Violet Evergarden Volume 2 Chapter 7

Violet Evergarden Volume 2 Chapter 7

Violet Evegarden: Chapter 7Please feel free to message me about possible corrections. If you can, support the creators by buying the official releases .

I like
flowers. I like poems. But what I enjoy writing about the most are battle
depictions. I want to become strong. I took Violet’s name from a poem I love, “Roses
are Red”. People’s names always have some sort of meaning.

—Akatsuki Kana

When had
that feeling sprouted within him? He had no idea what the trigger had been. If
he were ever asked what he was fond of about her, he would not be able to properly
express it in words.

“Major.” Before he had realized it, he was happy
whenever she called out to him. He believed he had to protect her as she
followed him from behind. His chest pounded with immutable devotion.




——For whom and for what purpose is that
devotion? Supposing hers is for my sake… her lips would automatically only
speak words that sound pleasing to me. Since she seeks subservience and orders,
having the approval of the Lord she submits to is her motivation. Then… what
about my own life? What about my love? For whose sake are they?

The Major and His Everything


Emerald
eyes opened. They belonged to a small child. The wide-open orbs of a young
infant who had yet to complete six years of age and had just awoken from his
slumber reflected the world around him.

As he
hopped off the carriage he had been sleeping in along the course of the road, a
summery scenery spread in front of him. The first thing that caught his
attention was the beauty of the trees lined up on the way to a green forest.
While nestled close to one another, from old ones to saplings, they stood dignified.
The shadows formed by a soft, pure light cascading to the earth from the gaps
between their leaves almost looked like dancers. Said leaves swayed in the wind,
sounding like the giggles of little girls.

During such
season, white flowers blown into a storm of petals were a remarkable trait of
Leidenschaftlich. Almost as the blizzards of the northern countries, the
flowers floated about in the air. Their vines were a.s.sociated with heroes who had protected the nation against no trivial number of invasions, and could be
found planted all over the country. Beautiful blossoms bloomed from them during
the change from spring to summer.

“It’s our family
flower.” His father whispered that one sentence, walking ahead of him.

His eyes,
which had been moving about in many directions as he was led by his older
brother’s hand, landed on his father’s back. Perhaps sensing his son’s
thermal stare, the father turned around once, and though he could not tell, it
could have been to confirm if he was properly following from behind. Same as
his young self, his father’s irises were green, except of a slightly different
shade, and bore a strict gaze.

Just from
the fact his father had turned backwards, he was happy to the point of wanting
to break into dance. Most likely, that was idolization. However, although his
heart was pleased, his expression was stiff. All he was concerned about was
whether he had done anything warrant being admonished during that instant.

“What’s
that stuff… about ‘our family flower’?” His older brother poorly imitated
their father’s words in a very low tone.

The parent
and children followed down the green path. Beyond the scene created by the
beauty of nature was what seemed to be an area for military training
facilities. In it were several people who wore the same purplish black uniform
as their father. The little one acted as though exploring something peculiar, and
what lay before his pupils that twinkled with stars of curiosity was the figure
of soldiers in a march that did not disarray for a single second.

The father
took his sons to what seemed to be seats for authorized people in order to
watch something that was about to start. Leaving them on chairs arranged
outdoors, the father left their side.

In addition
to those who wore the army’s uniform, there were also soldiers wearing the navy’s
white high-collar one. Surrounding the fighter and reconnaissance planes, they
chatted amongst one another, cleanly divided into two parties. Although both were
defense forces, they appeared to be self-conscious of and unfriendly with each
other. From the eyes of a child, it was a bizarre sight.

Perhaps
becoming nervous due to not seeing his father anywhere, he flapped his arms and
legs, aimlessly dropping his gaze to his feet. A petal of bougainvillea, which
his father had called their “family flower”, fell down. As he stretched his
hand out in a forceful attempt to take it into his palm while remaining seated,
his older brother sitting next to him held his body back down.

“Gilbert,
behave.” As his brother told him with a sullen tone, Gilbert tamely complied.

He was an
obedient child. His home was Leidenschaftlich, and he was the descendant of a well-known
southern military nation’s heroes.

