I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander

T+12 hours since the start of Operation Daniel Steiner.

Temporary Field Command Post, established inside the estate of Count Khaledra.

“How could this happen? How was Daniel Steiner’s brigade spotted in the north? Didn’t aerial reconnaissance report that he had established defensive positions 200 kilometers west?”

“...That was Daniel Steiner’s scheme. He apparently anticipated that the Allied Forces would rely on aerial recon and constructed a fortified position using inflatable tanks and crates.”

Because aerial reconnaissance couldn’t provide clear identification, they had blindly believed it.

Amidst the growing confusion, one of the staff officers finally spoke up, sounding exasperated.

“What about the regiment and defense forces we sent across the bridge? Tell them to hasten their retreat! When the hell are they expected to arrive in Fenbark?”

“I’ve already issued orders to move the troops as fast as possible. By now, the vanguard should have reached the bridge, so perhaps even before Daniel Steiner’s brigade—”

While the staff were still exchanging opinions, a liaison officer burst into the room.

Panting heavily, the liaison immediately spotted Khaledra seated at the head of the table, his forehead in his hand.

After a salute, the liaison quickly opened his mouth.

“Urgent report! The sluice gate... the sluice gate has been destroyed!”

At the mention of the sluice gate being destroyed, the staff froze.

Because those words could mean only one thing.

“One of our armored battalions was submerged mid-crossing when the sluice was blown! The divisional commander ordered an emergency withdrawal, preventing further losses, but...”

The liaison clenched his fist tightly.

“Crossing is impossible! Due to the recent heavy rains, the destruction of the sluice has caused the river to flood massively—radio reports estimate that crossing will be impossible for at least four days...!”

At the word “four days,” Khaledra exhaled sharply, and the staff stirred.

“Did I hear that right? Four days...?”

“This is absurd. Daniel Steiner’s brigade will reach us before we can even pull back.”

“What about the defense force? How many defenders are still in the city?”

Defeat was beginning to show on the officers’ faces.

It was clear to everyone that if things continued like this, Daniel Steiner would seize the city.

Amid the despair, Count Khaledra clenched his teeth.

Daniel Steiner...!

Only now did he realize that he had lost the psychological war and had been completely played by Daniel Steiner.

Rage surged, and his breathing grew uneven.

Watching him closely, the chief of staff carefully spoke up.

“Your Excellency Count. At this rate, it’s only a matter of time before Daniel Steiner takes Fenbark. For your safety, I recommend abandoning the city, even now.”

Khaledra turned only his eyes to glare at the chief of staff.

The sheer pressure of that gaze made the officer instinctively lower his head, and Khaledra turned his attention forward once more.

“You’re telling me to hand this city over to that man...?”

It was humiliating, but there was no other option.

Khaledra, gripping his cane tightly, looked down at the ring on his hand.

Inside the clear gem embedded in the ring, a strange energy was constantly churning.

This was the only control stone capable of neutralizing Lucy Emilia.

It had been created by order of Count Khaledra through scientists when Lucy successfully manifested her talents and turned into a monster—essentially, a safety measure.

It was also one of the reasons Lucy had obediently remained inside the mansion without resistance.

Its mechanism was simple.

The moment magic power was °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° infused into the control stone, the gem would shatter, and its energy would violently erupt in all directions.

It had no effect on ordinary people. But this energy, extracted based on the gene agents administered to the test subjects, would collide with Lucy’s magic and trigger an intense backlash.

Unable to withstand the backlash, Lucy would lose consciousness on the spot.

However...

It wasn’t a perfect solution.

According to the scientists, once the control stone was used, Lucy’s body would develop an immunity, making a second attempt impossible.

In short, this was the first and last chance to neutralize Lucy Emilia.

Still deep in thought, Khaledra finally planted his cane firmly and rose from his seat.

“One city is enough to give up to that bastard. Chief of Staff. You’re coming with me.”

“...Understood.”

The chief of staff had an ominous feeling he couldn’t shake, but bound by duty and unable to refuse, he rose from his seat and followed Khaledra.

****

Inside the mansion’s bedroom, Lucy sat by the window, gazing outside as always.

Next to her, Namerias was peeling fruit, but she couldn’t hide the anxiety on her face as she glanced at Lucy.

Should she say something? Or stay silent?

After watching Lucy carefully for a moment, Namerias finally gathered her courage and spoke up.

“Young Lady. Something feels off. Since morning, high-ranking officials have been pouring into the estate. And then they all went into that big room with grim faces, and I heard shouting.”

Lucy didn’t respond.

It wasn’t something she could answer.

“Couldn’t it be that something went wrong on the front lines? That the enemy... maybe won...?”

Namerias shut her mouth the moment she realized what she’d said.

Even if she sympathized with Lucy, she had been born and raised in the Allied Nations.

So it was only natural that she didn’t view Daniel Steiner’s rise in a favorable light.

