Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: The Situation Escalates
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On the snowy mountain.
Krash was frowning alone as he stared down at the letter.
Evelask Venapoci.
The only necromancer—and former leader of the Night Ravens.
After reading the letter she'd sent, Krash's mind grew complicated.
The rat that had come to his pocket had frozen in place.
It truly meant for him not to seek her out.
Why had she conveyed a message telling him not to find her?
'Something must have happened to change Evelask's state of mind.'
What could have caused Evelask to change so suddenly?
"I had some old comrades I used to run with back in the day. They're all dead now, but still... I just want to laugh with them one more time."
The image of a drunken Evelask rambling flashed through Krash's mind.
Used as a tool by Arthur for the Generation of the Sky, she had always longed for her old comrades.
'Evelask's dream was to bring her old comrades back to life.'
That was why she'd delved so obsessively into countless books, studying necromancy.
Until she realized it was utterly impossible with her own power.
"I'm sick of it! I'm not your dog! I was a person too, with people I loved! I wish... I wish I'd just died with them!"
Krash vividly remembered her desperate curses.
In that moment, a certain figure flashed through Krash's mind.
"Damn it..."
He knew exactly one person who could fulfill her dream.
The paper in Krash's hand crumpled up.
The reason Evelask had cursed so desperately was because Arthur had killed that person.
The reaper of the underworld, with the power to bring the dead back to life.
And one of the lunatics who was the root of all destruction—someone Krash absolutely had to kill.
'The Black Witch.'
Krash covered his twisted face.
He was certain that woman had approached Evelask.
'After all, even in the previous regression, she'd approached Evelask once.'
The Black Witch's sole purpose in approaching Evelask was one thing.
The World Erosion cult.
'Ixion.'
She was inviting her to join them.
Ixion.
Their goal was singular.
To create a creation god that would remake the world.
And what were they using to achieve that goal?
None other than World Erosion itself.
'A bunch of lunatics trying to create a god using the power of World Erosion.'
That was how Krash assessed Ixion.
'Now it all fits together.'
Once his thoughts reached that point, Krash caught the scent.
'The one who inflicted severe wounds on the Poison King was one of Ixion's members.'
The Poison King had surely been pursuing Evelask on the Empire's orders.
But he must have encountered one of Ixion's members first, instead of her.
'Ixion, who wanted Evelask, wouldn't have let the Poison King chase her.'
As a result, a battle broke out between the Poison King and one of Ixion's members, forcing the Poison King to retreat with severe injuries.
'And the Empire covered it up.'
The Poison King was one of the Ten Supremes and an Imperial affiliate.
If word spread that he'd been defeated by some random World Erosionist, the Empire's prestige would suffer.
On the other hand, Evelask was the infamous former leader of the Empire's Night Raven unit—and a World Erosionist who had even tried to assassinate the Princess.
She had a reputation, so they could spin it as him acting on his own initiative, overextending himself and getting gravely wounded. That way, the prestige loss would be minimized.
And as a bonus, it gave them a chance to capture Evelask themselves.
'The Empire must have some grasp on Ixion's movements.'
They figured they'd wrap up the Ixion investigation first.
Then gradually gather the world's powerhouses to subjugate them.
Sizli had been right.
The Empire always chased two rabbits at once—never just one.
'Evelask had essentially stopped her activities anyway. I thought Ixion wouldn't approach her now.'
It had been too soft a judgment.
Ixion was the root cause behind the worst calamities.
They could never be allowed to grow in scale.
Krash's eyes gleamed coldly.
'This might be an opportunity.'
Krash himself still couldn't handle World Erosionists yet.
But Hardenharts had his older brother, the Sword King.
If things went well, they could take down one of Ixion's members.
'If I'm going to use them, then all in.'
To save even his own family from destruction, Krash's eyes flashed as he resolved to pour everything into it.
'If we can capture one of Ixion's members this time, we can shake them up.'
Expose Ixion's existence to the world in detail and rally the strong to hunt them down.
That alone would shrink Ixion's forces inevitably.
'If I can't handle it myself, I'll play another card.'
Even if he couldn't wipe them out in one go, reducing their scale would be the greatest achievement.
With his thoughts reaching that far, Krash looked out the window.
The snowy mountain reflected in view.
"Crimson Garden."
And Krash knew the nearest former Ixion member.
The one who had accepted the deal to erase her immortality.
And roamed around rampaging World Erosion's power.
Crimson Garden August.
She was a former Ixion member.
"It looks like Ixion's gotten involved with Evelask."
[Tch, I was just thinking the same thing.]
Crimson Garden seemed to share his thoughts.
Her reaction was displeased.
Which made perfect sense.
From the moment she'd made her deal with Krash, she had no reason to side with Ixion anymore.
That's why she'd cut ties with them immediately.
Thus, Crimson Garden wouldn't know Ixion's recent movements either.
If she'd tried spying on them like a servant, it would have sparked a war between World Erosionists on the spot.
"We need to find Evelask right now."