For the
Bougainvillea men, it was customary to enlist into the army. It was not the
first time that his father, who had a high-ranking position in it, had brought
his brother and himself to similar events.

His brother
grasped his hand and held it tight. Even without him doing so, Gilbert was not the
kind of boy to repeat an action after being scolded for it.

“If you
disgrace the Bougainvillea name, I will be the one punished for neglecting my
duty of supervising you.”

Since his
brother receiving a lecture along with a reprimanding fist from their father
was something often witnessed in their everyday routine, it was only the
expected for him to show a well-attuned response, as to not spoil their
father’s mood. Gilbert understood that much.

In the
Bougainvillea household, where Gilbert and his older brother lived, each person
had to act out their conduct with utmost care; otherwise, it felt as if the
house’s walls, protruding with needles, nails, swords, and rose thorns, would
pierce their bodies and draw blood. Rather than it being a comfortable place,
it was as if it judged them constantly. Such was their home.

“So
boring…” his brother said, half-pouting. His eyes were directed not at the army
soldiers, but at the navy ones. “This kind of thing… seems boring, doesn’t it,
Gil?”

Although
Gilbert was asked for agreement, he was at loss for an answer. He could not consent.

——Why do you say that?

He believed feelings such as boredom had to be
discarded in that situation. Regardless of how tedious it could be, they had to
endure it. That was why he had ceased acting as a restless child who was easily
influenced by others. His brother was supposed to be aware of that as well, so
why did he go as far as orally seeking concordance?

Since Gilbert was still only an infant, he replied
in a child-like manner, “You can’t say things like that.”

“It’s fine. It’s okay for you and me to talk
about this in a low voice. As if I would let even my thoughts be controlled.
Y’know, Gil… this is definitely… something that Dad and Dad’s father, and
even Dad’s father’s father have done. It’s the worst, right?”

“Why is that bad?” Gilbert asked.

“Isn’t it as if they don’t have a will of their
own? Listen, the reason Dad has brought us here today is to say, ‘you are going
to become like me’.”

“Why is that bad?” Gilbert asked.

“It’s to make us understand that we can’t
choose anything other than this.”

“Why is that bad?” Gilbert asked.

As he did not comprehend his brother’s feelings
no matter what, the latter seemed frustrated and annoyed, lightly balling a
fist and strongly hitting Gilbert’s shoulder with the hand that had been
holding his. “I want to become a sailor. Not just any sailor. A captain. I’d
lead my comrades and venture all around the world. I also want my own ship.
Gil, you’re a good learner so you could become a voyager too. But… I… we will never be allowed to become what
we want.”

“Isn’t that obvious?” Gilbert said, “Since we
are from the Bougainvillea family.”

The household was neatly composed of a
pyramidal hierarchy where the father stood at the top; beneath him was the
mother, uncle and aunt, and beneath them was the oldest brother, Gilbert and their
sisters. In the house Gilbert had been born into, it was natural for the lesser
people to lower their heads to their elders, and opposing them was not
tolerated. Gilbert and his brother were little gears meant to give continuity
to the Bougainvillea family by protecting its heroic honor. Could gears proclaim
what they wished to do? No, they could not.

“You’ve been… completely brainwashed, huh…”
With a voice that hinted pity, his brother whispered in disdain.

——I wonder what…
‘brainwash’ is.

While he was lost in thought, the fighter
planes took flight. In order to see the iron birds rendezvousing and drawing
arcs in the sky, Gilbert looked up towards the heavens. The planes intersected with
the Sun and disappeared for a moment. It was incredibly dazzling. However, his eyeb.a.l.l.s
ached as if burning, causing him to close his lids slowly.

Perhaps due to the
stimulation from the sunlight, tears had formed.

Emerald eyes opened. They belonged to a wise young
man. The orbs that bore sternness taken after not only his father but also
perhaps his own personality, as well as kindness and loneliness, were staring
at a doll. Rather, a girl that looked like a doll. In the corners of his field
of vision was the figure of his older brother, who had grown up just as Gilbert
himself.

The room was filled with refined decorations.
They were expensive arrangements. However, the fact that the fine quality of
the ornaments was the criteria to decide who could afford staying in the place was
laughable.

