Mistaken for a War Hero

Chapter 6
How Did This Happen?

I paused mid-drink and stared intently at the soldier standing before me.

His face was flushed with excitement, and the overflowing admiration directed at me made me feel uneasy. Initially, I was annoyed that he interrupted my relaxation at the officers’ club after work, but now a completely different emotion had taken hold.

It was because of the news the soldier had delivered—the discovery of an oil field at the logistics base construction site.

Perhaps I had misheard. I desperately hoped I had misheard. Breaking out in a cold sweat, I placed my glass on the bar counter and said,

“Soldier, would you mind repeating what you just said?”

“Of course, sir! It seems a large oil reserve has been discovered at the logistics base construction site you designated, Lieutenant Daniel! Captain Arnop, the Logistics Staff Officer, instructed me to inform you of this via radio, so I rushed here despite the intrusion!”

This soldier’s voice was excessively loud.

It was as if he was eager to boast about my achievements, shouting for all to hear.

Thanks to him, the bartender, as well as the officers from other departments enjoying their leisure time at the club, were all staring at me.

“…Oil was discovered at the logistics base?”

“Who made the discovery? Surely not that newcomer?”

“No, look closely. That’s Lieutenant Daniel.”

“Who’s Lieutenant Daniel?”

“You don’t know the guy who caught the spy and got a one-rank promotion? Central Intelligence got quite a bit of flak because of him. And the hill incident too…”

The gazes directed at me and the murmurs I could faintly hear were burdensome.

‘I won’t be able to come to the officers’ club for a while…’

Feeling like I was sitting on pins and needles, I got up from my seat.

“If what the Logistics Staff Officer said is true, I must go for an inspection.”

I adjusted my clothes and put on my uniform cap, which I had placed on the bar counter.

“I will get inspection permission from the Chief of Operations Staff. Thank you for delivering the news, soldier.”

I slightly tilted the black visor of my cap and expressed my gratitude, and the soldier saluted energetically.

He seemed somewhat moved. I wasn’t sure what exactly moved him, though.

“It’s an honor to be of service to Lieutenant Daniel!”

I casually returned the salute and left the officers’ club, furrowing my brow.

‘The worst construction site I selected turned out to be an oil field? That’s absurd… The Logistics Officer must be mistaken.’

Yes, it had to be a mistake.

Oil was one of the most critical strategic resources in war.

Not only vehicles, but tanks and fighter planes also required oil to operate, so the presence of an oil field could very well influence the course of the war.

This meant that my position within the Imperial Army would become even more secure due to the discovery of oil.

In short, my dream of a dishonorable discharge would become even more distant.

So please, let the soldier’s report be a mistake.

***

Unfortunately, it was not a mistake.

After ten days of complicated procedures, I finally came for the inspection, only to find oil gushing out in the middle of the Bardenplatz Plains.

The sight of the oil drilling rig operating with a deafening roar made me frown.

“See that? That’s the oil Lieutenant Daniel discovered!”

“Wahaha!” Sergeant Winter Enfeldt burst into hearty laughter and raised his fist in the air.

He was so enthusiastic that he would have probably slung his arm around my shoulder if I weren’t an officer but a fellow non-commissioned officer.

He was definitely glaring at me like I was some kind of human trash when I ordered the construction of the logistics base here, but now the situation had changed, hadn’t it?

As I looked at Sergeant Winter with displeasure, Logistics Staff Officer Arnop, who was standing next to me, said,

“Lieutenant Daniel, on behalf of the Logistics Department, I express my gratitude to you. According to the report, there’s enough oil buried underground to last the Empire for the next 27 years. This will be a powerful weapon for the Empire.”

“Is that so?”

“Indeed. I’ve also contacted the Railway Department. We plan to connect a railway to this logistics base for faster oil transportation. This will eliminate our reliance on imports due to oil shortages.”

Wasn’t Arnop usually irritable and negative about everything?

Certainly, during my first inspection, he seemed like a pessimist, but now his eyes were filled with hope. He even seemed to be feeling some kind of thrill.

On the other hand, all I could do was sigh deeply. What was the point of accumulating achievements in an empire destined for defeat?

Arnop must have misinterpreted my sigh as one of relief (that the Empire would no longer be dependent on foreign powers), for he turned to me and said in an admiring tone,

“By the way, it’s only been four months since you were commissioned, and you’ve already made three remarkable contributions. I wouldn’t be surprised if you get promoted again soon.”

