Mistaken for a War Hero

Chapter 12
Alright! It’s Going According to Plan!

Gritting my teeth, I slammed my foot down on the accelerator.

Stop, and you die.

That was the only thought in my head.

Trying to calm my ragged breathing, I grabbed the radio while driving.

“This is Kingfisher! Ambush! I repeat! This is Kingfisher! Ambush! Approximately 42 kilometers from Mavrachika Village! Request immediate support!”

After finishing my transmission, I quickly switched frequencies and spoke to my platoon.

“This is the platoon leader! Respond! Damn it, say something!”

As I released the transmit button, a trembling voice came from the other side.

─ L-Lieutenant? I don’t understand what’s happening. W-we also took a detour. But because of the gunfire, we took the opposite detour to avoid the enemy!

Judging by the voice, it was Frienne.

It would have been better if someone more composed was on standby, but now wasn’t the time to be picky.

“Good. Drive as far as you can, and once you think you’ve distanced yourselves from the enemy, disembark and scatter! Then, wait for reinforcements from the outpost and assess the enemy’s strength. If you determine that they can be subdued…!”

BOOM!

The impact violently shook the vehicle, and I dropped the radio.

Sylvia’s groan echoed as my vision flickered erratically.

In this chaotic situation, I gripped the steering wheel tightly.

‘The tire’s busted. I don’t know if they aimed for it or if it was a stray bullet…’

The important thing was that the gunfire now sounded quite distant.

We had created considerable distance, buying ourselves some time.

However, it was still too early to relax. We had to escape their line of sight as well.

Just then, a curve appeared ahead.

To shake them off as much as possible, I took my foot off the accelerator and stepped on the brake.

Screeeech!

As the tires screeched against the ground, I turned the steering wheel sharply.

The jeep spun half a circle and tilted precariously.

Just before it toppled over, I slammed my foot on the accelerator.

The wheels spun rapidly, propelling us forward.

The jeep regained its balance and landed back on all fours.

With a thud, Sylvia’s sharp scream pierced the air.

It was a pitiful scream that made me want to apologize, but now wasn’t the time to worry about such things.

I shifted gears and stepped on the accelerator again.

Could a jeep really move this fast? Just as that thought flashed through my mind, my vision blurred.

‘Damn it…!’

The bullet-riddled tire, having exhausted all its air, finally gave out.

Panicked, I slammed on the brakes, but it only worsened the situation.

The screeching of tires against the ground echoed as the vehicle spun violently.

Then, with a loud bang, a massive impact jolted the jeep.

“Ugh!”

I steadied myself after the direct hit and slowly raised my head, only to see the hood crumpled against a tree trunk.

Judging by the smoke billowing out, we had crashed head-on.

“U-Ugh…”

A faint groan came from near my thigh.

I finally looked down at Sylvia and asked with concern,

“Are you alright?”

It was a courtesy question, as she couldn’t possibly be fine.

Sylvia, as if aware of this, glared at me before sitting up.

“Not really, but… I can move. More importantly, how did they know our route?”

I was surprised. I expected her to be crying or terrified.

But then again, she was a woman who would one day ascend to the throne and command the Imperial Army, the most powerful military force in the world.

She wouldn’t have earned the title of “Iron Blood” if she panicked in this kind of situation.

“It seems there was a spy collaborating with the enemy at the outpost. It’s a common occurrence during wartime.”

As I spoke, I pulled the handle of the driver’s seat. It wouldn’t open, probably due to the twisted frame of the jeep.

After struggling with it for a few moments, I turned and kicked the door.

With a few forceful kicks from my military boots, the door burst open.

I got out first and extended my hand to Sylvia.

“Please get out. The pursuers will be here soon, so we need to create some distance.”

“Yes, that would be best.”

Sylvia readily agreed and took my hand, stepping out of the jeep.

As she got out and took a deep breath, her shoulders trembled slightly.

Despite her composed demeanor, she was still a young girl after all.

I chuckled softly and led Sylvia towards the forest.

Perhaps noticing my laughter, Sylvia blushed slightly as she followed me.

“You’re a terrible driver, Lieutenant Daniel.”

Look at her changing the subject out of embarrassment. In moments like these, she was just a typical teenage girl.

“Thank you for the compliment.”

“Does that sound like a compliment to you?”

