Mistaken for a War Hero

Chapter 33
The Devil of the Battlefield

After hearing my words, Sergeant Glendy, with a face full of loyalty, returned to the soldiers and relayed the order.

He added the nonsense that the Company Commander had shown incredible foresight.

While the soldiers prepared for battle with determined expressions, I climbed the nearby hill with Lieutenant McCael.

I wanted to confirm whether his report was accurate.

“As expected of Captain Daniel. Every action you take has a plan behind it.”

…For some reason, Frienne followed us, but I didn’t stop her.

Ignoring Frienne’s chatter, I reached the top of the hill and received the telescope from Lieutenant McCael.

“It’s over there, Company Commander.”

I turned the telescope towards where he was pointing and saw a clearing in the distance.

Soldiers in Kingdom Army uniforms were diligently preparing to camp there.

I zoomed in with the telescope and scanned the surroundings.

I could see several transport vehicles loaded with supplies.

They were filled with food, fuel, ammunition, medical and military equipment, radios and batteries, and even barbed wire, sandbags, mines, and concrete for building defenses.

‘…It’s definitely a supply unit.’

There were over 300 soldiers. It was a battalion-sized force.

‘But…’

That amount of supplies would be enough to supply at least a brigade, or even a division.

As far as I knew, the only Kingdom Army unit of that size concentrated near here was the Ironclad Division, responsible for defending the coastal city.

But that city was already surrounded by the Imperial Army. How were they planning to resupply them?

I was puzzled, but that wasn’t important right now.

Putting down the telescope, I looked at Lieutenant McCael.

“It doesn’t seem like they have many experienced soldiers. Am I right?”

“Yes, sir. Judging from their ranks, most of them are recruits. The veterans are either on the front lines or have mostly perished, so the Kingdom Army wouldn’t have much choice.”

“Then it will be easier to cook them. Cadet Frienne?”

Frienne looked at me with sparkling eyes. Honestly, it was a bit overwhelming.

“…You said you used to sing?”

“Yes, I was in the choir when I was young. I was even chosen as a soloist.”

A soloist was someone with exceptional singing skills and technique, even among the choir.

Considering that Frienne would eventually reach a level where she could enhance soldiers by imbuing her singing with mana, it wasn’t surprising.

Of course, I couldn’t ask her to demonstrate that skill now.

Frienne herself probably didn’t know exactly what her abilities were.

In that case, I had no choice but to utilize what was readily available and gain an advantage in battle.

‘If a battle is unavoidable, it’s best to minimize casualties on our side.’

That would directly lead to my survival.

Calculating in my head, I placed my hand on Frienne’s shoulder.

“Cadet Frienne, your role in this attack is crucial. So, will you trust me now?”

There was no one better than Frienne for deception tactics.

Frienne looked dazed for a moment, then broke into a bright smile.

“Yes! Gladly, for the Captain!”

***

Dawn.

Taliam, a Kingdom Army soldier standing guard with his comrades, stopped mid-yawn.

A faint singing voice could be heard from the depths of the forest.

At first, he thought he had misheard, but the singing was getting closer and closer.

Taliam stared in the direction of the singing, then hurriedly raised his rifle.

“Imperial Army!”

At Taliam’s shout, the other soldiers on guard also raised their weapons.

However, they didn’t fire.

“…What?”

“She’s alone? And unarmed…”

The woman approaching them, singing with her eyes closed, was clearly wearing an Imperial uniform.

There was no doubt she was an Imperial soldier.

But her uniform was covered in dirt, and the hem was torn.

“A deserter?”

“I don’t know. But her singing is amazing.”

Frienne was singing an aria.

With each step she took, her beautiful voice, praising God, echoed through the forest.

It was quite stimulating for the soldiers who had no form of entertainment.

The soldiers, having lowered their guns, began to appreciate Frienne’s singing.

Some even put down their rifles and crossed their arms.

It wasn’t something soldiers on guard duty would normally do, but no one pointed it out.

After all, the enemy was just a single, unarmed woman.

And a woman who appeared to be a deserter, no less.

The guards, judging that there was no need for vigilance, chatted amongst themselves, chuckling.

“This brings back memories. I used to hear hymns like this when I went to church with my parents.”

“Yeah. I hope this war ends soon so we can go back home. Damn Imperial Army bastards…”

“But what about that woman? Judging from how she walked here on her own, is she planning to defect?”

