The commander of the Kalua Empire was Bill.

Bill moved to the border, overseeing large and small battles, leading the war.

Unexpectedly, the Arwen Empire, which had always been losing, was the first to mobilate a large-scale force.

Given that the tide of war currently favored the Kalua Empire, everyone assumed the weaker Arwen Empire would respond passively—so this move came as a surprise.

‘Do they still not know that Lady Brellof’s magitech weapons have become useless? Is this their last desperate struggle?’

Anyone would naturally think so. But for some reason, he felt uneasy. Things were proceeding too smoothly.

‘I must be cautious. Victory is right before us, so I must be even more vigilant.’

Bill intended to mobilize spies hidden within the Arwen Empire once more, to double-check whether he had overlooked anything.

But someone stood in his way.

“Hahaha, if the foolish Arwen Empire wants to be moths flying into the flame, why refuse them? We should gladly welcome them.”

Flap—without warning, Helsion strode into the command tent, where the strategy meeting was in full swing.

Beside him stood Luphilmo, Duke of Manoko and father of Empress Seruna.

Bill, surprised that Helsion himself had appeared at the border, stood up abruptly and hurriedly bowed.

“Your Majesty, what brings you to this place…?”

“Victory is within sight—I came to witness the finale of the war with my own eyes.”

The mere presence of Emperor Helsion on the battlefield would tremendously boost the soldiers’ morale. It signaled his absolute confidence in victory.

But it also placed him in potential danger, so Bill spoke with a conflicted expression.

“The battlefield is perilous. I fear for Your Majesty’s safety.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t personally engage in combat.”

Helsion had trained in swordsmanship since childhood and possessed considerable skill—before he lost an arm to Ascan.

In the past, he might have commanded the battlefield directly, but now it was impossible. Perhaps that was precisely why he wanted to come.

Because Helsion’s body would never again step onto the battlefield.

“They say the Arwen Empire armed itself with weapons crafted by Lady Brellof. I want to see with my own eyes how they despair when those weapons fail on the battlefield. Later, I’ll buy every last one of those abandoned weapons and toast to our triumph.”

Helsion’s goal did not end with invading the Arwen Empire.

This war was merely the beginning. From here, the Kalua Empire would embark on conquering the entire continent.

And crushing the Arwen Empire held special meaning—more than any other place. It reminded him of Ascan and Tanashia, who had betrayed him, making him want to trample it even harder.

Bill could not oppose Helsion’s resolute will.

He lowered his head and spoke.

“Everything shall proceed according to Your Majesty’s will.”

Though Bill’s cautious nature made him want to double-check, the probability of the Kalua Empire losing the war was extremely slim.

Moreover, the second-generation children he had raised were powerful. Even if Tanashia returned alive, he was confident they would not be outmatched.

Thus, Bill decided not to evade the Arwen Empire’s large-scale force, but to confront them head-on.

The decisive, empire-shaking war had begun.

I arrived at the battlefield alongside Rohel.

The Kalua Empire’s forces encircling Arwen’s borders looked overwhelmingly intimidating at a glance.

Though visibly outnumbered, victory wasn’t impossible—we had brought countless magitech weapons with us.

I installed large-scale weapons capable of firing toward enemy lines at strategic positions, and distributed K39s, K40s, and small bombs to the soldiers.

Some people looked at me curiously as I personally led the magitech weapons from the front, but I dismissed it lightly.

After all, Noxia was a member of the Brellof family—and my sister. The atmosphere assumed she naturally knew more about magitech weapons than anyone else.

It worked to my advantage.

Thus, the calm before the storm passed.

We launched a preemptive strike against the Kalua Empire, as planned.

Rohel, as Arwen’s supreme commander, directed the soldiers, while I provided support from the rear with magitech weapons.

As expected, the overconfident Kalua Empire did not retreat despite our assault—they fought back fiercely.

