Chapter 191
After finishing his promise with Charlotte, Kraush parted ways with her and moved on.
Before long, he noticed someone approaching nearby.
When Kraush turned his head, he saw a woman with ash-colored hair tied up, her shark-like teeth standing out.
"Yo, little brother."
Seeing her casually dismiss what could have been considered a crisis earlier, Kraush sighed.
"Rona could have exposed that you are a servant of Crimson Garden in a moment of irritation. How can you act so carefree?"
"Wahaha, I admit that was a bit nerve-wracking. But Rona, as reckless as she is, doesn't lie."
It seemed like she herself was also included in that recklessness.
In any case, she let out a hearty laugh and placed her hand on her side.
"So, is there a specific reason you called me out?"
"Please continue to keep an eye on Rona Imblize."
Hearing his next words, her eyes briefly sparkled.
"Rona didn't refer to a specific individual. You're calculating that a servant of the Black Witch will appear by her side, right?"
As expected of someone who deals with magic, Taria quickly understood.
"Yes, from the Black Witch's perspective, she wouldn't just sit and watch as her carefully planted servant gets exposed."
If Rona were to get upset and reveal all the servants of the World Erosion Beings, it would cause significant damage to their side as well.
Naturally, as a servant of the Black Witch, they would want to eliminate Rona before that happens.
Compared to Kraush, a second-year student, Taria, a first-year student, could more freely keep an eye on Rona.
"Of course, apart from that, it's also good to keep watching Rona for other reasons."
Hearing Kraush's words, Taria tilted her head.
"Is there another reason?"
"Just keeping possibilities open."
Taria crossed her arms and let out a nasal hum.
"So, if it gets dangerous, call me through Crimson Garden. I'll come running."
Kraush pointed to the sky.
There, a crow was leisurely flying.
Taria looked at the sky and grinned.
"Do I look that weak? I can handle it without you, little brother."
As expected of the first-year Magic Studies President, she displayed quite a high level of self-esteem.
Moreover, being a servant of Crimson Garden, she must have learned a lot of magic from her.
But the world isn't all about that.
"Even I ask for help from others when I'm in danger."
Taria turned sixteen this year.
She was undoubtedly a genius and a talent destined to become one of the Ten Strongest Under the Heavens in the future.
But that was something for the future.
For now, by the world's standards, she couldn't be considered overwhelmingly strong.
Taria also seemed like a newbie who hadn't experienced much of the world yet.
Even for a genius like her, mistakes could happen at any time.
"Especially in the case of the World Erosion Beings, no matter how skilled you are, recklessness won't do you any good."
Most of the World Erosion Beings possess unique powers not found in this world.
They create unforeseen variables through their own world's unique methods of cultivation.
Kraush had seen countless people die because of such variables.
Naturally, even Taria wouldn't be able to avoid such variables.
"So please call me. Two heads are better than one, aren't they?"
"......Hmm."
Taria, who had been listening with her arms crossed, soon unfolded her arms and adjusted her glasses.
"Little brother, you sound like an old man. You remind me of the teachers at the Magic Tower."
"Please call it being mature."
"Well, fifteen is the age when you like to act mature."
Taria agreed, saying she had been like that once too.
Sorry, but he had lived at least ten years longer than her.
But Taria had no way of knowing that.
"Alright. I'll keep your advice in mind, little brother."
Taria waved her hand and left just like that.
Kraush found her departure quite unsettling.
It was because Taria had made similar mistakes in the past due to her pride.
And because of that, she had ended up shutting herself in the Magic Tower.
"Taria, please remember one thing."
Kraush spoke toward her back.
"The Black Witch can plant servants in others without their consent."
"I'll keep that in mind."
With that, Taria left.
Kraush stared at the spot where she had disappeared, then spoke.
"Crimson Garden, I'm counting on you."
[ Don't worry. She's my servant. I'll take good care of her. ]
He could trust Crimson Garden with this.
Kraush stretched and cracked his neck.
It was because today felt especially long.
'I should visit Darling and quickly undo this feminization, then either enter my room or do something else.'
His mental fatigue was considerable, much more than any training.
He needed to rest quickly.
* * *
Finally back in his male form, Kraush returned to the dormitory with a sense of relief.
[How was it?]
On the way, he recalled Darling looking at him with subtly expectant eyes, which annoyed him.
Still, he managed to hold back and finally reached his dorm room.
"Ah, Mr. Kraush!"
Just as he thought about lying on his bed today.
Kraush found himself face-to-face with his personal maid, Alicia, standing outside his door.
The moment she saw Kraush, she waved enthusiastically, and Kraush, puzzled, greeted her as he approached.
"Alicia, why are you outside?"
"You have a guest inside."
A guest?
Kraush blinked.
It was because he hadn't expected anyone to visit.
'Who could it be?'
Kraush glanced around.
For some reason, the kids who had been looking this way flinched and hurriedly went into their rooms.
The dormitory felt unusually chaotic for some reason.
Kraush's eyes turned toward his room.
For some reason, he felt an ominous vibe that he shouldn't open this door.
After a moment of hesitation, Kraush grabbed the doorknob and turned it.
His personality preferred confronting suspicious matters head-on.
Creak-
As he opened the unusually stiff door and stepped inside.
Kraush immediately felt that his room was unusually crowded today.
No.
The word "crowded" fit perfectly.
It was because there was a monster, much smaller than his hand, sipping tea at the table in his room.
