Chapter 311
Chapter 311
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 311
Chapter Title: Proposal
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Right after Haring impulsively hugged Krash.
"Haring, what do you mean I'm going to die?"
The moment Krash expressed his embarrassment, he felt a chill somewhere.
Following that gaze, Krash looked up.
Soon, pure white hair entered Krash's eyes.
Joy began to settle in Krash's eyes.
However, separately from that, Krash met Bianca's icy gaze.
"Bianca?"
As Krash called her name, Bianca approached.
Before he knew it, she was tugging firmly at Krash's collar.
She looked just like a chick trying to nestle into someone's arms.
"Hug me too, quick."
Krash realized why Bianca was reacting this way.
'Jealousy, huh.'
It was endearing on one hand, but he also felt sorry.
Because he hadn't gone to see her first right away.
Krash reached out and stroked Bianca's hair.
Her stiffened expression began to soften a little.
She seemed to be trying hard to keep up her angry face, but she couldn't stop it from relaxing.
"Have you been well?"
"So-so."
She still seemed a bit sulky, replying curtly.
But the anger had mostly faded.
When Krash looked up, Dalea was standing there.
She met his eyes and gave a wry smile of relief.
Her gaze carried a silent reproach: Take care of your fiancée.
Krash couldn't protest against that look.
He was aware that he'd neglected Bianca lately.
"Bianca, I bought some snacks on the way here, so let's eat together later."
"Okay."
Only then did Bianca's face fully relax at Krash's words.
Just knowing he'd thought of her even during training was enough for her.
Having roughly soothed Bianca, it was Haring's turn next.
"Haring, calm down."
"But they say you've developed an inner core in your body!"
Haring sniffled and looked up at Krash with worry.
"Having an inner core means your lifespan is up."
"My lifespan is up...?"
At that, Bianca's face hardened too.
Bianca had been focused only on Haring hugging Krash.
But once she realized the reason, her mind reeled as well.
Because they knew better than anyone what Krash had been up to.
Krash had never taken care of his body for the sake of his goals so far.
Not only had he accumulated every dangerous thing imaginable on his body.
He'd also thrown himself into perilous places without hesitation, so the toll must have steadily built up in his body.
In other words, Krash was in a state where dropping dead anytime wouldn't be surprising.
Right after finishing this mission and returning, he'd come straight to the Special Academy again.
It wasn't a stretch to connect that to something lifespan-related.
"Is it true, Lord Krash...?"
Bianca's eyes began to tremble.
If Krash died, she didn't think she could go on living.
Because Krash was her entire world.
Bianca's hand gripping his collar shook faintly.
Even Bianca was starting to sink into distress now.
"What a catfight."
Darling, the only one who knew the situation, watched with amusement.
"Both of you, calm down. It's not like that."
Krash felt a headache coming on, knowing he had to explain quickly.
So he led the two inside, sat them down, and began explaining right away.
Only after handing each of them green tea and cocoa did they calm a bit.
Bianca and Haring listened to Krash's full explanation while seated.
And soon, both wore the same expression.
"That's dangerous in its own way."
"It's just as dangerous."
It was an undeniable fact.
"That's why I came here to resolve it."
The Special Academy, teeming with countless geniuses.
Krash was convinced they'd know a better solution here.
Bianca turned to Haring.
She couldn't help Krash with this part.
She'd mastered beast surgery, but inner cores were beyond her.
So she gripped Haring's hand tightly.
"Sister Haring, please. Help Lord Krash."
Haring looked at Bianca holding her hand and nodded vigorously.
"Yeah, don't worry. I'll fix him up good as new."
Haring squeezed back the hand clasped with Bianca's.
The two were ready to do anything to help Krash.
Watching them, Krash felt like he was seeing sisters.
With him in between, but their relationship didn't seem bad at all.
"Then let's start with some tests first, and figure out plans step by step."
In the meantime, Darling lightly wrapped things up.
Since it wasn't something solvable immediately, Krash calmly underwent the exams.
There were some oddly peculiar tests in between.
But since Darling said they were necessary, he trusted her.
After finishing all the tests, Krash returned with Bianca.
He learned about the academy's situation through her during that time.
"The Lion Squad has grown a lot."
After Sigrin left, the White Yang Unit was officially disbanded.
It had been so centered on Sigrin that, once she was gone, no one wanted to stick together.
Thanks to that, the scattered White Yang members sought new student groups.
Most of them flocked to the Lion Squad.
Normally, the empire faction-heavy White Yang—created by Charlotte, Staron's representative—might have hesitated.
But the Lion Squad had Epania Empire's Fourth Princess, Sizli Epania.
"Lady Sizli Epania put in a lot of effort to let the White Yang members join the Lion Squad."
Thanks to that, the Lion Squad absorbed quite a few from White Yang.
'Arshoulder probably jumped into the Lion Squad first, which helped too.'
Freya's child, Arshoulder Freya.
As one of White Yang's key figures, he'd influenced it quite a bit.
The few who didn't join the Lion Squad went to groups like the one with the Demon King's son, Inma Squad.
Or unexpectedly, many to the Great Sea Squad with Pelei.
