TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 138
Kraush was running somewhere at this very moment.
It was because of the news he had heard from Glen.
The news that the Poison King had suffered severe injuries.
Kraush had once heard about an assassination attempt on the Poison King in the past.
‘Bianca.’
Before the regression, the Poison King had annihilated the Hardenhartz family.
It was because the 2nd Prince, who had been pushed out of the line of succession, sought asylum in Hardenhartz and revealed secrets of the Royal Family.
Bianca, the sole survivor of that day, became the White Ghost and killed the Poison King out of vengeance.
And in the end, during the war between the Empire and Starlon that followed, Bianca was ultimately killed by the Poison Phoenix, Haring Lagrain.
That was the incident that had occurred before the regression.
And now, perhaps a similar event was unfolding.
Of course, it wasn’t Bianca’s doing.
The Poison King hadn’t annihilated Hardenhartz, and Bianca was still far from becoming the White Ghost.
Then why had this incident occurred now?
Kraush furrowed his brows.
The real issue was the story that followed from Glen.
[The World Erosion Being who gravely injured the Poison King also attempted to assassinate the 4th Princess and is now on the run, with the Empire pursuing them.]
Upon hearing this, Kraush’s eyes widened.
Kraush knew very well who that World Erosion Being was.
‘Ebelasque Benapoch.’
No matter the truth of the situation.
According to the story spreading among the people, the one who had attempted to assassinate the 4th Princess, Sizelry Ephania, was Ebelasque, the leader of the Night Ravens.
And suddenly, the thought struck him that perhaps the clash between the Poison King and Ebelasque might have been caused by him.
In the past, Kraush had once asked her to ensure that the Poison King would not harm Hardenhartz.
If this incident had occurred because of what he had said—
It would mean that an unprecedented event had been triggered before the regression because of his words.
A surge of indescribable emotion rose within him.
Just one seemingly insignificant flap of a butterfly’s wings might have changed everything.
[Kraush, it’s not her doing.]
At that moment, Crimson Garden’s voice came through the brooch and into his mind.
His violently pounding heart gradually began to return to its normal rhythm.
His briefly dazed mind also began to clear.
[I’ll go after her.]
With just one remark from Crimson Garden, Kraush was brought back to reality and began to pursue Haring.
The immediate issue was Haring.
Because Kraush knew better than anyone else what had come of her after the Poison King’s death in the past.
“Crimson Garden.”
Kraush called out to her while running, trying to ascertain the truth.
Then a crow descended from the sky and landed on his shoulder.
“Are you certain it’s not Ebelasque’s doing?”
[Yes, I’m certain.]
Kraush let out a short sigh.
As his mind cooled, Kraush, too, became convinced it wasn’t Ebelasque’s doing.
‘No matter what happened with Hardenhartz, Ebelasque would never choose to engage the Poison King in open conflict.’
It didn’t make sense, even in terms of timing.
The 2nd Prince being exiled from the Empire and seeking asylum in Hardenhartz—no matter how much it was expedited.
It was impossible for that to happen now.
‘That’s because the Emperor hasn’t passed away yet.’
At this point, it wasn’t a situation where the other royals could freely expel the 2nd Prince.
“Then who’s behind this?”
[It’s true that the Poison King was attacked. There are many witnesses who saw him collapsed and injured.]
Upon hearing this, Kraush’s brows began to knit together slowly.
“So, the Empire pinned it on Ebelasque, regardless of who actually attacked the Poison King?”
Understanding the situation roughly, Kraush’s eyes sharpened with a deadly glint.
“The Empire has figured out Ebelasque’s location.”
Ebelasque was the leader of the Night Ravens.
Let alone the accusation of assassinating a princess being pinned on her.
‘Above all, they wouldn’t want to lose Ebelasque.’
Her usefulness had already been fully demonstrated during the time of the Night Ravens.
So the Empire would relentlessly pursue her, unwilling to let her slip away.
And as a result, the Empire had deduced that Ebelasque was in Hardenhartz.
But even so, the moment the Empire’s knights crossed the border, that would be another misstep.
The Empire wasn’t in a position to recklessly go to war with Starlon at this point in time.
[Exactly, and that’s why they’re officially requesting entry permits for the Knight Order into Starlon, claiming that the World Erosion Being who injured the Poison King has fled there.]
So instead, they had chosen to escalate the situation.
From their perspective, capturing Ebelasque was a gain no matter what.
So they planned to stir things up, using Starlon or whatever means necessary to capture Ebelasque.
If Starlon captured her, they would demand her extradition under the pretext of prosecuting the princess assassination case.
If they captured her themselves, it would be an even more favorable outcome.
“Where is the Empire’s Knight Order requesting entry to?”
[Hardenhartz.]
As expected.
“Has the one who actually harmed the Poison King been identified?”
[That part is still unclear.]
Kraush furrowed his brows.
‘The information is lacking.’
Kraush had never faced the Poison King before.
Even Haring, the Poison Phoenix, had only been a senior one rank above him at the time, with barely any interaction.
Moreover, Haring had later left to join the Skyborne Generation, vowing revenge against the White Ghost.
So no significant information came to mind.
Kraush lightly bit his lip.
‘What’s certain is that this is an unprecedented incident.’
Clearly, this incident was a butterfly effect brought on by the various events of this cycle.
But despite that, Kraush couldn’t shake an uneasy feeling.
‘It’s different, yet progressing in a similar manner.’
The Poison King being connected to Hardenhartz for some reason.
The Empire trying to infiltrate Hardenhartz.
For some reason, all of these seemed to be repeating the same results as the previous cycle.
