Chapter 143
Chapter 143
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 143
Chapter Title: Women Troubles
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Saintess.
Astraea Stigma Freeman.
She was absolutely furious right now.
It was because just a few hours ago, she'd advised Krash to take it easy on his body, only for him to come staggering back in Durandal's arms, beaten to a pulp.
She'd treated his wounds haphazardly and was about to give him an earful while he was still out cold.
But looking at that face of his made her heart soften against her will.
"I really hate you!"
She uttered words that didn't reflect her true feelings as she leaned against the bed where Krash lay.
His face was right there in front of her.
Sharp eyes and a roguish look.
The kind of face anyone would call wicked at first glance.
But to Astraea, it was perfectly her type.
'Why does it have to be my type.'
Astraea grumbled as she poked the tip of Krash's nose with her finger.
It wasn't just the face, though.
The real reason Astraea kept being drawn to him was how he treated her.
He didn't care at all that she was the Saintess.
He treated her like a normal person, as if they'd been friends for decades.
"Astraea."
Even his voice—deep and post-pubescent—fit her tastes perfectly, despite her anger.
The smiles he sometimes directed at her often carried a hint of melancholy, leaving her staring blankly.
Why did he always make that expression at her?
That was the reason Krash kept popping into her thoughts.
Even his occasional teasing didn't annoy her—in fact, she found herself smiling at it, which amused her.
"How long have we even known each other?"
How could she end up like this after such a short time?
'I never knew I was such a fool.'
Astraea pulled her hand away from his nose and leaned in closer.
He definitely had a fiancée.
A little chick with white hair.
Even in Astraea's eyes, the girl was destined to become a stunning beauty.
And she knew Krash cherished her deeply.
"You like that girl, don't you."
Astraea let out a regretful sigh from deep within.
The fact that the one man who'd captured her heart had a fiancée filled her with despair in every way.
"Still, you promised to free me from my chains."
Astraea gently cupped Krash's cheek with her hand.
"So while you're at it, maybe swap them for different chains."
Astraea smiled bitterly, realizing she was asking too much from a boy she'd known for barely half a year.
"Forget I said that."
She muttered to herself and tried to straighten up.
But she'd overestimated her arm strength.
"Eek!"
Having exhausted herself treating him, her supporting arm buckled without warning.
By the time she flinched and tried to catch herself, it was too late.
Krash's face was right in front of her nose, and somehow, she ended up nestled in his arms.
Her heart pounded wildly against his chest.
With zero immunity to men, this was her first time being held like this, and she panicked hard.
As she flailed in flustered embarrassment,
Krash's hand suddenly rose, naturally cradling the back of her head.
Now fully embraced in his arms, she widened her sunny eyes in shock.
Her face turned beet red.
Yet the warmth from him and the faint scent of sweat from battle hit her like a wave.
At that moment, Krash's eyes slowly fluttered open.
He stared silently at the girl in his arms, her face flushed crimson, then fell quiet.
Naturally, Astraea went quiet too.
In the end, Krash spoke first.
"You shouldn't pounce on people while they're sleeping."
"W-Who pounced?!"
Astraea shrieked and shoved him away, scrambling upright.
She fussed over her clothes, smoothing her side-swept hair, unsure what to do with herself.
The lingering warmth on her body kept making her heart race, but she forced herself to ignore it.
"I slipped while checking on you! And you pulled me in!"
She rolled her eyes everywhere, shouting her excuses.
Krash, now fully attuned to her tsundere side, just took it in stride.
"You healed me. Thanks."
"......I don't need your thanks. Just stop coming back like this."
In Astraea's view, most of his injuries were his own fault.
So when she told him to show some restraint, he wrapped his arms around himself.
"Sorry, can't promise that."
Krash couldn't promise he wouldn't come back like this again.
He'd keep overdoing it from now on.
Otherwise, he couldn't move forward.
"......"
Astraea stared at him intently.
She didn't know his goal.
But she could sense he was obsessed with something.
And that she could never talk him out of it.
Astraea started to say something but stopped.
Instead, she looked him straight in the eye.
"......Keep that promise from before."
Krash turned to her.
The promise she meant was to come to her first if he got hurt.
For some reason, a laugh escaped Krash's lips.
"What's so funny."
As Astraea pouted, Krash wiped the smile away and spoke.
"Don't worry. I'll keep that one for sure. You're the only one who can heal me anyway."
Astraea's lips parted wordlessly before she averted her eyes like always.
Her earlobes were bright red.
"......You're such a jerk."
Krash rose from the bed, watching her grumble.
She insisted he rest more, but unfortunately, things were urgent.
He needed to check if Durandal had accepted the writ, prepare for the Lion Corps mission, and more.
"Knew you'd do this."
The moment Krash opened the door, blue hair caught his eye.
The girl with her hair in twin buns like dumplings planted her hands on her hips.
"I've handled everything you were thinking. Now lie back down."
It was none other than Sizzly Epania.
Oh yeah, she'd been around.
"The writ?"
"After that mess, think it'd get rejected? I sent a mission request through the Lion Corps to the Hardenharts too. Borrowed your name—got a problem?"
As if he did.
This was why smart people were invaluable by your side.
They handled everything even if you just rested.
