Everyone could safely assume that those called after me were all overshadowed by the unexpected power of K01.

The academic festival was an event designed to accommodate the fatigue of exceptionally talented participants, allowing them to stay and dine in luxurious guest suites over several days.

With the first round of magical power measurement and the second round showcasing participants’ abilities, today’s schedule was essentially complete.

Once all participants had finished their turns and the first day of the academic festival concluded, Noxia Brellof, seated nearby, approached me with a bright smile.

“Sister, you called that weapon K01 just now, right? Its power was truly astonishing—developing something like that is really incredible.”

“Nah.”

Feeling awkward at the praise, I absentmindedly scratched the bridge of my nose, sensing the gazes of people around me.

These gazes felt different from before.

Awe, fear, and curiosity. The eyes of those who had previously sneered at or resented my participation in the festival had changed.

“Hahaha! Did you see that? Did you see it?”

From afar, Barnen’s boisterous laughter rang out as he loudly addressed the judges seated at the panel.

He seemed so exhilarated that, despite his age, he appeared almost childlike.

At that moment,

I noticed Orland and Zen approaching me directly from the judges’ bench.

“Father.”

When I called out to Orland, he replied with a serious expression.

“Tana, let’s talk for a moment.”

“Ah, yes.”

Seeing that Orland intended to move to a quiet, secluded spot, I silently followed behind him.

Noxia Brellof also began to move with me, but Orland turned his head and sternly addressed her.

“Noxia, stay here.”

“Ah! Understood.”

Startled, Noxia halted and nodded.

Sensing an unusual atmosphere, I exchanged only brief glances with Noxia before quickly following Orland.

Though Noxia looked somewhat dejected left behind alone, this was clearly not the moment to address such things.

Thus, I entered an elegant room alone with Orland.

Zen, though not instructed by Orland, stopped at the entrance, standing guard to ensure no one intruded or eavesdropped.

Only once we were alone in the private space did Orland look at me with a complicated expression and speak.

“You developed K01?”

“Yes. Do you have something specific to say about K01?”

“Indeed. I heard from Martela that you developed a remarkable weapon, but its power proved even more fearsome than I imagined.”

K01 was a small weapon capable of firing only three shots. To compensate for that limitation, I maximized its destructive power—so this outcome was only natural.

I waited for Orland’s next words. He seemed to struggle with how to phrase his thoughts, but soon gathered himself and spoke again.

“I’m immensely proud that my daughter excels so brilliantly in magical engineering… yet, on the other hand, I’m also worried.”

“Worried?”

“Magical engineering weapons are ultimately used during wars or critical national emergencies. Someone might try to exploit your talent for ill purposes.”

Even hearing this much, I understood what Orland intended to convey.

My developing a formidable weapon strengthened Arwen Empire’s national power, but conversely, to other empires, it could appear as a threatening weapon of mass destruction.

The academic festival was not an event exclusive to the Arwen Empire. People from various nations witnessed K01, and their interpretations would inevitably differ.

Of course, that was also part of my intention.

I knew that war with the Karua Empire would erupt in the future. I needed to showcase such weapons early to instill the perception that the Arwen Empire was not to be underestimated.

Yet, I couldn’t entirely dismiss Orland’s concerns.

Having power meant bearing responsibility.

To an outsider, the notion of a 15-year-old girl possessing such talent might be dismissed without much thought. But Orland, as my father, looked further ahead.

Understanding his meaning, I found myself smiling unconsciously.

I felt his genuine concern. His affection and attention toward me felt unfamiliar yet profoundly warm.

Surprised by my sudden smile, Orland looked puzzled, but I paid it no mind and conveyed what I wished to say.

“I’m glad you worry about me. But please don’t be concerned.”

“Do you have some plan in mind?”

“I’ve installed multiple locks on K01 to prevent misuse. I’m also consulting my master regarding this. If, in the future, K01 is produced through imperial or private transactions, I’ll absolutely consult you beforehand.”

At my words, Orland’s expression visibly eased.

Given that I outwardly appeared as a 15-year-old girl, he must have secretly worried I might recklessly deploy magical engineering weapons.

To further alleviate his concern, I spoke again in a firmer tone.

“This isn’t limited only to K01. Until I reach adulthood, I’ll consult you regarding every weapon I develop—please don’t trouble yourself.”

