Chapter 208
September.
The time when second-year students who entered in March pass their final evaluations and are assigned to the Student Unit.
During this time, the students of Rahelrn Academy are extremely busy.
Second-year students must personally investigate and choose the unit they will join.
First-year students must struggle to recruit as many beneficial members as possible.
The Student Unit is solely based on performance.
Units that fail to produce results receive warnings of dissolution, making talent acquisition essential for them.
So right now.
"Second-year students, how about joining the Virgin Unit? Would you like to embrace the meaning of Theology?"
"Geohaedan, commoners! Come to Geohaedan, where you can act without worrying about your status!"
"For aspiring Magic Studies students, it's the Human Horse Unit. Only those aiming to become traditional mages should come."
Each group presented their own slogans, and promotions were happening everywhere.
Thanks to this, students commuting from the dormitories had to endure promotional bombardments every day.
"Ah, youth."
"Is this really the time to say that?"
Kraush turned his head at the rebuke he heard from the side.
There stood a girl with hair the color of sunlight.
Due to her Divine Power, her body was completely different from her peers. She looked at Kraush with a blunt expression.
Saintess Astria Stigma Freeman.
After finishing matters with Veltoa, Kraush soon collapsed and couldn't move.
That was because, although he had suppressed the power of Aura and World Erosion, his body hadn't recovered.
In the end, Kraush, who had reached his limit, had to be transported to Rahelrn Academy and treated under Astria's stern gaze.
"Still, I kept my promise, didn't I?"
"That's..."
If he got injured, he would prioritize seeking Astria first.
When Kraush mentioned that he had kept that promise, she sighed deeply and pulled up a chair to sit.
"Even so, if you come back injured, of course, I'll be worried."
"I admit that's my fault."
Why do you keep coming back in worse condition each time? For someone like you, shouldn't most enemies be defeated without even landing a hit?
Looking closely, it seems like recently, you're not getting hurt by someone else but overexerting yourself.
Astria, unaware of where Kraush had been, looked at him with a puzzled expression.
If he told her he had gone to the Forbidden Zone and fought a 9th Class Erosion Species, Astria would probably scream.
"I guess I'm still weaker than I thought."
This was Kraush being genuinely honest.
Ixion was currently on the move.
They were probably spreading World Erosion everywhere in secret, gathering strength.
'And eventually, they'll touch the Forbidden Zone.'
When that time comes, a full-scale war with Ixion will be inevitable.
Kraush felt he was still insufficient to face them.
'Though I've gained the Four Seasons, making my capacity much greater than before.'
He couldn't help but feel that he was still lacking.
[It's an obsession.]
Crimson Garden, noticing Kraush's state, sharply pointed it out.
As she said, it might indeed be a form of obsession.
Because he believed that if he didn't grow stronger like this, he wouldn't be able to prevent the world's destruction.
'After all, even the Celestial Four Strongest ultimately failed to protect the world.'
From Kraush's perspective, yearning for strength was inevitable.
'Moreover, there's the matter of the Imperial Palace.'
The matter where the 4th Princess Sizelry Ephania must be working hard to arrange a meeting with Celestial Emperor Dalphiron Junon.
To resolve that matter, he needed to prepare his strength as well.
'Abella is definitely connected to both the Imperial Palace and Ixion.'
There's a high probability he'll face her again.
A woman whose mind melted because of Arthur.
But apart from that, her magic skills were undoubtedly the best in the world.
'Abella will never leave me alone.'
For that reason, Kraush needed training to prepare for the immediate future.
"You're lost in thought again, aren't you?"
Astria poked Kraush's shoulder repeatedly.
She looked annoyed that he was thinking about something else while she was there.
Come to think of it, there was also this matter.
Kraush briefly checked the timing.
"Astria, it's almost time for the Festival of the Gods, isn't it?"
"Hm? That's right. That's why I recently visited Freeman, to prepare for the festival rehearsals."
As summer ended and autumn began.
The Festival of the Gods, held to give thanks to the gods for this year's harvest.
This festival, held annually, was also scheduled to take place in Freeman this year.
"I didn't expect something like that to happen to Cardinal Mirey Beakis during my brief absence."
