I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander

After about ten days, the higher-ups approved Daniel’s vacation request.

Considering the complicated procedures for granting leave during wartime, the approval came relatively swiftly.

With his leave permit, Daniel boarded the first-class carriage of the ‘Royal Express’, a luxury train service.

While officers would typically not be granted first-class passage on premium trains, the General Staff Headquarters made an exception for Daniel, who had accumulated numerous military achievements.

‘Now, let’s see… My assigned cabin is…’

Walking down the red-carpeted corridor, Daniel stopped in front of a cabin labeled ‘CA8’.

Confirming it matched his ticket, Daniel opened the door.

A large window provided a bright view of the scenery outside.

Inwardly marveling, he entered to find plush beds on either side of the cabin.

In the center, an elegant table and chairs were positioned, with an assortment of expensive snacks prepared on the table, living up to its prestigious reputation.

After setting down his luggage against a nearby wall, Daniel approached the table, pulled out a chair, and took a seat.

Removing his uniform cap and placing it on the table, the train began to move with a slight jolt.

Adjusting his attire, Daniel leaned back comfortably in his chair, gazing out the window at the passing scenery.

While the landscapes continuously changed as the train moved, the radiance shimmering on the trees and fields remained constant regardless of the train’s location.

It was a truly idyllic and peaceful succession of vistas.

A smile naturally formed on Daniel’s lips.

‘Yes. This is what I wanted.’

A peaceful life free from worries or concerns.

Sufficient wealth to maintain an affluent lifestyle.

And a modest degree of power to avoid being disrespected by others.

Had he not enrolled in the military academy to pursue this trifecta of desires that any commoner would aspire to?

‘And yet…’

Ever since regaining his past life’s memories, his life had unraveled in real-time.

To summarize Daniel’s current life:

A precarious existence marred by the constant threat of assassination, leaving him preoccupied with survival on the battlefield.

A burden of excessive wealth due to the continuous accumulation of military honors and rewards.

A position of power that not only prevented disrespect but instilled fear in others.

It had strayed far too distant from the narrow and long life he had envisioned.

While the situation typically warranted a sigh, today, he could simply laugh it off.

‘I’m on vacation, after all.’

For the next month, he would not have to endure the exhausting duties alongside his aide, a Union spy.

Nor would he need to worry about becoming entangled in the Crown Prince and Princess’s succession struggle.

There was no need to agonize over what operational support the General Staff Headquarters might task him with next.

‘Perhaps I should not be this happy.’

Letting out a soft chuckle, Daniel basked in the sunlight streaming through the window.

‘Come to think of it, this is my first visit to my hometown in nearly two years.’

Since using his regular leave as a military academy cadet to visit, he had not returned to the southern region.

‘I wonder how the Monastery Headmaster is faring. I sent a letter to inform him of my sudden visit, but…’

Worried that the isolated location might have prevented the letter’s delivery, Daniel’s mind drifted to reminisce about his childhood hometown.

Creak—

The cabin’s sliding door opened, revealing a black man entering.

Spotting Daniel, he removed the fedora from his head and held it against his chest.

“Well, well. I didn’t expect a passenger to be here already. I should have knocked.”

Rising from his seat, Daniel smiled and extended his hand.

“It’s quite alright. As we’ll be sharing this cabin, there’s no need to be so formal with me. I’m Daniel Steiner.”
“Ah! You must be Major Daniel Steiner. I’ve heard many stories about you. My name is Hamtal, and I hail from Nordia.”

The black man’s identity was Hamtal, the leader of the secret society Black Feathers.

Of course, Daniel was unaware of this.

“From Nordia, you say. What an incredible coincidence. I happened to serve as the Regional Commander stationed there.”
“I’ve heard Nordia has become a much better place to live, thanks to you. But first, shall we have a seat and converse?”

With a pleased nod, Daniel took his seat.

Hamtal, too, sat across from him and adjusted his necktie.

Then, as if suddenly recalling something, he casually began speaking.

“By the way, Major Steiner. I’ve heard you implemented rather radical urban planning initiatives in Nordia. Did you have a particular reason for doing so?”

This was a final attempt to gauge Daniel’s intentions.

Hamtal wished to know whether Daniel had improved Nordia for the Empire’s benefit or purely to create a more ideal world by aiding its citizens.

After a brief silence, Daniel shrugged in response to Hamtal’s question.

“To be honest, I expected to receive criticism from the General Staff Headquarters and Nordia’s citizens for my actions. However, the results unexpectedly turned out favorably.”

Inwardly, Hamtal marveled at Daniel’s words.

‘He proceeded despite anticipating backlash from both the Empire and its citizens?’

This was akin to the actions of a true prophet.

“Could it be that you also spoke out for the sake of us people of color, including us blacks…?”
“Spoke out, you say? That should be a given. Racial discrimination… Is that not the epitome of delusional supremacist thinking? I merely told those insane individuals not to engage in such insanity.”

Daniel’s sincere tone conveyed his earnest beliefs.

Witnessing this side of Daniel, Hamtal could cast aside any lingering doubts.