My response seemed precisely what Orland had hoped to hear.

His face brightened considerably as he nodded and smiled.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. That you consider K01 so formidable as to worry about me actually makes me a little happy, doesn’t it?”

“Yes. My worry overshadowed what I truly wanted to say.”

Orland raised his hand and gently stroked my head. Caught off guard by this unexpected gesture, I stared at him wide-eyed.

“I’m proud of you, my daughter.”

I’d received many compliments, but praise from Orland felt different.

It was as if a corner of my heart gently melted.

After finishing my conversation with Orland, with no remaining schedule, I headed toward my assigned lodging.

Today, unusually, many passersby noticed me and whispered among themselves.

“Look over there—that’s the young lady from House Brellof who developed the weapon called K01 at the arena earlier.”

“Its power was incredible—has anyone revealed exactly what kind of weapon it is?”

“No, details about K01 haven’t been officially disclosed yet. But didn’t all the festival officials faint from shock?”

Whereas previously they’d belittled me by comparing me to Noxia Brellof, now their primary interest clearly centered on K01, the weapon I’d developed.

I keenly sensed how people’s gazes and attitudes toward me had shifted.

Initially, I’d developed K01 to prevent war with the Karua Empire; later, to participate in the academic festival. Yet, as surrounding recognition grew, I felt strangely conflicted.

While lost in such solitary thoughts,

Plop—a small pebble flew and landed at my feet.

The timing and position were too precise to be coincidence, so instinctively I turned toward the direction from which the pebble came.

Immediately, a man entered my vision.

Flawless pale skin, flowing golden hair. What stood out was that half his face was covered by a mask—yet even the visible portion revealed features more beautiful than any woman’s.

Due to the mask, the most striking feature was his crimson eyes—deep red, blood-tinted irises reminiscent of a cat’s.

With such breathtaking beauty, he couldn’t possibly be an extra in .

I recognized him instantly.

Dekain Seed Igteon.

The secondary male protagonist destined to fall for Noxia Brellof in the future.

“…!”

I hadn’t expected to encounter him here—momentarily speechless, I simply stared blankly.

Dekain spoke first.

“Hello, you’re Tanashia of House Brellof, right?”

“Ah, uh. Yes.”

“I’m Dekain. Feel free to call me by name.”

The words “I know who you are” rose to my throat, but I merely nodded mechanically, like a broken machine.

Why was Dekain here?

Why approach me instead of Noxia Brellof?

Clearly, in the novel , Dekain and Noxia’s first meeting occurred when he threw a small pebble to halt her steps.

I couldn’t comprehend why the identical scenario now unfolded with me.

My mind raced rapidly. Already struggling with the twisted original plot, this sudden new development plunged me into utter confusion.

“I’ve heard about you. You developed a weapon called K01, right? People describe its power as extraordinary, praising it endlessly.”

I forcefully pushed aside my tangled, inexplicable thoughts.

What mattered was understanding Dekain’s character within .

Dekain was, in truth, the illegitimate son of the Lazent Emperor.

Though currently living as the adopted son of the Igteon Trading House, aware of his hidden lineage, he was a man of great ambition.

‘Yes, the Lazent Empire…’

In the future, after successfully experimenting with human weapons, the Karua Empire would wage war against the Arwen Empire—but in fact, the empire with the worst relations with Karua was none other than Lazent.

Relations between Karua and Lazent were at their worst, and since Arwen lay sandwiched between them, Karua’s invasion could reasonably be seen as inevitable.

A famous phrase surfaced in my mind.

‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend?’

My goal was to prevent the future war with the Karua Empire. Consequently, cooperation with the Lazent Empire was highly probable.

As I gazed at Dekain’s face, multiple thoughts floated through my mind.

Illegitimate son of the Lazent Emperor. Adopted son of the Igteon Trading House. Ambitious secondary male lead.

‘Yes, the reason he initially approached Noxia Brellof…’

I recalled a forgotten detail from the novel.

‘It was because he coveted her supernatural ability to manipulate water.’

Dekain, driven by ambition, intended to exploit Noxia. Thus, I could guess why he now approached me.

‘Because of K01 I created?’

Apparently, he now focused greater interest on my magical engineering weapon than on Noxia’s ability.

The original plot had changed again.

