Mistaken for a War Hero

Chapter 17
Adjutant Appears

While I was still dumbfounded, Ernst looked at me.

His eyes were filled with anticipation, as if saying, “My capable subordinate has done it again!” which doubled the pressure I felt.

“How did you manage to win over that silent fellow? Tell me, I’d like to give some advice to the interrogator.”

At Ernst’s words, Sergeant Wendelin also looked at me with a smile.

I understood. Since I had turned off the microphone during the interrogation yesterday, he wouldn’t know the contents of our conversation.

As an interrogator, he would naturally want to know how I persuaded the tight-lipped prisoner.

But no matter how much I thought about it, all I did was have a normal conversation with Reginald.

I didn’t have any interrogation techniques, so I was at a loss for words when faced with such a question.

As I was struggling to find an answer, Wendelin, perhaps trying to lighten the mood, spoke in a cheerful voice.

“I’ve seen many cases while working as an interrogator, but it was the first time I witnessed someone finishing the job as quickly as Captain Daniel Steiner.”

“Oh, really?”

“Indeed. After the Captain left the interrogation room, that bastard Reginald, with a voice that sounded like he was about to cry, said he would cooperate with the Empire. It was so satisfying!”

He was about to cry? That rigid-looking Reginald?

“Moreover, most interrogations involve yelling or violence, but Captain Daniel consistently spoke gently with a smile. It was quite dignified!”

Wendelin… he was a good guy, but he laid it on a bit thick with the flattery.

I wanted to stop him from exaggerating, but Ernst seemed to believe it all.

He was looking at me with even more anticipation than before.

“Hearing the Sergeant’s story makes me even more curious. What exactly did you talk about with Reginald?”

He asked twice. It was not proper for a subordinate to remain silent when asked twice.

It couldn’t be helped. After a moment of hesitation, I answered.

“It was nothing special. I just talked about Reginald’s family a few times.”

At the mention of “family,” both Wendelin and Ernst flinched.

A few officers who had been eavesdropping on our conversation also glanced at us.

Then, an inexplicable silence fell over me.

Just as I was wondering about the strange atmosphere, Ernst cleared his throat and nodded.

“It’s certainly the most effective method. Did you hear that, Sergeant? Learn from Captain Daniel.”

“Ah, of course, sir! I think I’ve been too soft on the prisoners.”

…They seemed to be misunderstanding something.

Although it felt strange, I decided not to offer any explanations.

In my experience, trying to explain myself in this kind of situation usually led to further misunderstandings.

So, I simply nodded, and Wendelin saluted energetically.

For some reason, his salute seemed even more rigid than the first time I saw him.

“Then I’ll be returning to the military police station! Enjoy your meal!”

“You do that. You’ve worked hard coming all the way to the General Staff Headquarters.”

After hearing Ernst’s reply, Wendelin turned sharply and walked away like a toy soldier.

Just as I was wondering why he was acting like that, Ernst picked up his cutlery and said,

“Anyway, congratulations. You’ve achieved another merit by getting Reginald to talk. Honestly, your competence these days is astonishing. At your age, I struggled to even handle the tasks assigned to me.”

I wanted to tell him that the merits were completely unrelated to my intentions, but saying such a thing in front of the Chief of Operations Staff would likely earn me a scolding.

“You’re too kind.”

So, I simply acted humble and picked up my cutlery.

As I was cutting the steak served for lunch, Ernst suddenly spoke as if he had just remembered something.

“Ah, come to think of it, about your adjutant. They’ll be assigned to the General Staff Headquarters today. They might have arrived by now.”

Adjutant? I looked up and blinked my eyes in a daze.

“…An adjutant, sir?”

“Yes. Didn’t I tell you before? You’ll get an adjutant when you officially become the Operations Staff Officer. I heard the higher-ups put in some effort to assign an elite of appropriate rank as your adjutant.”

Seeing my bewildered expression, Ernst smiled and said,

“I heard you’ve been working overtime a lot lately because of the increased workload. It’s natural for the Operations Staff Officer to be busy during wartime, but now that you have an adjutant, your burden should lessen.”

“Indeed… that’s true.”

“This is your first direct subordinate, isn’t it? Be sure to guide them well.”

“Yes, sir.”

I replied calmly to Ernst’s words.

I was trying my best not to show my excitement, but inwardly, I was on cloud nine.

‘Finally, I have an adjutant!’

No, let me rephrase that. It was a bit early to say “finally,” considering I had been promoted twice in quick succession.

Of course, such trivial facts didn’t matter much.

