Today, Violet finally completed her training at the Foundation.
She had gained a thorough understanding of this modern world.
Violet had also gone through extensive records about this world's First World War. For the most part, it resembled the war she had experienced. However, despite reading through all the information, Violet couldn't truly feel its reality.
It wasn't because the Northland Kingdom had been replaced with some other nation's name.
Rather, the records contained nothing but lists of numbers, battle names, and strategic objectives.
But the war Violet knew was one of flesh and blood, brutal combat between living beings.
It was difficult to connect those numbers to the living, breathing people on the battlefield.
In fact, it was impossible.
If this had been the Violet from before, she would have been deeply confused.
But now, she was much better.
Every day, she studied at the Foundation site, then returned to that warm apartment to rest.
She used to hear her fellow soldiers talk about "going home."
Back then, Violet didn't understand the meaning of that word, nor why they clung to it so desperately.
But now, she seemed to understand.
As long as she could return to that warm place, everything would feel okay.
This must be what they called "home."
With her training completed, it was time for her official assignment.
Violet had always followed orders.
Even though Haruto had told her many times that she could act on her own free will…
That she didn't have to do what she disliked and could choose what she wanted…
Violet was still used to following commands.
And if the order came from Haruto, she was more than happy to obey.
Though she followed orders, she had some guesses.
She would likely be assigned to a Mobile Task Force or some standard combat unit.
After all, battle was her only real talent—she knew nothing else.
However, instead of being sent to the battlefield, the Foundation staff led her to an isolated room.
Inside was a laptop.
Violet had learned how to operate electronic devices, so she was familiar with computers.
As she pondered her assignment in confusion…
The laptop let out a ding!
Violet walked over, sat down, and saw that she had received an email. And the moment she sat down, the email opened automatically.
A letter appeared on the screen.
A Letter to Violet:
"Hello, Violet Evergarden. You have received a new assignment."
"This letter is strictly for Violet Evergarden's eyes only."
"Unauthorized access will result in forced memory erasure, potential demotion, and even termination."
"Would you like to proceed?"
Violet blinked.
Since it was addressed to her, she naturally chose to continue.
The letter expanded, and an audio recording began to play, narrating the contents.
Violet quickly recognized the voice—it was Haruto.
"Hello, Violet Evergarden. Congratulations on being appointed as an SCP Foundation A-Class Personnel—Special Chief Researcher. You might be wondering why you've been assigned as a researcher instead of a combatant."
"Rest assured, this decision was not made out of personal feelings. Your value is not limited to combat alone. Your assignment is to provide specialized care and research on Project Tickle Monster (SCP-999)."
"This is one of the easiest and most enviable positions in the entire SCP Foundation."
"Relevant materials on SCP-999 can be easily accessed in the Foundation's archives, as its security classification is only Level 1."
"The Tickle Monster is one of the few anomalies that will never harm you and will even actively try to save you in times of danger."
"Most people assigned to this task would be overjoyed, as it's practically a paid vacation. But you, Violet, are probably just confused. Why would such a harmless assignment require direct appointment from the O5 Council, with multiple layers of encryption? That doesn't make sense."
"Some rumors within the Foundation suggest that this is just nepotism—that the O5 Council assigns safe jobs to protect their friends and family."
"Unless you narcissistically believe that someone in the O5 Council is your obsessed admirer, willing to break Foundation rules for you…"
"You should already realize that these rumors are false—in fact, they were deliberately spread by us."
"To understand our true motives, you need to learn about SCP-999's origins."
"You may have noticed that its discovery records are extremely vague, with no mention of where it was found."
"That's because the original records were deliberately deleted to ensure that its origins remained top-secret."
"If you are unfamiliar with the myth of the Scarlet King, I suggest you read about him—his classified information was recently unsealed."
"The Foundation's database contains a vast amount of uncategorized data, all pointing to one thing: he is the most malevolent entity in the multiverse."
"Among the many anomalies we contain, a large number are connected to the Scarlet King—either as artifacts granted by him or as monstrosities born from his corruption. Or worse… the results of him violating his own daughters and giving birth to abominations—powerful, world-threatening entities filled with malice."
"Since joining the Foundation, you have likely heard countless horrifying rumors about things you've never seen."
"Perhaps you've heard whispers that an innocent girl was sacrificed in a Satanic ritual, and the Foundation did inhumane things to her to prevent world destruction."
"Perhaps you've overheard fragments of the term '110-Montauk Procedure' being whispered in hushed voices."
"I regret to inform you that those rumors are all true."
"At least… they were true in the past."
"These are events from the early days of the SCP Foundation, things so horrific that few wish to recall them."
"The SCP Foundation was not the first supernatural organization in this world. Before it, many others existed."
"But after the Foundation's rise, those organizations were either eradicated, absorbed, or destroyed—completely erased from history."
"One such organization was a cult called 'Children of the Scarlet King.'"
"Through an occult ritual, they turned seven girls into the Scarlet Brides (SCP-231)."
"These girls were forced to serve as vessels for the Scarlet King's offspring, an utterly tragic fate."
"How they obtained this ritual remains unknown. But its effects were devastating."
"Every time one of these 'Scarlet Children' was born, it caused a global catastrophe and created a new, powerful, malicious entity."
"According to cult records, if the seventh and final bride gave birth, it would trigger an apocalyptic disaster on the scale of Revelation itself and summon the Scarlet King."
"By the time the Foundation eradicated the cult, six of the seven brides had already given birth. Only one remained—SCP-231-7."
"To prevent world annihilation, she was subjected to the 110-Montauk Procedure—a non-anesthetized surgical abortion, performed endlessly."
"Death itself became a luxury, as the unimaginable pain consumed her."
"The procedure was inhumane, but a greater mystery remained: why did the cult itself seek to prevent her childbirth?"
"After extensive investigation, we discovered the truth: the seventh bride was different. She never submitted to the King."
"She would not give birth to a monster—but to a hero."
"The ultimate darkness gives birth to light. The pinnacle of tyranny creates kindness. Even in absolute despair, hope remains."
"Thus, we halted the Montauk Procedure and allowed her to give birth."
"And that child… was SCP-999."
"Yes, Tickle Monster is the Scarlet King's offspring."