Chapter 87
Kraush quickly initiated a conversation with Crimson Garden.
She was quite suitable for obtaining advice in such matters.
Hmm, it seems like he wants to buy time to throw more trade conditions into the mix.
Crimson Garden’s thoughts weren’t far from Kraush’s own.
“Kraush, how valuable do you think the Thousand Deaths is?”
There are clear drawbacks, but it possesses exceptional destructive power. The essence of the Thousand Deaths resides within the body itself.
Indeed, its worth significantly varies depending on the individual.
Maybe I shouldn’t have let her know that it’s valuable to me.
He felt a mix of regret and the realization that, given Blavi’s skill, lying was pointless.
For now, he could only be satisfied that they were on the negotiating table.
“Crimson Garden, do you know what kind of person Serang Sephira is?”
Kraush thought Mirvis, Crimson Garden’s subordinate, must have interacted with Serang at least a few times since Mirvis ranked as a third-class official of the Sephira.
Serang Sephira doesn’t become the princess of Sephira for nothing. Being part of Sephira, there’s even less chance I could talk to her.
Her known public persona was primarily characterized by a lively and curious nature.
Serang kept her face veiled, maintaining an air of mystique.
As a result, Crimson Garden didn’t have much information about Serang either.
Well, I’ve come to know a few things about her for other reasons.
That information didn’t really clarify who Serang was.
I’ll run into her sooner or later anyway.
Kraush decided not to dwell on it further.
Because at that moment, the meeting had concluded, and Lilish along with the knights returned.
“Krad, your sister’s room has been prepared.”
Reblian approached Kraush with that announcement.
It seemed Bianca had managed to find the tent set up by Sephira.
“Bianca.”
Kraush waved at Bianca.
Naturally, Bianca couldn’t follow him into the Magic Labyrinth.
“I’ll be back.”
He patted her head as she drew closer.
Following Kraush’s gesture, Bianca moved her head and then raised her hand to grasp his.
“Don’t get hurt.”
“Why do you always talk like I routinely get hurt?”
“You always come back all beaten up, don’t you?”
Well, that’s more like pushing myself too hard, but alright.
It seemed that to Bianca, both expressions meant the same thing, and he made a note of it.
Having said goodbye to Bianca, Kraush asked Reblian to take good care of her.
She would probably be reading a book while waiting inside the tent.
Meanwhile, the knights that had prepared finally moved toward the walls of the Magic Labyrinth.
Naturally, Kraush joined the ranks of the Blue Sea knights.
The members were curious about what Kraush and Serang had discussed but refrained from asking.
They assumed there was something personal going on.
If nothing else, the Blue Sea knights are probably the most decent folks around.
It didn’t seem like Vega was the one instilling that demeanor; it was likely Reblian’s influence.
“Everyone, keep your ears open and listen carefully.”
In that moment, the vice-commandant, stepping in for Lilish, began to speak.
“This expedition into the Magic Labyrinth is aimed at dealing with newly grown named beings in the vicinity of the eastern entrance before they engage in a power struggle with existing named beings.”
The Magic Labyrinth was on a scale so vast that it surpassed typical world erosion.
Thus, numerous named erosion entities thrived within it, continuously escalating their struggle for power.
Named beings in the labyrinth consume the strength of the world’s erosion that their opponent possesses.
It was a method similar to the lethal venom technique Kraush had learned.
This constant devouring empowered the erosion entities each time they defeated another.
Therefore, when two entities, each strong enough to engulf a section of the labyrinth, were about to confront each other, it became imperative for humans to intervene and eliminate either or both.
The moment one emerged victorious and proceeded to devour the other, an uncontrollable level of erosion would be unleashed.
This expedition was prompted by an erosion entity that had suddenly grown stronger.
The fact that Sephira couldn’t manage it and hastily called for Valheim showed how critical the situation was.
The Magic Labyrinth…
Kraush sighed softly, gazing at the labyrinth.
