I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander-Chapter 197

Roughly three hours later, the recon company returned to the brigade’s encampment.

Though they were allies, the soldiers at the temporary perimeter outposts could not bring themselves to offer a word of welcome.

Behind the recon company, a line of prisoners marched in—wearing the uniforms of the Allied Nations.

Each and every one of the captives looked as though they had seen a ghost, eyes fixed to the ground, faces drained of all color.

And the recon company was not much different.

All of them cast furtive, uneasy glances toward Lucy, who walked among them—drenched in blood, her expression blank.

Whether or not she was aware of those stares, Lucy crossed the encampment in silence.

The moment Daniel heard word of the recon company’s return and stepped out to meet them, cold sweat broke across his back.

...What is this?

It was only natural to be thrown off when a recon company that had set out for scouting returned en masse with prisoners.

The company commander seemed just as bewildered, swallowing dryly before he spoke.

“Brigadier General. Reporting in. At approximately 2140 hours today, our company made contact with an enemy battalion-sized unit in the elevated forested area near the road where the anti-tank mines were discovered. The enemy was lying in ambush and launched a surprise attack on us.”

“...You were ambushed? Not the other way around?”

“Yes. Our company immediately established cover and firing positions and returned fire. However, the situation was dire, and we were preparing to retreat. But then...”

Company Commander Ehiriam glanced sideways at Lucy before continuing cautiously.

“Thanks to the efforts of Captain Lucy, the tide turned. With morale restored, the company mounted a counterattack and achieved a decisive victory.”

“Specific numbers?”

“We suffered four killed in action and nine wounded. The enemy, on the other hand, lost approximately 180 men, and we secured around 120 prisoners. We also captured a significant number of weapons and equipment.”

In short, they had been ambushed by a force larger than their own—and responded by routing the enemy with minimal losses.

It sounded absurd. But once you added Lucy Emilia to the equation, it all made sense.

It was nighttime, visibility was poor, and the enemy didn’t know what they were dealing with. There was no way they could’ve responded properly.

From the enemy battalion commander’s perspective, it was as though a walking natural disaster had descended upon them.

Daniel, staring silently at Lucy, let out a quiet breath and turned his gaze to Ehiriam.

“Did you capture the enemy commander?”

“Yes. Once we reached their command post, he dropped his pistol and raised his hands. He seemed to have completely lost the will to fight.”

“Good. We’ll need to have a word with him. Tie him up in an empty barracks. As for the other prisoners, group them in one area to make them easier to manage.”

“Yes, sir. Understood.”

Ehiriam gave a crisp reply and turned on his heel to relay the orders.

As the company commander barked to his men, Daniel once again turned his eyes to Lucy.

“Lieutenant.”

His voice was low and quiet—meant so others wouldn’t overhear.

“I don’t understand. Why did you go this far?”

To Daniel’s knowledge, Lucy was someone who went to great lengths to conceal her identity.

Yet here she was, wielding her power without hesitation. He couldn’t make sense of it.

Lucy, unable to meet Daniel’s gaze, replied without lifting her eyes.

“At the moment we were ambushed... it was the only way to save our forces.”

“And you expect me to believe that?”

He wasn’t asking whether she’d fought back. He was asking whether she had provoked the ambush in the first place.

Lucy, sensing his meaning, offered no answer.

Her lips parted slightly, as if to offer an excuse, but no sound emerged.

Daniel’s eyes narrowed slightly—something was off about her.

“...Is there a reason you can’t talk about it?”

His guess wasn’t wrong.

The closer they got to Fenbark, the more Lucy felt a rising, inexplicable wave of anger and hatred.

Daniel could, at least, understand a fraction of what she might be feeling.

If the information Hamthal provided is correct, Fenbark is where Lucy was treated as a test subject. Judging by her behavior, she doesn’t seem to be aware of that—but...

Daniel briefly considered whether to tell her.

But then he shook his head.

There’s no need to stir confusion with unconfirmed intel.

For now, silence was the best course of action.

Raising his hand, Daniel lightly rested it on Lucy’s shoulder.

“Lieutenant. I won’t press you about what happened today. In the end, your actions benefited the brigade. But because of what happened, you and I have crossed a line we can’t walk back from. I’ll have to report today’s battle to High Command.”

A small company defeating an enemy battalion would surely draw attention from above.

And that attention would land squarely on Lucy Emilia.

Once High Command began to investigate her seriously, it would become a complicated—and dangerous—situation.

Lucy, fully aware of that, could only lower her head with a guilty expression.

“I’m sorry. Because of me, you’ll suffer the consequences, Brigadier General...”

“It’s fine.”

Daniel cut her off with a gentle smile.

“I’ll find a way to protect you.”

The unexpected words made Lucy flinch and raise her head slowly.

As her dazed eyes met his, Daniel forced the smile to stay on his face.

I need to make her believe I’m the only one in the Empire she can rely on. If we can stay in alignment, nothing disastrous will happen between us.

