Helsion declared war.

The Kalua Empire, which had secretly prepared for war for a long time, had instantly completed all preparations to invade the Arwen Empire.

It was the moment Bill had been waiting for. His plan was to let the Kalua Empire devour all other empires, then collapse on its own in the end.

Clearly, everything was unfolding exactly as he had wished—yet for some reason, he felt no joy at all.

—Captain of the Royal Guard, did you hear? His Majesty executed the traitor. That man must have been your enemy too—you can finally sleep soundly now.

Bill was in a state of panic upon hearing of Ascan’s death immediately after returning to the Kalua Empire.

Until just recently, he had been in the Arwen Empire with Barnen. And after the mana stone control device was completed, he had been sent back ahead to the Kalua Empire.

Of course, he knew. Since Tanashia’s magical engineering weapons had become useless, it was only logical they would eliminate both of them.

But without Bill realizing it……

He never expected Ascan would die.

‘Could it really be true…… that my brother is dead?’

He couldn’t believe it—Ascan, who had always seemed impossible to kill no matter what Bill did. It felt even less real because there was no body to confirm.

His heart felt strange. As if he had been abruptly left alone in the entire world.

‘Is this feeling because I couldn’t kill him with my own hands?’

Bill couldn’t understand his own state of mind.

Until hearing of Ascan’s death, he had fully intended to move personally and kill him himself.

From the very beginning, he had even raised the second-generation children with the purpose of eliminating Ascan. Now that the magical engineering weapons had been rendered useless, he thought only the attack remained……

‘Could my brother really have died so pointlessly?’

Somehow, it didn’t feel real. Perhaps that was why Ascan’s old words kept echoing in his head.

—Bill, I’ve never once considered giving up on revenge. I never will.

A lie.

—I mean every word. I’ll never abandon you or the lab children. Since I was already planning to step down as Captain of the Royal Guard and monitor other empires, I’ll rescue Tanashia and start by investigating the Arwen Empire.

……A lie.

—Trust me and wait. I’ll rescue Tanashia and ensure our revenge succeeds.

All of it was clearly lies meant to deceive Bill.

Ascan had become infatuated with Tanashia and neglected revenge. If left alone, Bill would have been the one abandoned first.

Bill had simply abandoned him first—he couldn’t stand by and watch the revenge he had dreamed of for so long dissolve into nothing.

But…….

It was clearly like that……

‘What is this emptiness, exactly?’

His chest felt hollow. Ironically, the thought that he would never see Ascan again caused part of his heart to collapse.

Regardless of Bill’s emotional state, the Kalua Empire steadily progressed with the war. Moreover, Helsion welcomed Bill—returned to the homeland—more warmly than anyone else.

Naturally. The mana stone control device Bill had planned had worked successfully, allowing them to eliminate both Ascan and Tanashia.

Even now, Bill was walking through the banquet hall to attend the welcome party Helsion had arranged for him.

Thud. Thud—

He arrived late, so the hall was already filled with many people. Yet not a single person blocked his path.

Everyone stepped aside, clearing a path for him to walk through.

Thus, Bill arrived before the throne where Helsion sat. He bowed respectfully and spoke.

“I humbly greet Your Imperial Majesty. I am deeply grateful for arranging such an occasion.”

“Haha, finally, the protagonist arrives! You’ve endured much hardship in the Arwen Empire. After we win this war, I promise I’ll reward you handsomely for your contributions.”

Helsion, in good spirits, let out a hearty laugh.

Truthfully, Carter, his closest confidant and First Knight Commander, had died while traveling to the Lajent Empire to eliminate Tanashia—so Helsion needed a trustworthy subordinate to fill that position.

Bill, not only capable but also having proven his loyalty by eliminating Ascan, naturally earned Helsion’s trust.

“Bill, your role in this war is crucial. I’m counting on the human weapons’ performance.”

“I won’t disappoint you. However…… I assumed you’d entrust me with executing the traitor, yet you’ve already acted.”

