Chapter 90
Pitter-patter went the black rain pouring down in the forest.
Kraush and Lilish stood facing each other.
Lost in thought, Kraush recalled the words just uttered from Lilish’s mouth.
“How did you even summon Ignis…?”
Lilish recognized Ignis.
It was hard to believe it was the same Ignis mixed with the power of world erosion, turning it into dark flames, a skill supposedly blessed by the gods.
‘How?’
That was the real question burning in Kraush’s mind.
Both Charlotte, the chief butler, and the others he had encountered so far, including Belorkin’s Ignis, were aware of Ignis.
Especially in Charlotte’s case, she should have had plenty of chances to thoroughly assess Belorkin’s skill, given her role.
Yet, even she hadn’t connected Kraush’s dark flames with Ignis.
Of course, it made sense.
Ignis is the flame of purification.
Anyone who knew Ignis would never associate it with the dark flames.
But how did Lilish figure it out?
Fragments of memory about Lilish swirled in Kraush’s mind.
However, those memories weren’t abundant.
Lilish and Kraush weren’t particularly close.
In fact, it could be said she dedicated most of her time to battling world erosion.
Kraush respected her; after all, she had single-handedly held off over a hundred erosions.
So all he knew of her were her feats and reputation.
And then…
‘Her skill.’
Kraush raised an eyebrow inwardly.
He certainly knew about Lilish’s skill, but it wasn’t of much help in recognizing Ignis.
It was an offensive type skill after all.
But maybe she had changed in some way.
Realizing that he had been silent for too long, Kraush felt the suspicion lingering in the air.
“Sister, what brings you here instead of dealing with Nysrock?”
So, he decided to deflect, pretending he hadn’t heard her question while they were busy fighting.
Seeing the clueless yet surprised expression on Kraush’s face, Lilish finally broke her silence.
“I handled it. It didn’t take long.”
While it made sense that Kraush was naturally better suited against a world erosion creature, the revelation of her quickly taking down Nysrock made him feel her considerable skills.
It wasn’t as if Nysrock had been a particularly threatening foe for her.
Even without the knights, it wouldn’t have been that difficult.
“So, I still want to keep asking questions.”
However, looking at the response he got, it seemed that his attempt to change the subject had failed.
Kraush looked at Lilish.
Originally, she was the stoic type, and there didn’t seem to be any particular emotion on her face.
Just a pure desire to unravel the mystery.
Kraush clicked his tongue mentally.
He didn’t know much about Lilish.
But he did know that she was Belorkin’s real daughter, not a half-sibling like Kraush.
What would happen if she found out that Kraush had killed Belorkin?
Kraush thought it wouldn’t lead to anything pleasant.
So he exhaled slightly, as if contemplating bringing up something challenging.
“I received it just before Belorkin brother died.”
“Received?”
“It’s the power of my skill. I learned a skill too.”
Lilish already knew about Belorkin’s demise.
He had perished while battling a rampaging creature of world erosion, the Heavenly Demon.
And Kraush had been there.
Clearly, at that time, he was a rookie facing world erosion for the first time.
However, fast forward just one year.
Now, Kraush had grown powerful enough to hunt a level six creature, Harpas.
It was hard to believe such growth could happen in just a year.
Even the genius Valheim had its limits, after all.
‘The power flowing in my body.’
Lilish focused naturally on the power of world erosion coursing through Kraush.
In her perspective, that power was reflected as a curse.
‘No way.’
Her eyes widened in realization.
In front of her stood Kraush, who had claimed Belorkin’s Ignis as a skill.
If that was the case, could he also not steal a curse as a skill?
Lilish had known that Kraush traveled the world for some time.
So perhaps he did so to gain the power of curses.
‘No, I’m certain.’
There was no other explanation for Kraush’s formidable growth.
In Valheim, only the strong received recognition.
If he didn’t delve into the curse, there was no way he would be acknowledged for his talent.
Lilish’s eyes shook with realization.
Having journeyed through countless world erosions, she understood how dangerous curses could be.
“Kraush, don’t.”
Though she had neglected her family, after Belorkin’s death, she no longer wanted it to go that way.
So she couldn’t let Kraush simply tread this path.
If he tampered with curses, eventually its consequences would consume him.
She didn’t want to lose the youngest one after losing Belorkin.
“…?”
Kraush stared at Lilish, perplexed.
What did she mean by don’t?
Was his secret out?
‘That doesn’t seem right.’
Lilish didn’t seem like someone caught in a lie.
In fact, she looked just as impassive as before.
“If you keep meddling with curses, you’re in danger.”
But as he listened to her continued words, Kraush began to grasp something.
‘Is Lilish sister actually worrying about me?’
After all, he had only a half-blood connection with her.
Perhaps that was why.
Her concern flustered Kraush.
He had never experienced family worry before in his life.
This situation felt distinctly awkward.
