Chapter 17
“Just get to the point.”
Kraush fixed his gaze on Aria with the same expression.
“So, did you suddenly want to hold onto the son you thought you’d thrown away after he brings back several pieces of news?”
Aria paused from pouring tea into a glass teapot, looking at Kraush with a mix of confusion.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Mother, do you really want to maintain that attitude in front of your own son?”
The child born from her own womb had been treated like a fool and sent to Green Pine Hall.
Normally, a mother wouldn’t be able to accept that and would continue visiting Green Pine Hall.
However, Aria had never once shown her face to Kraush during his time there.
This was the case until Kraush entered Rahelren Academy.
“Hmmm.”
Seeing Kraush, Aria gently rested her backside on the table, tilting her head while cupping her cheeks.
“You’ve changed quite a bit while I wasn’t watching, huh? I barely recognize you.”
“Isn’t that what kids do? They grow up quickly.”
“I know from Charlotte. No matter how much they grow, in a mother’s eyes, they’re still just kids.”
Aria let out a soft chuckle.
“But my son seems a bit different. He feels like he’s conversing with someone just about my age.”
“Is that something you should say to your son?”
“You probably wouldn’t say that to an ordinary 13-year-old.”
Ordinary.
At those words, Kraush couldn’t help but snort.
“Do ordinary sons even manage to catch your eye?”
The mistress of Balheim.
That position was not one that could be occupied by mere mediocrity.
Balheim, renowned for its unmatched martial prowess, and the wife of Balrok Balheim—known as the strongest head of the family, surpassing even the top experts.
In some respects, it was a position harder to attain than that of a queen.
It was for this reason that Aria had endured countless political struggles and emerged victorious.
She had become the mistress of Balheim at the young age of twenty.
And now, fifteen years later, she steadfastly held her position as mistress amidst all the happenings in Balheim.
However, there was a problem.
The struggles she faced to reach this position had been incredibly tumultuous.
As a result, she had lost many usual emotions along the way.
The first thing she lost was, without a doubt, her maternal instincts.
To her, children were merely tools for her to preserve her position.
She acted like a mother, yet if it didn’t help her maintain her status, she would easily drop the act.
She had her daughter Charlotte, who would uphold this position for her lifetime.
Thus, she was endlessly caring towards Charlotte.
In contrast, with Kraush, she merely acted as a mother without any true maternal sentiment.
The reason she called Kraush today was because his recent rumors differed remarkably from his usual behavior.
She wanted to see if he had regained any value as her son.
And within her mind, a light bulb went off.
“My son, I don’t care how you change.”
As she sipped her tea slowly, she continued, “The fact that you’re my son won’t change no matter what happens.”
Blood is far thicker than the tea she had just sipped.
One might even say it’s a curse how dense it is.
Knowing this fact, Aria smiled slyly.
“Our son is likely to be hard-headed like me. I thought such a day might come eventually.”
And that was a fact that couldn’t be denied.
Kraush’s stubbornness resembled her own, and he had felt this truth deeply long ago.
“So if you’ve decided to become stronger, aim to be the strongest. In Balheim, that’s your only path to survival.”
Even if she was the mother he had once deeply resented, the fact that they were connected by blood remained unchanged.
“And the real reason I called you today isn’t just that.”
Saying so, Aria lifted a letter from the table.
The Balheim crest was vividly stamped on the letter.
“It’s a message from the family head.”
And that statement made Kraush freeze in place.
“…What’s it say?”
“He’ll be back soon from the Golden District.”
The land of Golden District, where world erosion had spread and become irretrievable.
A place so perilous that it couldn’t even be assigned a grade—each nation considered it a headache.
Balrok Balheim stood in one of those unnavigable parts of Golden District.
And he did so alone.
“And he expressed he wants to meet with you.”
At that moment, confusion flickered in Kraush’s eyes.
What had he done that would warrant such an invitation?
He had barely managed to behave like a child.
It wasn’t even sufficient to reach the ears of Balrok.
Could it be…
Did his father see something?
Balrok Balheim had entered the realm of the demigods.
In that case, he might be able to perceive things through the stars in the sky, and perhaps witnessed something about Kraush.
“Until then, you should stay at the family estate.”
Upon hearing his mother’s commanding tone, Kraush lifted his head.
It was evident she meant business.
“Was that in the letter?”
Kraush suddenly asked her.
“Huh? Well, it wasn’t written down exactly.”
“Then I’ll be heading back to Green Pine Hall.”
As soon as Kraush declared he would return, it was the first time Aria showed signs of being flustered.
“Uh, son?”
“I was originally assigned to Green Pine Hall, right? Both you and the head of the family agreed to that.”
Kraush grinned, resembling Aria more than she’d care to admit.
“I’ll come when the family head calls for me. Or…”
And at that, Aria realized that Kraush turned out to be more stubborn than she had ever been.
“Or the family head can come to me directly.”
Kraush casually uttered words that no one dared to speak, then opened the door.
“Then I’ll testify regarding the bizarre symptoms of world erosion before I head back.”
Stepping outside the room, Kraush sighed, unable to hold back.
This was why he didn’t want to meet his mother.
Her presence felt uncomfortable for him.
“I just hope all this gets over with soon.”
It was somewhat amusing that he felt this much longing to return to that dreaded Green Pine Hall.
Perhaps, he couldn’t help but recall the expression of that emotionless chick.
She’s probably reading again.
In the midst of those thoughts, Kraush unexpectedly bumped into someone headed his way.
It was a maid in charge of his room, who immediately bowed her head as soon as she met Kraush’s gaze.
“Kraush-nim, the Purification Investigation Team Sephira requested your assistance.”
“That’s good timing.”
It looked like he was about to have some fun testifying.