One of the major regions, the Magic Labyrinth, required constant oversight due to its characteristics.
However, when war broke out between the Empire and Staron, all other kingdoms began hoarding power, effectively cutting off support to the labyrinth.
Sephira was struggling desperately to contain the Magic Labyrinth.
Though Sephira’s military wasn’t particularly robust, they specialized in investigating world erosion rather than subduing it.
Ultimately, after reaching a breaking point, the infighting within the labyrinth continued to escalate.
As a result, a monumental erosion entity capable of shattering the walls surrounding the labyrinth was birthed.
This entity annihilated all the tribes residing in the plains and eventually assaulted the Empire.
The Empire, which diverted all its resources to the war, was utterly devastated.
Ironically, the war ended thanks to that erosion entity.
The war and all that jazz—it disrupted the Empire’s defenses.
However, by the time the knights and soldiers returned, the erosion entity was already storming through the capital.
And that’s when Arthur made his move.
Arthur single-handedly took down the erosion entity in the Magic Labyrinth and subsequently shot to fame as the Empire’s hero.
In fact, the Empire even granted him a title because of that incident.
He was bestowed with the grand title of “Hero King,” and that was when Princess Sigryn completely succumbed to Arthur’s charm.
Ah, that scoundrel.
Remembering all this brought clarity to Kraush’s thoughts.
He finally understood why Arthur had turned a blind eye to the war and persuaded the Zephyr generation to take part.
Even to the point where the world eroder could kill Serang.
Arthur intended from the start to play it all alone.
Swallowing the Empire, engulfing Sephira, and then consuming the Zephyr generation—Arthur hadn’t intended to delegate roles to anyone else.
But trying to pull something like that would leave the Empire and Sephira helpless against world erosion.
Reflecting on Arthur’s actions, Kraush frowned.
He knew it all too well.
Even if the Empire and Sephira were adequately sustained, they’d ultimately fall victim to rampant world erosion.
Arthur must have witnessed that hideous reality more times than he could recall.
Plus, he probably attempted to keep both the Empire and Sephira afloat.
…And yet, he failed to prevent their downfall.
Thus, Arthur made his judgment.
If his hard work to save others couldn’t avert the catastrophe, he might as well seize whatever benefits he could from it.
To Arthur, regression was likely seen as an act that rendered everything useless.
That’s why Arthur didn’t trust anyone unless it was on his terms.
Kraush had always been observing Arthur closely.
While Arthur spoke valiantly as the Hero King, there was a lurking obsession in his actions—an overwhelming need to keep control.
At the time, Kraush attributed that obsession to the expectations of others.
But now, he realized that it was something more profound.
Arthur has been through reincarnations.
He had learned to trust no one completely.
As Kraush’s frown deepened, a startling realization hit him.
…Has that jerk been betrayed by someone?
Arthur had certainly not gone through just one cycle of reincarnation.
Having lived countless lifetimes, he might have endured an irreparable betrayal in one of those cycles.
Perhaps the reason Arthur trusted Mary, Abela, and Sigryn, retaining their memories, was that they had supported him wholeheartedly throughout those reincarnations.
He wouldn’t deny the capabilities and merits of those three.
Yet, honestly, Kraush had always found it puzzling why Arthur chose to preserve their memories to thwart the world’s annihilation.
But now, as he reflected on it, Kraush finally understood Arthur’s motives.
It wasn’t solely because of their competence.
Above all, having individuals who offered him unwavering support was paramount.
People who provided a mental safety net that they would still back him up even through reincarnation.
“Hah, damn it.”
Kraush let out an involuntary curse.
No wonder Arthur didn’t bring him into the memory inheritance.
I recognized Arthur’s skill, but I never trusted him.
They shared the common goal of preventing the world’s destruction, and that was why Kraush had stuck with him.
Deep down, though, he never truly trusted Arthur.
And Arthur must have sensed that.
Thus, Kraush had been cast aside.
