I had just finished the design for K01, and the first place I rushed to was Barunen’s laboratory.

I couldn’t wait to share my idea of placing fire and wind attribute magic stones together with Barunen. I also felt an overwhelming urge to start building it right away, without wasting another moment.

“Ascan, over here.”

Normally, I’d have taken a carriage alone to the lab, but today was special—I came with Ascan.

Now that I’d achieved my goal, I needed to return all the reference materials I’d borrowed to the Brellof estate back to their original places in the lab.

Ascan followed me, arms full of luggage, and said,

“Please walk slowly, Miss. You’ll trip at this pace.”

But even his warning didn’t slow me down. Freed from the worries that had haunted me until now, I felt as if wings had sprouted from my feet.

In no time, I arrived in front of Barunen’s lab and flung the door open.

The lab was cramped and shabby, packed with books on every wall and magical engineering devices leaving no space to step.

Honestly, it wasn’t a place a noble young lady should frequent—but after visiting so often, the scene had become deeply familiar to me.

“Master!”

“Huh? What brings you here at this hour?”

Barunen, who had been sketching magical formulas, looked up at me with a puzzled expression.

Unable to contain my joy, I beamed and replied,

“I’ve finally found the solution!”

“The solution?”

“Yes! For K01. If we equip both fire and wind attributes together, it should unleash much greater power!”

My explanation was a bit jumbled, but Barunen’s eyes widened instantly—as if something had clicked in his mind.

I hurriedly spread out the K01 design I’d brought and placed it before him.

Barunen examined the blueprint slowly, then his face lit up as he exclaimed,

“Truly worthy of being my disciple! How did you come up with such a brilliant idea? Marvelous, simply marvelous!”

Just as Barunen, overwhelmed with joy, reached out to pat my head—

Thud. Ascan, who had somehow appeared beside us without a sound, caught Barunen’s hand midair.

“What—what’s this?”

Barunen jumped in surprise at Ascan’s sudden appearance.

But Ascan ignored his reaction entirely and turned to me, voice lowered slightly from before,

“Miss, where should I put the books?”

At first, I was startled that Ascan had blocked Barunen’s gesture—but then I realized he’d only approached to ask where to place the books.

His timing felt uncannily perfect, though I didn’t dwell on it.

“Oh, just leave them anywhere there’s space.”

“Yes.”

With his usual expressionless face, Ascan set the luggage down in the corner.

Barunen, looking curious, glanced between Ascan and me and asked,

“Who’s this?”

“My valet. I brought him along today because I had a lot of things to carry.”

Barunen eyed Ascan suspiciously for a moment, but quickly forgot the earlier incident and returned to studying the K01 blueprint, grinning ear to ear.

Watching him now, it was clear his mind held nothing but K01.

“Now that the design is complete, it’s time to build it.”

“I actually hurried here for that very reason. How long do you think it’ll take if we start now?”

“It won’t take too long. Have you thought about what metal to use?”

“Yes. I think…”

Writing it down on paper seemed better than explaining verbally. I leaned closer toward Barunen to grab a pen I spotted nearby—when,

“Here you are, Miss.”

As if sensing my intent, Ascan materialized beside me like a ghost and handed me the pen.

I took it with a dazed expression and thanked him.

“Oh, thank you.”

With the pen Ascan gave me, I began jotting down various lists on paper while continuing a serious discussion with Barunen.

After a long deliberation, we finalized the materials needed to build K01. With concrete details settled, all that remained was to actually construct and test it.

I turned my head suddenly—and caught Ascan staring blankly at me.

‘Since when has he been watching?’

It felt strangely familiar—as if Ascan had been standing in the exact same spot, in the exact same posture, ever since I started talking with Barunen.

Just then, Barunen tapped the list we’d finalized and said,

“Well then, that’s all settled. If you’ve got nothing else to do, you might as well head back.”

Normally, when I worked with Barunen here, I’d stay much later. Compared to that, it was still early.

“Already?”

“Well, all that’s left is waiting for the weapon to be completed. It’ll take a few days to gather the materials I mentioned and have a specialist craft the parts according to the blueprint.”

“That’s true.”

With the K01 design finished, I had no further reason to stay—especially since today wasn’t even a day for magical engineering lessons.

