As he watched Guizhong's tear-streaked face, something stirred in Morax's heart for reasons he couldn't explain. He felt a little...
Hurt?
He didn't know why he would feel something so strange.
But even now, he could clearly remember what Guizhong had looked like when she first developed the Guizhong Ballista.
Her hands had been rubbed raw, yet she seemed completely unaware of it, simply working away in a state of feverish excitement.
Marchosius brought her some freshly prepared food, but Guizhong only told him to leave it there. She would eat once she finished.
When Marchosius came to bring dinner that evening, the earlier meal remained untouched.
"Sorry, Marchosius. It's not that your cooking isn't delicious. I just don't have time right now. Once I finish this Guizhong Ballista, I'll definitely eat every last bite."
Marchosius understood how she felt. He nodded, told her, "Don't wear yourself out," and left.
Morax sat beside Guizhong, sipping the sour bamboo shoot soup Marchosius had made while watching her work, forgetting both food and sleep.
It wasn't that Morax wouldn't help. Guizhong had turned him down.
"You've protected the Guili Plains so many times already. I want to protect the Guili Plains with my own strength for once, too."
As she spoke, her eyes sparkled like stars. She gazed at the unfinished Guizhong Ballista as though she were looking at hope itself.
With Morax keeping her company, she worked on that Guizhong Ballista day and night.
Though Morax stayed beside her, all he did was watch, occasionally staring blankly out the window.
Both of them were quiet, making the room feel rather lonely.
Cloud Retainer had originally wanted to come over too, but Guizhong wouldn't let her.
She said Cloud Retainer was far too talkative. It would be easy to get drawn into