Everything was a mess. The room had become the
murder scene of five men at once. The girl, bloodstained, was the culprit. Even
with her clothes and scent washed in blood, her beauty remained undamaged
by it. She was the most beautiful a.s.sa.s.sin in the world.

“Hey, you’ll take it, right, Gilbert?” putting
on an amicable smile, his older brother pushed the girl’s back.

She took a step towards Gilbert’s side.
Automatically, Gilbert took a step back. His body had moved reflexively in
refusal and fear. She was horrifying.

——Don’t look at me.

His brother had relentlessly insisted that the
girl in front of him was a ‘tool’ and forcefully handed her over. Indeed, she
was treated and acted as a tool. However, her breathing was still heavy.

While he wiped her hand, sticky with blood and
fat, with his cufflink, she stared at him as though inquiring what the next command
would be.

——Why are you looking
at me?

He empathized with his older brother’s inhumane
utterances to a certain extent. The pyramidal hierarchy existed not only in their
home but also in society. In order for children, who were at the bottom of it,
to ascend to its top, efforts were required. And not simply by one’s own power. So as
to live, so as to be successful in life, it was necessary to make use of a
variety of a.s.sets. It was not something to be praised for, yet it was something
Gilbert desired. Undoubtedly, if he learned how to properly use her, she could
become the best shield and sword.

——Why are you…
looking at me?

The automated a.s.sa.s.sin doll desired Gilbert as
well.

In the end, everything had gone as his brother
had planned, and the young Gilbert, who still had features that could be
considered that of a youth, stood in the middle of a street downtown. His two
orbs of a mysterious hue stared at the one his arms. The doll, wrapped in his
jacket, smelled of nothing remotely sweet, instead enveloped in the odor of the
blood she had just bathed in. If she had monster-like features, he would have
expected that much, yet her appearance was akin to that of a pixie from some fairytale.

“I am… scared of you.”

The girl did not react to the honest words that
leaked from his lips. Her blue eyes simply watched him.

“I am… I am scared of… using you.” Gilbert
continued while embracing her tightly. “You are terrifying. Right now, in fact…
it’s possible that I’m actually supposed to kill you.” Muttering painfully, he
never let go of the girl. He also did not attempt to drop and leave her on the
road, shoot her head with the gun in his pocket, or squeeze her slender neck
with his hands. “But… I want you to live.” He held onto her despite his
fears. His words were frank. “I want you to live.”

It was a truth that shone faintly amidst a
cruel world. The problem was whether they would be able to endure its harsh
reality. Could he do it?

Uncertain, Gilbert closed his eyes. He prayed for
the idealistic thought that it would be wonderful if everything were solved
once he opened them again.

Emerald eyes opened. A situation far worse than
when he had been praying unfolded before them. The girl proceeded to murder men
who had become unable to move by spanking their heads with batons. She would
hit them. Blood would fly. Screams would rise. She would hit them. The one who
had ordered so was Gilbert himself.

Something other than life was being lost in
that s.p.a.ce. Violence was giving birth to something in place of reasoning,
conscience and other values that had been given names by someone. It was…

——Suspicious. This is
not for justice. For her, mine and this country’s sake… that’s what this was
meant for.

A little bit of pleasure was born within
Gilbert amidst enough guilt to make him want to vomit, along with a l.u.s.t for
conquest from getting his hands on an overwhelming power – which was a girl who
would not listen to the orders of anyone but him –, and a sense of superiority
as though he had taken over the world.

With the justification of escorting her to the
spare room that she had been given, he temporarily excused himself and escaped
from the circle of superior officers coming to ask questions regarding the girl.
Stepping onto the pool of blood of the people she had slaughtered, he headed
for her.

It was as if she would make blood come out of
whatever she touched. The blood of her victims, that is. Never her own. Yet her
current image seemed to be a copy of one Gilbert would probably see again someday,
of her completely covered in blood. That was what he was attempting to do.

The feelings that had abruptly risen within him
were gone, like a candle being extinguished. Her breathing was heavy once more.

——There’s no helping.
There’s no helping it. Gilbert told himself.

Indeed, it was a decision that could not be
helped. There was nothing that could be done, as it was only the expected of
him to want to keep the frightening weapon he had acquired, which possessed
awareness, within his view. He feared she would harm others. In such
circ.u.mstances, it was best to use her while maintaining her at reach, and the
tool herself wished for that as well.

