I Was Mistaken as a Great War Commander

After leaving Jack’s Restaurant, Morten hurried away, consumed by anxiety.

The ominous words conveyed by Daniel had sown seeds of unease, leaving him short of breath.

‘He had no intention of engaging us in dialogue. Cooperation? Daniel himself knew better than to utter such nonsense…’

Yet, at the monastery’s dining hall, Daniel had issued some veiled threat, compelling Morten to seek him out of his own accord.

What had been Daniel’s intent behind such actions?

As Morten’s steps gradually slowed while pondering the calculations, a realization dawned upon him.

‘He never intended to cooperate from the beginning. Then, could it be…’

His steps came to a complete halt.

‘…His aim was to lure me away from Dawn’s Radiance’s headquarters?’

A chilling epiphany washed over him.

This was a tactic to render an organization’s leader absent before annihilating it.

‘I’ve been had…!’

Morten’s anxiety transformed into certainty as he retrieved his radio from his pocket and turned it on.

Tuning the frequency, Morten pressed the transmit button and urgently spoke.

“Headquarters! Can you hear me? If you can, anyone respond! The situation is critical!”

However, there was no response.

Sensing something amiss, Morten verified the frequency before pressing the transmit button again.

“Headquarters! Respond! We must evacuate immediately…”

Morten trailed off, realizing the reason for the lack of response.

Breaking out in a cold sweat, he released the transmit button, prompting a static ‘beep’ from the radio.

Immediately afterward, eerie laughter echoed through the radio’s speaker.

As Morten froze, the laughter gradually faded into silence.

Are you listening, Morten Blackmore?

It was an unfamiliar voice.

It signified that Dawn’s Radiance’s headquarters had fallen to their adversaries.

You’ve been quite the amusing bunch down there in the underground. Unfortunately, the fun has come to an end.

Morten’s grip on the radio loosened.

The thought of his comrades being compromised made it difficult to maintain composure.

Yet, the voice continued emanating from the radio.

Morten Blackmore. This is your first and final warning.

After a brief pause, a chilling yet solemn voice followed.

Do not dare to oppose Daniel Steiner.

With those parting words, the transmission ended.

Staring blankly at the radio, Morten suddenly felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, causing him to stagger.

His heart palpitated erratically, inducing nausea.

Clutching his chest, he staggered and leaned against a nearby wall, bowing his head.

“Hah, agh…”

Exhaling raggedly with narrowed eyes, Morten let out a low sob.

He could no longer deny the truth.

‘I was merely…’

Being toyed with in the palm of Daniel Steiner’s hand.

After finishing his meal, instead of returning to his accommodations, Daniel headed towards the monastery.

Morten’s insolence had left Daniel deeply offended on multiple levels.

Upon arriving at the monastery, Daniel immediately sought out the Headmaster.

In the cloister courtyard’s corridor, Daniel spotted the Headmaster walking with a candelabra in hand and approached him in long strides.

“Headmaster!”

Startled, Headmaster Hierony turned around.

Catching sight of Daniel, Hierony could only tilt his head in puzzlement.

“Daniel? Weren’t you going to Jack’s Restaurant?”
“I did, but… That’s not important right now.”

Blinking bewilderedly at Daniel’s apparent agitation, Hierony asked, “Did something happen at the dining hall? Why do you seem so upset?”
“Yes, I encountered someone from the town council.”
“The town council?”
“Indeed! He was an exceedingly rude individual. By any chance, did the council members also treat you and the children in such a discourteous manner?”

Power, Daniel knew well, predominantly stemmed from wealth.

He was also aware of how intoxicated those in power could become with their arrogant dispositions.

If the council had been repeatedly harassing the monastery under the pretext of donation budgets, Daniel could not bring himself to forgive them.

Thus, he had come to hear the full account from the Headmaster.

However, having never witnessed the council members behaving rudely, Hierony could only express bewilderment.

“It seems there has been a misunderstanding. The council members have all been courteous and polite individuals. Moreover, despite their difficult circumstances this time, they have decided not to reduce the donation budget.”
“…They said they would not reduce the donation budget?”

Then what had that man at Jack’s Restaurant meant by mentioning ‘war’?

Blinking in confusion as he pondered this, the sound of approaching footsteps caught Daniel’s attention.

