### Chapter: 240
Dalpion Junon.
Kraush didn’t know much about him either, primarily because he was around the day the Empire crumbled.
Just like the tale of the Sword of the Royal Family, his end was just as dramatic.
‘Of all the places, the geographical difference is major.’
Back then, Kraush found himself branded as cursed even among the generations of the Crown.
Having been through harsh experiences, the twisted Kraush was known for his foul mouth and sharp words.
So naturally, opinions about him varied widely amongst the Crown’s elite.
Especially since the factions loyal to the Empire had a notoriously terrible relationship with him.
At that time, there was little interaction between Dalpion and Kraush.
And now, Kraush was face to face with a figure he had never really connected with before.
He only vaguely knew about him.
Not knowing all, Kraush felt an unsettling tension rising within him.
While he had stood proudly in front of the Ten Great Lords numerous times, facing Dalpion now made him acutely aware of the stark difference between the two realms.
When weak, one doesn’t even notice the walls around them.
But stepping into this moment, those walls suddenly seemed sky-high.
No matter how much he tilted his head back, the end of the wall hidden among the clouds was invisible.
The stronger one got, the more they realized how immense the walls were between themselves and the world’s mightiest.
‘Is Arthur really sitting atop all of this?’
Later, the generations of the Crown would indeed reach the heights of the Heavenly Sword.
Especially the trio of fierce women gathered around Arthur, as they held a distinctive place.
‘Even if they look like they’re in a tight spot now…’
They had also reached the peak at one point, having no choice but to grow stronger during hellish battles.
Yet, despite gaining such power, they still couldn’t prevent their downfall.
‘That’s likely why Sigrid doesn’t focus solely on her training.’
Treading on the legacy of the sword kings, Sigrid, who was chasing after various other objectives, was not too different from Kraush.
She too knew that mere strength and position wouldn’t save them from annihilation.
However, her focus had shifted from purely preparing for ruin to securing her own standing amid it all.
“You’re Kraush Balheim, then.”
Just when Kraush was lost in thought due to nerves, Dalpion’s voice broke the silence.
He gently set down his teacup and gazed at Kraush through his golden locks, exuding a piercing aura.
It felt as if he could see through to the depths of Kraush’s soul.
“You’re said to be a young hero, but you don’t seem to fit the mold.”
And indeed, Dalpion appeared to be scrutinizing Kraush thoroughly.
He himself had elevated beyond just a mere presence as he also reached the demigod state.
Being a demigod, Dalpion had awakened his divine vision.
“Stacking up that kind of power will shorten your lifespan.”
In a last-ditch effort, Kraush converted all the world erosion into aura.
But could divine insight see through even that?
Kraush felt a bit sheepish in response.
“I’m just trying to live a little longer.”
Always putting his heart and soul into it.
Dalpion stared into Kraush’s eyes for a moment, seemingly reading the sincerity within.
“You won’t live long.”
Perhaps he couldn’t speak kindly of his fellow humans.
But in a twist of fate, this was good news for Kraush.
The fact that he could see through him meant that if Kraush spoke the truth, he’d be taken at his word.
“I heard the tale through the Fourth Princess.”
The arrangement for this meeting came from Sigrid.
Fortunately, being informed of the circumstances, she had actively shared Kraush’s story with Dalpion.
When Kraush shot a glance at Sigrid, she winked at him comically, urging him to praise her efforts quickly, yet he ignored it.
“The royal family’s illness. White Stone Syndrome.”
A name only known to a select few deeply tied to the royal family.
White Stone Syndrome.
A disease that slowly turns a person’s organs into pure white stone, one that only the royal family suffers from.
Kraush knew very well how this illness came about.
Because he had treated Sigrid directly.
The Curse of Human Demise.
The curse that amplifies whatever ailments one has to the extreme.
That’s why when Sigrid contracted it, the underlying White Stone Syndrome she had been harboring was awakened.
Within moments, her insides became solid stone, nearly choking her in the process.
In came Kraush, who had stolen away the curse from her at the last possible moment.
And only after stealing it did Kraush understand.
Despite having many high-ranking priests and holy maidens, why they still couldn’t cure Sigrid’s White Stone Syndrome.
This White Stone Syndrome was a disease the royal family had kept tightly under wraps.
And now, at the moment when Dalpion directly mentioned it,
if Kraush failed to treat the Emperor, he could never just turn around and leave.
His skills would have to activate as he tried to depart.
‘Memory Tura.’
A skill that erases memories.
Through this ability, he must have wiped any info about the Hell Fairy from his mind.
‘Is that why I couldn’t get any intel about her before my return?’
Ixion fails to cure White Stone Syndrome.
The Emperor dies from it, and Dalpion wipes out every memory tied to that fact.
The royal family’s disgrace needed to remain hidden forever.
“I am curious about your method of treatment.”
Dalpion could pierce only the truth.
So Kraush raised his hand to show him proof.
The moment Dalpion’s gaze followed Kraush’s hand,
he unexpectedly found the teacup from earlier was now in Kraush’s grip.
Dalpion’s eyes widened slightly.
He’d recognized it as a skill.
“…A skill?”
As he asked with a hint of curiosity, Kraush nodded.
“Yes, it’s my skill.”
The Black Hood skill.
A skill that allows one to steal based on the value the target assigns to their possessions.
As long as conditions aligned, anything could be swiped, even White Stone Syndrome.
For a moment, Dalpion watched Kraush quietly.
Thoughts seemed to dance about in his gaze.