——It can’t be
helped… in order for us… to be together. For her to stay alive.

Even so, the insides of his eyes hurt exactly
as the time he had stared directly into the Sun.

Gilbert took the girl to a deserted corridor.

She was a tool. Not his daughter or little
sister. She was someone soon to become his underling. It would be troublesome
if other people perceived their peculiar relationship. Unless they kept a
distance, they would not be able to live side-by-side.

——Still…

He made her walk, walk and walk. Once no one
else was on sight, he turned around and stretched his hand towards her.

“Come.”

He could not hold back. The fact that his
uniform would be soiled with blood did not go through his head. He had to hold
her at that very moment, moving automatically to embrace her. When they had
first met and when he had taken her with him, he had ended up doing so as well.

The girl had the same reaction. She trembled
agitatedly, but unlike the other times, her tiny fingers gripped onto his
uniform – firmly, as though to say she would not let go.

She was a living being with temperature
and weight. Back when his sisters were babies, he used to carry and soothe them
often. The feeling of those days overlapped. She was soft, as if she could
break, to the point of making Gilbert believe he had to protect her no matter
what. She fit in his arms more perfectly than he had first thought.

His face, distorted with extreme sorrow,
reflected in her blue eyes. Grievously, Gilbert whispered, “Do you really want…
a Master like this?”

He could not directly face the excessively
innocent glow of the girl’s eyes, and closed his own as if to run away.

Emerald eyes opened.

“I cannot comprehend… what you are saying.”
Even though he was still at an age where one would be complimented for their youthfulness,
his precocious...o...b.. showed exasperation as he stared at a telecommunication
equipment.

It was raining outside. The sound of droplets
pouring onto the building interfered with the conversation. Everywhere was too noisy.

Gilbert, commanding the Special Offense Force of
Leidenschaftlich’s Army, carried the duty of traveling around the country to terminate
the various conflicts happening in it. Moreover, he had the role of raising the
one who would become the strength of the Raid Unit in the upcoming final
battle. In addition to that, he had suddenly received one more job.

“About the location, a driver has been arranged
to take her there. Prepare her and order her to kill. Just that will suffice. Eliminate
everyone living in that building. She’s not to worry about anything else and
should come back as soon as she’s done.”

Having unexpectedly received a message from a
superior officer during his stay at the army divisions’ base, he opposed to the
contents of the operation. “But…!” although he had waited for his turn to talk, he closed his mouth after raising his voice. “If this is meant to put disturbing
elements under control, my entire troop should partic.i.p.ate. Why are you pushing
this mission onto Violet alone…? It’s not something a single soldier could
do.” He was unable to subdue the disapproval dripping from his tone.

“It’s because the least people who know about
this, the better. The target is a national arms dealer who signed an exportation
contract for an anti-government organization. This has been reported by a spy
who infiltrated in it. We can’t leave the matter to be solved by itself. After
all, they are quite aware of our blemishes. The moment is opportune. We must settle
this. It’s regretful to call it an overthrow, but there are certainly many people who
will take it that way. If we end up exposing
to the world
even the dubious ideals we embrace, this will be of importance.”

“If that is the case, then all the more reason
to a.s.semble personnel capable of accomplishing the mission.”

“Which is your doll. A killer weapon who
desires only your orders without questioning them. There’s no one more capable
than her, right? I haven’t forgotten that spectacle you presented to us. How
many did she murder back then again? How old was she? With your guidance, the
precision of her killings should have improved even further. I won’t let you say
she can’t do it. Rather, if you had to pick between her doing it or not, which
would it be?”

“That’s…”

“Could the most prominent symbol of national
defense that is the Bougainvillea be a fake?”

Unable to speak properly, Gilbert clutched his
clothes on the area next to his lungs. During the few seconds of silence, an
image surfaced in his mind of himself commanding Violet to complete the
aforementioned task. She surely would reply with an obsequious “yes”. There
would be no hesitation. She was not one to falter. If it were something Gilbert
ordered, if it were for the sake of the Lord who looked after her, she would do
anything. And what distressed Gilbert the most was that Violet would probably
execute her role without difficulties.

