Chapter 100
Chapter 100
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: Scar
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After finishing his conversation with Astraia.
Krash went on a date with Bianca in the Freeman Holy Kingdom.
Truth be told, the date was nothing special.
They just ate delicious food like always and toured the sights of the Freeman Holy Kingdom.
"There are so many people around, so want to hold hands?"
Since she wanted to, Krash obediently took her hand.
Bianca looked absolutely delighted.
Her expression was kind of cute in its own way, so Krash went along with whatever Bianca asked for.
'The previous saintess.'
She was nowhere to be seen, of course.
The Freeman Holy Kingdom must have taken her away.
Krash felt no particular sympathy for the saintess.
He had only told Astraia about her existence in hopes that Astraia's future might turn out a little better.
'I already knew I couldn't save everything.'
Even protecting what he already held in his grasp was overwhelming enough.
Krash stopped thinking about it and returned to the temple with Bianca.
"Satisfied?"
Bianca nodded up and down vigorously.
Some of the chocolate from earlier was still smeared around Bianca's mouth, so Krash reached out to wipe it away.
So sloppy.
"You two look so close. Fiancé, right?"
At that moment, Krash turned toward the voice.
Standing there was none other than Astraia.
The dazed expression from before was gone, replaced by a bold smile.
She must have sorted out her thoughts.
"You dropped the honorifics with me earlier, so I'll do the same. You don't mind, right?"
"Yeah, that's more comfortable for me too."
Using formal speech with Astraia felt more awkward to Krash.
He shrugged and pulled his hand away from Bianca's cheek.
Then Bianca suddenly grabbed that hand.
She slyly positioned herself between Astraia and Krash, staring straight at Astraia.
Astraia let out a small cough at the sight before speaking.
"I told you to let me know if you want these chains removed. I've got your words memorized. Make sure you're fully prepared."
She left, saying the time would come soon.
She did glance back at Bianca on her way out, but quickly vanished.
After Astraia departed, Bianca looked up at Krash.
"Lord Krash, I'm your fiancée."
"When did I ever say otherwise?"
What was she getting anxious about now?
Krash chuckled in exasperation and patted her head.
She was in the middle of a growth spurt these days, so her head didn't shake around as much as before.
The cute quirks were fading as she slowly grew into an adult.
Her height had shot up lately too.
Of course, Krash was much taller, so the height difference was still huge.
'Someday when this kid's all grown up, she might feel differently.'
But for now, at thirteen, he had to respect her feelings.
"Your fiancé spot isn't changing."
This had been set in stone from the moment he decided to take responsibility for Bianca.
Reassured by his words, Bianca gazed up at him quietly before her eyes sparkled mischievously.
She then wrapped her arms around his hand, fidgeting happily.
"Then it's fine."
Bianca's face was a bit redder than before.
She didn't even seem to realize she was smiling.
"Time to head back."
This trip had dragged on quite a while, so it was finally time to return.
For the remaining time, Krash planned to devote himself entirely to training.
The Freeman Holy Kingdom had teleportation magic circles connected across its territories for emergency patient transport.
The Valheim Family was linked to them as well, naturally.
Using those, getting back to Valheim would be quick.
It was late today, so Krash figured he'd wrap up preparations tomorrow and head out.
That was when he returned to his room, thinking just that.
"Lord Krash, you have a guest."
"A guest?"
Hearing the attendant's words, Krash looked puzzled.
No one was supposed to visit.
As Krash opened the door with a questioning look, an unexpected figure stood there.
Her deep blue hair swayed as she turned toward him.
Gazing through the open door, he saw Lilish Valheim.
"Krash."
This expedition had been under her command as leader.
She needed to give her final report to wrap things up.
Unable to visit while Krash was in the Freeman Holy Kingdom, she had rushed over the moment her duties ended.
Even though she'd heard Krash was fully recovered, she'd been worried sick the whole time.
'She was going to return to Valheim via the magic circle anyway.'
Krash hadn't expected her to come first.
"I'm glad you look safe."
Lilish visually checked Krash's condition and let out a short sigh of relief.
Seeing him like this, Krash realized Lilish had become someone very different from his memories of her before the regression.
The Lilish in Krash's memories had always been curt and dismissive of family matters.
'Maybe.'
Even that Lilish might have changed like this with just one turning point.
'Relationships between people can turn into something completely different over the smallest things.'
Krash looked at Lilish.
She clearly looked like an older sister caring for her younger brother, even if belatedly.
"I'll go be with Cream."
In the meantime, Bianca had tactfully excused herself.
She was giving the siblings space.
Krash was now alone with Lilish.
A brief silence hung between them.
These two had never really talked with family before.
Now that they were alone, neither knew what to say.
"...Want some candy?"
Lilish suddenly pulled out a piece of candy.
It was the same kind she'd given Bianca.
The last time she'd met Krash, he had been so young.
In her mind, he was still fixed as a little child.
Their relationship, despite being family, had always felt distant.
Based on those memories, Lilish had heard that giving candy to kids made it easier to bond, so she'd carried it around.
Maybe if she gave some to her eventual little brother, they could grow a bit closer.
Of course, the Krash she met again was nearly an adult and far from the age where he'd like candy.
"Sure, whatever."
Krash accepted it with a bewildered expression.
Lilish felt a quiet sense of pride inside watching him.
Krash, meanwhile, thought he'd give it to Bianca later.
"You did something huge this time. It'll reach not just the elders, but Father's ears too."
As they talked, Lilish brought up work matters.
