### Chapter 343
A Favorite Author’s New Work
A steaming hot new piece fresh off the writer’s desk.
This was the perfect treat for the readers.
And now, at this very moment, a reader who heard about such a new work was trembling with excitement.
That reader is none other than Ebelasque.
“Your pocket seems to be rather full,” she noted.
Thanks to the ruckus the pocket was causing, Seirang noticed it too.
With a slightly flustered expression, she looked at Kraush, who was scratching his head.
“Seirang-nim, would it be alright to hear your thoughts from another reader regarding your new work?”
“Another reader, you say?”
“There’s someone who has been reading your works consistently.”
“I-I’m talking about a girl’s writings?”
Seirang’s face turned slightly red.
Of course, it made sense; the fact that the princess of Sephira was writing sensual novels had been a well-kept secret.
“You don’t need to worry about it leaking elsewhere.”
After all, this kid has no other friends.
Kraush didn’t voice that last thought out loud.
“I’d love to hear feedback if it’s from a girl.”
Hearing a reader’s thoughts was also a beneficial idea for Seirang.
Thus, despite feeling a bit uneasy, she forced a smile.
“Alright then. Let’s do it.”
The pocket that contained Ebelasque quieted down.
It seemed she had fainted from joy.
Was it really that exciting?
But considering that she was already deep in her books, Kraush decided to let it slide.
“Well then, can I please start with my love story?”
At Seirang’s question, Kraush nodded and began to recount his tale slowly.
*
Kraush’s love story unfolded over the course of a day.
Perhaps due to adding descriptions of bits he remembered, the tale turned out to be quite lengthy.
However, Seirang was completely invested in the story, allowing Kraush to convey it smoothly.
When he finished the entire story, Seirang let out a satisfied sigh.
“Nice. Indeed, real-life stories about romance are more relatable,” she commented.
Standing up from her seat, Seirang added, “Thanks to you, I’ve gotten a good idea. I can work on it now!”
“Did I really help that much?”
“Yes, definitely.”
In that case, Kraush felt relieved.
Though it might just be casual conversation to him, it meant something different in the eyes of a writer.
‘I’m honestly not sure what sensual novels even entail…’
After all, sensual novels are merely romance taken to the next level.
Kraush shrugged it off.
“Okay, I’ll get to writing now. But first, I’ll handle what you asked for, Kraush-nim.”
Seirang extended her hand toward Kraush.
“You mentioned that when I give you the skill, I just need to decide to give it, right?”
Seirang vividly remembered the moment Blavi transferred the Heavenly Kill to her.
Thus, she understood how Kraush would accept the skill.
“Is it really alright to hand it over so easily?”
“It’s a deal. Moreover, the skill I’m learning connects the horoscope from my childhood with my current studies.”
Since her childhood had passed, this skill held no real value for Seirang anymore.
Kraush was somewhat aware of this, which was why he had sought her out.
“So it’ll be much more helpful for someone who genuinely needs it.”
Seirang flashed a beaming smile.
Kraush felt grateful for that comment.
He raised his hand.
Then, the light of the Black Hood flowed from his grasp.
[ Target: ‘Seirang Sephira’ ]
[ Skill: Sable ]
Soon after, Kraush felt the Sable skill flowing into him.
This was possibly the easiest skill he had ever acquired.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Seirang replied and then turned to leave.
“I’ll get to work now. I expect to have a draft in about a week, so until then, please feel free to stay at Sephira.”
It was certainly better than the hassle of back and forth.
Kraush also wanted to try out Aura’s Inner Circle and Sable.
He nodded in agreement.
‘Most importantly, I want to wait until I hear news from Zodiac.’
To make any moves, he needed to at least know where Umbra, who carried the Zodiac, was.
Finding people was more of Crimson Garden and Ebelasque’s expertise, so he decided not to waste time and simply wait.
‘Things just never seem to slow down.’
Kraush let out a short sigh.
It was settled.
Now it was time to focus on training.
If he couldn’t master the God of Creation Weapons through Aura’s Inner Circle, he wouldn’t stand a chance against Ixion.
With that determination, Kraush dove into his training at Sephira.
*
Around the time Kraush began his training.
Under a blue sky, on a blue lake.
A pristine white round table sat with ten chairs arranged around it.
The individuals seated exuded an extraordinary presence.
“Seriously, don’t you think it’s exhausting to gather like this every time?”
After a brief silence, a middle-aged woman reclining over the desk spoke.
Her name was Merzia Marygold.
She was the owner of Marigold, the most affluent city controlling gold mines, and one of the Ten Great Lords.
The Gold King.
“Gold King, isn’t it always the Demon Lord who has to deal with the hard work? You shouldn’t be saying such things.”
An elder reprimanded her.
Yet despite his aged face, his body was made up of ridiculous muscles.
In his later years, he had been inspired by the warrior Durandal, mastering martial arts to rise to the position of one of the Ten Great Lords.
His name was the Fighting King, Zaid.
“What’s the point? You see, one person hasn’t even shown up yet.”
In response to the Fighting King’s remark, the Gold King chuckled.
As she mentioned, one of the ten seats remained empty.
“Wouldn’t that be enough?”
With an arm crossed, a wise-looking older man with red hair chimed in.
The Flame King, Adolf Igrit.
The head of the Igrit family, he glanced toward the Demon Lord.
