Chapter 125
Chapter 125
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: Hand Over All the Curses
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After finishing his meal with Haring, Krash heard another snide remark from Crimson Garden for some reason.
‘Maybe because I’ve seen them starve to death without food before.’
Krash placed a high value on meals. He’d witnessed starvation deaths a few times, after all.
No matter what else happened, you had to eat.
“So Astria healed you?”
“Yeah, I heard the Saintess stopped by.”
During their meal, Krash chatted intermittently with Haring and learned that Astria had treated him.
No wonder his body felt so refreshed.
It was Astria’s doing.
He’d have to thank her properly next time they met.
“What’s this poison research you’re doing?”
“You know roughly what power I use, right?”
When Krash asked, Haring looked at him.
“Curses.”
That was apparently how it looked even in her eyes.
The reality was even worse, but Krash didn’t deny it.
“Right. I want to try mixing curses and poisons. We benefited from the Red Tiger Pill last time, didn’t we?”
“……For some reason, it feels like you’re going to make something insanely reckless.”
Haring looked at Krash with worried eyes.
She’d grown much closer to him since their mission together.
She saw echoes of her brother in him now—he no longer felt like a stranger.
She knew how reckless his actions were.
And that he’d been fighting like this for a long time.
“Krash, you’ll ruin your body and die at this rate.”
Haring meant it.
If he kept going like this, his body wouldn’t hold out.
“The human body’s tougher than you think.”
Krash chuckled casually, as if he knew from experience.
“Besides, even if your body holds up, the world might not.”
Haring couldn’t grasp the profound meaning behind his words.
But she knew she couldn’t stop him.
Someone who threw himself into danger like this wouldn’t heed advice and halt.
She knew that well, having gripped her dagger even when her hands tore open after her brother’s death.
The scar from that was still vivid on the side of her hand.
Scars could be hidden, but not erased.
Knowing that, Haring gazed at Krash.
‘What on earth happened to you?’
Krash’s casual smile drew her in.
The distant past lingering in that smile clearly bound him.
What was his goal, this endless drive to grow stronger, even reaching for curses?
She couldn’t know for sure, but Haring reached out and grabbed his collar.
When their eyes met, she was startled by her own impulsive action but didn’t let go.
“Then at least let me help so you don’t break as badly.”
Hearing her, Krash blinked.
He knew she’d been showing this odd attachment since he’d touched on her trauma.
Even now, the hand gripping his collar trembled faintly, fearing he might vanish somewhere.
‘……As long as it doesn’t go in a bad direction, it’s fine for now.’
This would need resolving eventually.
Krash didn’t want a Generation of the Sky that leaned only on him.
He wanted one that could chase after him and soar.
“If you’re offering, I’m not gonna say no.”
It wasn’t something he could fix right now.
So Krash resolved inwardly to handle Haring’s issue slowly.
Afterward, Krash headed to the special lecture hall with Haring.
The person he sought was none other than Darling Danphelion.
The future Alchemy Citadel Lord and specialist in alchemy.
“Hmmm, trying to make something interesting, huh?”
Darling showed interest once Krash outlined his rough plan.
She’d been researching curses anyway.
Of course she’d be intrigued.
“Basically an elixir mixing poison and curses, right?”
“Yeah. Elixirs already include poisons sometimes. I want to use poison effects and curse offsets to create a temporary enhancement elixir.”
Darling cleared her desk piled with papers as she listened to Krash.
She pulled out a fresh sheet and began scribbling notes.
Krash, with no alchemy knowledge, couldn’t follow.
But Haring, versed in poisons, watched Darling’s writing intently.
“Temporary enhancement types? I could make those anytime. I could make them insanely strong, endlessly.”
Darling marked some parts with X’s, sorting out the impossibles.
“But the downsides are clear. The momentary power comes at a huge cost. Most family secret enhancement elixirs demand your life as collateral.”
Darling glanced at Haring as she spoke.
“You’re from the Lagren family, right?”
“Ah, yeah.”
“Lagren excels in poisons. They’re veterans at these enhancement elixirs. Didn’t you warn my boyfriend how dangerous they are?”
“Boyfriend?”
Haring turned to Krash.
Krash grimaced and replied.
“Don’t take what this one says at face value. And I’ve already taken a Lagren temporary enhancement elixir—the Red Tiger Pill.”
“The one where your insides boil over if you can’t endure it, melting you from within?”
“Yeah, that.”
“I knew you had some idea, but you’re tough.”
Darling wasn’t all that surprised.
Krash had survived even the Nine Bends Dragon Fire Pill.
She figured the Red Tiger Pill wouldn’t faze him now.
“Good. Then we can throw in pretty much anything without issue. Mind asking the Lagren heir for stuff I can’t get?”
