abcnovels
Chapter: 190
Chapter: 190
Chapter: 190
In the frozen atmosphere of the women’s club, Kraush merely stared at Rona Imblize.
Rona Imblize, the maker of magic tools.
Though now she was being labeled as a madwoman, the magical tools she would later create would be so coveted that even if you wanted them, you couldn’t get your hands on them.
‘If I could bring Rona Imblize into the Sky Generation…’
The Sky Generation would undoubtedly possess unprecedented power, along with those magical tools.
The problem was now.
The fact that she just dropped a bombshell surprise.
“There is currently someone at Rahern Academy who has made a pact with the World Erosion entity.”
Normally, that would’ve been dismissed as mumbo jumbo.
But not long ago, Rahern Academy had been shaken by an incident.
That was when the associate professor of magic, Jenicalen, became a servant of the World Erosion and kidnapped three noble students.
Though the incident itself revealed the sneaky tactics of the noble students, raising Felray’s status significantly, it was undeniably crucial that Jenicalen had become a servant of the World Erosion.
Such an event had occurred just recently.
So, for Rona to make this statement now, it was understandable why everyone was stunned.
“…Are you serious, Ms. Rona Imblize?”
In the now quiet hall, someone broke the silence and spoke up.
Underneath her blue hair, her transparent eyes belonged to Mirei Baekis.
The youngest cardinal in the history of the Freeman Kingdom.
Faced with her, Rona suddenly unbuttoned her shirt.
At her unexpected move, everyone looked on in bewilderment as she revealed a small necklace nestled in her cleavage.
The necklace was in the shape of a tiny sword brooch.
Rona held the brooch with her fingers, stretching her lips into a wide grin.
“You know there was that recent incident at the academy? So, I made this: a magic tool for detecting World Erosion entities hiding among people.”
“Is that true?”
Upon hearing that, everyone displayed surprised expressions.
They never imagined Rona could create something like that.
If what Rona said was true, it meant she could identify all the betrayers who had turned to the World Erosion.
What an incredible invention!
Kraush’s gaze shifted sideways.
There stood Taria Bales, the head student of the Magic Department, observing the situation with her arms crossed.
She was a member of Crimson Garden.
If she were to use this magic tool here and now, it would be an instant discovery.
“Oh, so you’ve found the servants of the World Erosion with that?”
Even Elyring Ornora, the second in literature among first-year students, showed interest in the magic tool.
As the eyes concentrated on her, Rona gently rolled the tool in her hands before letting it drop.
It naturally nestled back between her cleavage.
“The one caught will know best, I suppose.”
With a sly smile, she propped her chin and surveyed the hall.
That gesture hinted that there was indeed a servant of the World Erosion present.
The members of the women’s club began to glance around, sensing something amiss.
Everyone understood the meaning behind Rona’s actions.
As doubts began to flourish in their minds, Mirei was the first to speak.
“Well, I hope this isn’t just a joke.”
Sparking her transparent eyes with urgency, Mirei prompted Rona.
“I would like you to use the magic tool quickly to unveil the servant of the World Erosion.”
Under her insistence, Rona tilted her head, maintaining her propped posture.
“That would be boring. I think I haven’t showcased my magic tool’s superiority yet.”
It wasn’t surprising that Rona was referred to as a madwoman, given her refusal to immediately reveal the identity of the servant.
The atmosphere in the hall shifted; instead of looking at each other with suspicion, eyes turned toward Rona with reproach.
Yet amidst those accusing glances, Rona remained calm.
As the mood soured, Kraush assessed the situation.
‘Things are unfolding terribly here.’
In the midst of this turmoil, he started pinpointing individuals suspicious of being the servant.
Others might not have suspected them, but being a reincarnation, Kraush had his reasons to be cautious.
Yet he lacked certainty.
The servants of Crimson Garden were relatively easy to spot.
In fact, they purposefully made themselves more noticeable.
That was a warning to the World Erosion entities surrounding them: this child is my servant, so beware, or you’ll pay a price.
However, the Black Witch deliberately created her servants for infiltration at Rahern Academy.
Thus, even someone like Kraush couldn’t easily identify them.
“A servant of the World Erosion, huh?”
At that moment, Sigrid, who had been observing the ongoing affair, finally spoke.
When she opened her mouth, all eyes in the hall immediately turned to her.
After all, Sigrid was the center of attention in this gathering.
“Regardless of what Rona is thinking, I hope this isn’t just a mere prank.”
With a playful smile, Sigrid looked at Rona.
“If it turns out to be a joke, it could cause serious trouble for someone.”
Feeling nauseated, Kraush noted the peculiar glint in her eyes.
That was because he realized the potential danger Rona’s magic tool posed.
If someone did not please her, they could easily be branded as a servant of the World Erosion.
Rona’s magic tool embodied that risk.
“Shall we wrap up today’s gathering then?”
The atmosphere darkened considerably, prompting Sigrid to suggest ending the women’s club.
Sigrid had said relatively little throughout the meeting.
With Charlotte in attendance, she likely wanted to avoid sharing valuable information.
Other members of the women’s club seemed to agree with Sigrid’s decision.
Given the underlying tension from the silent power struggle between Charlotte and Sigrid, the atmosphere had already been heavy.
With Rona dropping bombshells, everyone seemed to lean towards ending the meeting.
“Well then, until next time.”
“It was a beneficial session.”
As everyone exchanged farewells, they began to exit the hall one by one.
Certainly, today’s discussions would spread like wildfire throughout Rahern Academy.
