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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: An Accidental War Hero
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I thought I'd misheard at first, but Frien's gaze was full of conviction.
"...The binoculars."
"Yes, Lieutenant!"
I took the binoculars from Frien and scanned the gorge entrance, my brow furrowed.
Just as Frien had said, a company-sized unit was advancing.
But why were they coming to Edelkral Gorge, a known minefield?
Puzzled, I observed their formation and let out a wry chuckle of disbelief.
'They're marching in a single-file column. Two soldiers are walking far ahead at the very front.'
The soldiers walking at the front were, quite literally, mine sweepers.
If no explosions occurred on the path they took, it meant there were no mines.
So, Jeremy's unit was simply following in their footsteps.
'The soldiers at the front… it doesn't look like they're doing this willingly.'
Magnifying the view through the binoculars, I saw the faces of the lead soldiers were filled with fear.
Would they volunteer to lead while trembling with such terror? Absolutely not.
By all appearances, it was highly probable that some form of coercion was involved.
I shifted the binoculars, and about 30 meters back, I saw soldiers in the rear openly aiming their rifles at the lead soldiers.
Shoot on sight if they deviate from the front.
Jeremy must have issued a similar order.
'To verify a minefield with the lives of his own subordinates…'
It was a truly diabolical idea.
Though, it wasn't particularly surprising given the long history of warfare, where far worse had happened.
Sighing, I lowered the binoculars, looked around, and spoke.
"Target approaching. All squads, prepare for combat."
No sooner had I finished speaking than the squad members crouched down and took out the rifles slung over their shoulders. Immediately after, they checked the Mana Cylinders attached to their opposite shoulders.
These cylindrical devices, containing various mechanical components and gauges, were advanced military equipment of the Empire.
Their function was to store mana from the body beforehand, allowing it to be used on demand, enabling soldiers to use up to twice their normal mana output during combat, depending on the individual.
This meant Imperial soldiers could fight twice as effectively as soldiers from other nations.
Of course, this was a slight exaggeration based purely on numerical comparison, but it was no exaggeration to say that the invention of the Mana Cylinder, hailed as the culmination of magical engineering, had transformed the Empire into a major power.
'And indeed, no nation could defeat the Empire in an all-out, one-on-one war…'
The problem, however, was that this overwhelming national power had earned the fear and resentment of the neighboring nations who shared a border with the Empire.
Suddenly recalling my reason for wanting to escape the Empire, I, like the others, checked the gauge on my Mana Cylinder.
Confirming no issues, I took a prone firing position at the edge of the cliff.
The soldiers, too, lined up along the cliff, following my lead.
Watching Jeremy's company gradually enter deeper into the gorge, I whispered, just loud enough for the soldiers to hear.
"I'll handle the enemy commander. The moment I fire, you will provide suppressive fire to block their escape route. Mana Rounds, ready!"
"Mana Rounds, ready!"
The soldiers, echoing my quiet command, channeled mana into the hands gripping their magazines.
This was an act of temporarily imbuing bullets with mana to enhance their destructive power and penetration.
Mana-infused bullets not only surpassed most conventional magic but also required no incantations, just mana, making their activation incredibly simple.
Just as medieval knights had vanished with the invention of guns, after the utility of mana rounds was proven, magic, with the exception of a few practical applications, had been relegated to a relic of a bygone era in this world.
It was a prime example of technological advancement undermining romance.
'Anyway…'
If I succeeded in eliminating Colonel Jeremy here, wouldn't that just add to my merits again?
With the Princess observing from behind, I had to fight, but if I achieved another feat here, it would be akin to losing my chance to escape the Empire.
So, what should I do? Feeling Selvia's gaze, I adjusted the rifle scope.
Shouldering the rifle and looking through the scope, I saw Colonel Jeremy walking in the center of the column below.
The scope's magnification wasn't high enough to see his face clearly, but the fact that only one person was wearing a high-ranking officer's uniform indicated it was him.
If I succeeded in eliminating Colonel Jeremy here, I would undoubtedly be promoted.
That absolutely could not happen. I didn't want to be tied to the Empire any further.
'In that case…'
I just needed to appear as an idiot who failed to eliminate Colonel Jeremy despite having the opportunity.
'I'll have to make it look like a missed shot.'
Having made my decision, I shifted the muzzle slightly and aimed at a soldier walking right next to Colonel Jeremy.
I took a deep breath, held it, generated a mana round, and pulled the trigger.
*Bang!*
The bullet, tearing through the air, pierced the soldier's head.
Immediately after, the rifle fire from my squad echoed in succession, deafening my ears.
