Sylph Nova.
At that time, her name was already well-known within the Austin military.
She is the creator of the ingenious "Multiple-Point Simultaneous Breakthrough Tactic" and the daughter of General Brustav Nova of the Sabbatian military.
She was an enemy resisting the Worker's Council and uniting the remnants of the former government forces.
And she was the person whom Bern Valou had specifically identified as "one of Austin's most dangerous enemies."
Bern Valou was renowned as a hero who saved Austin.
He was famous for his string of victories, having never been outpaced by the Sabbatian forces.
However…
In reality, Bern had never achieved a decisive victory against Sylph.
The Battle of the North and the Sabbatian Revolution both ended with results that fell short due to her interference.
This must have been an unbearable stress for Bern.
────This woman prevents me from enjoying my massacres.
An unpleasant pest crawling on the battlefield.
That might have been how Bern viewed "Sylph Nova."
After the Sabbatian Revolution, Bern spread negative rumors about Sylph within Sabbath.
He portrayed most of the former government's atrocities as her doing and disparaged her as an incompetent coward who fled from Josegrad.
The aim was to ensure that Sylph could never regain power in the Sabbath.
The fact that Bern went out of his way to do this shows just how wary he was of Sylph.
Moreover, although no one never spoke of it openly, there was a sense that the Austin military believed "we would lose to Sylph if Bern were not here."
Particularly among the Renvel faction… it seemed they questioned the abilities of Verdi.
Indeed, Verdi is an extremely capable person, able to handle the duties of a major at such a young age.
However, it would be difficult to say he is on par with the genius Sylph who changed history.
Bern was troubled by the possibility of Austin losing on its own.
Even the recent gas offensive was carried out by members of the Renvel faction.
The operation was prepared based on a proposal by Mr. Kuma of Renvel's faction.
Although Bern was not enthusiastic about the gas weapon operation due to its many weaknesses, he was pressured by Renvel's insistence that "the enemy's technological level makes countermeasures difficult" and accepted it.
Indeed, Flamel had not yet developed the "Wind Gun," so it was a reasonable decision.
However, the reality was that the former Sabbatian government forces intervened, and Austin suffered a severe defeat.
With its homeland burned, Austin's military is finding it difficult to replenish its personnel.
Even a few thousand casualties can be a significant setback that disrupts plans.
Renvel's reckless behavior was always a source of trouble for Bern Valou.
***
"Based on this letter, it appears that you are an acquaintance of Sylph Nova, the commander of the Sabbatian Army."
"…"
Getting back on topic…
Sylph Nova is a big shot who even Bern is wary of.
Colonel Henri must have had a hard time responding when he received a letter personally addressed to me from such a woman.
"Are you acquainted with Sylph Nova?"
"Yes, I fought under her command when I drifted to the Sabbath before."
"I see."
I still don't understand the true meaning of this letter.
At first glance, it seems like a strategy to cast suspicion of collusion on me.
However, I am not a person of such importance to warrant such a scheme, and I don't think it would be worth the effort.
"…May I have permission to examine the letter?"
"Do you want to see it?"
I was curious about what was written in the letter.
However, in a situation where suspicion of collusion might arise, I didn't expect to be allowed to see it.
"I would like to, but… I don't think I will be shown it under these circumstances."
"No, it's fine. Go ahead and take a look."
"Is that okay?"
"Yes. To be honest, we would also like to know the meaning of that letter."
Although I thought that, permission to view the letter from Sylph was granted easily.
Colonel Henri made a subtle expression and handed me the envelope.
Inside it was a single, small piece of paper.
────An illustration of a pierced apple.
That was all that was depicted.
The illustration, likely painted with paint, had no accompanying text.
The apple was still green and hard, not fully ripe.
It was squashed and dripping with juice from an arrow that had pierced it.
"Umm, is this all that's in the letter?"
"Yes."
It's a rather tasteless letter.
Why did Sylph send me such a letter?
First of all, what's with this creepy picture?
"Do you understand the meaning of this?"
"No."
I have no idea what this means.
That was my honest feeling.
"I'd like to hear your interpretation. Is it some kind of metaphor or a code for you?"
"Well…"
I can't imagine that Sylph would do something that has no meaning.
There must be some meaning behind the time and effort she took to draw the picture and have it delivered to me.
"…It's a painting of an unripe apple being shot. If we take it at face value, maybe it's a declaration of war?"
"What do you mean by declaration of war?"
"Given that I am a young girl, I thought maybe it was a message that she was going to shoot me to death, likening me to this green apple."
"I see."
I shared my on-the-spot interpretation, and Colonel Henri murmured thoughtfully, staring at the illustration of the apple.
***
As it turns out, my speculation was not far off the mark.
I didn't know this at the time, but apparently there is a famous Sabbath folktale about a man who unknowingly shoots and kills his dear friend who has been turned into an apple.
