It Won't Be Too Hard
It Won't Be Too Hard
Upon hearing Daniel's opinion, Selvia initially opposed it.
She could not stand the thought of Daniel taking such risks and burrowing into enemy lines.
She demanded a withdrawal, calling it an extreme plan, but Daniel did not back down.
He persuaded Selvia that this plan was the only way to minimize the war's damage.
In the end, after that quarrel, Selvia ultimately accepted his view.
In front of the ministers, Selvia assigned Daniel Steiner the single-point breakthrough mission and ordered him to serve as the commander of the armored corps directly under the General Staff Headquarters.
When Daniel accepted this, Selvia turned to Arman.
When asked if Daniel Steiner's plan could be executed, Arman bowed his head and answered that, while risky, it was a sufficiently feasible strategy.
Having received even the Chief of the General Staff's confirmation, Selvia, who could no longer delay, gave the order to prepare the operation.
Thereupon, not only Chief of the General Staff Arman but also the ministers gathered in the grand hall set out to carry out their respective duties.
Daniel likewise tried to leave, but Selvia called him back.
She had something to say and wanted him to stay for a moment.
Wondering what it was about, Daniel waited briefly, and after confirming that all the ministers had left, Selvia spoke.
"......Daniel. Do you really have to take on that dangerous mission?"
Selvia's blue eyes were filled with worry.
Her look suggested she wanted him to withdraw his opinion even now, but Daniel was resolute.
"That is correct. We cannot know what Count Kaledra will do next, so we must end the war as quickly as possible while we hold the momentum."
"But this is...... dangerous to a degree that is entirely different from other missions. You know this as well, don't you? Advancing to the capital of Edria means, in other words, that communication with headquarters will be cut off."
Selvia's hand, resting on the operations table, curled up weakly.
"......Losing communication means, in other words, that you too must move with the corps. Because a corps without a commander does not exist."
"I am aware."
"I don't understand why you would carry out this dangerous mission even though you know. Yes. How about sending another capable general? Daniel, you could stay here......."
Daniel shook his head.
"I must go, Your Majesty. You may have heard the saying that an army's morale determines its fate. No matter how elite the corps is, if they burrow deep into enemy lines, they won't be able to shake the thought that they are isolated."
"Daniel."
"During the advance to Edria's capital, communications will also be cut, so the soldiers and officers will naturally come to rely on a single commander. It's embarrassing to say this with my own mouth, but......."
Feeling a bit self-conscious, a faint smile played on Daniel's lips.
"The existence named Daniel Steiner is like a symbol of victory for the Imperial Army. There are many soldiers who are convinced that if they are with me, they can win. Therefore, even if the corps I command burrows into enemy territory, it will not lose morale."
The most important thing to win a war was maintaining the army's morale.
That would be the case even for a regular unit, but for a corps tasked with advancing to the enemy's capital, its importance would be unparalleled.
Because the moment morale drops even slightly, it spreads through the entire army like an epidemic.
Therefore, Daniel Steiner judged himself to be the right person for this mission.
Because as long as Daniel Steiner, the imperial war hero and symbol of victory, was the commander, the soldiers would not easily lose morale.
Selvia understood that in her head, but she simply could not accept it in her heart.
"Your Majesty."
Daniel, who understood Selvia's feelings, quietly spoke.
"To be honest, I also do not wish to go out onto a dangerous battlefield. Contrary to public opinion, I do not enjoy combat in the slightest. I am different from those brave soldiers who consider a glorious death on the battlefield an honor. I'm the type who prefers living peacefully in a safe place."
Nevertheless, the reason he intended to march to the most dangerous battlefield was simple.
"If I don't do it, how many more will die in the future? As long as Count Kaledra is alive, the war will not end easily. In the worst case, the Empire may decide to use nuclear weapons on Edria's capital."
Daniel spoke after a short silence.
"That is not what Your Majesty wishes, is it?"
He was not wrong.
She was not unaware that Daniel's plan was the only way to avoid the worst situation.
In the end, this time too, Selvia had no choice but to raise the white flag.
"......Alright. I won't stop you any longer."
Having composed her troubled heart, Selvia stared at Daniel.
"But don't push yourself too hard. If it seems like the mission will fail, I won't blame you if you retreat. We can find another method after that. But if you succeed in the mission......."
