I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander-Chapter 157

Lieutenant Reckela, having received Daniel Steiner’s order, reported it to command and opened the checkpoint gate.

After that, Reckela offered to escort him to where the Regiment Commander was located, and Daniel accepted.

As Daniel Steiner entered the Armored Regiment’s camp, the attention of the soldiers and officers naturally converged on him.

“...What the hell?” “Isn’t that Colonel Daniel Steiner?” “That’s the Golden Cross on his uniform. It has to be him.”

Everyone stopped what they were doing, blankly watching Daniel Steiner as he walked through the camp.

It was only natural for them to be bewildered.

The Armored Regiment had clearly been dispatched here to capture or kill the traitor Daniel Steiner—and now that very man was strolling calmly through their camp.

However, Daniel Steiner’s inner state was far from calm.

In fact, he was on the verge of intense tension.

“If I fail, I die.”

When he received the imperial decree from the Regiment’s messenger yesterday, Daniel immediately understood Belvar’s scheme.

It was to provoke the 7th Magitek Armored Division into attacking or ignoring the Guard’s Armored Regiment, thereby creating the excuse that “Daniel Steiner disobeyed His Majesty’s orders.”

That’s when Daniel realized escape was impossible and, before the gathered staff ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) officers, declared, “I’ll go persuade the Armored Regiment alone.”

The staff were understandably horrified and urged him to send a diplomatic team instead, but Daniel refused to back down.

Sending a delegation would risk misinterpretation of intent—and the more time passed, the more the traitors in the Capital would solidify their grip. That was his reasoning.

As Daniel remained adamant, the staff had no choice but to nod.

Thus, for the above reasons, Daniel was now walking alone through the Armored Regiment’s camp.

“Calm down. Even in a tiger’s den, keeping your head clear is the key to survival.”

There was no other way to break through than this.

Besides, Daniel hadn’t come to persuade the Armored Regiment blindly.

“Judging by the fact that they seized the Capital as soon as I was appointed Chief of Staff of the 7th Armored Division...”

The Noble Coalition, Belvar included, likely didn’t have enough time to prepare thoroughly in advance.

In other words, even if they managed to bribe the Defense Commander, they wouldn’t have had time to win over the subordinate unit commanders as well.

If those commanders weren’t loyal from the heart, but simply obeying orders for personal gain or because of their superior’s authority—then they could still be persuaded.

“Which means...”

It was time to give his best performance as a “war hero.”

****

Meanwhile, in the command tent of the Armored Regiment under the Guard Division...

“...Daniel Steiner’s here?”

At the Regiment Commander Telberet’s question, his aide nodded.

“Yes, sir. He’s unarmed and has come to speak with you directly.”

“Did you grant permission?”

“Yes, sir. He’s currently approaching the command tent, escorted by the checkpoint officer.”

“Is he surrendering?”

“It’s unclear, but it doesn’t appear to be a surrender.”

Hearing this, Telberet stroked his chin.

“What’s his aim? I can’t make sense of this. But...”

To walk into enemy territory alone—that kind of nerve was something he had to respect.

Telberet had never disliked courageous young men, and now he found himself intrigued by this Daniel Steiner.

At the very least, he figured he ought to hear what he had to say—and just as that thought settled, a beep rang out from the radio.

— Commander, Daniel Steiner has arrived in front of the command tent.

After hearing that, Telberet, just in case, grabbed his sidearm and stepped out of the tent.

Sure enough, outside stood Daniel Steiner, sharply dressed in his black uniform.

Soldiers and officers had formed a ring around him.

They had all come to watch after hearing that Daniel Steiner was here during their rest time.

Telberet considered ordering them back to their posts, but decided against it.

He’d heard that Daniel Steiner was a Neural Acceleration user—so it was better to have numbers around, just in case something happened.

“Colonel Daniel Steiner, Acting Commander of the 7th Magitek Armored Division.”

Telberet called out as he walked slowly toward him.

“I’d always wanted to see the face of such a famous talent. I didn’t expect we’d meet like this. Unfortunate, really.”

Telberet stopped just in front of Daniel.

“I have no personal grudge against you. But as a soldier, I must obey my superior’s orders. By His Majesty the Emperor’s command, I am to arrest you here and now.”

Daniel gave a small nod, as if to say he understood.

But it did not mean he intended to be taken quietly.

“I fully understand your position, Commander. But on what grounds do you intend to arrest me?”

“Your forces have abandoned the front and are marching toward the Capital. His Majesty and the Defense Commander believe you’re committing treason.”

“Treason? Me? Do you, Commander, truly believe that?”

Telberet didn’t respond.

More precisely, he couldn’t.

He had no knowledge of why the man hailed as a hero of the Empire had suddenly abandoned the front lines and ordered a withdrawal.

As Telberet hesitated, Daniel turned to the surrounding soldiers and shouted.

