One day, two days, a week…… a month.

The time without Ascan gradually grew longer.

I felt powerless.

I had tried every possible method to find Ascan, yet I could not even grasp a single clue — I had no choice but to realize just how weak I truly was.

‘Am I really capable of nothing but waiting?’

I begged Orland, borrowed the power of House Brellof……

For now, that was the best I could do — but the reality that I could do nothing beyond that filled me with disappointment.

I could not simply sit here, relying on others to find Ascan for me.

‘This won’t do.’

At first, it was purely for my own survival.

I had tried to prevent the war with Carlua Empire to avoid my death route — but now, I could no longer think so simplistically.

Perhaps, when I entered this novel’s world, my mindset had been somewhat carefree.

I knew many characters existing in this other world, and I could deduce their hidden secrets or predict future events.

Maybe, without even realizing it, I had grown arrogant — believing I could reshape the future however I wished.

But contrary to my intentions, the original plot was gradually changing. The moment I realized someone else might die because of me, my mind snapped into clarity.

This was not a game where you could restart if the story went off track.

Now, I was merely one person living here.

Just as past time could never return, my choices could alter many things — just as Tanashia of the original story and I, the current me, were now walking entirely different paths.

How should I put it? Realizing this painfully obvious truth suddenly filled me with fear.

‘What if something truly terrible happens to Ascan…… what then?’

By now, I keenly understood that events were no longer unfolding according to the novel I had read, .

In the original story, Ascan grew safely into adulthood — but now, how the story would diverge was completely unknown.

If Ascan were to die……

I would never see him again.

When my thoughts reached that point, a sharp pain surged through my chest as if my heart were being tightly squeezed — I unconsciously clutched at my chest.

“……That can’t happen. I won’t allow it.”

No matter what it took — even if it required endless time — I had to find Ascan.

I would not give up until I saw his body with my own eyes.

If I ever met Ascan again, I wanted to become strong enough that no one could ever threaten our lives again.

I would make sure no one dared to look down on me.

So powerful that Raguent Empire would never even dream of kidnapping me — so formidable that Carlua Empire would not dare take Ascan away……

I had to become stronger.

Only then could I protect those precious to me, without being swayed by those around me.

At first, it was purely for survival — but now, my thinking had changed.

I needed the strength to protect myself and those I cherished, no matter what dangers came.

I threw myself madly into magical engineering research, which I had neglected for a long time — all to create weapons only I could wield, weapons no one else would dare touch.

Knock, knock — the sound of someone rapping at my laboratory door made me turn my head. Barnen was standing by the door, watching me — I hadn’t even noticed when he’d arrived.

“What is it?”

My voice came out hoarse — I hadn’t spoken in so long.

Barnen stared at me with a complicated expression for a moment, then spoke in an unusually solemn, tightly restrained tone.

“I’ve heard about everything that’s happened. Did I come too late?”

“No. This has nothing to do with you, Master.”

“How can a master claim no responsibility for their disciple’s affairs? I authorized the trade with Igtheon Trading Company — I cannot say I bear no responsibility.”

“That was betrayal no one could have predicted. Even if we’d dealt with someone other than Igtheon Trading Company, they might have done the same thing.”

In a way, precisely because we traded with Igtheon Trading Company, Dekain noticed something amiss early and rushed to save me — perhaps that’s why I survived.

The crucial point was that I lacked the strength to protect my new magic stones.

To fully control what I developed according to my own will, I needed more than contractual stipulations — I needed power no one could challenge.

Barnen sighed softly and said,

“Tanashia, this is not your fault.”

“I know.”

“No, you don’t. It’s not your fault.”

Not my fault?

Perhaps it wasn’t my mistake — but this entire situation had unfolded entirely because of me.

I understood Barnen meant to comfort me — but right now, his words simply didn’t resonate.

I turned my head away from him and spoke in an even heavier tone.

“If you came only to say that, please leave. I’m busy.”

“Wait. I have something to show you — I think it’ll help.”

Before I could respond, Barnen strode into the laboratory and placed the magical engineering weapon he’d brought onto the table.