‘Indeed, Daniel Steiner is a man worthy of our loyalty.’

Filled with newfound respect, Hamtal rose from his seat.

“Apologies for interrupting our conversation, but I must briefly excuse myself to the restroom.”

As Daniel nodded, Hamtal replaced his fedora and exited into the corridor.

After walking a few paces down the corridor, Hamtal retrieved a radio from his pocket, turned it on, and pressed the transmit button.

“Report any abnormalities in your respective areas.”

Shortly after Hamtal’s instructions, reports began streaming in over the radio.

No issues in the dining car. Will continue monitoring.

The lounge car is also clear.

No abnormalities in the connecting corridors between areas.

Currently, Black Feathers operatives had infiltrated every section of the Royal Express train.

This was the most opportune moment for any potential harm to befall Daniel Steiner, as he was on vacation without military accompaniment.

Thus, Hamtal, the leader of Black Feathers, had secretly brought in operatives from the secret society to discreetly guard Daniel.

A suspicious individual has been spotted in the VIP car. Confirmed them communicating with someone via a wristwatch radio.

Then, a report from the VIP car caused Hamtal’s brow to furrow.

Narrowing his eyes coldly, Hamtal pressed the radio’s transmit button and spoke.

“Continue monitoring them. If they disembark from the train, follow them and locate their base of operations.”

After receiving an affirmative response, Hamtal turned off the radio and pocketed it.

‘If there are forces seeking to undermine Daniel Steiner…’

He was prepared to utterly annihilate them, utilizing every technique honed over the past decade.

Of course, Daniel remained obliviously appreciating the scenery from within his cabin, completely unaware of these developments.

Meanwhile, at the St. Michael Monastery.

“So many weeds… Please, bear with me for a moment.”

Within the courtyard garden enclosed by walls, the Monastery Headmaster, Hierony, was pulling weeds and transferring them into a nearby basket.

The deputy headmaster monk, dressed in his pristine robes, approached Hierony.

“Headmaster. May I have a word with you?”

Hearing the voice behind him, Hierony paused his weeding and turned around.

“Ah, Deputy Headmaster. What seems to be the matter?”
“It’s about… Daniel. He said he would be arriving tomorrow, did he not?”
“Indeed. That admirable child has taken the opportunity of his vacation to visit his hometown, as he informed me in his letter. But why the troubled expression, Deputy Headmaster? Are you not pleased that Daniel is coming?”

The deputy headmaster hastily shook his head.

“That’s not it. It’s just that the rumors I’ve been hearing are somewhat perplexing.”
“Rumors you’ve been hearing?”
“You are aware of who Major Daniel Steiner is, are you not, Headmaster?”
“Ah, of course. The Empire’s hero, is he not? And?”
“I was wondering if this Daniel Steiner could be our Daniel from the monastery…”

The monastery strictly prohibited the introduction of outside materials.

Not only newspapers but even simple magazines were forbidden from being brought into the monastery.

This stringent regulation existed because it was a place dedicated to serving God, where worldly connections were deemed inappropriate.

However, even within the monastery, the name ‘Major Daniel Steiner’ was well-known.

Wealthy patrons and politicians who occasionally visited the monastery-run orphanage to make donations would share stories about the happenings of the outside world.

Perhaps for this reason, some like the deputy headmaster harbored doubts that this Daniel Steiner might be the same Daniel from their monastery.

To the Monastery Headmaster Hierony, such notions were merely amusing.

“How many times must I remind you that it is merely a case of two individuals sharing the same name? Have you already forgotten what our Daniel was like as a child?”
“Of course not. Daniel was certainly… a kind-hearted boy.”
“Yes. That’s correct. Not only that, but he was a mature and responsible child who enjoyed contemplation, painting, and even assisted us in baking bread.”

As if recalling something, Hierony snapped his fingers.

“Ah, yes. Do you remember when the dog we were raising at the monastery fell ill and passed away? Daniel cried for three days and nights straight. Afterward, he personally created a grave for it and placed a fresh flower on the mound every single day.”

Listening to this account, one could not help but nod in agreement.

“Although Daniel did occasionally display a surprisingly stern demeanor that even caught us off guard, he was fundamentally a kind-hearted child beloved by God.”
“Exactly. It’s unthinkable that our Daniel would spearhead the invasion of Nordia and subjugate the Kingdom.”

Hierony let out a soft chuckle.

“Setting everything else aside, Daniel has only been a commissioned officer for nine months now. Yet he holds the rank of Major? It simply defies common sense.”

“You make a fair point.” The deputy headmaster let out an awkward laugh before nodding in agreement.

“It seems I spoke rashly. In that case, I shall take my leave. When Daniel arrives tomorrow, I should bake the kind of bread he loved.”

As Hierony smiled and nodded slightly, the deputy headmaster turned and walked away.

Returning to kneeling and weeding, Hierony inadvertently chuckled to himself.

‘Our Daniel being hailed as the Major who is called the Empire’s hero…’

The deputy headmaster’s imagination occasionally ran a bit too wild.

If he thought sensibly, he would realize such a scenario was simply implausible.