TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 126
Dorma Lacroix.
Now 17 years old, she was rolling her eyes nervously with hunched shoulders.
Despite being naturally timid and having entered Rahelrn Academy with excellent grades, she had spent half a year without making a single friend, living in solitude.
It was because she was inherently bad at mingling with others.
However, even she found herself part of a group six months later.
That group was none other than the entourage of the 3rd Princess of the Ephania Empire, Sigrid Ephania.
As a result, she could no longer escape her life as a loner at the academy.
Although she was secretly pleased by this, her sensitivity to people’s emotions made her aware of one thing.
That Sigrid’s group wasn’t entirely welcoming of her.
While Sigrid always treated her kindly, she struggled to fit in with the other members, each of whom had strong personalities.
But she didn’t let it bother her.
After all, she had always been closer to the shadows of society.
‘I used to enjoy spending time with my senior brothers and sisters.’
She was the youngest disciple among the twelve taught by Veltoa Lacroix, the world’s greatest Curse Master.
The days spent with her senior brothers and sisters, who were deeply dedicated to curse research, were delightful.
After all, Veltoa had found her wandering as an orphan outside the city walls and taken her in.
Veltoa raised Dorma and even gave her the Lacroix name.
However, when Dorma turned ten, Veltoa suddenly left her in the care of the other disciples and disappeared.
As a result, Dorma cried for several days, but Veltoa never returned.
The other disciples also didn’t know exactly why their master had left.
They could only assume vaguely that it was likely related to curses again, because that was their master.
Though Veltoa had left, fortunately, Dorma’s upbringing wasn’t significantly affected.
This was because her senior brothers and sisters adored their youngest quite dearly.
The problem was that this affection created another barrier, making it harder for her to connect with children her own age.
She could interact well with adults, but she never knew what to talk about with peers.
So, she missed her senior brothers and sisters.
If her eldest senior brother hadn’t insisted that she enter Rahelrn Academy to broaden her perspective on the world, she would still be happily immersed in curse research.
For someone like her, who had no interest in humans due to her ruined relationships,
there was recently one person who caught her attention.
‘Kraush Balheim.’
The direct heir of the renowned Balheim Family and currently the most talked-about individual at the academy.
The rumors surrounding him reached her ears constantly, even though she barely spoke to anyone.
To be clear, it wasn’t for romantic reasons.
While other girls chattered endlessly about Kraush when she lay her head on her desk, she lacked such girlish sentiments.
She was a gloomy character, far removed from the idea of a princess riding in a carriage.
So why was someone like her paying attention to Kraush?
‘A curse.’
To her eyes, Kraush was a walking mass of curses.
He was so engulfed in curses that she wondered if he could be the very source of them.
That alone was enough to draw the eyes of a Curse Master like her.
It was especially intriguing because, even with her expertise, she couldn’t distinguish the types of curses surrounding Kraush.
But the real surprise lay elsewhere.
‘That… That curse manipulation method is identical to Master’s!’
On the day of the admission test for the second-year students at Rahelrn Academy,
when she reluctantly joined Sigrid’s group to observe the test,
while sitting in a corner with no interest in the proceedings,
she was startled.
Kraush was clearly manipulating curses.
And his method was none other than identical to Veltoa’s.
Veltoa, known as the world’s greatest Curse Master, was, in reality, better described as a Curse Mage.
He mastered thousands of curses and often showcased extraordinary combat techniques using them.
Since acquiring curses required entering World Erosion, he chose curses as his means to combat Erosion Species.
And Kraush was using Veltoa’s curse manipulation method.
When she realized this, she barely restrained herself from running out.
‘He’s definitely connected to Master.’
She wanted to ask where her master was now and how Kraush could use such a curse method.
But her timid nature held her back once again.
As she hesitated and wavered, time kept slipping away.
Until today.
She ended up attending the same curse class as him.
He was there because he had chosen Special Arts as his sub-department.
Her heart was in turmoil.
There were countless things she wanted to ask about Veltoa as soon as possible,
but her innate hesitation kept holding her back.
‘There might not be another chance like this.’
Although he was using curses, perhaps he was actually struggling because of them.
If that were the case, maybe she could lift those curses and ask about her master in the process.
Having reached that thought, she clenched her small fists tightly.
‘I have to do this. Dorma.’
Today, she would speak to Kraush.
She made a firm resolution.
＊ ＊ ＊
“That concludes today’s class.”
The professor wrapped up the lecture and left.
