Chapter 284
Chapter 284
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 284
Chapter Title: Don't Underestimate the Magic Lunatic
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After wrapping up his conversation with Durandal, Krash headed straight for the road to Jeblam.
"This is Jeblam..."
Standing beside Krash was a handsome man laced with a decadent allure.
The owner of that blazing red hair—Aslan Igret.
Krash's friend, who would later be known as the Flame Emperor, wore an expression full of emotion.
The Magic Kingdom of Jeblam reflected in his eyes was a realm where magic had advanced to a breathtaking degree, enough to draw awe from anyone.
Even the common citizens here wielded at least 2nd-circle magic, and the entire kingdom operated on facilities powered by spells.
The city of Halgram, home to the Red Tower where Aslan had grown up, was undoubtedly a premier magical hub.
But compared to an entire kingdom like Jeblam, it fell short.
To Aslan, a mage himself, Jeblam was sheer astonishment incarnate.
"Where'd that guy who hated magic go?"
"Died a long time ago."
In response to Krash's question, Aslan casually buried his past self.
"Damn, what's so great about this place? I already feel exhausted."
At that moment, Vioren, standing nearby, grumbled with her shoulders already slumped.
For her, Jeblam was a city that had only left her with trauma.
"Haha, come on, isn't it great? I bet we can craft tons of magic tools here!"
In stark contrast, Rona Imblize, the magic tool artisan, beamed with excitement.
Aslan sidled up to Krash amid the two women's opposing reactions.
"Krash, you sure we don't need to bring the others?"
Krash knew exactly who Aslan meant by "the others."
The only ones accompanying him on this trip to Jeblam were Aslan, Rona, and Vioren.
Everyone else was back at Raheln Academy.
"I told them."
Krash had handpicked only the essentials for this Jeblam visit.
Vioren and Rona went without saying.
And he planned to consult the Magic Emperor on Aslan's magical progress this time around.
Lately, Aslan's growth had stalled, leaving him spinning his wheels.
The others, meanwhile, had little to gain from Jeblam.
With Raheln Academy's excellent training environment, staying there for growth was far more beneficial.
「Have a safe trip.」
Knowing this, Bianca had readily approved Krash's journey.
Having fought alongside him during this world's Erosion, she still felt she fell short.
So she chose to stay at Raheln Academy and redouble her training.
That said, just as she'd promised, Bianca spent one night by Krash's side like old times.
The others were no different.
「Don't come back hurt this time, seriously.」
Astraia grumbled about him finally stopping the injuries, but she knew his efforts well enough to leave it at that.
"Lord Krash, are you pretending I'm not here?"
Krash glanced back at the voice from behind.
There stood Aslan's exclusive maid, Lilina, wrapped in a beige dress. She gazed at Krash with a faint smile.
"I thought you didn't care about status differences, Lord Krash. You treat the others so well but ignore me? This girl is wounded."
"Aren't you the one ignoring status and treating me casually?"
"It pains me that you don't appreciate how I treat only you special."
Lilina hadn't lost her sharp wit.
Aslan blinked, watching their banter.
"You two are awfully close. Sometimes it feels like you're closer to each other than to me."
"We're not close."
"Exactly. We're far from friends."
What nonsense from two people who clicked so well.
As Aslan pondered this curiously, someone came running from afar.
A middle-aged man in glasses and a fluttering robe dashed right up to Krash's group, panting heavily as he caught his breath.
"K-Krash... huff... and party, right?"
He looked like he'd sprinted desperately, barely steadying his breath to confirm the group.
When Krash confirmed it, he sighed deeply in relief and bowed.
"King Terrasius Jeblam of Jeblam awaits you."
They'd just arrived via teleport, and he'd already noticed?
Krash turned his head at the words.
"Let's go."
Time to squeeze some pricey favors from the Magic Emperor.
＊ ＊ ＊
Following the guiding mage, they arrived at Jeblam's Magic Royal Palace.
And the one escorting Krash's group was none other than Jeblam's 8th-circle mage.
'The highest level below the Magic Emperor himself.'
Jeblam was a kingdom for mages only.
Thus, ranks were divided by the circles of magic one had attained.
8th circle meant exactly that.
An 8th-circle mage.
Adeptus Exemplus.
Considering the Demon King and Flame Emperor of the Ten Strongest were 9th-circle Magisters.
This spoke volumes about his prowess.
'And they send someone like him just to greet guests?'
To Krash, it was a waste of talent.
But to the Magic Emperor Terrasius, all mages below him were the same.
To him, lesser mages differed only in talent.
He didn't view them any differently.
Thus, no matter their disposition, he helped any mage desperate to learn.
Ironically, this equality drew mages to Jeblam's gates yearly.
Terrasius taught magic freely to those with talent.
"Krash, wouldn't it be less of a waste for me to go reclaim my power alone?"
Midway through the escort through the palace, Vioren walking beside him spoke up abruptly.
Krash responded by flicking her forehead sharply.
"Kyaaack!"
As Vioren clutched her forehead with a yelp, Krash sighed first.
"Forgot you're Ixion's target? What if they're lying in wait and you go alone?"
