In the midst of everyone being surprised enough to be shocked, there was only one person standing with a nonchalant expression. It was Askan.

Askan, instead of the volcanic stone imbued with magic, nagged about me, who had struggled to study it, as if it was more troubling.

“If your research is over, please rest now. You haven’t been able to sleep for a while, and you haven’t eaten properly, have you?”

“I get it. When we set off on our journey, I should rest there.”

Decain, who had regained his senses, looked at me with snakelike eyes.

At first, he was simply surprised to see the volcanic stone, but now he seemed to have fully accepted and understood this situation.

“I used to say that. If we can reduce the production cost of K01 or increase the number of explosions, a tremendous weapon will be born. But I didn’t expect you to create a new magic stone.”

I shrugged my shoulders and answered jokingly.

“Aren’t I pretty cool?”

“It’s more than that. You’re really great, Tanashia.”

Decain, who always had a relaxed smile, had a serious expression. He continued talking in an uncharacteristically serious voice.

“This is huge. If we make weapons with the magic stone you made, the cost will be greatly reduced, or no, many people may line up to buy magic stones from you.”

The magic stone was a very expensive item.

That’s why magic engineering research was considered a costly field.

However, it was also a field that all empires were rushing to support with expensive investments because it was essential when a significant event happened in the country.

A new magic stone that would overturn all this was created.

“I had high expectations for you, but honestly, it’s beyond imagination.”

I felt a bit shy as Decain praised me right in front of me.

Even though I developed it, it was an undeniable fact that it was an amazing discovery. That’s why I didn’t want to reveal it to the world yet.

“Just consider it a teaser. I don’t plan to trade it yet.”

“What? You’re going to keep this to yourself after making it?”

Decain looked at me with the most shocked expression so far. But that didn’t change my determination.

From the beginning, I had added a special clause to the contract with the top of Igtheon to prepare for such a case.

The reason I develop magic engineering weapons is to prevent war with the Calua Empire.

Although it’s better to have more money, I already had enough wealth to not be able to spend in a lifetime, even if I didn’t earn it in the field of magic engineering.

Because if it is used as a weapon in a place that I do not want, it could be a disaster for someone, so I had no choice but to be careful.

“Tanashia……!”

As Decain approached me with a frustrated expression, Askan blocked him.

“The lady said so. She doesn’t plan to trade.”

There was a sharp air on Askan’s expressionless face. It seemed as if Decain was going to use the hidden ability if he came a little closer.

─I will make sure that no one can touch a single hair of the lady. I will protect you.

Somehow, I remembered what Askan had said before.

At that time, I was thankful just for saying that, but maybe it wasn’t just a word.

Swoosh, with a heart telling him to stop, I put my hand on Askan’s shoulder.

“Decain, my mind won’t change. Let’s talk about this later.”

Decain seemed to have a lot to say, but he nodded his head as if he couldn’t help it. Then, he pointed to the magic stone he was holding and spoke.

“Can I take this? I have to report to the top.”

“Of course.”

Matella came up late with an admiring expression and said,

“Miss, how did you come up with such a brilliant idea? Yes?”

Baren brought a lot of other magic engineering weapons instead of K01 and shouted.

“I can’t believe it. Let’s test it on other weapons right away!”

Decain left Tanashia’s lab and climbed into the carriage.

He had planned to return to the Rajent Empire today as he had been here for a few days, but he never expected to gain such results.

‘Tanashia doesn’t want to disclose it to the world, but it can’t be that way.’

There was a reason why many distributors did not spare hefty investments to support the magical engineering genius.

If an innovative weapon was created, they could make money by simply replicating something similar.

It was a common occurrence in this industry.

Orland and Barner were already aware. When a new weapon appeared, a weapon made to be similar to it was secretly traded.

Even now, weapons similar to K01 developed by Tanashia were being produced in huge numbers.

Of course, the counterfeit could not surpass the original. Because it wasn’t as sophisticated or as powerful as K01, Orland, Barner, and even Tanashia didn’t care much.

But from the distributors’ perspective, a new idea for magical engineering weapons meant money.

So, the contract condition proposed by Ighteon Top was one.