Mistaken for a War Hero

Chapter 37
The Company Commander Always Has a Plan
『 Translator – Divinity 』

A soldier must fight when given an order.

Since I also fell under the category of ‘soldier,’ I couldn’t refuse the order.

In the end, I had no choice but to lead my company, which arrived late, and advance towards enemy territory as the rear guard of the brigade.

We marched through the dark tunnel, relying on our flashlights, until we found an opening in the ceiling where light was leaking through. Climbing out of the tunnel, we arrived at the enemy’s supply depot.

It was a large warehouse-like structure filled with various supplies, but the Kingdom soldiers guarding it were all dead, riddled with bullets.

It seemed to be the work of the brigade soldiers who had entered earlier.

I frowned at the smell of blood, and the officers and soldiers of my company emerged from the tunnel one after another.

“My, what a festive scene they’ve created.”

Lieutenant McCael was the first to speak.

I nodded casually and walked out through the open warehouse door.

Instead of the dim lights, bright sunlight illuminated the surroundings.

Glancing around, it wasn’t much different from inside the warehouse.

The Allied soldiers guarding the base were all dead.

Meanwhile, there were hardly any corpses of Imperial soldiers.

I didn’t expect such a difference in skill, even with a surprise attack.

I almost felt sorry for the Kingdom soldiers.

As I clicked my tongue in disapproval, a loud explosion rang out from nearby.

Turning my head, I saw artillery shells raining down on the city center.

Fortunately, it wasn’t indiscriminate shelling.

They were focusing on the enemy military bases to avoid civilian casualties.

It was proof that the current Empire was adhering to international wartime laws.

However, it was uncertain whether the Empire’s soldiers were also following those laws.

Through the open door of the supply depot, I could see Imperial soldiers slaughtering Kingdom soldiers.

In some buildings, windows shattered, and Kingdom soldiers fell to the ground.

They were suppressing the enemy with near-perfect efficiency, even in urban warfare.

‘As expected of the Magic Mobile Brigade, the elite of the Empire…’

Just as I was feeling impressed, a woman with light brown hair stopped next to me.

It was Frienne.

“What a gruesome sight.”

I turned around, surprised that she was saying something sensible for once, but she had a pious expression, as if praying to God.

“They must have been human once. How could they not know that if you join hands with beasts, you become a beast yourself? They deserve divine punishment, but their transgression is truly saddening.”

Right, there was no way you would say something sensible.

I glared at Frienne with disapproval, and then Lieutenant McCael spoke up.

“I knew it would be an easy victory after hearing the operation plan, but I didn’t expect it to be this overwhelming. I almost feel guilty. It’s like we’re using violence against children.”

Sergeant Glendy burst into laughter at Lieutenant McCael’s joke.

“That’s a perfect analogy! And to think of using the enemy’s supply route to infiltrate them, it seems like the Company Commander can see several steps ahead on the battlefield!”

“…We were just lucky.”

“Hahaha! With your humility on top of everything else, how can I not admire you? But are we joining the brigade soldiers now?”

Are they crazy? They want to go into the heart of enemy territory, where artillery fire is raining down, and fight?

I looked back at them, wondering if they were serious, and saw their faces full of anticipation.

Not just Sergeant Glendy, but the other officers and soldiers were also itching to fight.

Even Lucy, who always maintained a neutral expression, seemed normal compared to them.

‘These war maniacs…’

It was chilling.

They all seemed to want to fight, but unfortunately, I had no intention of fulfilling their wishes.

“We’re going to the coast.”

The coast? Frienne spoke up in confusion.

“Captain Daniel? With the diversionary attack from our allies, aren’t all the enemies concentrated on the front lines or in the city center? The coast must be filled with citizens evacuating.”

“…Are you suggesting we attack the civilians?”

What did she take me for to ask such a question?

The reason I wanted to go to the coast was simply that I judged it to be the area with the fewest enemies.

If a battle was unavoidable, choosing the location with the least fighting would increase our chances of survival.

Of course, I couldn’t explain this to these irrational war maniacs, as I didn’t know what kind of criticism I would receive. So I just brushed it off.

“I have a plan, so follow me without complaint.”

