I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander

The following morning.

Having arrived at the General Staff Headquarters, Lucie stood frozen, her hand grasping the doorknob of the Operations Staff’s private office.

It should have been an ordinary workday, yet everything felt alien ever since receiving the order to “eliminate Daniel Steiner.”

“…”

After needlessly gripping the doorknob, Lucie took a deep breath and opened the door.

There, she saw Daniel seated at his desk, reading the newspaper.

An ordinary sight.

“Oh? Ah.”

Noticing Lucie’s entrance, Daniel folded the newspaper.

“You’re here. Seems a bit later than usual today.”
“My apologies. I had trouble sleeping last night…”
“No need to apologize. It’s fine as long as you’re not late.”

After folding the newspaper once more and placing it on the edge of his desk, Daniel opened a drawer.

“More importantly, I have some good news for you today.”
“…Good news, you say?”

From the drawer, Daniel retrieved a box and placed it on his desk.

The box, wrapped in the Imperial flag, immediately revealed its contents to Lucie.

As Lucie’s gaze fixed on the box, Daniel playfully tapped it.

“Congratulations. It seems your merits have been recognized in the special promotion review.”

Lucie remained impassive.

For after killing Daniel today, she would be leaving the Empire anyway.

As such, her promotion to Lieutenant would not present any issues.

‘Look at this.’

Misinterpreting Lucie’s indifferent expression, Daniel secretly smiled.

‘She’s trying to act nonchalant, but she must be cursing me inwardly.’

Daniel was all too familiar with the sense of dejection and anger one felt upon an unwanted promotion.

Believing Lucie shared the same sentiments, Daniel rose from his seat.

“Allow me to change your rank insignia personally.”

After unfurling the Imperial flag and opening the box, a Lieutenant’s badge was revealed.

Carrying the badge, Daniel approached Lucie and personally replaced her insignia.

With deft movements, he affixed the Lieutenant’s badge onto both shoulders of Lucie’s uniform before flashing a satisfied smile.

“Congratulations on your promotion to Lieutenant. Henceforth, fulfill your duties as my adjutant.”

Though Lucie reflexively intended to respond, she found herself hesitating.

Daniel would die today.

So for Daniel, there would be no ‘henceforth.’

“…Adjutant?”

Puzzled by her reaction, Daniel prompted her, causing Lucie to regain her senses and reply.

“It is an honor to have been promoted early. I shall endeavor to give my utmost efforts going forward.”

After staring wordlessly at Lucie’s delayed response, Daniel gave a cursory nod.

While it seemed she was hiding something, he could not outright ask her about it.

As usual, after completing her duties, Lucie returned to her quarters and began her assassination preparations.

Naturally, she studied the geography surrounding Daniel’s residence using maps and planned her entry and escape routes.

Furthermore, after changing into combat attire and donning a bulletproof vest, she even procured anti-magic rounds, known as “breaker rounds,” in case Daniel fought back.

Once all preparations were complete, Lucie activated her optical camouflage and headed for Daniel’s residence during the predawn hours when traffic was lightest.

Upon arriving at Daniel’s residence, Lucie grasped the doorknob and gently turned it, but unsurprisingly, it did not open.

Naturally dropping to one knee, Lucie retrieved a lockpick from her pouch and began unlocking the door.

Click.

Hearing the lock disengage, Lucie turned the handle and slowly opened the door.

After confirming the door had opened, Lucie put away her lockpick and rose to her feet.

Taking a deep breath, she entered and immediately closed the door behind her.

As she surveyed the living room, Lucie froze.

For she noticed Daniel’s back as he sat on the sofa.

‘Could it be…’

Had he sensed her and remained awake?

Though she deemed it unlikely, her target was Daniel Steiner.

Just in case, Lucie drew her pistol and slowly approached Daniel from behind.

As she approached with her pistol trained on Daniel, Lucie soon felt relieved.

From the side, she could see Daniel leaning against the sofa’s backrest with his eyes closed.

His steady breathing and slightly drooping head indicated he had dozed off.

Letting out a soft exhale, Lucie retrieved a suppressor from her pouch and attached it to her pistol’s muzzle.

After skillfully affixing the suppressor, Lucie deactivated her optical camouflage and aimed at Daniel’s head.

All she had to do now was pull the trigger, kill Daniel, and escape the Empire.

Though she would undoubtedly face pursuit once the Empire’s hero’s body was discovered in the morning, that was a problem for later.

‘The important thing is…’

To remain loyal to Count Calredra’s orders, who had shown her kindness.

Therefore, Lucie had to kill Daniel Steiner.

Raising her finger to the trigger, Lucie held her breath for precise aim.

All that remained was to fire.

