TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 146
She smiled faintly, as she always did, lifting just the corners of her lips.
“Are you scared to sleep alone now that you’re in a foreign place?”
“Not really, I’ve traveled to many foreign places before.”
Charlotte glanced briefly at Haring, who had followed behind Kraush.
“If this is some kind of romantic getaway, I can’t approve of it.”
It was so typical of Charlotte to say whatever she wanted.
“I have some personal matters to attend to. I plan to take care of them before sunset today.”
“So you’re asking me to keep the professor distracted, huh?”
Charlotte didn’t argue; she simply tilted her lips into a smirk.
“But little brother, if you want me to fulfill such a secretive request, shouldn’t you do something for me in return?”
That Charlotte would attach a condition was unexpected.
When Kraush tried to listen for more, he was met with an absurd reply.
“Like a kiss on the cheek, for instance.”
Kraush stared blankly at Charlotte, who tapped her own cheek with her index finger.
Then, as usual, Charlotte, with her unchanged expression, tapped Kraush’s cheek lightly with the same finger she had used to tap her own.
“Just kidding.”
You could never tell when Charlotte was joking.
“There’s a meeting between the princess and the prince, isn’t there? That would be a time when even the professor would find it hard to look away. Move during that time. I’ll allow it.”
“Thank you.”
With her permission granted, Charlotte immediately closed the door and went inside.
She had said everything she needed to; that was the end of the matter.
“You siblings seem to get along well.”
“Does it look that way to you?”
To Kraush, their relationship seemed anything but good.
But Haring seemed to think otherwise.
“Well, your sister always listens to your requests, doesn’t she?”
Hearing that, Kraush blinked.
Then, he looked back at Charlotte’s closed door.
‘That’s true.’
Charlotte was as headstrong as ever, often dragging him around wherever she pleased.
But she also prioritized Kraush’s opinions.
Even during the Skyborne Generation, Charlotte once told Kraush to leave the Skyborne Generation.
She had claimed she couldn’t stand the sight of him being there.
But when Kraush insisted that it was where he belonged,
Charlotte never told him to leave again.
At the time, Kraush had thought she was upset because he had refused her request.
But looking back, perhaps she had surprisingly been accommodating his opinion.
‘Have I ever really looked Charlotte in the eye before?’
Posing the question to himself, Kraush turned away.
This wasn’t a problem that could be solved overnight, like with Lilish.
But at the very least, once this matter was over, Kraush was certain of one thing—he owed Charlotte a debt.
That debt could be repaid by ensuring she wouldn’t die at the hands of the Sword Master and by helping her nurture her talents further.
With these thoughts in mind, Kraush waited for everyone to gather at Hardenhartz.
That would be the time to act.
‘So I have to prevent this from happening, no matter what.’
It was at that moment, as Kraush was deep in thought.
A commotion began to echo from the hallway.
Slowly turning his head toward the noise, Kraush’s body instinctively froze.
A tall man was walking toward them.
Leading him with great enthusiasm was Meliocan Hardenhartz, the eldest son of Hardenhartz.
The man’s short, dark blue hair swayed gently.
And beneath that swaying hair, his solemn blue eyes only further enhanced his striking appearance.
A face that resembled Kraush’s in some ways.
And the man closest to becoming the patriarch of Balheim.
One of the Ten Strongest Under the Heavens, also known by the nickname “Sword King.”
Rai Balheim.
He had arrived.
As he walked, guided by Meliocan, his gaze shifted toward this side.
Judging by the direction, it was clear he was heading here to see Charlotte.
However, before he could meet with Charlotte, the first person he encountered was none other than the youngest of Balheim—Kraush.
“Kraush Balheim.”
When Rai uttered Kraush’s full name, Kraush straightened his posture.
“It’s been a while, brother.”
Though to call it “a while” felt a bit odd.
Kraush could count on one hand the number of times he had seen Rai in his life.