Surprised by his unexpected action, I asked with a puzzled expression,

“Why suddenly show me a magical engineering weapon?”

“I began researching this while you were traveling — I recently completed it. Seeing your new magic stone inspired me to attempt turning theoretical concepts into reality — and I succeeded.”

Barnen pulled a small knife from his pocket with a proud expression — then, without hesitation, sliced his own finger.

I could only silently watch his actions, utterly bewildered.

Drip, drip — his blood fell from his finger.

The instant those droplets touched the magical engineering weapon, the magical formulas inscribed on it — resembling mathematical equations — began glowing red and moving.

Startled by this unexpected transformation, I stared wide-eyed at Barnen.

“This is……”

“You know about the imprinting system — a locking mechanism to prevent others from casually using magical engineering weapons.”

“Yes. Of course I know.”

“The method of imprinting ownership by dripping the caster’s blood remains the same — but I’ve strengthened that imprinting system further.”

When Barnen grasped the magical engineering weapon, a resonant hum vibrated through the air.

The weapon’s reaction — as if recognizing its master — was utterly fascinating.

“By embedding my newly developed magical formula, once someone is imprinted as owner, they become the weapon’s eternal possessor. Resetting ownership is completely impossible.”

As Barnen said, this was a far more fortified imprinting system compared to the previous method, which allowed ownership transfer.

I found myself staring at the magical engineering weapon in Barnen’s hand — a sudden thought had flashed through my mind.

“So, Master, you mean……”

“Yes. You’ve probably guessed by now — if you modify the magical formula I created and engrave it onto your newly developed volcano stone, you could create a new magic stone usable only by you.”

Raguent Empire had tried to kidnap me precisely to learn how to create this new magic stone.

I had already resolved to keep the method of creating new magic stones utterly secret — and now, Barnen had coincidentally developed the perfect magical formula for exactly that purpose.

I looked at Barnen and faintly smiled — my first smile in a long while.

“Thank you, Master. This will be very helpful.”

“With my magical formula as your foundation, I’m sure you’ll create something even more splendid. Don’t push yourself too hard — take it slowly.”

Barnen glanced briefly at my laboratory, which was chaotically cluttered, but said nothing further and left the room.

And so, once again, I immersed myself in magical engineering research, forgetting whether it was day or night.

I barely slept, skipped meals constantly. If Ascan saw me now, he’d surely nag me endlessly.

Truthfully, I wanted to save even the time spent eating and sleeping — but humans simply cannot survive without minimal sleep and nourishment.

To avoid collapsing, I forced myself to eat whenever I found a spare moment.

Today, too, when I opened the laboratory door, I found Jerin had neatly arranged a meal outside.

I wolfed down the food without even tasting it — then suddenly noticed carrots mixed in.

─Do you dislike carrots?

Ever since Ascan learned I didn’t eat carrots, he’d always pick them out of my meals and eat them himself.

I’d thought I was growing accustomed to this life — but seeing carrots in my food now made my throat tighten as if by magic.

Back then, I’d thought nothing of it — but now, just seeing carrots brought Ascan to mind, making it even harder to eat.

It wasn’t just the carrots.

I could no longer drink the herbal tea he used to bring me so often.

─This is the herbal tea you like. I thought you’d want some around your usual time, so I brought it.

No one else brought me herbal tea like Ascan did — but somehow, I didn’t want to drink tea offered by anyone else.

As time passed, rather than filling the void left by Ascan, I increasingly realized — knowingly or unknowingly — just how much he had cared for me.

‘The stew is too cold……’

I hadn’t noticed before — why the food left outside my door had always been warm, as if freshly made.

Ascan had constantly gone back and forth to the kitchen, reheating meals — or stood by the door hugging the dishes to keep them warm.

His thoughtfulness, which I hadn’t appreciated then, now struck me with painful clarity — and my heart ached.

‘You’re alive…… right?’

I rubbed my hot, stinging eyes and forced the food into my mouth.

‘Just hold on a little longer. I will definitely save you.’

I had to eat — no matter the taste. To create weapons powerful enough that no one could harm me or those precious to me, I couldn’t afford to collapse now.

