Chapter 86
Yikes, she’s going to catch my eye.
Kraush quickly averted his gaze from Blavi.
It was because Blavi had begun to turn his attention this way.
Not yet, not yet.
But indeed, Blavi did look at Kraush for a moment before he turned away.
That was because, in Kraush’s guise as Krad, it was impossible to tell where he was actually looking.
The Darling’s potion wasn’t something that could unveil the truth unless it was some deep magic or divine insight.
[…What on earth did that kid brew this potion for?]
Only Crimson Garden, having sensed his obsession, showed a look of bewilderment.
“What are you talking about?”
Of course, Kraush, who had no expertise in alchemy, remained clueless.
“Hello there, Serang Sephira.”
“Nice to meet you! You’re Lilish Valheim, right?”
In the meantime, Serang and Lilish exchanged brief greetings.
After all, they were the heads of their respective factions.
During this exchange, Kraush observed Serang.
Blavi’s rampage was triggered by her death.
The astrological arts that could resolve Blavi’s murderous nature had been passed down only to rank-one officials.
If she were to die, Blavi, unable to control his fury, would rampage enough to prompt the World Eroder to declare war.
Wait a minute, could it be…
A hint of unease flickered behind Kraush’s eyelids.
Blavi was a matter he wanted to postpone for as long as possible.
Approaching him directly was difficult enough, and the cause—Serang—was no different.
Above all, Blavi was not someone Kraush was particularly familiar with.
Just a dog for Sephira, that’s all.
He was someone entirely unrelated to the Zephyr generation.
Arthur had seized Sephira through Blavi’s rampage.
Sephira turning into Arthur’s dog had everything to do with Blavi’s meltdown.
When Blavi attempted to rein in his chains, he almost lost his mind, but Arthur saved him by claiming the price as his own.
Therefore, I thought this was not an immediate problem.
But as Kraush contemplated, one idea came to mind.
I have the Black Hood.
It’s about stealing the murderer’s essence, that thought.
At that moment, he hadn’t anticipated Blavi’s rampage, nor dared to think of stealing the essence.
If he attempted to steal it, Kraush would surely attract all sorts of chaos.
The essence would amplify the effects of curses I hold.
Thinking about the incredible synergy that would occur when joined with his existing curses was enough to give him a headache.
Thus, he had kept the essence out of his mind.
Of course, he calculated he’d continue borrowing powers of a curse for the future.
However, among those few options,
Excluding the dangerous ones, the essence wasn’t too shabby.
The essence heightened the owner’s hostility towards others, effectively empowering them as well.
Yet, Kraush already possessed a marvelous way to suppress this hostility.
The Eye Doll can restrain the essence’s bloodlust.
That wasn’t all.
The essence’s curse amplification clearly would affect the Eye Doll too.
Amplifying the Eye Doll will allow me to suppress the world’s erosion madness that comes with strengthening the essence.
Kraush’s eyes lit up.
Though it was an entirely different direction from his original plan,
Plans must adapt according to circumstances.
Perhaps I can take this chance.
He couldn’t blatantly use the Black Hood against Blavi.
Otherwise, who knew what that would trigger the moment he became the target of his skill.
Ultimately, I’ll need to target…
Serang Sephira.
He has to convince the princess who holds his leash.
He felt a twinge of regret.
Had he come in his true form, he could have at least approached her once.
Should I change now?
For now, it was safe not to jump to conclusions.
Puff-puff-
At that moment, Kraush felt something tugging at his clothes.
As he looked down, why was Bianca staring at him with a pout?
“What’s the matter?”
When Kraush asked curiously, Bianca looked as if she was utterly confused.
“I feel something off. Don’t stare at her for too long.”
At the mention of staring too long, Kraush tilted his head.
Was she referring to Serang?
Even gazing at the veiled figure made it impossible to discern her face.
Given Bianca’s pouty expression, he decided to let that slide.
“Hey, all you Swords, Edge, and Dusk members, stay on standby. Leaders, follow me. We’re having a meeting with Sephira.”
During that time, Lilish led the heads towards Sephira.
The vice-commanders told everyone else to take a break, resulting in a short respite before their deployment.
“Wow, Krad, you were incredible back there.”
Perhaps because of that, discussions about how Krad had knocked a member of the Verdant Blade emerged naturally.
“Showing off for your little sister, huh?”
“Well, if it’s family, I wouldn’t let it slide either.”
Some praised Kraush as if he were much younger, finding his courage commendable.
To them, he seemed like a relatively younger individual, so they revered his valor.
“That said, I’m concerned. The Verdant Blade guys must be fuming.”
“Getting knocked out by a member of the Blue Sea? They must be furious and going crazy about it.”
On the other hand, some had worries and concerns.
Since they belonged to the same Valheim order, and they were Edge and Dusk, clashes were inevitable.
In truth, Kraush was too busy with his own thoughts.
Given the reaction from the higher-ups, the Verdant Blade wouldn’t dare touch him.
Now what concerned Kraush was how to steal the essence.
He had long forgotten about the Verdant Blade.
“Krad oppa.”
At that moment, Bianca tugged at his clothes again.
