I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander - Chapter 124

A few days later at the General Staff Headquarters.

Daniel Steiner's personal office.

"..."

Lucie, who was organizing documents on behalf of Daniel as usual, perked up her ears.

This was because she could hear familiar footsteps coming from the corridor.

Realizing that the owner of those footsteps was Daniel Steiner, Lucie sprang up from her chair.

Her body had reacted automatically out of joy at Daniel's return.

Just as she was about to open the door and go out to greet him, Lucie hesitated at a sudden thought.

'This is just like...'

Isn't it no different from a dog waiting for its master?

As Lucie sighed softly, feeling pathetic about herself, it happened.

Creeeeak─

The office door opened and Daniel walked in.

She had been worried because she heard he was hit on the forehead with a brick, but his appearance was no different from usual.

No. Somehow he seemed to be in an even better mood than usual.

"Oh. If it isn't our pretty adjutant. Have you been guarding the office well while I was away?"

Lucie felt goosebumps at Daniel's smiling words.

'...Our pretty adjutant?'

Not only was it an expression he didn't usually use, but his intonation also contained a spoonful of joy.

'Did he hurt his head?'

She had heard about it.

It's not common, but there are cases where people who receive a big shock to the brain have their personalities changed.

Thanks to this, Lucie looked at him with suspicious eyes, but Daniel was just humming a tune.

That was because things were going better than expected.

'There's hardly anyone who doesn't know that I was hit with a brick by the anti-war protesters.'

Whether it was because the Melbarton newspaper company did a better job than expected, or because the content of the article was sensational, the news had spread vigorously in the capital.

Even the Imperial Daily had started reporting on the news, so that said it all.

'That means...'

It was the same as the Imperial Daily raising a white flag.

'The Imperial Daily raising a white flag is the same as the nobles entering a stalemate.'

To put it jokingly, it was highly likely that they had entered a state of "This bastard plays the game dirty."

'So it's clear they won't be able to attack me for a while.'

In short, it had become a temporary ceasefire state, which was welcome from Daniel's perspective, whose top priority in life was self-preservation.

'Moreover...'

A promotion was scheduled after the coronation.

Of course, the promotion itself wasn't necessarily good.

Daniel was eyeing the change of position that would occur after the promotion.

After all, someone of the rank of colonel couldn't act as a mere operations staff officer.

'The higher-ups will appoint me as the head of the Operations Staff Department.'

With the merits he had accumulated so far, he would be able to take Ernst's position without much difficulty.

If that happened, Ernst would probably retire to some sinecure, and considering his frequent complaints about excessive work, he might accept it well.

'Actually, the department head has submitted requests for position changes to the higher-ups several times.'

Thanks to this, he would be able to take over the baton without any conflict between them.

'If I become the head of the Operations Staff Department...'

With increased access to confidential information, he could rise as a central figure in the empire.

If that happened, even an alliance of nobles wouldn't be able to easily extend their claws.

This meant he could take one step closer to the pastoral peace Daniel desired.

Additionally, the position of head of the Operations Staff Department was a rear office job.

It was a safe position far from the front lines where the flames of war were raging.

'Until now, I went out for operational support out of necessity, but...'

Now that he had established a certain foundation within the empire, there was absolutely no reason to risk going to the battlefield.

To use an analogy, it's like saying that now that he had carefully built a tower, all he had to do was move in.

Of course, there would still be various problems to solve in the future, and uninvited guests like the nobles would interfere at every turn, but for now, it wasn't something he needed to worry about much.

After all, Daniel had just won a big victory in the public opinion war against the nobles.

For the above reasons, Daniel, who was in a good mood, put down his briefcase and sat down at his desk.

Feeling the warmth of the sunlight pouring in from behind, Daniel smiled freshly.

"Adjutant. You've worked hard all this time. If I become the head of the Operations Staff Department, the staff members will share the work you've been handling, so you won't have to work overtime often."

"...You mean the head of the Operations Staff Department?"

"Yes. Her Highness the Imperial Princess said she would promote me on the day of the coronation, so that position is as good as mine. If you want, you can comfortably call me 'Department Head'."

Lucie's eyebrow twitched as she looked at Daniel, who was smiling benevolently.

'It's annoying...'

Lucie found Daniel's triumphant appearance somehow irritating.

• 
  

Meanwhile, in the Chief of the General Staff's office.

Senior commander personnel meeting.

"It seems everyone has gathered, so let's begin."

Arman Veterium, the Chief of the General Staff with an eye patch over one eye, looked around at the people seated at the conference table.

Not only the main staff of the General Staff Headquarters but also the head of the Personnel Department was present.

Among them, Cedric, the deputy head of the Operations Staff, exuded a peculiar presence.

Arman, who cast his gaze lastly on Cedric, picked up the documents on the table and said,

"As you know, Her Highness the Imperial Princess wishes to promote Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner to Colonel on the day of the coronation. Are there any disqualifying reasons for Daniel Steiner's special promotion in this regard?"

