Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Dragon's Tail
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"......I'm gonna die."
A day after Charlotte left.
Krash awoke, groaning amid the pain wracking his entire body.
His spar with Charlotte had lasted a mere three seconds.
Yet for Krash, he'd damaged his own body even more than her attacks had.
But there was no helping it.
Against Charlotte, hiding his trump cards wasn't an option—his only choice was to unleash everything when she least expected it.
Thanks to that, he'd landed a solid hit on that monstrous Charlotte.
It had barely grazed her aura, but still.
"Is that something to grin about?"
Krash, who had been smirking for some reason, adjusted his expression at the sharp remark from Crimson Garden, who had appeared at the window.
"What do you expect? The setup took forever, but the technique I practiced worked, and I even tagged big sis with it."
Annihilation Flame Sword Draw.
It was a new secret art Krash had devised by fusing Annihilation Flame Erosion with Convergence Fist.
Its destructive power was unparalleled.
If he honed it further, it could become a finishing move capable of dropping foes in one strike.
'Honestly, only Charlotte could have blocked it.'
Krash was certain no one his age could withstand it.
So why not praise him? When he shot Crimson Garden a look, she clicked her tongue in pity.
"I never imagined the disciple I raised would get this thrilled over a beating. Honestly, aren't you just a masochist who loves pain? You hopeless pervert."
"Don't paint me as some weirdo."
Krash protested to Crimson Garden as he slowly rose from bed.
His body ached all over, but he'd been circulating his aura since morning.
At least he could move now.
'No time to lie around.'
He needed to deliver the Golden Dragon Herb and White Snow Yang Mushroom to Darling to have the elixir made.
So despite his wrecked state, Krash got up.
Bang!
At that moment, his door flew open.
There stood Bianca, holding a tray topped with a bowl of porridge.
Bianca's blank expression met Krash's eyes.
He froze mid-reach for his clothes, and her brow furrowed sharply.
Krash knew that look meant she was annoyed.
"Young master Krash."
"Gotta sit up to eat porridge, right?"
With those words, Krash staggered to a chair and plopped down.
Bianca watched him quietly before finally setting the porridge on the table.
Krash was sharp enough to read the room.
He took a spoonful of the porridge Bianca offered.
Then it hit him.
'Bianca made this.'
The porridge was sweet.
And this sweetness matched the flavor from that sandwich the other day.
Is this what kids like?
As he thought that, Krash swallowed a bite and said,
"It's good."
"Thank you."
Bianca replied instantly.
She clearly had no intention of hiding that she'd made it.
"You've been cooking a lot lately. You enjoy it?"
Krash had never seen Bianca cook before.
He hadn't seen much of her at all back then, but curiosity got the better of him. She leaned on the table, propping her elbows up.
"I like watching you eat it, young master."
"Do I eat in some amusing way?"
"I'm not sure."
Bianca seemed pleased anyway, so Krash said nothing more and finished the porridge.
It was just a bit sweet, but not bad.
Plus, with something in his stomach, he felt a surge of energy.
Krash downed the stamina recovery tonic Bianca had prepared in one gulp, then lightly stretched.
"Heading to the Danphelions today."
He turned to Bianca as he spoke.
"Wanna come?"
"Were you planning to leave me behind?"
She pouted, as if following was a given.
Now used to it, Krash started changing, only to glance at Bianca lingering.
"You gonna leave or what?"
"Oh."
Bianca finally stood, picking up the porridge bowl and plate—then looked at him.
"Need help getting dressed?"
"I'm not a kid."
"You're not exactly an adult."
She'd gotten mouthier lately.
Krash shot her a look to scram, and Bianca headed out.
He changed quickly and followed.
Bianca was already waiting outside.
As Krash started walking, she trailed behind him like always.
It had become a habit.
Krash spotted Aliod waiting right on cue and spoke.
"Aliod, to the Danphelions."
"Yes, young master."
Time to make the elixir.
The Danphelion family, renowned for alchemy.
True to their fame, as soon as Krash's carriage entered the street, the distinctive scent of potions filled the air.
"It smells."
Bianca pinched her nose, her senses apparently sharp—like last time.
She'd adapt eventually, but nothing to be done about it.
This aroma was the Danphelions' signature.
"We're here."
Krash said as he stepped down from the halted carriage.
A mansion divided into three sections came into view.
One was entirely dedicated to their prized alchemy operations.
And that's where Krash was headed.
"No smell here."
"Requested a scent-removal spell from the Magic Tower on the exterior."
The interior couldn't be helped—scent was a key factor in alchemy.
As Krash entered, a high-ceilinged library packed with books greeted him first.
Bianca, who loved books, lit up at the sight.
Her reaction meant he'd need to buy a few on the way home.
Then footsteps echoed from deeper in the library.
Krash looked up to see, predictably, a golden-haired girl.
"Honey, you're here?"
Darling Danphelion.
The future lord of alchemy.
"Who're you calling honey? Don't make me hurl."
"Aw, why so cold? We're partners in secrecy now."
Darling laughed, amused by his reaction.