At first, we seemed overwhelmed by the valiant Kalua forces, but the tide turned as soon as my magitech weapons entered the fray.

BOOOOM!

Bombs launched from magitech weapons swept through the enemy ranks.

The Kalua forces, as if waiting for this moment, activated massive devices spinning like propellers from all directions.

I recognized them instantly.

‘That’s it.’

Devices designed to interfere with mana stone locks, preventing mana from forming.

As soon as the mana stone control devices activated, my magitech weapons lost power—as if by magic.

Panicked voices from soldiers aiming weapons at the Kalua Empire rang out.

“We’re in trouble! The magitech weapons have stopped working!”

“Same here!”

“Us too!”

Though I couldn’t see him, I imagined Helsion smiling triumphantly.

I quickly signaled Orland, who was waiting at a distance. Orland immediately ordered soldiers to uncover devices hidden beneath cloth.

This was the first time my newly designed counter-device against mana stone controllers was revealed.

Orland shouted loudly.

“Activate them all!”

Under his command, the newly developed devices stirred to life, glowing with light.

WHHHHRRRR!

As the new devices activated, the mana stone controllers failed to function properly.

Magitech weapons, momentarily disabled, began working again—mana gathered in the stones despite the controllers’ interference.

“The weapons are back to normal!”

“They’re operational!”

“Just give the order—we’ll fire immediately!”

Unlike moments before, hopeful voices now echoed from all directions.

Helsion and the Kalua forces didn’t know it, but we had already fully prepared to counter their mana stone controllers.

I gazed at the raging battlefield and shouted.

“Fire!”

The moment my command fell, countless bombs launched from magitech weapons.

Though numerically superior, the Kalua Empire’s advantage rapidly narrowed due to our superior magitech weapons.

The Kalua forces seemed to realize something had gone wrong—they concentrated their attacks on my installed magitech weapons.

“Destroy Arwen’s magitech weapons! Without them, they’re nothing!”

It was a swift judgment—even if they were enemies.

Bombs launched by the Kalua Empire rained down upon my magitech installations. Intense bombardment began.

I, standing nearby, inevitably suffered from the blasts.

Staggering from the explosion’s shockwave, I saw Orland, watching from afar, move toward me with a worried expression.

I raised my hand to signal I was fine, then shouted to the soldiers.

“We must also focus our attacks on their magitech weapons!”

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

Magitech weapons played a crucial role in war—national strength often depended on how many such weapons one possessed.

We couldn’t just watch as the Kalua forces targeted our weapons. Destroying even one of theirs would give us an advantage.

Thus began a battle focused on destroying each other’s magitech weapons.

But I was confident. My magitech weapons were the finest—they wouldn’t be outmatched by anything the Kalua Empire possessed.

The problem? It seemed they’d realized that too.

Spies hidden within Arwen’s ranks drew concealed weapons and ambushed soldiers operating magitech devices.

Though few in number, each spy was exceptionally skilled—instantly, our soldiers fell bleeding to the ground.

Orland, arriving late, sprinted toward me with a shocked expression, shouting loudly.

“Tanashia!”

It was a slip that could reveal my true identity disguised as Noxia—but fortunately, or unfortunately, the urgency of the situation meant no one paid attention to his cry.

The real problem? The spies’ blades were now flying straight toward me.

If I were truly Noxia, I’d have used water abilities to block their attacks—but I was Tanashia, not Noxia.

CLANK! CLANK!

I’d already prepared for various scenarios before stepping onto the battlefield.

The red armor I wore was specially crafted—beads attached to the gauntlets shot forward, instantly releasing thick white smoke that obscured all vision.

I’d developed it precisely for moments like this, to blind enemies in emergencies.

WHOOOOOSH—

Just as the spies lost track of my position—

I swiftly dodged sideways, drew the K39 slung diagonally across my back, and sniped the spies lunging at me.

BANG! BANG!

With my marksmanship, the spies fell helplessly.