While Kraush simply waited silently for his verdict.
As long as he didn’t get the go-ahead, he couldn’t approach the Emperor.
“Just one question.”
Then, moments later, Dalpion’s heavy lips finally moved.
“Is that truly a skill?”
The next words sparked intrigue within Kraush.
Is it really a skill, you ask?
Dalpion, being enlightened and all, should certainly see through the Black Hood.
Yet he posed such a question.
“…Can you explain what you mean?”
“I feel like I’ve ascended to demi-god status.”
Sound familiar to Kraush?
Raising his hand as if to show something, Dalpion unleashed a golden light from his palm.
It was a warm light, enchanting yet deeply enthralling.
Divine magic.
One could argue it’s a fundamental form of any skill.
After exhibiting this, Dalpion clenched his fist, dispersing the light.
“And the skills aren’t all that different from this divine magic.”
“That’s…”
“The skill you showed just now wasn’t created from divine principles.”
Kraush’s eyes sparkled with surprise.
Because this was something he had never heard before.
‘Other than those who’s ascended, I’ve met gods before.’
No one ever said that sort of thing back then.
Especially the night god who offered him Nox only remarked on him stealing power—not on the nature of the skill behind it.
He’d never said it wasn’t built from divine principles.
‘Could it be…’
Kraush recalled the mysterious girl who had suddenly appeared before him not long ago.
The nameless figure who had vanished without revealing her identity or intent.
‘What did she do back then?’
Nothing else came to mind.
Looking down at his hand pensively, Kraush cautiously opened his mouth.
“Could you explain what makes this different?”
If Dalpion had seen it, surely he would have explained.
When Kraush questioned him, he spoke flatly.
“Only if you can treat the Emperor’s illness.”
A kind of trade?
Even without it, he was set on treating the Emperor’s condition.
So for Kraush, it wasn’t a bad proposition at all.
And if they were to establish trust through this condition, it would have a stronger effect than just goodwill alone.
“Deal.”
Kraush eagerly accepted the trade proposal.
With his honest gaze meeting Dalpion’s, he stood up.
“The Starlon Kingdom shall continue to prosper.”
In that moment, it felt like he glimpsed into the future through Kraush.
Kraush exuded strength, maintaining his resolve even in front of Dalpion who had reached demi-god status.
Typically, people got wary when they encountered someone with enlightenment.
Yet, he openly spoke his truth instead.
Such a person wasn’t common, regardless of their age or gender.
The Starlon Kingdom was always a potential foe for the Empire, housing the esteemed Balheim family and being within arm’s reach of them.
And now, another star seemed to be born in Starlon.
‘On the other hand, the Empire…’
At the moment when the Emperor’s sickness began intensifying, chaos erupted among the royal family.
Everyone was pulling swords and aiming at their brothers to usurp the Emperor’s position.
They had no choice.
If they didn’t take the throne, their fate was guaranteed elimination.
Dalpion shifted his gaze to Sigrid.
A figure known to be the world’s most remarkable brain, she seemed to have insight into this situation from the very start, smiling knowingly at Kraush.
Also, she had distanced herself from the imperial throne long ago.
Although she had nearly been caught up in a royal assassination a few years back, she had shown no interest in the throne ever since.
But lately, her movements had started to change slightly.
While not coveting the throne, she began reading the currents of the Empire and intervening in them.
That was a monumental shift.
Sigrid had always tried to stay far from the royal family to ensure less turbulence.
‘The one responsible for this transformation…’
Dalpion’s gaze returned to Kraush.
Must be thanks to him.
Dalpion momentarily closed his eyes.
He was not only the Emperor’s sword but also held significant authority right behind the Emperor when it came to choosing the next ruler.
What if Sigrid ascended to the throne?
At least during her reign, the Empire would showcase unparalleled prosperity.
She had the capability to achieve just that.
Even now.
The First Prince had purposefully held back, waiting for the right moment to strike at the prey.
The First Prince possessed an excellent head and a perfect physique but was frustratingly average in all respects.
While one could argue there was balance, his lackluster talents meant he lacked the charisma needed to lead the Empire.
The Second Prince was so dull-witted and desperately greedy, he barely felt like a royal offspring.
Dalpion had already excluded him from the emperor’s seat.
The Third Princess was the most proactive and focused on growing her faction.
Though her intellect was ordinary, she exhibited exceptional physical prowess, clearly having inherited the bloodline of the White Dragon.
But her arrogance and overwhelming self-esteem left her lacking the ability to lead others.
Finally, the Fourth Princess, Sizelry Ephania.
She neither flaunted her pride nor her self-worth, perfectly understanding her place while achieving the best outcomes no matter the position she held.
Only her fragile body suffered frequent illnesses, which could jeopardize her claim to the throne.
However, aside from that, she would likely be the one most suited to lead the royal family.
His eyes began to open slowly.
Dalpion noted that Sigrid and Kraush seemed to get along quite well.
If he made Sigrid the emperor, even with some resistance, bringing Kraush into the family could lead to the birth of their child.
Perhaps the Empire would flourish forever.
‘What a shame I didn’t suggest this’
Putting it on the negotiation table would have been a decent maneuver.
‘Yet, it’s too early for that.’
Before Kraush’s assessment comes into play, Sigrid deciding to take the throne remained paramount.
It all felt like a distant future.
As Dalpion pondered that fuzzy prospect, he turned his body.
To reach that distant future, he first needed to settle the matter at hand.
“Let’s proceed.”
He aims to heal the Emperor.
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