“I assume we’re all gathered here today regarding that matter?”
Hearing the Flame King’s question, the Demon Lord nodded.
“Yes, it’s to determine whether the candidate for the Ten Great Lords, Sword Dragon, Kraush Balheim, will be inducted.”
The eight assembled here were the strongest warriors in the world.
The Ten Great Lords.
Due to the death of the Tiger King, the Ten Great Lords reduced to eight, but this remained a frequent occurrence.
They gathered here for their regular meeting, hidden from the outside world, via the Demon Lord’s teleportation.
The subject was none other than whether to accept Kraush Balheim into the Ten Great Lords.
“He’s 17 years old this year, right?”
The Gold King was the first to speak up.
With a childlike face for her age, she rested her chin in her hands.
“Doesn’t that mean there’s a 20-year gap between us? Is it really socially acceptable? For that kid’s sake, maybe we should hold off a bit.”
Being declared the youngest among the Ten Great Lords is undoubtedly valuable.
But with such a title comes a tide of jealousy.
Jealousy and rivalry are emotions inherent in us all.
It’s inevitable someone might take issue with this, which could negatively impact Kraush.
“There’s no need to rush, is there? If we wait three years to induct him, he won’t lose the youngest title.”
The Gold King offered a rationale.
It was a sentiment everyone could agree on.
“However, the current tide of the world is not good.”
The one to point that out was Tersada Beakis, the Flame King of the Holy Kingdom.
“Due to the incident caused by Ixion, the Empire is in turmoil, and considering the Tiger King was killed by the World Eroder, the public will be uneasy if there’s a vacant seat among the Ten Great Lords.”
Tersada’s point was valid.
Yet the Gold King countered.
“Well, wasn’t there already another candidate? The child of the Emperor, Glide Lacroix?”
The Emperor’s child, Glide Lacroix, was indeed a candidate for the Ten Great Lords.
“Well, if it’s him, he’s a peer to the Sword King, and it would be perfectly fine, right?”
The Gold King referred to the Sword King, Rai Balheim.
“No.”
But before she could finish, a towering man, looking like a question mark, interrupted her.
The Sea King, Dino Bardon.
“Emperor Glide Lacroix has already ceded his position to Kraush Balheim. I confirmed this with my own test,” he declared.
The Sea King’s test involved evaluating whether one met the minimum criteria for becoming a Ten Great Lord.
This fact was known to all the other Ten Great Lords.
If the Sea King accepted this, then Kraush’s abilities would be indisputable.
“In addition, his already established reputation is remarkable.”
Then the usually quiet Poison King, Hauran Lagrain joined in.
“Honestly, there are very few who match Kraush Balheim’s reputation.”
As he pointed out, what Kraush had accomplished was no small feat, even for the Ten Great Lords.
For how could one dismiss the fact that his name was being frequently mentioned worldwide?
“Pfew, I haven’t seen it with my own eyes, so I’m completely in the dark. Is that kid really that impressive?”
As everyone showed positive reactions, the Gold King became self-conscious.
“I worry that elevating a young sprout into such a high position might lead to arrogance.”
That concern was rooted in a common fear of young people rising too quickly.
“Ha ha, that kid, arrogant?”
The one who reacted this time was the Flame King.
As someone who often saw the Ten Great Lords meetings as a waste of time, he seemed genuinely caught off guard.
“Even when he was thirteen, even if he ascended to the Ten Great Lords then, he’d still be someone with the guts to take it all without losing heart.”
The Flame King remembered fondly the day he first encountered Kraush.
The boy had unleashed a self-destructive attack directed at him.
Such venom was something a title could never tarnish.
“He’s probably even stronger now.”
The Flame King tsked as he acknowledged.
“He’s a disciple of the Fighting King, after all. He should be more than capable. I agree.
Judging opportunities based on age is something for the old geezers to worry about rather than the young.”
The Fighting King’s agreement followed that of the Flame King.
“Also, Ixion is currently targeting Kraush Balheim.”
The Demon Lord further explained the necessity for elevating Kraush to the Ten Great Lords.
This fact was known to all of the Ten Great Lords.
“Kraush will need to hold a position to prepare for a possible war with Ixion. In battles, a name carries a significant weight.”
To deploy Kraush fittingly in battle, he needed a rank suited to him.
With the Demon Lord endorsing it, the Gold King sighed.
“Well, if everyone feels this way, I won’t strongly oppose it.”
With that, she finally turned her gaze toward the Sword King.
Being the only one in the room who shared blood with Kraush, this was a crucial moment.
For the Balheim family, strength symbolized their lineage.
Thus, it could be unpleasant for the one aiming to become the head of the family if Kraush were to take the position.
“Balheim has no reason to grow stronger.”
The Sword King stated blandly.
“There is no reason to oppose this.”
Upon reflection, he was always a man who prioritized Balheim.
Ultimately, there was no basis for him to oppose it.
“Then I will take it that everyone agrees to raise Sword Dragon, Kraush Balheim, to the Ten Great Lords.”
The Demon Lord declared the meeting closed.
A few days later, word spread globally that Kraush Balheim had been inducted into the Ten Great Lords.
Alongside that, a new title was crafted for him.
He became the one to switch titles the quickest and the youngest to join the ranks of the Ten Great Lords.
The Dragon King.
Kraush Balheim.
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