"We'll move as soon as the mission request comes in. I leaked that you and Haring Lagren are in the Lion Corps to the Empire too, so they won't act rashly."
Overly competent.
Sizzly had essentially done everything Krash needed to.
"......Why not just become emperor yourself?"
If Sizzly took the throne, the Empire might never fall.
Sizzly snorted.
"Then the world unifies under the Empire."
Arrogance different from Charlotte's.
"And it's not the right choice. I lack power, my body's weak, and my lifespan's short. The moment the Empire relies on me, it'll decline starting with my death."
Krash now understood why Sizzly had fully withdrawn from the throne fight.
She'd stepped back for the Empire from the start.
She could bring glory and wealth, but not eternity.
Once that faded, the Empire would crumble faster, unable to forget its peak.
Sizzly had considered even that.
Judging that any family member on the throne would be better than her.
'And because Arthur wants the throne.'
She'd hidden the White Dragon's seal and killed herself.
'The one who cared most for the Empire was no one else but Sizzly.'
Yet the Empire she cherished so much had fallen anyway.
What would she do if she knew?
"Still, you never know."
Sizzly looked at Krash with mischievous eyes.
"If I had a sturdy husband, maybe sitting on the throne wouldn't be so bad?"
"Even with a sturdy guy, it ends when you die."
"If I bear kids smart like me and tough like my husband, who knows? Bear ten, and one might turn out perfect."
The girl who just complained about her weak body was talking about ten kids.
Wasn't this similar to what Crimson Garden did?
Were all smart ones the same?
Always caught off guard with these types.
"Just kidding, of course. Can't even joke long with the Saintess glaring like that."
"M-Me?"
Astraea stared wide-eyed at Sizzly before jolting and pretending otherwise.
Krash belatedly realized why Sizzly said that.
She was testing Astraea.
"And one more thing."
Sizzly looked displeased.
"Seems the White Sheep Corps wants in on the same mission."
The White Sheep Corps, created by Third Princess Sigrin Epania.
That damn woman Sigrin was tagging along.
"Way to stop her?"
"Honestly, none good. Once I joined, our justification weakened. Blocking her for being Imperial faction would backfire."
Krash crossed his arms and tapped them thoughtfully.
"Sorry. My involvement gave my sister an opening."
Sizzly knew subtly how much Krash disliked Sigrin.
She didn't know why, but since she owed him,
She wanted to side with him over her distant sister.
Besides, in Sizzly's eyes, Sigrin would lead the Empire astray.
"Nah, she'd have wedged in anyway."
Krash brushed it off, telling her not to worry.
"Besides, I expected her. Just switch who issues the mission. Make it so she absolutely can't join."
Sizzly caught on quickly.
"Using the Valheims?"
"No."
Using Valheim might lead them to find Evelask and actually kill him.
He'd pass on that.
"Staron Royal Family."
Krash planned to use Staron's royals.
A mission directly from the First Prince.
Sizzly narrowed her eyes.
"You aiming to be Valheim head or something? Must have solid ties if you're that confident."
"Not really. This is my own connection. Gotta use what I have."
"Figured as much since Staron won't leak your info. You're playing big."
Even this was within her expectations?
"Hmm, if Staron steps in, even Sister Sigrin can't move."
Sigrin was essentially the Imperial faction's core.
And the Empire was asking to enter Hardenharts to chase the World Erosion culprit who badly wounded the Poison King.
Naturally, Hardenharts would oppose Imperial knights entering, and Staron too.
They might squeeze in via friendly ties and academy status for Hardenharts,
but if Staron royals stepped up directly, even Sigrin couldn't.
Staron handling it themselves—Empire interfering would be overreach.
"Won't that cause issues for me too?"
"Captain's your big sis Charlotte."
"Makes sense."
Charlotte lived by her own rules.
Her whimsically recruiting an Imperial princess felt just like her.
So Sizzly, with near-zero succession rights, could slide by.
Sigrin, fighting for the throne, absolutely couldn't cross that line.
"Gonna see her pissed face."
"Eh, Sigrin'll find another way to squeeze in."
Her personality wouldn't sit still.
She'd try something.
'And with Charlotte stepping in this time, it'll heighten suspicions about her.'
Especially linking to the Evelask incident.
Sorry, Charlotte, but play your part well.
A smile crept onto Krash's lips.
Then, urgent footsteps echoed from the hall.
Krash turned to see a familiar figure, sweaty and breathless.
It was Aslan's exclusive maid, Lilina.
"Lilina?"
She spotted Krash at the door and sighed in relief.
Pretending she hadn't run, she straightened her clothes and approached.
Shameless as ever.
"Lord Krash, you're in one piece."
She glanced alternately at Astraea and Sizzly.
And for some reason, flashed a different smile than usual.
"Maybe a bit too in one piece, though."
Lilina turned her head slightly, pouting.
Sizzly tapped her small chin.
"Never thought I'd witness 'women troubles' firsthand. Quite intriguing."
Sizzly's eyes sparkled mischievously.
Why find interest in this?
Krash resisted the urge to flick her shiny forehead.
This scene would make anyone think the same.
And it was one Krash had seen often.
Arthur always had women around him nonstop.
Back then, he'd looked at Arthur like a bug.
'Damn it.'
He never thought he'd understand this, Krash thought quietly.