Alexander realized after 10 years on the battlefield that wars don’t start and end with Colossal Mechs. In his naive youth, he thought all wars were driven by Colossal Mechs. After all, a Colossal Mech operated by a skilled knight could be devastating and influential enough to change the course of a war. Indeed, many battles were won thanks to Colossal Mechs, proving their worth. However, operating Colossal Mechs came with enormous costs and a limited operational time, which was a significant weakness. In his reckless younger days, Alexander once found himself in the heart of enemy territory when his Colossal Mech reached its operational limit, plunging him into a life-threatening crisis. Fortunately, he was saved by the help of Marquis Lucas and Count William, who were with him. The long scar across his face now serves as a reminder of that lesson and the folly of his youth. Since that day, Alexander stopped blindly believing in Colossal Mechs. Weapons are just weapons, and it’s humans who wield them. And since humans are imperfect, one should never blindly trust Colossal Mechs.

“Colossal Mechs are the pinnacle of Magic Engineering on this continent. A single state-of-the-art Colossal Mech can replace the work of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of knights. That’s why the emergence of Colossal Mechs changed the course of continental wars. No war on the continent is fought without the deployment of Colossal Mechs. No nation hesitates to deploy them.” Operating Colossal Mechs requires a massive amount of money, and nations that couldn’t afford it either fell into decline or became vassals of other nations, disappearing into the annals of history. “The nature of territorial wars has also changed. There’s no need to shed soldiers’ blood unnecessarily, hire mercenaries, or destroy territories pointlessly. Now, wars can be resolved through decisive battles with Colossal Mechs.” Unlike the past, where wars were fought with private armies and mercenaries, modern territorial wars are decided by Colossal Mechs. No matter how much capital is required to operate them, winning the war is all that matters. Winner takes all. War has always been about gaining the maximum possible.

“Now, Cadet Gilbert. I have a question for you.” “Yes.” Alexander wanted to learn more about the reckless heir of a Count family who had eyes similar to his comrades. He was curious about what kind of person could have such eyes. “So far, the professors have only spoken positively about Colossal Mechs. They’ve talked about their strategic value and necessity. But the professor began the lecture by stating the first rule of combat: Colossal Mechs are not omnipotent. Why do you think that is?” Alexander’s question didn’t have a definitive answer. Any negative reason could be valid. However, the reason Alexander mentioned this rule in his first lecture was to prevent blind faith in this advanced magical engineering product, which could lead to poor situational judgment. Overconfidence and reliance on Colossal Mechs could lead to fatal mistakes in situations where death seemed impossible.

Gilbert recalled a memory from long ago when he was Kang Do-jun. His instructor always warned him against missile supremacy. There was once an incident where early guided missiles were thought to be sufficient for air combat, resulting in the worst combat loss ratio in history. The weapons weren’t properly tested, their performance was lacking, and unrealistic combat doctrines led to poor missile accuracy. Of course, over time, air-to-air missiles achieved remarkable technological advancements. The status of missiles in air combat had changed significantly. However, machine guns never lost their place. The main reason was the limited number of missiles a fighter could carry. Even at maximum capacity, it was only 14, and for practical mission purposes, that number was even lower. Moreover, as missiles advanced, so did fighter performance, making guaranteed hits impossible. The instructor told Kang Do-jun that a pilot uses the fighter as a tool to complete missions, not something that will solve everything. The fighter is just a tool, not everything. He took his instructor’s words to heart and, for his final mission, crashed his fighter and fought on foot. Though it left him unfit for service, those words saved his life. Perhaps what Professor Alexander was saying was similar.

“Even if Colossal Mechs are infused with the essence of Magic Engineering, it’s still humans who operate them. No matter how much assistance they receive from Artificial Spirits, the decisions and controls ultimately lie with the knight. Nothing in the world is perfect, so Colossal Mechs also have their flaws. Blindly believing in them will lead to arrogance and complacency, which in battle means certain death.” “Then is there even a need to use Colossal Mechs? It sounds like they’re more trouble than they’re worth.” “It would be foolish to let such a fine weapon go to waste. Technology is advancing, and who knows when a more advanced Colossal Mech will appear? A breakthrough in operational limits could once again change the course of war. But even so, one important fact remains unchanged.”

Having lived through World War III, Alexander knew one unchanging truth. Unmanned drones began to appear, and all sorts of weapons and powered armor from science fiction poured out. Yet, at the center of ending wars was always one thing: people. Wars exist because of people, and wars end because of people. That’s why nuclear weapons weren’t used in World War III. A total war would only lead to mutual destruction, with both sides annihilated.

“Humans start wars, and humans end them. What’s important in combat isn’t the Colossal Mech but yourself and your allies. Colossal Mechs are just tools; they shouldn’t be the center of blind faith.” Alexander believed there was no right answer to this question, but paradoxically, he thought Gilbert’s answer was correct. As Gilbert said, it’s always the ordinary soldiers who end wars and plant flags on enemy territory, not Colossal Mechs.

After finishing his answer, Alexander found Gilbert’s stiff expression a bit strange. That answer encapsulated everything he wanted to say. Alexander thought it was time to send his regards to his former superior, the Count of Lithuania. And while he was at it, he might as well ask about the troublesome heir.

“Gilbert is correct. That’s the core of what I wanted to convey to the cadets. Colossal Mechs are undoubtedly incredible weapons. Their emergence marked a turning point in the continent’s long history. However, even if Colossal Mechs are autonomously controlled by Artificial Spirits, knights are still needed to bring out their full potential. And knights are humans like you. I’m not saying not to trust Colossal Mechs. I’m saying not to blindly rely on them. That could be the lifeline that saves you from death on the battlefield.”

Alexander sincerely hoped that, based on these words, the cadets before him would return safely if they ever went to war. Unlike his fallen comrades.

***

The first lecture at Demyia Academy after enrollment shocked the cadets and became a turning point in their thinking. It shattered their preconceived notion that Colossal Mechs were the ultimate weapon, shaking their worldview without mercy. Some actively accepted this idea, while others refused to change their minds. This division wasn’t based on high nobility, low nobility, or commoners—it was purely personal judgment. Among those who broke free from their preconceptions were Angelina and Hans, who teamed up with Gilbert, and even Lily, who despised him. Though Lily shuddered at the thought of agreeing with Gilbert, she wasn’t foolish enough to let her emotions ruin everything. As for Ian, whom Gilbert called the protagonist… “Tsk.” He clicked his tongue and glared at Gilbert as he left the lecture hall.