Chapter 167
Time continues to pass rapidly.
Before long, the midterm exam was right around the corner.
Kraush focused on his training while keeping tabs on the occasional news about Felray.
Felray confronted the noblemen harassing Jenicalen, just as Kraush had requested.
It was in his nature to not tolerate injustice.
Therefore, his confrontation was not surprising to others.
Thanks to that, Felray got entangled in quite a commotion.
This was because the noble mages harassing Jenicalen found Felray irritating and picked a fight with him.
But their opponent was Felray.
They were no match for him.
After all, Felray wasn't part of the Skyborne Generation for no reason.
Kraush was satisfied that the matter had been resolved without his intervention.
However, the grudge in Jenicalen's eyes seemed still unresolved.
'The seed has been planted.'
Kraush thought Felray could handle the situation with just a hint.
"Hey, this time it's certain!"
Meanwhile, Violen's research on barriers was progressing steadily.
Every time it was brought forward, the barrier had been noticeably improved.
"Not yet."
Still, it seemed it would take a bit more time.
Therefore, he sent her back with a frustrated expression on her face.
At night, the research on the Poison Blood Tome resumed in earnest.
This was because Kraush, through a curse borrowed from Dorma, was conducting repeated experiments on himself.
With Ignis present, there was no concern about the curse's effects.
If things became dangerous, he could simply burn it away.
Additionally, he received and tested a second batch of the Instant Enhancement Elixir.
Its performance had indeed been significantly improved compared to before.
It was craftsmanship befitting of Darling.
As a result of repeating such tasks day by day, splitting his sleeping hours.
"What happened to your face?!"
Kraush was, for some reason, receiving a scolding.
The person responsible for the scolding was none other than Saintess Austria.
While heading to the cafeteria, he had run into Austria, who was as usual carrying a considerable amount of food.
She immediately screamed outright.
There was only one reason she screamed.
Kraush's face was marked with exhaustion, looking as though he was about to die.
Kraush had been running around tirelessly every day to handle training and work.
Naturally, he hadn't had time to relieve his fatigue, and the state of his face was the inevitable result.
In the end, Kraush was dragged to the hospital room by Austria and forced onto a bed.
"Austria, I'm fine."
"Fine? Do you even know what you look like right now? You look like you could drop dead any second, and no one would argue!"
Today, Austria was unusually angry, huffing as she scolded him.
Was this really something to get so angry about?
Kraush glanced at his face reflected in the mirror.
Sure enough, his dark circles had descended to the point of greeting his jawline.
Come to think of it, it had been rare for him to get proper sleep recently.
He had been staying up every night engrossed in the Poison Blood Tome research.
No, it wasn't just recently.
It wouldn't be wrong to say that he had never truly relieved his fatigue unless he was forced to pass out.
Since there hadn't been an occasion to pass out recently, he hadn't had time to rest and had been overworking himself daily.
'Having to faint to get rest—what kind of crazy thought is that?'
Since it was his own doing, he had no excuse.
"Eat this and close your eyes immediately."
Just then, Austria appeared with water and a nutrient supplement in hand.
Since he could only see half her face from below, Kraush sat up.
"Can't you just treat me with your divine power?"
"Do you think divine power is omnipotent? It can reduce physical fatigue, but mental fatigue is a different matter. For that, sleep is the answer."
Unable to argue, Kraush quietly accepted the nutrient supplement and swallowed it with water.
Then, he noticed Austria staring at his face.
Her eyes were filled with worry.
"That face......"
Come to think of it, this girl was obsessed with appearances.
The fact that she was particularly angry might have been because she was sensitive about looks.
"If you've finished eating, lie down."
Austria snatched the water glass from Kraush and made him lie down.
Once Kraush lay down quietly on the bed, she placed the glass aside and sat next to him.
"Are you going to just keep staring?"
"If I leave, you'll just get up and go back out immediately."
Sharp as always.
Kraush didn't bother denying it and obediently closed his eyes.
Before he knew it, the hospital room grew quiet.
Kraush listened to Austria's faint breathing in the silence.
"......Why are you pushing yourself so hard?"
Suddenly, Austria's voice broke the silence.
"Go to sleep."
"I was talking to myself."
Talking to herself out loud.
Kraush remained silent for a moment.
As Austria had said, Kraush was living through an unreasonable schedule every day.
No, the word "overworking" might as well define his life entirely.
So much so that he probably didn't even know what it meant to rest.
For some reason, Kraush thought of Arthur.
Arthur was always precarious.
Kraush had frequently seen the moments when Arthur's thoughts, chased by urgency, would shorten.
Perhaps, knowingly or unknowingly, he was following the same path as Arthur.
Suddenly, he felt warmth on his forehead.
Judging by the gentle sensation, it was undoubtedly Austria's hand.
"Don't open your eyes. This is just to help your body recover."
She could easily do this without even touching him.
Kraush didn't retort.
Her touch was warm, and it was a fact that his body felt more at ease.
