Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Holding Hands
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Red Magic Tower.
One of only three magic towers in the world, and the one lorded over by the Flame King—one of the Ten Supreme Powers.
Such was the Red Magic Tower, and it possessed one particularly distinctive trait.
An extreme faith in the omnipotence of magic.
They believed that magic could solve anything and everything.
As a result, they looked down on non-mages, especially scorning skills and curses as utterly inferior.
They held that magic, created by human hands, surpassed even the blessings and curses of the gods.
Yet ironically, it was precisely this mindset that had elevated the Red Magic Tower to the top ranks among all magic towers.
In their pursuit of solving everything through magic, they maintained the most open-minded philosophy when it came to the art itself.
They constantly pushed the boundaries of magic, opening new horizons every day, which led to endless advancement and growth—making it one of the premier magic towers.
That was why every kingdom supported the Red Magic Tower.
Regardless of their ideology, their magical prowess was unmatched, making alliances with them immensely beneficial.
Krash had come to Halgram, the magic city where this Red Magic Tower stood.
'Still the same as ever.'
True to its moniker as the Magic City, Halgram overflowed with all manner of magical items.
A quick glance around revealed a man using a magic tool to light a simple pipe.
Magic tools had become everyday conveniences here.
And for Krash, this place wasn't particularly welcoming.
'Abella.'
It was where one of Arthur's three women had lived.
The memory of failing to obtain a magic-made painkiller here was still vivid.
Abella had blocked Krash from ever entering the Red Magic Tower.
To be precise, she had thrown a fit to keep him from even setting foot in Halgram.
She, who had always treated him with utter disdain, showed an unusually intense reaction specifically toward the Red Magic Tower.
"Tch."
It seemed he should look into what she was up to now.
Magic as a discipline required innate mana, of course, but the true key was the mind that held knowledge.
In Krash's view, among the three who had undergone Memory Succession, Abella was the most dangerous.
With enough mana, she would reach the level of the Red Witch—the grand mage she had once been known as—faster than anyone.
'She must never learn that I've regressed. No matter what.'
Krash was absolutely certain he needed to guard that secret from her, at least.
'Though with her...'
For some reason, he suspected she'd just dismiss it anyway.
"Lord Krash."
Just then, Krash heard Bianca's voice as she stepped down from the carriage with him.
She looked around with a fascinated expression.
"Is this Halgram?"
"Yeah. Where the Red Magic Tower is."
"Being with you lets me see all sorts of places, Lord Krash."
Halgram was a free city, far from Staron.
It had taken nearly three weeks just to get here, so Bianca had endured quite a bit of carriage life.
Though she'd spent most of it sleeping.
"Stay at Green Pine Pavilion from now on. No need to tag along and tire yourself out."
Krash had to keep getting stronger for the next year.
That meant traveling a lot, and more carriage rides ahead.
At his words, Bianca furrowed her brows slightly into a pout.
"No."
Her emotions had become much more expressive lately.
Like how she'd grinned slyly over imperial chocolates not long ago.
"I like being by your side, Lord Krash."
With that, she swayed her white hair and stepped up beside him.
Krash scratched his head and pretended not to notice.
"Do whatever you want."
"I will."
Lately, hadn't he been losing ground to her in their banter?
The fact that a mere 13-year-old kid was getting the upper hand gave Krash pause for thought.
"Lord Krash Valheim."
Just then, a voice called out, and Krash looked up.
A man in a blue uniform stood there.
His uniform cap was perfectly perched, and on his chest gleamed the Valheim crest enclosing five sword hilts.
The Valheim's Fifth Sword.
The symbol of the Azure Sea Knights.
"A pleasure. I'm Reveliang Phoenix, vice-captain of the Azure Sea Knights."
The Phoenix family was one of the knight houses subordinate to Valheim.
Quite the elite lineage, yet assigned to the fifth-ranked Azure Sea Knights.
'Pushed out in the power struggles, huh.'
Krash nodded, having a rough idea of the man's situation.
"You've heard from the Azure Sea Knight captain, right?"
"Yes, we've been informed of your desire to join the Azure Sea Knights. I've come to serve as your guide, but first, may I ask one thing?"
He posed the question with utmost courtesy.
"Don't worry. I'm not planning to start from the bottom or anything like that. The only reason I want to affiliate with the Azure Sea Knights is to openly spread the word that a direct Valheim has arrived at the Red Magic Tower—without making it seem targeted."
Krash anticipated the question and addressed it upfront.
His affiliation with the Azure Sea Knights was merely an alibi.
Hearing this, the man placed a hand on his chest and bowed.
"Understood. My apologies. In that case, I'll serve as your attendant until your objective is met."
In Valheim, they were just the Fifth Sword, but outside, the Azure Sea Knights were on par with a house's premier order.
And here was their vice-captain treating a 14-year-old boy with such deference.
Krash truly felt the power wielded by Valheim direct descendants.
At the same time, he realized just how little his word had once carried.
'The head steward must have spoken highly of my exam performance.'
In the past, he wouldn't have gotten a warm reception even from the Eighth Sword, let alone the Azure Sea Knights.
But things were different now.
Valheim no longer saw him as half-baked.
'Still a long way to go.'
Charlotte would have had the Azure Sea captain himself rushing over.