Moreover, I hadn’t come alone—I’d brought Ascan along. I was just thinking it might be time to head back when—

Suddenly, Barunen, who had been sitting beside me, leaned close and whispered into my ear,

“And about your valet—he’s been glaring at me like he wants to devour me whole. It’s terrifying. Did you… maybe forget to feed him?”

“Huh?”

I was speechless. Forget to feed him? I took such good care of Ascan…

Without thinking, I glanced over at Ascan while whispering with Barunen—and found him staring back at me, brows deeply furrowed as if something greatly displeased him.

His expression had clearly changed from just moments ago.

Normally, I thought his eyes were deep like an abyss—but now, raw emotion churned within them like a volcano about to erupt.

‘Maybe he doesn’t like this place?’

Hiding my confusion, I nodded at Barunen.

“Understood. I’ll head back now, Master.”

“Alright. You’ve worked hard. Leave the small details to me—I’ll contact Brellof estate as soon as there’s news.”

“Yes, thank you.”

After bidding farewell to Barunen, I left the lab with Ascan.

Though I thought it was earlier than usual, stepping outside revealed the sun had already set. The sky gradually darkening looked strangely poetic today.

Click-clack. As I walked toward where the carriage was parked, I glanced at Ascan beside me.

His face remained expressionless, but I could sense something about him was deeply dissatisfied.

“Master’s lab is a bit cramped, isn’t it?”

At my words, Ascan’s gaze turned toward me. He stared silently for a few seconds, then replied in a low voice,

“…It’s not a place suited for you, Miss.”

“Really? I don’t mind at all—in fact, I feel more at ease when things are a little messy. Too clean, and I’m afraid to touch anything.”

“I see. I assumed you preferred luxury, but you have a surprisingly down-to-earth side.”

Of course, I didn’t dislike extravagance or splendor—but Ascan’s comment felt as if he were comparing me to the original Tanashia.

I chuckled unconsciously and replied,

“I do like luxury. I just appreciate different things depending on the situation. I’m not picky. But… did you dislike the lab?”

“…Me?”

“You seemed displeased. Wasn’t that it?”

“Ah.”

At my cautious question, Ascan finally reacted as if he understood.

“I’m not sure exactly what bothered me, but next time, you don’t have to accompany me to Master’s lab.”

I didn’t know precisely which part had upset Ascan—he wasn’t someone who easily showed his emotions.

But if it was obvious enough for me to notice, something must have seriously displeased him. If he felt uncomfortable, there was no need for him to follow me to the lab.

At my words, Ascan paused briefly. Then, in a voice more solemn than before, he said,

“If I hadn’t come today, you would have been alone with… this ‘Master’ person, wouldn’t you?”

“Well… yes.”

His expression darkened as if lost in thought. After a moment of silence, he spoke in an even lower voice,

“What kind of person is this ‘Master’ to you, Miss? You don’t… harbor any special feelings for him, do you?”

“…Ke—ke!”

If I’d had anything in my mouth right then, I definitely would’ve spat it out.

Stunned by Ascan’s completely unexpected question, I could only gape at him. How on earth could he even think such a thing?

“What nonsense are you spouting all of a sudden?”

“You seemed too close. He reached out to pat your head without hesitation, leaned in to whisper in your ear…”

As he spoke, Ascan’s voice grew strangely lower—his tone thick with displeasure, as if grinding his teeth.

“…Or perhaps… you’re just too vulnerable around him?”

Hearing his question end in uncertainty, I was utterly dumbfounded.

“Ascan, do you even know how old Master is?”

“…He looks over sixty.”

“And do you know how old I am?”

“…”

“Ha! And you’re asking me if I have feelings for Master?”

What do you take me for?!

Of course, love knows no age—but the gap between Barunen and me was far too extreme.

Even setting age aside, Barunen had never once struck me as a romantic interest.

If Barunen heard this, he’d surely burst out laughing.

We were simply master and disciple—nothing more, nothing less.

“Ascan, listen carefully. I’ve seen a lot of men’s faces.”

“…Faces?”

“Oh, and physiques too! Good looks and a nice body are basic requirements.”

At my words, Ascan stared fixedly at me. His gaze made me a bit self-conscious, but I saw no reason to hide my preferences.

“Master is way too old by my standards. I respect him as my teacher, but romantic feelings? Absolutely not.”

“…I see.”

