"I picked her up from the northeastern front. I didn’t give her a name. I just called her you."
Colonel Dietfried moved behind the girl, grabbed her by the hair, and forced her to bow her head.
I pulled the girl out of Colonel Dietfried’s grasp. She fell into my arms.
"Wait. She’s a child."
"Ioannis. That girl isn’t a child."
The colonel said with a doubtful expression.
"She’s a weapon."
"..."
"Just a weapon. I have something to show you."
Colonel Dietfried went outside. I stared after him, then took the girl with me and stepped out as well. She followed me obediently.
The colonel outside climbed onto a military truck.
"Mmph!"
When he opened the canvas cover, five or six people were revealed, bound hand and foot. While I was still wondering what was going on, the colonel spoke.
"They’re thieves who sneaked onto my warship. Can you believe they tried to rob a colonel’s ship? And the funny thing is, once they were caught, they had the nerve to act like the victims."
Colonel Dietfried spoke in disbelief, then gave the girl beside me a cold look.
"Hey. Kill them."
Was he ordering her? To kill those people? No. I couldn’t let her commit murder.
The girl walked forward without hesitation.
"...Wait a moment."
I grabbed her shoulder.
Whoosh!
At that instant, the girl twisted her body and struck at me with her elbow. I took the blow in my side and seized her arm. But she didn’t stop there. She spun in the air and kicked at me.
With no other choice, I pulled her into a tight embrace. Completely restrained by me, the girl bit down on my arm with a vicious crunch.
"Do you really have to kill them?"
"Huh? Ioannis, they tried to rob my warship."
"Even so, making this girl kill thieves—"
"My subordinates."
The colonel’s voice turned cold.
"That girl killed my men. It was when we were stranded on a deserted island. That’s when I met her. My men tried to rape her. It was my fault. The fault of a superior who couldn’t control his subordinates."
I knew. It was something I had seen in the original story.
Dietfried’s soldiers had tried to gang-rape the girl on their own. They had all gone out of their minds after being stranded on that island.
Dietfried, the only one who still had some sense left, tried to stop them, but the soldiers had already been consumed by lust.
"But she killed them. That monster killed my soldiers."
Colonel Dietfried said with bitter self-mockery.
All of Dietfried’s men were elite marines. Soldiers specialized in combat had been wiped out by a single little girl.
"It was self-defense. Of course it was. If they were going to throw themselves on her like that, it would be stranger if she just stood there and took it."
The girl had done nothing wrong.
And it didn’t seem as though the colonel hated her for that reason either.
What he focused on was her combat power.
"But the important thing is her strength. You can’t believe it, can you, Ioannis? How did a girl like that kill elite marines? Simple. She was born to be a tool for killing people. Nothing else makes sense."
It was understandable that he would think that way.
A young girl had turned around and slaughtered elite marines. Logically, it was impossible. So then one simply had to stop thinking logically. The girl was a weapon—that was what Colonel Dietfried must have concluded.
"Look at her now. I only grabbed her arm and she tried to kill you. If it had been anyone else, it would’ve been dangerous. You’re only safe because it was you."
"That’s true."
The girl had aimed precisely for my liver. It was what people commonly called a liver shot; if you took a hit there, the pain could make you collapse instantly.
I was fine because the muscles around my side were as tough as wrought iron.
"So, with that in mind, I’m giving her to you. I can’t handle her. Use her well as a weapon."
"..."
"Don’t look at me like that. If you’re really reluctant to use her as a weapon... keep her by your side for another purpose. Well, she’s still young, which is a flaw, but if she grows into it, she’ll be a beauty that could shake the continent."
"...I have no intention of doing that."
"Ioannis. I know you’re an honorable man. Naturally, it would be burdensome to take in a monster that only looks pretty on the outside."
"..."
"You know it too. My soldiers were all top-class. And yet they were helplessly cut down. If you send her to an orphanage or somewhere else for adoption, do you really think she’ll be controlled?"
The girl was no different from a bomb. What couldn’t a girl who had crushed elite marines kill? I looked down at her for a moment.
Peeking up, the girl met my gaze as well. Her eyes, clear as a blue sky, were more beautiful than anything in the world.
For such a beautiful girl to have killed people... I knew it, but I kept forgetting it.
"Doesn’t the colonel have a younger brother?"
"That was my first thought too. But do you know what my brother said? He told me to leave her with you."
"...Did Major Gilbert say that?"
"Yes."
The story had changed because of me. In the original, Gilbert had no choice but to take in the girl.
But because I was here, the force of that "no choice" had disappeared.
"For the record, that girl should be used for the war."
"..."
"She killed dozens of elite marines. I understand your desire to think of her as a child, but the brass has their eyes open, so don’t even think about smuggling her away."
"...Understood."
"Oh my, young master, you’re back?"
The longtime maid greeted me warmly.
"But who is this child...?"
In the winter snow, I brought the girl to the mansion built atop a white hill.
The mansion was grand and stern, befitting a great house with a long and distinguished history.
It had originally been a villa, but only I, who traveled to and from the front lines, used it now.
"I’ve decided to keep her with me. Please prepare some clothes for her."
