"Manifesting the ability to control flames like an angry witch is a tremendous advancement. It seems that making her capable of having emotions was the right choice after all."
Satoru exclaimed joyfully at the sight of No. 10 writhing in pain and emitting flames from her body.
After confirming that her abilities grew stronger with each infliction of pain, No. 10 endured intense experiments and lived with injuries every day.
She looked similar to No. 9, but perhaps because she had emotions, it was clear that No. 10 hated suffering when she underwent experiments.
Luke tried not to think about No. 10 as much as possible to avoid being reminded of her suffering every time he treated her.
However, the day he saw No. 10, who seemed to be expressing gratitude in her own way by igniting flames from her body like a purple aura,
Luke realized something he had been forcing himself to ignore all along.
The fact that what they had created was not just a homunculus with emotions, but a living being.
Even though she was created as a weapon for battle, she had emotions, could communicate, and could think of ways to make someone happy.
Luke couldn't define her with any word other than "human."
From that moment on, Luke began to feel that No. 10 was like a naive child who had just been born.
Was it right to commit such terrible acts to a being like her in order to save people?
The guilt from this contradiction constantly lingered in his mind.
No. 10 was very curious.
After telling her a few stories about the outside world, she started demanding stories every time Satoru left the room, even though it was difficult for her to move due to the intense experiments.
She would crawl to the wall and knock, asking for stories, like a curious child.
When Luke told her stories about heroes and Aegis Academy, No. 10 showed interest, and Luke said,
"I hope you can become someone who can protect people."
No. 10 closed her eyes for a moment as if in understanding, then opened them.
Though she was trained to obey commands, the sincerity in her blink made Luke feel guilty.
*
The continuous intense experiments.
No. 10's body was much tougher than an ordinary person's, but her healing ability had significantly decreased due to the repeated use of healing magic.
When Luke mentioned this, Satoru replied indifferently that it didn't matter.
No. 10 had given up and was preparing for the next experiment.
This made various thoughts come to mind.
No. 10, like the other experimental subjects, would eventually be terminated.
No. 10, cold and lifeless, would be burned in the incinerator.
And the thought of continuing to create beings like her until a perfect one was made.
But Luke had nothing to say.
He was also a co-conspirator who had crossed the line.
It felt too late to stop now; they had come too far.
However, the opportunity to stop came a few days later.
Seeking a minimal form of atonement, Luke visited the laboratory in the early morning after everyone had left, only to find it engulfed in flames.
Startled, he ran towards the laboratory and saw someone walking slowly, their entire body wrapped in flames, near the entrance.
The bright red eyes, visible even through the burning flames.
Luke, who had seen those eyes for a long time, knew that No. 10 had set the laboratory on fire.
Like the angry witch in the story, No. 10 was burning everything around her with flames.
Luke recalled what they had done to No. 10.
Given her powerful flames that could break out of a room made of flame-resistant materials, it wouldn't be strange if she burned people out of revenge.
Determined to stop her somehow, Luke approached No. 10 and noticed the emotions in her eyes as she looked at him.
No. 10, wrapped in flames, the child who had gained overwhelming power and was suffering, was asking for help.
Luke made up his mind.
It was his fault that this child had become this way,
so it was his responsibility to end it.
Luke whispered to No. 10,
"I won't make you suffer anymore."
The flames on No. 10's body gradually extinguished upon hearing this.
Luke caught her as she slowly fell, feeling a sense of responsibility from the weight in his arms.
Thus, Luke made a decision.
To make this child, who had only suffered since being brought into the world, live a human life.
The first thing Luke did was give her a new name.
Her hair, dyed the same color as her eyes, was as red as the wounds she had always borne.
A child who had suffered many wounds and knew pain.
Because she knew pain better than anyone, Luke wanted her to be someone who could be kind to others.
With this in mind, Luke named her Scarlet.
*
Luke, who had never relied on his family's power, sold the name of Aegis for Scarlet.
The first thing he did was create an identity for her.
He gave her the surname Evandale, a shortened version of Evangelin Decimus, to remind her of the things he had done.
Becoming the legal guardian of Scarlet Evandale, who was now legally an orphan, Luke pondered how to make her live the most human life possible.
When he asked her what she wanted to do, Scarlet, who had become less responsive since leaving the laboratory, didn't react much.
Recalling that she had shown interest in stories about Aegis Academy, he thought that her unstable ability control could be managed with training at the academy.
So, for the second time in his life, Luke asked his brother for a favor.
The first time was when he was young, asking his brother to take over the position of headmaster at the academy.
The second time was to allow Scarlet to take the entrance exam for the academy, even though the application period had ended.
Though his brother scolded him for asking favors from someone who should be impartial, he reluctantly agreed to let her take the exam.
Scarlet destroyed the dummies used for measurement.
It was a natural outcome.
Her body, which had been subjected to various experiments to enhance physical abilities, despite the side effects, was stronger than most physical enhancement ability users.
Even without showing her flame control ability, she had already passed the test and became a prospective student at the academy.
Ignoring Satoru's calls, Luke declared that he would quit and return to his original job, and then cut off contact.
He heard that Satoru was looking for him.
To avoid raising suspicion if they were seen together, Luke found a new place for Scarlet to live.
It was a dilapidated building in the 15th district, scheduled for demolition and unoccupied.
Though it seemed too small, it was the only place where Scarlet showed any reaction while they were looking.
Thinking that a place like this would be far from where the obsessive Satoru would ever go, Luke bought the entire building.
The small space was almost full with a bed, wardrobe, and small refrigerator, but whenever he visited, Scarlet was lying on the bed as if she were dead.
Even though he filled the refrigerator with food, she didn't touch it, and he had to throw everything away.
Worried if she could take care of herself, but needing to avoid Satoru, who was searching for him, Luke had little time to visit.
Scarlet began to show changes after starting at the academy.
She had lost her previous memories due to the aftereffects of the experiments but had learned to converse and seemed to be doing well at the academy.
Thinking that it might be good for her to live a normal human life, Luke received a call from his brother.
The news that Scarlet had lost her left arm and was hospitalized, followed by the information that she had saved many lives, made Luke cry.
He cried out of sadness, guilt, and immense gratitude.
Though she had lost her memory, she had become the kind person he had hoped for when he gave her a name.
The fact that she was protecting others, as he had wished, was a great salvation for him.
*
Receiving the address by text, Luke rushed through the nearest gateway.
The address Satoru sent was quite far from the nearest gateway.
Though running was difficult due to his age, he ran until he was out of breath, worried about what Satoru might have done to Scarlet.
Finally, he saw a building in a remote area.
The heavy door of the building was slightly open, as if waiting for him.
As Luke entered through the open door, it closed with a click.
The building was dark and dim.
Wondering if he had entered the wrong place, Luke caught his breath and called out loudly,
"Satoru!"
A familiar voice echoed from inside the building.
"Looks like you came in a hurry without even having lunch. Didn't I tell you to eat first? You're getting old, you know. Running on an empty stomach can be harmful."
"Where is Scarlet? You said she was with you!"
As Luke asked, a loud laugh came from the darkness.
With the sound, Luke felt a tingling in his head.
The building's lights turned on as he felt his consciousness fading.
The building was filling with smoke.
Sleeping gas.
Luke realized what the smoke was as soon as he saw it, but he had already inhaled too much.
Through his blurred vision, he saw Satoru wearing a gas mask.
Satoru laughed and said,
"Even a thing like you has a name. Don't worry. You'll see her soon."
*
Satoru was an excellent researcher.
He had never failed in his life.
The experimental subjects that the family had ordered to be