I gritted my teeth and floored the accelerator.

Stopping meant death. That was the only thought racing through my head.

Forcing my ragged breathing under control, I grabbed the radio while keeping my eyes on the road.

“This is Kingfisher! Enemy ambush! I repeat—enemy ambush! Approximately 42 kilometers toward Mavrashka Village! Request immediate support!”

Finishing my call, I quickly switched frequencies and addressed my platoon.

“This is the lieutenant! Respond! Damn it, say something—anything!”

After a brief pause, a trembling voice came through.

─ “L-Lieutenant? We don’t know what’s happening! We’ve veered off onto a side path to avoid the gunfire, but we’re in the opposite direction from you!”

It was Freen’s voice.

I’d have preferred someone calmer on standby, but this wasn’t the time to be picky.

“Fine. Keep driving until you’ve put enough distance between yourselves and the enemy. Then dismount, spread out, and assess their numbers while waiting for reinforcements. If you determine they can be suppressed—”

Boom!

A violent jolt shook the vehicle, and the impact knocked the radio out of my hands.

Selvia groaned beside me as the world spun in my vision.

Gripping the steering wheel desperately, I swore under my breath.

‘The tire’s out. Whether it was deliberate or a stray bullet, it doesn’t matter now…’

The important thing was that the gunfire had started fading.

I’d managed to put some distance between us and the enemy—buying a bit of time.

But I couldn’t let my guard down yet. I needed to get out of their sight.

A sharp curve appeared ahead.

I lifted my foot off the accelerator and slammed the brakes.

Screeeeech—

The tires screamed as the jeep skidded, and I wrenched the wheel hard.

The vehicle spun halfway and tilted precariously to the side.

Before it could roll over, I stomped the accelerator.

The tires dug in and lurched forward, stabilizing the jeep back onto all four wheels.

Thunk!

Selvia’s sharp scream pierced the air.

It was the kind of cry that made me feel guilty, but now wasn’t the time to care.

Shifting gears, I pressed the accelerator again.

The jeep roared as it sped up, and for a moment, I marveled at how fast it could actually move—

Until the world tilted again.

“Damn it…!”

The damaged tire finally gave out, hissing as it bled air and failed completely.

Panicking, I slammed the brakes, but it only made things worse.

The tires screeched as the vehicle skidded, spinning wildly.

Then—Crash!

A deafening impact slammed through the frame, rattling my bones.

“Ugh!”

Shaking off the pain, I slowly lifted my head and saw the hood buried into a tree trunk.

Smoke began seeping out.

“Ugh… ugh…”

A faint groan came from my leg.

Looking down, I saw Selvia sprawled against my thigh.

Concerned—at least outwardly—I asked, “Are you alright?”

Of course, she wasn’t, but it felt polite to ask.

Selvia glared at me briefly before pushing herself upright.

“I’m not alright, but I can move. More importantly—how did they know where we’d be?”

I hadn’t expected that.

I thought she’d be crying or panicking.

Then again, this was the future empress who’d one day command the Empire’s strongest army.

A title like “Ironblood” wouldn’t fit someone who broke down in moments like this.

“There must’ve been a spy in the forward base feeding them information. It’s common in wartime.”

I reached for the door handle, but it didn’t budge.

The impact had bent the frame.

After a few kicks with my boot, the door finally gave way and fell off with a thud.

Stepping out, I extended my hand to Selvia.

“Get out. We need to put more distance between us and them before they catch up.”
“Right. That sounds reasonable.”

Selvia nodded and grabbed my hand, stepping out of the jeep.

As she took a deep breath, I noticed her shoulders trembling slightly.

So she was scared, after all.

Suppressing a chuckle, I guided her toward the forest.

Catching my amusement, Selvia blushed faintly.

“You’re a reckless driver, Lieutenant Daniel.”

Trying to change the subject, huh? She might act tough, but she was still just a teenager.

