Mistaken for a War Hero

Chapter 15
Promotion After Promotion

After parting ways with the princess, my platoon and I cleaned ourselves up and stood by.

I wanted to leave this dreadful Northern Front as soon as possible, but since we had spectacularly wrecked a jeep, we needed to go through some administrative procedures to receive support.

After receiving a new vehicle from the Special Operations Unit, I immediately headed back to the General Staff Headquarters.

Just like the journey there, we traveled for four days straight and finally arrived at the entrance of the headquarters, adorned with a magnificent large fountain.

Feeling the fatigue of the journey, I opened the passenger door and got out, spotting the platoon members disembarking from the transport vehicle nearby.

They quickly gathered in their squads without any orders and stood before me.

I noticed some soldiers with bandages, indicating injuries sustained during the ambush. However, they seemed to have forgotten their pain, their faces beaming with smiles.

‘They must be happy to be back where they don’t have to worry about ambushes. I understand.’

If I were a soldier, I would be wearing the same expression.

After observing each of them with a somewhat relaxed gaze, I spoke.

“You’ve all worked hard. You carried out your duties admirably on the Northern Front. Moreover, you deserve praise for calmly responding to the unexpected ambush.”

“You worked hard too, Lieutenant!”

“It’s a shame we couldn’t fight more! We should have crushed more of their balls!”

A few hot-blooded soldiers shouted, causing laughter among the platoon members.

Normally, I would have given them a warning, but this was right after our victorious return.

I didn’t want to spoil the heartwarming atmosphere.

“There will be plenty of opportunities to crush the Allied bastards’ balls in the future, so don’t worry. Also, you all… Never mind. What’s the point of lecturing? Dismissed, everyone. Enjoy your victory.”

As I finished speaking, the soldiers saluted smartly.

After returning their salutes, I was about to head up to the General Staff Headquarters for my report when I paused.

Frienne approached me as if she had something to say.

“…What is it?”

Perhaps due to fatigue, my voice came out low.

Frienne’s face showed a hint of fear, but she gathered her courage and spoke.

“Lieutenant Daniel Steiner! I-I want to discuss our future!”

“Hmm? Ah, you’ll all be joining the headquarters battalion now. If there are no specific orders from headquarters, you can just train there.”

“Th-that’s not what I wanted to say…”

Then what was it? I stared at her, waiting impatiently, and Frienne took a deep breath and looked up at me.

“I dare say, I want to become an officer like Lieutenant Daniel!”

“An officer?”

“Yes! The battle on the Northern Front strengthened my resolve to contribute to the Empire like Lieutenant Daniel!”

It was a bit sudden, but it was inevitable that Frienne would become an officer.

However, it was a bit early. Usually, one would set their sights on becoming an officer after serving as a Private First Class for some time.

I didn’t know what kind of change of heart she had, but there was no need to refuse.

“I’ll inform the higher-ups that you wish to serve as an officer. Since you have the merit of saving Her Highness during the ambush, the transition to becoming an officer should be relatively smooth.”

Frienne, as if she hadn’t expected to receive permission, looked surprised for a moment, then saluted me energetically.

“Thank you! Thank you very much, Lieutenant Daniel!”

I wasn’t sure if it warranted this much gratitude, but it wasn’t unpleasant.

Nodding casually, I walked into the General Staff Headquarters.

As soon as I entered the Operations Staff Office, I was overwhelmed with the desire to run away.

“Lieutenant Daniel! No, should I say Captain now? Hahaha! Anyway, we’ve been waiting for you! All of us!”

Ernst, the Chief of Operations Staff, welcomed me as the staff members erupted in cheers.

Glancing around, I saw everyone standing and applauding.

Even more spectacular were the flowers and balloons decorating my spot in the office.

Whether they had instructed the soldiers or not, amidst the tacky decorations was a new nameplate.

【Operations Staff Officer / Captain Daniel Steiner】

It was a somewhat more sophisticated nameplate.

Before I could even ask what it was, Ernst gestured to a nearby soldier.

The soldier approached with a small box and presented it to me with both hands.