He then pictured the future he had predicted in
his head. Within it, he could see himself unable to sleep in the barracks,
simply awaiting her return.

“She can do it.” His voice finally came out.
“She can do it, but Violet needs specific on-site directions. If you have
witnessed the slaughter of back then, you understand that, right? She cannot
function as a weapon unless I give instructions. Allow me to accompany her.”

It had finally come out, but not with what he
had wanted to say.

“Violet, are you ready?” clad in his purplish
black military uniform, Gilbert gazed down at the girl with his emerald green eyes.
They seemed intense in the dark interior of the vehicle.

Besides his own, the only other pair of orbs
that glistened blazingly was the girl’s. As to expand her field of vision, her golden
hair, which complimented her beautiful eyes of a color lighter than the blue of
the sea and deeper than the blue of the sky, was tied inside of a military hat
identical to the one Gilbert wore.

“Yes.” Her curt response was dispa.s.sionate yet
br.i.m.m.i.n.g with confidence. The girl who could not speak was no longer there.

Gilbert handed a knife and handgun to the female
soldier of a rare beauty. “We are going there with the pretense of just talking,
but that is not our intention. What we are about to do… will serve as example
to all arms dealers involved with Leidenschaftlich.”

“I am aware.”

“The inside is not s.p.a.cious enough for big
fights. I want you to adapt to the conditions of this battleground as fast as
possible. You can’t use Witchcraft. But I will go in as well. I will protect
you. Think only of defeating the enemies.”

“Yes, Major.” As she nodded, no matter how one
looked at her, she did not give off the slightest impression that she was about
to kill people. Her slim shoulders and delicate physique indicated her to be in
her mid-teens or somewhere below.


Gilbert glanced at her despondently and left
the car. It was pitch-black outside. A night sky without stars created a serene
atmosphere.

“It will take no more than thirty minutes. Wait
here.”

After he informed the driver, the two of them stepped
into the property that interposed two alleys. In front of the place that did
not appear to have any irregularities was a hard-faced man guarding the gates,
holding a rifle as though for display.

There were several houses nearby, but none of
them had lights on. It seemed to be an abandoned residential area at the back
of a housing district deep within a suburban town. There was a reason why no
one lived in it anymore – no normal family would wish to be in a neighborhood reeking
of blood and violence.

“I am an affiliate of Leidenschaftlich’s army,
Major Gilbert Bougainvillea. I’ve come to see the arms dealer. I know he is
here. Tell him I have something to discuss.”

The gatekeeper evidently showed a face of
displeasure at the sudden visitors. “Aah…? What’s with you guys? Don’t f.u.c.k
around. Who do you think you’re talking to?”

At the unbecoming att.i.tude of spitting on his
shoes, Gilbert remained expressionless while muttering, “You should watch your
language as well.”

With a quick action, he held down the gatekeeper’s
rifle in one hand, simultaneously sinking a fist into the other’s stomach. He
then pointed the rifle to the top of the groaning gatekeeper’s head, hitting
him with it. It did not end there; the instant the latter fell onto his knees,
Gilbert landed a kick on the side of his face with his military shoes. A large
amount of blood and a crowned tooth spilled from the gatekeeper’s mouth.
Gilbert glared coldly as he shouted in agony with yelps and grunts. His
ruthlessness had increased from thrashing the man’s profile.

“Disappear. I will use a gun next time.”

The order was for them to murder all of those
in the building. They were not inside of it yet. He had let the other live due
to mercy. However, a few seconds after the man fled, the girl accurately shot his
head with her gun as he ran away. The hand of the man that had been shot held a
hidden revolver.

“Violet.”

“Major, he was aiming a gun at you.”

A few minutes after the two entered the
building, vicious gunshots and shrieks echoed like music pieces. Sounds of
bursting flesh and breaking gla.s.s, cries of deathly agony. They were played in a timed
harmony and went on repeatedly, until at last, the brutal pursue came to an end
with a particularly lurid scream. The building that was the only source of
light in the area eventually lost its gleam and its interior became completely
quiet.

The world had finally regained its true form.
It was a time of silence where living beings would fall into deep sleep.