As the hazy smoke slightly cleared and my silhouette faintly emerged, the surviving spies stared at me, eyes wide.

“Lady Brellof?”

“Lady Brellof is alive!”

“We must report to headquarters immediately!”

Was it because of Orland shouting my name moments ago?

Or because I wielded magitech weapons skillfully, not water abilities?

The enemy realized my identity and intensified their attacks. Some even turned to flee and alert the Kalua Empire.

Regardless, now that my identity was exposed, I couldn’t let any of them escape.

I continued firing at the spies with my K39, shouting to Arwen soldiers.

“Don’t let anyone escape!”

At my command, nearby Arwen soldiers hurriedly blocked the spies.

A fierce battle erupted momentarily, but since this was our territory, we fortunately captured every last spy.

As the hazy smoke fully dissipated, surrounding Arwen soldiers stared at me, uniformly astonished.

I could only gaze back at them with puzzled eyes.

‘…What’s going on?’

Briefly flustered by their inexplicable stares—

“It’s not Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess—it’s Lady Brellof!”

“Lady Brellof is fighting alongside us!”

“WOOOOAH!”

An enormous cheer erupted from the soldiers.

Only then did I realize my silver wig had fallen off while dodging the spies’ attacks.

“Oh…”

I saw the silver wig on the ground and my black hair cascading over my shoulders.

Though my identity was unintentionally revealed, the war was already progressing according to our plan—and all witnesses had been captured.

Orland, arriving belatedly, panted heavily as he asked,

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“No. I’m fine.”

I answered while gazing at the raging battlefield.

Just then, I spotted reinforcements approaching from afar, waving the flag of the Lajent Empire—Dekain had sent support troops as promised.

We’d exploited the Kalua Empire’s complacency with a preemptive strike, and with superior magitech weapons plus Lajent’s reinforcements, we overcame our numerical disadvantage.

Now, only one thing remained.

Stopping the second-generation children led by Bill.

Unconsciously, I scanned the countless soldiers, searching for Ascan. He must have already arrived somewhere nearby.

‘He’d better be safe…’

I trusted Ascan more than anyone—but that didn’t mean I wasn’t worried.

In this war, I had my role, and Ascan had his.

My duty was to confront the Kalua forces with magitech weapons; his was to stop Bill and the second-generation children.

We each had our tasks, so neither could leave our posts—but the best way I could help Ascan, even a little, was to crush the Kalua forces as thoroughly as possible.

With sharp, gleaming eyes fixed on the fierce battlefield, I instructed soldiers aiming magitech weapons.

“Keep targeting the enemy’s magitech weapons. The more of their weapons we destroy, the greater our advantage.”

“Yes, understood!”

The soldiers replied in loud, resolute voices.

Somehow, since my true identity as Tanashia was revealed, the soldiers’ morale seemed even higher than when I was disguised as Noxia.

Perhaps knowing the continent’s greatest arms dealer was fighting alongside them filled them all with courage.

At that moment, a soldier some distance away called for help.

“This weapon isn’t working!”

Apparently, a magitech weapon had been damaged during the spies’ earlier ambush.

I quickly moved to repair the broken magitech weapon.

“Just a moment.”

The most critical role in this war was using powerful magitech weapons to aggressively pressure the Kalua forces.

Only possible because I, a genius in magitech, was present in Arwen. It was like gaining a hundred thousand troops.

Countless Arwen soldiers faced the Kalua forces with emboldened courage.

I repaired the broken magitech weapon in an instant and told the soldier,

“It’ll work properly now.”

“Thank you, Lady Brellof.”

Orland, watching nearby, smiled fondly as if he couldn’t help himself.

No matter how exceptional the Kalua forces were, no one else could endlessly repair magitech weapons and adapt to the situation like I could.

Unlike the previously disadvantageous situation, Arwen was now steadily seizing the initiative—and I stood at the eye of this storm.