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“I ask you as well! Do I look like a traitor to you?”

The soldiers, like Telberet, couldn’t answer.

Daniel swept his gaze across their silent faces and spoke again after a short pause.

“...My first battle was in the Edelkral Gorge. The mission was to assist Special Task Force 307 and eliminate Colonel Jeremy during retreat. As I waited for him in the gorge, the cold gnawed at my flesh—but I didn’t care. For the Empire, I thought, this kind of pain meant nothing.”

Daniel slowly walked toward the gathered soldiers.

“The mission succeeded. And so, the staff headquarters acknowledged my ability and assigned me as operational staff for the Nordia Front. You all know this! You know who planned and led the Nordia Invasion to success!”

The soldiers who met Daniel’s gaze lowered their eyes.

All of them bore expressions of guilt.

“After Nordia’s occupation, who was it that negotiated with the Eldresia Kingdom’s foreign minister and brought massive profits to the Empire? Answer me, soldiers! Who was it?!”

Daniel’s voice echoed across the field.

While most kept their eyes lowered, a few soldiers could no longer stay silent and answered:

“...Colonel Daniel Steiner, sir.”

That small shift was already shaking the soldiers’ resolve.

Daniel pressed on.

“Then during my diplomatic mission to Vellanos! Despite being hit by enemy torpedoes, who survived and negotiated with the Prime Minister to bring benefits to the Empire?!”

“Colonel Daniel Steiner, sir.”

“And during the battle at the basin near the Belmore Kingdom border, who turned the enemy’s attack against them and captured Crown Prince Bleff as a prisoner?!”

Soldiers raised their heads and answered with conviction:

“Colonel Daniel Steiner, sir!”

What had started as just a few voices had now grown into a unified cry.

Daniel’s sharp gaze swept across them.

“I have always devoted myself to the Empire, and I’ve always taken pride in that! Even recently, when I was appointed Chief of Staff of the 7th Armored Division, you all know I exposed the enemy’s plan and captured an entire Allied brigade!”

His firm and commanding voice had seized the soldiers’ attention.

“So why, then, did Daniel Steiner order a withdrawal?! You don’t know, do you?! That’s because the traitors in the Capital are deliberately hiding the truth!”

Even Telberet now showed signs of doubt.

“They colluded with the Intelligence Bureau to destroy the 7th Division! They fed us false intel to send us to our deaths, helping the enemy! Can you tolerate such tyranny?! Should we just sit and let traitors run free?!”

It was the first time they were hearing any of this.

However, distrust toward the higher-ups was rapidly spreading among the soldiers and officers.

It was because, amid the chaos that followed the late Emperor’s passing, the suspicious and contradictory orders from the Capital felt far less credible than the words of the war hero standing before them.

“I did not order a retreat to defy His Majesty’s will! On the contrary—I did it for His Majesty and the Empire! To eradicate the collaborators hiding within the Capital!”

In Daniel’s impassioned eyes, it looked as though flames were flickering.

“As you all know, I risked my life to save His Majesty during the ballroom terror attack. And it was I, Daniel Steiner, who supported His Majesty from all sides, ensuring that the current Emperor could survive and ascend the throne.”

The golden ribbon of the state medal awarded for saving Selvia shimmered faintly in the sunlight.

“And you think that man is someone who craves power? That I threaten the Emperor’s authority? You all know better than that! You know full well I have no such ambition! Then ask yourselves—why would His Majesty order me to surrender?”

Daniel raised his hand and pointed toward the Capital.

“It is because His Majesty was not the one who gave the order! The Capital is now under the control of traitors! They wear the Emperor’s face like a mask and deceive you all!”

The soldiers remained silent, but their resolute expressions were beginning to burn with heat.

“Soldiers! I’ll ask once more! Do I look like a traitor to you?!”

The answer came back instantly, shouted in unison:

— No, sir!

Daniel exhaled low and steady, having seized the soldiers in an instant.

Catching his breath after the forceful delivery, Daniel turned to Telberet.

Telberet, who had been listening to the speech in a daze, let out a shallow breath.

Daniel stepped toward him and spoke.

“Commander. Do you still believe that I’m committing treason?”

Even if he had succeeded in turning the hearts of the soldiers, if he couldn’t persuade their commanding officer, things would only grow more complicated.

“If you truly still believe I am guilty of treason...”

Sensing the conflict on Telberet’s face, Daniel continued softly.

“...then finish it with your own hand.”

His voice, firm and certain, pressed heavily on Telberet.

It was the sensation of facing a wolf in the frozen mountains—Telberet’s body tensed.

Slowly, he raised his hand.

The hand holding the pistol rose sluggishly, like it was caught in a net.

But it never pointed at Daniel.

Clicking his tongue in disbelief, Telberet let out a low laugh.

“You already knew what answer I’d give, didn’t you?”

Then he tossed the pistol to the ground.

“I’ve never been one for shooting patriots.”