He had met Rai even less frequently than his sister Lilish.
This was the first time encountering him in this regression.
Perhaps that’s why Kraush stood there, a little tense, as Rai’s gaze briefly flicked to his side.
It was because Haring was standing next to Kraush.
When their eyes met, Haring flinched like a startled cat, her hair standing on end.
Rai’s gaze carried the weight of someone who could instantly pierce through a person’s innermost being.
In that brief moment, Haring felt it.
Strength.
Just facing him made her feel as though her breath was caught, overwhelmed by the sheer force emanating from Rai.
At the same time, Kraush too clearly sensed Rai’s overwhelming strength.
‘Still a long way to go.’
Kraush, who had endlessly grown through countless experiences,
realized in an instant, just by looking at Rai, that he was still woefully lacking.
Even reaching the level of the Ten Strongest Under the Heavens was still a distant goal.
“…Keep striving.”
Rai, who had been quietly observing Kraush, didn’t say much more.
He wasn’t particularly talkative, much like Lilish.
To be precise, he didn’t seem to have much interest in Kraush.
He was someone who, even more than Lilish, lacked attachment to family matters.
They were merely bound by the framework of Balheim.
With no intent to continue the conversation, Rai brushed past Kraush.
‘He’s probably here to see Charlotte because she’s the Student Commander of the Lion Order.’
Even with her, the conversation would likely be brief.
Watching Rai’s departing figure, Kraush turned away.
If he grew stronger, there might come a day when they clashed in some way.
Rai’s sole goal was clear—
to become the patriarch of Balheim.
If Kraush continued to grow stronger, the issue of Balheim’s patriarch would inevitably arise.
Rai wouldn’t simply stand by when that happened.
‘It does make me a bit curious.’
About the day when that perpetually emotionless face might finally show some feelings.
Suppressing a brief chuckle, Kraush moved on.
Thinking once again that getting close to family was no easy task.
* * *
Hardenhartz was buzzing with unexpected visitors.
A moderately sized party venue was prepared in Hardenhartz.
It was a party hall designed to provide a place of rest for those participating in the search operation until they could solidify their plans.
Of course, this was only a party hall for ordinary students or knights to relax.
Students in command positions and other key figures, who needed to discuss the search operation, were all gathered in the conference room.
In front of that conference room.
A woman emerged with a displeased expression.
She walked toward the terrace, placed a cigarette between her lips, and clicked her tongue.
‘This kind of atmosphere really isn’t for me.’
Sena Myer, a professor at the academy and a Ghost Hand.
She felt a throbbing headache from the operational meeting she had just attended.
A meeting attended by the 4th Princess of the Empire, who was renowned for her intellect, and the 1st Prince of Starlon.
Not to mention Rai, the Vice Matriarch of Balheim, and even Charlotte, a genius known throughout Balheim.
With such a group gathered, even voicing an opinion made the atmosphere heavy.
Sena was here solely to oversee this mission.
Resolving the mission itself was the students’ responsibility.
So instead of enduring the stifling atmosphere, she had swiftly excused herself.
While she was a noble herself, this kind of thing really wasn’t to her taste.
Moreover, she found Rai, the Vice Matriarch of Balheim, particularly uncomfortable.
“I guess I’ll head to the party hall.”
There was still some time needed before the search teams could be fully organized.
So she decided to relax for a while in the party hall.
With that, she entered the party hall.
As she scanned the students, partly to check their attendance, her eyes moved quickly across the room.
And then a look of doubt appeared in her eyes.
Since the search teams were supposed to mobilize as soon as the meeting ended, all the students should be waiting here.
Yet, there were gaps in the attendance.
Adjusting her black glasses, she counted the students again.
But once again, there were missing students.
And not just anyone—key individuals who absolutely shouldn’t be absent.
“Ha, that insolent boy.”
Sena let out a sigh, feeling the urge to light another cigarette.
Charlotte had been unusually talkative today, which clearly meant the two of them had already exchanged words.
