TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 12
The incident that occurred at the Holy Land of Stars.
Unlike Belorkin, who thought there was no need to go to a children’s party and did not attend the Holy Land of Stars, Kraush participated in this Holy Land of Stars event.
I wondered what kind of embarrassment the Half-Penny was trying to face by doing such a thing.
The story that came back was completely unexpected.
Kraush had a draw against Aniks.
Although Kraush was taken out of the venue by Darling Danphelion.
Apart from Charlotte, he achieved a draw against Aniks, who is considered the toughest in Starlon.
Belorkin, who heard the news, naturally couldn’t believe it.
The Kraush he had seen was a Half-Penny with no talent whatsoever.
Hadn’t he himself realized this and spent his days idly at the Green Pine Mansion?
Yet, a draw with Aniks?
It was unbelievable.
That’s why Belorkin came to confirm it with his own eyes.
To find out whether the unbelievable rumor attached to the Half-Penny was true or false.
Though there was a sense of unease somewhere in his heart, he tried his best to ignore it.
“Why did you come all the way here to see me? I thought you’d be busy, brother.”
At that moment, hearing Kraush’s voice, Belorkin looked up.
Busy, me? What does that mean?
As if answering Belorkin’s doubt, Kraush smiled as if bestowing kindness.
“With the opening of Rahelrn Academy, everyone’s in an uproar, aren’t they? They say you can get in regardless of your status if you pass the entrance exam. You should prepare for it, brother.”
That statement was a complete provocation.
Balheim is on a different level from other families.
Even the strongest empire in the world fears the wrath of Balheim, to the extent that they dare not touch the Starlon Kingdom, and those from Balheim are all born geniuses.
Although Belorkin was pushed to the background due to the emergence of the monster Charlotte.
He too is a direct descendant of Balheim.
Even if Aniks is called the genius next to Charlotte, in terms of age and skill, he is still just a novice in front of Belorkin.
And he, of all people, is busy preparing for the entrance exam of an academy?
The Rahelrn Academy should be begging on their knees to have him?
“You say the most amusing things.”
Belorkin’s thick eyebrows began to twitch uncontrollably.
Soon, a slightly softened smile appeared in his eyes.
“Well, from your perspective, everything might look that way. My bad, I misjudged. To the common folk, even Rahelrn Academy might seem prestigious.”
Belorkin did not hold Rahelrn Academy in high regard.
He thought that no matter how prestigious Rahelrn Academy was, it could not compare to Balheim.
So, at best, it was just about broadening one’s perspective of the world.
In fact, the real reason he wanted to go to Rahelrn Academy was because Charlotte had no interest in the academy.
If he went to the academy, he could avoid being compared to her to some extent.
But Belorkin would never admit that out loud.
“Yes.”
And Kraush readily agreed with Belorkin’s words.
Though it was somewhat irritating how readily he agreed, Belorkin spoke.
“The reason I came to find you today is because there’s an order from the family.”
“An order?”
The following words were quite unexpected even for Kraush.
He thought Belorkin had come to vent his frustration over the Aniks incident that he had ignored so far.
But surprisingly, there was a legitimate reason.
“Yes, a World Erosion has occurred at Gerilak Mountain, which is Balheim’s territory. The order is to go and stop it.”
But the following words made Kraush feel ridiculous.
“Doesn’t the family’s order apply from the age of 15?”
Just like other noble families, when a World Erosion occurs in Starlon, Balheim sends a member of the family to purify it.
Although it is an obligation for direct descendants, the obligation applies from the age of 15.
Kraush will turn 14 next year.
Therefore, he was still at an age unrelated to the family’s order.
“Don’t worry. I’ve agreed to take you as your guardian.”
Seeing Belorkin speak as if doing him a favor, Kraush clicked his tongue.
It was clear that he had come to check Kraush’s skills and to suppress him by taking him along.
“My little brother, who managed a draw against Aniks, won’t be scared of this, will he?”
Seeing Belorkin smirk, Kraush blinked.
‘Is he trying to provoke my pride now?’
Kraush barely managed to suppress the laughter that almost escaped him.
To pick a fight over pride with someone who shouldn’t have any left as a Half-Penny, how self-centered.
That’s why Kraush didn’t hold Belorkin in high regard.
He was always short-sighted and self-centered.
‘That personality that can’t accept anything.’
It would eventually strangle him.
“Well, fine.”
For Kraush, World Erosion was more familiar than this peaceful world.
If it was just a task assigned to Belorkin, it wouldn’t be that dangerous.
Even if Belorkin had set a trap, Kraush had his thoughts.
“Mr. Kraush.”
At that moment, Kraush turned his head following the voice he heard.
There stood Bianca, who had run away earlier, expressionless.
“Where are you going?”
Having roughly heard the conversation earlier, Bianca asked.
Since he was going anyway, he couldn’t not tell Bianca.
“I’m going to deal with a World Erosion for a while.”
“Mr. Kraush is going to deal with a World Erosion? Why?”
Bianca showed a puzzled reaction.
Although Kraush showed mature aspects despite being only 13, he was still 13.
It made no sense for a 13-year-old to go and stop a World Erosion.
“You’re not thinking of following me, are you…?”
“I’m not going.”
“Is that so.”