She'd apparently reported everything truthfully to Valheim's upper echelons.
Would they even believe a fourteen-year-old had shone in the World Erosion?
Since he'd snuck into the Azure Sea Knight Order, it was unclear how Valheim leadership would interpret it.
"As long as the higher-ups keep it quiet, no one else will know, so it should be fine."
Understanding that Krash had wanted to hide his identity, she wisely didn't make a fuss.
The fact that no rumors stirred in the Freeman Holy Kingdom about a Valheim showing up was proof.
The Freeman Holy Kingdom did know Krash had fought Agares.
But only to the extent that he'd assisted Lilish Valheim.
They had no idea Krash was the one who defeated Agares.
The Freeman Holy Kingdom likely viewed it as: the fourteen-year-old Valheim direct descendant let pride and bravado get the better of him, followed Lilish, and nearly died.
A boy of just fourteen heading into a demon realm didn't make sense to begin with, but the place Krash belonged to was Valheim.
'There's precedent with Charlotte.'
There was already a monster named Charlotte who had wandered the forbidden zones before Krash.
So the odds were high they'd chalk it up to the youngest Valheim's impulsive act, imitating his sister.
It was great news for Krash.
He could keep his deal with the first prince.
"The Azure Sea Knight Order members all asked me to pass on their thanks."
They could be called comrades who'd fought together.
Since Krash had saved them from crises a few times, they were grateful.
"Everyone worked hard."
It wasn't the achievement of one person's effort alone.
Krash highly valued the other knight orders' contributions too.
Without them, they couldn't have caught Agares.
That's why Krash never slacked on growing stronger while also looking after others.
After that, their conversation with Lilish continued in bits and pieces.
But it didn't last long.
Krash and Lilish had gone too long without talking to each other.
Once work was covered, neither knew what else to say.
Their bond felt more awkward than with strangers.
"That's all the talk for now. Get some rest."
In the end, Lilish was the first to stand.
Regret lingered in her eyes, but she genuinely wanted him to rest.
Deep down, she wanted to scold him not to overdo it anymore.
But she had no right to say that.
She hadn't taken care of her family either.
As Lilish turned to leave the room.
Krash watched her back and bit his lip ever so slightly.
There was something she hadn't asked, despite wanting to.
And Krash had originally planned to keep it hidden.
"Sister."
Krash called out, and she turned around.
"Don't you have more questions?"
It was about Krash using Belokin Valheim's Ignis.
She'd interpreted it conveniently.
But the reality was far more tragic.
Still, she truly wanted to mend things with Krash.
If he was to respond to that sincerity, he'd have to voice this uncomfortable truth.
He could have kept it hidden forever.
It was already fully covered up, something he could bury for life.
But in this moment.
He didn't want to treat Lilish's earnest efforts to rebuild their sibling bond like foolishness.
During the Agares fight.
Krash had seen with his own eyes how she believed in him.
"Krash."
She finally broke her silence.
"Before coming here, I looked into Belokin. I heard he tormented you terribly."
Lilish had sensed Krash using the stolen Ignis through her instincts.
As such, she'd looked into the relationship between Belokin and Krash on her own.
Their bond was a complete mess.
The Valheim Family hadn't treated them as blood kin.
They'd pushed them to the brink until they turned swords on each other.
That was the Valheim Family.
And Krash had ended up with Belokin's Ignis.
After such a vicious history, had those two reformed at the end and joined forces as brothers to defeat the Thousand-Faced Ghost?
Lilish shook her head regretfully.
So despite her questions about the Thousand-Faced Ghost incident, she'd stayed silent for Krash's sake.
Now Krash had brought it up himself.
He'd opened his heart first.
"Can you tell me more?"
Hearing that, Krash hesitated again.
He couldn't predict if Lilish would rage or despise him for killing a family member.
But he'd glimpsed her true feelings during the Agares battle.
So Krash slowly opened his tightly shut lips.
"...I killed Brother Belokin with my own hands."
To honor her sincerity, Krash confessed the truth for the first time.
Krash's story went on at length.
All the countless events and incidents tangled with Belokin.
He laid it all out as objectively as possible, stripping away personal bias.
Lilish showed no anger or contempt.
She simply listened calmly as Krash's sister to the tale of her other brother, Belokin.
Seeing that, Krash knew one thing for sure.
Lilish wasn't the type to prioritize who shared more blood.
To her, brothers were brothers, blood the same or not.
If anything, she lamented her own failure to step in amid the horrific rift between her two brothers.
For the first time, Krash felt like he truly understood Lilish.
A family member he'd known less than acquaintances nearby.
When the story ended.
"I'm sorry. I never paid attention to either of you."
Lilish's pained apology followed.
"Can I hug you once?"
As Lilish asked tentatively, Krash nodded.
She approached and pulled him into an embrace.
Lilish had always seemed so stoic, but her embrace was warm.
Warm enough, at least in that moment, to forget the brutal rejection and torment from family and clan.
People carry the pains of childhood into adulthood, no matter how old they get.
It wasn't much different for Krash, who had endured so much and pressed on.
Deep scars could be bandaged out of sight, but they never vanished.
That's why he needed to know.
That there was someone who would look at those scars and worry.
For some reason, Krash felt like he'd returned to his childhood, just for a moment.
Belokin, who had been like a scar to Krash.
The long, painful grudge of that scar.
This was the first time Krash had shown it to family.
Beyond the window.
Hydrangeas blooming in the summer rain.
Krash quietly thought that the hydrangeas, changing color along with the soil, somehow resembled himself.