I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander

Gritting my teeth, I floored the accelerator pedal.

If we stopped, we would die. That was the only thought occupying my mind.

Struggling to steady my ragged breathing, I grabbed the radio while driving.

“This is Codename Mole! Under enemy attack! I repeat, this is Codename Mole! Under enemy attack! Approximately 42km from Mavrachika Village! Immediate support requested!”

After delivering the message, I hurriedly changed the frequency to address my platoon members.

“Platoon Commander speaking! Respond! Damn it, say something!”

Upon releasing the transmit button, a trembling voice soon came through from the other end.

—L, Lieutenant? I don’t know what’s happening, but we’ve taken a side path for now. However, due to the gunfire, we’re on a different side path from you to evade the enemy!

It was Prien’s voice.

While I would have preferred someone more composed to be on radio watch, now was not the time to be picky.

“Understood. After putting some distance between us and the enemy, disembark and disperse! Then, assess the enemy’s strength while awaiting reinforcements from the forward base. If you judge them beatable…”

Vrrrooooom!

A jolt violently shook the vehicle, causing me to drop the radio.

Amid Celvia’s groans, my vision flickered dizzily.

In that disorienting moment, I clung desperately to the steering wheel.

‘A tire blew out.’

Whether it was a targeted shot or a stray round, I couldn’t tell.

The important thing was that the gunfire now sounded distant.

Having put considerable distance between us, I had bought us some time.

However, it was too soon to relax. We still needed to escape their line of sight.

Conveniently, a curve appeared ahead.

To throw them off as much as possible, I released the accelerator and slammed the brakes.

Screeeeech!

As the tires screeched against the ground, I sharply turned the steering wheel.

The jeep spun in a half-revolution, tilting precariously.

Just before toppling over, I floored the accelerator again.

The wheels spun rapidly, propelling us forward.

The jeep regained its balance and settled back on all four wheels with a thud.

Celvia’s shrill scream echoed alongside the impact, pitiful enough to make me want to apologize.

But this was no time for such considerations.

I shifted gears and stepped on the accelerator again.

Had I known the jeep could move at such speeds… The thought flashed briefly before my vision blurred.

‘Damn it…!’

Not only had a tire been shot out, but it had also lost all functionality.

In my panic, I slammed on the brakes, but it only worsened the situation.

The tires screeched against the ground, and the vehicle violently spun.

Then, with a resounding crash, a massive impact rocked the entire frame.

“Oof!”

As the impact jolted our bodies, I slowly raised my head to find the hood wedged into a tree trunk.

Smoke billowed out, indicating a substantial collision.

“Ugh, ungh…”

A faint groan emanated from near my thigh.

Finally looking down at Celvia, I asked with concern.

“Are you alright?”

Not that she could be alright, but it was a courtesy to ask.

Celvia seemed to understand, glaring at me before attempting to sit upright.

“Not alright, but… I can still move. But more importantly, how did they know our travel route?”

Unexpected. I had thought she would cry in fear or be paralyzed with terror.

Then again, she was a woman destined to ascend to the Imperial throne and command the most formidable military force in the world.

If she panicked in such a situation, she would hardly be called ‘the Iron Princess.’

“It seems there was a spy at the forward base leaking information to the enemy. Common occurrences in wartime.”

As I spoke, I grabbed the door handle on the driver’s side and pulled. It wouldn’t open, likely due to the distorted frame.

After a few forceful tugs, I turned my body and kicked the door with my feet.

A few hard kicks later, the door panel fell off with a thud.

Exiting through the open doorway first, I extended my hand towards Celvia.

“Get out first. The pursuit team will be right behind us, so we need to put some distance between us.”
“Yes, that would be best.”

Celvia obediently took my hand and stepped out of the jeep.

Having exited the vehicle and taken a deep breath, Celvia’s shoulders were trembling slightly.

She maintained her composure, but it seemed she was still a young girl after all.

Letting out a low chuckle, I led Celvia into the forest.

Following me, Celvia’s face flushed faintly, perhaps conscious of my laughter.

“You really drove quite recklessly, First Lieutenant Daniel.”

Ah, changing the subject out of embarrassment. At moments like these, she was undoubtedly a teenage girl.

“Thank you for the compliment.”
“Did my words sound like a compliment to you?”
“If I hadn’t driven recklessly, you and I would likely be riddled with bullets from the enemy by now. So if that’s not a compliment, what is?”
“We wouldn’t have ended up as pincushions. Because I have…”

Celvia mumbled before closing her mouth.

