I Was Mistaken for a Great General of War

---

As a soldier, once you’ve received an order, fighting is your duty.

Since I too was included in that category of ‘soldier,’ I could not refuse the command.

Ultimately, I had no choice but to lead my late-arriving company into battle as a follow-up unit for the brigade.

As I advanced through the dark tunnel with the aid of a flashlight, I discovered a ceiling where light was seeping through. Emerging through there, I found an enemy supply base laid out before me.

It was like a massive warehouse stacked with various supplies, but all the Royal Army Soldiers guarding the warehouse lay sprawled out, stiff as corpses, with bullets embedded in their bodies.

It seemed to be the handiwork of the brigade soldiers who had entered first.

Frowning at the smell of blood, the officers and soldiers of my company began to appear one by one.

“Wow. What a splendid festival they’ve thrown.”

The first to speak among them was Lieutenant McCall.

I nodded and stepped outside through the wide-open warehouse door.

Instead of the dim light, a vast sunlight illuminated everything around me.

Looking around slightly, I noticed that it was no different from inside the warehouse.

The Allied soldiers who had been guarding the base were all dead.

In the meantime, the bodies of the Imperial Army soldiers were scarcely visible.

Even in a surprise attack, it was astonishing how much of a skill gap there was.

The Royal Army was on the verge of pity.

As I blatantly clicked my tongue, a loud “bang!” echoed from not far away.

Turning my head, I saw the city center being bombarded.

Fortunately, it wasn’t a merciless bombardment.

They were focusing their strikes solely on the enemy’s military bases to avoid civilian casualties.

It was proof that the current Empire was complying with wartime international law.

However, it was uncertain whether the Empire’s soldiers were also adhering to that law.

Beyond the open door of the supply base, I could see the Imperial soldiers massacring the Royal Army soldiers.

In a few buildings, the windows shattered, causing Royal Army soldiers to tumble down.

Despite being in an urban battle, they were suppressing the enemies almost perfectly.

‘So this is what they call the Empire’s elite, the Magic Mobile Army…’

As I was admiring them inwardly, a woman with reddish-brown hair came to a halt next to me.

It was Prien.

“What a gruesome sight.”

I turned to see her taking a reverent posture as if praying to God, wondering what was she talking about.

“They must have been human at one point. How could they not realize that holding hands with beasts turns them into beasts themselves? They deserve divine punishment, but their failure is terribly sad.”

Right. It’s not like you would say anything reasonable.

As I looked at Prien with disdain, Lieutenant McCall spoke up next.

“I thought this would be an easy victory after hearing the operations overview, but I didn’t expect it to be this overwhelming. I even feel a sense of guilt. It’s like I’m using violence against children.”

Corporal Glendi burst into laughter at Lieutenant McCall’s joke.

“What a perfect analogy! To think that you contemplated using the enemy’s supply route for infiltration, it seems the Company Commander is really ahead of the game on the battlefield!”

“…I was just lucky.”

“Hahaha! With such humility, I can’t help but respect you. So, are we joining the brigade’s soldiers now?”

Are they crazy? Are they really thinking of going into the heart of the enemy’s bombardment to fight?

When I turned back, I saw their faces brimming with anticipation.

Not just Corporal Glendi but the other officers and soldiers also looked eager to jump into battle.

Even Lucy, who maintained a blank expression, appeared normal in comparison.

‘They’re like a bunch of war maniacs…’

It sent shivers down my spine.

As much as they seemed to crave combat, I had no intention of fulfilling their requests.

“We’re heading to the coast.”

The coast? Prien opened her mouth as if she didn’t understand.

“Captain Daniel? Isn’t it true that the enemy has concentrated all their forces on the front lines or in the city center because of our feigned attack? The coast is currently where civilians are evacuating.”

“…Are you suggesting we attack civilians?”

What kind of view do they have of me to ask such a question?

My decision to head to the coast was simply based on the assumption that the number of enemies there would be minimal.

If combat could not be avoided, choosing the area with the least confrontation would improve our survival odds.

Of course, explaining this might draw ridicule from these irrational war maniacs, so I decided to brush it off.

“I have a plan, so follow me without question.”

In truth, I had no actual plan.

