Dressed in uniform and having finished breakfast at the officers' mess, I headed toward the private office of the Operations Staff.
It was supposed to be just another routine morning.
The only difference was that, for some reason, several senior officers in the hallway had started recognizing me.
"So you're that famous lieutenant? The one who embarrassed the staff officers at the command post? Oh, don't get me wrong—it's a compliment."
"Lieutenant, I can see you're confident in your skills, but don't show off too much in front of your superiors—unless you want your military career to end early. Trust me, that's advice from experience."
"Wow! I thought the General Staff was full of stiff bureaucrats, but turns out we've got someone like you! Keep it up—I'll be rooting for you!"
They stopped me every time I passed by, delivering long-winded speeches until I was left dizzy from the onslaught.
Since ignoring them wasn't an option, I survived by recycling the holy trinity of responses: "Understood," "Is that so?" and "Thank you."
The real problem? I wasted so much time talking that I was now late for work.
Reporting time was 8:30 AM.
It was 8:28.
The staff offices were on the fifth floor. Even walking at full speed, it would take at least four minutes.
And since Imperial officers were bound by strict decorum, running in the hallways—unless in the field—was forbidden.
In short, I was screwed.
'Karl's going to throw a fit again…'
My direct superior, Major Karl Heinrich, was a neurotic bastard who overreacted to the smallest things.
If he had even a shred of competence, I might have begrudgingly respected him. But his entire military record consisted of trembling in the rear during a defensive battle seven years ago.
And yet, here he was—in the elite Imperial General Staff.
How? Easy.
Karl Heinrich came from nobility. His father was an ambassador. Meritocracy was the Empire's official slogan, but underneath? Nepotism and connections ruled.
Karl was living proof.
My personal evaluation? He was a walking waste of oxygen.
Honestly, if my dark circles had shareholders, Karl Heinrich would hold a majority stake.
Still, my heart was oddly calm.
'Once I resign, none of this will matter.'
I wasn't aiming for a promotion. I was aiming for a dishonorable discharge.
Was this how salarymen felt on their last day of work, resignation letter in hand? A faint smile tugged at my lips.
With light steps, I made my way to the fifth floor and knocked.
"Second Lieutenant Daniel Steiner, Assistant Operations Planner, reporting. Permission to enter."
I opened the door.
The first thing I saw was Karl at his desk, clutching his head like the world had ended.
Sweat ran down his face. He looked genuinely distressed—a rare sight.
He didn't even notice me, so I stepped closer.
"Major Karl Heinrich, sir? The Operations Staff meeting is at 9. You should start preparing—"
I trailed off.
Karl looked up, eyes blazing with rage.
Was he really this mad about me being two minutes late?
Before I could react, he jumped from his chair.
"You! Do you have any idea what you've done?!"
What the hell?
"Who gave you permission to speak to the commander?! Who told an orphan like you to butt into a staff meeting?!"
He grabbed my collar and shoved me.
I stumbled, barely keeping my balance.
"Because of you, everything's ruined! My plan—gone! I'm in danger now, you bastard!"
What in the world was he talking about?
Thud!
Before I could think, my head slammed into the wall.
"If I go down, I'm dragging you with me! You hear me?!"
…He'd completely lost it.
Normally, I would've swallowed my pride and let it go.
But not today.
"You started this, Karl."
"What? Did you just talk back to your superior—"
Smack!
I slapped his hand away and punched him square in the face.
Karl tried to dodge, but my fist hit his cheekbone.
"Argh!"
He stumbled back. I stepped forward, grabbed his collar, and swept his legs.
Thud!
He hit the floor with a grunt.
I climbed on top of him and raised my fist again.
He trembled beneath me.
"Th-This is assaulting a superior officer! You'll face court-martial—your career will be over!"
I shrugged.
"That's the idea."
"What? You—"
Smack!
My punch knocked him out cold.
I stood and dusted off my hands.
Footsteps echoed down the hall.
The door burst open. Two soldiers rushed in.
"What happened here?!"
They froze at the sight of Karl unconscious on the floor—and me, standing over him.
"It's assault. I'm the culprit. Arrest me."
They hesitated.
I sighed.
"What's the hold-up? Need to match my fist to his bruises?"
"N-No, sir!"
They quickly tied my wrists.
Despite everything, I felt… relieved.
'Just impulsive assault. They won't give me death. With my achievements, they'll discharge me.'
A clean exit.
Suppressing a cheer, I looked out the window.
Spring sunlight spilled through.
The perfect season to leave the army.
That Evening
Major Karl Heinrich's Residence
"Search every corner."
"Yes, sir!"
At the order of Captain Philip Bender, aide to Brigadier General Heinrich Schmidt, soldiers scattered across the house.
Philip strolled through the living room, deep in thought.
'Daniel assaulted his superior…?'
When he first heard the news, he thought it was a joke.
Daniel Steiner wasn't the kind to snap.
There had to be a reason.
During questioning, Karl rambled about how "the Allied Nations might try to kill me."
Paranoia. Delusions.
Sensing something off, Brigadier Heinrich had ordered Philip to investigate Karl's home.
"Captain! Over here!"
A soldier knelt, tapping a section of floorboard.
Thump, thump—
Hollow.
"It sounds empty."
"An old trick. Pry it open."
"Yes, sir!"
With a crowbar, they opened the floor and found a small box.
Philip knelt, opened it—and froze.
Inside were classified military documents.
Along with letters promising payment from the Allied Nations.
Even worse, the latest letter ordered Karl to mislead Imperial reinforcements into a trap.
"That bastard…"
Karl Heinrich was a traitor.
A corrupt coward who sold out the Empire.
Which meant…
'Daniel's punch wasn't rebellion—it was justice.'
Daniel Steiner wasn't a criminal.
He was a hero who exposed a traitor and protected the Empire.
Philip stood up, box in hand.
"I'm returning to headquarters. Report any further findings to me."
"Yes, sir. If I may ask… why the rush?"
Philip smiled.
"These documents prove Daniel Steiner is innocent. It's time the Empire cleared the name of its hero."
The soldier blinked.
It was the first time he'd ever seen the cold-blooded Captain Philip… smile so warmly.