### Chapter 366
The Sensation of Floating
Kraush felt like he was floating.
It seemed he had pushed himself to the limit and this was the result.
How long did this floating sensation last?
Gradually feeling lethargic, Kraush slowly lifted his eyelids.
Then he realized he was leaning against someone’s thigh.
He quickly figured out who that someone was.
After all, no one else could cover that much area above him.
Only Ebelasque or one other person would fit that bill.
“…Astria.”
As Kraush called her name, Astria’s sun-kissed hair swayed in front of him.
“You’re awake?”
It looked like she had her head bowed.
Sorry, but it was hard to see her face from this angle.
Kraush finally shifted a bit and propped himself up.
As he did, he caught Astria’s slightly sulky expression.
“How are you feeling?”
She asked about his condition, and Kraush lightly waved his arm.
“I’m good.”
“Of course you are. Someone healed you, didn’t they?”
Astria scoffed, then immediately turned her head.
Kraush glanced around, quickly realizing they were inside Ebelasque’s ghost carriage.
‘Looks like Ebelasque is up front.’
She was probably taking him to a nearby area of magic chaos, just as he had asked.
He decided to save his thanks for later.
Kraush looked back at Astria, tilting his head.
After all, he was curious why Astria was in the carriage with him.
Seeing the question in his eyes, Astria replied with a sigh.
“Talia Valess asked me to help. She said your condition was critical.”
Talia Valess.
The future brain king and a servant of Crimson Garden.
She must’ve relayed Crimson Garden’s request to Astria.
Kraush scratched his head awkwardly.
“Well, I had my reasons…”
“You always do.”
With Astria shooting him a glare, Kraush stopped scratching his head.
Having Astria beside him would make it easier to navigate through the kingdom.
So, it was hard to just brush this off.
“Sorry, I tried to close off the magic chaos and it ended up like this. And I’m planning to keep doing it.”
Astria stared at him for a moment.
Then, after a quick flicker of emotions, she let out a big sigh.
“I heard the World Eroder tell me directly. And I saw with my own eyes that you actually closed off the magic chaos, the Rain’s Remnant.”
Well, that was a relief that the conversation was moving quickly.
“Moreover, it’s a magic chaos that no one has managed to close until now. I know just how amazing that is.”
The magic chaos that even the Sanctuary of Stars couldn’t handle.
Kraush had closed it.
This was undoubtedly a remarkable achievement that wouldn’t be repeated in the world.
But putting all that aside, Astria felt a weight in her chest.
Every time Kraush came to her, he was hurt.
Sometimes, it was severe to the point of being speechless.
Seeing her beloved come to her in such a state was naturally difficult for Astria to endure.
Yet she had continued to treat him time and again.
Only she could heal him.
But.
But.
“The fact that you want to close the magic chaos…”
Astria looked at Kraush, suppressing her emotions.
The magic chaos wasn’t called that for no reason.
It was a place beyond human control and a place from which the world had been stolen.
That was the magic chaos.
There were countless magic chaos locations in the world.
Moreover, there were different levels of difficulty in each.
The magic chaos that existed long before humanity had its systems and powers was akin to a hellish nightmare.
Yet Kraush seemed determined to step into that chaos.
His goal included erasing it from this world forever.
Kraush was currently walking into the most dangerous place in the world all by himself.
Astria couldn’t bear to watch him in that state.
She feared he may never come back.
“Why, why is it always just you…”
Astria looked at Kraush with the feeling that her repressed emotions were finally bursting forth.
What kind of twisted fate did her beloved carry?
Why was he treading the most treacherous path in the world?
As someone who had watched over Kraush till now, Astria simply couldn’t accept that fate.
Kraush gazed at the tearful Astria and lifted his hand.
Then he slowly wrapped her in a hug.
Because the expression Astria wore right now reminded him of the time she had given him all her strength to save him.
“Astria, I’m sorry. And thank you for always being there.”
As Kraush offered his apologies alongside his thanks, Astria buried her face in his chest, trembling.
Having only seen Kraush hurt time after time, she was terrified he might return to her as a corpse.
Kraush, knowing her heart, gently patted her back.
“I… thought about not healing you this time.”
As Astria grumbled, Kraush bitterly smiled.
If he didn’t heal her, he could at least rest during that time.
Astria understood this and felt like teasing him.
“But it’s you, after all.”
If he were hurt, he would definitely go out into the world again.
She understood he would never just take a break.
So, in the end, she had to treat him again.
“You know me well. My life’s pretty stubborn.”
Astria jabbed Kraush’s shoulder playfully.
“You’re not invulnerable, you know? You’re just as human as I am.”
Indeed, Kraush was just as human as Astria, despite his abilities.
Even if Kraush’s body healed perfectly, the experiences he went through would leave mental scars.
“…Do you have any idea how many magic chaos locations exist?”
“Quite a few.”
There are countless magic chaos locations scattered around the world.
To cover them all would take more than one body.
Yet Kraush was determined to do so.
“Astria, you must have heard too. You know what’s happening with the runaway magic chaos right now.”
