### Chapter: 191
After wrapping up his promise with Charlotte, Kraush parted ways with her and began to walk away.
Before long, he sensed an approaching presence nearby.
When Kraush turned his head, he saw a striking woman with ash-colored hair tied up, looking like a shark.
“Hey, little bro!”
Seeing her brush off what could have been a serious crisis earlier, Kraush let out a sigh.
“What are you acting so relaxed for when the moment Rona goes off the rails, the secret of Crimson Garden could be exposed?”
“Ha ha ha, I admit that was a bit nerve-wracking. But Rona’s a bit scatterbrained, though she never lies!”
Well, it seems she shares the scatterbrained trait herself, but that’s beside the point.
Anyway, she let out her hearty laugh and placed her hand on her hip.
“So, did you specifically call me for a reason?”
“Keep a close eye on Rona Imblize.”
Upon hearing that, her eyes sparkled for a moment.
“Rona didn’t point to anyone in particular, huh? You’re calculating that a servant of the Black Witch will show up beside her?”
Taria, proving her intelligence as a magic user, grasped the situation right away.
“Yes, from the Black Witch’s perspective, she wouldn’t want her planted servant to be exposed.”
If Rona were to accidentally spill the beans about the servants of the World Erosion, it would be a significant blow on their side.
Naturally, the Black Witch would want to dispose of Rona before that could happen.
Taria, being a first-year student, had more freedom to keep an eye on Rona compared to second-year student Kraush.
“Of course, aside from that, it’s still good to keep monitoring her.”
After hearing Kraush’s words, Taria tilted her head curiously.
“Is there another reason?”
“Just keeping my options open.”
Taria crossed her arms, giving a thoughtful hum and a snort.
“Then if things get dangerous, just call through Crimson Garden. I’ll rush right over.”
Kraush casually pointed to the sky.
There was a crow leisurely soaring through the air above.
Taria glanced up at the sky and grinned.
“Do I look that weak? I could handle myself just fine even without you, little bro!”
As the head of the Magic Department’s first-year students, her pride was quite high.
Especially since she belonged to Crimson Garden; she must’ve picked up a lot of magic and skills.
But the world isn’t just about that.
“If I’m in trouble, I’ll ask for help.”
Taria had just turned 16.
She was undoubtedly a genius, likely to become one of the Ten Great Lords in the future.
However, that was all in the future.
Currently, according to the world standards, she couldn’t be considered that strong yet.
It seemed she hadn’t had much worldly experience and was still somewhat of a fledgling.
So even a genius like her could make a mistake at any moment.
“Especially with the servants of the World Erosion, even if you’re highly skilled, showing off doesn’t help.”
The servants of the World Erosion possess special powers not found in this world.
They create unexpected variables with their own unique training methods.
Kraush had seen countless people die due to such variables.
Naturally, Taria wouldn’t be exempt from those dangers.
“So just call out if anything happens. Two heads are better than one, right?”
“…Hmmm.”
Taria, who had been crossing her arms while listening, eventually released them and adjusted her glasses.
“You’re quite the little old man, aren’t you? Reminds me of the instructors at the Mage Tower.”
“Just call it maturity.”
“Well, I suppose 15 is the age when one likes to feel mature.”
She smiled knowingly, recalling her own similar phase.
Sorry, but I’ve lived at least ten years longer than you.
But Taria had no way of knowing that.
“Alright then. I’ll take your advice, little bro.”
With a wave, Taria turned and left.
Kraush felt a bit unsettled watching her leave.
It made sense, considering that Taria had made a similar mistake in the past due to her pride.
That incident had led her to stay holed up in the Mage Tower.
“Taria, there’s just one thing you should remember.”
Kraush called out to her back.
“The Black Witch can plant servants in others without their consent.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
With that, Taria departed.
Kraush stood there, staring at the spot she had just vacated.
“Crimson Garden, please take care of this.”
[Don’t worry. They’re my servants. I’ll keep a close watch on them.]
On that front, he could trust Crimson Garden.
Kraush stretched his arms wide and cracked his neck loudly.
Today felt especially long for some reason.
“I need to hurry up and report to Darling, then get back to my room and take a break.”
Forget training or anything; the mental fatigue was substantial.
He needed some serious rest.
＊ ＊ ＊
Finally back in his male form, Kraush returned to the dorm with a sense of calmness.
“How did it go?”
The thought of Darling waiting with eager eyes made him feel slightly irritated. But he held it together and finally found his dorm room.
“Oh, Kraush!”
Just as he thought of lying down in bed for a bit, he bumped into his maid, Alicia, standing outside his door.
She waved frantically upon seeing him, and Kraush walked over, puzzled.
“Alicia, why are you outside?”
“There’s a guest inside.”
A guest?
Kraush blinked in surprise.
There was no one scheduled to visit him.
“Who could it be?”
Kraush glanced around.
The kids peeking at him seemed startled and hurriedly retreated into their rooms.
For some reason, the atmosphere in the dorm felt quite chaotic.
Kraush’s eyes were drawn to his own room.
Something about opening that door sent a shiver down his spine.
After a moment of hesitation, Kraush grasped the doorknob and turned it.