It was a familiar box, similar to the one Captain Philip had given me before.

“Congratulations on your promotion, Captain Daniel Steiner!”

As expected, I received the box and looked inside to find a Captain’s badge and epaulets neatly arranged.

As I looked at them with a mixed expression, Ernst said with a satisfied smile,

“I told you to go and earn some merits, but I didn’t expect you to accomplish your mission so splendidly. And you even risked your life for Her Highness! Even the higher-ups no longer view you with prejudice!”

…This was the first time I had seen Ernst smile so brightly.

Well, his subordinate’s achievements were also his own, so he must be feeling good.

As for me, the one who actually achieved those merits, I couldn’t help but sigh at the fact that my dream of leaving the military had become even more distant. However, I couldn’t express my true feelings in front of so many eyes.

“You’re too kind. I simply did what I had to do as a soldier of the Empire.”

So, accepting Ernst’s handshake with a smile was the best I could do.

***

The week following my promotion was a busy one.

The reason for this busyness was mostly related to interpersonal relationships.

Thanks to my consecutive promotions, I had become a celebrity within the General Staff Headquarters, and the love calls from those who wanted to have a famous figure by their side never ceased.

Most of them approached me with offers of a meal together, but their intentions were shallow.

It was obvious that they wanted to recruit me to enhance the prestige of their factions within the military.

Considering the politicians connected to those factions, I couldn’t even dip my toes into their pond.

So, I turned down every love call with the excuse of being busy, and Ernst, our Chief of Operations Staff, seemed quite pleased with my attitude.

This was evident from how he would stop me and chat whenever we crossed paths, like on the way out of the officers’ mess hall.

“So you know what my daughter said then? She said she would take care of the Allied bastards instead of me, so I shouldn’t go to work tomorrow and play with her instead. She was so cute…”

Ernst, known for not engaging in small talk, never hesitated to bring up his family whenever he saw me.

In other words, he was showing favoritism only towards me… Honestly, it was a bit burdensome.

A superior’s favoritism could be more uncomfortable than one might think.

Especially when it involved personal matters rather than official ones.

Just as I was starting to think about how to politely end the conversation,

“Daniel Steiner! You damned devil!”

A shout from behind made me flinch.

Turning around, I saw an Allied officer in uniform, bound with ropes, glaring at me.

“You bastard! You despicable scum—!”

As the Allied officer lunged at me, a soldier swiftly kicked the back of his knee.

“Ugh!”

The Allied officer crumpled to the ground pathetically.

The soldier who had tripped him bowed his head apologetically.

I raised my hand to signal that it was alright, and the soldier helped the Allied officer up while shouting at him.

Watching this scene, I spoke with curiosity.

“Who is that…?”

“Ah, the Northern Front Army said they were sending a high-ranking prisoner to headquarters, and it seems he arrived today. You know him well, don’t you? You captured him yourself.”

I nodded.

During the operation to assassinate Colonel Jeremy, he was the officer who, after being hit by the first volley, shouted at his soldiers to surrender.

‘I remember his rank being Major…’

As I was lost in thought, Ernst clicked his tongue and said,

“I heard he’s a field officer, so our side is trying to offer him favorable treatment, but it’s not easy. He’s a valuable asset with experience in Allied intelligence, so it would be great if we could recruit him.”

I see. As I watched the Allied officer being dragged away by two soldiers, a good idea suddenly crossed my mind.

“…Chief.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“If it’s alright, could I be in charge of interrogating him?”

Ernst, momentarily dumbfounded, tilted his head.

“It’s not that you can’t, but wouldn’t that increase your workload even more?”

“It’s alright. He seems worth the effort.”

Ernst let out an exclamation of admiration.

“What shining patriotism! It truly makes me feel inadequate.”

Ernst, seemingly moved, nodded his approval.

However, I was crafting a plan that was the complete opposite of patriotism, a sly smile creeping onto my face.

‘Perhaps with this…’

I might be able to escape the Empire without even going through a dishonorable discharge.

—————

Please rate and review this novel on Novelupdates!

If you enjoy the translation, please consider buying me a Ko-fi. It helps keep me motivated!