TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 90
Drizzling black rain poured down in the forest.
Kraush and Lilish were facing each other.
Kraush stood frozen, recalling the words that had just come from Lilish’s mouth.
“How do you know about Ignis…?”
Lilish had recognized Ignis.
It was the Ignis cloaked in Black Flame, mixed with the power of World Erosion, making it hard to believe it was a skill blessed by the gods.
‘How?’
It was Kraush who was filled with questions.
The Charlotte and the Head Butler Kraush had met in the past also knew about Belorkin’s Ignis.
Moreover, in the case of the Head Butler, given the necessity of testing, there was all the more opportunity to closely observe Belorkin’s skill.
Yet even she, upon seeing Kraush’s Black Flame, had failed to associate it with Ignis.
Well, that was only natural.
Ignis was the flame of purification.
Those who knew Ignis could never look at Black Flame and imagine it as Ignis.
So how did Lilish recognize it?
Fragments of Lilish’s memory floated through Kraush’s mind.
However, there weren’t many of them, as expected.
Lilish wasn’t particularly close to Kraush.
In fact, she spent so much of her life outside, battling World Erosion, that it could be said she was hardly ever around.
Kraush, for his part, did have respect for Lilish.
After all, the number of World Erosions she had single-handedly fended off exceeded the triple-digit mark.
So all Kraush knew were her achievements and reputation.
And her exceptional swordsmanship.
On top of that.
‘Skill.’
Kraush frowned inwardly.
Although he knew Lilish’s skill, it didn’t particularly help in identifying Ignis.
It made sense, given that it was an offensive skill.
Still, something about her might have changed.
Kraush realized he had been silent for too long.
This would only deepen her suspicion.
“Sister, what happened to Nisrok for you to come here?”
He decided to pretend he hadn’t heard anything in the heat of battle and changed the subject.
Seeing Kraush feign surprise so naturally, Lilish stayed silent for a moment before speaking.
“I dealt with it. It wasn’t something that would take long.”
While Kraush had a natural advantage against World Erosion species,
the fact that she had dealt with Nisrok in such a short time made him freshly aware of her capabilities.
Well, Nisrok wasn’t exactly a dangerous opponent for Lilish.
Even without the Knight Order, it probably wouldn’t have been too difficult.
“So, I’d like to ask my question again.”
But judging by her response, his attempt to change the subject seemed to have failed.
Kraush looked at Lilish.
Her usually stoic face betrayed no particular emotion.
It simply seemed like she wanted to resolve a pure curiosity.
Kraush clicked his tongue inwardly.
He didn’t know much about Lilish in detail.
But he did know that she and Belorkin were siblings born of the same parents.
Not half-siblings like Kraush, who shared only one parent, but full-blood siblings.
If she were to learn that Kraush had killed Belorkin…
Kraush thought it wouldn’t lead to anything pleasant.
So instead of answering, Kraush let out a light sigh.
As if he were about to bring up something difficult to talk about.
“I received it just before Brother Belorkin died.”
“Received it, you say?”
“It’s the ability of my skill. I learned a skill as well.”
Lilish had heard about Belorkin’s demise.
He had ultimately died after defeating the Thousand-Face Demon, which had gone berserk while resisting World Erosion.
And Kraush had been there alongside him.
Back then, Kraush had barely known how to deal with the Thousand-Face Demon, let alone World Erosion.
Yet, just one year later,
he had become strong enough to hunt a six-star Harphas.
It was impossible to believe such growth could be achieved in just a year.
Even a genius like Balheim had limits.
‘That power flowing through his body…’
Lilish naturally focused on the power of World Erosion flowing through Kraush’s body.
To Lilish’s eyes, the power of World Erosion within Kraush appeared as a curse.
‘Could it be…?’
Her eyes widened in shock.
Kraush had said he received Belorkin’s Ignis as a skill.
If that were true, then couldn’t he also steal curses as skills?
Lilish was aware that Kraush had traveled extensively across the world for a time.
Could it be that he had traveled the world to acquire the power of curses?
‘No, I’m certain of it.’
There was no other way to explain Kraush’s rapid growth.
Only the strong were acknowledged in the direct line of Balheim.
Without resorting to curses, Kraush would have had no way to be recognized based on his natural talent alone.
Realizing this, Lilish’s eyes trembled.
Having faced countless World Erosions, Lilish understood.
She knew just how dangerous curses could be.
“Kraush, you can’t.”
Though she had neglected her family as well,
after Belorkin’s death, she had realized that family shouldn’t be this way.
So now, she couldn’t just leave Kraush alone.
If he continued to dabble in curses, the aftermath would eventually consume him.
Having already lost Belorkin, she didn’t want to lose her youngest sibling as well.
“…?”
Kraush looked at Lilish with confusion.
What did she mean by saying he couldn’t?
Could it be that his lie had been exposed?
‘That doesn’t seem to be it.’
Lilish’s expression didn’t look like someone who had caught a lie.
If anything, it seemed as calm and composed as it had been at the beginning, showing no emotional turmoil.
“If you keep touching curses, you’ll be in danger.”
But hearing those words, Kraush slowly came to a realization.
‘Is Lilish… worried about me right now?’
In the past, Kraush’s only connection to Lilish had been their shared half-bloodline.
Was that why?
Her concern caught Kraush off guard.
