes. For he has led countless battles to victory!"
The Chief of the General Staff, who had been waiting at the rear, approached carrying a box wrapped in the national flag.
"This time as well, Major General Daniel Steiner not only successfully defended the Filoena Highlands but also succeeded in capturing the fortress city of Lakedrapol, which the Republic had cherished so dearly! Therefore, I, in accordance with the Empire's founding principle of rewarding merit and punishing failure, intend to promote Daniel Steiner!"
Selvia looked at Daniel, who was standing in front of the podium.
"Major General Daniel Steiner. Are you prepared to receive my grace and devote yourself to the nation?"
Daniel bowed his head deeply.
"Yes. Your Majesty."
Having heard Daniel's answer, Arman unwrapped the flag and opened the box.
Selvia stepped down from the podium and then took out the rank insignia placed inside the box.
Immediately after, she approached Daniel and replaced his rank insignia.
Once the insignia was replaced, Selvia's delicate lips parted slightly.
"Congratulations on your promotion. Lieutenant General Daniel Steiner."
"......Thank you. Although I never expected to be promoted so quickly."
"The same goes for me. More importantly, since you've been promoted, might I ask you to give a speech to commemorate the occasion?"
After a brief silence, Daniel asked in return.
"A speech, you say?"
"Yes. The people wish to hear your voice. These are very trying times, aren't they? Everyone wants to find comfort through you."
There were many citizens whose bodies and hearts had been worn down by the long war.
To them, Daniel Steiner was more than just a war hero—he was practically a beacon of hope.
That was why Selvia was encouraging Daniel to give a speech.
Unable to bring himself to refuse Selvia's request, Daniel answered.
"I can't claim to be particularly eloquent, but I shall do my best."
Selvia let out a small laugh at his modesty and nodded.
When Selvia stepped aside, Daniel climbed onto the podium.
He thought for a moment as he did so.
Under the watchful eyes of countless citizens, Daniel took a deep breath and began to speak.
"Fellow citizens. Major General Daniel Steiner... no, since I was just promoted, I should say Lieutenant General. Well now. Perhaps it's because the promotions have come so quickly, but I sometimes get confused myself."
It was a deliberate remark meant to lighten the atmosphere.
After confirming that laughter was spreading through the crowd, Daniel smiled faintly.
"Fellow citizens. There may be many reasons why my promotion has been swift, but the easiest to explain is that I have seized victory in numerous battles. This is by no means a matter to take pleasure in. Because it means the Empire has had to endure that many battles."
The laughter faded from the crowd.
"Furthermore, it is not only the enemy who dies on the fierce battlefields. No matter how overwhelming a victory may be, it rests upon the deaths of our own forces. Even among the citizens gathered here today, there must be those who have lost family."
Quite a few people nodded or their eyes grew red.
Daniel spoke without hesitation.
"What was it that they sought to protect? The pride and glory of the Empire? No. As fathers and sons of a household, they went to the front lines to protect their families. For a nation is built upon the family."
Daniel paused to catch his breath before continuing.
"I mourn their deaths. However, as a soldier, I will not end things merely by mourning. I swear before you, the citizens, that I will shoulder everything they sought to protect in their stead."
Daniel gripped the podium.
"So on this day, in this place, I vow it! That I shall take the vanguard in every battle to come! Because I firmly believe that this is how to mourn their deaths and how to protect all of you, the citizens!"
His true feelings were different.
He had spoken those words because, now that the Empire had succeeded in developing nuclear weapons, he thought he would never have to go out to the battlefield again.
'No matter who Count Kaledra is, he wouldn't continue the war against an Empire that has succeeded in nuclear development.'
Having reached his conclusion, Daniel raised his hand.
"On the day this war ends, I will be in the very heart of the enemy camp! There, I will seize a decisive victory once again and put an end to this war without fail! For I know that this is the greatest atonement I can offer to someone's son and someone's father who died on the fierce battlefields!"
A few among the crowd could not hold back and burst into tears.
Having composed his breathing, Daniel gripped the podium once more.
"......So, fellow citizens, please believe in us just a little longer."
Raising his head, Daniel looked around at the thousands of citizens.
"His Majesty the Emperor. The Empire. And......"
Daniel's voice continued with gravity.
"Me, Daniel Steiner."
When Daniel's words ended, silence hung over the crowd.
In the lingering silence, someone raised a salute toward Daniel.
One salute soon became two, two became three, three soon became ten.
Eventually, every person gathered in the Grand Plaza raised a salute toward Daniel Steiner.
The citizens' salutes were far from being acts of loyalty.
For they had no need to be loyal to Daniel.
They simply borrowed the soldier's salute because they had no other way to express their respect for Daniel Steiner.
Selvia and Arman watched the spectacle in astonishment.
Daniel, who had been watching them wordlessly, also quietly raised his hand and saluted the citizens.
Amid the historic scene, only the sound of camera shutters quietly reverberated.
Arman, who had been watching Daniel as he seized the hearts of the people, let out an involuntary exclamation of admiration.
'He said he would volunteer for the vanguard in every battle to come......'
Indeed, Daniel Steiner was a peerless hero who would save this Empire.