Selvia's eyes, as she trailed off, trembled for a moment.
"......I will grant permission."
Permission for what? As Daniel blinked in confusion, Selvia continued.
"I heard that polygamy is your wish."
I did? Daniel wanted to ask, but he was so flustered that his mouth wouldn't open.
"If you use the Wish Petition Right after successfully completing the mission, I will review it positively. The founding principle of the Empire is strict reward and punishment, so it would not be strange to give such a reward to a capable person."
"Your Majesty? That's only up to Ref......."
"I know. I know what kind of relationship that woman named Ref has with you. If polygamy is permitted, you won't particularly need to mind what I think. From then on, who you marry is your legitimate right."
Daniel's mouth fell open in a daze.
Just as he couldn't understand how the conversation had taken this turn, Selvia's face reddened.
Naturally, Selvia's gaze fell.
"Still...... I'd like it if I were first."
Perhaps because she was embarrassed after speaking, the way she bit her lower lip showed no trace of an emperor's authority or dignity.
There was only a shy lady confessing her heart.
It was certainly a fresh and lovely sight, but Daniel could not answer readily.
'......What about my will?'
It was because he was deeply flustered that his wish had been decided as polygamy due to Ref's mischief(?).
Daniel was troubled in many ways, but when he thought about it calmly, it wasn't entirely a bad thing.
If he completed the mission and was granted polygamy, he would be able to keep his promises not only to Selvia but also to Frien and Lucy.
'Of course, the other person's will is most important, but.......'
For now, believing he had one less worry about the future, Daniel placed his hand on his chest and bowed his head.
"I will keep it in mind, Your Majesty the Emperor."
Upon hearing the answer, Selvia's face flushed even redder.
Breaking into an awkward sweat, Selvia let out a dry cough.
"......If your business is concluded, you may withdraw from the palace now."
In truth, she wanted to talk more about this and that, but she felt she would make a mistake, so she issued the dismissal order.
Rising from his seat, Daniel bowed his head one last time, then turned and walked out.
Having opened the door and stepped out of the conference hall, Daniel paused just as he began to feel relieved.
'Wait a moment.......'
He suddenly wondered if being granted polygamy was actually a good thing.
The product of marriage was having children, and in that process, one inevitably had to engage in relations.
He became worried about whether his stamina could hold out if that act were repeated continuously.
Feeling an involuntary chill, Daniel shook his head.
'......Even if such a day comes, it won't be as hard as I think.'
Because as far as Daniel knew, the three women seemed to have little sexual desire.
*
Meanwhile, Frien, who was assigned to a unit directly under the General Staff Headquarters, was making small talk with fellow female soldiers in the medical unit.
"......So, three times a week is hard these days, I tell you."
"Three times is still in your prime. Seems like you two are seriously in love?"
Truthfully, it was closer to listening than small talk.
She had somehow ended up listening to stories among married women.
"Love, my ass! That fire went out ages ago. He just eats and loiters at home, I'd love to kick him out!"
"You say that, but I think I saw you taking out your husband's photo whenever you had a chance. I'm jealous. If I had a handsome husband, I'd do it five times a week."
"Oh my. No matter how handsome he is, if he lacks ability, he's utterly useless."
As she sipped cocoa while listening to the married women's stories, one of the female soldiers turned to Frien.
"Captain Frien. Do you have any thoughts of marriage?"
Having not expected to be singled out, Frien flinched in surprise and answered.
"Pardon? Ahh. I'm not quite sure if I'll be able to, but I want to. There is a man I sincerely like."
"Oh? Then how many times a week do you think you could do it with that man?"
At the teasing question, a female soldier next to her laughed and tapped her shoulder.
"Hey! What kind of question is that? A saintess like our Captain Frien doesn't get all worked up over lewd things like we do. She probably isn't interested in that stuff. Right?"
A question mark appeared above Frien's head.
"Huh? I'm very interested."
Frien, who had finished off the last of her cocoa, spoke nonchalantly.
"I don't really know for sure because I've never done it, but if possible, I'd want to do it twice a day, too."
Thanks to that, the female soldiers looked at each other and thought.
'I'm not sure who he is, but.......'
The person who becomes Frien's husband is going to have a pretty hard time.