Chapter 164
Chapter 164
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 164
Chapter Title: The Con Artist Returns
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Krash learned about Bioren thanks to Arthur.
Top student of Special Studies: Barrier Arts.
Bioren Sedni.
The barrier arts he wielded differed fundamentally from conventional ones.
That was why he was always in charge of barriers, ensuring the Generation of the Sky's base never suffered surprise attacks.
Of course it was.
His hidden mother was none other than the World Erosion Barrier Master.
A new barrier art born from blending the Demon Emperor's magic with the Barrier Master's techniques.
That was Bioren Sedni.
But Bioren had one critical flaw.
Like other World Erosion beings, he couldn't freely wield World Erosion.
More precisely, the World Erosion power he possessed was steadily devouring his body even now.
The human body treats World Erosion as poison.
Half of his body was human.
So that half rejected the World Erosion, constantly trying to break down his form.
To counter this, Bioren resorted to a clever ploy.
Casting barrier arts on himself.
The one who had pioneered a new realm of barrier arts by fusing magic and barriers layered them upon himself endlessly.
And in the end, Bioren's outer appearance took on an enormously massive shape.
A shell forged from the fusion of barriers and magic.
Within it dwelled one harboring an unseemly secret: a mother who was a World Erosion being.
"Put it here, right?"
"Ah, yes! Thank you!"
Krash set down Dorma's book in the Curse Studies classroom and received her thanks.
"No big deal. Oh, and I'd like a few advanced curses. Think you could arrange that sometime?"
"A-advanced curses, sir? Making more elixirs?"
"Not exactly. Got something I want to try."
"I see. I'll prepare the ones you mentioned!"
Dorma clenched her tiny fists, brimming with resolve.
She was determined to help with anything, now that Krash had promised to find her master.
She looked just like an eager little puppy full of spirit.
Naturally, Krash named a few curses for her.
Dorma jotted them down and nodded at once.
"I have most of them on hand. Should be able to get them quickly."
"Reliable as ever. Thanks."
"Hehe, reliable? You're too kind!"
She was technically a year older.
But her childlike appearance made her seem even younger, and she beamed at the praise.
After bidding her farewell, Krash left the Curse Studies room.
On his way out, he checked the date.
'About time.'
Krash looked up.
Just then, he spotted Bioren heading somewhere.
With his massive build, the guy stood out wherever he went.
'A little sorry, but...'
Krash harbored no grudge against Bioren.
If anything, he felt a touch of pity.
His final moments were unforgettable in so many ways.
「Fuck it. World Erosion being or not, doesn't matter. Point fingers all you want—you bastards will owe me forever. All thanks to freaks like me, half human, half World Erosion.」
Bioren's words echoed as he unleashed his final barrier against the onslaught of utter scum.
In every way, he was a foul-mouthed bastard.
And yet, he wasn't quite as rotten as his mouth suggested.
So in this life, maybe the guy could live a bit more honestly.
Krash drew a vial from his waist—the one Darling had given him long ago.
'In exchange, time to play the villain.'
This was his specialty, after all.
Bioren's body required a monthly inspection of the barriers that formed it.
The World Erosion kept gnawing at him from within.
"Hoo, haa."
Tucked into a secluded corner of an empty building, Bioren heaved ragged breaths.
His forming barriers were weakening, letting World Erosion erode them rapidly.
At this rate, the barriers would all vanish.
And he'd be devoured by World Erosion.
'Fuck, can't even handle this shit! For real.'
The rate of dissipation was accelerating day by day.
That's why he'd rushed out of Special Studies mid-research today.
'I was checking a day early lately.'
Never imagined it'd fail even faster.
Proof that his World Erosion power grew stronger with age, outpacing his barrier arts.
He hated it.
If only he'd been a normal person, free of such worries.
With a long sigh at his recurring torment, he shed his shirt.
From chest to stomach sprawled a massive barrier array.
He fumbled urgently at his waist.
For the reagents he often used in barrier arts.
Too late, he realized his waist was bare.
"Huh?"
Bioren patted his waist in panic.
Gone.
The barrier reagents were gone.
He could've sworn he'd checked before leaving, but must've lost it in the rush.
Panic etched his face.
The moment he leaned forward to dash out—
"Ugh!"
He stifled a scream, sensing his barriers cracking.
He swallowed his groan.
Barrier repair was urgent.
Too dire to go hunting for reagents.
"Urk, ugh, damn it."
Mindful of World Erosion's backlash, he had to move carefully.
As his ashen face emerged from the alley—
A boy approached, idly tossing and catching a slender vial in the air.
The boy tilted his head upon spotting him.
"Bioren?"
As he did, Bioren's eyes locked on the vial in the boy's hand.
It was unmistakably his barrier reagent.
The boy was Krash Valheim, the Martial Arts Department's top student.
Why did he have it?
"Ugh!"
"What's wrong with you?"
But his mind reeled from the barrier's mana drain—no time to dwell.
"Th-that."
He thrust out his hand, begging for the reagent.
Krash looked puzzled, glanced at it, then said "Ah."
"Found it dropped over there. Yours, huh."
Krash handed it over without a second thought.
Bioren snatched it and slathered the contents on his hand, heedless of onlookers.
Red liquid trickled along his fingers.
Thinner than usual for some reason, but no time to care.
He pressed his reagent-smeared hand to his chest.
Held his breath and activated the barrier art.
Brilliant red light poured from Bioren's body.
Enveloped in it, he frantically readjusted and reinforced the barriers.
"Haa, hngh."
Soon after, he let out a sigh of relief and slumped.
Thankfully, the barriers were fully restored.