Just as Kraush was about to say he hadn’t seen anything,
His body froze.
This was because Serang was walking straight towards him.
“Caw-caw!”
In that instant, Crimson Garden shot into the sky.
Blavi was quick to follow her, making a speedy exit.
“Oh, uh, there.”
“Serang Sephira?”
The Blue Sea knights reacted in startled confusion.
For them, the daughter of Sephira’s chief stepping so close was nothing short of a shock.
I thought she was following Lilish, why is she here?
Kraush had momentary doubts buzzing in his head.
Though he had glanced over briefly, he wasn’t alone in the gaze towards Serang.
That didn’t make it a reasonable reason for her to approach him directly.
Did she catch something?
Kraush had relatively less information about Serang.
After all, she had already died by the time Sephira served as Arthur’s dog.
So perhaps she had seen something through her astrology regarding him.
While Kraush’s mind raced, Serang approached him without any hesitation.
“Hello there!”
And then came the inexplicable greeting.
Simultaneously, Blavi, who had followed her, opened his eyes slightly.
“…A curse?”
It was a response as he sensed the power of the world’s erosion dwelling within Kraush.
Kraush swallowed hard.
This was precisely why he had postponed matters regarding Blavi and Serang.
Her information was likely to become the most variable in play.
Meanwhile, Serang lowered herself before Kraush.
“Why do you possess three skills?”
And in a whispering tone, her question continued, causing Kraush’s face to harden.
Her peach-colored lashes were now visible beyond the veil, tightly wrapped around his disguised features.
This woman wasn’t looking at the world in a conventional way.
She had senses akin to Kraush’s sixth sense, but distinctly different.
The traditional astrology passed down in Sephira dwelled in territories unreachable by ordinary humans.
Through that, Serang was currently looking straight through Kraush.
He had been discovered with the secret of holding three skills.
And the moment this fact came to light, Kraush’s previously stiff expression instantly changed.
Serang noticing the shift in his expression was a given.
What was on his face was not perplexity but rather the demeanor of an opportunist.
“Serang Sephira.”
Therefore, Kraush decided to go bold.
“Let’s have a little chat.”
Kraush preferred encountering variables directly rather than shying away from them.
“A chat, is it?”
Serang showed a brief moment of contemplation.
Then a smile graced her lips.
“Sounds good! I think it could be fun!”
And thus, an unexpected dialogue opportunity was created.
＊ ＊ ＊
Receiving gazes from members of the Blue Sea and all other knights, Kraush followed the two.
Bianca had been left with Crimson Garden.
She had wanted to follow but realized she didn’t belong in that conversation.
Thus, Kraush moved along with Serang to a tent erected before Sephira’s Magic Labyrinth.
“This should be a more comfortable setting for a chat, huh?”
“Definitely.”
Kraush had no intention of broadcasting their conversation to all ears.
He shot a glance at Blavi.
Fortunately, after the initial reaction to the curse, he hadn’t taken any further action towards Kraush.
His sole purpose was to follow and protect Serang’s orders.
He wouldn’t move unless Serang wanted to engage in dialogue.
“Alright, sit comfortably!”
As Serang moved freely within the tent, Kraush pulled out a chair to sit.
Meanwhile, Serang grabbed a tin full of cookies and placed it before Kraush.
“Do you like sweets?”
“Not particularly.”
“Oh, but girls usually do. What a shame.”
She promptly bit into a cookie and flashed a grin.
“Sweet things always put me in a good mood. So is it true you wanted to chat with me?”
Her conversation flowed haphazardly.
Was she mood-driven, or was this all calculated?
Kraush wasn’t sure.
Instead of prattling on, he simply raised his hand.
At that moment, the cookie in Serang’s hand vanished.
And along with it, it appeared in Kraush’s palm.
The partially eaten cookie was certainly the one Serang had been enjoying.
Swish-
At that moment, Blavi’s earring transformed into a sword that was now poised at Kraush’s neck.
The instant Kraush used his skill, it was as if Blavi had acted.
If he had intended to strike, he might have even used the fierce erosion to evade.
But Kraush realized this sword was merely a warning.
Don’t use your skills recklessly in front of Serang.
“Blavi, put it down.”
As soon as Serang’s words fell, Blavi retracted the sword.
Seriously, it’s like you’ve got a screw loose, old man.
Having lived through rough times, he showed no weakness in his actions.
While Kraush quietly criticized Blavi, Serang lightly licked the cookie crumbs off her hand.
Then she smiled brightly at Kraush.
“What an interesting skill you have. Are you going to show me more?”
“I’ve got only this I’m willing to show you. Instead, I’d like to propose something beneficial for you, Serang.”
Serang seemed intrigued, her chin resting in her hand.
“Alright, what kind of proposal?”
“Blavi’s essence.”
As soon as his name was mentioned, Blavi’s eyebrows twitched.
He, alleged to have retired and passed away, had returned through a reversal of fate, but his identity remained concealed.
Now that Kraush had revealed it, he couldn’t help but react.
Yet, Serang merely wore a surprised smile, showing no significant reaction.
“That would be quite beneficial for Blavi.”