“Thank you for the compliment.”
“Do you think that was a compliment?”
“If I hadn’t driven recklessly, we’d be full of bullet holes by now. If that’s not worth praise, what is?”
“We wouldn’t have been shot. I have…”

Selvia trailed off, closing her mouth.

Good. Trying to outtalk someone with more experience was a losing battle.

“Lieutenant Daniel, what do we—”

I covered her mouth with my hand.

Voices were approaching.

“Mm?!”

Selvia flailed briefly, but I gestured for her to stay quiet.

Realizing the situation, she nodded.

I led her behind some bushes, listening carefully.

“...They must be nearby. Their jeep’s wrecked—they couldn’t have gone far.”
“Damn it! I told you to hide the spike strips better!”
“Shut up, Beldom! Complaining won’t fix anything!”

Peeking through the leaves, I counted six of them.

A single squad. No others in sight.

But they were closing in fast.

If this kept up, we’d be spotted soon.

Wait a minute.

‘They’re Allied soldiers, aren’t they?’

If I surrendered and requested asylum, they might accept.

I wasn’t just some random grunt—I was an officer from the Imperial General Staff.

Any halfwit could see my strategic value.

‘If they have a spy feeding them intel, they probably have a way to smuggle me out too.’

I hadn’t expected to escape the Empire like this, but it was as good an opportunity as any.

“...Miss Reporter.”

Of course, I couldn’t surrender with Selvia around.

She’d kill me before I even made it to the Allied camp.

“We’re going to be discovered soon. One of us needs to be the bait and lead them away so the other can escape. I’ll do it.”

Selvia’s eyes widened.

“No! Stop that nonsense! You’ll die!”
“If my death lets you survive, that’s enough. Soldiers exist to protect civilians.”
“Lieutenant Daniel…!”

Grasping her shoulders gently, I softened my voice.

“Please survive. If peace ever returns to the Empire, I hope you’ll remember that I existed.”

Selvia’s face flushed as if she was moved.

With my farewell speech done, I let go of her shoulders and stood up.

“W-wait! You don’t have to—!”

Selvia tried to stop me, but it was too late.

I sprinted in the opposite direction, away from where she was hiding.

“Hey! Over there!”
“Get him!”

Hearing the soldiers shouting as they chased after me, I smirked.

Perfect.

Everything was going according to plan.

At this rate, escaping the Empire was just a matter of time!

*****

Left alone, Selvia stared blankly in the direction where Daniel had run.

His words echoed repeatedly in her mind.

─ If my death ensures your survival, that’s enough for me. Soldiers exist to protect their people.

The image of Daniel, his eyes steeped in sorrow as he willingly faced death, was etched vividly in her thoughts.

To Selvia, it was an utterly surreal sight.

What kind of officer would sacrifice his life for a mere war correspondent?

‘…Captain Heinz was wrong.’

No respect for others? That was utter nonsense.

Daniel Steiner was someone willing to give his life for the people of the Empire!

He wasn’t like the bureaucrats in the imperial court who only paid lip service to sacrifice and devotion.

Daniel had demonstrated his selflessness not through words, but through actions.

She had to save him. She needed to have him.

The Empire could not afford to lose such a treasure in a worthless place like this.

“Royal Guards.”

The moment Selvia uttered those words, the air around her distorted.

Soldiers wearing gas masks emerged one by one, deactivating their optical camouflage.

They had been secretly guarding Selvia, revealing themselves only when the signal was given.

Without so much as glancing at them, Selvia spoke in a cold voice.

“Rescue Lieutenant Daniel Steiner. If so much as a single scratch appears on him…”

Her sharp eyes narrowed dangerously.

“I won’t forgive any of you.”

The Royal Guards responded with a brief nod before launching into rapid motion, vanishing into the forest in pursuit of Daniel.

Watching her elite guards disappear, Selvia slowly rose to her feet.

She pressed a hand to her chest and exhaled softly.

Whether it was the aftermath of the chaotic drive or lingering tension, her heart still pounded harder than usual.