"Can't I be the place you lean on?"
Another comment spoken to herself.
"You're already more than enough."
"You know I'm not talking about my divine power."
Austria lightly flicked his forehead as if slightly sulking.
Even in that gesture, Kraush could feel the faint sorrow in her heart.
"You know, after escaping the Holy Kingdom, this is the first time I've laughed and studied with peers my age."
Although being called a Saintess kept some distance between her and others, even at the Academy.
At least it wasn't like it was in the Holy Kingdom.
Perhaps that's why she was living a rather fulfilling Academy life.
"It's so refreshing and enjoyable that I realized this is how a bird feels when it escapes its cage."
Before she knew it, Austria's hands, now warm again, wrapped around Kraush's forehead.
"And it's all thanks to you. What you told me that day pulled me out to this place."
"I didn't do much. It was all your effort."
"No."
Austria firmly declared.
"It's because of you. The reason I came to Rahelrn Academy was because I wanted to see you again."
Even without opening his eyes, Kraush could sense that her face must be blushing heavily.
Before the regression, Austria had feelings for Kraush.
Whether it was because of his face or some other reason, Kraush had noticed those feelings.
And the current Austria was no different.
Her heart, eventually, once again moved toward Kraush.
Perhaps that's why Kraush could feel Austria's emotions more vividly than others'.
"...So, I hope you can lean on me a little."
Kraush remained silent at her sincere words, filled with shyness.
"If you don't want to, then forget it."
In the end, her sulking words, unable to overcome her embarrassment, were so like her.
"I am leaning on you."
Kraush occasionally saw Austria laughing with kids her age.
That sight held various meanings for Kraush as well.
It was a sight he could never have seen if he hadn't regressed.
Time and again, he felt that the world truly changes in various directions depending on his efforts.
And Kraush hoped that direction would be a good one for people like Austria.
Because he owed these people quite a bit.
"I'm leaning on you in more ways than you think."
Kraush lifted his hand and placed it over Austria's hand, which was covering his forehead.
"So don't worry. It's not just you, but thanks to all of you, I'm holding on."
This was the first time Kraush had revealed his honest feelings.
His mind, completely worn down to the point where there was nothing left, could endure thanks to people like Austria.
That's why Kraush could keep running.
Even if, someday, he disappeared from this world, so that the world could keep moving without stopping.
"...."
Austria remained silent.
Seeing him show such a vulnerable and sincere side today made her heart ache painfully.
And as she saw him reveal such honesty, she felt something resonate deep inside her.
This man always had a way of affecting her like this.
Laughing at her as if playing around.
And then occasionally showing those exhausted smiles that tugged at one's heartstrings.
Although he always acted strong and tough every day.
That feeble and genuine side he showed today made her heart pound even louder.
'Why do I like someone like this?'
It was a relief that his eyes were closed.
If their eyes had met, she might have stood up and run away right then.
Her hand, touching his forehead, made her anxious.
She was afraid the heat would transfer, making her embarrassed feelings blatantly obvious.
'Austria, you fool, is it because his face is your type? Or because you like seeing the rare weak sides of him?'
If it were only that, it would've been fine.
Unfortunately, the pounding of her heart told her it wasn't just that.
The face, which had initially caught her attention, was losing its importance now.
It was simply because Kraush, as a person, kept taking up space in her heart.
His face or whatever—it didn't matter. It was because he was Kraush.
Even his occasionally mischievous sides made her secretly like him.
How did it end up like this, liking him so much?
She didn't know.
She felt slightly annoyed.
At least, at this moment, he could've said he was holding on just for her.
But he deliberately included others when he spoke.
'The others must include that fiancée of his.'
The fiancée he cherishes so dearly.
And she had a few other suspects in mind as well.
Thinking that far made her a little angry.
She didn't understand why this man had so many women around him.
His personality was mean and spiteful when you looked at it.
It felt like every time she saw him, there were more and more women by his side.
'Am I really one to talk?'
What kind of thoughts was she having when she was no different?
Feeling ridiculous about herself, Austria looked at Kraush.
She could hear the sound of his soft breathing as his chest rose and fell repeatedly.
At some point, he had fallen asleep.
If it had been her, she wouldn't have been able to sleep just knowing he was next to her.
The fact that he could fall asleep like this made her angry in a completely different way.
Yet, knowing he trusted her enough to fall asleep made her happy, which in turn annoyed her.
"...I'm a woman too, you know."
Her whispered words were directed toward herself as her gaze landed on Kraush's lips.
His red lips seemed particularly vivid today.
How far had he gone with his fiancée?
If they hadn't yet...
Austria paused as her thoughts reached that point.
Then, she raised her other hand and lightly tapped her own lips.
It was to tell herself to get a grip.
"You're the only one who could make a Saintess harbor such improper thoughts."
Austria muttered those words, sighed, and patted Kraush's forehead.
Please, let this man someday smile brightly without hardship.
She decided to pray to God for him.