“If I hadn’t driven terribly, you and I would be riddled with bullets by now. So, what else would it be but a compliment?”

“We wouldn’t have been riddled with bullets. I have…”

Sylvia mumbled something, then closed her mouth.

That’s right. Trying to outwit a seasoned adult with mere words was a decade too early for her.

“Lieutenant Daniel, from now on, we…”

I raised my hand and covered Sylvia’s mouth.

Because I could hear the enemy’s voices not far away.

“Mmm!?”

As Sylvia struggled, I put my index finger to my lips, gesturing for her to be quiet.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Sylvia nodded.

I pulled her behind a nearby bush and listened intently to the voices.

“…He must be around here somewhere. With his car wrecked, he couldn’t have gone far.”

“Sigh. Damn it! I told you to hide those spike strips properly!”

“Shut up, Beldon! Whining won’t solve anything!”

I carefully peeked out to count them; there were six.

It seemed they were moving in a squad-sized unit. I couldn’t see any other personnel for now.

The problem was that they were getting closer.

If this continued, we would surely be discovered… Wait a minute.

‘Come to think of it, they’re Allied soldiers, right?’

If so, there was a chance they would accept my application for asylum if I surrendered.

I was an Imperial officer who worked at the General Staff Headquarters. Unless they were blinded by a thirst for revenge, they would recognize my strategic value.

‘If they’re communicating with spies, they must have prepared a way to escape to Allied territory.’

I didn’t expect to get a chance for asylum like this. In any case, it was a godsend for me.

“…Miss Emilia.”

Of course, I couldn’t apply for asylum in front of the princess.

If I did, my life would be in danger before I even reached Allied territory.

“We’ll be discovered by them soon. So, one of us has to make a sacrifice. One person needs to distract and lure them away so the other can survive. Therefore, I will act as bait and lure them away.”

Sylvia’s eyes widened as she listened to my words.

Her face was filled with bewilderment.

Holding back her breath, she whispered,

“Stop it right now! You’ll die if you do that!”

“If I can ensure your survival by dying, that’s enough for me. A soldier exists to protect their nation’s citizens.”

“Lieutenant Daniel…!”

I gently held Sylvia’s shoulders and spoke with a melancholic tone.

“You must survive, Miss Emilia. If a peaceful era ever dawns upon the Empire, please remember that there once was a man named Daniel.”

Sylvia’s face flushed. She seemed somewhat moved.

Having acted out our parting enough, I released Sylvia’s shoulders and stood up.

“W-wait! There’s no need to run…!”

Sylvia tried to stop me until the very end, but the die was already cast.

Kicking off the ground, I ran with all my might in the opposite direction of where Sylvia was hiding.

“H-Hey!?”

“Catch him!”

I could hear the Allied soldiers chasing after me.

Perfect. Everything was going according to plan.

At this rate, escaping the Empire was only a matter of time!

***

Sylvia, left alone, stared blankly at the direction Daniel had run.

She replayed his words in her mind.

“If I can ensure your survival by dying, that’s enough for me. A soldier exists to protect their nation’s citizens.”

The image of Daniel, with his melancholic eyes, volunteering for death was vividly imprinted in her mind.

It was a truly surreal sight for Sylvia.

What officer would sacrifice their life for a mere war correspondent?

‘…Captain Heinz was wrong.’

Daniel lacked respect for others? That was absurd.

Daniel was someone who would sacrifice his life for the citizens of the Empire!

He was different from the Imperial officials who only paid lip service to sacrificing for the nation and its people.

He had shown his spirit of sacrifice through actions, not just words.

Therefore, she had to save him. She had to have him. She couldn’t lose the Empire’s treasure in such a trivial place.

“Imperial Guards.”

As Sylvia muttered softly, the surrounding space distorted, and soldiers wearing gas masks appeared one by one.

They had been hiding around Sylvia all along and deactivated their optical camouflage at her words.

Sylvia, without even glancing at them, spoke.

“Save Lieutenant Daniel Steiner. If even a scratch appears on him…”

Slowly rolling her eyes, Sylvia narrowed them sharply.

“I will not forgive you.”

The Imperial Guards bowed their heads in response and kicked off the ground.

Sylvia watched the Imperial Guards sprinting away, then slowly stood up.

Placing her hand on her chest, she exhaled softly.

Perhaps due to the aftereffects of the rough driving, her heart was still pounding faster than usual.

—————

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