Looking back, that was the root cause that led to Kraush losing his chance at reincarnation.
Draining a bitter laugh, Kraush lifted his head.
Rumble rumble rattle—
Just then, the walls of the Magic Labyrinth began to open.
Though Arthur might have planned to keep the world under his thumb to prevent its destruction, Kraush had no intention of following suit.
Ultimately, even Arthur couldn’t prevent it.
I’ll walk my own path.
To grow stubbornly stronger and crush all the main villains to suppress the apocalypse.
That was Kraush’s goal.
So, I’ll seize the Thousand Deaths and absorb the world’s erosion to grow even stronger.
Kraush’s blue eyes shone brightly.
Suddenly, he turned to Crimson Garden.
She hadn’t left his side, remaining right there.
“Crimson, is it alright for you to go into the labyrinth looking like that?”
Kraush asked in a voice low enough not to be overheard by others.
Crimson Garden glanced at Kraush and snickered.
This child knows she’s anything but ordinary, right?
Of course, Kraush already knew that, given she chose such a peculiar form.
After all, she had shown her true colors many times before.
Don’t worry. This child is unaffected by world erosion, at least.
Crimson Garden’s words made Kraush curious about the nature of the crow, but he decided not to press the matter.
Because at that moment, Lilish spoke up.
“Valheim knights, it’s time to depart.”
With Lilish leading, the knights all stepped into the Magic Labyrinth.
As soon as they crossed into the labyrinth, Kraush felt the air around him shift dramatically.
The pervasive world erosion made it feel as if he were inhaling smoke with each breath.
At the same time, his entire body felt heavier, as if shackled by chains.
This was due to the labyrinth’s warped nature.
Whoosh—
Black raindrops cascaded down, running over Kraush’s hair and face.
The previously open grassy expanse had now morphed into a disordered setting, with mountains and dark thickets sprawling haphazardly.
Gray pillars lined up for no apparent reason.
The violet sky was shrouded with dark clouds, fully revealing the labyrinth’s ominous ambiance.
“Everyone, shield yourselves with aura properly.”
At that moment, Vega, the commander of the Blue Sea knights, spoke with a serious demeanor.
The black raindrops of the labyrinth were, in fact, a type of curse.
If one didn’t maintain auras around them constantly, they would absorb through the skin and seep into the body.
As a result, the black rain would invade the body, draining all the blood through every orifice.
Then, the spots where the blood had been would be replaced by the black rain.
A human transformed into a shell of black rain would lose their will and become just another wandering erosion entity within the labyrinth, grotesquely bloated by the rain.
Parasitic rain—that’s what those who had ventured into the labyrinth called it.
However, unlike everyone else, Kraush was not enveloped by an aura.
Even as the black rain poured relentlessly and absorbed inwardly, he let it happen without resistance.
Whoosh!
Instead, flames ignited within Kraush’s body.
The black rain combusted under the influence of the flames before it could forcibly expel his blood.
Thus, the burned black rain mingled with the power of world erosion, dissolving into nothingness.
What did that mean?
It was simple.
The black rain was, for Kraush, a resource that could be melted down by the power of world erosion.
“Phew.”
Kraush exhaled lightly, and a grin crept onto his face, one that no one else could notice.
How could he not smile at this situation?
As expected…
What seemed to others a hellish deathtrap where failing to keep an aura meant demise was, for him, the perfect opportunity to grow.
Now I understand why Demaris Valheim became the strongest.
If he hadn’t gone mad and self-destructed due to his insanity, he might have truly brought the world to its knees.
But Kraush had no intention of meeting the same fate.
Having foresight from his ancestors, he wouldn’t make the same mistakes and would instead strive to progress.
Dear ancestors, watch closely how the descendants handle this with techniques.
Kraush would give Demaris Valheim a reason to be envious in the afterlife.
How laughable it is.
Crimson Garden observed him with a look of disdain, but that was secondary.
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