Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: That Bitch
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Krash felt a brief wave of dizziness.
And at the same time, he recalled the looks the kids had given him when he'd brought Dorma along earlier today.
Krash had thought those gazes were just curiosity about what was going on.
But if those rumors were layered on top of that gaze...
Krash's head spun for a moment.
It was because walking around with Dorma would probably lead to talk like "he's added another girl."
'The guys I'm getting tangled up with are all so outstandingly talented, and yet...'
The Generation of the Sky had a fairly even ratio of men to women.
The problem was that a good chunk of the guys were now aligned with Sigrin.
'Sigrin doesn't mesh well with other girls.'
Krash, who knew her personality well, was aware that she didn't get along with other women.
Sigrin had a domineering personality and intense possessiveness.
That trait showed up even between men and women.
'A crazy bitch who wants the whole world to love only her.'
So naturally, the women didn't take kindly to Sigrin.
She wanted every guy around her under her thumb, after all.
Maybe that's why Sigrin was so drawn to Arthur—he never fully gave her his heart.
She constantly craved his love.
'I had no intention of hanging with the Sigrin faction, so I ended up tangled with everyone else.'
He hadn't expected it to turn out like this.
"...Dorma, I have a fiancée. She's coming to Raheln Academy next year."
Someone with a fiancée like him wouldn't be collecting girls.
It was just that things had snowballed from getting involved with people.
"Those rumors are nonsense. Why would I do something like that when I have a fiancée?"
"R-right!"
Dorma nodded vigorously, denying the rumors about him.
"And like you said, I'm not exactly a good person."
Krash decided to correct her impression of him as well.
"The reason I'm helping you with your request is because I have one of my own."
"A r-request?"
Dorma tilted her head.
It was the reaction of someone wondering if a nobody like her could really help Krash.
But Krash knew Dorma's true value well.
It wasn't for nothing that she was a specialist on the Hajoo side.
There were generally two ways to handle curses.
One was annihilation.
The other was sealing.
And that second method—sealing—was why the Hajoo could carry curses around with them.
Dorma was one of Beltua's twelve disciples.
'The only one who could seal even top-tier curses.'
Krash looked at Dorma with a pang of regret.
If she hadn't met her end, he surely wouldn't have struggled so much.
Of course, even Dorma had ultimately concluded she couldn't handle Krash's curses.
But it was true that researching curse neutralization with her would have made things much easier.
"Is there something I can help with?"
"Yeah. Lately, I've been researching something with some people I know."
Krash rummaged through the alchemy lab.
He pulled out the list that Darling, the lab's owner, had written up.
"I'm thinking of synthesizing curses and poisons to make an instant-strengthening elixir. Incorporating the curse neutralization theory I mentioned earlier. So I'll need some high-level curses."
"Pardon?"
Dorma took the list Krash handed her, her eyes wide with surprise.
As she scanned down it, her eyes shook violently.
And for good reason—there, in detail, was curse neutralization, a theory Beltua had only theorized about.
She quickly skimmed the list and looked up at Krash in bewilderment.
"K-Krash, who... who wrote this?"
"Darling did. He's the owner of this alchemy lab. We put it together."
Dorma stared at Krash.
At the same time, she sensed the curse's power dwelling in his body once more.
"Krash, by any chance..."
The biggest reason curse neutralization theory couldn't be established was the danger of testing it on humans.
But seeing the curses in Krash's body and this sample...
She suspected he had realized the theory himself.
Which made it even harder to pry.
What on earth was he trying to achieve, going this far?
"Something you want to say?"
"Oh, uh, I just... I've never seen anything like this, so I have a ton of questions. If it's not rude, c-can I ask?"
So she changed the subject instead.
Besides, she was genuinely curious about this too.
Krash gave her his kindest smile.
"Ask away."
Whenever Dorma asked about curse neutralization, Krash answered kindly.
It had started as a way to deflect, but as time passed, Beltua grew more and more enthusiastic.
Talking about her field of expertise made her feel like she was chattering away at Raheln Academy for the first time in ages.
By the time they wrapped up, Dorma's face was beaming with a goofy grin.
This was fun.
It reminded her of the days spent chatting about curses with her senior brothers and sisters.
Krash had an astonishing depth of knowledge about curses.
Even she learned a thing or two from his answers.
"Krash, you really know your curses! Do you like them?"
Like curses.
Krash swallowed a bitter smile at the question.
She couldn't know the grueling process that had given him such expertise.
"Somewhat."
So Krash answered in a way that wouldn't worry her.
"Oh, right. S-sorry. I got so caught up chatting I forgot to answer if I could help."
Realizing she'd gotten too excited, she covered her flushed face with both hands.
Then she quickly gave Krash her answer.