As expected, Kraush hadn’t paid much attention to the class itself.
This was because Kraush’s knowledge of curses exceeded that of the professor.
Meanwhile, the students began packing their belongings and standing up.
Kraush also stood up with Aslan.
“Uh, um!”
It was at that moment.
Kraush turned his head, thinking that his bait had finally been taken.
There stood a girl with light-colored, unkempt hair.
She was trembling nervously, shifting her eyes uneasily with her small frame.
After staying like that for a while, she finally opened her mouth.
“W-Would you like to talk about curses with me?”
Her voice cracked midway, and she lowered her head in embarrassment.
Her legs were trembling like leaves in the wind.
Of all things, she had asked to talk about curses.
But it was the only thing she knew, so she had no other choice.
“Kraush, you’re popular, huh.”
Aslan let out a light whistle.
“Th-That’s n-not it.”
She shook her hands vigorously as if to clear up any misunderstanding.
Then, her face turned as red as a beet, and she lowered her head again.
Knowing why she had approached him, Kraush decided to get straight to the point.
“You want to ask about Veltoa Lacroix, right?”
As soon as she heard that, she lifted her head abruptly.
Her eyes sparkled as she nodded enthusiastically.
It looked like an eager, disheveled puppy pouring its heart out.
If she had a tail, it would probably be wagging like a motor by now.
“I know a good place for a conversation. Want to go there?”
“Y-Yes, I’ll go!”
She answered cheerfully.
[Stop luring the kid. What are you, some guy handing out candy? If the other disciples find out about this, they’ll try to kill you. Do you have any idea how much they care about that child?]
In terms of physical age, Kraush was younger than Dorma.
But it seemed such things didn’t matter to Crimson Garden.
“Aslan, what about you?”
“You two talk comfortably. I’ll be in my room.”
Aslan stepped away to give them space.
“And be careful not to let Lirina find out.”
For some reason, when Lirina was mentioned, Kraush briefly rubbed the back of his neck.
“Let’s go.”
“Y-Yes!”
And so, they began walking together without delay.
As Kraush and Dorma passed by, they drew occasional glances.
Kraush, tall for his age, and Dorma, much smaller than average, walking together—
It was impossible not to attract attention.
When Dorma hunched her shoulders nervously, Kraush entered the Special Arts Hall.
After walking a bit further, they arrived at Darling’s Alchemy Lab.
Darling was out at the moment.
Though she had been informed they were coming today, it seemed she had gone to buy something to eat as lunchtime approached.
“Sit wherever you like. It’s a friend’s alchemy lab.”
“Ah, y-yes.”
Dorma awkwardly settled into a chair.
Her already small figure seemed even smaller as she curled up.
While gazing around the alchemy lab, Dorma blinked in surprise.
Because, oddly, there were numerous cursed vials scattered around, unsuited for an alchemy lab.
“Ah, I’m researching curses. The current focus is the Curse Neutralization Theory.”
At those words, Dorma’s eyes widened significantly.
“C-Curse Neutralization Theory, you say?”
“That’s right. The theory Veltoa Lacroix developed.”
The traditional method of Curse Removal involved using the Curse Master’s aura to directly dismantle and eliminate the curse.
However, Curse Neutralization was different.
It used a lower-level curse to neutralize a high-level curse.
That was the essence of Curse Neutralization.
Before the regression, two people had established this theory.
One was Darling Danphelion, the Alchemy Star.
And the other was Veltoa Lacroix.
The world’s greatest Curse Master, who had been ridiculed by others in the field as absurd.
High-level curses typically killed the victim before a Curse Master could even arrive.
Thus, no one had ever managed to prove the theory, leaving it as a concept devised solely by Veltoa.
And this theory was realized through Kraush.
Currently, Darling was still only in the process of drafting a paper on it.
So, for now, Veltoa was the only one advocating this theory.
“Mr. Kraush, you really do have a connection with my master!”
“Something like that.”
If you could call it a pre-regression connection, then perhaps it was.
“Ah, b-but curses don’t activate properly unless they’re cast on a target. That’s why the Curse Neutralization Theory hasn’t been proven…”
The biggest issue with the Curse Neutralization Theory was that it couldn’t be tested on people.
High-level curses, after all, typically killed the target almost instantly.
Thus, Veltoa had only ever been able to propose the theory without practical evidence.
It didn’t even specify which curses would neutralize each other.
“But I’m here.”
Kraush, however, was a different story.
