Chapter 190
Chapter 190
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 190
Chapter Title: Sister
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In the frozen women's meeting hall.
Only Krash was staring intently at Rona Imblize.
Rona Imblize, the magitech artisan.
She was called a madwoman now, but the artifacts she would create later were priceless treasures that money couldn't buy.
If I could bring Rona Imblize into the Generation of the Sky...
The Generation of the Sky would gain unprecedented power with her magitech.
The problem was right now.
She had just dropped a bombshell.
「There is currently someone at Raheln Academy who has contracted with a World Erosion spawn.」
It might have been dismissed as nonsense under normal circumstances.
But there had been a recent incident that rocked Raheln Academy.
It was the case where the magic department's associate professor Jenicalen became a World Erosion spawn.
And kidnapped three noble students.
The incident itself had elevated Phelay's status after the noble students' vile deeds were exposed.
But the fact that Jenicalen had become a World Erosion spawn was something that couldn't be ignored.
And that had happened just recently.
With that fresh in mind, Rona's statement made everyone freeze up.
"...Are you serious, Ms. Rona Imblize?"
In the now-silent hall.
One person broke the silence and spoke.
Her name was Mirei Beakis, with transparent eyes beneath blue hair.
She was the youngest cardinal in the history of the Freeman Kingdom.
Facing her, Rona suddenly unbuttoned her white shirt.
The moment everyone looked puzzled at her sudden action, she revealed a necklace nestled in her cleavage.
The necklace was in the shape of a small sword brooch.
Rona picked it up with her fingers and grinned widely, splitting her lips.
"There was that incident at the academy recently, right? So I made one. A magitech device to detect World Erosion spawns hiding among people."
"Really?"
Everyone's faces lit up with shock at her words.
They hadn't expected Rona to create something like that.
If her claim was true, it could identify all traitors contracted with World Erosion spawns.
A groundbreaking invention.
Krash's gaze shifted sideways.
There sat Taria Valles, the top magic department student, arms crossed and observing coolly.
She was a Crimson Garden spawn.
If she used magitech here, it could expose her instantly.
"Oh? So did it detect a World Erosion spawn?"
Even Ailing Ornoa, second seat of the literature department's first-years, joined in showing interest in the device.
Under the sudden spotlight, Rona rolled the magitech lightly in her hand before letting it drop.
It naturally settled back into her cleavage.
"The one caught would know best."
She smirked slyly, resting her chin on her hand as she surveyed the room.
That gesture, paired with "the one caught."
It implied there was a World Erosion spawn in this very hall.
The women's society members began glancing around suspiciously.
They had all caught the meaning behind Rona's actions.
As suspicions bloomed in their minds...
"Then please use the magitech to reveal the World Erosion spawn right away."
Cardinal Mirei spoke again, her transparent eyes gleaming.
At her urging, Rona tilted her head, chin still propped.
"That'd be no fun. I think the situation's not ripe yet to showcase my magitech's superiority."
It wasn't for nothing she was called a madwoman.
Her refusal to expose the spawn immediately left the room baffled.
The suspicions aimed at each other shifted to criticism toward Rona for not revealing it now.
But Rona remained utterly relaxed amid the glares.
The atmosphere soured in an instant.
Only Krash was gauging the situation.
This is getting messy.
In the midst of it, Krash reasoned out a few suspects.
Others might not suspect them.
But as a regressor, Krash could spot the clues.
Still, no certainty.
Crimson Garden spawns were relatively easy to spot.
Crimson Garden even made hers more obvious on purpose.
It was her warning to other World Erosion entities.
This child is mine—touch her and pay the price.
But the Black Witch had infiltrated spawns into Raheln Academy deliberately subtly.
Even Krash couldn't distinguish them easily.
"A World Erosion spawn, huh."
That's when Sigrin, who had been watching silently, finally spoke.
All eyes in the room snapped to her.
After all, she was the star of this gathering, no matter what.
"I don't know what you're thinking, Miss Rona, but I hope this isn't a joke."
Sigrin smiled with her eyes as she looked at Rona.
"One misstep, and you could drag an innocent person down."
Krash felt disgust at her curved gaze.
Because she had grasped the value of Rona's magitech.
A witch-hunt tool to brand anyone displeasing as a World Erosion spawn anytime.
That's the danger Rona's device held.
"Shall we end today's tea time here?"
With the darkening mood, Sigrin signaled to wrap up the meeting.
She had been mostly silent throughout.
Probably avoiding sharing info since Charlotte was present.
