Given the circumstances that made it impossible for us to remain in the Calua Empire, and with all routes to the Arwen Empire blocked, we had no choice but to head toward the Lazent Empire.

It was a fallback option, but even this path was far from easy.

According to the map, the Arwen Empire lay directly between the Calua Empire and the Lazent Empire. Distance-wise, reaching the Lazent Empire from here was considerably farther.

Moreover, Bill had not only completely banned travel to the Arwen Empire but also strictly inspected anyone attempting to leave for other empires.

Everyone was deep in thought about how to proceed, caught in a moment of collective hesitation.

Ascan spoke up.

“Let’s take a ship.”

Traveling by sea would be safer, but since a ship was a confined space, the risk of being discovered and falling into danger was also high.

Zen opened her mouth with a troubled expression.

“Won’t it be difficult to find a safe ship large enough for all of us?”

I couldn’t speak due to the paralyzing poison, but I agreed with her.

Our group was not small. Including me, Ascan, Zen, Carlton, and the royal guards, we numbered well over ten.

Ascan replied with a perfectly calm expression.

“Don’t worry. I have a warship capable of reaching the Lazent Empire.”

Huh? He owned a warship?

I stared at Ascan with startled eyes. I had guessed he’d prepared extensively for his goal of world destruction, but this exceeded my imagination.

Even Carlton, looking flustered, asked again.

“Did you really own a warship, Commander?”

Instead of answering, Ascan gave a brief nod. Then he turned to the coachman who had driven the carriage bearing the Dark Guild’s insignia.

“Contact the Adel Trading Company and deliver my message.”

“Yes, Master.”

Ascan removed a ruby ring from his finger and handed it to the coachman.

“Show them this ring and tell them to prepare a warship bound for the Lazent Empire—they’ll obey.”

“Understood.”

The coachman bowed deeply and immediately vanished with the ring, seemingly heading straight for the Adel Trading Company.

What? What exactly was the significance of that ring?

I continued staring at Ascan with puzzled eyes. Sensing my desire for an explanation, he looked at me and spoke.

“I secretly operated a trading company. I needed information from every nation. I shared intelligence with Bill, but never revealed the source, so he remains unaware of its origin.”

Good heavens…

I knew of the Adel Trading Company myself.

It was counted among the three largest trading companies in the Calua Empire—meaning Ascan was its true owner.

I wanted to ask for precise details, but the paralyzing poison rendered me mute, leaving me to silently seethe with frustration.

Carlton, on my behalf, spoke with an expression of disbelief.

“Surely… you don’t mean you’re the owner of the Adel Trading Company, Commander?”

“Correct. I didn’t anticipate this situation, but I suppose I should consider myself fortunate.”

What on earth is this man?

Knowing the original plot had been altered, I never arrogantly assumed my novel knowledge was sufficient. But the more I learned about Ascan, the more astonished I became.

My emotions must have shown on my face, because Ascan looked at me and smiled faintly.

“I can guess what you want to say just from your expression. Bear with the discomfort a little longer. The moment we arrive in the Lazent Empire, I’ll find an antidote for the paralyzing poison first.”

True to his word, I now had countless questions about Ascan’s true identity.

‘Just how many hidden identities does he have?’

Initially, I thought he was merely the Royal Guard Commander and Count Atreias. Even that alone was impressive—but now he was also revealed as the Dark Guild’s leader and operator of the Adel Trading Company…

He certainly had a talent for surprising people.

The problem was, the persona he was showing us now might not even be the final one.

Thanks to the Adel Trading Company’s warship, we safely escaped the Calua Empire.

Though I didn’t know its intended purpose, a hidden compartment beneath the deck allowed us to evade even the most thorough inspections.

After several days of sailing, the effects of the paralyzing poison began to gradually fade.

First, I regained the ability to move my fingers; soon after, I could produce sound.

“Ahh… aah.”

My own voice felt strange after so long, but I was overjoyed—after being mute for so long, I could finally speak again.

Jelin and the members of the Brellof family had not accompanied us. Since the Calua Empire was hunting specifically for me and Ascan, staying together would only increase danger, so we parted ways.

Changing clothes and similar tasks were assisted by female crew members, but overall care was personally provided by Ascan.

Ascan, who heard my voice first from beside me, said with a bright expression,

“So you can speak now?”