I subtly raised my head and glanced back to see about 17 Allied soldiers collapsing, blood gushing.
It was a respectable opening volley.
However, the enemy commander was still alive.
If they realized that the number of soldiers killed in the initial volley was around twenty, they would easily figure out that the enemy was only a squad.
From what I knew, Jeremy was a wily rat. He would undoubtedly deploy a mana barrier immediately and flee, either forward or backward.
Though a large number of his soldiers would undoubtedly perish in the process, would Jeremy, who used his subordinates as mine sweepers, even care?
If Jeremy managed to escape this place, I could become an officer who failed his mission.
'Alright. Hurry and run, Colonel Jeremy!'
Keeping my eye to the scope, I waited, and then I saw Jeremy's company in disarray.
One of the men, who appeared to be an officer, began shouting something, then laid down his weapon.
'…Huh? Why are they laying down their weapons?'
Confused, I watched blankly as the enemy officer and soldiers, one by one, knelt down and raised their hands.
A clear sign of surrender. An expression of having no will to continue fighting.
Frien, who had been firing beside me, also tilted her head, seemingly just as puzzled.
"…They're surrendering?"
"No. It could be an enemy deception tactic. They might be planning to attack us with their rifles when we go down…"
No sooner had I spoken than the officer shouted something and threw his rifle towards the minefield.
The soldiers followed the officer's lead and threw all their rifles into what appeared to be the minefield.
"…It's definitely a surrender."
What on earth was the reason? I couldn't tell, but regardless, since the enemy had surrendered, the operation was officially concluded.
"Everyone, stand up. We're going to secure them."
*
Descending into the gorge, I ordered the squad to secure the prisoners, then walked over to the one I thought was Colonel Jeremy and told him to explain the circumstances.
Specifically, the reason for their surrender.
"You shot our Colonel dead!"
Colonel Jeremy… correction. The look-alike wearing Colonel Jeremy's uniform glared at me and snapped.
"We were ambushed. Furthermore, if you had such superior intelligence that you even knew about the uniform swap, it was clear we couldn't win. Fleeing forward meant the minefield, and fleeing backward meant a senseless death."
In short, the soldier I had killed with my first shot was actually Colonel Jeremy, disguised as a common soldier.
The company, having instantly lost its commander, concluded that the enemy held the upper hand in every aspect, and their morale plummeted, leading them to surrender immediately.
'Damn it…'
I was utterly dumbfounded and rubbed my face as the soldier clenched his fists in frustration.
"Damn it…! You damned Imperial soldiers! If we had known you were just a single squad, we would have fought back! You devilish bastard…! To deceive us all! May you rot in hell—"
*Thwack!*
With a *thwack!* the soldier collapsed into the snow.
Frien, who had been listening to the conversation, had struck the soldier's neck with the butt of her rifle.
Frien, who had been coldly looking down at the enemy soldier, turned to me and saluted.
"Lieutenant! We have secured 87 enemy soldiers, excluding the 18 casualties!"
Listening to Frien's report, the reality of a single squad defeating an entire company sank in.
As I exhaled a chilly breath and remained silent, Frien added.
"…You've accumulated merits, aren't you pleased? Ah! For Lieutenant, such achievements must be commonplace. My apologies!"
What is this woman talking about? As I frowned, a camera shutter clicked.
I flinched, closing my eyes for a moment, then turned my gaze towards the sound to see Selvia standing there.
Lowering her camera, Selvia looked at me with an admiring gaze.
"Congratulations. The operation planning was perfect, as was the elimination of the target."
"Wait. The picture you just took…"
"When we return to the capital, I'll order… no, ask for it to be published in the newspapers. A war hero who captured a company with just a squad has emerged, shouldn't I gladly assist you?"
I wanted to tell her not to, but she was the Imperial Princess. That meant I had no right to refuse.
Seemingly pleased, Selvia took a step closer and playfully poked my waist.
"How does it feel? To be a war hero?"
"…"
It felt terrible.
However, I couldn't say such a thing to the Imperial Princess.
Composing myself, I spoke as calmly as possible.
"It was merely a duty for the Empire, so calling me a war hero is far too much. What I did was just one of countless battles on the front lines. Therefore, I fear that publicizing this battle in the capital might seem like making a fuss."
I was indirectly asking her not to publicize my merits in the capital.
However, Selvia, after hearing my words, looked surprised for a moment, then smiled faintly.
"Indeed. You truly are a paragon of a soldier, just as I've heard. So much so that I want to snatch you up immediately."
…I feel like I've been misunderstood. Is it just my imagination?