But Lucy, who had a certain relationship with Daniel, would surely feel the opposite.

As Namerias fell silent, Lucy gave a faint smile.

“There’s no need to worry. Even if the Brigade Commander is here to retake the city, he won’t attack civilians.”

“...Really? I heard Imperial soldiers are devils who rape women at will.”

“That’s just rumors. Of course, such soldiers might exist. But at the very least, the Brigade Commander’s troops don’t do that. I can guarantee it.”

Hearing Lucy speak so firmly, Namerias felt something within her settle.

Just as she was about to exhale in relief—

“...Hm?”

Footsteps.

Multiple sets of them echoed from the hallway.

Lucy’s eyes narrowed as she immediately realized these weren’t soldiers coming for a routine shift change.

There was only one person who would come leading armed men at this point.

Count Khaledra.

He must have determined the war situation had turned against him—and was now here to play his next move.

From his perspective, there was no way he’d want to hand over Lucy—an asymmetric military asset—to Daniel Steiner.

If I refuse whatever offer he makes...

He’d use the control stone.

Knowing, at least in theory, the power of the control stone, Lucy could only stay on edge.

If Count Khaledra used the control stone, that meant one thing—disposal.

If she wanted to survive, the logical move would be to obey.

But...

She didn’t want to go back to that wretched past.

Because there had been a man who had shown her that this world wasn’t just pain.

After a deep breath, Lucy reached her hand toward Namerias.

“Namerias. Hand that to me.”

“Eh? The fruit knife? Why?”

“There’s no time to explain. Quickly.”

Hesitating, Namerias ultimately chose to trust Lucy and passed over the fruit knife.

Lucy tucked the knife into her sleeve and moved her lips silently.

“Namerias. I’m sorry.”

“...Huh?”

BANG!

The door slammed open, and Count Khaledra entered, accompanied by his chief of staff and soldiers.

“C-Count...?”

Ignoring Namerias entirely, Khaledra stepped inside and planted his cane against the floor.

“Lucy Emilia. It’s time to return home.”

Despite Khaledra’s words, Lucy remained calm, still gazing out the window.

That irritated him.

After a short silence, Khaledra spoke again.

“Are you saying you won’t go back?”

“...The Brigade Commander told me to wait in Fenbark.”

At his signal, the soldiers raised their rifles at Lucy.

Namerias panicked and asked what this was about, but Khaledra didn’t spare her a glance.

“I will give you one last chance. Stand up and come with me.”

But Lucy didn’t move.

“You know it too, Count.”

Her voice was low but resolute as it spread through the room.

“That there is no longer a future where I follow you.”

As she spoke, Lucy watched Khaledra’s reflection in the window.

She saw his hand move toward the control stone on his ring.

“If possible, I—”

This was her chance.

In that brief moment of carelessness, Lucy accelerated her nerves.

In a flash, she sprang to her feet, drew the fruit knife, and hurled it at Khaledra.

Almost simultaneously, the chief of staff jumped in the way.

“Your Excellency!”

Thunk! The knife embedded itself deep in the man’s arm.

...How?

Was the chief of staff also someone with nerve acceleration?

There was no time to dwell. In the next instant, the control stone absorbed mana and shattered—sending a violent shockwave through the room.

Desperately, Lucy tried to push through the wind and move—

“...!”

The moment the wind touched her skin, a searing pain exploded across her body, and her vision flickered.

Despite her will, her body collapsed to one knee, and Namerias rushed to support her.

“Young Lady! Are you alright!?”

She had no strength left in her limbs.

Panting, Lucy barely managed to lift her head and meet Khaledra’s eyes.

He did not avoid her gaze.

“So this is your answer.”

The chief of staff groaned with the knife still in his arm, but Khaledra and Lucy simply stared at one another.

“You will regret this insolence for the rest of your life.”

In a voice devoid of warmth, Khaledra continued coldly.

“Chief of Staff. Assemble the personnel. Take Lucy Emilia back to the lab.”

That initial talk of going home—had merely been to test her.

In truth, if everything had gone to plan, Lucy was to be killed here once she was neutralized.

That was the most efficient way to eliminate all future threats.

But perhaps because he had once raised her as an adopted daughter...

Or maybe because of all the time and money invested...

Khaledra couldn’t bring himself to do it.

So he chose a different method.

“Inform the relevant personnel. Use the chamber in the lab to erase all of Lucy Emilia’s memories.”

Just like they had erased her memories of Fenbark in the past.

He hadn’t wanted to touch her mind again—but as far as he was concerned, there was no other choice now.

“Make it quick.”

Turning his eyes away from Lucy, Khaledra gave the chief of staff a sharp look.

“We must finish everything before Daniel Steiner arrives.”

There was no time.

If anything goes even slightly wrong...

Everything would be lost to Daniel Steiner.