“U-uh. It’s still a bit uncomfortable, but yes, I can talk.”

The paralysis hadn’t fully worn off, so my speech was slightly slower than before—but communicating intent posed no problem.

“That’s good to hear. Still, just in case lingering side effects remain, we’ll get you the antidote as soon as we reach the Lazent Empire.”

“Thank you for looking out for me. I’ve wanted to thank you for a while, but only now can I say it.”

I expected Ascan to respond by demanding interest on my gratitude, as he usually would. Unexpectedly, he merely smiled bitterly and fell silent.

Sensing the strange atmosphere, I asked with a puzzled expression,

“What’s wrong?”

“…I don’t feel I deserve to hear ‘thank you’ from you.”

“What are you talking about?”

Ascan had abandoned much to rescue me from being forcibly married to Helsion. How could he say he didn’t deserve gratitude?

Staring blankly at me, clearly confused, Ascan answered softly.

“…I could have killed the Emperor, but I didn’t. Considering what he did to you, he deserves to die a thousand times over—but for me, there are reasons the Emperor must remain alive.”

Now that I thought about it, it had seemed a little odd—but I hadn’t paid it much mind.

I looked at Ascan with a questioning expression.

“Reasons like…?”

“I’ve been secretly planning something with Bill. If the Emperor dies, it all becomes meaningless. I can’t reveal everything right now, but someday I’ll honestly tell you everything.”

Only then did I understand.

I’d already suspected Ascan didn’t truly pledge loyalty to Helsion—he’d swapped and stolen the Calspeliver artifact, after all.

Clearly, there was a reason he helped make Helsion Emperor.

‘It must be related to world destruction.’

Perhaps he planned to use the Calua Empire to incite war.

Given the Calua Empire’s strength, it made sense: eliminate surrounding nations first, then engineer its self-destruction.

If I were in his position, I’d certainly orchestrate things exactly that way.

Once again, I felt clearly that Ascan had not abandoned his goal of world destruction.

If Helsion died, the imperial throne would become vacant, inevitably plunging the empire into civil war again.

If Ascan’s plan involved using the Calua Empire to ignite war, such a development would be unfavorable—civil war would weaken national strength and increase the likelihood of avoiding war.

Seeing me silently lost in thought, Ascan spoke with a somber expression.

“If you blame me for not killing the Emperor, I’ll accept it willingly. It may sound like an excuse, but I had no choice due to my own circumstances.”

I already knew, even without him saying it.

Though the original plot had changed, in the novel, Ascan had made a promise to the dead children of the laboratory: he would absolutely exact revenge for them.

I understood why, despite rescuing me, he couldn’t bring himself to kill Helsion. Even I wouldn’t have broken such a blood-soaked vow.

Ascan continued in an even lower voice.

“But next time we meet, I will kill him with my own hands.”

Suddenly, I recalled his final words to Helsion.

─I’ll say it again: next time we meet, you will die by my hand.

Only now did I fully understand why Ascan had said that.

I chuckled lightly and cupped Ascan’s gloomy-looking face in my hands. He stared at me with puzzled eyes.

“Don’t say such foolish things. I should be grateful just for being rescued—blaming you for not killing the Emperor is ridiculous.”

Ascan’s eyes widened—he clearly hadn’t expected such a response from me.

I was flabbergasted. He’d abandoned everything he’d built in the Calua Empire to save me—yet he’d actually been carrying guilt over not killing Helsion?

He’d also fractured his brother-like bond with Bill because of this incident. To get angry at him for sparing Helsion would be the height of ingratitude.

I laughed incredulously and continued.

“Just how do you see me, to say something like that? Besides, I might kill the Emperor myself before you even get the chance.”

Thinking back to how I’d been trapped helplessly in the imperial palace, caught in Helsion’s schemes, made me so furious I trembled.

If Ascan had killed Helsion on the spot, I’d have lost my chance for revenge—but by letting him live, I now had a future opportunity to settle the score.

I’d repay every humiliation I suffered, with interest.

Ascan laughed, his eyes softening as if he couldn’t help himself.

“No wonder I can’t resist you or walk away.”

Huh?

I hadn’t expected such a response when I’d talked about wanting to kill Helsion.

I looked at Ascan with a flustered expression.

