### Chapter 344
Aura.
The power created by the world to protect itself.
Kraush stood alone in Sephira’s training room, having absorbed this power through the cracks in the world.
The inner layer of Aura, crafted using the fissures of the world.
Kraush had long been researching how to utilize it.
After much contemplation, he devised a method.
It was to melt the internal layer of Aura within the independent space of the skill Sable.
“Entering Sable’s independent space stops the flow of time.”
Sable, which can contain even things without a form, was what Kraush aimed to fill with the Aura melted through Ignis.
The Aura melted by Ignis would become something Kraush could use at any time.
And once it was melted with Ignis, it would remain in a melted state through Sable.
“Then, I’ll open Sable within my body that holds the Aura.”
The Sable opened inside Kraush would pour out the Aura, supplying it directly to his physical form.
Through this process, Kraush would maintain a state of nearly infinite supply of Aura, similar to what he experienced from the world’s fissures.
Sable acted as a new vessel for Kraush.
He needed to remedy his insufficient vessel through Sable.
This was precisely why Kraush sought to obtain Sable.
“But the problem will be the process of loading the Aura into Sable.”
Kraush looked at the inner layer of Aura before him.
There were a total of 18 pieces remaining.
One had been consumed to defeat Sigrid.
“And most of that escaped before I could even use it.”
His physical body couldn’t handle the overflowing Aura, so most of that power had scattered into thin air.
“So this time, I have to absorb all of the power into Sable.”
Kraush found himself needing to go through the process of melting the inner layer of Aura again through Ignis.
Letting out a short sigh, Kraush thought, “Thank goodness I extracted all of it.”
If any layer had been left, he would’ve died trying to melt them all at once.
Kraush didn’t have a technique to melt things one at a time inside his body.
He picked up an inner layer of Aura.
Tension spread across Kraush’s face.
To swallow the inner layer of Aura, he had just intentionally poured out white flames.
As a result, his vessel for Aura was empty.
However, remembering Sigrid’s instance, he felt like an overflowing Aura could shatter his body.
[ If I die around 18 times, that’ll be something. ]
The honest evaluation from Crimson Garden followed.
“I’m not gonna die.”
He wasn’t about to sacrifice his life for the sake of merely living.
Having made his determination, Kraush swallowed the inner layer of Aura.
Flare!
He lit the inner layer of Aura with Ignis as it crossed over his throat.
In that moment, the inner layer of Aura began to slowly melt away.
The melting Aura gradually spread inside Kraush’s body.
“No need to rush this time like I did with Sigrid.”
Back then, he needed to face Sigrid immediately, so he melted it all at once.
But now, that wasn’t necessary.
Therefore, Kraush proceeded to slowly melt and draw out the Aura, avoiding any undue strain on his body.
Flare!
At that moment, white flames of Aura flowed out.
“Sable.”
Kraush immediately activated Sable.
The white flames flowing into the air were devoured by the space of Sable and disappeared.
Kraush continued this process repetitively.
Although he felt like his body was burning in a forge, he could handle it.
He had done this enough times by now.
With tenacity, Kraush burned the inner layer of Aura.
Finally, at the moment he burned through an entire piece of it…
“Whew, huh.”
Kraush’s face was drenched in sweat.
With half-closed eyes, he braced himself against the ground.
A day and a half had passed.
For an entire day, he hadn’t stopped burning Aura.
Even for Kraush, that had significantly dulled his senses.
He looked at the remaining 17 pieces of inner layer Aura before him.
He had to go through all 17 more.
“Dang it.”
He took the water he had prepared beside him and gulped it down.
Even though it was lukewarm from the heat of his body, it didn’t bother him.
After finishing a bottle of water, Kraush practically devoured the grain biscuits and jerky he had prepared as well.
And then, he collapsed onto the ground as if fainting.
Even if he had to do it piece by piece, he would definitely melt all 17 of them into Sable.
Kraush closed his eyes quietly with determination in his gaze.
Only his repetitive breathing echoed in the training room.
*
Two weeks had passed since then.
Kraush lay sprawled out in the training room of Sephira, gazing at the sky.
The blue sky sent sweet floral scents on the wind.
Winter had given way, announcing the arrival of spring.
Kraush slowly lifted his body.
Perhaps it was because he had been swallowing only Aura for a while.
His body felt somewhat stiff and sore.
He gently stretched.
Fortunately, there were no broken parts.
Kraush exhaled a long breath.
Then, he clenched his fist tightly.
“Sable.”
In that moment, Sable activated within him.
Flare!
At the same time, white flames surged fiercely from his grasp.
The intensity was much greater than before.
“…It worked.”
Kraush extinguished the white flames from his hand.
He bit his lips tightly.
