Chapter 220
The Saintess's limit had been broken.
After Austria committed an absurd incident, Kraush did not see Austria again until the day he left Freeman.
For reference, to tell the rest of the story, Austria, who had gone on a rampage, immediately fled afterward.
After that, if there was even a chance of running into Kraush, she would flee in a hurry, leaving no other option.
It must have been because even she found her impulsive actions embarrassing.
'For someone so embarrassed, she sure managed to pull it off.'
Kraush felt dumbfounded as he touched his lips.
He still felt as though the sensation of her lips, which had suddenly collided with his, lingered on.
Austria wasn't this forward before the regression.
Kraush recalled the differences between this round and his past self.
Well, a lot had changed.
Among those changes, if there was one thing that stood out in terms of relationships with the opposite sex—
'...Engagement?'
Kraush thought of the engagement that still remained intact.
In the original timeline, by the time Kraush met Austria, his engagement had already been annulled.
Although it was a later point in time than now, Bianca and his engagement had ended nonetheless.
'If that's the case, shouldn't there be even less of this happening because of the engagement?'
Kraush had thought that as long as he married Bianca, there would be no issues.
However, looking at Austria, he started to think that wasn't necessarily the solution.
[ When it comes to people, the harder the wall is to overcome, the more they burn with passion. ]
Kraush decided not to pay attention to Crimson Garden's unnecessary remarks.
Either way, it was time to return now.
Due to the magnitude of the situation, the Festival of the Gods ended early in disarray.
Thanks to this, although the citizens were disappointed, they were busy chatting all night about the sensational incident that had occurred.
After all, there is no better gossip than stories about one's own country.
It was when Kraush, having packed his belongings, was about to leave the temple to return.
Knock, knock—
Kraush heard someone knocking on the door of the room he was staying in.
"Come in."
He didn't know who it was, but he first told them to enter.
Then, the person who opened the door and came in was an unexpected individual.
A woman in priestess robes with striking blue hair.
The Youngest Cardinal, Mirey Beakis.
She had come to visit Kraush's room.
Kraush looked at her with a hint of curiosity.
After all, there was no reason for her to visit him.
At the same time, Kraush noticed the item she was holding in her hand.
"That is..."
"Mr. Kraush, this is a gift for Mr. Kraush for resolving the recent incident in Freeman."
A look of astonishment spread across Kraush's face.
After all, the gift she brought was quite absurd.
"Are you talking about the Holy Sword?"
One of the Ten Great Heavenly Swords and a treasure of Freeman.
The Holy Sword.
Mirey had come to offer it to him.
"What is going on?"
Freeman had clearly decided to use Kraush in this situation.
In the newly formed Religious Revolution, there could be no mistakes on their part.
Kraush also didn't bother to say much about it.
After all, he had also taken advantage of Freeman.
But still, he hadn't expected them to give him the Holy Sword.
Seeing Kraush's reaction, Mirey gave a faint bitter smile.
"They must desperately want to place Freeman's symbol in your hands."
Mirey had stood against the Opposition Faction alongside Kraush to protect Austria.
That action had indeed been in defiance of her father.
But it was also something she did of her own volition, for her convictions.
'Symbolism.'
Just as she said, Freeman wanted only one thing.
For Kraush to leave a legend while holding the Holy Sword, one of Freeman's symbols.
'Clever.'
With just that, Freeman could milk Kraush and the Holy Sword for the next 100 years.
"Even if it's called a Religious Revolution or a new religion, it's ultimately run by the same people.
In the end, the methods and means don't change much."
Mirey seemed to think there wasn't much difference between the Opposition Faction and the existing Holy Royal Family.
Kraush looked at Mirey for a moment before quietly asking.
"Is it okay for you to say that?"
She, too, belonged to Freeman of the Holy Kingdom.
With her recent actions, she must have drawn attention.
"It's fine. They said they'd let it all slide if Mr. Kraush accepted the Holy Sword."
"Cardinal Mirey, you're quite clever yourself."
"I take after my father."
Her faint smile unmistakably reminded Kraush of Tersada.
Kraush stared at the Holy Sword in his hand for a moment.
Unlike Rain Thunder Prime, the pure white sword had golden embroidery on it.
And from this Holy Sword emanated a palpable divine energy.
"Anyone who wields the Holy Sword can use Divine Power without exception.
If you infuse aura into the sword, it converts into Divine Power."
With Mirey's additional explanation, Kraush fully grasped the value of the Holy Sword.
Divine Power, apart from aura, was the most potent force against the power of World Erosion.
It was a power granted by God itself, separate from the skills lent by God.
That Divine Power now resided entirely within the Holy Sword.
'Shouldn't this also be considered a kind of skill?'
A skill imbued into a sword rather than a person.
'Perhaps.'
Kraush repeatedly clenched and unclenched the hand not holding the Holy Sword.
Perhaps even the Black Hood wouldn't work on the Holy Sword.
'It's possible.'
While Kraush's aura, the strongest force against World Erosion, made Divine Power less critical—
Divine Power was still a separate container from aura and World Erosion.
