TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 127
“Isn’t that a valid point?”
Kraush momentarily felt dizzy.
At the same time, he recalled the stares he had felt when he brought Dorma today.
Kraush had initially thought those stares were merely curious glances, wondering what was going on.
But if those stares were layered with that particular rumor…
Kraush’s head spun for a moment.
It was because he could already imagine people saying things like how he had added yet another woman to his side after being seen walking with Dorma.
‘The ones I choose to associate with are usually outstandingly capable individuals, and yet…’
The gender ratio of the Skyborne Generation was quite balanced.
The problem was that a significant portion of the male contingent was affiliated with Sigrid’s faction.
‘Sigrid doesn’t get along particularly well with girls.’
Kraush, who knew Sigrid’s personality well, understood that she had poor relationships with women.
Sigrid had a domineering character and an exceptionally strong sense of possessiveness.
This trait manifested even in relationships between men and women.
‘A lunatic who wants the whole world to love only her.’
Naturally, women didn’t find Sigrid very likable.
After all, Sigrid wanted complete control over every man around her.
Perhaps the reason Sigrid was so drawn to Arthur was that he never fully gave her his heart.
She constantly craved Arthur’s affection.
‘I had no intention of mingling with Sigrid’s faction, which is why I ended up dealing with others instead.’
He hadn’t expected it to escalate like this.
“…Dorma, I have a fiancée. She’ll be coming to Rahelrn Academy next year.”
There was no way someone like him, with a fiancée, would go around with other women.
It was just a series of coincidences that led to the current situation.
“That rumor is a misunderstanding. Why would someone with a fiancée do something like that?”
“Th-That’s true!”
Dorma nodded vigorously, denying the rumor on his behalf.
“And as you said, I’m not particularly a kind person.”
Kraush decided to correct her perception as well.
“The reason I’m willing to grant your request is because I have a favor to ask of you too.”
“A favor, you say?”
Dorma tilted her head.
Her reaction seemed to question whether someone like her could even help Kraush.
But Kraush was well aware of Dorma’s true worth.
She wasn’t a specialist in Curse Removal for nothing.
There are generally two methods for removing curses.
One is destruction.
The other is sealing.
And it is this second method of sealing that allows Curse Masters to carry curses with them.
Dorma was one of the twelve disciples of Veltoa.
‘The only one capable of sealing even the highest-level curses.’
Kraush felt a pang of regret as he looked at Dorma.
If she hadn’t met her demise, he wouldn’t have had to struggle as much as he did.
Of course, even Dorma ultimately concluded that Kraush’s curses were beyond her ability to handle.
But it was true that collaborating with her on curse neutralization research would have made things considerably easier.
“Is there something I can do to help?”
“Yes, I’m currently researching something with a few acquaintances of mine.”
Kraush rummaged through the Alchemy Lab.
He then pulled out a list that Darling, the lab’s owner, had compiled.
“I’m thinking of synthesizing curses and poisons to create an instant enhancement elixir. I’ll also be incorporating the curse neutralization theory I mentioned earlier. So, I’ll need a few high-level curses.”
“What?”
Dorma took the list Kraush handed her with wide, astonished eyes.
As she read through the list, her eyes began to tremble violently.
It was no wonder—detailed notes on curse neutralization, which until now had only existed as a theoretical concept developed by Veltoa, were written there.
After hurriedly scanning the list, she looked back at Kraush with a flustered expression.
“M-Mr. Kraush, who wrote this?”
“Darling. She’s the owner of this Alchemy Lab. I worked on it together with her.”
Dorma stared at Kraush.
At the same time, she once again felt the power of the curses dwelling within his body.
“Mr. Kraush, could it be that…”
The biggest reason the curse neutralization theory was deemed impossible was the danger of experimenting on humans.
But seeing the curses within Kraush’s body and the sample before her…
She began to suspect that Kraush himself might have realized the curse neutralization theory.
Because of this, she couldn’t ask recklessly.
What was he aiming to achieve by going to such lengths?
“Do you have something to say?”
“Ah, um, it’s just that I’ve never seen anything like this before, and I have so many questions. If it’s not rude, is it okay to ask?”
She decided to shift the topic instead of prying further.
Besides, this question was genuinely intriguing to her.
Kraush put on the kindest smile he could muster.
“Go ahead.”
[As always, you’re really good at putting on a fake smile.]
Whenever Dorma asked about curse neutralization, Kraush kindly answered her questions.
What had initially been a mere distraction turned into an increasingly enthusiastic discussion as time passed.
Since it was a subject she was well-versed in, Dorma felt like she was having an extended conversation for the first time since arriving at Rahelrn Academy.
After chatting for a while, Dorma found herself grinning widely before she realized it.
It was fun.
It reminded her of the times she used to discuss curses with her elder brothers and sisters.
Kraush’s knowledge of curses was astonishingly profound.
So much so that even she managed to learn a thing or two from his answers.
“Mr. Kraush, you really know a lot about curses! Do you like them?”
Liking curses, huh.
Kraush couldn’t help but stifle a bitter smile at the question.
After all, Dorma had no way of knowing what he had been through to acquire such extensive knowledge about curses.
“More or less.”
Kraush replied in a way that wouldn’t make her worry.
“Ah, right. S-Sorry. I haven’t answered whether I can help yet.”
Realizing she had gotten too excited during their conversation, Dorma covered her now-bright-red face with both hands.
Then, she quickly gave Kraush her answer.
“…I-I think I can help!”
Since Kraush had agreed to help Veltoa, it was only right for her to lend her aid as well.