By the time Kraush arrived at the Rain’s Remnant, the Most Horrific Seed had already taken root.
Other magic chaos locations were likely the same.
The world was truly in chaos.
In certain areas, whole homes had already been swallowed up by the magic chaos expansion.
There wasn’t enough time to put out a fire, much less put everything back in order.
“I can’t just sit back and let the magic chaos continue to spread.”
Astria had once been a Holy Maiden.
She understood the damage caused when the Holy Maiden failed to fulfill her role.
Those with power had the responsibility to wield it.
This was something Astria understood better than anyone.
And right now, Kraush was doing just that.
He had the power to close the magic chaos, so he was doing everything he could to close it.
‘Besides, the situation is better than before.’
On the day the World Eroders bloomed the Most Horrific Seeds in all the magic chaos, the world couldn’t even respond in time; it was just engulfed in chaos.
But now, the world was responding appropriately.
Unlike back then, no city or country had fallen.
The world had to be fully capable of holding back the rampaging magic chaos by itself.
This was the best situation they could hope for.
‘The only variables left are Ixion’s remaining minions and…’
The Red Witch, Abella.
If you exclude her mysterious intentions, the world was undoubtedly moving toward the best possible scenario.
So, Kraush couldn’t afford to rest.
This was the best chance they would ever have.
“Trust me. The things you worry about will definitely not happen.”
Kraush declared he would never return to Astria in the form of a corpse.
Hearing this, Astria bit her lip and pulled away from Kraush’s embrace.
“…I’d rather trust the boy who cried wolf.”
But still, Astria would trust Kraush once again.
“I will definitely keep the promise I made before.”
“Humph.”
Astria scoffed, crossing her arms and looking away.
Still, she seemed slightly relieved.
Then, as if she remembered something suddenly, she turned back to Kraush.
“By the way, I heard a little something.”
Kraush blinked in surprise.
Was there more to discuss?
As Astria puffed up her cheeks, he wasn’t sure what was coming next.
“You decided to take Haring in, huh?”
Where on earth did she hear that?
Kraush’s face went blank, and Astria’s expression morphed into one of indignation.
“…I confessed too, you know.”
Before he knew it, Astria punched Kraush lightly in the chest.
“I confessed! I did all sorts of things! I even gave you a first kiss, saying you’d take responsibility!”
Her punches began to grow more spirited.
Kraush silently took the hits.
After a while, Astria looked up at him with a pout, her eyes brimming with tears.
“Why can’t I…?”
Back when Bianca was in the picture, Astria had been okay with it.
She had already shared her heart with Kraush and was engaged to him.
But Haring was different.
On top of that, Astria had known Kraush longer than Haring.
It was heartbreaking and painful to realize that someone else was accepted while she wasn’t.
“Do you dislike me? Am I not good enough as a woman?”
Tears streaming down her cheeks, Astria looked down.
Aside from her pride as a woman, it broke her heart that the man she loved didn’t love her back.
Watching Astria like that, Kraush raised his hand.
Then, he gently cupped her cheek.
She radiated warmth akin to the sun, stronger than Kraush himself.
Thanks to that, he could feel her warmth through her cheek.
Kraush had never been able to accept Astria’s love.
Perhaps it was due to memories from before his reincarnation.
Kraush owed her his life.
She had sacrificed herself to save him, and thanks to the strength she had bestowed upon him, he had survived until the end.
That was the strength that had kept him going until now.
Perhaps because of that.
Kraush could never give a hasty answer to Astria’s confession.
Every time he pushed himself, memories of Astria’s face haunted him.
He thought of the answers he had never received from her when he called her name.
Terrified, Kraush continued to evade her replies.
Those past events had become a trauma for him.
But now.
Seeing her cry so pitifully right before him.
“Astria.”
It was a feeling he had known for a long time.
Having intertwined with her in various ways even before his reincarnation.
Kraush recalled the time Astria used to pout and complain when only he was around.
That version of Astria no longer existed.
Yet her actions and kindness had forever remained etched in Kraush’s heart.
“I have never disliked you, not even once.”
“If that’s the case…”
Just as Astria raised her gaze to question why he hadn’t accepted her.
She suddenly felt a soft touch against her lips, making her eyes go wide.
Then she slowly wrapped her arms around Kraush.
After a moment passed.
As Kraush pulled back, Astria’s face was bright red.
She had entirely forgotten about her tears and was looking around in embarrassment.
“I was just being a fool, hesitating only because I’m a coward. You’ve never been lacking as a woman.”
And now, she had finally made her decision.
“Astria, if you’re okay with this me, please stand with me.”
It felt like Kraush had somewhat padded his usual behavior towards her.
Though he had to beat around the bush a bit.
Seeing Astria’s glowing expression made it feel like the message had been delivered well enough.
“…Okay.”
Hearing her reply, Kraush smiled.
Everything should be alright now.
For a brief moment, Kraush thought back to the old Astria before his reincarnation.
The one who would always just complain.
If only he had found the courage to act sooner, perhaps she could have been grinning like this.
Sadness and joy.
Experiencing various emotions, Kraush accepted Astria that day.
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