Daniel spoke from a place of cold survival instinct—but to Lucy, the meaning went far beyond mere calculation.

Her red eyes trembled ever so slightly.

“I... as well...”

Her breathing roughened just a bit as she lowered her gaze.

“I’ll protect you too, Brigadier General.”

It was a strange irony. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

They harbored different feelings—but in the end, the place they were trying to reach was the same.

****

After the commotion had settled, Daniel entered the barracks where the enemy battalion commander was being held.

Inside, Bental sat slumped in a chair, bound and defeated.

He had been staring at the floor, but the sound of polished boots prompted him to lift his head.

And there he saw Daniel Steiner, clad in a sharply tailored military uniform.

The medals pinned to his chest radiated an inscrutable sense of pressure.

“Lieutenant Colonel Bental. I heard your battalion attempted to ambush our recon company—only to be defeated. Am I correct?”

At Daniel’s words, Bental snapped out of his stupor, gritting his teeth before shouting in frustration.

“We should’ve won! By all rights, we should have won! But... that woman with the red eyes—what the hell is she? What is that monster!?”

Bental had rushed toward the scene of battle upon hearing the screams—and what he witnessed was beyond comprehension.

A red-eyed monster, tearing through his men one by one with horrifying speed.

She moved faster than the eye could follow, and to make matters worse, she generated a gravity field that made it nearly impossible for his soldiers to even lift their rifles.

In Bental’s memory, Lucy had been like a predator rampaging through a flock of sheep.

“No matter how you look at it, that woman is far beyond what you’d call human. You bastards... you vile Imperial dogs—don’t tell me you’ve been conducting human experimentation!”

Daniel briefly considered saying she’s your creation, not ours, but shook his head.

That wasn’t the priority right now.

“Lieutenant Colonel Bental. I did not give you permission to ask questions. From this point forward, I will ask—you will answer. Understood?”

Bental bit down hard, visibly seething.

Seeing that he was still responsive, Daniel continued.

“If you understand, then tell me where the city’s defensive line begins. If there are any weak points in the terrain, I’d like to hear those as well.”

Bental let out a scoffing laugh.

“So you want me to betray my country. Don’t make me laugh.”

“You’d be better off betraying now than later.”

“You think I’d accept such a pathetic offer? I will never surrender to the man who slaughtered my soldiers. Get out of my sight.”

It was a natural response.

But Daniel couldn’t help feeling a tinge of pity at Bental’s obstinance.

“Lieutenant Colonel Bental. I say this for your sake, so listen carefully. If you don’t answer my questions here and now, protocol dictates that my subordinate will proceed with your interrogation through torture.”

“How laughable. Do you think a soldier on the battlefield doesn’t expect that much?”

“No. I think your resolve won’t survive it. And with good reason...”

Daniel lowered his voice, knowing Frien was waiting just outside the barracks.

“My subordinate is—objectively—not sane. Whatever torture resistance you’ve been trained for, what awaits you goes far beyond that. So I’m asking you. Please, answer my questions now.”

There was something genuine in Daniel’s voice.

Bental hesitated for a moment—but ultimately didn’t back down.

“Get out of here. I will never join hands with the enemy.”

“Very well. If that’s your decision...”

Daniel sighed and stepped out of the barracks.

Shortly afterward, a woman entered.

Frien.

She was carrying a toolbox.

“Good evening. You must be Lieutenant Colonel Bental, yes? If you don’t mind, please give me a moment.”

She set the toolbox down, opened it, and pulled out a pair of pliers.

Then, standing up with a smile, she approached Bental.

“Shall we start with something simple? Like your fingernails?”

“...What? Hold on. Isn’t it standard procedure to ask questions before the torture? Don’t you have something you want to find out from me?”

“You’re not wrong. But those can wait until later, can’t they?”

Bental froze.

He couldn’t understand what this woman in front of him was even saying.

Frien came to a stop in front of him and offered a soft, almost motherly smile.

“This is punishment time. For trying to harm Brigadier General Daniel. Once you’ve repented enough, we’ll get around to asking questions. And don’t worry—I’m sure you’ll get there.”

She gently stroked the back of Bental’s hand.

“I’ll keep teaching you until you do. Even if you pass out, I’ll wake you right up with my healing magic. That way you can keep reflecting on your sins. Isn’t that wonderful?”

Her warm, gentle tone made Bental’s skin crawl.

As he sat in horror, Frien opened the jaws of the pliers with a light squeeze.

“Well then. Let’s begin our repentance, shall we?”

Bental shook his head violently, panic overtaking him—but Frien was unmoved.

“Heh heh. They all say the same thing at first. No one ever wants to admit their sins. But with time, they all cry and beg and beg, looking ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) back on their lives. You’ll be no different, Lieutenant Colonel.”

The pliers gripped the edge of his fingernail and began to squeeze.

Bental’s breath grew ragged.

His eyes widened as he looked up at Frien, and he could no longer deny it.

Just as Daniel Steiner said...

This woman is not sane.