Chapter 184
The next day, after Bianca saw him off, Kraush returned to Rahelrn Academy.
It had been a short but meaningful break.
Perhaps that's why Kraush's mood upon returning was lighter than before.
It seemed it was because he had accepted what needed to be accepted.
However, there was something that worried him a little.
[I'll grow stronger by the time I enroll at Rahelrn Academy a year from now.]
It was good that Bianca showed firm determination.
[I will become an amazing woman suitable for Mr. Kraush and stay by his side.]
But for some reason, her firm determination seemed to have spread in a different direction.
Kraush read the emotions contained in the blue eyes that met his gaze and let out a hollow laugh.
It was because he realized the emotions in her eyes were jealousy and possessiveness.
While it was cute in a way, he also felt a little sorry.
After all, it was Kraush himself who had made her uneasy.
[Your usual behavior is the reason for all this, isn't it? Surrounding yourself with so many women. Why don't you buy every type of ring as well?]
Perhaps seeing an opportunity, Crimson Garden's nagging continued.
Kraush felt a bit of unfairness as well.
Besides, the Ebelasque's Corpse Rat was uncharacteristically quiet today.
She must be tired since she struggled with the Mad Blade Emperor incident.
For the time being, it seemed like a good idea to let her rest.
'It seems like Rahelrn Academy is starting to feel familiar now.'
Walking along the corridor, Kraush stretched briefly.
Perhaps because he had taken a good day of rest, his body felt refreshed.
'Then it's time to handle my to-do list.'
There was a mountain of tasks waiting for him.
Having rested well and replenished his strength, it was time to put it to use.
Just as Kraush made this determination and began to move.
"Did you hear about the Princess Assassin?"
"Someone worried because Sigrid hasn't come out of her room went to check, only to find her shouting and causing a commotion."
"It's absurd. To think that Sigrid, who took her in out of old feelings, would be treated like this."
"It's just in her nature. Honestly, isn't the rumor about being controlled by the Night Ravens Commander a complete lie too?"
Voices flowed into Kraush's sensitive ears.
When Kraush glanced out of the second-floor window, he saw a group of students gathered there.
It was the perfect spot for gossiping.
More importantly, was that smoke rising over there a cigarette?
Smoking is strictly prohibited inside Rahelrn Academy.
Though some professors sneak a puff, it's a different matter for students.
Moreover, it seemed that the group included those known as troublemakers within Rahelrn Academy.
Before coming to Rahelrn Academy, they must have been full of dreams and hopes.
But after meeting real geniuses, those who were broken often took the path of becoming troublemakers.
Kraush vaguely remembered them as guys he had crossed paths with in previous timelines.
'Back then, they were my seniors.'
Now, they were fellow second-year students.
"Still, her figure is great. Makes you want to hug her just once."
"Are you insane? Hugging a criminal who assassinated the Princess? You have terrible taste."
"You have to hug a bad girl at least once to become a real man."
"Ugh, is that really the only kind of conversation men can have?"
They were still idiots as ever.
Kraush leaned his head out of the window frame.
"Hey."
When Kraush called, the startled group looked up.
As soon as they saw Kraush's face, they instantly turned pale.
The top of the second-year Martial Arts students and a direct descendant of the Balheim Family.
Kraush Balheim.
Not a single person at Rahelrn Academy was unaware of his name.
Kraush lightly leaped over the window frame and landed in front of them.
The group instantly froze with stiffened expressions, and Kraush snatched the cigarette from them.
Ssssshh!
Then, without hesitation, he clenched the cigarette in his hand, crushing it.
Even though the burning cigarette must have been hot, his impassive expression further intimidated them.
Kraush dusted off the cigarette ash from his hand and slowly looked at them.
"Should I put it out for you, or will you do it yourselves?"
"W-we'll put it out!"
The troublemakers hurriedly extinguished the cigarettes they were holding in their own ways.
Watching that, Kraush dusted off his hands and stared directly at them.
"Who was the one talking about Mary Diana yelling at Sigrid Ephania just now?"
"M-me!"
The terrified one immediately raised his hand in response to Kraush's question.
Kraush looked at him and, crossing his arms, leaned against the wall.
"Explain it in detail."
When it comes to these things, the ones in the back always know best.
* * *
The incident where Mary, staying in the dormitory, had a quarrel with Sigrid.
That seemed to have happened during the time Kraush was away.
Apparently, Sigrid was furious at Mary for disobeying her orders and went to confront her.
Knowing Sigrid's personality, she must have finally unleashed all the words and accusations she had been holding back on Mary.
'Mary must have already been at her mental limit by that point.'
Naturally, Mary, who could no longer endure Sigrid's verbal abuse, eventually exploded.
She believed everything that had happened was Sigrid's fault, as Kraush had manipulated her into thinking that way.
When Mary, who had always obeyed her orders thoroughly, yelled, it must have caught Sigrid off guard.
Soon after, Sigrid likely realized that the commotion had become too big.