She turned to Bianca beside him, smiling sweetly and waving.
"Hey, little miss! Long time no see."
"Hello."
"Aww, so cute."
Darling cooed like she'd spotted an adorable critter as Bianca bowed politely.
Krash handed Darling the bag he'd brought.
"Golden Dragon Herb and White Snow Yang Mushroom."
"You actually got them. Impressive."
She glanced at him admiringly.
"How'd the potions perform?"
Krash scowled, and Darling burst into uncontrollable laughter.
"Puhahaha!"
"Can I smack you?"
"W-wait, my sides, puhuhu."
Krash just tsked at Darling, red-faced and delighted.
Only Bianca looked puzzled, clueless about Krash's battered state.
Darling's laughter echoed loudly once before they moved into the alchemy hall.
True to its name, alchemists bustled about everywhere.
Discussing experiments, with weary ones shuffling past now and then.
"By the way, little one—you're not so little anymore. You've shot up. You'll catch up soon."
"I'll overtake her this year."
"Heh, then calling you my boyfriend won't look weird."
Still on about that?
Krash glanced at Bianca self-consciously, but she was too busy sightseeing.
"This is my room!"
After humoring Darling's banter, they reached her room.
Krash eyed the nameplate—"Darling Danphelion Heart"—with disdain as she flung the door open.
"Come on in!"
Beaming, she ushered Krash and Bianca inside.
To his surprise, it was a tidy alchemy lab—nothing like Evel Ask's mess.
Krash gave Darling an approving look.
"You keep things neat."
"What'd you take me for? I like clean spaces. And alchemy's dangerous—sloppy organization invites accidents."
Sorry, but future Darling neglected such things.
With constant battles against World Erosion, she was perpetually swamped.
'These are the happy days.'
Krash felt a pang of sympathy for her.
"Ready to brew the elixir now?"
"Go for it."
All other ingredients were prepared, so she dove right in.
Krash and Bianca sat watching.
Bianca, bored, pulled out a book and read.
Krash stared at Darling's back—far younger than in his memories—lost in nostalgia.
[Hmm, she truly has talent.]
Crimson Garden, observing Darling's alchemy, praised her highly.
Krash knew little of it, but Crimson Garden saw something special.
About an hour passed.
"Phew, done."
Darling added a drop of pale red liquid to the round elixir, satisfied.
She turned to Krash, holding it with gloved hands.
"All set?"
"Yep, complete. Nameless Elixir!"
Not her recipe, so she said it suspiciously.
[Ask if there's a training ground. Best take that elixir in an empty space.]
As it was Crimson Garden's creation, Krash relayed her words.
Darling wrapped the elixir in cloth and motioned to follow.
She'd intuited its effects too.
"Bianca, to the training ground."
"Yes."
Not looking up from her book, Bianca hopped down.
She gripped Krash's hem with one hand from behind, reading as she trailed.
Must be a good part.
The guided spot was an empty training room inside the alchemy hall.
"For elixir experiments. We have knights too. No one enters when in use—go wild."
Darling handed Krash the elixir.
"Can I watch?"
Krash glanced at Crimson Garden, who nodded.
"Sure."
Taking it, Krash walked to the center.
Crimson Garden fluttered down before him.
[Swallow the elixir and assume lotus position.]
Finally time.
Krash popped it in his mouth.
A fishy bitterness hit, but he forced it down.
His insides heated up.
He sat in lotus position, and Crimson Garden seemed amused.
Krash sensed malice there.
The elixir's heat intensified, surging wildly.
"What'd I just eat?"
"You took it without knowing?"
Darling answered his question—or so she thought—with disbelief.
[What you took is the Nine Cries Dragon Transformation Pill. An elixir where one becomes a dragon after nine wails of agony.]
With her explanation, the boiling heat exploded through Krash's body.
It stabbed everywhere like needles.
Pain, definitely.
Yet Krash just blinked.
[Endure nine times. That's how you'll grow stronger. Pain tolerance is your specialty, right?]
True, it was his forte.
The spreading pain hurt, but bearable.
'Not started yet?'
Tensed by Crimson Garden's hype, the nine wails never came.
Crimson Garden grew puzzled too.
[......No reaction?]
"......Doesn't hurt?"
Both asked, baffled.
Evidently, effects should have hit by now.
"......Pain's inevitable, but not like this."
Then Krash realized.
Long ago, a curse called Needle Hell had pierced his body like needles.
This felt just like that.
Familiar agony dulled the shock.
Soon, lightning-like burns inside—another past curse sensation.
Bearable.
All familiar pains.
[......What the hell have you been through?]
Crimson Garden stared incredulously.
No groans, let alone wails—abnormal even to her.
Krash felt awkward too.
Now he got why Arthur said curses had already wrecked him.
[......Tch, you've had nothing but weird ordeals.]
She tsked at seemingly unfazed Krash, piecing it together.
[Since it's like this, absorb it fully. The more focus, the better the uptake.]
Time to capitalize.
Krash heeded her, concentrating on the elixir.
[Well then, let's at least become the dragon's tail.]
Time to rise from the snake's head.