episode_0001

The war that lasted a staggering 9 years has finally come to an end.

No longer will there be a rain of shrapnel from the sky, and there’s no need to worry about stray spells hitting our quarters while we sleep.

There won’t be stories of comrades who shared meals yesterday but are now reduced to mere military numbers, nor will there be any more scars added to bodies already filled with them.

There is no longer a need to worry about the safety of our families either.

“It’s not something that applies to me, though.”

Peace has arrived after 9 long years.

It may seem far-fetched for now, but as time passes, the world will eventually return to the daily life it had before the war began.

So, now there is only one problem left. And what might that be?

“…Sigh.”

At that moment, I let out a small sigh as I heard the faint sound of military boots approaching from the side.

As expected, the sneaky little rascal tried to sneak up behind me and catch me off guard with a hug.

Just as always, I slipped away with cat-like agility.

Then, in a relaxed manner, I ignited a spark at the tip of my finger and flicked it towards the intruder.

“Tch.”

With a disgruntled expression, this exotic-looking girl, Elena, protruded her lips. She often tries to hug me or grab my tail, which is quite annoying.

Despite having a fairly pretty appearance, to the point where even her rough military uniform looks like a fashion statement, my heart always aches when I see her left arm replaced by a cold mechanical one.

Elena grumbled with a pout on her face.

“It’s the last time, can’t you let me hug you just once?”

“Nope. Not happening.”

“You’re so mean.”

She made a genuinely hurt expression, although I wasn’t particularly upset. Ignoring her, I asked,

“So, why did you come?”

“Sis, do I need a reason to talk to you?”

“Yeah. Also, don’t call me sis.”

“Then… Yerin?”

“Don’t call me by my name either.”

“…Then what should I do?”

“Just don’t call me anything.”

“Tch.”

I protruded my lips and gave her a light tap on the forehead as she reached for my tail.

“Ow!”

I didn’t hit her hard, but her exaggerated reaction was comical.

“So, why did you come?”

“Is it just curiosity?”

“About what?”

“What Yerin unnie is going to do now… something like that?”

I could do nothing but tightly seal my lips in response to that question. Well, I was in quite a state of confusion because of that.

“…I don’t know.”

So, without even realizing it, I might have honestly answered. Normally, I’m not one to share personal matters.

“Huh? You don’t know?”

“No. I really don’t know. What I should do from now on, how I should live.”

Yeah. This is the last remaining issue.

I died once and was reborn as a girl in a strange world. Moreover, the humans who were supposed to be my parents abandoned me in front of a church right after I was born.

I grew up with other orphans in the care of a priest.

When I turned 9, I underwent an examination by government officials who identified magical talent in me. As a result, I was sent to the capital’s educational facility and raised as a soldier through three years of training.

To say I was raised as a soldier, there are good reasons for that.

“Well, it’s understandable, considering the war broke out when I turned 12.”

Unfortunately, this world is so disgustingly egalitarian that anyone with a certain level of magical talent, regardless of age or gender, is thrown onto the battlefield.

Even I, who could barely believe I had become a girl, at the mere age of 12, was no exception.

And now, 9 years have passed. Here I am.

It’s been 21 years since I arrived in this world, yet I still know nothing about it.

All I’ve experienced is the orphanage with dirt and dust flying around, and the battlefield drenched in blood and flesh.

Now, being told to blend into society and live a normal life, it’s just daunting because I don’t even know how to make ends meet.

“But I don’t want to stay in the military and pound stakes forever.”

What to do from here on out is truly a problem.

Elena, who was staring intently at me as I pondered deeply with my lips pursed, suddenly flashed a very wicked smile and leaned in close.

When I thought she was trying to grab my tail and stiffened for a moment, Elena whispered in a sweet voice as if she was about to make an irresistible offer.

“Well then… Unni, I have a good idea. Would you like to hear it?”

* * *

To cut to the chase, I immediately rejected Elena’s proposal.

“Internet broadcasting? Yeah, right.”

I thought she was going to recommend me a decent job, but all she suggested was internet broadcasting?

Despite my refusal, Elena whined persistently enough to be annoying.

She said she had done internet broadcasting before the war, and now that she was returning, she would feature me, so let’s do it together. It was nonsense, so I shut her up.

I never intended to listen to Elena’s words in the first place.

“Does she really think I can do something like internet broadcasting?”

It’s not that I look down on the profession of internet broadcasting or anything. Don’t they say there’s no shame in any occupation?

It’s just that, not only in this life but also in my past life, I had absolutely nothing to do with internet broadcasting.

At best, I’ve glanced at a few unique thumbnails while watching YouTube a couple of times.

I have no interest in that job, and even someone like me who has no interest knows one thing.

Internet broadcasting fundamentally requires the streamer to lead alone, so it requires wit and eloquence.

In my past life, I might have been quite cheerful, so I might have tried it, but it’s absolutely impossible for me now.

I grew up in an orphanage when I was young, and after I grew up a bit, I spent my time on the battlefield.

Killing enemies, bidding farewell to comrades. Killing monsters, bidding farewell to comrades. What does Elena expect from someone like me who has lived such a life?

I hate to admit it myself, but I’m closer to being a machine than a human. A killing machine solely for war.

I’ve lived killing emotions, and since I could die tomorrow, I didn’t make friends. Naturally, people around me disappeared, and the only thing left in my heart is the desire to survive.

[Chapter 1]

No one would watch even if I did a broadcast. Elena once exclaimed, “Unni is so cute, everyone will love her!” But… well.

Of course, I’m aware that my appearance falls on the rather cute side. When I was young, the orphans at the orphanage clung to me day in and day out, and at educational facilities, I enjoyed privileges like being given precedence in the meal queue.

As I began to outgrow my infantile features, I even found myself marveling at my reflection in the mirror.

However, that alone, despite falling on the rather cute end of the spectrum, cannot sustain me.

“I should start looking for work as soon as I go out.”

I was a reasonably skilled veteran soldier, so I’ll receive a monthly stipend, but I have no intention of just living off that.

I don’t know how much the stipend will be, but even if it’s substantial, I have no intention of becoming human trash who lives a life of leisure and indulgence.

* * *

“Is it really okay to let her go like that?”

A woman, silently watching the girl’s figure recede beyond the window, asked the nonchalantly seated soldier.

“How else should we handle it? Should we stop her from leaving?”

“At the very least, shouldn’t we keep her under surveillance? She’s none other than ‘Casphalug,’ after all.”

“She’s sick of being called that.”

“But she’s not here right now, is she?”

The woman continued to gaze at the back of the cat-like girl until she completely disappeared from view, then handed a document to the man.

A tan envelope labeled [TOP SECRET].

The man briefly glanced at the contents after opening the envelope, furrowed his brow, then casually tossed the document onto the desk before lighting a cigarette.

Exhaling a puff of smoke, the man briefly glared at the woman before speaking.

“Hey, Lieutenant Lim.”

“Yes.”

“Just forget about it.”

“…Yes?”

After staring at Lieutenant Lim, who gave a momentarily dumbfounded response, the man, Major Kim, tapped a corner of the document.

“Can’t you see this? We can’t do anything about it, so it’s easier to just cleanly forget and move on.”

“But still…”

“But still what? I spent a whopping 9 years on the battlefield for the country. Those of us who were only in the rear have no right to criticize.”

“……”

“Show some respect. Just leave me alone. Besides, they say I have to come for a check-up on the moon once in a while, right?”

At Colonel Kim’s words, Lieutenant Lim quietly nodded, glancing briefly at the contents of the document peeking out of the envelope.