Given his personality, he preferred to confront anything that seemed suspicious.
Creak-
As he opened the door, which was unusually stiff today, Kraush stepped inside.
Immediately, he felt the room was far more cramped than usual.
No, cramped doesn’t quite capture it.
It was packed.
That’s because a creature much smaller than his hand was sipping tea in front of the provided table.
As Kraush stared blankly at the creature, he felt a strong urge to shut the door and leave.
However, knowing the creature’s status, he suppressed the urge and spoke out.
“Principal.”
It was none other than the former head of the Sanctuary of Stars, Tuhwang Durandal.
What on earth could it mean to find their principal leisurely enjoying tea in his room?
One thing was for sure; this wholesome vision wasn’t very comforting.
“Oh, Kraush! You finally arrived. You seem busy.”
“Life at Rahern Academy keeps me quite occupied, in many ways.”
“Ha ha, I heard you managed to achieve the top score in the entrance evaluation recently. Congratulations!”
It didn’t seem like the principal had come just to extend congratulations.
Kraush approached him with a more cautious gaze, feeling a sense of wariness.
“Seems you were waiting for me. Is there a reason?”
If there was a reason to meet, he should state it quickly.
Kraush made sure that message was clear.
Durandal broke into a hearty laugh before gesturing to him.
“Have a seat, will you?”
Kraush obliged, and in no time, Alicia quickly placed a cup of tea and snacks in front of him.
Although he had just eaten at the women’s gathering and felt quite stuffed, he took a polite sip of the tea and looked at Durandal.
Before him, a massive bear of a man sat, and facing him made Kraush acutely aware of just how large he was.
The problem, however, was that this giant was agile despite his size.
“Kraush, do you wish to grow stronger?”
It was a sudden question.
But it was a question that held a lot of meaning.
It also resonated with every student in the Magic Department, given that they all probably thought the same.
“Of course.”
“No, what I’m asking goes deeper. Do you have a specific goal in getting stronger?”
Kraush blinked in surprise.
It was because of the serious look in Durandal’s eyes that made him take notice.
Goals.
Of course, I have one.
Back in his desperate days, Kraush lived a pointless life until he made a singular goal.
It was to prevent the world from destruction.
That was the only goal Kraush ever had in his life.
Driven by that singular urgency, he never rested, craving strength.
Had he sensed it?
Even without receiving an answer, Durandal slowly began to smile.
“Those who hold onto their goals become endlessly strong. I’ve seen many such individuals.”
In a time of upheaval, Durandal had witnessed many grow in their own ways or fail along the way.
And wishing for even one extra person not to falter, he built Rahern Academy.
“There was an ancient prophecy passed down from the previous Supreme Sefira.”
The Sefira family, known for astrology, had its prophecy etched in Durandal’s memory.
“I won’t mention the details as revealing the prophecy as that chains you to fate…”
Kraush caught Durandal’s keen gaze, reflecting the intensity of the moment.
“I believe, Kraush, that you are someone who aligns with that prophecy.”
Kraush wore a puzzled frown.
He couldn’t understand what Durandal was trying to imply by taking so long to get to the point.
“Do you know of the Forbidden Art, Dragon’s Fall?”
“D-Dragon’s Fall?”
It was a lethal spell said to summon a disaster dragon.
Durandal had used this to thwart countless servants of the World Erosion.
Because Dragon’s Fall was an anti-World Erosion technique like no other.
Through this art, Durandal had managed to redeploy the powers of the World Erosion against their own.
One notable example was Jenicalen, the associate professor of magic, caught during the noble kidnapping incident.
“I have never produced a successor for the Dragon’s Fall. I have no children, nor have I encountered a worthy master.”
At that moment, Kraush’s eyes opened wide.
It was because he finally understood what Durandal was trying to convey.
“Dragon’s Fall.”
A smile graced Durandal’s lips.
“Kraush, would you like to learn?”
Become the successor of Tuhwang Durandal.
He was essentially saying that.
Kraush froze in disbelief.
It was an utterly absurd stroke of luck.
Facing the servants of the World Erosion, Ikshion next, learning Dragon’s Fall would grant him immense power.
However, there was a problem to consider.
Namely, Kraush himself wielded the power of World Erosion.
Using Dragon’s Fall would mean crashing against the very forces he currently possessed.
It was a path opposite to the one Kraush was currently treading.
What the outcome would be, even he couldn’t predict.
But Kraush wasn’t stupid enough to pass up the opportunity in front of him.
Life was always filled with risks.
What’s most rewarding is how greatly one can overcome those risks—Kraush knew that better than anyone.
‘There has to be a way to wield Dragon’s Fall.’
Thoughts raced through Kraush’s mind.
‘Ah.’
In that instant, a lightning bolt of inspiration struck him.
Just one.
Just one.
If he were to acquire that curse, he could create absurd results.
By sheer coincidence, Kraush was planning to go meet Veltoa Lacroix to obtain the ultimate curse.
As if the puzzle pieces clicked into place, he took another step closer to thwarting the destruction of the world.
Kraush’s blue irises shone fiercely.
“I’ll learn.”
Those with a goal become strong.
That fitted Kraush perfectly.
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