＊ ＊ ＊
The Purification Investigation Team, Sephira, comprised experts on world erosion and talented individuals dispatched from all the major regions.
It was a group supported by all four great kingdoms, smaller nations, and even the empire.
“That’s why Sephira holds one of the highest authorities for investigating world erosion.”
So, Balheim had no choice but to comply with Sephira’s investigation.
Unless they wanted to turn all nations against them.
“You’ve finally arrived.”
As Kraush entered the room, a stern-looking woman stood there, dressed in an official Sephira uniform, holding a document envelope.
The number emblazoned on her chest read Grade 4.
In the Sephira, ranks ranged from Grade 9 to Grade 1, making her a quite high-ranking individual.
Well, that was expected, given the gravity of the situation.
“Kraush Balheim-nim, is that correct?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
Matching her formal demeanor, Kraush responded in kind and took a seat.
Sephira would be an important group moving forward.
Their knowledge concerning world erosion was unparalleled.
Thus, he had no intention of making enemies with them—at least, not until that certain individual showed up to create chaos.
Now should be okay for a while.
That guy’s active period would come later on, after all.
So, Kraush decided to focus on the woman in front of him.
Then, he caught sight of a small black star mark on her neck peeking through her hair.
Staring at that black mark, Kraush felt a sudden urge to smile.
“?”
As Kraush began to smirk, the Sephira investigator turned to him, observing him inquisitively while Kraush leaned back comfortably in his chair.
Where’s that Immortal’s bell?
Who would have thought it’d be this close?
“Immortal.”
And the moment Kraush mentioned that name, the woman froze up.
“I’ve been wanting to have a little chat with you.”
The small black star mark on her neck—proof that she bore the Immortal’s bell.
It shouldn’t have been visible, but due to Kraush absorbing the power of World Erosion, he was now able to see who wielded it.
“You’re quite bold for embedding the Immortal within Sephira.”
“Kraush-nim, I’m not sure what you’re talking about…”
The investigator shot Kraush a deadly glare.
However, her sharp gaze didn’t scare him in the slightest.
“Let’s not make excuses. I’m the only one capable of erasing your Immortal.”
And at those words, the investigator’s expression began to slowly shift.
Gradually, her features transformed entirely.
Her jet-black hair flared into flame-like red, and her eyes burned bright red, reminiscent of a reptile.
Fresh black marks indicating the Immortal began to accumulate on her neck as she exhaled deeply.
“Ugh.”
In that instant, Kraush felt an overwhelming presence envelop him.
Cold sweat trickled down his back as his body instinctively responded.
Even though this wasn’t the true form of the Immortal, the aura she radiated was staggeringly overpowering.
“Child.”
Her words caused even Kraush, who found himself fully alert, to freeze.
“Are you a Regressor?”
Upon hearing the term ‘Regressor,’ Kraush’s brain came to a standstill.
There were indeed Regressors, including him.
However, there was a true Regressor.
Arthur Gramalte.
He was the real Regressor.
Does she know about Arthur?
No, it couldn’t be.
If that were the case, she wouldn’t have asked him if he was a Regressor.
She likely had knowledge of the existence of Regressors but was probing him for more information.
Simultaneously, Kraush recalled why Arthur sought to kill the Immortal.
Because the Immortal knows of the Regressors.
How she knew was a mystery, but the information was likely a secret Arthur needed to protect.
Since he was a Regressor, after all.
“I don’t know about being a Regressor or whatever, but if I were, do you think I’d just blurt that out?”
“Little human, the very moment you boldly propose a deal to me, it can only mean you’re a Regressor.”
The Immortal began to laugh evilly, as if she had grasped the situation perfectly.
“I wasn’t searching for a Regressor, just trying to see who could nullify my world erosion, and now I stumble upon something unexpected.”
Boosting the level of world erosion—a crazy stunt she’d been pulling seems to have no relation to a Regressor.
Although she sought something, it appeared quite beneath her demeanor.
The Immortal smirked, wearing a distinctly proud expression.
“A Regressor seeks to erase my Immortal? It’s downright laughable. You think a mere mortal, trapped in the cycle of time, can equal the likes of me?”
The Immortal had obviously mistaken him as a true Regressor.
But I’m just a half-hearted Regresser.
He was not a genuine Regressor.
The genuine Regressor is none other than Arthur.
The Arthur who had experienced moments in this world no longer existed.
Nevertheless, he still remained in this world.
The evidence lies in the fact that the Regressor I stole is gone.
Kraush’s ability to regress had vanished.
Skills are unique abilities that only one person in the world can possess.
While Ignis remained within his black hood, he had no Regressor ability.
The Regressor embodied by this world still existed.
The fact that I’ve lost my stolen Regressor proves that he’s here.
Kraush knew for certain Arthur was unaware of Kraush’s regression.
“How was your world? Was it enjoyable? Did the experience of regression make you feel like the world was all yours? How laughable. What remains for you is nothing but emptiness.”
Seeing the Immortal mocking him, Kraush fell into a brief silence.
Then, after a moment, he raised his hand.
At that moment, a pen lying atop her document envelope magically appeared in Kraush’s grasp.
The Immortal paused at this sudden turn of events.
Kraush executed a move that manifested neither aura nor magic, something that even she recognized all too well.
“It’s a skill.”
Kraush bluntly informed her that it was indeed a skill.
He casually spun the pen before her, gazing at her expression, which had turned into one of stony shock.
“And it’s a skill that can also steal your Immortal.”
The moment he uttered that truth, the Immortal’s eyes began to tremble with desperation.
“Now, how about we talk? Crimson Garden.”
An Immortal seeking to erase their own Immortal.
“The only one capable of taking away your Immortal is here.”
That individual stood before her—the one causing world erosion.
Crimson Garden Augustus.
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