Reflexively turning his head, he saw the deputy headmaster monk rounding the courtyard’s corner, approaching them.

“Deputy Headmaster.”

As Daniel nodded respectfully, the deputy headmaster let out an awkward chuckle.

“Daniel. When I heard a visitor was looking for you, I wondered what was going on, but here you are. Shouldn’t you have at least mentioned your return?”
“My apologies. I had urgent matters to discuss with the Headmaster… But you mentioned a visitor seeking me?”

The deputy headmaster nodded.

“Yes. Despite being advised not to visit the monastery at this hour, they insisted on meeting Major Daniel Steiner. As they seemed to have a valid reason, I allowed them inside for the time being.”
“…Me, you say?”

While uncertain who it could be, he could not simply dismiss someone who had gone to such lengths.

“I understand. Where is this person?”
“They are waiting in the chapel.”

With a nod, Daniel made his way towards the chapel.

After navigating several corridors, Daniel located the chapel and entered through the door.

The chapel’s interior, visible through the open doorway, appeared serene and tranquil.

Moonlight filtered in through the stained-glass windows adorning the ceiling and walls.

In the chapel’s center, a man stood silently gazing up at the statue of God.

As Daniel approached, the man sensed his presence and turned around.

Recognizing the man’s identity, Daniel’s brow furrowed.

‘The same man from Jack’s Restaurant.’

Apart from appearing much more haggard in the span of a few hours, it was undoubtedly the same individual.

‘But why has he come here? Could it be to apologize…’

This was the very man who had rudely joined Daniel’s table before issuing veiled threats.

Still harboring resentment from that unpleasant encounter, Daniel broke the brief silence.

“You must have something to say.”

At Daniel’s words, Morten’s shoulders flinched.

Clenching and unclenching his fists with an agitated demeanor, Morten slowly approached Daniel.

Swallowing hard, Morten reached Daniel’s proximity and slowly lowered himself onto one knee.

‘No, I wasn’t instructed to go this far…’

As a perplexed Daniel remained speechless, Morten spoke.

“…Major Daniel Steiner. This is my complete defeat.”

Morten’s words only compounded Daniel’s bewilderment.

Just as he wondered what nonsense this was, Morten solemnly continued.

“You have won, Major. I have lost everything, and I lack the strength to recover. You may dispose of me as you see fit. But I beg of you, spare my family…”

Tears welled up in Morten’s eyes, trailing down his cheeks.

“Please, spare my family. They are innocent souls, unaware of anything. If you spare my family, I shall humbly confess to my role in conspiring on behalf of the Crown Prince.”

Consequently, Daniel could only break out in a cold sweat.

‘What is he going on about?’

Morten’s abrupt arrival and nonsensical confession were simply preposterous.

Exasperated, Daniel let out a low sigh before speaking.

“I do not comprehend what you are saying at all.”
“Pardon? But Major Daniel Steiner…”

Sighing once more, Daniel lowered himself onto one knee, facing Morten.

“Allow me to reiterate.”

Daniel’s narrowed gaze fixed intently upon Morten.

“I have no idea what you are talking about.”

Upon hearing Daniel’s words, Morten’s eyes flickered briefly.

He had grasped Daniel’s intent behind those words.

‘He’s trying to conceal the fact that he commands armed forces…’

If it became known that an individual soldier possessed personal military forces, it would undoubtedly raise numerous issues.

To Morten, Daniel appeared to be feigning ignorance to avoid external interference.

He was lying to minimize any potential consequences.

A chill ran down Morten’s spine.

Daniel was truly a calculated and unflinching individual.

‘Just how many steps ahead is he thinking…?’

The annihilation of Dawn’s Radiance, the Crown Prince’s secret organization, was perhaps merely a small part of the grand scheme Daniel Steiner had devised.

Those words, warning him never to dare oppose Daniel Steiner, now resonated deeply within him.

Overcome by an inexplicable dread, Morten placed his hands on the floor and slowly bowed his head.

“Yes. I shall keep that in mind. Major Daniel Steiner…”

From his prostrated position, consumed by fear, Morten touched his forehead to the floor in a gesture of submission.

Tears streamed from his tightly shut eyes.

“Truly knows nothing…”

Amidst his muffled sobs, Morten was once again certain.

This had been an unwinnable battle from the very beginning.