Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

Dietrich smiled and then fell silent.

He had thought it through; his sailor certainly deserved to die this time. But even so, his fear and disgust for the girl had not diminished and had even increased.

Even though I gave the order myself, I couldn't stop myself from feeling disgusted.

"What do you plan to do with her?"

"I don't know." Dietrich lit a cigarette to calm himself down.

Disgust, fear, despair, but it seemed that some other emotion was hidden among them; he only felt that the girl's presence made him extremely irritable.

"I'm getting more and more confused about you," Isaac said listlessly. "Then how about I take care of it?"

"?"

"Anyway, you didn't really intend to treat her like this, and I happen to be short of an adjutant in Amestris."

"You're not feeling sorry for her, are you?" Dietrich grinned maliciously. "I advise you not to have any pity for her; she's a monster unlike any of us."

A colonel's adjutant is at least a second lieutenant; he didn't think a girl who was just a prop, a monster, could have such a bright future.

“I will show no mercy to anyone,” Isaac said, glancing at the torrential rain outside the command room window as he recalled the past, “whether it’s the corpses I’ve dissected or the civilians who died by my blade in the Ishwar War.”

"People can only win the future by fighting with their own hands; they cannot survive by relying on pity."

“…Alright, then I’ll hand her over to you. I’d like to see what kind of person this monster will become in the future,” Dietrich sneered. “But I still want to remind you, don’t treat her too much like a human being. At most, she can only be used as a prop. This is for your own good.”

“You’re so long-winded,” Isaac said dismissively, then turned to Dietrich and said, “Consider it a favor I owe you.”

"Oh~ Giving away an item makes a state alchemist owe me a favor, not bad at all."

"If you really didn't care, you wouldn't have kept her with you for so many years."

"..."

Dietrich felt as if he had been seen through by the man in front of him, who was even younger than his own brother.

However, he also knew that he was contradictory and irrational.

"We alchemists, even if we've lost all compassion, must always remember the only truth in this world—equivalent exchange." He paused, then declared boldly, "And this isn't just a promise from a state alchemist. It's... a promise from the future Grand President of Amestris to you."

"You really dare to say that... Okay, I'll come to you when I need something."

"Oh, then it's settled."

"By the way, Isaac, has anyone ever told you that it's stupid to put on a serious face?" Dietrich still had a very wicked smile.

"Damn it, can't you just let me be serious for once?"

Isaac resumed his carefree expression and walked out of the command room.

Dietrich called the girl over and said to her with disgust, "I am no longer your master. From now on, you are his dog, his tool. You can only obey his orders, understand?"

The girl didn't speak, but just nodded blankly.

However, at this moment, Isaac began to worry.

I say I want to nurture her, but I have absolutely no experience in teaching this kind of child. What should I do?

Chapter 11: Violet

Isaac is currently pondering a question.

I have absolutely no idea how to teach children, or rather, I have absolutely no confidence in teaching children.

The only thing he remembered was when he was first transferred to the Eastern Command, he passed through a village and saw two children, slightly younger than him, drawing transmutation circles crookedly on the ground. With nothing else to do, he went up and gave the two brothers some alchemy guidance for two days.

Two years later, the two brothers started to do something really reckless: one lost his hands and feet, and the other lost his entire body.

Isaac was watching the little guy who had lost his hands and feet take the national qualification exam, and he felt really annoyed at the time.

While Isaac can't be blamed for this incident, he felt from that moment on that he had virtually no talent for mentoring others.

The reason for deciding to train her was that I didn't want her to continue living as a prop, but as a person.

This is not pity. Isaac had told Dietrich before that he would not pity anyone. When Isaac was a child, he was found by that female general in the snow and ice, but he did not receive any pity from anyone. No one in the entire Northern Command and the fortress, including the woman who took him in, would pity him. A person who lives on the pity of others will only live a more and more miserable life. But Isaac did not let them down. He won his future with his own hands.

The environment created by the Northern Army played a crucial role in his success.

Isaac has high hopes for this girl who is about five years younger than him. How far she goes depends on herself.

