Lately, as I’ve been grappling with how to control Askan’s power, I’ve realized far more than what I had only read in the novel .

Of course, as a reader, I used to focus more on the entertainment aspect, but now that I’m living in a different world with accumulated knowledge, what I’ve realized has had a much deeper impact.

“The tattoo carved into Askan’s body…”

It was evidence of infusing a normal human body with special power.

In simple terms, if the ancient letter for [fire] is engraved, does it mean that the power of [fire] emerges in a human body?

This might sound simple in explanation, but researching the ancient language imbued with such power, the process of engraving it on a body, and the body accepting the new power, none of these steps could be mishandled.

The original Tanashia looked at Askan’s body and hoped to also engrave water skills like Noksia onto herself, but to do that, she might have had to risk her life.

“But after learning magical engineering, it is interesting. How can such special power enter a normal human body?”

I’ve seen the flames created by Askan with my own eyes.

The fact that such a thing was actually possible was truly astonishing.

As I was about to close the notebook in which I had been jotting down the thoughts that popped into my head, a new idea that I hadn’t thought of before brushed past me.

“Infusing a normal human body with special power is the human weaponry experiment.”

Does it have to be a human body?

“What if I infuse a regular stone with special power using the same principle?”

Magic stones were naturally made.

But what if I could artificially create them by engraving ancient letters?

If I could apply the same principle that I used to engrave Askan’s body to a regular stone, then I might not need the expensive magic stones anymore.

I realized something as if I was struck by lightning.

“I might be able to make magic stones.”

If I succeed, then I would not need magic stones for any magical engineering weapons I make in the future. This could drastically reduce the cost.

Moreover, if such an attempt succeeds, then by further researching it, I might even overcome the limit of the number of uses.

“This is it!”

I no longer worried about whether to supplement the weaknesses of K01 or develop a new weapon.

Creating a new magic stone that encompasses everything was the most urgent matter.

I spread out a large piece of paper on my desk and began to write like a madman in order to organize the ideas that were suddenly coming to mind.

At that moment, Askan, carrying a cup of herbal tea, walked into the room.

“Miss?”

“Askan, take off your clothes right now.”

Askan looked at me with a puzzled expression, but without saying anything else, he took off his shirt after seeing me immersed in writing magical equations.

The ancient letters inscribed on Askan’s back were clear evidence of the experiments.

At first, I overlooked it, but this was essentially a magical equation written in ancient language.

Just like how I equip magic stones to magical engineering weapons and grant them abilities, the tattoos engraved on Askan’s body were performing that role.

“Just stay like that for a moment.”

I began to copy the ancient letters engraved on Askan’s back onto paper.

I might not have understood them before, but now, I could read all of the ancient letters written on his back, which was nothing short of amazing.

Tanashia from the original story had been researching Askan before me. I wanted to see the notes detailing the experimental content that I had once casually passed by without any thought.

“I should ask Jerin to bring me the things I used to use at the Brelof mansion.”

After writing like a madwoman for a long time, I finally paused.

This was where I hit a roadblock. It was not a problem I could solve right now, so I needed more time to think about it.

I was just about to move to call Jerin.

Suddenly, I realized that Askan had been standing there like a mannequin with his shirt off.

“Oh, no.”

I was so engrossed in the new magic stone that I failed to notice Askan’s state.

I approached Askan, who was standing with his back to me, without a word. Then I quickly draped the clothes he had taken off over his shoulders.

“Sorry, was that too sudden?”

Only then did Askan turn his head to look at me in response to my words.

I had been able to comfortably see the tattoo engraved on his back up until now, as he had been turning his body for that purpose. So it felt like our eyes were meeting for the first time.

“That’s okay. I can undress whenever, wherever you ask me to.”

Hmm? The way he spoke was prone to misunderstanding, but I didn’t press the matter because I could feel his loyalty.

“Thank you.”

“But it makes me a little disappointed that you’re only interested in my tattoo and not in my body itself.”

“Huh?”

Askan turned his body as I had dressed his shoulder just before, and stared straight at me.

Taken aback, I instinctively stepped back in response to the pressure I felt from him.

When did he get so big?

He wasn’t properly dressed, so I could see his firm chest and tight abs through the unbuttoned spaces of his shirt.

I looked at Askan with a puzzled look in my eyes. Then he grabbed my hand and guided it towards his chest.

I flinched. I couldn’t help but be surprised at the feel of Askan’s bare flesh against my hand.

“What, what are you doing?”

“If you’re not getting the sensation from just looking, you’re welcome to touch.”

Am I some kind of pervert?

I wanted to argue out of absurdity for a moment, but my body stiffened at the intense look in Askan’s eyes.

“You, you, this is risky behavior.”

“What’s so risky?”

“Exposing your body to just anyone.”

Ah, I was the one who asked him to undress.

I wanted to correct myself, but that wasn’t the situation, so I coughed and spoke again.

“You shouldn’t allow anyone to touch you just like that.”

“Why not? I am a slave. That means I belong to you.”

Why does he talk like that?

I thought of Askan as mine, but not in that sense.

“Since I belong to you, you can undress and touch me as you like.”

“I can’t behave like that, regardless of your intentions…”

“I like it.”

Ever since the academic festival, I felt Askan had somehow changed, and these days there were moments when he surprised me with unexpected behaviors like now.

I was confused.

As I looked at Askan with a complicated gaze, he frowned and smiled faintly as if troubled.

“If you look at me with that face, I might think you’re going to eat me.”

“The problem now doesn’t seem to be my expression.”

“What would you do if it really was?”

“……!”

I was at a loss for words.

Thump, thump.

My heart, which I had forgotten even existed, seemed to be reminding me of its existence.

Knock, knock, the sound of someone knocking on the door accompanied by Jerin’s voice was heard.

“Miss, there’s a visitor in the lab for you.”

A visitor? Who would come to see me?

I managed to regain my senses at Jerin’s words and pushed Askan away. He obediently retreated as I pushed.

At a step away, I buttoned Askan’s shirt for him. Then I looked at him with a stern expression and said.

“Don’t behave like this in the future unless you’re trying to seduce someone.”

Somehow, at my words, Askan’s face turned sullen.

Askan looked like he had something to say, but Jerin waiting outside the door was first.

“Who came?”

In response to my question, Jerin answered in a steady voice from outside.

“It’s a man named Dekain from the Igtheon Order.”

“What? Dekain?”

Dekain came here?

I stared at the door where Jerin was with a surprised look.

Askan’s eyes darkened. His face was rigid, unlike before, as if something was very displeasing.