Clenching her fists with determination, Dorma spoke, and Kraush posed a question.
“Come to think of it, Dorma, you’re affiliated with the 3rd Princess, aren’t you? Is it okay for you to help me?”
Relations between Balheim and Ephania were not good.
Especially with Charlotte, who could be considered Sigrid’s rival, the relationship between Balheim and Ephania was even more strained.
And Dorma was part of Sigrid’s faction.
So, when Kraush asked if it was alright, she let out an “Ah.”
“I-I think I should check with her first. But Sigrid is a generous person, so I-I think it’ll be fine!”
Surely, it would be fine.
Sigrid would undoubtedly want to establish some kind of connection with this side.
“Then that’s a relief.”
And they would spend their lifetime idling away, building a bridge that would never be completed.
It was the moment when Kraush’s true intentions, unbeknownst to the naïve Dorma, painted a smile on his face.
“Th-Then, I’ll be on my way now!”
With the conversation over, Dorma stood up, intending to leave.
Click-clack, click-clack—
At that moment, the sound of high heels began to echo from outside.
Kraush immediately recognized who it was just by the pace and rhythm of the footsteps.
Kraush rose from his seat.
At that moment, a polite knock came from the door to the Alchemy Lab.
“Hello. I heard our Dorma was here, so I came to visit?”
A familiar voice, laced with gentleness, carried through.
The instant Kraush heard that voice, his face twisted in irritation.
Thankfully, they hadn’t opened the door right away.
If they had, she would have realized at once, upon seeing his face, that he too had regressed.
“Who is it?”
Kraush had yet to meet her face-to-face.
Thus, he pretended not to know whose voice it was.
“Ah! M-Mr. Kraush, it’s S-Sigrid!”
Dorma shouted in a flustered voice toward Kraush.
Because the owner of that voice was the 3rd Princess, Sigrid Ephania.
The person Kraush despised most in the world.
At that moment, a faint chuckle came from outside.
“Yes, I am Sigrid Ephania. Would the owner of this voice happen to be Mr. Kraush Balheim?”
“W-What should I do?”
Dorma’s face turned pale as if she’d been caught red-handed stealing.
It seemed she too knew that Sigrid did not look kindly upon Charlotte.
After all, Kraush was Charlotte’s younger brother.
“I’ll go out and handle it.”
Kraush grabbed the doorknob and opened the door, as if to reassure Dorma not to worry too much.
And there stood Sigrid, who had stepped back from the door.
Unlike Sizelry, who was born frail with pale hair, Sigrid’s vivid silver-blue hair fluttered in the air.
Her unparalleled beauty lit up her face as she greeted Kraush with a radiant smile.
“It’s you. Mr. Kraush Balheim, a pleasure to meet you.”
It was as if she were meeting him for the first time.
Furthermore, she deliberately included the honorifics in her speech.
‘Look at me, someone noble like me is even addressing you respectfully.’
That must have been Sigrid’s true intent.
Thanks to her, Kraush felt a wave of nausea rise within him.
“3rd Princess, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Yet, Kraush was no less shameless.
He too acted as if it were his first time meeting her, putting on an awkward demeanor.
Standing behind her were two men.
One was a white-haired man, who would later be known as White Snake.
The other was a black-haired man, who would later be known as Black Snake.
Twin brothers with contrasting hair colors, they had made quite a name for themselves even among the Skyborne Generation.
And now, they had been recruited by Sigrid to serve as her personal guards instead of Mary.
The Special Arts students, upon seeing them, began whispering fervently among themselves.
While Kraush had visited the Special Arts Classroom a few times for various reasons, this was the first time Sigrid herself had made an appearance.
“I heard that our Dorma was looking for Mr. Kraush. I thought it might be rude not to check, so I came to meet you.”
“Ah, is that so.”
It seemed she had already figured out the situation before making her move.
‘She must have planted quite a few informants within the Academy.’
It was no surprise she wielded such influence at Rahelrn Academy.
“Dorma and I were discussing something related to curses.”
“Curses?”
Sigrid’s eyes widened in apparent surprise.
Her reaction seemed genuinely astonished.
If it were anyone other than Kraush, they might have been completely fooled by how natural her performance was.
“Yes, Dorma has considerable expertise when it comes to curses.”
“Oh, hahaha, it’s nothing that impressive…”
Dorma, who had been listening from behind, scratched the back of her head shyly, embarrassed.
“I recently started researching something, so I asked Dorma for some assistance. I was planning to mention it to you as well, Sigrid, so this timing is perfect.”
Kraush explained to Sigrid as if everything had fallen into place naturally.
After listening carefully, Sigrid turned to Dorma with a smile.
“Dorma, have you decided to assist Mr. Kraush?”
“Ah, y-yes! Mr. Kraush promised to help me find my mentor!”
The moment the word “mentor” was mentioned, Sigrid’s eyes momentarily sharpened.
It was brief, but Kraush clearly caught the look in her eyes.
That reaction indicated she had picked up on something suspicious.
“Could the power Mr. Kraush wields be a technique he learned from Veltoa Lacroix?”
Upon hearing her next question, Kraush didn’t respond but instead slowly smiled.
Sigrid’s face froze for an instant before relaxing.
“Ah, my apologies. I dug too deep, didn’t I?”
Though her face seemed composed, Kraush sensed her wounded pride beneath the surface.
The one she had always treated as cursed had just drawn a clear line of defiance.
For her, such a response was only natural.
Kraush was almost thankful for how consistent she was.
Because it reignited his determination to crush her, no matter what.