As if this world could only move within a predetermined framework.
And that predetermined framework seemed to be steadily advancing toward ruin.
Starlon would undoubtedly reject the Empire’s request.
There was no way they would allow the Empire’s Knight Order into their territory.
The Empire and Starlon had never had good relations to begin with.
The Empire might even use this as an excuse to make various demands.
Claiming that they had drawn their swords to capture the World Erosion Being who attempted to assassinate a princess and gravely injured one of the Ten Strongest Under the Heavens.
And accusing Starlon of obstructing a noble cause for mere national interests.
As a result, relations between the Empire and Starlon would start to deteriorate further.
This event would ultimately become one of the triggers leading to war.
‘So, the Hardenhartz annihilation incident involving the Poison King was merely a pretext?’
The Empire and Starlon had been at odds with each other for a very long time.
And the Hardenhartz annihilation incident was merely a pretext to trigger the war.
Perhaps both nations were waiting for a single opportunity to start the war.
As with most wars that break out over trivial causes, there were already signs of impending conflict.
‘That’s why Arthur.’
He did not move to prevent the war between the Empire and Starlon.
No matter how hard an individual struggles, it would be insufficient to stop events between nations.
Perhaps Arthur tried to prevent it several times.
But the moment he saw that it inevitably led to war, he gave up.
And he switched from preventing the war to utilizing it.
As these thoughts crossed his mind, Kraush clenched his teeth.
‘Will I let these rotten nations fight each other?’
The Empire and Starlon, having exhausted their forces during the war, were unable to control the World Erosion.
The problem is not just the Empire and Starlon.
After all, they are two of the most prominent nations in the world.
Naturally, the war between the two nations had a direct impact on neighboring countries, leading them to lock themselves up for self-defense.
It is an era of rampant World Erosion.
‘Followed by the war between humans and the World Erosion Beings.’
Perhaps the war between the Empire and Starlon was the trigger for the World Erosion to spread and become the most severe.
Therefore, the war must be prevented at all costs.
But how can it be prevented?
‘I am just a student right now.’
This must have been why Arthur gave up on stopping the war.
As just a student, he had no authority to mediate between nations.
As Kraush ran and pondered deeply.
Something suddenly came to mind.
Kraush’s pace quickened as he chased after Haring.
Haring Lagrain, the daughter of the Poison King.
She might become the key to resolving this issue.
Kraush’s steps gradually began to slow down.
Because the place he arrived at was the Women’s Dormitory.
The place Haring headed to was none other than her own room.
She probably used the communication device in her room to contact her main house to understand the situation properly.
Was it because there was an empty class today, unlike the martial arts class?
As the female ratio increased in front of the Women’s Dormitory, gazes began to be drawn.
“Oh, that person is.”
“Kraush Balheim?”
“It looks like he came to meet someone.”
The girls looked at Kraush with eyes full of curiosity.
But Kraush paid no mind.
All he could think about was meeting Haring right away.
However, it was not possible to just barge into the Women’s Dormitory.
“…You?”
At that moment, Austria, who was just coming out, ran into Kraush.
She brightened up upon seeing Kraush but quickly corrected her expression.
“What brings you here?”
She said, maintaining a somewhat haughty expression.
“Austria.”
But Kraush’s face lit up upon seeing her.
Austria flinched at Kraush’s face, which seemed happy to see her.
Then, without thinking, she gave a slight, beaming smile.
“Perfect timing. Can you call Haring Lagrain for me?”
However, that expression quickly shattered.
Austria stared blankly at Kraush, shocked.
It was only natural, as the man she had feelings for was looking for another woman as soon as he arrived.
Austria, trembling at the corners of her eyes, soon bit her lip hard.
“…Why?”
As Kraush answered, he noticed Austria’s shoulders trembling.
The man she had feelings for was looking for another woman.
Right in front of the Women’s Dormitory, no less.
Naturally, it was a shock to Austria.
“I can see what you’re thinking, but it’s not like that.”
So, Kraush quickly corrected her misunderstanding.
“There’s an issue between the Empire and Starlon. The Poison King was severely injured by a World Erosion Being, and the Empire claims that the World Erosion Being is in Starlon’s Hardenhartz.”
It’s a large-scale issue happening at the national level.
Upon hearing this, Austria’s face, which had been distorted with jealousy and shock, began to return to normal.
At the same time, her eyebrows slightly furrowed.
“…And you didn’t call me even though such a thing happened?”
Given that one of the Ten Strongest Under the Heavens was severely injured.
It would be normal to urgently call for the Saintess for healing.
However, the Empire did not do so.
What’s more, the Saintess, Austria, only learned of this news through Kraush.
“More importantly, are you trying to get involved in this?”
If what Kraush said was true, this matter was too big.
It was practically a confrontation between two nations.
As she looked at Kraush with a dumbfounded expression for trying to get involved in such a place, Kraush nodded seriously.
“Yes, it’s something that could escalate into a war.”
War.
Upon hearing this, Austria, who had slightly frowned, turned away.
“If you’re saying it’s that serious, it must be a big deal. Alright, I’ll call her for you.”
As expected of Austria, she clearly distinguished between public and private matters.
She said this and turned away.
“Austria, thank you.”
As Kraush spoke to her retreating figure, Austria flinched.
Then, she gave Kraush a slight glare and turned her head with a huff.
“…I didn’t do it to hear a thank you.”
Although she said this, Austria was inwardly pleased.
As she left, Kraush stood alone, looking towards the Women’s Dormitory.
He hoped that Haring would not act too recklessly.