She looked out the window.
She would have to chase after the troublesome runaway student.
* * *
Meanwhile, as Sena left the conference room.
The heated search operation meeting finally concluded, and a brief break followed.
Sitting in the conference room, Sizelry casually swung her legs back and forth.
Despite the intense meeting, her composure remained unshaken, embodying the brilliance of the Empire’s prodigy.
At that moment, her guard, the Mad Sword, Sera Bethel, approached her.
“Lady Sizelry, it seems Mr. Kraush has moved on his own.”
“It’s fine. I was already aware.”
Sizelry had already noticed the shift in Kraush’s demeanor from the moment he arrived at Hardenhartz’s entrance.
Naturally, she had anticipated that he would act independently.
‘He must have gone to meet the former leader of the Night Crow Unit.’
Judging by his reaction, an unexpected factor had arisen.
He must have gone to confirm it.
Still, there was no need to worry.
Sena Myer, the professor and Ghost Hand, had also followed Kraush.
Kraush likely anticipated that Sena would come after him eventually.
Perhaps he had factored her in as a safety measure of sorts.
“So Kraush has made his move.”
At that moment, a man sipping tea spoke up.
When Sizelry shifted her gaze, she spotted a man with striking silvery eyes.
It was Hilnider Starlon, the 1st Prince of Starlon.
Although technically a student, he had specially attended the search meeting, as the Empire’s Princess was visiting his kingdom.
His reason for participating in the meeting was simple: to observe people.
Hilnider viewed this visit to Hardenhartz as an opportunity.
A chance to observe those who would lead the future.
‘Not bad. Starlon should prosper significantly in the future.’
Sizelry also held him in high regard.
Which made her curious.
Kraush had been forging connections with the 1st Prince.
Based on recent information, it was evident there had been some sort of deal between them.
‘Roughly speaking, Kraush demonstrates his strength within the academy, while the 1st Prince offers support to solidify his influence—a cooperative relationship, it seems.’
The rumors discrediting Kraush recently.
Were likely a ploy to make the factions within the academy scramble to establish ties with him belatedly.
Sizelry, with just a few scraps of information and conversation, had pieced together the entire picture.
Yet, even she couldn’t fully grasp the actions of one person—a boy who constantly created new variables to intrigue her.
That boy was none other than Kraush.
A peer who endlessly brought unexpected twists, keeping her interest piqued.
Every time she saw him, Sizelry couldn’t help but draw a mischievous smile.
The tomboy within her always whispered a desire to provoke him.
Thus, she harbored great curiosity about Kraush.
“Prince Hilnider, how do you evaluate Kraush?”
Naturally, she wanted to know.
Whether the 1st Prince knew something about Kraush that she did not.
“A sword that Balheim has hidden and nurtured.”
Without hesitation, Hilnider answered Sizelry.
“That is my assessment.”
His candid response had a clear purpose.
To leverage Sizelry’s intellect to gather more precise information.
And his intention was somewhat successful.
Sizelry blinked, then chuckled softly, covering her mouth.
“Not an incorrect observation.”
But not entirely accurate, either.
Hilnider narrowed his eyes slightly.
He sensed there was more to Kraush than what met the eye.
‘Sizelry Ephania is the Empire’s proud genius. For her to make such a remark, Kraush must hold even greater potential.’
Already holding Kraush in high regard, Hilnider’s mind worked quickly.
Watching him silently, Sizelry glanced toward the window.
‘It seems the 1st Prince has developed an interesting misunderstanding.’
She decided to foster that misunderstanding a bit more this time.
With a bright smile, she rested her chin on her hand, propping up her elbow on the table.
Once again, he had acted independently.
She was filled with anticipation, wondering what intriguing developments he would bring back this time.
Meanwhile, Sera, who had been quietly observing the two geniuses from the sidelines, thought to herself how exhausting it was to watch such brilliant minds engage in their mental sparring.