“Since it’s to help Krash, leave it to me.”
Haring answered reliably, and Darling slowly turned to her.
She cupped her cheeks with a meaningful smile, cooing dramatically.
“Picked up another girl in the meantime? My boyfriend’s such a playboy.”
Haring tilted her head.
“Krash, you’re a playboy?”
“Just let her words go in one ear and out the other. They’re bad for your mental health.”
Haring’s expression suggested she didn’t quite grasp what “playboy” meant.
“Coming to ask for help from a mentally harmful woman—are you in a normal state of mind, Krash?”
Krash decided to ignore Darling’s words from then on.
“Hng, so how about the curses? I don’t have many stored.”
Darling was writing a paper on curse offsets.
She had some lower-tier curses, but nothing more.
Higher curses weren’t for amateurs unless you were an expert healer.
Even Darling handled them with care.
“I’ve got something in mind. Shouldn’t be too hard to get.”
And the source was right inside Raheln Academy.
“Then I can just produce results to my heart’s content.”
Darling grinned suspiciously, already knee-deep in multiple researches.
A new material sparked her interest—classic Darling, future Alchemy Citadel Lord.
“I’ll compile a list by tomorrow. Have the Lagren direct heir check it and let me know. Curious about their take too.”
“Got it.”
“Thanks.”
“Oh, my boyfriend, hold up.”
As Krash turned to leave, Darling opened a drawer.
She tossed a vial his way.
Krash caught it effortlessly, and she beamed.
“That thing you asked for last time.”
Already done?
Darling’s skill was impeccable.
Krash saw the liquid sloshing inside, close to water, and pocketed it carefully.
He’d use this soon enough.
‘Now for the last piece.’
Raheln Academy’s first-years.
One of the twelve disciples of the world’s top erosion healer, Beltua Rackroad.
Erosion Healer Dorma Rackroad.
Currently in Sigrin’s faction.
He needed to snag that one.
A bright spring day under blazing sun.
While student squads were still on missions or resting after, Raheln Academy’s regular classes proceeded.
Second-years, after six months of training and classes, were assigned to squads.
First-years who’d finished their six months trained or attended classes unless on missions.
Class attendance was optional, but students couldn’t skip.
Midterms were held, and scores affected squad standing.
No slacking if you wanted high marks.
Unless sick or excused, they trained or classed after missions.
Today’s special lecture: Curse Studies.
Curses were inseparable from World Erosion—an essential study tied to life itself.
Many non-combat majors chose curse studies as their special track.
As students chatted before class.
The door slid open.
A figure entered: dark blue hair, fierce eyes.
That hair color was unmistakable to any at Raheln Academy.
‘Krash Valheim.’
‘Here for Curse Studies?’
The kids eyed him curiously.
Krash had been a storm since arriving.
Topping the Martial Department by defeating Associate Professor Kairan.
Starring in his first mission.
Slaying World Erosion spawn, even one-shotting a 7-star beast.
Rumors spread like wildfire.
Combined with pre-enrollment buzz, he was the academy’s star.
Gazes followed him everywhere, laced with myriad emotions.
Annoying, perhaps, but Krash strode confidently.
As if their judgments meant nothing.
Detached, or arrogantly like Charlotte.
“Mr. Popular.”
A red-haired guy peeked from behind: Aslan.
Aslan smiled faintly at the stares gathering on Krash.
Krash shot him an irritated look.
“You hung back on purpose to let me go first and draw the eyes, huh.”
“It’s good when your friend’s the center of attention.”
“Don’t use me as a shield because you hate the spotlight.”
Aslan’s striking looks drew eyes too.
But with Krash, it was different—Aslan often used him as cover.
He still found public attention uncomfortable.
Krash scanned the room.
Not all first-years were back, so many seats empty.
But his target was right there, front row in Curse Studies.
Staring blatantly, then flinching away on eye contact.
Slumped shoulders, delicate features.
Fluffy, unkempt light hair like a neglected puppy.
Petite frame evoking a child.
Constant facial flush.
One of the world’s top erosion healer Beltua Rackroad’s twelve disciples.
A Generation of the Sky member who’d introduced Krash to Beltua.
Erosion Healer Dorma Rackroad.
She was Krash’s target this time.
He needed curses from her for the new enhancement elixir.
And it might be easier than thought.
He’d noticed her stares since orientation.
‘An erosion healer passing up someone loaded with curses? Like a sparrow skipping a mill.’
Erosion healers obsessed with curses were the same.
And she’d been poached by that damn Sigrin.
Until Krash played curse magnet, Dorma was the most useful.
Krash smirked coldly, unnoticed.
Sorry, but stealing was his specialty.
‘Sigrin, I’ll leave you with zero curse healers.’
Go drown in your curses.