Mentioning Ascan, Bill’s eyes glinted coldly for an instant.

No one knew, but the person Bill hated most in the world was none other than Helsion.

Helsion had driven countless human weapon test subjects to their deaths. In a way, the depth of resentment toward him was precisely why Bill and Ascan’s relationship had fractured.

Helsion replied dismissively.

“I couldn’t wait to eliminate him as soon as possible. The outcome turned out well, so what does it matter? Ah, did you want to kill him yourself?”

Bill nearly snapped—but concealed the dagger in his heart and smiled. Now was not the time to bare his claws.

“Yes. I regret not being able to execute him myself. But if you entrust this war to me, I shall deliver the Arwen Empire to Your Majesty.”

“Kukuk. Good.”

Clueless, Helsion laughed heartily. Bill merely watched him with dark eyes.

The words Bill spoke aloud sounded utterly loyal—but his true thoughts were different.

‘Laugh as much as you want now. I’ll be watching as that face crumbles later.’

Bill truly intended to bring Helsion many victories. Then, at the very moment Helsion believed he had achieved everything, Bill would utterly destroy him.

Though he had to personally conduct the human weapon experiments, he had not forgotten his blood-soaked revenge. He was merely enduring, waiting to repay them double for what they had done.

‘……I’ll avenge you too, brother.’

And now, he had one more reason to take revenge on Helsion.

The Arwen Empire was thrown into chaos.

The provocation of the Kalua Empire, which had unilaterally declared war, had begun. Daily, battle reports flooded in from the borders—all ending in consecutive crushing defeats.

Above all, no one could withstand the second-generation children led by Bill.

Flames that never extinguished, bodies that could turn to steel.

It was as if they were facing dozens of Ascans. Just as in the original , the Arwen Empire lacked the power to stop them.

Rohel and Noxia, who had recently married and set off on their honeymoon, returned midway. With war breaking out against the Kalua Empire, continuing their journey was impossible.

Lucellion, Emperor of the Arwen Empire, consulted day and night with his ministers but could find no way to avoid war with the Kalua Empire.

At this rate, Arwen Empire’s defeat in the war against Kalua was as obvious as seeing fire.

After deep contemplation, Lucellion summoned Rohel and Noxia separately in the middle of the night—to say words he couldn’t bring himself to speak before others.

“What if we beg the Kalua Empire to halt the war by offering them part of our territory?”

He had a timid nature. Thus, facing war with the Kalua Empire, fear clouded his rational judgment.

Rohel answered firmly, as if the suggestion were absurd.

“That’s unacceptable. Even in the worst case, if defeat is inevitable, we must still stand and fight.”

Even if Arwen offered territory, the Kalua Empire would not stop the war. Why settle for a portion when they could seize everything?

The more passively Arwen responded, the more its morale would crumble.

But Lucellion heard none of it.

“What’s the point of trying your best when it’s a lost battle anyway!”

In truth, Lucellion had already anticipated defeat even before any results appeared.

No one truly believed the Arwen Empire could defeat the Kalua Empire. Everyone secretly thought the same—if war broke out, Kalua would win.

Rohel spoke with a frustrated expression.

“You must remain calm, especially now. If the royal family acts disgracefully, the people will resent us—and then even the slightest possibility will vanish entirely.”

“Who can’t recite such rigid, textbook phrases?”

“Your Majesty, please just hear me out……”

“Enough. I don’t feel like arguing with you in this situation.”

Lucellion turned his gaze to Noxia, standing beside Rohel. He had summoned them together because he wanted to ask her something separately.

“Crown Princess, what is the Brellof family doing? I heard your elder sister vanished while traveling—is she still missing?”

“……Yes. My sister has gone missing, and we’re still searching for her.”

For Noxia, it was like a bolt from the blue.

During her long-awaited honeymoon, she received horrifying news.

One, that war might break out with the Kalua Empire. Two, that Tanashia, who had set off on a journey, had disappeared.