Sable had successfully activated.
His efforts over the past two weeks had borne fruit.
“I was lucky to have figured out the knack in the middle.”
Otherwise, it would have taken at least a month just to melt Aura.
The two-week period was only possible thanks to that newfound understanding.
Kraush opened the training room door.
He headed straight to the bathroom.
After two weeks of burning nothing but Aura, he looked beyond salvation as a human.
However, there was an additional benefit from burning the Aura as well.
“My sensitivity to Aura has noticeably improved.”
As a result of burning Aura for two weeks, he felt as if Aura itself had permeated into his physical senses.
[ Isn’t that obvious since you’ve been soaked in Aura? ]
At that, Crimson Garden expressed disbelief.
[ If you were soaked in salt that much, you’d die. ]
“I’m not dying, so stop saying that.”
Kraush replied, wiping the water from his head with a towel.
Crimson Garden had been on the death bandwagon for a while now.
“If I die, the one who grants you immortality will vanish too.”
As he said this, he draped the towel around his neck.
For some reason, Crimson Garden fell silent.
[ …Kraush. ]
In that moment, Crimson Garden spoke up.
With a voice that sounded a little heavy, Kraush looked up.
Because her tone was notably somber.
[ Do you really want to take on immortality? ]
Hearing Crimson Garden’s next words, Kraush halted.
[ Immortality is a curse. Moreover, it will become the worst curse you possess. ]
Crimson Garden continued in a regretful tone.
She too was beginning to feel it.
It wouldn’t be long before the day arrived when Kraush would truly accept immortality.
[ Back then, I thought you would continue moving forward alone. ]
Kraush had never truly opened up to those around him.
Part of this stemmed from the effects of his reincarnation, and perhaps he unconsciously felt Arthur’s betrayal.
However, as time passed to reach today.
Kraush now had countless people around him.
[ Those by your side will eventually leave one by one due to their natural lifespan. ]
Eventually, Kraush would find himself alone.
Imagining the scene of his beloved ones breaking apart was more painful than he could imagine.
This, Crimson Garden understood best.
[ The pain of parting, no matter how accustomed one becomes, can never truly be familiar. Loneliness is even more so. ]
Kraush undoubtedly already knew the pain of parting.
Through his reincarnation, he had experienced countless farewells.
But even so, the thought of parting would continue to chip away at Kraush’s heart.
[ So why not reconsider accepting my immortality? ]
Crimson Garden spoke sincerely.
Upon hearing this, Kraush fell into silence for a moment.
He then broke into a wry smile.
“I’ve already eaten away quite a bit of my lifespan, so that’s not happening.”
[ …When someone speaks sincerely, you should pay heed, you scoundrel. ]
Crimson Garden sounded a bit angry.
“Don’t worry about it.”
Kraush reassured the irked Crimson Garden.
“I have Ignis. If it gets desperate, I can just burn immortality away.”
[ Do you really think that’s easy? My immortality… ]
“I know what kind of person I am, and you of all people know me best, Crimson Garden.”
At that, Crimson Garden fell silent.
She had been the one watching over Kraush closely.
Thus, she understood Kraush better than anyone.
“Crimson Garden, this was a promise between you and me.”
In exchange for making Kraush strong, he would steal immortality.
This was a promise that had lingered since their first meeting.
“I do keep my promises.”
Kraush smiled, assuring her not to worry.
“And at the very least, I’ve promised that those who stay together with me will do so until they die.”
He randomly kicked at the corpse rat in his pocket.
Kraush hadn’t forgotten his promise to Ebelasque either.
“So don’t go crying when I take away immortality later.”
[ You… ]
Crimson Garden seemed to have a lot to say, but she held back.
[ …Fine, since that’s your stance, I won’t press further on this topic. ]
Instead, seeing her speak with understanding, Kraush grinned.
“Are you scared that I’ll take it away soon?”
[ Don’t be ridiculous. You’re still far from reaching my level. ]
Well, of course.
With a chuckle, Kraush opened the bathroom door.
Just then, he stopped in his tracks as he saw someone standing at the doorway.
A woman, dressed in pajamas and smeared with ink, looked a bit pale as she approached.
“…Seirang?”
As Kraush carefully called the name, Seirang raised the manuscript in her hand.
It was none other than her new work.
“…Kraush, take a look.”
As Kraush received the manuscript she handed over, she turned and began to walk away.
Her appearance resembled that of a general who had just completed a grueling battle.
It looked like she had gone through quite the ordeal over those two weeks as well.
“Ebelasque.”
Kraush called quietly, and the corpse rat popped up, climbing onto his shoulder.
Its eyes sparkled brighter than anything Kraush had ever seen.
“Let’s read it together.”
It was time to delve into a novel.
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