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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Conflicting Joys and Sorrows
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A cool breeze from the sea swept through Daniel's hair.
Daniel, standing idly on the white sand, facing the sea breeze, suddenly let out a wry laugh.
'This is beyond ridiculous…'
Daniel, shaking his head in disbelief, recalled the past.
All the numerous things he had done to escape the Empire.
Whether it was a trick of fate or not, all those attempts had ended in failure.
What's more, the harder he struggled to escape, the higher his status became and the more famous he grew.
Having experienced one ridiculous situation after another, Daniel had all but given up.
That escaping the Empire was now impossible.
'But…!'
They say there's always a way out, even when the sky falls.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Daniel Steiner had been given a golden opportunity.
Finally, the chance had come to erase the stains of his past and begin a new life.
Thinking so, the unpleasantness of having been attacked by an enemy seemed to vanish instantly.
Feeling his heart considerably lighter, Daniel walked towards a nearby shack.
It was risky to meet people while wearing his military uniform, as his identity could be revealed, but Daniel wasn't worried in the slightest.
He had his reasons.
'Not only is the fishing boat near the shack rusty, but moss is growing on it. That means it hasn't been maintained for a while, so the shack must be abandoned too.'
Even if, by some chance, someone were there, he could just make an excuse and leave.
Pushing through the sand on the white beach, Daniel walked to the shack and tapped the dilapidated door with the back of his hand.
"Is anyone home?"
No answer.
Daniel knocked on the door once more.
"I'm stranded and seeking assistance. Is anyone there?"
Still no answer this time.
Convinced that the shack was abandoned, Daniel grasped the doorknob and pushed it inward.
The old hinges creaked, and the door swung open.
Just in case, Daniel narrowed his eyes and slowly peered beyond the open door.
The shack, filled with various odds and ends and boxes, showed no sign of human presence.
It was the same after he stepped inside and looked around.
Only then did Daniel relax, and he began to examine the items inside the boxes.
'Old clothes and worn-out shoes… and broken appliances.'
It seemed this shack was a kind of storage house for discarded items.
But for Daniel, who wanted to hide his identity, it was nothing short of a treasure trove.
Daniel let out a low chuckle and rummaged through the boxes, looking for usable clothes.
After about thirty minutes of searching, Daniel managed to find a decent cotton outfit and shoes.
Though there were signs of repair, they were perfectly adequate for wearing out and about.
Thinking it wasn't bad, Daniel immediately took off his uniform, wiped himself dry, and changed into the old clothes.
Afterwards, he put on a pair of old sunglasses he found among the clutter and placed a fedora on his head.
Since there was no mirror, Daniel adjusted his attire by looking at the window, then smiled with satisfaction.
'Good. No one will recognize me now.'
Even if someone did, he could just claim it was a resemblance and get away with it.
'Because, sadly, Daniel Steiner is dead.'
As of today, Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner, Chief of Operations for the General Staff, was as good as dead.
Burying his name in his heart, Daniel observed a moment of silence in mourning.
A moment later, Daniel finished his silent tribute, adjusted his cuffs, and stepped out of the shack.
The sun, perched on the boundary between day and evening, was painting the sea with the colors of the sunset.
In the distance, lights began to twinkle one by one in the buildings clustered together like barnacles, harmonizing with the sunset to create a warm and dreamlike landscape.
'First, I need to go there. The most important thing right now is to secure funds for a new identity.'
Having made up his mind, Daniel slowly began to walk.
Wearing ordinary shoes instead of military boots or formal shoes, Daniel stepped onto the white sand and took a deep breath.
The fresh air filling his lungs felt almost ecstatic.
Daniel looked up at the reddish sky, then suddenly spread his arms wide and burst into laughter.
"After so much hardship, you've finally come to me! Oh, sweet and idyllic freedom!"
He had never imagined that breaking free from shackles and oppression could be so exhilarating.
"From this moment forth, there will be no misfortune for me, only happiness!"
Daniel, who spoke playfully like a character in a play, lightened his steps.
His destination was Tentarbaham, the port city of Bellanos.
He intended to acquire funds there to establish his new identity.
*
Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace's Grand Assembly Hall.
"So, do you believe provoking not only the Allied Nations but also other great powers with that total war speech was a good thing? Is that the official party line of the Central National Party?"
"I did not say it was a good thing. But how can one interpret the total war speech as provoking the great powers? Do not distort the speech; look at its essence!"