Through the pirate group Theran, they learned the small island where Tanashia and Ascan had been traveling had turned into a sea of fire.

Since Tanashia’s death hadn’t been confirmed, they called it a disappearance—but everyone knew her chances of survival were slim.

The evidence of a massive, targeted attack was too clear—it was nearly impossible to imagine the two had escaped the island.

To Noxia, recent events felt unreal. When they had happily parted after the wedding, she never imagined such things could happen.

That Tanashia might be dead……

If not for her position as Crown Princess, she would have set out to search herself long ago. But seated in such a weighty role, she simply couldn’t.

Noxia’s face, worn thin from worry, no longer resembled that of a newlywed bride.

Lucellion sighed deeply and spoke.

“The Brellof young lady is precisely the talent we need in such times—this is truly disastrous. In any case, the Brellof family must take the lead in this war.”

Lucellion’s expectations were natural. The Brellof family was not only one of Arwen Empire’s representative noble houses but also possessed many of Tanashia’s magical engineering weapons.

But it was not the right thing to say before Noxia, who was worried about her family’s survival.

Rohel frowned, displeased. Lucellion, preoccupied with Arwen’s future, had failed to consider Noxia’s feelings.

Just as Rohel could no longer hold back and was about to speak, Noxia gently grasped his sleeve. She shook her head slightly, signaling him not to intervene.

“Your Majesty, please don’t trouble yourself. My father said he will participate in this war. I also don’t intend to stand idly by.”

Since one of the enemies linked to Charles’s death was the Kalua Empire, the Brellof family had already made full preparations.

With Tanashia gone, Orland now held ownership of the magical engineering weapons—and had decided to deploy every weapon they possessed in this war.

Moreover, Noxia herself was a powerful hydrokinetic esper, and intended to join the war to lend her strength.

They still didn’t know. The fact that the Kalua Empire had developed the mana stone control device.

If they used Tanashia’s magical engineering weapons in this war as planned, nothing would function—and they would suffer an even greater defeat.

Lucellion spoke with a relieved expression.

“That’s fortunate. Hearing your words, I feel much more at ease.”

“No, it’s late—please rest soon, Your Majesty.”

“Yes. I was too flustered—I summoned you at such a late hour. Go back and rest now.”

“Yes. We’ll take our leave.”

Thus, after calming the anxious Lucellion, Rohel and Noxia left the imperial palace.

On their way back, Rohel looked at Noxia with an apologetic expression.

“Let me apologize on his behalf. With Lady Brellof’s fate uncertain, your heart must already ache—and to burden you further is truly shameful.”

Noxia shook her head.

It was true Lucellion’s words lacked consideration—but since the Arwen Empire was in danger, she couldn’t say she didn’t understand at all.

Moreover, as Crown Princess, Noxia also felt responsible for safeguarding Arwen’s future and the people’s well-being.

“No. I know His Majesty didn’t speak with ill intent. He’s simply too anxious over the war to notice other matters clearly.”

At Noxia’s considerate words, Rohel smiled helplessly. He was deeply grateful—she understood, even when resentment would have been natural.

“I can’t tell you how fortunate I am to have you by my side. Even in this situation, your presence gives me strength.”

Rohel took Noxia’s hand as they walked side by side. In this moment, holding hands, they could briefly forget the worries of their dark future.

Noxia smiled back at Rohel, then suddenly looked up at the dark night sky.

Gazing at the pitch-black heavens, she thought of Tanashia—perhaps because her glossy black hair resembled the night sky.

“Though many signs point grimly, I have a feeling my sister is still alive.”

There was no particular reason. Just Noxia’s intuition. After all, they were twins.

If Tanashia had died, Noxia felt she would somehow sense it. But sensing nothing gave her a vague hope that Tanashia still lived.

Of course, perhaps Noxia was just thinking optimistically. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that Tanashia might appear at any moment, smiling.

“I hope everyone can overcome this hardship well.”

Looking up at the dark night sky, Noxia prayed for Tanashia’s safety and a bright future for the Arwen Empire.