To this formal question, the head of the Personnel Department answered.

"There are none. Not only has he successfully carried out his missions every time he went out for operational support, but this time he also achieved great results by capturing the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Velmore as a prisoner. Moreover, his arrest of collaborators lurking in the empire can be said to be truly exemplary for an officer."

The deputy chief of the General Staff, who had been listening to the words of the Personnel Department head, chimed in.

"Although Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner's recent political moves are somewhat concerning, considering that his intentions are for the empire, I think it's a sufficiently acceptable level."

Arman nodded solemnly and put down the documents.

"Then we should now discuss his position. We can't let Daniel Steiner continue to act as an operations staff officer even after he becomes a colonel. In my opinion..."

Arman tapped the table and continued.

"I think it would be good to raise Daniel Steiner to the position of head of the Operations Staff Department. Ernst, the current head of the Operations Staff Department, has also expressed a desire for a position change. Have you reviewed this?"

This was directed at the head of the Personnel Department.

The Personnel Department head's expression became somewhat awkward, and he carefully opened his mouth.

"Your Excellency, the Chief of Staff. Colonel Ernst is a talent indispensable to the General Staff Headquarters. Also, although Daniel Steiner is an outstanding talent, opinions are divided on whether he is suitable for the position of head of the Operations Staff Department, given his limited experience working in the staff office."

An operations staff officer is someone who performs practical roles in supporting the establishment and execution of operation plans.

In contrast, the head of the Operations Staff Department must direct the overall operation plans of the department and organically judge the rights and wrongs of those operations.

It was a position that inevitably required long experience.

The Personnel Department head couldn't help but worry about whether it was indeed desirable to put Daniel Steiner in that position.

Understanding the Personnel Department head's position, Cedric opened his mouth.

"Your Excellency. I agree with the Personnel Department head. I think it's right for Colonel Ernst to continue to serve as the head of the Operations Staff Department for the empire. Also..."

After a brief pause, Cedric said,

"Daniel Steiner won't want the position of head of the Operations Staff Department."

Won't want the position of head of the Operations Staff Department? Curious, Arman looked at Cedric.

"Explain further."

"Yes. Previously, Daniel Steiner once told me, 'I can't live a comfortable life in the capital just because I'm a war hero.' He also added, 'If one truly wants to serve the empire, one should be active on the battlefield while still young.'"

This was a lie that Daniel had made up on the spot at the Christmas banquet to avoid the Emperor's check and to provide an excuse to leave the capital.

The problem was that neither Cedric nor Arman, the Chief of Staff, thought it was a lie.

"Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner is an officer with unparalleled patriotism. He wouldn't want to comfortably do office work in the capital. Also, the staff members here know what kind of achievements Daniel Steiner has shown on the battlefield."

Daniel Steiner successfully carried out operations that no one else thought could be done.

He succeeded not just once but multiple times, so it was safe to say that no one doubted his abilities.

Related to this, jokes like 'If there's an operation that seems impossible, assign it to Daniel Steiner' had even emerged among the staff.

"Therefore, I believe it would be right to change his position according to Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner's wishes if possible. The empire needs even one more competent front-line commander right now."

As it wasn't wrong, Arman nodded.

"Then do you have any thoughts on where to place Daniel Steiner?"

"Yes. After careful consideration, I thought it might be good to place Daniel Steiner in the position of chief of staff of the 7th Division, which is being operated as a direct unit under the General Staff Headquarters."

"Chief of staff of a division. What does the Personnel Department head think about this?"

The Personnel Department head seemed to be lost in thought for a moment, then answered positively.

"The current chief of staff of the 7th Division is about to retire, so the handover is possible right away."

"Then it's decided."

If there was a capable officer who wanted to be active on the battlefield, it was right to grant that wish.

"As of this moment, I, Arman Veterium, Chief of the General Staff, will approve Daniel Steiner's special promotion, and the position that changes with the promotion will be the chief of staff of the 7th Division, a direct unit under the General Staff Headquarters."

After confirming that everyone had no objections, Arman turned to the deputy chief of staff.

"The deputy chief of staff should summarize this meeting and report it to Her Highness the Imperial Princess."

"Yes, understood."

As the deputy chief of staff answered, Arman raised his hand and waved it.

It meant that the meeting was over and everyone should return to their duties.

With that, the sound of chairs being pulled out could be heard here and there as the staff members stood up.

Cedric also stood up to leave the Chief of Staff's office.

"Deputy Head of Operations Staff."

Cedric turned his gaze to Arman, who had called him.

The reason Arman had called Cedric was that he had a question for Cedric, who was known for his accurate judgment of people.

Arman spoke quietly enough that others couldn't hear.

"You seem to see potential in Daniel Steiner. What do you see?"

"A decisive victory."

"Can you be certain?"

"I can't be certain. He could become the greatest soldier in history, but..."

After a brief silence, Cedric added,

"He might also become the most dangerous politician in history."