Although Bianca usually tried to follow him everywhere, this time she answered decisively.
Then Bianca turned to look at Belorkin.
“It doesn’t make sense for a child who isn’t even 15 to go to a World Erosion.”
Bianca sharply rebuked Belorkin with the facts.
Belorkin flinched, feeling a bit guilty, but soon his face contorted.
“Kraush, that girl.”
“She’s my fiancé.”
Then Belorkin let out a scornful breath.
“I see. The cursed Snow Woman from the North…”
“As Bianca said, she’s just a 12-year-old child. My generous brother won’t pick on her, will he?”
Kraush cut off Belorkin’s words and stared at him intently.
It was a sign that he would not tolerate any more nonsense.
Seeing Kraush like that, Belorkin felt uneasy but turned away without saying much.
After all, he had achieved his goal.
As Belorkin walked away, Kraush turned to Bianca.
“Well done.”
Then he patted Bianca’s head in praise.
“I don’t think I did anything well.”
“That’s just a difference in perspective between you and me.”
Kraush said so and took his hand off Bianca’s head.
“I’ll be back.”
“Don’t collapse again.”
Kraush replied that he would remember and started walking.
Watching Kraush’s retreating figure, Bianca silently touched the hair that Kraush had patted.
* * *
World Erosion.
World Erosion, literally an erosion into another world, has different characteristics for each occurrence.
Sometimes erosion species appear.
Sometimes the surrounding environment changes.
Sometimes the place is consumed by World Erosion and becomes another world.
And Gerilak Mountain, where Kraush, Belorkin, and several intermediate knights of the Balheim Family had come, was a place where such World Erosion was occurring.
‘The mountain has turned into a swamp.’
Where there should have been lush grasslands, trees, and mountains, a thick swamp had spread.
The plants that sprouted here and there were growing in various shapes reminiscent of the Paleozoic era.
Especially, the acrid smell emanating from the swamp stung the nose, and it was at a level where one could not enter without defending with an aura.
But among them, there was something more dangerous.
For some reason, headless insects were flying around the swamp.
They paid no attention to Kraush outside the World Erosion, but if he took a step inside, they would surely attack.
Because World Erosion is merciless to intruders.
“What about the Purification Team?”
Meanwhile, Belorkin, who had entered the World Erosion several times before, asked the knights.
“We’ve contacted them. They said they would start the purification process as soon as the master is dealt with.”
Unlike World Erosion where only erosion species appear, this time, even the surrounding environment had changed into an erosion zone.
So it seemed that the Purification Team had been called to restore the changed environment.
“So, Belorkin, what rank is this erosion?”
“It’s a 3-star.”
A 3-star is a level that an intermediate Expert Knight Order can handle without difficulty.
Belorkin, despite appearances, is an upper Expert.
It seemed like he could easily deal with the master.
‘I can see why he brought me here.’
Kraush is a lower Expert.
The intention was to show the gap between himself, an upper Expert, and Kraush, to suppress him once.
Belorkin must be afraid.
That Kraush, who might have been on the rise following Charlotte, could surpass him.
“Kraush, the reason I brought you here today is for you to gain experience. Watch and learn well.”
As if he were a senior, Belorkin spoke triumphantly and began to walk.
Watching Belorkin, Kraush shrugged lightly.
Who is talking about experience to whom, he wondered.
Of course, at this point, since he had no experience, the members of the Balheim Knight Order were looking at Kraush with concern.
But Kraush himself was trying to hide a chilling smile.
There was only one reason Kraush had come to the World Erosion following Belorkin.
‘Extreme Blood Immersion Poison.’
Although he hadn’t yet solved the frenzy, it was time to test a temporary solution.
* * *
The Half-Penny of Balheim.
Kraush Balheim.
He was certainly called that.
The reason Belorkin had dragged Kraush to the World Erosion today, as Kraush thought, was to suppress him.
Belorkin, at the age of 15.
He remembered well the pain he experienced during his first World Erosion.
Because World Erosion was the place where his once high pride was first broken.
Let alone Kraush, who was 13 years old.
Younger and of a lower level than he was at that time.
He seemed to think the world was his now that he had just become a lower Expert.
He intended to break that reality.
Moreover, Kraush was already a broken man once before.
The moment he realized reality, he would immediately fall.
Belorkin was triumphant at the thought of engraving that difference so that Kraush could never look up again.
But soon, a look of bewilderment appeared on his face.
Due to the nature of the swamp, the swamp and the damp surrounding environment continuously created stress, wearing down both mind and body.
In such a situation, the monsters called erosion species kept appearing, leaving no time to catch a breath.
Such an environment naturally wore people down, yet Kraush was wandering around as if he were out for a stroll.
“These erosion species don’t have heads, but they do have teeth. If bitten, the bitten area will swell greatly, accompanied by pus and itching, so wrap your aura tightly around your whole body.”
Kraush warned the intermediate knights while examining an erosion species that had flown towards him.
He seemed very familiar with World Erosion, and his advice in between was very useful.
“Mr. Kraush, have you already experienced World Erosion?”
A knight who had learned how to deal with the swamp from Kraush asked.
Upon hearing the question, Kraush made a dumbfounded expression.
“I’m 13 years old this year. Does it make sense for me to have entered World Erosion?”