“How dull.” Loading his pistol, which had gone
out of bullets, Gilbert sighed and sat down on a sofa. The legs of the bodies
lying on the floor were on his way, but he ignored them as there was nothing
else he could do.

It was Violet that the superior officers had nominated
to take care of the arms dealer. She was actually supposed to have come to that
place on her own.

——She already handles enemy
soldiers, but now she has to do even this kind of dirty work. The higher-ups
are treating her as nothing but a murder tool.

If the disposal of troublesome elements was for
their country’s sake, he could do it free of obscure thoughts. Had he been by
himself, he would not have been thinking such things.

“Major, is something wrong? The mission has
been cleared. There are no survivors.” Even in such a situation, the girl in question checked
the corpses with a calm face.

Gilbert knew better than anyone that there was
no need to accompany her.

“No.” As he let his gaze wander around the
floor, the feet of a man he had killed came into view. Disturbed, he averted
his eyes. “I am fine. You’re tired, right? Take a seat too.”

As he gestured to the sofa, she wavered slightly
but obediently sat down. It was a strange scene – a man and a girl relaxingly
taking their time in a room filled with dead bodies. The blissfully striking moonlight
poured from the window and illuminated the two felons.

Violet observed her superior – rather, someone
whom she considered far more than just her superior – as he refused to look at
her. What was the owner of those blue eyes thinking? It was as if she saw
nothing else but him; such was the kind of stare that she regarded him with.

“Is it all right to not leave immediately?”

“Just one more minute and we’re off. Once we
are out of here, we will return to the barracks and to our traveling routine.
We will exterminate the enemy units as the higher-ups tell us to, travel again,
and exterminate.”

“Yes.”

“There’s… very little extra time for me to
spend… just with you.”

“Yes.”

“Even though we’ve been together since you were
small, lately, it’s only at times like these that…”

“Yes.”

He felt as if his throat would clog with
sorrow. It was the product of feelings that did not match his cool-headed
outline. They were all brought by the girl sitting next to him. That was
because the one who raised and managed that cold-blooded female soldier was Gilbert
himself. He who directly used her as an a.s.sa.s.sination tool was in no position
to berate others.

“Hum, Violet… sorry, but could you open the
window? The smell of blood is terrible.”

After sounds of her stepping onto the pools of blood
on the ground ensued, the window was opened. Although it was a starless, dim
night, the moon was now out. Exposed to the moonlight, her frame reflected hazily
in Gilbert’s eyes. Her beautiful facial features were already fully developed, despite her still being so juvenile. Blood droplets had splattered on her white
cheeks, tainting her pure appearance.

“Major?” Perhaps uncomfortable from being
stared at so intently, Violet tilted her neck at Gilbert.

“Violet, you’ve become taller again.” His voice
came out hoa.r.s.e. He covered his head with his arms folded against his knees.
Whenever he looked at her increasingly gorgeous figure, an indescribable pain
would boil in his chest.

“Is that so? If Major says so, it might be
true.”

“Do you have any injuries?” It was not easy for
him to speak without stuttering.

“No. Major, are you all right?”

“Do you despise me?” As he spoke as if spewing
blood, the girl blinked in surprise. She must have been truly shocked.

After a while of silence, she replied in a
low voice, as though whispering, “I do not understand the question.”

To Gilbert, that had been a predictable response.
A dry smile naturally came to him.

“Have I… failed at something?”

“No, that’s not it. There’s nothing you’re at
fault for.”

“If there is anything wide of the mark, please
tell me. I will fix it.”

Her figure as she took the posture of a tool no
matter what was hard to bear for Gilbert.

——However, I have no
right to think that this is sad or that she is pitiable.

It was hard, yet he had no means to escape from
that suffering.

“Violet, there’s nothing you’re at fault for.
It’s true. If there’s anything to be criticized, it’s the fact that you are by
my side, killing people without hesitation for my sake. And the one to blame
for all of this is me.”

Violet did not possess a sense of good and bad
from the start. She did not ‘know’ what could be considered righteous or
erroneous. She merely chased after the adult who gave her orders.

“Why is that? I am Major’s weapon. It is merely
obvious that you would use me.”