Yet for some reason, her finger would not move.

Amidst that inexplicable hesitation, delaying the assassination, Lucie became aware of something in her peripheral vision.

Reflexively shifting her gaze, Lucie noticed Daniel’s officer’s coat draped over the sofa’s backrest.

From the coat’s inverted inner pocket, an aged piece of paper protruded.

“…”

Curious about the paper’s contents, Lucie lowered her pistol and examined the coat’s inner pocket.

From it, she retrieved a singed, folded piece of paper and an old photograph.

Lucie checked the photograph first.

‘This is…’

A photo of Daniel with the orphans from a monastery.

A younger Daniel stood smiling in the center, with the orphaned children clinging to him like leeches, playfully squabbling with each other.

Children’s fondness inevitably meant he was a good person.

As she observed Daniel’s sleeping profile, Lucie shook her head.

Whether he was a good person or not was irrelevant to carrying out her mission.

Setting the photograph aside, Lucie unfolded the paper.

As she felt its rough, aged texture and read its contents, her hand froze.

[“…According to recent data provided by the Allied Nations, they have successfully created an enhanced subject.”]

‘The Allied Nations?’

Lucie found it difficult to believe the Allied Nations had conducted biological experiments.

However, what she found even more unbelievable was the next sentence.

[“Currently unique and with magical enhancements far exceeding expected levels. As such, our research team expresses gratitude to the Allied Nations and shall henceforth refer to our ongoing project by the code name ‘Lucie Project,’ named after this subject.”]

The Lucie Project.

According to the paper, the name of the successfully enhanced subject from the Allied Nations’ biological experiments was none other than Lucie.

As a result, Lucie trembled, as if denying reality.

‘This can’t be.’

It was the Empire, not the Allied Nations, that conducted the experiments.

‘It was Count Calredra who rescued me from the Empire’s inhumane experiments.’

So this document must be a lie.

Yet for some inexplicable reason, this paper appeared quite old.

For its surface to have become so coarse, it must have been exposed to the air for an extended period.

By all appearances, it did not seem like a hastily fabricated document.

Amidst her confusion, Lucie’s gaze fell upon Daniel.

She could not comprehend how Daniel had come to possess this paper.

Even more perplexing was Daniel’s demeanor, as he had not outwardly reacted despite being aware of its contents.

While this document could not serve as evidence to expose a spy, it was certainly grounds for suspicion.

Yet Daniel had not only refrained from suspecting her but treated her as usual.

‘In fact…’

He had even intervened to shield her when the Security Bureau had come to investigate.

Recalling that memory, Lucie’s breathing grew unsteady.

‘Even though he knew I was a spy…’

Daniel had risked his life to confront the Security Bureau for her sake.

But why? From Lucie’s perspective, no matter how she contemplated it, she could not discern his reasons.

Unable to make sense of the situation, Lucie tightly gripped her pistol.

For she recalled the words Count Calredra had always told her:

Lucie. One who fails to repay kindness is no better than a beast. Furthermore, everything except the words from my mouth is a lie.

‘The contents written on this paper are a lie.’

Therefore, all she had to do was remain loyal to Count Calredra and the Allied Nations as usual.

Raising her pistol to kill Daniel, Lucie steadied her quickened breathing.

All she had to do was kill Daniel here and return to the Allied Nations.

With her finger on the trigger, Lucie narrowed her eyes sharply.

Yet she could not bring herself to pull the trigger.

For inexplicably, Daniel’s words echoed in her mind.

Just that… your beauty seemed particularly striking today, so I found myself staring.

Her finger could not apply pressure to the trigger.

Your skin doesn’t emit any unpleasant odors, Adjutant. In fact, it’s almost fragrant. So don’t rely on such luxuries as perfume.

She bit her lower lip hard.

Please don’t inconvenience my adjutant.

As her confusion intensified, her breathing, which had calmed, quickened once more.

If possible, I wish we could ascend to greater heights together.

Lucie silently wept, squeezing her eyes shut.

Recalling those memories, Lucie’s hand trembled slightly as she experienced an unprecedented emotion.

‘Even if the paper’s contents are a lie…’

It meant Daniel knew Lucie was a spy.

Yet Daniel had never revealed to anyone that Lucie was a spy.

Instead, he had even risked his life to shield her from the Security Bureau.

Lucie owed Daniel a debt of gratitude.

And one who failed to repay kindness was no better than a beast.

Lucie was not a beast, so she could not bring herself to kill Daniel.

Amidst her intense inner conflict, Lucie eventually lowered the pistol she had been holding.

Her head throbbed with excruciating pain.

Exhaling raggedly in the stillness, Lucie became aware.

‘Right now, I…’

Could never kill Daniel.