PARAGON
noun: uk /ˈpær.ə.ɡən/ us /ˈper.ə.ɡɑːn/
a person or thing that is perfect or has an extremely large amount of a particular good characteristic.
Tanya Degurechaff is every bit what an Imperial soldier should strive to be. She is a powerful and brutal warrior that still adheres to international laws. Possessing a sharp tactical mind, unflinching courage and unquestionable loyalty to Empire. A pious girl who pray for the sake of her country. She is... without question an inspirational figure, the fact that she is a young girl only makes the adults around her vow to work harder.

The paragon of Imperial Soldier in reality is...

"She is a monster in little girl's skin."
Erich von Lehrgen

Be Careful of What You Wish For (Part 01)

Erich von Lehrgen and Tanya von Degurechaff were good soldiers. That was a fact anyone would agree with, simply because they were good at doing their job. Tanya von Degurechaff was a better soldier of course, even Lehrgen couldn't dispute that. He was just one of elites on the rear, while she was a national hero. She was practically the paragon of their ideal soldier, as if the embodiment of Imperial soldier's manual book came to life. Imperial army, especially personnel in charge of human-resource like him was happy to find such a rare gem.

Reality however was not as epic as legend of heroic knight in medieval era, and soldier was no honorable knight.

She left an unpararrel impression,
and there would never be someone like her.
She was an anomaly.

First observation, she wonderfully showed a brilliant strategist mind. Degurechaff answered all question her instructor threw at her with ease. Her answers were topnotch, prompt and effective. Even an active soldier like him would admit defeat, she acted like the answers were something she read out of a book.

Second observation, he was once again amazed by her. She was young so he was worried about the practical, especially when it comes to keeping subordinates in line. He was worried for nothing, Degurechaff did a good work once again. She was just nine years old, but she was aware of worsening situation on the field. She also properly intimidated her juniors like a good drill sergeant, even with her lisp voice and small stature.

He was still feeling apprehensive about her role in their army, Degurechaff just turned nine at the time. She was a cute little girl who should be playing with dolls instead of operation orb or riffle.

Third time was the charm, he never believed this before that incident. After all, it was not every day a nine years old girl blow up a dormitory room and blasted her juniors off of the freaking third floor. She was disciplining a troublemaker, a junior who not only mocked her age and appearance but also disrupting their class.

When Tanya Dedurechaff said, she would purge incompetents from their rank, her instructors all laughed at how spirited she was. Even Erich agreed it was quite adorable of her to say such thing, she really worked hard to be a drill sergeant. They stopped laughing the moment the girl follow her words to the letter and attempt to cut her junior's head open with mage's knife. If it was just plain intimidation, he wouldn't be so scared. Degurechaff was serious to inflict permanent damage or worse taking someone's life for insubordination.

"No, it's not lynching, Sir. I am just doing my duty as a soldier and act accordingly to our law."

She was right as a soldier, and their regulation does say she should execute that cadet for insubordination. However, as a human being, it couldn't be right to kill out of battlefield just because the rules say you should with no remorse whatsoever. That was the very moment Erich understood the old saying, 'Be careful of what you wish for.'

The embodiment of perfect imperial soldier, in reality it would be a monster in little girl's skin. Yes, someone who fit seamlessly to the role of 'soldier' without fault would also be a monster and less of a human.

Which is why Erich decided to do everything in his power to make sure Tanya Degurechaff won't go too far, and if possible she would just be a weapon they could keep in line. Authority was the last thing Erich wanted her to get, not as long as he was in charge and he was prepared when she became a full pledged soldier. However, fate said otherwise when Degurechaff ended up in Norden for her deployment training, bagging a convenient field promotion so she could be an artillery observer when the Entente Federation brazenly march over the line.

If it was only Second Lieutenant rank she got from there, Erich wouldn't mind. Yet, she went out her way to fight heroically when she was targeted by Entente's mages. Degurechaff took out half of squadron on her own, and risked her life in the process. Even Erich was not so petty to deny she deserves the Silver Wing Assault Medal and beautiful second name Argent. She even did a good job to be the star of domestic propaganda in a preparation for the brewing mess with Entente.

'I still couldn't believe Entente is stupid enough to invade us. Their national power is far weaker than ours and with the current economic situation of country, they're strangling themselves. In one fell swoop for the sake of national pride, they ruin not just their already failing economy but also international relationship.' According to his intel, Francois, Albion and Rus Union were cursing their impudent action to high heaven now. It was time for them to look at reality, as barks of defeated dog had no place in war.

Their stupidity aside, this incident pave a career path for Degurechaff even Erich couldn't obstruct. Silver Wing Assault Medal came with honor and no small amount of authority. Even if she was just a Second Lieutenant, even a Major like him had to give her a salute. That was how much that pretty medal was worth, and with it, her age won't be much of an issue for her military career to advance.

'Hh… she would be in high demand on the front soon.' If she was just skill without sociopath issue, he would have sent her to the front by the first train.

Somehow Erich managed to convince his fellow officers that an ace or not, sending a little girl to the front would be bad for appearance. Then, as if God was listening to his prayer, Adelheid von Schugel specifically requested for her as testing personnel. What a timely intervention from heaven!

Though a comment from the officer, who informed her about the tranfer caught his attention.

"The awardee of Silver Wing is really exceptional, a kid or not she is a first rate officer with high fighting spirit. I'd say sooner or later we can't keep Second Liutenant Degurechaff idle in training department. Even if she obediently accept her current assignment like a good soldier, she is eager to contribute more for Fatherland."

