The hill leading to the Ancien military hospital.
"Haa... That guy, honestly. Things like this should be handled in person."
A man with chestnut-brown hair tied tight grumbled as he climbed the small hill. A leather bag hung from his hand.
It was Violet’s belongings.
As Hajins climbed, he kept thinking about the girl named Violet.
The truth of that girl was hidden away in secrecy. But those who knew her called her a weapon.
A weapon that fought when ordered.
Something that merely imitated the shape of a human, without a heart... nothing more than a tool.
Before long, Hajins had entered the hospital. He saw a doll placed on the table at the entrance.
Drip. Thick blood ran from the doll’s hand. It reminded him of a girl bleeding on the battlefield years ago.
"Lieutenant Colonel Hajins?"
A nurse called out to him.
"Huh?"
When Hajins looked back at the doll, it was perfectly normal. A hallucination.
"This way."
"Ah, sorry."
With a light laugh, Hajins followed the nurse. He was about to see Violet, whom he had not been able to visit because he had been so busy.
Thud-thump.
Then a heavy sound rang out from the ward. Hajins hurriedly shoved the door open.
"Miss Violet!"
She was a beautiful girl with blond hair and blue eyes. She had fallen from the bed. A bandage was wrapped around her head, and she seemed to have trouble steadying herself.
Hajins quickly rushed over and supported her.
"Are you hurt?"
But the girl’s attention was not on Hajins.
She looked around. Her sapphire eyes searched behind Hajins. Like a hunting dog looking for its master.
"Where is the Major?"
That was the first thing she said to Hajins after six months apart.
"Where is Major Ioannis?"
"He didn’t come."
"Where is he? Did he return to his family home...? What was the extent of the Major’s injuries? He must have been seriously wounded as well."
"....."
"Is he... alive? The Major."
Hajins’s lips went dry. She wanted him so desperately... and yet she was asking him to say that he was dead.
'Damn it...'
Hajins made up his mind and opened his mouth.
"That guy..."
"Your discharge has been approved. Lieutenant Colonel Hajins came all this way to pick you up, you know?"
The nurse said.
As the nurse had said, the girl’s attitude was not proper for someone receiving a hospital visit.
Only then did the girl salute.
"I have committed a discourtesy, Lieutenant Colonel Hajins."
"Miss Violet. Relax."
It felt awkward to receive a salute from such a young girl.
"I had forgotten my manners toward the Lieutenant Colonel. I am ashamed."
"It’s fine. Come on, sit down."
Hajins helped Violet sit.
"Still... you remembered me?"
"When I was at the training facility, and before the decisive battle. I met you twice."
"Yeah, that’s right."
Hajins turned his gaze to the small table. There were a few sheets of paper and a fountain pen.
"What were you... doing?"
"I was writing a report for Major Ioannis. I heard that practicing writing words would also help me return to normal."
Violet went on.
"So, where is the Major?"
Her beautiful eyes fixed on Hajins.
Those eyes were unwavering. They held nothing but her feelings for Ioannis.
He had to say it. Ioannis had fallen in battle.
He had to say it, but...
Slowly sliding a hand into his pocket, Hajins said, "Don’t worry, Miss Violet. I came here because that guy asked me to."
'Haa... Sorry, Ioannis. But I’ll keep my promise.'
I’ll tell her someday.
But not now.
The current Violet was precarious. She was like a glass bottle that would shatter if tapped. Ioannis’s existence was barely holding that bottle together by force.
If he told her that he was dead...
The bottle would break to pieces.
'Once you’ve grown a little more emotionally, I’ll tell you exactly as you asked.'
He didn’t know when that would be, though.
Haa....
Violet let out a breath of relief.
"Then, he’s safe?"
The worry vanished from the girl’s face.
Dammit. To have to lie to such an angelic girl, Hajins clenched his fist.
"I heard from the doctor that we won the battle. What assignment is the Major on now? When should I rejoin him?"
"Anyway, change clothes. I’ll go ask for tea while you do."
Violet wore a white shirt and a long green skirt.
Her hair was tied back in a neat ponytail. Even in such plain clothes, she was striking.
"Here. This is your luggage, finally delivered."
The nurse handed Violet her belongings with a kind smile.
Violet took the bag and checked its contents immediately.
"It seems it was mistakenly delivered to an army base quite far away."
As she examined the bag, Violet murmured in a trembling voice.
"...The brooch."
Then she cried out in a sharp, agitated voice.
"The obsidian brooch is gone!"