And so, before I knew it, the seasons changed.

Because I hadn’t stepped out of my laboratory even once, Orland, Noxia, Barnen, and Matela visited me frequently — but I never opened the door.

Bang, bang — today, too, someone pounded on my laboratory door.

“Tanashia, if you keep refusing to come out, I’ll have no choice but to break this door down.”

Just from that stern voice, I knew who it was — Orland.

But today was slightly different. Perhaps judging I truly couldn’t be left like this, Orland hadn’t come alone.

Soon after, Noxia’s delicate voice also reached me.

“Sister, please at least show us your face. We need to know how you’re doing to set our minds at ease.”

And it wasn’t just them.

“Marquis, let’s just break it down and go in. Who else can possibly break Tanashia’s stubbornness?”

“Oh dear, Uncle, please wait just a little longer — forcing it might backfire.”

It seemed Barnen and Matela had come too — each expressing their worry for me in their own way.

Inside the room, I surveyed all the magical engineering weapons I’d created so far.

I hadn’t yet reached my target quantity — but I’d developed many weapons during this time.

Now, I needed to research ancient languages and replenish materials for new weapons — I’d already planned to open the door and step out soon.

Seeing how deeply everyone worried for me, I didn’t want to cause them any more distress.

Creeeak—

I slowly opened the door — and found familiar, beloved faces gathered outside.

I forced a smile — but strangely, Orland, Noxia, Barnen, and Matela all looked deeply troubled upon seeing me.

Awkwardly smoothing my parched lips, I spoke first.

“Don’t worry about me. I’ve been doing fine.”

I meant to reassure them — but Noxia’s eyes gradually welled with tears, and she suddenly leapt forward, hugging me tightly.

“Sister—”

I stroked Noxia’s hair — it had been so long since I’d seen her — and replied,

“Yes. I’ve been fine?”

“What even is this state? You’ve lost so much weight, you’re pale — you look like you’ll collapse any moment.”

“Is that so?”

It had been too long since I’d looked in a mirror — I had no idea what I currently looked like.

I glanced at Orland, Barnen, and Matela — all stiff with worry — and swung the half-open door wide to show them inside.

“Come in. I actually wanted to show you something.”

For the first time, I was opening my laboratory to others.

The laboratory was practically filled to the brim with new magical engineering weapons — there was barely space to step inside.

Barnen looked around in shock, then spoke.

“You made all of this…… yourself?”

“Yes. I’m showing it to you for the first time. This is the K05 series — I’ve improved upon the flaws of the earlier K01.”

Externally similar to the K01, its power had been greatly enhanced — the series had now progressed all the way to K05.

But the room didn’t contain only K05s.

I’d also built cannons more powerful than rifles, grenades triggered by removing safety pins, machine guns capable of firing dozens of rounds at once.

Including weapons I hadn’t yet properly named, there were dozens of types.

Most drew inspiration from modern-era weapons — but in detail, they had completely transformed into weapons of this other world.

“Tanashia……”

Orland seemed too stunned to continue speaking — perhaps he’d even lost all words.

I looked in turn at Orland, Noxia, Barnen, and Matela — then pointed to the most important weapon among them.

It was the new magic stone.

Like before, it was still volcano stone infused with magical power — but now it was vastly reinforced, and crucially, usable only by me — no one else.

I’d drawn inspiration from Barnen’s magical formula and embedded a powerful locking mechanism directly into the volcano stone itself.

All these numerous weapons had been crafted specifically for this volcano stone — becoming the ultimate weapons, absolutely unusable without my permission.

“Now, no one will dare harm me or those precious to me.”

Raguent Empire had coveted the new magic stone to check Carlua Empire’s power — meaning that, if used wisely, magical engineering weapons could grant immense authority.

I no longer intended to remain merely a developer who created magical engineering weapons. I would become the continent’s greatest arms dealer.

With that power, I would find Ascan — and gain overwhelming strength.

Not long after, when I revealed my newly created volcano stone to the world, it received a new name.

An entity completely distinct from naturally formed magic stones.

It was called — Magic Stone.