Steampunk Era: Mad Abield

When that official was still unable to come to terms with reality, Malin had already instinctively taken up the reins of command: "Citizens! Take your wives and children and retreat to the shelters!" Then he turned to look at the Sage’s disciple. "I don’t understand the structure of your country’s military, but I want to know—where is the army?"

"They are the army." The Sage’s disciple extended his hand and pointed at the citizens. With pride and confidence, he introduced them to Malin: "They are the army of Thainan."

Malin turned around and observed the adult males among the citizens forming ranks, while the younger children were retreating in an orderly manner alongside their mothers and sisters.

"Open the armory beneath the Bell Tower! Arm the citizens! Sound the Sage’s Bell! I am the disciple of the Eighth Sage! Inform the Martial Monks! I’ll meet them on the walls!" The teenager issued orders before walking over to the official. "Remember your duty, sir, and do not disgrace the face of Thainan in front of our guest."

"Understood. I swear to uphold my charge. However, as a guest, you should be seeking refuge, not risking yourself." The official glanced at Malin, instinctively taking his youthful appearance seriously. But soon, he slapped his forehead in embarrassment. "Apologies, I misspoke. Nevertheless, you are a guest—please do not expose yourself to unnecessary danger."

"No, sir. I cannot watch you fight and die on the front lines while I remain safely behind. That goes against every principle I hold dear in life." Malin smiled as he bid farewell to the official, then turned to Meng Quyi beside him. "To be honest, I don’t believe the battlefield is truly suited for women."

"Just as you’ve said to me—do you expect me to watch men march to their deaths while staying at home with a clear conscience?" Meng Quyi shook her head. "We women are also warriors, Malin. I understand that your intention is to protect us, but war has never discriminated on the basis of gender, especially when facing Chaos."

"I understand, and you’re probably about to say that as a War Witch, you can contribute to everyone’s efforts." Malin smiled as he rolled up the sleeve of his jacket, allowing Mana to morph into a long staff in his hand. This movement naturally led the Sage’s disciple to see Malin as nothing less than a legendary Caster.

Without hesitation, the disciple walked toward the front and began speaking with Malin: "Mr. Malin, have you ever heard about our Thainan system?"

"I haven’t. In fact, the only system I’ve seen is Meng Quyi’s War Witch methodology. Truthfully, I’m unfamiliar with the rest. However, I’ve heard that the Sage system requires a person to be disabled." Malin untied his headband, and the spell-enhanced energy within his body began activating. The first notable change was his hair, which grew to waist-length almost instantly—thick and lustrous to the point that any seasoned programmer would feel utterly envious.

Using the headband to tie back his now long hair, Malin waited for the Sage’s disciple to respond.