At the long conference table in the Grand Assembly Hall, the leaders of various political parties were engaged in heated debate, attacking each other.
Among them, the loudest voices belonged to Kembell, leader of the Liberal Social Party, and Ellekar, leader of the Central National Party.
Typically, Kembell, the Liberal Social Party leader, would criticize Daniel Steiner's total war speech, and Ellekar, the Central National Party leader, would retort.
"Isn't it you who fails to see the essence?! While the total war speech did rally the people, the war situation remains unfavorable! You know very well that the Allied Nations are not the only country we will have to face in the future!"
"I am saying that Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner's speech holds meaning precisely because the enemy will not be just the Allied Nations! Of course, I agree that Lieutenant Colonel Daniel's speech has a somewhat radical and belligerent nature, but considering the Empire's current situation, it is not incorrect!"
Ellekar, who was among the relatively younger blood present, raised his voice.
"However, it seems the Liberal Social Party leader has been trying to portray Lieutenant Colonel Daniel as someone acting for personal gain. Is that just my imagination?"
"Ha! Portraying him? If you have a brain, think for a moment. Who stands to gain the most from the total war speech? It is none other than Lieutenant Colonel Daniel Steiner!"
"Someone seeking personal gain volunteered to be appointed as the Diplomatic Envoy to Bellanos, a mere backwater post? Don't you think that makes no sense?"
From the head of the table, Princess Selvia, who had been observing their conversation, let out a low sigh.
'It's unfolding exactly as Deputy Chief of Staff Sedric said it would…'
He had said that if Daniel were dispatched as the Diplomatic Envoy to Bellanos, factional infighting would erupt, and it was true.
Going back in time, the party leaders from the National Assembly had collectively sought out Her Imperial Highness, who was performing regency duties, stating they had urgent matters to discuss with her.
So Selvia had granted them use of the Grand Assembly Hall and told them to present their opinions, but then Kembell, the Liberal Social Party leader, had argued for the creation of a bill to restrain Daniel Steiner, which had led to this whole mess.
It had certainly seemed like a healthy exchange of opinions at first, but as time passed, their voices grew louder and louder until now it could almost be called a shouting match.
Selvia did not like that.
What she liked even less was Kembell, the Liberal Social Party leader, who was insisting that Daniel be confined within the bounds of the law.
'Why does that old man keep slandering Daniel?'
Compared to the numerous benefits Daniel had brought to the Empire, all Kembell had done was use connections and family ties to secure his position as party leader and rule the National Assembly like a king.
She had heard that the Speaker of the National Assembly was also from the Liberal Social Party, so she could understand why Kembell felt confident raising his voice in front of the other representatives.
'I suppose I'll have to say something.'
Her father had told her that, generally, representatives speak for the people, so she should listen and not criticize them unless it was a special case, but she felt she couldn't bear it any longer.
Just as Selvia, having made up her mind, was about to speak.
"Your Highness!"
The doors to the Grand Assembly Hall burst open, and Hartman, the Chief Guard of the Imperial Guard, entered.
Hartman, who had flung open the doors without observing court etiquette, spotted Selvia and rushed towards her.
It was a level of disrespect that warranted a reprimand, but Selvia was simply bewildered.
She knew there had to be a significant reason for Hartman to disregard etiquette.
Hartman, panting, knelt on one knee before Selvia.
"Your Highness! Please forgive my impropriety! I was merely in haste to deliver urgent news."
Urgent news? Selvia paused briefly before speaking.
"What is it? Has my father's health taken a turn for the worse?"
"No, Your Highness. The urgent news I am to deliver concerns the dispatch of the Diplomatic Envoy to Bellanos. I regret to inform you that the official vessel heading to Bellanos…"
Hartman, sensing Selvia's reaction, bowed his head.
"…has been sunk due to an enemy torpedo attack."
At the shocking news, all the representatives who had been passionately debating just moments before fell silent.
Selvia was no different.
Selvia, who had been frozen for a long while, parted her lips blankly.
"Right now…"
At Selvia's endlessly trembling voice, Hartman let out a short, pained sound.
Selvia held her breath as if she couldn't believe it, then struggled to continue.
"That can't be…"
There was no strength in her words, as if she were trying to deny reality.
Understanding Selvia's distress, Hartman simply bowed his head even deeper in silence.