Looking blankly at the monster, Kraush felt an urge to close the door and leave.
However, knowing the other party's status, Kraush suppressed himself and opened his mouth toward him.
"Chancellor."
He was none other than the former Celestial Four Strongest, Fighting Emperor Durandal.
What kind of scene is it for the Chancellor to be leisurely sipping tea in his room?
Simply put, based on his current experience, he could be sure that it was not a particularly pleasant scene.
"Oh, Kraush, you've finally arrived. You seem busy."
"I've been busy excelling in my life at Rahelrn Academy in various ways."
"Haha, I heard you achieved the position of President in the Martial Arts Department during the midterm evaluation. Congratulations."
It was unlikely that someone of the Chancellor's stature came just to offer congratulations.
Kraush approached him with slightly wary eyes.
"It seems you've been waiting for me. Is there a reason?"
If there's a task, get it over with quickly and leave.
Kraush spoke, fully expressing that intention.
At that, Durandal let out a hearty laugh and gestured.
"First, have a seat."
Kraush followed his suggestion and sat down.
Then Alicia quickly prepared his tea and snacks and placed them in front of him.
Having eaten plenty at the Women's Society, he didn't want to touch them anymore.
However, out of courtesy, Kraush took a sip since Alicia had prepared them and then looked at Durandal.
There was a massive bear sitting there.
Sitting face-to-face in the chair, he could clearly feel how enormous this man was.
The problem was that this man could move nimbly even with such a body.
"Kraush, do you want to become stronger?"
It was an abrupt question.
But it was also a question that held no meaning.
That's because every student in the Martial Arts Department shared the same thought.
"That's an obvious question."
"No, what I'm asking is something more fundamental. Do you have a goal in becoming stronger?"
Kraush blinked.
That's because Durandal, who asked this question, had eyes more serious than anyone else.
A goal.
Of course, he had one.
During his days as Half-Penny, Kraush lived a meaningless life, no matter what goal he set.
However, there was one goal he could hold onto.
That was to prevent the destruction of the world.
The one and only goal in Kraush's life.
To prevent destruction, Kraush had never rested and constantly sought strength.
Was it possible that Durandal had noticed this?
Even though no answer came back, Durandal slowly formed a wrinkled smile at the corners of his lips.
"Those who have a goal become infinitely stronger. I've seen quite a few of them."
In the turbulent era.
Durandal had seen countless people grow in their own ways or falter.
And because he wished for even one fewer person to falter, Durandal established Rahelrn Academy.
"A long time ago, there was a prophecy left by the previous generation of Sephira."
The Sephira family of astrologers.
Durandal, who had always remembered the prophecy he heard there, looked at Kraush.
"They say that revealing the prophecy to its subject ties them to fate, so I won't mention it unnecessarily."
In his transparent eyes, Kraush was reflected.
"I think you, Kraush, are the one who fits that prophecy."
Kraush showed doubt.
That's because he didn't understand what Durandal was trying to say after dragging it out this long.
"Do you know my Secret Technique, Disaster Dragon Fall?"
"Yes, that's..."
A fearsome Secret Technique that brings down a dragon of calamity.
Using this Secret Technique, Durandal had prevented countless instances of World Erosion.
That's because Disaster Dragon Fall was the most maximized Secret Technique against World Erosion.
Disaster Dragon Fall could be considered an anti-World Erosion technique.
Through this Disaster Dragon Fall, Durandal had even erased the power of World Erosion from those who had become servants of the World Erosion Beings and returned them to normal.
An example of this was the associate professor of the Magic Studies Department, Jenicalen, who orchestrated the noble kidnapping incident during the midterm evaluation.
"I have not created a successor for Disaster Dragon Fall until now. I didn't have children, and there wasn't anyone suitable."
At that moment, Kraush's eyes slowly began to widen.
That's because he realized what Durandal was trying to say now.
"Disaster Dragon Fall."
A smile spread across Durandal's lips.
"Kraush, would you like to learn it?"
Become the successor of Fighting Emperor Durandal.
That was what Durandal was saying now.
Kraush froze with widened eyes.
That's because an absurd opportunity had come to him.
Kraush, who would have to face the World Erosion Beings' organization, Ixion, in the future.
If he mastered Disaster Dragon Fall, it would undoubtedly become a great strength for Kraush.
However, separate from that, there was one problem.
That was the fact that Kraush himself wielded the power of World Erosion.
If he used Disaster Dragon Fall, it would surely clash with the World Erosion power he possessed.
It could be said that it was a path completely opposite to the one Kraush was currently on.
Kraush couldn't know what kind of result it would bring.
However, Kraush wasn't foolish enough to miss the opportunity presented before him.
Life is always full of risks.
Kraush himself knew best how great the returns could be when one crushed and overcame those risks.
'There must be a way to use Disaster Dragon Fall.'
Kraush's mind began to spin quickly.
'Ah.'
And at that moment, a flash of inspiration struck his mind like lightning.
Just one.
Really, just one.
If he obtained that curse, he could create an absurd outcome.
And coincidentally, Kraush was planning to visit Veltoa Lacroix to obtain the Highest-Level Curse.
As the puzzle pieces came together at once, another step was taken to prevent the destruction of the world.
Kraush's blue pupils shone fiercely.
"I will learn it."
Those with a goal become stronger.
That phrase pointed exactly to Kraush.