"...Y-yes, I think I can help!"
He'd helped her find Beltua, so it was only right to return the favor.
She clenched her fists tight as she spoke, and Krash posed a question.
"Come to think of it, Dorma, you're with the Third Princess, right? It's okay to help me?"
The Valheims and Epania weren't on good terms.
Especially since Sigrin had a rival in Charlotte, there was no way their relations could be amicable.
And here was Dorma, part of the Sigrin faction.
So when he asked if it was okay, she let out an "Ah."
"I-I think I need to ask first. But Lady Sigrin is generous, so... y-yeah, it'll probably be fine!"
Yeah, it would be.
Sigrin would jump at any chance to build a bridge here.
"That's a relief then."
And he'd waste her life building a bridge that'd never be completed.
It was the moment when the real Krash's inner thoughts, unknown to the innocent Dorma, curled into a smirk.
"W-well then, I'll be going!"
With the talk over, Dorma stood to leave.
Clack-clack-
At that moment, the sound of high heels approached from outside.
Krash recognized who it was from the stride and rhythm alone.
Krash stood from his seat.
Right then, a polite knock came from the alchemy lab door.
"Hello. I heard Dorma was here, so I came to see."
A familiar voice laced with sweetness rang out.
But Krash's face twisted the instant he heard it.
Good thing she hadn't opened the door right away.
If she had, Sigrin would've spotted his expression and realized he'd regressed alongside her.
"Who is it?"
He hadn't faced her yet in this timeline.
So he played dumb about whose voice it was.
"Gasp, wha— Krash, i-it's Lady Sigrin!"
Dorma cried out to him in a panic.
Because the voice belonged to the Third Princess, Sigrin Epania.
The one person Krash hated most in the world.
A soft laugh came from outside.
"Yes, Sigrin Epania. Might this voice belong to Krash Valheim?"
"Wh-what do we do?"
Dorma's face went pale, like she'd been caught red-handed stealing.
She must have known Sigrin didn't look kindly on Charlotte.
And Krash was Charlotte's brother.
"I'll handle it."
Krash gripped the doorknob and opened it, signaling not to worry.
Sigrin stood there, having stepped back from the door.
Unlike the sickly Sisley with her pale hair, her vivid blue-white locks fluttered dramatically.
Her beauty was unparalleled, and she flashed Krash a radiant smile the moment their eyes met.
"That's you. Nice to meet you, Krash Valheim."
It was the reaction of someone meeting him for the first time.
And she deliberately added honorifics to every word.
A noble like me is even using honorifics with you.
That was probably Sigrin's inner monologue.
It nearly made Krash retch.
"Third Princess, nice to meet you."
But he could play shameless too.
Krash acted awkward, as if this were their first encounter.
Behind her stood two men.
One with short white hair, later called the White Snake.
The other with long black hair, later the Black Snake.
Twin brothers with different hair colors, guys who'd made a name for themselves in the Generation of the Sky.
Now poached by Sigrin, they served as her escort knights in Mary's stead.
The special class students whispered among themselves at the sight.
Krash had visited the special class room a few times, but Sigrin gracing them in person was a first.
"I heard Dorma came to see you, so I wanted to make sure it wasn't intruding."
"I see."
She'd clearly grasped the whole situation before making her move.
'She's got eyes and ears all over the academy, whether we know it or not.'
It wasn't for nothing she held such sway at Raheln Academy.
"We were just talking about curses for a bit."
"Curses?"
Sigrin widened her eyes.
The surprise looked genuine.
If Krash weren't who he was, even he'd have been fooled—her acting was that natural.
"Yes, Dorma's quite the expert on curses."
"Oh, hehe, well, a little..."
Dorma, eavesdropping from behind, scratched the back of her head bashfully.
"I've been working on some research lately, so I asked for her help. I was just about to mention it to you, Lady Sigrin—perfect timing."
Krash explained smoothly to Sigrin.
She listened thoughtfully, then turned to Dorma with a smile.
"Dorma, you're helping Krash?"
"Y-yes! He said he'd help find my master!"
The moment she heard "master," Sigrin's eyes sharpened for a split second.
It was brief, but Krash caught it clearly.
It was the look she got when she sniffed out something suspicious.
"Is that power you wield something you learned from Beltua Racklord?"
Krash didn't answer her next question—instead, he slowly smiled.
Sigrin caught the meaning behind it; her face stiffened, then relaxed.
"Ah, sorry. I got too nosy."
Her expression softened, but Krash sensed her wounded pride beneath it.
Someone she'd always dismissed as curse-ridden had just drawn a line.
It was only natural for her.
She hadn't changed a bit, and Krash was grateful for it.
It reignited his resolve to crush her utterly.