The other members nodded in agreement with Sigrin.
With Charlotte and Sigrin subtly clashing, the mood had been heavy already.
Rona's bombshell made it suffocating, so everyone wanted to disperse.
"See you next time."
"It was enlightening again."
They exchanged farewells and began leaving one by one.
The stories from today would spread like wildfire through Raheln Academy.
Mainly Rona's claim about the World Erosion spawn.
"It's over."
Charlotte, who had seemed disinterested throughout, fiddling with her nails, stood up too.
As Krash rose with her, Taria brushed past.
Krash's hand shot out, lightly grabbing her collar.
Taria turned; Krash nodded silently, eyes signaling.
Let's talk.
Taria nodded lightly and headed out.
As Krash and Charlotte exited, the sun was beginning to set.
They had spent quite a while in the meeting.
Women's chatter really has no end once it starts.
"How was it?"
Charlotte turned to Krash with a question.
"Enlightening."
He would have heard about Rona later otherwise.
It truly had been useful.
"Good, that's all that matters."
Charlotte started walking, satisfied.
What was her reason for bringing him to this meeting?
Krash watched her enigmatic back and spoke up.
"Sister, one more favor?"
He had planned to handle it himself.
But today, he felt like asking her.
Charlotte stopped and turned.
Her lips curved in her usual slight smile.
"Shoot."
She prompted readily.
Her curt tone now carried a different warmth.
"...There's a guy named Arthur Gramalte. Could you add him to the Lion Corps?"
The fake Arthur Gramalte.
To keep tabs on him up close, Krash aimed to pull him into his own Lion Corps.
The other side would bite, eager to observe Krash and Charlotte closely.
"Sure, that's easy."
Charlotte agreed effortlessly, without hesitation.
Krash stared at her blankly.
He had rarely asked her for favors in life.
Their worlds had been too different.
Even as kids, they weren't close; as adults, she was already a shining star.
He was just a shadow cast by that star.
Shadows don't exist in blinding light.
But after regressing.
Entwined in events with her, he'd asked more lately.
She was one of the most important people in this world.
Now he realized.
Charlotte wanted nothing from him.
She just granted his requests.
No matter what, without strings.
So that's it.
Krash felt another tinted lens shatter.
How he had viewed her all this time.
How stubbornly black that lens remained, even after regression.
Me too.
Krash had lived compared to Charlotte from birth.
She was a genius from day one.
That's why.
Back then, he saw her only as the world's top genius, Sword Saint Charlotte Valheim.
Not as his sister.
He interpreted and judged her every facet through his bias.
Treated family and blood as separate.
Inevitable, really.
Even admitting his own mediocrity, deep down he envied and resented her.
She shone too blindingly for pride.
It was self-defense.
Seeing his sister Charlotte Valheim and Sword Saint Charlotte Valheim as different people.
But today.
Now Krash finally understood her actions toward him all along.
She had always seen him as her little brother.
Even before regression.
To her, he was family.
He was the one pushing her away.
I had no right to scorn Belokin.
The one who stayed family—he had rejected her repeatedly.
A laugh escaped him.
He loathed himself for not seeing her as a sister, felt sorry toward her.
And pathetic for realizing only after regression.
Before, he had never treated his sister as family, not once.
After the desperate battle with the Sword Sovereign.
Charlotte finally defeated him but succumbed to exhaustion.
Even the Generation of the Sky had retreated, unable to face him.
Then, before Krash, Valheim cloak billowing, she said:
「Krash, watch closely.」
Her sword always gleamed proudly toward the sky.
「This is your big sister, Charlotte Valheim.」
She wore her signature smile, as always.
Words he should have said came to mind.
Words he couldn't utter then.
"Ha."
Now he knew they could never reach her.
That world no longer existed.
Late regrets torment deeply.
Because those days of regret can't be mended anymore.
Krash's eyes reflected Charlotte again.
Sword-blue hair, just like his, symbol of Valheim, swaying in the wind.
Through the setting sun, her eyes gazing at him held affection he had never seen before.
Looking into those eyes he once thought cold, Krash smiled.
"Next time, I'll ask you on a date."
Charlotte let out a light laugh.
Always seeing him as her little brother, she turned gracefully.
"Do that. I'll look forward to it."
Her steps were lighter than before.
The gait she had when in high spirits.
Krash watched her back, then looked to the sky.
Where there's a setting sun, a new one rises.
As many new worlds as lost ones.
Recalling the old world, Krash lived in the new one today.