As a result, she decided to withdraw for the sake of her image in the situation.
'After leaving Mary's room, Sigrid left with tears in her eyes.'
Following that, she would have used her subordinates to subtly spread rumors.
Sigrid claimed she visited Mary, who had failed her midterm evaluation, out of consideration for their old ties.
But Mary yelled at her and drove her away, disregarding Sigrid's goodwill.
Sigrid already had a favorable reputation among the students.
On the other hand, Mary was infamous and carried only notoriety.
Naturally, the rumors were interpreted to suit the students' existing perceptions.
Mary, holed up in her room, made no efforts to counter the rumors.
As a result, the rumors solidified as fact, leaving her completely isolated.
'Sigrid completely cast Mary away.'
It was a situation where the losses outweighed the benefits.
Knowing Sigrid's personality, she wouldn't keep Mary by her side anymore.
With that, Kraush stopped in front of the women's dormitory.
'This is definitely an opportunity.'
Now that Sigrid had completely cast her away, this was the chance to fill Mary's final dial: 'Submission.'
However, there was one problem.
Would Mary, in her current state, even come out of her room upon hearing that Kraush had come to see her?
Kraush knew Mary's personality well.
'Even though I succeeded in erasing Sigrid that day and securing my position.'
By the time today arrived, even that would have significantly faded.
Now, just the act of coming outside would be even scarier.
Unless Kraush personally went to her and spoke, if it were some unknown person showing up, she would try to run away.
'What should I do?'
Kraush glanced at the women's dormitory.
Compared to the men's dormitory, the women's dormitory was much more securely guarded.
That's because the female professors took turns directly guarding the women's dormitory.
No matter how audacious Kraush was, he couldn't recklessly barge in.
[What are you so worried about?]
At that moment, the voice of Crimson Garden, who was flying in the sky, was heard.
[Doesn't the child, who excelled in alchemy, have a method?]
And then, the story Kraush had been avoiding until now came through.
Kraush looked up at the sky with a deeply furrowed face.
Then, eventually, Kraush let out a short sigh and turned his body around.
Annoying as it was, it seemed there was no other way.
* * *
Special Arts Hall, Alchemy Lab.
Kraush, who had come here, had a face full of irritation unlike usual.
Perhaps because of that, no one dared to initiate a conversation with Kraush as he passed by.
Passing by those who even avoided his gaze, Kraush arrived at a classroom and pushed the door open with a loud clatter.
"Hahahaha!"
Then, from inside, a burst of laughter was heard.
A woman, holding a bottle high up toward the sky, was consumed by madness as she laughed.
Kraush, for some reason, found that madness particularly unpleasant today.
Future Alchemy Castle Lord.
Darling Danphelion.
She was someone Kraush knew very well.
"Huh? Boyfriend, what brings you here?"
Darling, who happened to meet Kraush's eyes, greeted him with a playful smile.
She was someone Kraush had seen often due to the matter of improving the Enhancement Elixir.
Having recently come by once, there shouldn't have been any reason to visit again, which explained her surprised reaction.
"I have a request."
Kraush's tone was less than welcoming.
Darling tilted her head.
That's because most of Kraush's "requests" were more like orders.
"Boyfriend, you're acting strange. Did you hit your head somewhere? I'm out of memory-recovery medicine, you know."
Could such medicine even be made?
Kraush, once again, felt a sense of awe at Darling's genius as he closed the door with a scrape.
Then he walked step by step and stood before Darling.
Their eyes met.
Kraush remained silent as he hesitated to speak, and Darling waited for him to say something, also in silence.
Pop-
In the midst of the silence, the sound of bubbles bursting came from the boiling bottle.
After some time, Darling slowly twisted a lock of her golden side hair with her hand and smiled mischievously.
"To think you'd speak so cautiously. So, you've finally decided to confess to me? I thought you only wanted my body, but I didn't expect you'd offer your heart too."
Darling's voice was overflowing with playfulness.
"Where should we hold our wedding? Charlotte should be there too, so we'll need a spacious venue, right?"
"Darling."
Kraush called her name seriously, making Darling flinch.
Normally, this would be the point where she'd tease him back.
For some reason, his reaction was completely different this time.
Kraush's face was endlessly serious.
Gradually, Darling's face, once filled with playful teasing, began to show confusion.
And her ears started to turn red with embarrassment.
"Wh-what, could it, be, true?"
Stuttering, Darling's eyes darted around nervously.
Though she had always appeared composed, she was greatly flustered now that Kraush was being genuinely serious.
"Did I... should I have prepared myself?"
As Darling stood there, utterly unable to figure out what to do, Kraush let out a long sigh.
"Give me a potion to turn into a woman."
And then, as she processed the words, Darling's previously flushed face began to return to normal.
She then slowly reached out and clasped Kraush's wrist with her hand.
"Kraush, you're serious about this. Let's book our wedding today."
In Darling's eyes, there was a very real image of a wedding venue forming.
It was a truly unique sentiment.