Sergeant Winter chimed in, raising his voice.

“Haha! That’s right! At this rate, Lieutenant Daniel might outrank you, Captain! That would be quite a sight.”

Seeing the two of them fussing over my promotion, I felt… well…

I appreciated their celebratory spirit, but it was incredibly uncomfortable for me to accept it.

“You’re too kind. I don’t wish for any further special promotions.”

As soon as I finished speaking, the two of them stopped breathing and stared at me intently.

Just as I was wondering if I had made a verbal slip-up, Arnop cleared his throat and said in a rather serious tone,

“…I still have much to learn. Hearing you say you don’t desire promotion makes me, who believed that devotion to the Empire should be met with appropriate rewards, feel ashamed.”

“Lieutenant Daniel Steiner is truly an exemplary soldier. How can you have such noble thoughts…?”

But didn’t you both treat me like a mere child during the first inspection?

It was absurd, but not entirely incomprehensible.

Compared to me, both of them must have some degree of loyalty to the Empire.

From Arnop and Winter’s perspective, it was natural for my words, refusing promotion despite significant contributions, to seem noble.

The truth was that I didn’t want a promotion because I wanted to escape the Empire, but there seemed to be no need to tell them that.

I saluted Arnop.

“Now that the inspection is complete, I will return to the General Staff Headquarters to submit my report. I hope you both will do your best in constructing the logistics base.”

“Of course. Leave it to us.”

After Arnop returned the salute, I lowered my hand and turned to leave.

I boarded a nearby military jeep, and the driver started the engine.

Adjusting my collar, I glanced out the window and saw Arnop and Winter gazing at me with admiration.

Feeling extremely burdened by their gazes, I turned my head forward and quickly said,

“Let’s depart.”

“Yes, Lieutenant.”

The driver stepped on the accelerator, and the jeep lurched forward.

Since it was still an unpaved road, I had to endure the bumpy ride.

Holding onto the ceiling handle, I inadvertently glanced at the rearview mirror and broke out in a cold sweat.

Arnop and Winter were still staring at me.

It felt like they were looking at a high-ranking government official.

Hmm, I definitely shouldn’t come back to the logistics base in the future.

***

The news that oil had been discovered in the Empire’s Bardenplatz Plains quickly spread throughout the nation.

Newspaper companies operated their factories day and night to deliver this joyous news, and young boys on the streets shouted “extra, extra!” as they sold newspapers like hotcakes.

Naturally, the Imperial family was also aware of this development.

“Is it true that a large oil field has been discovered in the Bardenplatz Plains? Who found it?”

Upon hearing Princess Sylvia von Amberg’s question, with her lapis lazuli-like blue eyes and blonde hair resembling the rays of spring sunlight, Quartermaster General Kaspar Benedict put down his cutlery.

Kaspar Benedict, with four stars on his shoulder epaulets, was the general in charge of logistics, but before the princess, he was merely a subordinate.

“Indeed. God has bestowed a truly gracious treasure upon the Empire.”

“It wasn’t God, though.”

Kaspar’s shoulders flinched. He wondered if the princess was about to commit blasphemy. However, the princess had no such intention.

“It was a human who discovered the oil field in the Bardenplatz Plains. I’m asking who that human is.”

“Your Highness, he is an insignificant orphan whom you need not know. So…”

Sylvia’s eyes narrowed.

“Quartermaster General, since when did the Empire judge merit based on social background? Have you forgotten that the Empire is at war?”

Sylvia was indirectly telling him to simply answer the question.

Kaspar, understanding this, lowered his head and replied,

“To my knowledge, it was Lieutenant Daniel Steiner who found the oil field. I believe he is currently serving as the Acting Operations Staff Officer at the General Staff Headquarters.”

A Lieutenant? Someone who was merely a Lieutenant had discovered the oil field?

Sylvia, who naturally assumed that a high-ranking official had invested money and manpower to find the oil field, was quite surprised.

‘…Interesting. In many ways.’

If he was just a Lieutenant, he was likely a clean slate politically.

This was the perfect opportunity to bring him into her fold.

She needed to gather as many talented individuals as possible around her.

That would increase her chances of succeeding to the throne.

“Lieutenant Daniel Steiner…”

Sylvia tapped the dining table and smiled faintly.

‘I should pay him a visit soon.’

—————

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