Pelei, loved by many for his diligent demeanor.
It meant plenty in White Yang thought well of him.
'Haven't seen that guy's face in ages.'
Rumors said Pelei was repeating real combat and training daily too.
The other commoners seemed inspired by him, pushing their training harder.
'That's influence, I guess.'
He hoped those who'd end up with Pelei would support him well.
So that even if Pelei one day denied being the commoners' hero, they'd back him forward.
"Bianca, how's Arthur?"
After that day's talk with Arthur, Krash had immediately set off with Durandal to acquire aura.
The Arthur from another timeline he'd met there.
Along with the shocking fact that she and he had been lovers.
It was also a time when Krash started seeing Arthur anew.
The current Arthur had inherited multiple timelines and was unstable.
So, concerned, he asked, and Bianca answered.
"He left Raheln Academy."
Krash paused.
After that day's conversation, Arthur had left Raheln Academy too.
'Where did he go, and for what?'
Bianca didn't know the destination, so Krash decided not to pry.
Just that, from seeing the other-timeline Arthur, he felt even the current one wouldn't hinder stopping the world's end with those three women, at least.
Arthur had struggled the most to prevent destruction too.
'No problem there.'
Someday, when the chance came, they'd meet faces again.
Krash's gaze reached the corridor outside.
Raheln Academy, returned after so long, was still bustling with students.
Watching the kids pushing themselves to grow stronger without sparing their bodies, Krash turned to Bianca walking beside him.
Bianca, now facing her 15th winter, had grown much taller than when they first met.
She looked every bit the adult, and upon meeting his eyes, she gave a soft smile.
The first one he'd desired after regressing.
So, smiling Bianca looked dazzlingly beautiful in his eyes.
The ring he'd gifted her gleamed on her finger.
That brought back Sizli's words about yielding the first wife position.
Silly talk, really.
But at least with Bianca, he'd think she'd want the top spot most.
Even today, she'd run over jealous seeing Haring.
Pretending otherwise, but inwardly anxious about the women gathering around him.
"Bianca."
Krash stopped walking and took her hand.
Seeing their clasped hands, Bianca looked up at him.
"Let's have our wedding."
The words he'd put off since saying they'd do it this year.
As Krash said it, Bianca's eyes slowly widened.
Then, frozen in place, she soon grabbed both his hands tightly.
Her small, dainty white hands fidgeted.
Proof of her shyness.
"...Yes."
Bianca accepted.
Though they'd discussed it, Krash felt quite overwhelmed too.
Accepting a lifelong commitment wasn't easy for those involved.
Krash reached out and embraced her.
Bianca nestled into his arms like a bride.
With her arms around his waist, Bianca's face was pure bliss.
Seeing it, Krash resolved.
To include protecting this smile of Bianca's in saving the world from destruction.
"The wedding will cause quite a stir."
Marriage came with tasks beyond the couple's agreement.
Both Krash and Bianca had statuses.
They had to notify both families, and even the Staron royal family.
After all, it was the wedding of Staron's premier nobles.
The problem was, what used to proceed smoothly now had an empire wedged between them.
With the empire pushing his engagement to Sizli, they wouldn't stay quiet.
This process would turn into a headache-inducing battle.
"Sorry. It's my fault."
Krash blamed himself for causing this by stirring up trouble everywhere.
At that, Bianca stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek.
Looking down at the warm touch, she beamed broadly.
"It's okay. You prioritized me first, Lord Krash."
Despite many issues to resolve, he'd brought up marriage right away so she wouldn't feel anxious.
Bianca knew better than anyone how much he'd considered her feelings, so it was fine.
"We'll sort out Lady Sizli's matter gradually. I'm perceptive enough.
I know the people gathering around you are those who'll help you move forward."
On top of that, Bianca knew he'd always put her first without hesitation.
"And I know the others like you a lot too."
With that, Bianca gave a sly, foxy smile.
"Of course, I like you the most."
Her smugness was always cute.
"Anyway, what I mean is."
Bianca hesitated briefly, then spoke as if resolved.
"If they or you want it, it's okay to have other wives."
"...Bianca, that's."
Krash realized Bianca had thought deeply about this too.
The women tied to him were all exceptional.
She knew allying with them was better than clashing.
Above all, she'd sensed the world's currents were off.
These flows would surely bring Krash many dangers.
Because he was the one advancing for the world.
Bianca recalled today's events.
'Even today.'
She had no way to resolve the inner core in Krash's body.
If she were the only one by his side, something big could happen later.
There were no guarantees such things wouldn't arise again.
Krash, forging through hardships and trials, needed more people's strength beside him.
In such times, she didn't want jealousy to rob him of incoming help.
For Krash, Bianca could gladly allow even this.
"But I'll be the first."
Seeing her smiling gently, Krash's heart ached.
He felt sorry for not realizing how much she'd agonized.
"I'll find the best way to resolve it."
The best for Bianca, and for everyone.
As Krash vowed to solve it that way, Bianca hugged him tightly.
"Yes, I like that."
Krash hugged her firmly back in his arms.
It was the moment he recommitted to protecting a world where she could always smile unchanged.