I would bathe the girl myself.
If she put her mind to it, she could kill the maid with ease. The odds of that were low, of course, but the mere possibility was a problem.
The bath in the annex was spacious, but for now, only the two of us were inside.
I sat the girl on a small chair and crouched behind her.
Since I intended to wash myself too, I took off my clothes.
I slowly poured warm water from a basin over the girl.
Shhh...
The spiky hair standing up in all directions settled smoothly down. At the same time, the grime and dirty dust washed away, revealing the girl’s jade-white skin.
Her flesh was smooth and soft.
I worked up a lather with soap and washed her body. I had seen the naked body of a beautiful girl, but I felt nothing.
How many years apart were our ages? She was just cute to me.
"Is it warm?"
There was no response. To see her expression, I tucked her hair behind her ear. I met the girl’s calm eyes. Goodness, that startled me.
I poured warm water over her platinum-blond hair, thick with suds.
Shhh!
The water washed down over the girl’s body.
"There. All done. Let’s stand up now."
The girl couldn’t understand my words, but language had to be heard every day before it would stick.
I took her under the arms and helped her up.
I’m surprised she’s so docile?
I had been wary that she might try to bite my face off the moment I touched her under the arms.
I dried her with a towel and dressed her in clothes I had worn when I was younger. They had been boys’ clothes, but the girl’s sturdy frame made them fit well enough.
I’d have to buy her proper clothes too.
"Come on, eat. Say ah."
I pushed a spoonful of fried rice made by the maid toward the girl’s mouth. But her pale pink lips blocked it.
"Mm... like this. Ah, open your mouth."
I opened my own mouth so she could imitate me.
The girl followed along and opened her mouth with an "ah." The spoon went inside.
"Now close it."
I closed my mouth.
The girl copied me and closed hers.
"Good. Now, wait a second, take the spoon out."
Pop! Was she even human? Why was her bite force so strong? I looked at the scratches on the spoon. ...This one’s no good anymore.
I put the spoon away and waited for the girl’s reaction. Our maid’s cooking was superb. She made whatever dish I asked for. Even kimchi!
And among them, fried rice was the dish she was most confident in.
What would the girl think of it?
For a brief moment, color rose in the girl’s blue eyes. See? This is the taste of civilization.
"No one’s in the guest room, right?"
"Yes. No one is there. Are you planning to put her to bed?"
"That’s the plan."
I left the girl in the room. I spread out bedding and placed a bucket of water beside her. Just in case, I even put a chamber pot there.
The girl stared at me like a stone statue.
"Well... sleep well."
I said awkwardly, then closed the door. My hand toyed with the lock.
...I’ll trust her.
On our first meeting, she had fired a liver shot at me, but the obedient look she had shown just now lingered in my mind.
I didn’t lock the door.
The next morning.
"Nnngh."
After a deep sleep in bed, I stretched. Looking out the window, I saw the faint light of dawn. The maid was probably still asleep.
I dragged my silk robe pajamas along and brewed coffee in the kitchen. On mornings like this, moving slowly was only proper.
After a quick wash, I checked the room where the girl had slept, still in my pajamas.
I suppressed my presence. I was rather skilled at stealth.
The girl was lying on the floor with a blanket spread out, not on the bed. She had curled onto her side like a sleeping beast.
She must be cold...
She looked so fragile like that. Quietly, I picked up a blanket and approached her. Then the girl’s eyes opened. She noticed me? How sharp were her senses?
"I woke you."
The girl was still lying down, looking at me with only her eyes open.
Whoosh!
Like a cat, the girl sprang away from me. She lowered her stance, ready to attack at any moment.
I raised both hands and said,
"You’ll catch a cold. Cover yourself and sleep."
I set the blanket down on the floor and left the room.
A month had passed since I started living with the girl. By now, she was less wary of me, and she no longer attacked the maid first either.
This should be fine if I went out for a little while. I left the girl in the maid’s care and went out.
I went to the Ministry of the Army, handled a brief report and some work, then returned to the mansion.
When I went out like this, I preferred to use a horse. Cars were nice, but sometimes the old ways were better. My beloved horse walked through the white world. Hoofprints pressed into the snow.
I arrived at the mansion. I tied up the horse and gave it feed.
And then, when I opened the mansion door.
Thud.
The girl bumped her head against my stomach and fell over. Wearing a dress ordered from a luxury brand, she braced herself on the ground and looked up at me.
Her eyes, as if they held the sky itself, met mine as well.
...She’s really beautiful.
I stared at the girl’s eyes, entranced.
How many seconds passed like that? The maid came running over.
"I’m terribly sorry, young master."
"What happened?"
"The child went all over the mansion looking for you. She wouldn’t even eat..."
"......."
After I arrived, the girl had lived quietly. She had always been quiet, but as the maid said, it seemed she wanted to stay with me. When I worked, she sat blankly in the office chair; when I ate, she ate beside me; when I bathed, she would suddenly open the door and come in; when I tried to sleep, she would open the door and walk in again.
I didn’t push the girl away. She was a child who had grown up without family. She had been denied the affection she should have received... so she must need it.