He could feel World Erosion no longer seeping into his body.
Sticky cold sweat drenched him.
He lifted his head, sweat dripping down.
Doubt clouded his eyes.
For he was looking up at Krash.
"Uh."
As he muttered in confusion, Krash innocently tilted his head.
"Why'd you get smaller?"
At the question, Bioren belatedly checked himself.
His pot-lid hands were now normal-sized, his usual clothes hanging loose enough to slip off.
In the bewildering chaos, he awkwardly clutched his pants.
Bioren's hulking form was nowhere to be seen.
In its place: cascading silver hair and the face of a girl.
She snatched the discarded clothes from the floor and hastily draped them over herself.
"W-what the hell!"
With a shrill curse, she bolted like mad.
Her face was ghostly pale, as if her identity had been exposed.
Krash watched her retreating figure, then casually rested a hand on his waist.
An empty vial from Darling dangled there, all alone.
"Just played along moderately."
Krash spun the empty vial in his fingers.
Moments ago, as Bioren had dashed off in a panic, Krash had pilfered the reagent with Black Hood.
Then mixed in Darling's medicine.
And the reason would reveal itself soon enough.
"To show off a happy accident."
Krash turned away, spouting words Crimson Garden wouldn't grasp.
The bait was cast.
Soon enough, the fish would bite.
And Krash's prediction proved spot-on soon after.
As he headed for lunch—
Ahead in the corridor.
Someone waddled along on short legs.
Silver hair tied in a fluffy ponytail.
Sapphire eyes sparkling like embedded gems.
Clothes hiked up to her elbows as far as possible, she marched straight toward them.
"Aw, what is that? So cute."
"Who's the kid?"
"She's young, huh?"
Passing students gawked, reactions all over the map.
True enough, her appearance was far too youthful for the academy.
Early teens at best.
The oversized clothes even obscured her gender.
But one thing was certain.
She'd grow into a stunning beauty.
"Krash, she's heading your way."
Aslan swept back his red hair and glanced at Krash.
She'd locked eyes on Krash from start to finish.
Krash casually raised a hand.
"Bior—"
"Hey! Don't say my name!"
The panicked Bioren charged and seized Krash's collar.
Her large eyes blazed fiercely.
"Y-you bastard, we need to talk. Now."
Panting hard, she demanded.
Krash shrugged and glanced at Aslan.
Aslan slowly rubbed his chin.
"Well, yeah. Even Krash wouldn't touch a kid like that."
"What do you take me for?"
"My friend."
Aslan flashed a handsome smile and sauntered off first.
Impressive how casually he dropped that.
With Aslan gone, Krash turned to Bioren.
She was still huffing. He jerked his head.
"Let's go."
Krash strolled off leisurely.
Seeing him comply, Bioren swallowed her anger and followed.
Soon, they reached a quiet, deserted spot.
Krash halted and turned. Bioren spoke up immediately.
"What the hell did you do to my reagent?"
She'd caught on.
She must've replayed it all and sensed something off.
Not the top student for nothing.
"So, what do you want?"
Krash eyed her.
Bioren steadied her breath and spoke.
"Dunno if you're shameless or it was coincidence."
"Shameless."
"Yeah, shame—"
She parroted unwittingly, then froze in shock.
Never expected such brazenness.
"But don't I deserve thanks instead?"
Krash smirked at her stunned face.
"Your barriers are holding steady in your true form now, right?"
Bioren's lips quivered.
Her outer shell was just that—a barrier-forged husk.
But after Krash spiked the reagent with Darling's medicine...
Somehow, her true form repelled World Erosion, barriers stable.
No more need for the cumbersome shell.
"Bioren."
She flinched and looked up at his call.
Shrunken to match her true age.
"Let's make a deal."
The con artist's nature reared its head again.
"You craft the barrier I request. In return, I'll tell you how to maintain this form."
Her face twisted in a scowl.
"You... what do you even know...?"
"I know."
Krash raised his hand.
Whoosh!
Black Flame rippled from his palm.
Bioren watched through narrowed eyes, her gaze shifting gradually.
Anyone wielding World Erosion internally would recognize it.
This wasn't a curse—it was pure World Erosion power.
Bioren had never paid others any mind.
She'd holed up researching barriers nonstop, lest World Erosion devour her.
She'd come to Raheln Academy solely to solve her barrier woes.
Barriers were a rare field, but the academy had an expert professor.
Her mother, the barrier grandmaster, had abandoned her after birth.
So she'd never witnessed Krash wielding Black Flame.
"You're a World Erosion being?"
"No."
Krash extinguished the Black Flame with firm denial.
He wasn't a World Erosion being.
Instead, a chilling, shadowy smile crept across his face.
"But I do know how to stabilize your World Erosion rampage."
A devilish grin, straight out of a deal with the demon.
Bioren's eyes shook violently.
World Erosion was a daily death sentence for her.
Yet Krash had stabilized it somehow.
Irresistibly tempting.
Still, warning bells rang in her heart.
An inexplicable unease emanated from him.
"...What the hell are you?"
His reaction confirmed he knew she was a World Erosion being's child.
A secret that must never leak.
World Erosion beings were enemies of the world.
Their spawn no different.
That's why she'd hidden her family name to enroll at Raheln Academy.
Even concealed being the Demon Emperor's child.
Tense, she pressed.
Her tiny fists trembled faintly—almost pitiful.
Barriers had stunted her body's growth to match her age.
"Won't be the answer you're hoping for."
She bit her lip at his cryptic words.
Swallow the poisoned apple that might be antidote? Or perish from the toxin as is?
Her deliberation was brief.
"...What do you need me to make?"
She was hooked.
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