Actually, I didn’t have a plan.

I just said “plan” because it was a magic word that could quell the dissatisfaction of the unit members.

As expected, Frienne and the other officers saluted me in acknowledgement.

‘Good.’

Now I could leave the fighting to the brigade soldiers and relax by the coast, watching the sea.

“All troops, follow me to the coast immediately.”

Hiding my true intentions, I gave the order calmly and started walking.

***

“The front lines… the front lines have been breached!”

“We’ve lost contact with the city’s central forces!”

News of defeat reached the ears of Lapunai, the Division Commander of the retreating Kingdom Army’s Ironclad Division.

He had anticipated it to some extent, but he didn’t expect the city to fall so rapidly.

Gritting his teeth, Lapunai glared at the radio operator and said,

“Order them to hold their position as much as possible and withstand the Imperial Army’s attack.”

“But that will lead to heavy casualties…”

“That’s an order! We need to buy time for our escape to have another chance!”

It was Major General Lapunai’s belief that while soldiers could be easily conscripted, it was difficult to fill the void if the military leadership was wiped out.

However, this belief was also a defense mechanism formed to justify his escape from the battlefield in times of crisis.

BOOM—

The ground shook from the shelling, and his legs wobbled.

Lapunai almost stumbled but managed to regain his balance and continued walking.

“Damn it! How much farther do we have to go!?”

As Lapunai urged them on, a field officer next to him spoke up.

“Just around this corner is the rendezvous point! The escape vessel is disguised as a fishing boat, so it should be safe from the Imperial Army’s attacks.”

Lapunai nodded at the officer’s calm explanation.

The Imperial Army, except in special cases, adhered to international wartime laws.

This meant they wouldn’t attack civilians, and if they joined the citizens’ evacuation disguised as fishermen, they could easily escape.

“But Division Commander, are you really going to evacuate?”

The Kingdom Army, having lost its leadership, would be like a candle in the wind.

The officer was concerned about this, but Lapunai was only enraged.

“We already lost the war the moment we were surrounded! We were barely holding on because our supply lines were intact, but they used that against us and invaded! Do you think we have a chance of winning!?”

“We don’t, but if we’re prepared to fight to the death…”

“Don’t be ridiculous! Only a fool wouldn’t retreat from a losing battle!”

This didn’t apply to the soldiers under Lapunai’s command, though.

“…Understood.”

The officer, realizing he couldn’t change the Division Commander’s mind, remained silent.

Lapunai glared at him and turned the corner. Beyond the alley, he could see the coastline.

They would reach the escape vessel if they went just a little further.

Lapunai and his group, thinking they had finally survived, stepped out of the alley and froze.

“Huh?”

They came face to face with an Imperial Army unit in black uniforms.

There were about 200 Imperial soldiers.

The Imperial officer leading them had a Gugseon Medal gleaming on his chest in the sunlight.

Seeing this, Lapunai gulped.

The elite troops he brought for protection numbered no more than 50.

He was worried that bringing more soldiers would increase the risk of being detected by the enemy.

In any case, engaging in battle here would only lead to a pointless death.

‘But…’

How did they know to set up an ambush here?

From Lapunai’s perspective, who hadn’t even communicated with anyone to avoid interception, it was naturally absurd.

Daniel, leading the company, wasn’t feeling much different.

‘…Why is the Ironclad Division’s command here?’

Daniel, who had come to the coast simply to avoid fighting, couldn’t understand it.

However, his soldiers didn’t seem to think so.

Click—

The Imperial soldiers raised their rifles in unison, aiming at the Ironclad Division’s command.

Sergeant Glendy, also aiming his rifle alongside the soldiers, said,

“Company Commander, was this your plan all along? I’m beyond impressed; I’m terrified.”

Daniel was also terrified.

He couldn’t help but sigh at the thought of accumulating another merit, but he couldn’t show it.

“Capture them.”

Daniel narrowed his eyes at the hesitant Ironclad Division commanders.

“You may kill anyone who resists.”

At Daniel’s chilling words, the Kingdom soldiers lost their will to fight and dropped their weapons one by one.

It was an act of acknowledging the fall of Nordia.