I was merely uttering the word ‘plan’ as if it were a magical term to quell the dissatisfaction of the troops.

As expected, the officers, including Prien, saluted me to indicate they understood.

‘Good.’

Now I could leave the war to the brigade’s soldiers and spend some time by the coast, gazing at the sea.

“All troops, move to the coast immediately, following me.”

As I calmly issued the command, concealing my true intentions, I stepped forward.

*

“The frontline… the frontline has been breached!”

“We’ve lost contact with the central forces of the city!”

News of defeat reached the ears of the Royal Army’s Ironclad Division Commander, Rapunai, who was in retreat.

I expected some level of this, but I didn’t anticipate the city falling so swiftly.

Clenching his teeth, Rapunai glared at the radio operator and said, “Order them to hold their position as best as they can and withstand the Imperial Army’s attack.”

“But that would result in heavy casualties among our forces…”

“That’s an order! Don’t you understand that buying us time to escape is our only chance for survival?”

Rapunai’s theory was that while soldiers could be drafted as needed, it was the leadership that would be difficult to replace if annihilated.

However, that ideology seemed more like a defensive mechanism he had formed to justify leaving the battlefield during emergencies.

Boom—

The ground shook from the artillery fire, causing Rapunai to stumble.

Barely regaining his balance, he continued walking.

“Damn it! How much longer do we have to go!”

As Rapunai urged, a staff officer beside him spoke up.

“We’ll reach the rendezvous point soon after turning down the alley! The evacuation boats have been disguised as fishing vessels, so they should be safe from the Imperial Army’s attacks.”

Nodding at the officer’s calm explanation, Rapunai felt reassured.

The Imperial Army was complying with wartime international law unless under special circumstances.

That meant they wouldn’t attack civilians, and joining their evacuation line could facilitate an easy escape.

“But Commander, are we really retreating?”

The Royal Army’s leadership was like a candle in the wind.

Worried about that, the officer asked, but Rapunai only felt anger.

“We’re already lost in this war from the moment we were surrounded! We were barely holding on because our supply lines were intact, but they turned that against us! Do you think we have any chance of victory?”

“We have no chance, but we’re prepared for a desperate fight…”

“Stop speaking nonsense! Retreating from a battlefield we already know we’ll lose is the action of a fool!”

Although Rapunai’s retreat did not include the soldiers.

“…Understood.”

The officer thought he couldn’t change the Commander’s mind and fell silent.

After giving the officer a once-over, Rapunai turned the corner and saw the coastline unfolding before him.

Just a little further and they’d be able to board the evacuation boats.

Just as he thought they were finally alive, Rapunai and his men halted abruptly as they stepped out of the alley.

“Huh?”

They came face to face with the Imperial Army clad in black military uniforms.

There were about 200 Imperial soldiers.

On the chest of the Imperial officer leading them glittered the National Order of Goryeo Medal under the sunlight.

Seeing that, Rapunai gulped.

The elite troops he brought for protection numbered no more than 50 at best.

He was concerned that bringing in more would increase the likelihood of being spotted by the enemy.

If they were to engage in battle now, it would only lead to their deaths.

‘But…’

How on earth did that person deploy forces here?

Given the lack of communication thinking there would be interception, Rapunai found it utterly incomprehensible.

The feelings of Daniel, who was leading his company, were not much different.

‘…Why is the command of the Ironclad Division here?’

Daniel, who had only intended to avoid combat by heading to the coast, couldn’t understand the situation.

However, it seemed the soldiers thought differently.

Clack—

The Imperial soldiers raised their rifles all at once, aiming at the command of the Ironclad Division.

Corporal Glendi, alongside the other soldiers, aimed his rifle as he spoke, “Commander, was this your plan all along? I’m beyond impressed—now I’m scared.”

Daniel felt equally intimidated.

Sighing at the thought of accruing more military achievements, he couldn’t show it.

“Bind those people.”

With narrowed and keen eyes, Daniel directed his gaze at the stunned Ironclad Division commanders.

“Feel free to shoot anyone who resists.”

At Daniel’s icy words, the Royal Army soldiers lost their fighting spirit, one by one dropping their weapons.

They were physically acknowledging the fall of Nordia.