I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander - Chapter 123

After spending one more day in the hospital, Daniel completed discharge procedures and came out.

While catching his breath under the pouring sunlight, Daniel slowly raised his hand to touch his forehead.

It was the spot where he had been hit by the brick two days ago.

'They said it was real...'

Yesterday, after sending Voelm away, Daniel was about to rest in his hospital room when he encountered an uninvited guest.

Tom, who hadn't been called, barged into the room and suddenly knelt down, crying out apologies.

Not understanding what he meant, Daniel asked him to explain from the beginning, and Tom revealed the fact that 'someone else threw the brick before I could throw it.'

In other words, Daniel had been hit by a real brick, not a fake one.

'No wonder it was strangely painful, not to mention bleeding profusely...'

It was fortunate that the brick had grazed his forehead; if it had hit him head-on, he might not even be standing here now.

'This is absurd.'

Rationally thinking, there shouldn't have been anyone in the protest group who would resort to violence.

Most of the protesters would be acting under the instigation of the noble groups, and if they publicly used violence against Daniel Steiner, who was practically a political opponent, they would end up in a disadvantageous situation.

Even if they inflicted a severe injury on Daniel with a brick and put him in a coma, they wouldn't be able to escape Celvia's wrath.

Celvia would have achieved a more solid centralization by deploying troops under the pretext of investigating the background of the protesters who attacked Daniel Steiner, a war hero.

'And yet...'

It was bewildering that there was someone who threw a brick in an emotional response.

Still, from Daniel's perspective, it wasn't a bad thing.

He had heard that the person who threw the brick was caught in the act.

According to the police report, he was a senior member who not only organized the protest group but also led it proactively, which made Daniel rather pleased.

'Since a definite insider committed violence, the nobles won't be able to refute.'

Originally, they might have responded with something like 'Daniel Steiner's self-staged act has gone too far,' but once an insider was arrested in the act, they had no choice but to keep their mouths shut.

'If the empire's largest newspaper company keeps its mouth shut...'

It would plant a suspicion in the minds of the citizens that the Imperial Daily might be writing biased articles with the support of the nobles.

It didn't matter much even if they reported on the incident, albeit passively, because they couldn't afford to have the image of a biased newspaper.

That would be tantamount to them admitting the violence of the anti-war protests.

'It's like losing a means to attack me forever.'

Just as Daniel was inwardly satisfied, thinking it was beneficial either way.

"Oh my! Lieutenant Colonel Daniel!"

Turning his head at the familiar voice, he saw Bellaf wearing a pastor's robe.

Freyen was with him.

Bellaf, who had come closer, spoke with a fuss.

"I was so worried when I heard you were injured, but I'm glad you're fine. Is there anything uncomfortable? If you need anything, I'll prepare it all, so please don't hesitate to ask."

Although Bellaf was speaking in a worried tone, his true intentions were clearly visible.

He was trying to establish a connection with Daniel, who might become the empire's new power holder.

It was truly an opportunistic aspect, but Daniel, who hadn't particularly expected anything from Bellaf, only reacted indifferently.

"I don't need anything right now. I'll be heading straight to the capital."

"What? You could rest a little more..."

"There's less than a week left until the coronation. I can't be dawdling in a place like this when I need to report the inspection results to the imperial family before the coronation."

Can't be dawdling? Is this something a person who was hit on the head with a brick just two days ago can say?

Bellaf, exhaling dejectedly, looked at Daniel as if seeing a superhuman beyond human capabilities.

Finding that gaze burdensome, Daniel cleared his throat and turned to Freyen.

"Freyen. You treated me, didn't you? I was too preoccupied to thank you..."

"It's alright. I feel like I've been repaid with what you just said."

Freyen's gentle response somehow felt strange to Daniel.

'Looking at her like this, she seems like such a normal woman...'

Thinking that it would have been good if she hadn't been tainted by strange ideologies, Daniel shook his head.

In this era, soldiers imbued with nationalism were common.

Although Freyen's case was a bit extreme, there was no need to lecture someone who had helped him right in front of them.

"It seems I have a good subordinate. Your healing magic has effects that even doctors are amazed by, so continue to hone your skills in the future."

The reason Freyen would later be called the Saint of the Empire was precisely because of this healing ability.

While ordinary healing magic could only produce effects at the level of first aid, Freyen could perform miracles that completely healed wounds.

Until now, there hadn't been a chance to confirm Freyen's abilities because Daniel had never been injured, but seeing how she healed the forehead torn by the brick in a short time, he thought she truly deserved to be called a saint.

"If Lieutenant Colonel Daniel says so..."

Pleased by the praise, Freyen smiled faintly.

"I will research healing magic during all hours outside of work."

"No, that's not what I meant..."

"Please let me do it. I want to be of help to Lieutenant Colonel Daniel."

...It feels like I said something wrong.

As Daniel, with a sour expression, hesitated to answer, Bellaf intervened.

"Lieutenant Colonel Daniel. May I say something?"

Thinking this was well-timed, Daniel nodded, and Bellaf continued.

"Now, aren't our Glory of the Holy Fire Grand Church and Lieutenant Colonel Daniel in the same boat? In that sense, if you could tell us your purpose once, I think we could be of great help."

Daniel fell into thought for a moment.

Purpose, huh.

Although unwanted events kept happening, and he got caught up in the storm of history while struggling to survive, his purpose itself hadn't changed much.

The wind blowing under the clear sky is refreshing.

Daniel, who had been savoring the feeling of the wind touching and dispersing on his skin with his eyes closed for a moment, moved his lips.

"Peace."

Opening his eyes slowly, Daniel looked at Bellaf with a faint smile.

"My purpose is to lead an everyday life in a truly pastoral and even boring peace."