Krash quietly burned the paper in his hand with Ignis.
He'd have to act on his own.
[Wait. Ixion is dangerous. I was with them once, but they've gathered only the most dangerous World Erosionists. And from what I see, they'll want you too.]
Worry seeped from Crimson Garden's words.
Ixion was composed of such perilous individuals.
"Don't worry. That's actually not a bad direction."
The brooch glowed once after hearing his response.
[Just to be sure, you're not planning something insane again, are you?]
"When have I ever done something like that?"
As Krash quipped, the brooch shone brightly.
[Say it clearly. Is Ixion a stumbling block for you?]
She'd been with him too long.
Krash rubbed his nape at Crimson Garden's piercing words.
"A stumbling block I'll kick all the way to the heavens."
After his answer, a long sigh echoed from Crimson Garden.
[If you wanna die, just say so. I'll send you off in one shot.]
"Sadly, I don't plan on dying until I claim your immortality."
[You rotten bastard—if you could even say it.]
Her treatment of him grew harsher by the day.
[...I'll look into it on my end too. Whatever you're scheming, only move where it's not dangerous. You know it, but Ixion are all lunatics.]
"Don't worry. I just plan to check Evelask's hideout first."
He wanted to swing by her lair before the search operation began, grab any clues he could.
Once the search started, he'd lose freedom of movement.
'I absolutely need to know who's moving from Ixion.'
Learning too late could delay countermeasures and lead to disaster.
At that moment, the light from the brooch faded.
She was starting to move as well.
Krash opened the door and stepped out.
There was someone he absolutely had to meet for his solo action.
So he began striding down the hallway.
That's when he spotted a figure ahead in the corridor.
"Krash."
It was none other than Haring.
Perfect timing.
There was something he wanted from her.
"Haring, can you give me one Red Signal Token?"
Haring looked taken aback.
After going through that ordeal, for him to ask for another Red Signal Token—it was absurd.
Especially since he'd already made enhancement elixirs. Using a Red Signal Token on top was pure madness.
"Where are you going alone?"
Haring, sensing his intent to leave, grabbed his collar.
"Something came up. I need to check it out. The token's just in case."
One must always prepare for the worst.
Haring stared at Krash.
From the previous mission, she knew he wasn't one to hold back.
That's why she hesitated to give him the token.
He seemed the type to use it the moment things got dicey, danger be damned.
"...Krash, this mission—there's more to it, isn't there?"
At the same time, Haring sensed something off in his behavior.
At first, she'd thought Krash was moving to prevent conflict between the Empire and Staron Kingdom.
But seeing him converse with the Fourth Princess Sizli now and then made it clear there was more.
"Is it related to the World Erosionist who gravely wounded my father?"
Her voice trembled slightly as she asked.
Her father, the Poison King, had been severely injured by a World Erosionist.
And her brother had been killed in the World Erosion they caused.
Haring subconsciously overlapped Krash with her brother.
So when he seemed about to dive into something involving World Erosionists, her body tensed up instinctively.
"..."
Krash fell silent for a moment.
He hesitated over how much to tell Haring.
His lips parted and closed repeatedly before he finally met her eyes.
Haring had been dragged here by him, told to stay put and do nothing for her family.
If he didn't even tell her what was happening...
He'd be no different from the Lagren family.
Annoyingly, Arthur came to mind.
The guy who tried to handle everything alone, never confiding in others.
Because of that, despite being at the forefront, Arthur never earned deep trust from the others.
Krash's own lack of full trust in him was proof.
Krash had no intention of following Arthur's path.
To make the Generation of the Sky truly soar as its name implied.
He planned to stand at the front and forcibly drag them up.
Thus, trust was the most important word to Krash.
Haring was one of the most fitting members for the Generation of the Sky.
To earn her trust, he had to show trust in return.
"Yeah, but the story's long. I'll tell you when I get back."
The situation was too urgent to explain everything now.
To get even a scrap of info on Evelask, he needed to move fast.
At his words, the silent Haring finally spoke.
"Then I have a condition. Take me with you wherever you're checking."
"That's..."
"If it's dangerous, I'll be more help than a Red Signal Token."
Krash recalled Haring's skill.
Haring's skill: Invisible.
A skill that erased one's presence and form.
Its power was something Krash knew well—it had landed a massive blow on Decarabia.
'Certainly.'
For stealthy movement, Haring's skill was invaluable.
Especially for slipping out unnoticed—nothing beat it.
"Alright, let's talk on the way."
Krash decided to bring Haring along.
She was the one who wanted to know the truth most of all.
Plus, they'd synced up once before.
She'd handle whatever came.
Krash led Haring down the hallway.
Then stopped in front of a certain room.
Arriving here naturally built tension.
In front of her, Krash couldn't help but feel intimidated.
Krash raised his hand and knocked.
A soft rustling came from inside, and soon the door opened.
"Hello, little brother."
As if she'd just closed her eyes for a moment.
Charlotte, combing out her ink-black hair with her fingers, stood there.