Truly, this was a development I’d never anticipated.

Human relationships proved too complex and intricate—I once again realized how difficult it was to deliberately alter situations to my liking.

“What are you thinking so deeply about?”

Dekain asked in a soft, gentle voice.

In the novel, he was likened to a flower—a beautiful bloom concealing sharp thorns.

Having read the novel, I’d always thought of him not as a flower, but as a venomous snake.

I had two choices.

Knowing Dekain’s hidden malice, I could ignore him and walk away.

Alternatively, I could pretend ignorance and exploit Dekain myself.

My deliberation didn’t last long. After all, how many people genuinely approach others with pure goodwill?

Everyone lived with their own purposes; Dekain sought friendships with exceptional talents to eventually become emperor.

I decided to engage with him.

“I was just thinking your mask is rather unusual.”

“Ah, this?”

Dekain chuckled, as if accustomed to such questions. He touched the mask he wore with one hand and continued.

“The Igteon Trading House conducts business with multiple nations, so wearing masks to protect personal safety and conceal identity is standard practice.”

I knew that.

But to hide my knowledge, I feigned ignorance and asked,

“So you can’t show your face to anyone?”

“No, only until you become an adult capable of protecting yourself. And you may show it to the woman you love—since she’ll become family anyway.”

I recalled the scene from where Dekain removed his mask before Noxia Brellof.

Unconsciously imagining that moment, I shook my head to dispel the thought.

I didn’t know how things would unfold between Dekain and Noxia, but for now, it was me conversing with him.

‘Fine, since the original plot’s already twisted, I’ll steer it however benefits me.’

My goal remained a happy ending.

Though this wasn’t the situation I’d envisioned, as the saying goes: if you can’t avoid it, enjoy it.

Halting my tangled thoughts, I looked at Dekain and smirked. Truthfully, this was something I’d considered since first reading .

“That’s kind of romantic.”

Showing one’s face only to the beloved woman—anyone who saw his face would inevitably feel their heart flutter.

Seeing my smile, a flicker of surprise lit Dekain’s crimson eyes.

“You’re smiling?”

“This isn’t exactly a moment to cry, is it?”

“No, it’s not that… you just look cuter smiling than I expected.”

His line was so stereotypically smooth that I laughed even more broadly than before.

Dekain belonged to an entirely different category from the stoic Ascan. Even if insincere, few women would find such words unpleasant.

“You think I’m cute? That’s… kind of refreshing.”

“You must hear that often, or not?”

His words were as sweet as honey on the tongue.

“No, not really. I’m not the cute type.”

“Then you’re…”

Dekain began to speak, but was interrupted.

Thud thud—accompanied by approaching footsteps, a low voice sounded.

“Young lady, have you been here?”

Turning at the familiar baritone, I saw Ascan. He must have been searching for me after I followed Orland.

Looking at Ascan’s unexpected appearance, I said,

“How did you know I was here? You found me pretty skillfully.”

“I grew concerned when you didn’t return for a long time.”

He stated his worry for me without hesitation—reflecting on it, my relationship with Ascan had changed considerably since we first met.

Ascan glanced once at Dekain with inscrutable golden eyes, then turned to me and continued in a slightly lowered voice.

“Lady Noxia is waiting for you in the lodging.”

“Really? I should head over quickly then.”

I immediately turned back to Dekain and spoke again.

“I’ll head to my lodging now. See you next time.”

“Alright, next time… may I call you Tanashia?”

I watched as Dekain swiftly closed the distance between us. Having no particular reason to refuse, I nodded.

“Fine.”

At my reply, Dekain smiled faintly.

Ascan, standing beside me, merely observed the exchange between Dekain and me, then silently turned toward the lodging’s direction—a wordless prompt to leave.

As I followed Ascan toward the lodging where Noxia awaited,

“…conquer… type…”

I faintly heard Dekain mutter behind me, though I couldn’t clearly discern his exact words.

Puzzled, I continued walking—when suddenly, his fragmented words clicked together like puzzle pieces.

─Right. Not cute—more like the type you want to conquer.

The moment his completed phrase flashed in my mind, I instinctively turned to look back at where he’d stood. But he’d already vanished.

The strange thing was…

Ascan, ahead of me, stared rigidly at the spot where Dekain had been, his expression hardened like stone.