This was a promising start.
“And, quite detrimental for Sephira.”
Indicating underlying negativity.
“Blavi is an excellent guardian for Sephira. His essence is akin to a curse for him, but at the same time, it’s what leashes him to Sephira.”
If that leash were to be cut, Blavi would no longer have any reason to remain loyal to Sephira.
That point was what Serang was getting at.
“So, without that leash, you can’t trust your loyal dog, huh?”
After all, he was a man who had lived his entire life for Sephira.
Kraush questioned, seeing if she could trust someone like Blavi.
She merely shrugged lightly as if indifferent.
“Whether we trust Blavi or not, that’s for us to decide. The little lady merely wants to point out that this offer lacks significant value as a proposal.”
In essence, whether or not Kraush wanted to take the essence from Blavi, it mattered little.
But if he desired it, he had to pay the cost, was her implication.
Realizing that Serang was not an easy opponent, Kraush chuckled slowly, albeit regretfully.
Unfortunately, she wasn’t a simple type, either.
“Two years from now, at Olfied Lake in the garden of Sephira.”
Kraush mentioned a specific date.
“I’ll save your life.”
That was an unexpected declaration.
Yet, between his closed eyelids, Kraush’s eyes gleamed brightly.
“That’s my trading condition.”
“…Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds?”
“Yet you know I am aware that you don’t know about the types of my skills.”
When Kraush first used the Black Hood,
Serang had a curious reaction.
At that point, she knew how many skills Kraush possessed.
But the specific skills he had remained unknown.
Moreover, just moments ago, Kraush had revealed Blavi’s identity, which should remain unknown to anyone aside from Sephira’s top ranks.
As if suggesting there’s a way for him to figure out Blavi’s identity.
That realization ran parallel with his earlier declaration of saving her life, creating simple doubts in Serang’s mind.
Kraush might have a skill related to prophecy.
Serang chose silence.
Geniuses tend to think about ten steps ahead when you throw them a bone.
Kraush perceived that Serang was of the same caliber as the First Prince, Hilda.
Thus, he threw the dice without hesitation.
“Say, you know Blavi’s skill well.”
Serang’s lips hardened.
Blavi’s skill.
The ability to penetrate the truth.
Veritas.
A deceptive skill capable of discerning whether the words and intentions of the other party are sincere or lies.
That was the reason Kraush found it hard to resolve matters with Blavi cavalierly.
The instant he approached with falsehood, Blavi would undoubtedly draw his sword.
Nevertheless, in this encounter, Kraush spoke only the truth.
Serang made eye contact with Blavi.
Then Blavi nodded with a somewhat reluctant expression.
This was proof that Kraush’s words were entirely truthful.
“The truth spoken by your loyal dog. If it’s your life, I’d say that’s more than enough of a trading price.”
Kraush cast the dice.
All that remained was to see how she would respond.
Serang, who had been laughing freely throughout, suddenly stiffened in silence.
Kraush held three skills.
One of those might very well be something that could neutralize Blavi’s power.
However, as if to dissolve the last lingering doubt,
Kraush summoned a small flame above his hand.
The clearly glowing black flame was unmistakably a skill.
Fwoosh.
Kraush had deliberately shown off his second skill.
Armed with information not easily accessible to others,
It meant that none of those three skills would actually serve to counter Blavi’s.
It was akin to declaring checkmate on the board.
“…Could you give me some time to think?”
“Sure.”
Kraush pulled out the chair and stood up.
Merely having made her ponder was sufficient to validate the worth of this conversation.
As he turned to leave, he briefly made eye contact with Blavi, but Kraush passed him by.
Undoubtedly, he had no reason to fear as long as he didn’t have his master’s orders.
Minutes later, after Kraush had walked out.
“Phee-hee.”
Serang, who had been standing stiff and proper, suddenly collapsed onto the desk.
The ease and spirit she’d shown before Kraush were nowhere to be seen.
She now resembled a girl of her age, flustered and fidgeting.
“Blavi, I was just curious about how he came to have three skills. Was that wrong?”
Not a saint nor a simple knight, just a mystery-seeking query led to such sudden revelations.
With each word Kraush had uttered, she had been forced to tread lightly.
Perhaps that’s why, recalling the earlier conversation, she began to pace anxiously.
“What do we do, Blavi?”
“Follow the lady’s wishes.”
Even if she managed to draw out a deal, the reality of her confusion was far too great.
“I shouldn’t have meddled. He looks really suspicious, scary even. Just like one of those shadowy figures in fairy tales.”
Shuddering in fear, she recalled the ever-gloomy visage of Kraush, who seemed to perpetually wear a mask of slumber.
Unbeknownst to her, her face wasn’t too different.
Feeling as if she’d indeed stepped into an irretrievable misstep, she wore an expression of distress while thinking.
Huff-huff.
Having guessed too little about Serang, Kraush blew his nose.
Time will reveal exactly what steps I need to prepare next. Should I have a chat with that Crimson Garden gal about how to deal with Serang?
The lack of information can sometimes lead one to overestimate their opponent.
Kraush temporarily brushed aside the fact that she was indeed the Sephira princess.
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