Most likely, the buzz revolving around Rona’s statement about the servant of the World Erosion would be the talk of the town.
“It’s over.”
Even Charlotte, who had seemed disinterested the entire time and was just tidying her nails, finally stood up.
Just as she rose, Kraush also got to his feet, at that moment, Taria brushed past him.
As Kraush extended his hand and gently grasped Taria’s sleeve, their eyes met, and he silently conveyed his intention to talk.
Taria nodded lightly and continued to exit.
As Kraush stepped out alongside Charlotte, he caught a glimpse of the sun beginning to set.
They had indeed spent quite a while in the women’s club.
They say when women start chatting, it never ends, and honestly, that was the truth.
“How was it?”
In that moment, Charlotte turned to Kraush, posing the question.
“It was enlightening.”
Had he not attended today’s women’s club, he would’ve had to hear Rona’s news secondhand.
It was undoubtedly a beneficial time.
“Good, that’s all that matters,”
Charlotte replied simply, continuing on her way.
Why did Charlotte bring him to today’s gathering?
Kraush watched her retreating figure, still perplexed.
“Could I ask just one more favor, sister?”
It was initially something he intended to resolve by himself.
But today, for some reason, he felt it was okay to ask Charlotte.
She turned abruptly, pausing her steps.
Her lips curled up into her usual smile, with the corners raised.
“Speak.”
Her tone felt drastically different from how it would have been before.
“…There’s a guy named Arthur Gramalte. Could you get him into the Lion’s Order?”
The fake Arthur Gramalte.
To truly understand him, Kraush aimed to get him involved in the Lion’s Order he belonged to.
This would give Arthur a chance to see both Kraush and Charlotte up close.
“Sure, that’s not a problem,”
Charlotte replied effortlessly.
There was not even a hint of hesitation in her agreement.
Kraush stared at her in awe.
He had rarely made requests of Charlotte throughout his life.
After all, the worlds they lived in were dramatically different.
They had hardly spent time together as children, and by the time they were adults, Charlotte had already become a star shining brighter than anyone.
He was merely a shadow in comparison.
In the radiant light, even a shadow could not exist.
However, after his reincarnation, intertwining with Charlotte in various matters, he had asked her for favors more recently.
In this world, Charlotte was one of the most crucial figures.
Perhaps that’s why he finally understood now.
Charlotte held no expectations from him.
She simply fulfills requests without expecting anything in return.
No matter the nature of his request.
‘Ah, I see.’
Kraush reached a realization as another pair of his colored glasses broke free.
He finally recognized how he had viewed Charlotte all this time.
Even after his reincarnation, that perception hadn’t changed—those glasses were so dark they were practically impenetrable.
‘Me too.’
Kraush lived his life forever comparing himself to Charlotte, from the moment he was born.
After all, she was already a genius from the day she was born.
Perhaps that’s why he only beheld her as the world’s greatest genius and Sword Saint, Charlotte Balheim.
Not as his sister, but merely as the sword saint, Charlotte Balheim.
Thus, he completely misinterpreted and judged every aspect she displayed.
He had compartmentalized his family and bloodline as things separate from each other.
It was inevitable.
No matter how much he acknowledged his incompetence, deep inside, he resented and envied Charlotte.
She shone so brilliantly that it blinded him with pride.
That’s why it became a form of self-defense.
He treated his sister, Charlotte Balheim, and the Sword Saint, Charlotte Balheim, as two separate entities.
But now, in this moment, Kraush finally understood the meaning behind Charlotte’s actions toward him.
Charlotte always regarded him as her little brother.
That was true even before the reincarnation.
To her, he was her little brother, regardless of the timeline.
He had always put up walls against her.
‘It wasn’t right to criticize Velokin.’
He had consistently shut away the only person who remained as family.
Suddenly, a laugh escaped his lips.
He felt disgusted with himself for not being able to see Charlotte as his sister, and he felt sorry for her too.
The fact that he acknowledged this only after his reincarnation was pathetic.
Before the reincarnation, he never treated his own sister as a sister.
After the desperate battle with the Swordmaster, having finally defeated him and nearing death, Charlotte had once said, in front of him, as her heartbeat finally faded:
“Kraush, pay attention.”
Her sword always shone proudly towards the sky.
“This is who your sister, Charlotte Balheim, is.”
She had presented her signature smile as always.
Many words that should have been said back then flooded his mind.
Words he hadn’t uttered not even once during that moment.
“Ha.”
And now he realized those words could never reach her again.
Because that world no longer existed.
Regret can truly torment a person.
He could no longer make amends for the actions of that day.
Kraush saw Charlotte in front of him again.
She had the same blue-black hair as he did.
That hair, a symbol of Balheim, danced in the breeze.
Between the setting sun, Charlotte looked at Kraush, and for the first time, he saw a warmth in her eyes he had never noticed before.
Those eyes he’d always thought of as cold now held a glimmer of affection.
Kraush smiled back at her.
“I’ll ask you out next time.”
Hearing that, Charlotte let out a mild laugh.
As always, Charlotte considered him her little brother and gracefully turned away.
“Do that. I’ll be looking forward to it.”
Her steps were lighter than before.
It was the kind of step Charlotte often took when she was in a good mood.
As Kraush watched her retreating figure, his gaze lifted towards the sky.
With a setting sun, there must inevitably be a rising sun too.
Just as a vanished world gives way to a new one.
Kraush, recalling the old world, continued to live in the new one today.