Krash didn't doubt the Barrier Master.
She truly wanted to protect Vioren.
But the dangers around her couldn't be glossed over.
The Barrier Master was with Ixion.
If it were just Ixion, Krash might not be this cautious.
But behind Ixion lurked the Red Witch, Abella.
'Abella won't be oblivious to the Barrier Master's dealings.'
Krash recalled letting the Barrier Master go then.
Still unsure at the time, he hadn't detained her.
But now, it might have been his last chance.
'Too late to realize.'
Only after hearing Vioren's story did it click.
Krash recognized his mistake belatedly.
'No word from the Barrier Master's side yet.'
She might already be compromised.
'If she has, whatever's sealed from Vioren might've been raided.'
If Abella needed Vioren's power, she'd set a trap without fail.
Rushing in blindly was suicide.
"I'll finish my business here first, then we go together."
He'd considered bringing Terrasius along.
But Krash shook his head.
Terrasius wanted something from Vioren too.
Krash had eased his thirst for communion with others.
But creating a magic race was his lifelong obsession.
If he saw value in reusing Vioren, Terrasius might covet her instead.
"And I plan to handle this among ourselves if possible."
"We're both Ixion's targets. What if we get caught together?"
"Sorry I couldn't warn you ahead, but I've called in solid outside backup to watch that spot. They'll alert us first if Ixion makes a move."
Krash had safeguards in place.
"If it's enough to make even cynical you trust humanity, I won't doubt it."
"Why am I cynical?"
Turning someone distrustful of people in an instant.
A bit harsh.
[Isn't it true? Endless suspicion is your nature.]
Before regression, plenty had stabbed him in the back.
So he stayed cautious.
"More importantly, who is it?"
Vioren was more curious about the identity than the plan.
"Learned about it by chance from someone before coming here. They were nearby at the perfect time."
But Krash just chuckled shortly without answering.
"Why hide it?"
"Just know it's one of the strongest cards I have against Ixion."
Vioren eyed Krash suspiciously.
"More importantly, you're sure only you can open what the Barrier Master sealed from you?"
"...Yeah, that's certain."
Vioren furrowed her brow as if recalling, then nodded.
That was all he needed.
Vioren was essential, no matter what Ixion tried.
If they breached surveillance and waited there.
'Go ahead and waste your manpower.'
An wicked smile curled on Krash's lips.
"Whoa, villainous look."
Vioren grimaced, but Krash ignored it.
Delaying the trip to bleed Ixion's forces dry sounded good.
Then, when they slacked off, strike at full strength and smash them all.
"This way."
The 8th-circle mage guiding them turned and spoke.
Krash halted his talk with Vioren and looked ahead.
There was a single passageway.
At its end lay a magic research lab.
From intricate spell diagrams to magic tools and books, everything was crammed in.
To Krash, it was just a messy space.
To magic users, it was paradise.
"This is..."
As proof, Aslan stared at the lab in a daze.
Terrasius hadn't reached magic's pinnacle for nothing.
To Aslan, this was a heaven of learning.
Especially for geniuses, more treasures revealed themselves.
"Whoa, so many fun things here!"
And beside Aslan was another genius.
Rona, a prodigy in magic tool crafting, had eyes sparkling brighter than ever.
Magic and magic tools were distinct but overlapping fields.
Magic manifested mana in the air.
Magic tools channeled it into devices.
Terrasius, true to his title of Magic Emperor, had mastered both to their peaks.
Thus, his magic lab doubled as a magic tool workshop.
Krash knew this well, which was why he'd brought Rona.
Raheln's facilities were top-notch, but they paled against this.
She could craft exceptional tools with the elite equipment here.
"Don't zone out, you two. Follow me."
Krash dragged the gawking Aslan and Rona deeper in.
After a while, they reached an open terrace.
Its glass ceiling let in ample light.
March was ending, April approaching.
The sunlight streaming through was wonderfully warm.
In its center sat a boy.
Unlike the cluttered lab, the terrace was empty.
On a swaying hammock conjured in midair, the boy slept with an eyepatch on.
And his appearance was familiar.
Temarin Jeblam, the top 3rd-year at Raheln.
Terrasius's fake son creation.
Krash approached steadily.
But Vioren beat him there, dashing ahead.
"We're here, and you're sleeping?!"
Spotting Terrasius, she yelled and shoved the hammock hard.
The bed rocked violently from her push.
Yet Terrasius inside showed no sign of waking.
Vioren fumed more, reaching to grab it, but Krash gripped her shoulder.
"Vioren, enough."
"Why? We have to wake him anyway."
"No, he won't wake. He's using Soul Separation magic."
Vioren looked puzzled at his words.
She slowly turned back to Terrasius.
Despite the racket, he slept like the dead.
As if his soul had truly departed, utterly motionless.
"Why Soul Separation?"
"Body needs rest. He's asleep for recovery, soul separated to research magic."
Krash eyed Terrasius with exasperation.
Krash didn't call him a lunatic for nothing.
He begrudged even sleep, researching as a soul.
That way, his physical brain got full rest.
Vioren stared blankly.
She clearly hadn't known.