“I don’t know. Should we have a taste before reporting to the battalion commander? She looks pretty good.”

As the soldiers discussed what to do with Frienne while chuckling, she got closer and closer.

Taliam, who had been chatting with the other soldiers, suddenly noticed something strange.

‘…Was the forest always this dark?’

The area behind the woman approaching the camp was unusually dark.

Normally, he should at least be able to make out a faint outline, but it was as if a curtain had been drawn, obscuring everything.

Feeling uneasy, Taliam tapped the shoulder of the soldier in front of him.

“Hey, don’t you think something’s strange? It’s too dark.”

But the soldier just chuckled.

“Taliam, you scaredy-cat. You worry too much. It’s just that the moon is hidden behind the clouds tonight. That’s why it’s darker than usual.”

No, that couldn’t be it. It wasn’t like this was his first time on guard duty.

Feeling increasingly anxious, Taliam looked around at the other soldiers, but they were all engrossed in conversations about their hometowns and women.

By that time, Frienne had reached the camp and finished her song.

The guards, who had been chatting, all turned their attention to her.

“Soldiers of the Kingdom Army, who have joined hands with the Allied Nations.”

Frienne spoke with a sweet voice and smiled.

“May you all fall into hell.”

At that moment, Frienne lifted the mana she had spread like a curtain behind her.

Revealed were two hundred Imperial soldiers.

They were all aiming their weapons at the Kingdom Army soldiers with well-aimed precision.

“…!”

Only then did Taliam realize.

That Frienne’s amplified singing, enhanced by magic, was a distraction to conceal the footsteps of the two hundred soldiers.

But it was always too late to realize one’s mistake.

As Taliam and the other guards froze in shock, Daniel, leading the Imperial soldiers, spoke in a dry voice.

“Fire.”

As soon as he finished speaking, countless flashes erupted from the muzzles of the Imperial soldiers’ rifles.

***

Ratta-tat-tat—! Bang!

Lieutenant Colonel Henry Fuer of the supply battalion jolted awake at the sound of gunshots.

He wondered what the noise was, but there was no adjutant rushing in to report.

As he blinked his eyes in confusion, the gunshots continued.

“Gasp… gasp…!”

Henry finally came to his senses, hurriedly put on his uniform, grabbed his pistol, and rushed out of the command tent.

He was horrified by the sight that greeted him.

Flames and smoke were billowing everywhere.

Amidst the chaos, he could see Imperial soldiers in black uniforms occupying the camp.

Some soldiers emerged from their tents, alerted by the gunshots, but they were immediately met with Imperial gunfire and died without even a scream.

“W-What is this…?”

Had their supply route been discovered by the Imperial Army? How? Why?

His mind couldn’t process the shocking situation.

As his eyes darted around, Henry spotted a man approaching the command tent.

Amidst the cacophony of shouts and screams, the man with black hair, an Imperial officer, was walking with an air of elegance.

Finding his appearance somewhat familiar, Henry noticed the Gugseon Medal on the officer’s chest and realized who it was.

‘Daniel Steiner…!’

Wasn’t he the one being praised as the hero of the Empire?

Fear gripped Henry, and he pointed his pistol at Daniel.

“Don’t come any closer! You monster!”

Daniel stopped in his tracks.

As they stood facing each other, Daniel slowly moved his lips.

“If you wish to kill me, then shoot. I won’t stop you.”

“You think I wouldn’t dare shoot you!?”

“No, I believe you would. But if you kill me, what will happen to your soldiers?”

Henry’s hand trembled.

He understood what Daniel was implying.

“The Imperial Army, having lost its chain of command, will be like a runaway horse. They will try to kill every single Kingdom soldier here. But we can change that terrible future.”

Daniel’s voice sounded like a devil’s temptation.

“Battalion Commander, order a surrender now. Then I will order my men to cease fire. Please think of your subordinates. Think of the grief their families will have to endure.”

Make your decision while you can still save lives.

Henry gritted his teeth at his persuasive words.

He wasn’t wrong. If he stubbornly insisted on fighting to the death, everyone would die needlessly.

Henry wasn’t a competent commander, but he wasn’t incompetent either.

With a soft sob, Henry lowered his gun.

He had no choice.

“Surrender…”

Slowly opening his hand, Henry dropped his pistol and said,

“…I surrender.”

—————

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