Thanks to this, Bellaf could only smile awkwardly.

"I, I see."

Because Daniel's words about wanting peace sounded like a complete lie.

'If you don't want to tell me, you could just say so...'

Daniel had spoken sincerely, but Bellaf couldn't possibly believe that Daniel, who had led numerous battles to victory, not to mention political machinations including the total war speech, wanted peace.

• 
  

That night.

At Baron Hendliem's mansion.

"Damn it! Why doesn't anyone believe me...!"

Hendliem opened the door of the mansion irritably.

As he took off his coat to hand it to a servant, Hendliem felt something strange.

The servant who should have approached saying "You've worked hard" by now was nowhere to be seen.

Moreover, even the lights in the mansion's corridor hadn't been turned on.

Looking around the dark mansion, Hendliem slowly moved his steps instead of doing the foolish thing of calling out the servant's name.

'...Someone has invaded my mansion.'

However, there were no signs of the servants having been harmed by whoever infiltrated the mansion.

This meant that the intruder in the mansion was someone familiar to the servants.

'Did they use my name to make everyone go home? What's the reason?'

Feeling an inexplicable unpleasantness, Hendliem climbed the stairs of the mansion.

The creaking of the old stairs sounded especially eerie today.

Walking down the corridor with his coat draped over his arm, Hendliem reached his room and grabbed the doorknob to open it.

Through the gap in the door, he saw a man sitting in front of the desk reading a newspaper.

It was Platt, who was working as his informant.

Finally feeling relieved, Hendliem opened the door and stepped inside.

"So it was you. If we had urgent matters to discuss, you should have contacted me in advance..."

Platt didn't answer and continued reading the newspaper.

Although Hendliem found this strange, he decided not to point it out since it was common for the guy to act rudely occasionally.

"So, what brings you here today..."

Hendliem, who had hung his coat on the chair at the desk, stopped as he was about to sit down.

On the desk was a piece of paper with a suicide note written on it.

Moreover, it was a suicide note imitating Hendliem's own handwriting.

Seeing the gun placed next to the suicide note, Hendliem's eyes trembled as he looked at Platt.

"...What is the meaning of this?"

Platt answered while turning a page of the newspaper.

"It's exactly as you see. Please commit suicide."

Thanks to Platt casually saying such shocking words, Hendliem's thoughts became paralyzed.

As if to be considerate of such a Hendliem, Platt added an explanation.

"The Duke has designated Baron Hendliem as a traitor. So you must take responsibility."

"...A traitor? Me? What nonsensical slander are you spouting now!?"

"Slander, you say?"

Platt let out a low laugh.

"Can you really call it mere slander when Daniel Steiner comes out to defend you?"

"That... Isn't that just that bastard trying to isolate me by playing tricks!?"

"The Duke tried to interpret it that way too. He tried to give Baron Hendliem the benefit of the doubt as much as possible. But you see."

Platt folded the newspaper and threw it on the desk.

"What is this?"

What's wrong with the newspaper? Hendliem lowered his head and could see the headline on the front page of the newspaper.

[Anti-war Protesters Turn into a Mob, but Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner Shows Consideration for Them]

Below the headline was a photo of Daniel Steiner, bleeding from his forehead, embracing and comforting someone who appeared to be from the protest group.

As Hendliem blankly looked down at the article, Platt said.

"The protest group was under Baron Hendliem's jurisdiction. Am I correct?"

It wasn't wrong.

It was Baron Hendliem who had been secretly providing funds to the protest group.

"But violence occurred at that protest. And it was directed at Daniel Steiner."

His breathing trembled.

Hendliem tried his best to regain composure and raised his head.

"So what of it? If this is also Daniel Steiner's scheme-"

"Baron. That's enough."

Platt, cutting off Hendliem's words, sighed.

"I hear the person who threw the brick was arrested in the act. When they investigated his identity, it turns out he was an executive who had been active in the protest group for a very long time."

"..."

"Not only the Duke but also other high-ranking individuals are questioning whether this might be 'an act carried out by Baron Hendliem in collusion with Daniel Steiner'."

Platt scratched his head as if regretful.

"As a result, the Duke was furious that he can no longer attack Daniel Steiner through anti-war protests. Everything ended when an executive of the protest group was caught in the act."

"Wait. Let me..."

"Even if Daniel Steiner had bribed the executive of the protest group, you can't escape the Duke's anger. It means that you performed the task assigned to you so poorly."

Having conveyed everything, Platt stood up from the chair and adjusted his clothes.

"I'll give you plenty of time. I'll be waiting outside the door, so if there's anything you want to change in the suicide note, please let me know."

Saying that, Platt bowed his head slightly and turned to walk out.

Only after hearing the sound of the door closing did Hendliem exhale dejectedly.

"Ah..."

His trembling pupils captured the photo of Daniel Steiner printed on the front page of the newspaper.

After capturing Campbell, Daniel Steiner used the media to politically isolate Hendliem.

He made other nobles suspicious of Hendliem and distance themselves from him.

Before that suspicion could be resolved, this time he went down to the south and clashed with the protest group, provoking violence.

'And that too...'

By bribing an executive of the protest group.

It's unclear how he managed to bribe that person.

But Daniel Steiner did it, and as a result, Hendliem lost all trust.

"Aah..."

Hendliem, drained of strength, staggered.

This man, who was smiling more kindly than anyone else in the newspaper, was driving him, someone he had never even met, to death using devilish schemes.

Falling into endless despair, Hendliem finally collapsed into his seat.

In his mind tainted with the color of defeat, Hendliem quietly sobbed with his teeth clenched.

'It may have been the Duke who ordered me to die, but...'

He cursed the fact that it was none other than Daniel Steiner who had driven him to death.