It was the first dramatic emotion she had shown since arriving at the hospital.
Violet made a tearful face. She looked as if she might cry at any moment.
"Huh? This is all they said was at the site where they found you and at the encampment..."
"If it’s missing, then I have to go find it—"
"Miss Violet!"
Hajins grabbed Violet’s arm as she tried to bolt out.
"It’s something you received. Something the Major gave you!"
Hajins slowly soothed her.
"I know. I’ll find it. I promise."
"But...!"
"Anyway, you’re coming with me. That’s the guy’s order."
"An order... Understood."
Violet nodded slowly.
She did not trust Hajins. She trusted him because he was Major Ioannis’s close friend.
Inside the car bound for Leiden.
"When will I be able to receive the Major’s next order?"
Violet said, looking at her own hands.
"In this condition, I imagine the missions I can carry out will be limited."
Even in the car, Violet spoke only about Ioannis and her assignments.
Hajins had prepared for this.
To lighten the heavy mood, he opened brightly, "Ta-da! Miss Violet! Your discharge gift~ I didn’t know your taste, so I bought all three... What do you think?"
"I don’t need them."
Violet answered at once.
Hajins was briefly flustered, then forced enthusiasm into his voice.
"No, no—pick one, or the world will end! Come on, three, two—"
"Then the puppy."
Hajins promptly handed over the puppy doll.
"Here."
Violet took the puppy doll, stared at it for a moment, then rubbed her cheek against it.
"Why did you choose the puppy?"
"Previously, I heard Colonel Dietfried say, ‘You are Ioannis’s dog.’"
"Ahem...! Miss Violet. Actually, there’s one more gift."
Violet’s expression went blank.
"This one isn’t from me. It’s from Ioannis."
Violet brightened instantly. The corners of her eyes trembled, and her pale pink lips parted.
It was such a different reaction from when Hajins gave her a gift.
"I’m hurt, you know. Isn’t the difference in your reaction a little too much?"
Hajins made a mournful face at the obvious disparity.
"The Major’s gift..."
"Hm?"
"The Major’s gift...?"
Violet urged him on.
"Well... it’s a little hard to call it a gift, but. Here. Unwrap it."
It had been something he meant to give her as a keepsake, but... at this point, he might as well call it a gift.
What Hajins handed over was a long object wrapped in cloth.
The middle bulged outward slightly.
Violet immediately recognized what it was.
With hurried hands, she undid the cloth. And there it was, revealed in a soft gleam.
"The Major’s sword."
It was an adamantium sword with a broken blade.
The blade was finely shaped. The guard and pommel, carved by an artist’s hand, could truly be called a work of art.
Though there were worn places from Ioannis’s long use, that only gave it a more Gothic air, making it seem even more valuable.
Violet lifted the sword with trembling hands.
Wonder bloomed in her blue eyes. The sword the Major cherished as though it were his life...
The sword the Major cherished?
"...!"
Violet’s eyes flew wide open.
She looked at Hajins. No, she glared at him.
"M-Miss Violet?"
Even Hajins, who had risen to the rank of colonel, was overwhelmed by Violet’s gaze.
"W-Why are you suddenly like this, Miss Violet?"
"This sword was personally made by the Major’s family. It is the sword the Major cherishes most. He always wears it at his waist, and when he sleeps, he keeps it by his bedside."
"....."
"He would never give this weapon to me..."
Violet looked at Hajins with trembling eyelashes.
"...Is the Major really... alive?"
Hajins thought disaster had struck and hurriedly came up with an excuse.
"Of course he’s alive! Miss Violet. That guy uses a different sword. Look at this one. The blade is completely crushed and shattered, isn’t it? Rather than repair it, it’s better to use a new one."
After hearing Hajins’s explanation, Violet nodded. She seemed convinced.
"He said it had great artistic value... or so I heard? I-I don’t know the details. He told me to say that."
Through his conversations with Violet, Hajins had learned how to handle her.
If the conversation started heading in an unfavorable direction, all he had to do was invoke Ioannis.
"If that is what the Major said, then I will gladly accept it."
Just like now.
As soon as he said Ioannis had ordered it, she accepted it without hesitation.
During the ride to Leiden, Violet kept stroking Ioannis’s sword. So much that Hajins almost worried she might rub it smooth.
Hajins watched her with a bitter expression.
'That bastard. He dumped such a difficult task on me...!'
At the same time, he scolded his friend, who had gone off on a trip with complete peace of mind.
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