“That’s true, but how do I teach it?” Isaac was quite troubled by this.

Dong dong dong

Just as Isaac was pondering this, a soft knock came at the door.

When I opened the door, the little girl from before was standing timidly outside.

She was still barefoot, wearing the coat Isaac had given her.

“…Come in first.” Isaac let the little girl in.

They handed the little girl a chair, and she hesitated for a moment before carefully sitting down.

What kind of life did you live before?

At that moment, Isaac stared into the little girl's eyes, and the little girl looked back at Isaac with clear eyes.

Looking at the girl sitting quietly in front of him with a face as delicate as a doll, it was hard to imagine that just an hour ago she could be evenly matched with him in close combat.

Thinking about it this way, I feel even more ashamed...

"..."

"..."

Finally, Isaac spoke first: "Um... um... what's your name?"

Faced with such a little girl, Isaac didn't know what to say for a moment, so he started by asking her name.

"..." Still silence.

Wow, don't stay silent, it's making me feel awkward.

Isaac's face is twitching a little now.

“Ennnnnn…no name?” Isaac asked.

The little girl didn't speak, she just nodded.

Looks like I need to come up with one myself.

When it comes to naming things, Isaac, who hasn't had much formal education, thinks he's quite talented. Of course, he's unaware of this, and most of the names he comes up with are rather bizarre.

Names like Hellscream, Stormrage, and Shadowsong are obviously not for humans.

Of course, the name Isaac was given to him by that female major general. Incidentally, the female major general's name was Olivia, and her family seemed to be a high-ranking noble family in Amestris.

Looking at the girl in front of him, Isaac decided to name her himself, but of course, a girl's name couldn't be as casual as his own before.

Look around for any reference points.

Then I saw a book on the bookshelf called Goodnight My Sweet Violet, which seemed to be a children's book.

"Then... how about your name be Violet from now on?"

Violet is the flower of the violet, which symbolizes eternal love and beauty. Of course, Isaac didn't know any of this; he simply thought the name sounded nice and was easy to pronounce.

The little girl still didn't speak, but simply nodded slightly.

"Then it's decided." At least one thing is cleared up, but Isaac also discovered a rather troublesome aspect.

She can't speak.

It's not that they're mute and can't speak; it's that they've never learned a language.

This is very difficult, because we have to start with language, which increases the difficulty of education several times over. But fortunately, she can understand what others are saying.

Let's give it a try.

Isaac pointed to himself and said to the little girl, "I... Isaac."

"I...saa...c" The voice was pleasant, and he managed to pronounce his name correctly.

Let's move on to some other words.

--------

After a few hours,

"Well... let's teach this for today, it'll be quick to learn!" Isaac regained his confidence in his teaching abilities.

“I am…” the little girl, Violet, began to speak.

"Huh? What did you say?"

“I am…Isaac’s…tool.” A complete sentence came from Violet’s mouth.

"..."

“The lieutenant colonel said… I will always be… Isaac’s prop.”

"wrong!"

Isaac ignored Violet's questioning gaze, inwardly cursing Dietrich for making trouble for him.

But what is their relationship now? Isaac himself has no idea.

Owner? Although it does seem somewhat similar at the moment, it cannot be said in order to cultivate the correct values ​​in them.

Dad? That's obviously nonsense.

So...brother?

That's a good idea. As the saying goes, "No fight, no friendship." The Northern Army instilled in Isaac from a young age the idea that "fighting makes you brothers." Violet's duel with him can be considered a fight, and given the commotion just now where they almost dismantled the ship, it was definitely a big fight.

But Violet is a girl, so they can't be considered brothers.

Isaac was unaware that his thought process differed from most people's. He continued to ponder.

A superior? As one's future adjutant, this should be reasonable.

“You are actually my subordinate,” Isaac said, patting Violet’s petite shoulder.

"Subordinates?" Violet tilted her head, unsure of what that meant.

"Subordinates are...those who can help me; if I get some credit, you'll get some too." Forgive Isaac for not having much higher education; he can only use this kind of socially savvy way of speaking.