‘She must have misinterpreted the power of world erosion flowing through me.’
It was a tricky situation to clear up.
After all, he couldn’t exactly explain the specifics of the Extreme Blood Penetration.
As Kraush fell silent, Lilish’s eyes shifted back and forth.
She was someone who had hardly faced her younger brother her whole life.
But was she really going to advise him now?
Kraush had been labeled as the foolish one throughout his life.
So who could want strength more than him?
Perhaps her words were selfish.
“I wouldn’t worry, sister.”
Before Lilish could figure out how to approach the topic, Kraush spoke up first.
It felt uneasy that she was concerned for him.
Right before her stood Lilish, genuinely worried.
Thus, it was difficult for him to outright deny her feelings.
“There’s nothing particularly dangerous. I’ve thought this through for quite a while.”
Upon hearing that, Lilish fixated on something else.
“Thought it through…?”
Kraush had declared he had thought long and hard about it.
That implied he had deliberated for at least longer than a year.
Which meant…
“…So, it wasn’t Belorkin who defeated the Heavenly Demon.”
It started as a misunderstanding, but Lilish was getting closer to the truth.
“So, you defeated the Heavenly Demon with that power.”
“…Yes.”
He couldn’t deny the truth, so Kraush nodded.
That made Lilish’s brow tremble slightly.
“The reason you didn’t attend Belorkin’s funeral was due to guilt for not protecting him.”
Another misunderstanding layered upon misunderstandings.
Kraush swallowed hard.
The more they talked, the more ridiculous misunderstandings piled up.
It was possible for Lilish to misunderstand, given she didn’t know the relationship between Kraush and Belorkin.
At the same time, deep within Kraush’s heart, he felt an uncomfortable emotion.
And he quickly realized what that emotion was.
‘It’s guilt.’
The voice of Crimson Garden echoed amidst the dark forest.
‘Guilt.’
Of course, it wasn’t the guilt of having killed Belorkin.
If given a chance to go back, Kraush would still kill him.
Belorkin had wished to kill him until the very end.
Thus, Kraush felt no guilt towards Belorkin.
He simply didn’t want to be the recipient of misunderstanding and sympathy.
‘When did you start calling me things? You don’t feel guilt toward your sister?’
Crimson Garden seemed to have taken offense.
‘So, are you going to spill it out? Because of guilt.’
Kraush shook his head internally.
He had no intention of being swayed by such trivial guilt.
He had uttered so many lies already; Kraush could hardly count them.
It was that he had never received misunderstanding and sympathy from family that made this feel so awkward.
For a fleeting moment, guilt had merely surfaced.
Kraush had no intention of revealing to Lilish that he killed Belorkin.
‘Though, Belorkin would certainly be closer to you than I am.’
After all, the law of family is to bend towards the inside.
Belorkin, being her biological brother, would surely hold more value.
Thus, just as Kraush was about to turn away to say no more…
Twist—
Suddenly, Kraush’s sixth sense perked up.
When he sharply turned his head, he noticed Lilish was already looking in the same direction.
A chilling sensation prickled at his arm.
That intense awareness was a clear signal of danger.
In the presence of that unsettling sensation, Kraush identified the source.
Simultaneously, inquiries surged in Kraush’s mind.
‘Why is this thing here at this time?’
The eastern part of the magic labyrinth was considered its outermost and relatively safe area.
This was clearly a presence that shouldn’t be felt here.
“…Lilish sister.”
Kraush quickly called out to Lilish.
She must have sensed it as well, as she frowned.
At that moment, Crimson Garden soared above and perched on Kraush’s shoulder.
‘An unwanted entity is moving.’
Crimson Garden shared its distressing feeling.
In an instant, Kraush and Lilish turned and began to run in the direction they sensed.
“Kraush, head back to the castle walls!”
Seeing Kraush follow her, Lilish shouted out in surprise.
While Kraush had taken down Harpas, this situation was entirely different.
No matter how much of Valheim’s blood he had, this was a perilous moment.
“Head back? But isn’t this the direction towards the knights?”
The presence they felt was undoubtedly headed towards the knights.
It hadn’t reached them yet, but it wouldn’t take long before it launched its attack.
Knowing this, Lilish bit her lip.
Even so, it wasn’t feasible to just let him wander alone in the magic labyrinth.
“Once it arrives, pull back with the others immediately.”
“Yeah, let’s go!”
Though Kraush’s answer didn’t guarantee calmness, there was no choice.
So, Lilish dismissed her worries and began to pick up speed.
Following Lilish, Kraush furrowed his brow.
This situation was not easy.
After all, he recognized this presence from before.
‘Agares.’
The level eight erosion entity.
And in the past…
The one who had shattered the walls of the magic labyrinth and invaded the Empire, leaving it in ruins.
A named erosion entity that shouldn’t appear unexpectedly in the eastern part of the magic labyrinth.
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