It seemed Degurechaff was aware they were assigning her to be decoration on the rear, but being the obedient soldier she was, she followed the order.

'At least that's the best thing about her, sociopath or not. She follows order.'

He was sent to an errand out of Central by General Rudersdorf, so he forgot about her for a while. It was not like she could get in too much trouble in a lab, right? She would just blow up some stuff, and that eccentric scientist might find a match in heaven with the devil in little girl form. At some point during the inspection, he caught the propaganda poster featuring Degurechaff in a red dress and angelic smile. It seemed, the propaganda department sold an image of spirited little girl soldier to fan patriotism among them.

'If I didn't know better I would be like these poor oblivious souls.'

The soldiers were in high spirit as soon as they caught sight of the poster, nodding to themselves before walking with their back a bit straighter than before.

"If a girl my sister's age work hard for Fatherland…"

"Such a young girl…"

"We have to work harder like Argent!"

"She would be a beauty in ten years, don't you think?"

"Which mean we have to make sure war ends quickly so we could see the angelic beauty she would grow up to be! Aha ha ha ha!"

He wanted to shout 'Don't get fooled!' but reason won over, so he kept it to himself. If the angelic monster raised their spirit for the sake of their country, so be it. Erich felt nauseous at how effective this propaganda was. Unlike the traditional national hero in ceremonial uniform, she was in a dress and she raised their spirit at least three times as effective!

'This much fame and admiration should be still fine… at least this way we have more reason keeping her on the rear, far away from the front.' Like a medieval princess, encouraging knights to protect her country for her sake. 'It's a good think she is cute enough to fit the bill, even if it's a devil underneath that angelic smile.' Though he also sympathized a little, because for someone with fame of a hero like her, usually this kind of job would have done a number to her dignity. Well, at least this assured him that even the most unpleasant job would be completed by her perfectly. Monster or not, Erich valued professionalism.

That was what Erich thought, when he almost missed the first train back to capital. His mind couldn't compute the nerve of his superiors for calling Republic's war declaration as an unexpected event. Surrounding countries was like a net keeping Empire in check, and when one of them foolishly gave a legitimate reason to be invaded there was no way the Republic would let their safety net to fall.

'The Chief of Staff Louise had the gall to say this is unexpected! Of course, they would! Republic won't stand a chance if they take us head on alone!'

Brigadier General Rudelsdorf and Brigadier General Zettour's objection to not give in to Entente's provocation was ignored, and now they had a real mess in their hands. Or so he thought until he found out who got send to Rhine Theater because their main force was still in Norden. He almost screamed hysterically at the thought, they had sent that devilish girl to a real battlefield.

His worries was proven true in a good way…

'I have reservation calling this a stroke of fortune though.'

He was right that she would amass an impossibly high kill count, but fortunately, all casualties were on the other side. That one report about diffusive magical explosion she threw at Republican mages still sent chills down his spine though. She annihilated a named squadron by herself! She was practically the strongest mage in Empire now.

'Why did I think sending her to that infamous walking disaster Doctor Schugel was a good idea, again? A weapon of mass destruction is practically handed over to her in silver platter… And what's with -only could be used by Degurechaff- orb? Miracle? Since when God side with a devil? Or was it a devil's luck on her side?'

Well, at least it was thanks to her they managed to stall enough time for their main force to move to Rhine. He also got intel from his spies that Degurechaff was considered as incarnation of devil and disaster to Republican army, simply because she killed too many mages. They were a valuable forces, so it was customary to give them preferential medical treatment in army to preserve their number. Degurechaff's exploit caused a domino effect in Republican army, either they got killed on the spot or they would live long enough to die in medical tent. The medics were tied up trying to save mages and thus they had to delay treating other soldiers. It was an unexpected chain that result in a significant waste their enemy's limited medical resources and facilities.

A single mage was able to disrupt the overall battle plan laid out by the Republican military, it was no wonder she was called a devil.

'I never imagine I could agree about anything with my enemies, but she is an exception.'

If there's a silver lining in this, he hoped the girl would stay as long as possible in Rhine where she could slaughter their enemies to her heart content. Perhaps it was a better option than keeping her idle in the rear and who knows when she would start a killing spree out of boredom.

At this point he really should know better. When it comes to Tanya Degurechaff, nothing goes accordingly to his plan.

7/4/17: Fix some errors, I did my best...

A/N: Inspired by TV TROPES entry, be careful of what you wish for... This trope is all about how a character who makes a wish comes to regret it; the actual circumstances vary. The wisher may or may not have known that their wish was actually going to be heard. But for sure, reality doesn't work the way they wanted... and we all know Tanya's public image is that of an ideal soldier and leader. We would be fooled too if we don't know what she is thinking aha ha ha...

Ps: The character dynamic is closer to manga than anime, in which Tanya 'likes' Lehrgen. At least she thinks he is a man with common sense and good heart, nothing romantic from what I see. He just happen to be the guy she thinks would be good to be friend with, so she is friendlier to him in manga rather than plain profesionalism in anime.

Phew! Next... Erich really doubt the confidence of panel members that they could educate a monster to be a respectable senior officer. Hopefully, Degurechaff won't kill any of her classmates or blow anything up...br /
He also should have keep General Zettour as far as possible from Degurechaff, this was like a repeat of Faust and Mephisto Pheles. A scholar making a pact with a devil.