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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: A Drive with the Princess is Not Easy
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"Kingfisher here. Target neutralized. Returning to temporary outpost."
The radio transmission was received by Heinz, who had been waiting on the Drokenberg Plateau.
It meant that Heinz, who prioritized rationality, had been wrong, and Daniel's intuition had been correct.
He wanted to believe it was a lie, but Heinz knew that Daniel, who was so intent on achieving merit, wouldn't submit a false report.
Heinz replied, acknowledging the message, then withdrew from the plateau and returned to the outpost, where he could see Daniel's military achievements firsthand.
"Huh…"
In the outpost's clearing, prisoners in Allied uniforms were gathered, kneeling.
It was an almost surreal sight: eighty or more prisoners, at a glance, being guarded by a mere twenty platoon members.
Heinz's adjutant was equally astonished by Daniel's success.
"…Lieutenant Daniel really did lead a platoon to capture a company. How is this even possible?"
It wasn't impossible.
While uncommon, there had been instances where a company was subdued by a force no larger than a platoon.
If one looked through battle records, finding a David who had defeated a Goliath wasn't particularly difficult.
'But…'
Had there ever been a David who captured Goliath as a prisoner?
Heinz couldn't comprehend how a mere twenty men in a platoon had managed to secure the surrender of an entire company.
Moreover, the captured Allied company included five officers and seven non-commissioned officers.
Among the officers, there was even one field-grade officer.
Considering the intelligence that could be extracted from torturing them, this was a very significant achievement.
Heinz, looking down at the prisoners groaning in the snow, sensed a presence and raised his head.
Daniel had approached him without him noticing and saluted.
"You've returned, Captain Heinz."
Heinz returned the salute, opening his mouth with a somewhat bewildered expression.
"Remarkable. How on earth did you manage to capture all of them?"
"Ah. I simply believe I was fortunate."
He spoke with genuine sincerity, but to Heinz, Daniel appeared to be merely feigning humility.
'There's a proverb in the Empire that says the humble rise high. Indeed, humility is a virtue. If I hadn't known this man's true nature, I might have been completely fooled myself.'
Heinz, deeply wary of Daniel, cleared his throat.
"Forget about being fortunate. What platoon in the world could subdue a company simply by being fortunate? All the credit belongs to you."
"…That's not true."
Daniel said with a serious expression.
"I merely referred to Captain Heinz's opinion, which was aided by Central Intelligence, to reach my conclusion. All credit rightly belongs to Central Intelligence and Captain Heinz."
Daniel was, in fact, trying to persuade him, "Please, don't report to command that I did everything," but to Heinz, Daniel's words were a highly sophisticated maneuver for promotion.
'He's humbling himself and praising his superior. This would soften even the most rigid superior. Not only is his combat command excellent, but he's also mastered military politics…'
He was truly a monster obsessed with promotion.
Heinz felt goosebumps rise all over his body, muttering under his breath.
"I cannot do that. I don't submit false reports to command. Your achievements will be reported as they are, so revel in your victory."
At that, Daniel's eyebrow twitched.
'This old man has no tact! You damn fool! I'm trying to hand over the credit!?'
Any other commanding officer would have gladly accepted, but this rigid officer was acting upright, refusing to steal his subordinate's glory.
It made sense why Heinz's rank was lower than his achievements suggested.
Daniel sighed internally, maintaining a poker face outwardly.
"If that is the Captain's decision, I will accept it."
"Good. Then, as of this moment, the operation is complete, so you may rest. I will take charge of the prisoners. Also, I will make arrangements for us to return to headquarters by noon tomorrow."
"Thank you for your consideration."
Confirming the conversation was over, Daniel smartly saluted.
"It was an honor to meet you, Captain Heinz Schmidt."
"It was also an honor for me to have such a capable individual as you under my command."
After exchanging salutes, Heinz returned Daniel's, and Daniel turned and walked towards his tent.
Watching his retreating figure, Heinz's adjutant spoke with awe.
"The rumor that the platoon leader sent by General Staff was an incredible elite was true. Not only is his operational capability outstanding, but his respect for superiors is also impeccable."
"What you say isn't wrong. But you fail to see the true nature."
Heinz murmured softly, gazing at Daniel's retreating back.
"That man is a monster. A monster that will one day swallow this Empire…"
*
The next day.
After providing Heinz with a detailed report of yesterday's battle, I headed to the outpost's clearing as noon approached.
A military jeep and transport vehicles were parked in the clearing, and platoon members were gathered in front of them, chatting.
I subtly overheard them discussing how extraordinary yesterday's battle had been.
Every now and then, I thought I heard praises for me, and it seemed it wasn't just my imagination.
Friehn, who had been talking with them, approached me.
"Lieutenant Daniel! Good noon! Have you finished your report?"
"…Yes. But what were you all talking about so cheerfully?"