“What? Do you like tough girls?”

“No. I like you.”

I was still cupping Ascan’s cheek in my hand. He tilted his head slightly and kissed my forehead.

Wha—wha—what?

It happened so suddenly I had no time to react.

Because I was holding his face, I vividly felt his approach—it almost felt like I’d personally guided him.

The unexpected physical contact instantly flushed my face with heat.

“G-give me a warning next time! You startled me.”

“Wasn’t the atmosphere obvious to anyone?”

What atmosphere?

Blinking cluelessly, I prompted Ascan to continue softly, smiling playfully.

“The atmosphere where you’re so adorable I could die.”

Somehow, hearing those words made my face burn even hotter.

I coughed awkwardly and gently touched my forehead, where his lips had just been.

“Ahem. Have you thought about what we’ll do after arriving in the Lazent Empire?”

I’d changed the subject out of embarrassment, but it was something I’d genuinely wondered about.

Sensing my awkwardness, Ascan smoothly let it pass.

“Forsaking the Calua Empire won’t change anything. I have a goal I want to achieve—I must keep moving toward it.”

Knowing that goal was world destruction, I was momentarily speechless.

I didn’t want to stop Ascan’s revenge—but I hoped to guide him toward a righteous path that wouldn’t sacrifice innocent lives.

Since I couldn’t change his mind immediately, I set aside the unanswerable dilemma and raised another persistent concern.

“What about the Deputy Commander… what do you plan to do?”

In the original novel, Ascan and Bill moved as one heart and mind. But with the plot altered and their relationship fractured, predicting future developments was impossible.

Ascan’s expression darkened—he too had clearly been troubled by this.

“I plan to meet him in person and talk it out. Our thoughts diverged for now, but I believe conversation can resolve it.”

It was clear he hadn’t yet abandoned hope regarding Bill.

I understood. In a situation where laboratory survivors were rare, they’d relied on each other until now—it wasn’t something you could abandon overnight.

I nodded firmly and said,

“You’re right. Since this situation arose because of me, if there’s anything I can do to help mend your relationship with the Deputy Commander, I’ll jump in with both feet.”

Ascan’s eyes curved warmly with affection. His smile, always wide-eyed and beautiful, never failed to charm.

“Just hearing that gives me strength.”

Suddenly, I sensed a similar atmosphere to when Ascan had kissed my forehead moments ago.

According to him, it was the atmosphere where I was so lovable he could die.

My heart fluttered—I hurriedly stood up, feeling embarrassingly as if my entire body might melt away.

“I should go tell the others I’m feeling better… ah!”

I’d assumed my upper body was fine since the paralysis had faded—but when I tried to move my legs, they stubbornly refused to obey.

As I nearly lost balance and fell, Ascan swiftly caught me.

“Be more careful. What if you get hurt?”

“Ah, right. I guess my legs haven’t fully recovered yet.”

I looked up at Ascan with an embarrassed expression—but then realized we were standing much closer than I’d thought.

In that instant, I felt heat gathering in Ascan’s eyes.

In the blink of an eye, his face drew right up to mine. His hot breath and piercing gaze felt overwhelmingly vivid.

“Didn’t you just ask me to give you warning?”

His voice, now even deeper, was dangerously seductive.

“Listen carefully. Wrap your arms around my neck.”

…What?

Before I could respond, Ascan’s hot lips met mine.

It was a kiss brimming with desire, desperate and urgent. As my breath grew short and my body weakened, I obeyed his words and wrapped my arms around his neck.

Just as my mind began to drift pleasantly, I thought I heard Carlton’s voice near my ear.

“Commander, I have a report to…!”

Bang!

Ascan kicked the cabin door shut with his foot while holding me tightly in both arms. His aura clearly warned: anyone who interrupted would not be spared.

Still locked in a deep kiss, he swept documents off the table with one hand and sat me down atop it.

This left me looking down at him.

Ascan exhaled raggedly, gazing up at me. His eyes, burning with longing, flickered like flames.

“Tanashia, my thirst for you never quenches.”

Seeing a man express his desire for me so completely with his entire being, I couldn’t help but smile.

“Well then, I’ll take responsibility.”

At my words, Ascan frowned slightly and laughed. He kissed me again and whispered softly,

“Keep that promise.”