Ascan’s expression lightened strangely. The earlier displeasure seemed to have faded slightly, sparking my curiosity.

“What on earth made you think that?”

“You let him get too close. And you didn’t seem to mind…”

“That’s normal with anyone.”

“I don’t like it.”

His blunt reply momentarily left me speechless.

As I said earlier, Barunen wasn’t “a man”—he was my Master. No, more importantly—why do you even care if I get close to someone else?

Anyone watching might think Ascan was jealous of my relationship with Barunen.

As I stared at him with exasperated eyes, Ascan hesitated briefly, then seemed to make a decision and carefully opened his mouth.

“When I… get emotionally worked up, I struggle to control my power.”

He probably said this thinking I’d have some vague awareness—since in the original story, Ascan was experimented on by Tanashia—but I, having read , knew far more details.

Ascan, still a minor, hadn’t yet learned to fully control his power—when emotionally agitated, he risked devastating everything around him.

But… so what?

Seeing my puzzled expression as I kept staring at him, he carefully chose his next words and continued slowly,

“I get angry when I see you with other men.”

“What?”

At first, I was exasperated—but now, realizing the implication of his words, I grew serious.

‘Wait… hold on.’

If Ascan got angry, it meant he might lose control of his power—and if that happened, my safety could be at risk.

‘Come to think of it… Ascan getting angry is a really big deal!’

As I stared at him with a startled expression, Ascan looked momentarily puzzled—then, as if suspecting I knew something, I quickly turned my head away, pretending nothing was wrong.

“What are you talking about all of a sudden? I don’t understand why you’d get angry.”

“I just don’t like it. You being close to other people…”

What was this? Like a chick imprinting on the first thing it sees as its mother?

I sensed a strange possessiveness in Ascan’s words—but considering he was still a minor, maybe it stemmed from insecurity.

‘…This is insane.’

If I didn’t know Ascan’s condition, I could’ve brushed it off—but knowing exactly how dangerous he was, I couldn’t ignore what he’d said.

Ascan hesitated, then extended his palm toward me.

Wondering what he was doing, I looked down—and saw one of his fingers had turned as hard as steel.

‘Good heavens…’

My vision blurred. If Ascan had lost control back in Barunen’s lab just moments ago…

“O-okay, I get it.”

I quickly covered his palm with both of my hands, worried someone might see.

Ascan frowned slightly at my action, then smiled—a very faint smile, but so beautiful it made my eyes widen.

“I haven’t finished saying what I wanted to say yet. Are you trying to silence me like this?”

“I understand well enough from what you’ve said so far.”

“…?”

“It’s bad when you get angry. If you can’t control your power, it could be dangerous.”

I swallowed hard, then looked straight at Ascan and continued,

“I just won’t get too close to other people, okay?”

Ascan’s eyes widened—he clearly hadn’t expected me to say that.

“Are you… serious?”

“What’s the point of lying about something like this? It’s not even difficult. I’ll just keep a little more distance from people.”

“Really?”

“That’s what I said.”

“Then you can’t whisper with others like you did earlier. And don’t just let anyone else try to pat your head.”

“I said I got it.”

At my slightly annoyed reply, Ascan’s eyes crinkled as he smiled.

It wasn’t the faint, barely-there smile anymore. He was smiling brightly, like a blooming flower—and it was unbearably sweet.

Startled, I stared at him—and he leaned close to my ear, whispering softly,

“You’re beautiful.”

Heat surged from my ear the moment I heard those words. My entire face flushed instantly, and I reflexively covered my ears.

Flustered, I looked up at Ascan with my burning cheeks.

He gazed back at me with the satisfied eyes of a predator.

“This is something you’ll only do with me from now on.”

I was speechless. I almost wanted to scold him for saying something so absurd.

The whisper I’d shared with Barunen wasn’t like this—it wasn’t this intensely stimulating, making every hair on my body stand on end.

Feeling suddenly angry and unfairly treated for being flustered by this, I quickly walked toward the nearby carriage.

Deliberately not even turning my head toward him, I said in a curt tone,

“I’ll think about it. Not doing it with others doesn’t mean I’ll do it with you.”

I heard Ascan chuckle softly, murmuring under his breath,

“That’s unfair.”

I climbed hastily into the carriage, leaving him behind. I felt strangely like I was running away—but for now, I had no other choice.