It was because Violet’s words held no lies that
each note of each one pierced Gilbert’s whole body. She was simply a tool for ma.s.sacre,
devoid of emotions.

“Anyhow… I’m the one to blame. I don’t want
you to be doing this. Still, I make you do it.”

Regardless of how beautiful she was, regardless
of how much the man by her side held her dear…

“To me, you are not a tool…”

…she was a doll devoid of feelings…

“Not a tool…”

…that wished only for orders.

Gilbert wanted to shout. He had probably wanted
to do so ever since he was a child, had he been allowed to. Had he been permitted
freedom, without having to care about being well-behaved, the truth was that he
had always, always, always, always, always wanted to shout, “As if I could conform
to something like this.”

——As if I could
conform to something like this. As if I could conform to something like this.
As if I could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to
something like this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I
could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to something like
this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to
something like this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I
could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to something like
this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to
something like this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I
could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to something like
this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to
something like this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I
could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to something like
this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to
something like this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I
could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to something like
this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to
something like this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I
could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to something like
this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to
something like this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I
could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to something like
this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to
something like this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I
could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to something like
this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to
something like this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I
could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to something like
this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to
something like this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I
could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to something like
this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to
something like this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I could
conform to something like this. As if I could conform to something like this.
As if I could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to
something like this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I
could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to something like
this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to
something like this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I
could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to something like
this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to
something like this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I
could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to something like this.
As if I could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to
something like this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I
could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to something like
this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to
something like this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I
could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to something like
this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to
something like this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I
could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to something like
this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to something
like this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I could conform
to something like this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I
could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to something like
this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to
something like this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I
could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to something like
this. As if I could conform to something like this. As if I could conform to
something like this. As if I could conform to something like this. Aah, aah, as
if I could conform to something like this!

When had
that feeling sprouted within him?

——Why at such a time?

He had no idea what the trigger had been.

——Why her?

If he were ever asked what he was fond of about
her, he would not be able to properly express it in words.

——Anyone else would
have been fine.

“Major.” Before he had realized it, he was happy
whenever she called out to him.

——Even so, my eyes
chase after and search for you.

He believed he had to protect her as she
followed him from behind.

——My lips…

His chest pounded with immutable devotion.

——…feel like they
will blurt out “I love you”.

After acknowledging that he loved her, he ceased
attempting to drag her into war.

——For whom and for what purpose is that
devotion? Supposing hers is for my sake… her lips would automatically only
speak words that sound pleasing to me. Since she seeks subservience and orders,
having the approval of the Lord she submits to is her motivation. Then…

“I…
You…”

——What about my own life?

“You…”

——For whose sake…

“You…”

——…is my love?

“Violet…”

——For whose sake… am I living now?

“What is ‘love’?”

“Violet,
love is…”

At that
moment, he understood everything.

——Aah.

Gilbert was
not keen of that phrase.

——It was fate.

After all,
it would wipe clean every effort he had spent so far. He could not conform to
the fact that the experiences stacked from since his tender years, as a child
aiming to rise to the pyramid’s apex, had been for the sake of fate. Everything
should have been the result of sheer effort. Nevertheless, at death’s doorstep,
Gilbert understood.

——It was fate.

The reason
why he had been born into the Bougainvillea family…

——It was fate.

The reason
why his brother had abandoned him and cut ties with their household…

——It was fate.

The reason
why said brother had found her and brought her home with him…

——It was fate.

The reason
why Gilbert wound up loving her…

——It was fate.

“Violet.”

——Just… teaching what love is… to this girl
who doesn’t know it. That is my life’s purpose.

“I do not
understand. I don’t understand love. I don’t understand… the things Major
talks about. If this is how it is, for what reason have I been fighting? Why
did you give me orders? I am… a tool. Nothing else. Your tool. I do not
understand love… I just… want to save… you, Major. Please do not leave me
on my own. Major, please do not leave me on my own. Please give me an order!
Even if it costs my life… please order me to save you!”