The important thing was that I had an adjutant.

‘And an elite carefully selected by the higher-ups…! I won’t have to be overwhelmed with work anymore.’

After being promoted from ‘Acting’ Operations Staff Officer to Operations Staff Officer, I felt that the workload was excessive.

As a low-ranking staff officer whose primary task was to review documents and forward them to superiors, reports and approval requests came flying in from all directions.

Truly important documents would go directly to my superiors, but during wartime, there were more unexpected and bizarre requests and reports than I could have imagined.

One such example was a request from a regimental commander who wanted fighter jets to deliver beer to his soldiers so they could enjoy a cold one.

I was skeptical, but I approved the document without further questions and sent it up the chain of command. Somehow, it received final approval, and I witnessed the spectacle of fighter jets transporting beer barrels.

Besides that, countless other requests flooded in, leaving me with no free time.

It was a lucky day if I could leave work on time, like yesterday.

At this rate, it seemed like I would leave this world from overwork before I could even escape the Empire. So naturally, I was overjoyed when Ernst informed me about the adjutant assignment.

As I was engrossed in thoughts about my new adjutant, Ernst, who had finished his meal earlier, wiped his mouth with a napkin.

“Ah, by the way, spend your afternoon in your private office instead of the Operations Staff Office.”

“…Is that alright?”

“Yes. You should have some time to get acquainted with your new adjutant. It might be awkward to have personal conversations with them in the staff office with everyone watching.”

Ernst’s words were absolutely correct.

I smiled faintly to show my agreement.

“Thank you for your consideration, Chief.”

Although the staff office wasn’t exactly a battlefield, in times of crisis, I would have to entrust my back to my adjutant—no, rely on them.

Therefore, building a rapport with my adjutant was one of my crucial duties.

***

After finishing my meal with Ernst, I wandered around outside the headquarters instead of going straight to my office.

I wanted to buy a gift for my new subordinate.

After some deliberation, instead of a bouquet, I bought some pastries from a nearby bakery that could serve as snacks.

I thought pastries that could fill their stomach would be better than a bouquet, which had no practical use besides looking pretty.

Returning to my office at the General Staff Headquarters, I held the bag of pastries and took a deep breath.

‘I’m a bit nervous.’

My adjutant, currently waiting in the office, must also be nervous.

Just five months ago, I was in his shoes, waiting for my superior while sweating nervously.

The memories were still vivid.

When I was first commissioned, instead of receiving gifts, I was greeted with insults from that bastard Karl Heinrich as soon as I reported for duty.

Considering the humiliation and trauma I experienced back then, I would do my best to treat my subordinate well.

As for work, I planned to initially assign them simple and easy tasks to help them adjust.

‘Alright.’

Equipped with the mindset of an excellent senior and superior, I opened the office door with a smile.

“Have you been waiting long? I was a bit late because I went to buy some pastries from a bakery near the headquarters. Of course, I bought them to share with you…”

As I spoke amicably, I finally noticed my adjutant’s appearance and froze involuntarily.

My adjutant, who slightly turned her head towards me, had slightly disheveled short hair.

The bob that reached her neck was a graceful silver, like sunlight falling on a snowfield.

Her eyes were a contrasting crimson, like blood, against her clean, beautiful hair.

Her gaze was sharp but didn’t seem hostile. It was just her usual expressionless look.

She was a truly sophisticated and elegant woman.

If I hadn’t known her identity, I would have definitely thought so.

Lucy Emilia.

She was the main protagonist of the game “Empire of Emperor” and a butcher known as the Empire’s nightmare.

Why was Lucy in my office, neatly dressed in an Imperial uniform?

“…”

“…”

After a moment of silence, our eyes locked, I closed the door.

‘Wait a minute.’

Why was Lucy here? Shouldn’t she be actively fighting on the front lines at this point in time?

In the first place, why was someone from the Allied Nations my adjutant?

‘…A spy?’

Both the Allied Nations and the Empire were actively engaged in espionage, so it wasn’t impossible that she had infiltrated the General Staff Headquarters as a spy.

‘But why?’

Of all the positions, why my adjutant?

Dumbfounded, I frowned and shook my head.

‘I must be hallucinating from all the overtime I’ve been working lately.’

No matter how I thought about it, there was no way Lucy could be here. Yes, that’s right.

With renewed confidence, I opened the office door again.

“…Captain?”

And immediately closed it.

Even upon second glance, it was definitely Lucy.

She looked exactly like the illustration from the game.

‘Why is this happening to me…?’

This was truly not easy.

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