He could steal curses, preventing himself from becoming a direct target.
Thanks to the reduced effects of the curse, he could survive and actively test the Curse Neutralization Theory.
As a result, Kraush became living proof of the Curse Neutralization Theory.
Dorma froze mid-movement with a creak.
Then, with wide, round eyes, she slowly turned to look at Kraush.
“D-Directly on you, Mr. Kraush?”
“Dorma, you know, don’t you? At least roughly, what’s residing in my body.”
Dorma flinched.
Being this close, she could sense it even more clearly.
From Kraush emanated an aura of curse so potent it could almost choke her.
“And this is what you wanted to ask about in the first place, isn’t it?”
Kraush crossed his legs as he sat, wearing a faint smile.
Seeing him, Dorma bit her lip, then tightly shut her eyes before blurting out.
“Y-Yes. The way you handle curses is too similar to my master’s!”
“Of course it is. I learned it directly from your master.”
The secret technique Extreme Blood Immersion Poison that Kraush possessed—
Its advancement into Annihilation Erosion through Ignis was fundamentally based on Veltoa’s curse techniques.
Kraush’s ability to wield Annihilation Erosion so proficiently was entirely due to his experience.
“I knew it!”
Her eyes sparkled fiercely, and she looked ready to pounce on Kraush at any moment.
“My master has been searching for him all along! He disappeared suddenly when I was ten, and we haven’t heard from him since. We’ve been so worried!”
Dorma’s words came out in a rapid stream.
She paused momentarily, seemingly out of breath from speaking so quickly.
“But when I saw you using my master’s techniques, I couldn’t help but wonder. D-Do you know where my master is now?”
Having spilled everything, Dorma seemed parched.
Kraush retrieved a cup, poured water into it, and handed it to her.
“Ah, thank you.”
She grabbed the cup with both hands and took a big gulp with her small mouth.
Then she finally seemed to calm down.
“Feeling better now?”
“Y-Yes, much better.”
Seeing the noticeably calmer Dorma, Kraush smiled.
“First of all, Veltoa Lacroix is wandering around the Forbidden Zone.”
That old man was utterly obsessed with curses.
As soon as he judged Dorma to be somewhat grown, he had hurried off to the Forbidden Zone.
He likely hadn’t told Dorma or the other disciples where he was going to protect her in his own way.
He probably feared Dorma would recklessly follow him into the Forbidden Zone.
“…The Forbidden Zone.”
Dorma muttered to herself with a stiff expression.
She knew all too well how dangerous the Forbidden Zone was.
Dorma was an exceptional Curse Master.
As expected of someone personally taught by Veltoa, her knowledge of curses was top-notch, and her curse-removal skills were the best among the twelve disciples.
‘I owe this kid a lot. I’m heavily indebted to her.’
But aside from that, her combat abilities were next to nonexistent.
Her naturally small frame and weak body were ill-suited for handling curses.
So, upon hearing the words “Forbidden Zone,” Dorma must have felt as if her breath had caught in her throat.
Because it was a place she could never go to herself.
“Should I help you find Veltoa Lacroix?”
When Kraush spoke to Dorma, her head snapped up in surprise.
Dorma believed that Kraush knew Veltoa.
After all, he was from Balheim.
Surely, he would enter the Forbidden Zone again in the future.
If it were him, he could definitely find Veltoa.
“A-Are you sure about this?”
“I’ll be heading to the Forbidden Zone anyway. Might as well do it while I’m at it.”
“Ah, ah, thank you so much! Mr. Kraush, you’re so much kinder than the rumors say!”
She stood up and eagerly shook Kraush’s hand.
For someone who desperately wanted to reunite with her mentor, Kraush’s offer was truly a blessing.
“Rumors?”
When Kraush questioned the mention of rumors, she let out an “Ah” and averted her gaze.
“W-Well, that is…”
“It’s fine. It’s just the result of how I usually behave anyway.”
To some extent, it had been intentional from the beginning.
At Rahelrn Academy, Kraush had no intention of ever being underestimated.
So, there were times when he acted a bit more aggressively than usual.
[Isn’t that just how you usually are?]
He didn’t pay much attention to Crimson Garden’s remark.
“N-No, that’s not it! You’re being so kind to someone like me! The rumors are just misunderstandings! Those who spread bad rumors, like you keeping countless women around, are the real villains!”
But her next words made Kraush’s face momentarily stiffen.
“…Me, keeping women around?”