After all, he had never once experienced worry from family in his life.
Suddenly, this situation felt incredibly awkward.
‘Seeing the World Erosion flowing through my body, she seems to have misunderstood something.’
It was too ambiguous to clear up the misunderstanding.
After all, he couldn’t exactly explain the Extreme Blood Immersion Poison to her.
When Kraush remained silent, Lilish darted her eyes around nervously.
She had never once faced Kraush as a brother in her entire life.
But now, was it right for her to try and advise her younger brother?
Kraush had been labeled a Half-Penny his whole life.
So, more than anyone, he must crave strength.
Her words might just be a selfish thought.
“D-Don’t worry about it, Sister.”
While Lilish was still mulling over how to bring up the topic, Kraush spoke first.
Though he found it unsettling that Lilish was worried about him.
Standing before him, she truly did seem concerned.
So he couldn’t completely deny it, either.
“It’s not particularly dangerous. I’ve given this a lot of thought myself.”
At that, Lilish focused on his choice of words.
“A lot of thought…”
Kraush said he had been agonizing over it for a long time.
To her, that meant at least longer than a year.
Which could only mean one thing.
“…So, it wasn’t Belorkin who defeated the Thousand-Face Demon, was it?”
What began as a misunderstanding brought Lilish closer to the truth.
“You defeated it with that power, didn’t you?”
“…Yes.”
Unable to deny the truth, Kraush admitted it.
At that, Lilish’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
“You didn’t attend Belorkin’s funeral because of the guilt of failing to protect her.”
Another misunderstanding piled on top.
Kraush swallowed his frustration internally.
The more they talked, the more absurd misunderstandings seemed to accumulate.
This was a misunderstanding only Lilish, who knew nothing of the relationship between Kraush and Belorkin, could have.
And at the same time, deep within Kraush’s heart, an unpleasant emotion stirred.
And Kraush quickly realized what that emotion was.
[Guilt.]
From within the Black Forest, the voice of Crimson Garden echoed from a tree she perched on.
‘Guilt.’
But, of course, it wasn’t guilt over killing Belorkin.
Even if Kraush were to return to the past, he would still kill Belorkin.
After all, Belorkin had never stopped trying to kill him, even to the bitter end.
Thus, Kraush felt no guilt toward Belorkin.
He simply didn’t want misunderstandings or pity stemming from this incident.
[You were all high and mighty asking me for everything, but now you’re feeling guilty toward your sister? What a scoundrel.]
Crimson Garden grumbled irritably, clearly annoyed.
[So, are you going to confess? Out of guilt?]
Kraush shook his head internally.
He had no intention of acting out of such trivial guilt.
Kraush had told so many lies up until now that they were beyond counting.
It was just that, for the first time, he was receiving misunderstandings and pity from family.
For a fleeting moment, that guilt had surfaced.
Kraush had no intention of telling Lilish that he had killed Belorkin.
‘After all, Belorkin is still closer to her than I am.’
Blood always runs thicker, after all.
Compared to a half-brother she’d barely spoken to.
Belorkin, her full-blooded sibling, must be far more precious to her.
So, just as Kraush was about to turn away without saying more—
Twitch—
Kraush’s Sixth Sense suddenly reacted.
At the same time, when he whipped his head around, Lilish was already looking in the same direction.
An eerie sensation prickled up his arms.
The sensation was so chilling it sent shivers down his spine—a clear sense of alarm.
It was that ominous feeling one gets when facing a threat.
Kraush recognized the identity of the being that caused this sensation.
And at the same time, a question formed in Kraush’s mind.
‘Why is that thing here at this time?’
This was the easternmost part of the Demonic Realm, the relatively safer outer region.
That presence shouldn’t be felt here.
“…Sister Lilish.”
Kraush hurriedly called out to Lilish.
And she, having already sensed it, furrowed her brows.
At that moment, Crimson Garden flew over and perched on Kraush’s shoulder.
[A nasty one has started moving.]
Crimson Garden’s reaction didn’t seem particularly pleased, either.
During this time, Kraush and Lilish immediately turned their bodies simultaneously.
Then they began running straight toward the source of the presence they had felt.
“Kraush, return to the city wall!”
Seeing Kraush running alongside her, Lilish shouted in alarm.
Though she had witnessed Kraush defeat Harphas,
this situation was entirely different.
No matter how direct a descendant of Balheim he was, this was far too dangerous.
“Return? Isn’t this the direction where the Knight Order is stationed?”
The presence they had sensed was clearly heading toward the Knight Order.
Though it hadn’t yet reached the Knight Order, it would descend upon them within a short time.
Lilish, aware of that fact, bit her lip.
But no matter what, she couldn’t just tell him to return alone in the Demonic Realm.
“Once we arrive, leave with the Blue Wind immediately.”
“Yes, let’s go for now.”
Kraush’s response was far from reassuring, but there was no other choice.
So Lilish stopped worrying further, focusing on increasing her speed as she ran.
Following close behind her, Kraush frowned as well.
The situation wasn’t looking favorable.
It was because Kraush had encountered the source of this presence before.
‘Agares.’
An 8-star demonic Erosion Species.
And in the past,
the one responsible for breaking through the city wall of the Demonic Realm and wreaking havoc in the Empire.
A named Erosion Species that should have been deep within the heart of the Demonic Realm had suddenly appeared in the east.