"We were discussing what an excellent commander you are, Lieutenant! To lead your first battle to victory without any casualties? And against an enemy company, no less! You are truly amazing!"
Friehn's clear, shining eyes were exceedingly burdensome.
I furrowed my brow and said to Friehn.
"You're babbling nonsense. It's time to return to headquarters, so get in the vehicle."
"Yes, sir! I'll tell them!"
Friehn saluted, then returned to the platoon members and relayed my words.
The platoon members then snapped a salute towards me before walking to the military transport vehicle.
Were they too excited about their first victory? I sighed and walked towards the jeep, then stopped.
A woman in a pristine white blouse and a coat stood waiting for me, hands clasped behind her back.
Selvia looked around, then spotted me and casually spoke.
"Lieutenant Daniel. Are you returning to headquarters?"
"…Yes, I am. Why do you ask?"
"Then let's go together. I also have business at headquarters."
No, why are *you* coming with *me*? I was so dumbfounded, I couldn't speak.
After a moment of frozen silence, I racked my brain and replied.
"Madam Reporter. This military vehicle prioritizes performance, so it's far from comfortable. It's not suitable for long-distance travel. Especially not for a lady…"
"It's fine. It's wartime, isn't it? I consider it great fortune just to be able to ride in a working vehicle."
Even if you're fine with it, I'm not, okay? I can't tell the Princess to drive, so I'd have to drive all the way to headquarters myself, and I didn't want to put up with that exhaustion.
"Lieutenant Daniel?"
But how could I refuse the Princess?
Sighing softly, showing the maximum resistance I dared, I nodded.
"If you insist, then please get in. I will drive."
Selvia nodded and got into the passenger seat.
Muttering a few complaints under my breath, I also got into the driver's seat and started the engine.
As I pressed the accelerator and moved smoothly forward, the transport vehicles behind followed.
About an hour after leaving the outpost, Selvia spoke.
"Lieutenant Daniel. How do you view the current state of the war?"
It was unexpected.
However, it was also a question the Empire's Princess would naturally have.
She would always be surrounded by field officers and generals shouting, "The Empire will be victorious!" So, disguised as a war correspondent, she must be asking a low-ranking officer for an honest opinion.
"It won't be easy."
So, I could offer some advice.
Selvia, however, looked like she didn't understand my words.
"Not easy? The Empire has virtually secured victory on the northern front. Reports of victories are also coming from the eastern front. At this rate, the Empire will win the war against the Allied Nations."
"Yes. That would certainly be the case, assuming no third party intervenes."
Selvia didn't understand the true terror of a world war.
That's why she could speak so lightheartedly.
"The Empire is undeniably at the forefront of the great powers. If such an Empire defeats the Allied Nations and seizes their interests, what do you think would happen?"
Selvia's expression grew serious as she listened.
"Naturally, it would emerge as a hegemonic power. One that could stand above all nations…"
"Yes. If things go well, it might even lay the foundation to dream of world unification. The problem is that the other great powers are also aware of this fact."
The great powers fear the Empire growing any stronger than it already is.
They also view the downfall of the Allied Nations as a potential precursor to their own future.
Fear and caution would soon become the spark of war, igniting on the opposite side of the Empire.
Feeling the necessity of war, the great powers would rush to declare war, and their target would be none other than…
"The Empire would become the enemy of all nations."
This was precisely why the Empire ultimately lost to the Allied forces.
"…"
Selvia's expression sank significantly.
She appeared to be judging the rationality of my words.
It must be quite a shock to have her commanders' and generals' opinions—that the Empire would definitively win—contradicted so directly.
Perhaps she might even consider me delusional and get angry.
However, Selvia did not dismiss my opinion; she accepted it.
"Indeed. That is one possible scenario. But Lieutenant Daniel Steiner, how did you come to this conclusion…?"
I couldn't answer Selvia.
Because, on the ground ahead, I had just happened to spot a cluster of spikes glinting in the blazing sunlight.
'Spike strip…!'
My mind snapped to attention. I quickly swerved the steering wheel, turning onto a side road.
*Thud!* Thanks to my sudden swerve, Selvia's body lurched.
"Ugh!"
Selvia, thrown sideways, grabbed my thigh and tried to right herself.
At that moment, I grabbed Selvia's head and pushed it down.
"H-huh!? Lieutenant Daniel! What on earth are you-"
*Tat-tat-tat!* Gunshots erupted from all directions, and bullets whizzed in.
A single bullet *thwacked* into the passenger window.
If it hadn't been bulletproof glass, it would have been pierced instantly.
Only then did Selvia grasp the situation, stopping her attempt to raise her head and ducking down.
"Surely not…!"
Unfortunately, her 'surely not' was correct.
The spike trap and the multitude of gunshots meant only one thing.
An enemy ambush.