After all, it was a kind of skill-like power from God.
'If I feed it to the Four Seasons.'
Perhaps it might even be possible to expand the container's capacity.
[ Aren't you thinking about something absurd again? ]
Crimson Garden, perched on the table, slyly asked.
Kraush didn't answer and tucked the Holy Sword into his waist.
After all, it was worth testing anything.
Either way, it was one of the Ten Great Heavenly Swords.
From Kraush's perspective, who wielded Rain Thunder Prime, it wasn't strictly necessary, but the Holy Sword was the perfect bait to draw out the Red Witch, Adela.
'Since it was the sword Arthur wielded.'
From Adela's perspective, who loved everything Arthur possessed, it was undoubtedly a weapon she wouldn't want to miss.
Kraush decided to keep it well, even in preparation for the future.
"The Holy Sword is said to occasionally bring opportunities to meet the gods.
Mr. Kraush, who possesses the Holy Sword, will surely have good opportunities and divine blessings someday."
Mirey, as a Cardinal, bestowed a blessing upon Kraush.
"I will not forget the life I owe you, even in the future."
Kraush chuckled briefly at the story of the Black Witch's servant.
It was a cleanly concluded matter with no lingering feelings on either side.
"Then, let's meet again at the Academy in the near future."
With her final farewell, she left.
Just as she said, there would indeed be a day when they would meet again at the Academy.
Kraush, having packed his belongings, stood up and decided to join Aslan.
After all, he had gained an unexpected gift from Freeman.
In its own way, this was a significant gain.
With that, Kraush opened the door and stepped out.
Outside the corridor window.
Here and there, autumn leaves were quietly blooming.
As the Festival of the Gods starts on the days transitioning from September to October.
It was already October.
'Is it already autumn?'
So many incidents had occurred in such a short time.
'Even the growth rate has ignited.'
Since entering Rahelrn Academy, Kraush had grown at an incredible speed.
Of course, it had been a grueling march of hardships that carved into his flesh and bones.
Nevertheless, he had now reached a level where he could feel some degree of confidence.
'Yet, the reason I feel lacking.'
Must be because of the clash with Smoke Demon in the last battle.
His all-out effort had only resulted in burns.
Though Smoke Demon was said to be one of the strongest in Ixion, it was still quite a shock in its own way.
'It doesn't allow me a chance to grow complacent.'
Though not widely known, Ixion was still active in various regions.
According to what he had found out, what Smoke Demon had stolen was none other than the blueprint of the Holy Grail.
While he didn't know what it would be used for, it was clear it wouldn't be anything beneficial.
'Insufficient.'
Malice began to rise again in Kraush's eyes.
Even though, among his peers, he had reached a position where no one except Charlotte could keep up with him, he still felt a thirst.
'I must move forward once again.'
Kraush knew the limits of his talent.
Therefore, there was only one way for him to grow stronger.
To steal something using the Black Hood.
It was at that moment when Kraush was walking.
Outside the window, towards the garden of Freeman Temple.
A woman in an unseen attire, with black straight hair flowing down, was gazing at a fallen autumn leaf in her hand.
When Kraush's gaze landed there, for some reason, he couldn't take his eyes off her.
At the same time, a memory of a certain day flashed through Kraush's mind.
The nurse's office at Rahelrn Academy.
The day when, after a sparring match where he pushed himself recklessly despite having no talent, he cursed reality as he was left in shambles.
[If you treat it like that, it'll only get worse.]
She had suddenly appeared at the window.
With the sun at her back, shadows cast over her pure white face, she wore a cold smile for some reason.
[Or perhaps, it's already too late, no matter how you treat it.]
Her words seemed to delve deep into Kraush's inner self.
The woman he saw that day was now in Freeman's garden.
And in the garden that the Pope was said to frequent.
As if she had visited the garden several times before.
She was leisurely enjoying the scenery of the garden, as if it were familiar to her.
Kraush's eyes shook violently.
Of course, it was only natural.
Kraush knew exactly who she was.
The god who had given him the skill, Black Hood, during his time at Rahelrn Academy.
The nameless girl, whose contract method was unlike any other gods, was there.
Why?
For a moment, that thought crossed his mind.
At the same time, Mirey's earlier words came to mind.
[The Holy Sword is said to occasionally bring opportunities to meet the gods.]
Could it be because of the Holy Sword?
He couldn't be sure.
However, Kraush had the Black Hood, and he had never met that nameless god at this point in time.
But perhaps because he hadn't seen her even once since that day.
Kraush's feet were already moving toward her.
The moment Kraush crossed the corridor window and stepped into the garden.
She belatedly noticed him and turned around.
With her still inhumanly pure white face, she looked back at Kraush.
Then, a slow smile spread across her lips.
That smile was so enchanting it could blind a person's eyes.
"Have the wounds healed a bit as you defied time?"
And her next words froze Kraush in place.
The nameless girl.
The god who had given Kraush the Black Hood knew about regression.