That’s right. It was still too early for a child to try and outwit an experienced adult with mere words.

“First Lieutenant Daniel. From now on, we…”

I raised my hand to cover her mouth.

For I had heard the enemy’s voices from not too far away.

“Mmph?!”

As Celvia attempted to struggle, I brought my index finger to my lips, gesturing for her to remain silent.

Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Celvia nodded.

I led Celvia to hide behind a nearby thicket and listened intently to the voices.

“…They’ll be around here somewhere. Their vehicle got wrecked, so they couldn’t have gone far.”
“Haa, fuck! I told you to properly conceal those spike strips, didn’t I!”
“Shut your mouth, Veldom! Bitching won’t solve anything!”

Peeking out, I counted six individuals.

They seemed to be moving in a squad-sized unit. For now, no other personnel were in sight.

The problem was that they were gradually approaching our location.

If we remained like this, we would undoubtedly be discovered… Wait a moment.

‘Come to think of it, aren’t they Allied soldiers?’

If so, there was a possibility they would accept a surrender and asylum request from me.

I was an Imperial officer who had worked at the General Staff Headquarters. Unless they were blinded by vengeance, they would recognize my strategic value.

‘If they’re in contact with spies, they must have established means for me to defect to the Allied Nations.’

I hadn’t anticipated such an opportunity to defect. Regardless, it was a stroke of fortune for me.

“…Ma’am.”

Of course, I couldn’t request asylum in front of the Princess.

Doing so would put my life at risk even before joining the Allied Nations.

“We’ll be discovered by them soon. So one of us must make a sacrifice. One person must draw their attention and lure them away, allowing the other to survive. Therefore, I’ll act as the decoy and lure them away.”

Upon hearing my words, Celvia’s eyes widened in shock.

Her expression was one of utter dismay.

Holding her breath, Celvia softly exclaimed:

“Stop this at once! If you do that, you’ll die!”
“If my death allows you to live, Ma’am, then that is enough. A soldier’s existence is to protect the citizens of their nation.”
“First Lieutenant Daniel…!”

I gently grasped Celvia’s shoulders and spoke as wistfully as I could.

“Please survive, Ma’am. If the Empire ever achieves an era of peace and prosperity, I implore you to remember that a man like me once existed.”

Celvia’s face softened, as if touched by my words.

Having performed an adequate farewell act, I released Celvia’s shoulders and stood up.

“Wait, there’s no need to flee…”

Though Celvia tried to dissuade me until the end, the die had already been cast.

Stamping the ground, I ran with all my might in the opposite direction of where Celvia was hiding.

“Huh? Hey!”
“After that bastard!”

The sounds of Allied soldiers giving chase echoed behind me.

Perfect. Everything was unfolding according to my plan.

At this rate, deserting the Empire was only a matter of time!

Left alone, Celvia stared blankly in the direction Daniel had fled.

In her mind, she replayed the words he had spoken:

—If my death allows you to live, Ma’am, then that is enough. A soldier’s existence is to protect the citizens of their nation.

Daniel’s figure, resolutely accepting death, was vividly etched in her tear-filled eyes.

To Celvia, it was an utterly surreal sight.

What officer in the world would sacrifice himself for a mere war correspondent?

‘…Captain Heinz was mistaken.’

That Daniel lacked any respect for others? Nonsense.

Daniel was someone willing to lay down his life for the citizens of the Empire!

He was different from the bureaucrats of the Imperial Court who only paid lip service to sacrificing for the nation and its people.

He had shown his spirit of self-sacrifice through action, not mere words.

Therefore, she had to save him. She had to secure him. The Empire’s treasure could not be lost in such an insignificant place.

“Imperial Guards.”

As Celvia muttered those words, the surrounding space distorted, and soldiers wearing gas masks gradually materialized one by one.

They had been concealing their presence near Celvia using optical camouflage and revealed themselves upon her command.

Celvia did not spare them a glance as she spoke.

“Rescue First Lieutenant Daniel Steiner. If even the slightest harm befalls him…”

Rolling her eyes, Celvia narrowed her gaze sharply.

“I will not forgive you.”

Upon receiving her order, the Imperial Guards bowed their heads in acknowledgment before dashing off at high speed.

Watching the swiftly moving Imperial Guards, Celvia slowly rose to her feet.

Placing her hand over her chest, she exhaled softly.

Whether it was an aftereffect of the reckless driving or not, her heart rate was still faster than usual.