"Handle the details with my exclusive butler, Aliod."
"Understood."
The man bowed once more to Krash, then turned to speak with Aliod behind him.
Watching this, Krash felt his stomach rumble.
Carriage travel meant skimpy meals, apparently whetting his appetite.
'Eating well at times like this is crucial.'
Krash was right in the middle of his growth spurt.
With his height and weight increasing daily, eating was non-negotiable.
"Aliod, thinking of grabbing a bite nearby."
"Shall I assign someone?"
Aliod asked immediately, mid-conversation with Reveliang.
But Krash, who hated such fuss, waved him off.
"Nah. Handle your business. I know roughly where the Azure Sea Knights are. I'll head there after eating."
"Very well."
He knew full well someone would trail him anyway.
Unlike his secret trip to the empire before, this time he'd informed Valheim directly.
Outside Staron, direct descendants had shadow guards—familiar with concealment—tailing them until adulthood, beyond their butlers.
Right now, such a guard was following at a distance where Krash couldn't see.
This made Krash realize just how much Aliod had maneuvered behind the scenes during his empire trip.
Even as a half-baked direct descendant, he was still direct blood.
Had something gone wrong in the empire, Aliod would have lost his butler privileges and faced execution on the spot.
Yet Krash was Aliod's benefactor and master.
From the moment of the request, Aliod had risked his life to smuggle him out, even preparing thoroughly to shield him from repercussions.
In this regard, Krash once again appreciated Aliod's value.
No other Valheim exclusive butler—selected only from elites—could match this level of competence.
"Bianca, let's eat."
"Yes."
Bianca followed at his call.
Grabbing his coat hem from behind, she gazed around Halgram in wonder.
As Krash stepped onto the main street, crowds began to thicken.
"Ah."
Perhaps because of that—Bianca, clutching his coat, got swept into the throng and unwittingly let go.
She hurriedly reached to grab him again.
But before she could, Krash's hand shot out from the crowd and seized hers.
A gentle pull brought her right to his side.
As she stared at him with wide eyes, Krash clicked his tongue.
"Get too caught up sightseeing and you lose your grip."
He'd been watching to make sure she kept up from behind.
Spotting her slip, he'd grabbed her immediately.
"Sorry."
"Just don't let go. Stick close."
With that, Krash kept holding her hand as they walked.
Bianca stared quietly at their clasped hands.
He'd held hers like this before.
Gruff as he was, he often looked out for her in these ways.
Callused from daily training, his hand was larger than hers.
Yet this time, it felt warmer than usual.
Spring was nearly here, warm enough, but not hot.
She couldn't quite describe the ticklish tingle at her fingertips.
A spring breeze brushed her cheek.
The main street's clamor buzzed in her ears.
The spring sun shone down, comfortably warm.
Flower scents from roadside blooms teased her nose.
In Halgram's gentle spring.
Amid the crowds, Bianca felt as if she were alone with Krash.
And strangely, it felt wonderful.
Just walking hand-in-hand like this.
Bianca blankly gazed at Krash's back.
A twinge of regret that she couldn't see his face—but this wasn't bad either.
"We're here. Still open at this hour, as expected. Bianca... why are you grinning like that?"
Krash stopped at his desired spot and eyed her curiously.
Bianca finally tore her gaze from their hands and looked up.
She cupped her free cheek and tilted her head.
"Am I grinning?"
"Yeah. Looks just like when you eat chocolate or when you're sleepy."
Bianca blinked.
Then she pouted her lips petulantly.
"I'm not grinning."
"No, your face right now is exactly..."
"Nope."
Her firm denial left Krash exasperated.
Her lips had been curved up, eyes soft just moments ago—why deny it?
'Did she see something she likes?'
He had no idea what, but he said,
"Anyway, we'll eat here."
Bianca looked up belatedly.
There stood a shabby-looking eatery.
A glance around showed they'd strayed quite far from Halgram's main street.
"It's rundown."
"Don't say it outright. And don't mention it inside."
To avoid dirty looks.
Krash warned her and headed in.
"Oh, what cute customers."
A server spotted Bianca and Krash, smiling warmly.
Two kids who still looked so young, holding hands as they entered.
Only then did Krash realize he was still holding Bianca's hand.
He let go, but Bianca promptly grabbed it again.
Krash paused and turned to her.
Bianca just stared back blankly.
As if she herself didn't know why she'd grabbed it again.
"...You said not to let go."
Why did she sound almost annoyed?
"It's fine to let go inside a shop."
Krash released her hand once more. Bianca quietly cradled hers.
The server watched fondly, then led them to a table.
Krash sat in a wooden chair, and though there was one opposite, Bianca naturally took the seat beside him.
Krash, accustomed to her by now, opened the menu.
He called the server, ordered what Bianca wanted along with his own, then scanned the room.
Lunchtime rush—high chance of spotting one.
In the corner of his eye sat a particular person.
Krash sighed in disbelief at the sight.
'Found her right away.'
A woman stealthily stuffing bread into her mouth while piling server-delivered food into a basket.
He knew her well—pale brown hair, half-lidded, vacant expression.
This woman, destined to be called the Flame Emperor.
Aslan Igrit's personal maid.
The key linking him to that Moon Yin Physique bearer.