I was not a warm or especially kind person, so I couldn’t lavish her with affection like a real parent would, but I did my best.
First, language.
"Major."
"...?"
"Major."
I pointed to myself with my index finger. I exaggerated my mouth shape to make it easier to imitate.
"Major. Try saying it. Major."
"Soviet."
"Good. Now again. Major."
"Ma...jor."
I decided to teach her language step by step. After all, language didn’t improve overnight.
I still hadn’t given the girl a name.
Would it be right to name her Violet, just like in the original story?
There is a fate in names that cannot be put into words. For now, I would leave the name undecided.
Time passed, and winter came to an end.
"Bring the weapon to Leiden. I will test it."
Colonel Dietfried sent me a letter like that.
So it had come.
The test was simple.
Make the girl fight death row inmates against one another.
It was a way of judging the girl’s value. More precisely, her value as a "weapon."
"I suppose I should at least go and see..."
At this point, it was impossible for the girl to live an ordinary life.
She had killed dozens of soldiers and even torn apart a naval colonel.
If one judged only by the severity of the crime, it was a death sentence.
So, inevitably, the girl would have to become a soldier.
She would have to pay for her sins as a soldier.
I headed with the girl to the military facility in Leiden.
"Attention! It is an honor to meet you, Major Ioannis."
"Yes."
After a brief verification procedure, we went down underground.
They had built the military facility below ground in case of bombardment.
When we arrived, a space reminiscent of a colosseum came into view. Other generals were already seated there.
"Ioannis."
Among them was Hajins.
"...Is that the child beside you? The one Colonel Dietfried entrusted to you."
"Yes."
"What a pity. To have to live as a weapon at such a young age."
Hajins truly looked sorry for her. I silently nodded and sat down.
The girl was taken below for the test. In her hands were a dagger and a pistol loaded with four bullets.
Her opponents in the test, meanwhile, were ten death row inmates who had killed people.
All of them were sturdy men with vicious auras.
"Do we really have to kill her?"
"What a waste."
The inmates snickered when they saw the girl.
Could those slender arms even fire a gun? Even if she did, the recoil would send her tumbling.
Of course, Ioannis, who knew the girl’s combat ability, was not worried at all.
"...Damn it. This cursed military. Do we really have to do this?"
"....."
Hajins ground his teeth, glancing at the generals’ faces.
The battle began.
One inmate swaggered toward the girl.
The girl, on the other hand, simply stood there.
She looked at me.
It was almost as if she were asking me to make the decision.
I mouthed the words.
...Kill them.
Then the girl ran like a madwoman.
The sudden movement startled the inmate.
Thud!
The dagger severed a vein. Blood burst from the man’s neck like a fountain. That was the beginning of the slaughter.
The girl’s movements were far too efficient. She could not have been better suited to killing people.
She moved with exact knowledge of the human body’s weak points.
She cut tendons and severed arteries. She bent joints the wrong way and drove the dagger into eyes.
Thwack!
A clean kick struck an inmate’s jaw. He blacked out. The girl climbed on top of him without hesitation and drove a blade into his eye socket.
The last inmate died.
They had paid for their sins with death.
"Haa... haa..."
The girl was not unharmed either.
Covered in blood, she knelt down. Then she looked up at me. Her eyes seemed to ask, Did I do well?
"..."
I clenched my molars.
"Was Colonel Dietfried’s report true?"
"How can a body like that..."
"So it’s true she killed marines. Unbelievable."
"Not just marines, either. She attacked a colonel too."
"Perfect for war."
The generals looked down at the girl with greedy eyes.
A little later, I was summoned upstairs.
The higher command ordered me to use the girl.
"It’s an order from the highest level. Command her."
"Understood."
It was as I expected. I was about to leave when...
The major general tapped his fountain pen against the desk and let out a laugh.
"You’re lucky, Major Ioannis. To think you’d get your hands on such a weapon."
"...I think I heard you wrong."
"You saw it in the training ground, didn’t you? That’s a weapon. A thing useless for anything except killing."
I had hoped otherwise, but so it was after all. My face could only harden.
The brass did not see the girl as a person. It was revolting.
"Hah, don’t make that face. She’s an orphan with no family and no house, isn’t she? Use her as much as you can, then throw her away. Until then, make use of her. And speaking of which, your unit will be assigned to the most dangerous front. It’s an order from the highest level. Nothing can be done about it."
"Are you really going to say that?"
I asked back coldly. My philtrum tightened at the attitude that treated the girl as nothing more than a "tool."
The major general flinched, then hurled the fountain pen. It struck my chest and fell to the floor.
"Th-That’s enough! I have no intention of listening to your hypocrisy! You’ve been slicing people up with a blade, and now you want to act like a saint? If you can’t do that, then at least earn a medal and request her pardon! Until then, she’s no different from a murderer. Get out!"
I held it in. No matter how much of a scene I made, nothing good would come of it. If anything, the country would fall into chaos and the war would only drag on longer.
I slammed the office door shut and came out.
The girl was sitting with her back against the wall. She looked up at me, and her eyes seemed to ask whether something bad had happened.
"...Come with me."
The girl stood without a word and followed behind me.
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