In this context, Sylph likely drew the apple as a metaphor for killing me.
However, what remains unclear is why Sylph sent me such a letter.
If my interpretation is correct, this is merely a declaration of hostility, a simple death threat.
Strategically, it holds no significance.
Moreover, if this is the case, it would fail as a strategy to cast suspicion of collusion.
I spent some time trying to figure out the meaning behind Sylph's letter, but in the end, I couldn't decipher it.
It was just a whim.
That's the conclusion I came to.
…Perhaps this was a letter intended to resolve herself.
Sylph was 18 years old at the time, still an age that could be considered immature.
And while I was in the Sabbatian Army, if it wasn't just arrogance, I felt that Sylph had taken a liking to me.
If she felt even a hint of friendship towards me…
I think Sylph sent that letter in order to make up her mind to kill me.
This is speculation mixed with my own wishful thinking.
After all, we were enemies. There shouldn't have been any room for friendship.
"Well, let's leave it at that. I'll take care of this letter. Unfortunately, I cannot give it to you."
"Understood."
She would often invite me to play chess.
Surrounded by older subordinates, Sylph probably had little interaction with people her own age.
It's not as if those subordinates were particularly friendly towards Sylph either.
She must have been lonely, having lost her family and having no friends.
I understand the feeling, as my opportunities to interact with people my own age decreased after joining the military.
"Alright, Touri, you can leave now."
"Thank you."
"I have high expectations for your work… I look forward to continuing to work with you."
"Yes."
But I cannot become friends with Silph.
More than anyone else in this world, Sylph is my enemy.
At the same time, for her—
"In return, I will defeat Sylph and show you."
"That's very reliable."
I, who killed Mr. Gorski, have become the kind of "enemy" whom she can only kill.
***
"Hello, Touri."
"…Major Bern Valou."
As I left Colonel Henri's tent, a man with a snake-like smile was waiting for me.
Bern Valou.
He is an unparalleled genius, the cornerstone of Austin's current military.
"I've been waiting. How about we have tea together?"
"I'm sorry, but I'd rather not bother."
"Such a shame. Unfortunately, it's a formal order. Since you received a letter from the enemy's commander, Sylph Nova, I need to question you about it."
Bern, grinning widely, handed me a document with a summons.
The contents were an inquiry into suspected collusion with the enemy's commander.
"…Understood. I will comply."
"Well, I don't really suspect you of collusion, so don't worry. I never imagined you'd be on such friendly terms with Sylph Nova."
"About that…"
"Given that she sent you such a drawing, you must have had some sort of relationship with her, right? Your report only mentioned that after being interrogated by Sylph, you were made to follow the government forces. From what I've gathered, I thought you had a strained relationship."
Bern had his own interpretation of the drawing.
Taking my hand, Bern Valou laughed with great amusement.
"I won't tolerate lies about that woman."
"…!"
"Tell me everything you know."
In a voice so cold it felt dizzying, he grabbed my arm.
What followed was hellish.
I was taken into an interrogation tent and found myself alone with Bern Valou in a small room.
He bombarded with questions until late into the night.
"Describe Sylph's appearance. Her facial features, build, hair length, voice, bust size, height, eye color—"
"Th-That—"
Bern's questions were endless.
I felt an obsessive intensity aimed at stripping away all details about Sylph Nova.
I was forced to confess everything, from her every gesture to every move in the chess games we played.
"Why don't you remember such details?"
"…I'm sorry."
"Oh, I'm not angry. Just try to recall as much as you can."
I should have been the most knowledgeable about Sylph Nova in the military.
Information about the enemy's commander isn't something you can easily obtain, no matter how much you pay.
Thus, my information was likely as valuable to Bern as gold.
"I think she made this move and said, 'I just made a very careless move. Think about it.'"
"Really? Sylph said something like that?"
It was approaching midnight when I was finally freed from him.
In contrast to me, who was exhausted both physically and mentally after several hours of conversation…
"I see, so you think like that."
"…"
"I'm starting to get a clear picture of that witch Sylph Nova. I can see her outline…"
Bern Valou's eyes sparkled brightly, his cheeks flushed with excitement.
It was very unsettling.
***
『Dear Silph Nova,』
Incidentally, I didn't know at the time, but…
『I have read your letter. It brings back so many memories.』
Apparently, Bern Valou had sent a reply to Sylph's letter without my permission.
He had even imitated my handwriting, in Austinian.
『The time spent with you was very enjoyable. I would like to play chess with you again."
I wish he had at least asked for my permission or reported it to me…
But Bern was mysteriously eager, so he took it upon himself.
『Next time too, please make sure you follow our plan and produce many casualties. It was fun pretending to be friends with you, who was so excited without knowing anything.』
After hearing the contents of Bern's reply to Sylph, I decided I would never forgive him.