——I love you, Violet. I should have… told you
this… more properly in words. The many gestures you would show, the way your
blue eyes would widen whenever you discovered something new… I enjoyed watching
you like that. Flowers, rainbows, birds, insects, snow, fallen leaves and
cities filled with shaking lanterns… I’d wanted to show them all to you in a
more beautiful light. I’d wanted to bestow you with a moment to appreciate them
freely, not with mine but your own thoughts. I don’t know… how you would have
lived without me there. But, if I weren’t around, wouldn’t you have been
able… to see the world in a slightly more beautiful manner, the same way as I
saw it through you? Ever since you came to my side, I… my life… was pretty
much destroyed, but… I’ve found a meaning for living other than aiming for
the top of that pyramid. Violet. You have… become my everything. Everything. Unrelated
to the Bougainvillea. Just… everything to the man named Gilbert. At first, I
was afraid of you. Yet at the same time, I believed I wanted to protect you.
Even though you had sinned without realizing, I still wished for you to live.
After I decided to make use of you, a criminal, I became a criminal as well.
Your wrongdoings were my wrongdoings. I loved that mutual sinning. That’s
right, I should… have told you this. It’s something very rare. I have very
few things that I like. There’s actually a much bigger number of things that I
detest. I simply don’t say it, but I’m not fond of this world, or this lifestyle.
I do protect my country, but in truth, I dislike this world. The things I like
are… my best friend, my inevitably twisted family… and you. Violet, it’s
only you. My life consisted of just that. Wanting to protect you… and trying
to keep you alive… were the first things in my life that I had wanted to do no
matter what out of my own will. Abjectly, I make this wish. Violet. I want…
to protect… you… more, more and more.

An emerald
eye opened. It was a world of darkness. The cries of insects could be heard
from afar.

Was that
the real world or not?

As he
picked the smell of medicine, he immediately knew he was in a hospital. Gilbert
confirmed his situation. He was lying on a bed.

His memory
gradually returned. He was supposed to have died in the battlefield. However,
perhaps because he had been praying so miserably, even though G.o.d had never
granted any of his wishes until now, He had let him live.

Only one of
his emerald eyes had opened. Regardless of how hard he tried, the eye from the
side that was wrapped in bandages did not budge. He wanted to move his arms to touch
it, as to check on whatever had happened to it. However, again, only one of
the limbs moved.

He wondered
who had done it. He now had a mechanical arm.

Gilbert
turned his face to the side. He met with someone’s eyes in the dark. It was a
redheaded man.

“You’re…
pretty resilient.”

The only
man in Gilbert’s life whom the latter called “best friend” was there. He looked
exhausted. What had happened to his uniform? He was dressed in a shirt and
pants.

“Same…
for… you.” As he retorted huskily, his friend laughed.

He laughed,
but it morphed into sobs right after. Gilbert thought it was a pity that he
could not properly see his friend’s crying face with only one side of his
vision.

“What about
Violet?”

His friend definitely
knew beforehand that such a question would be asked. He shifted the chair he
was sitting on and showed the bed next to him. The girl Gilbert loved lay
there.

“If… she
is… dead… then please kill me too.”

With her
eyes closed, she looked like a sculpture, making it impossible to discern if
she was alive or not. His friend gently told him that she had survived, but
her arm was no longer usable.

“Just…
one… of them?”

“No, both.
Both sides… now have artificial arms.”

Gilbert
forcefully attempted to stand up. While his friend rushed to warn against doing so,
Gilbert borrowed his hand, walking the insignificant distance to the girl’s bed
with trembling legs. As he uncovered her thin blankets, her smooth
porcelain-like arms existed no more. In their place were combat-specialized
prosthetics, even though one could not say if she would fight again.

Who had put
them on her?

Gilbert
touched Violet’s prosthetic with his flesh hand. It was cold. What was supposed
to be there was gone. More than with his own condition, he had to bear with
that.

“Major. What should I do with this… now that
I have it?”

The arms
she had showed him the emerald brooch with were gone.

“Major.”

The hands
that had grabbed onto Gilbert’s cufflink as to not be separated from him were
gone. They would never return.

“I want… to listen… to Major’s orders. If
I… have Major’s orders… I can go… anywhere.”

What she
had lost would never come back to her.

Gilbert’s
vision blurred with tears to the point he could not see his beloved girl
anymore. “Hodgins, I have a favor to ask.”

Shedding a
single teardrop, an emerald eye closed.