The incident where Rona Imblize, the Magical Tool Manufacturer, and Cardinal Mirey Beakis
became subjugated due to the World Erosion Beings and the Black Witch.
As the incident was investigated,
it was revealed that the Black Witch invades the gaps in people's hearts to subjugate them.
Thanks to this, the world launched a large-scale search for the Black Witch.
That's because brainwashing was an extremely dangerous power.
Consequently, even the Black Witch found it difficult to act aggressively.
No matter how powerful she was, she couldn't act recklessly when the entire world was searching for her like a fine-toothed comb.
For the time being, other World Erosion Beings would likely move in her place.
"And as soon as you got back, you started working again."
"I don't have much to say about that. But you're the only one I could think of to handle it."
"Oh, hmm, well, if that's the case."
For some reason, Astria's mood improved again.
'Isn't this girl's mood swings getting worse?'
As Kraush wondered whether a saintess like her would be okay, Astria cleared her throat.
"So, because of that, I have a favor to ask you."
"What is it?"
"You know Freeman is promoting you as a hero, right?"
Of course, he knew.
They were deliberately elevating Kraush to cover up the story about Mirey.
Kraush didn't particularly stop them from doing so.
The more Kraush's reputation grew, the more hesitant Ixion would be to mess with him.
Above all, the higher his reputation, the easier it would be to stand at the center of the Skyborne Generation.
"So, they're suggesting inviting you to this year's festival. Since Freeman is promoting you as their new hero, they're even contacting Balheim about it."
Even though Freeman had elevated Kraush to hero status.
They seemed to be seeking Balheim's approval in advance, worried about offending them.
Balheim would probably give an okay without much issue.
Balheim was a place where meritocracy reigned supreme.
Even though there were ongoing power struggles among the vassals over the Patriarch position, ultimately, it was a world where skill was everything.
Therefore, there was no reason to refuse a situation that could elevate the reputation and achievements of the direct line.
"So, what do you think?"
Astria subtly glanced at Kraush, trying to gauge his reaction.
There was a faint hope in her eyes that Kraush would accompany her to this festival.
Kraush was hailed as the new hero.
Since Kraush had already been marked as a promising talent to lead the next generation.
Freeman would naturally want to use him actively.
In that case, they would try to pair him with Austria, who was practically Freeman's emblem.
So that they could highlight the relationship between the Saintess and the Hero.
Austria knew this too, which is why she subtly suggested it to Kraush.
"The Festival of the Gods, huh......."
Kraush slowly tapped his folded arms with his index finger for a moment.
Kraush glanced at Austria.
Kraush mentioning the Festival of the Gods wasn't without reason.
It was because he knew what kind of problem would arise during this festival.
'The timing after the Festival of the Gods is when Holy Knight Diona Stella and the Opposition Faction initiate a revolution.'
Originally, it was the time when Holy Knight Diona started a revolution to break Austria's cage and shackles.
However, the world itself had already changed.
Austria had, not completely, but to some extent, escaped her cage,
and directly negotiated with the Freeman Holy Royal Family regarding the Holy Grail.
In other words, there was no reason for Diona to join hands with the Opposition Faction.
'But the Opposition Faction still exists.'
The Opposition Faction was still displeased with the very existence of the Saintess.
The Saintess was a synthetic creation made publicly by the Holy Royal Family as a mere symbol of Freeman.
According to their claim, the Saintess was committing the sin of blasphemy.
They argued that the Saintess should be erased from this world and that a doctrine truly following the will of God should be established.
'The will of God, my foot.'
It was laughable to revere beings who did nothing even when the world was on the brink of destruction.
While Kraush wasn't particularly fond of God or the Holy Kingdom, Austria was a different matter.
Before his regression, he owed her his life in a big way.
He still vividly remembered her pouring all her divine power into him and then vanishing herself.
'Even if Diona isn't part of the Opposition Faction, they'll still move.'
And this time, there was no restraint like Diona to hold them back.
Without the restraint of Diona, Austria could also become a target for them.
That was something Kraush could never allow.
"I'll go with you."
"Oh, really?"
Austria's face immediately lit up with joy.
She was genuinely pleased that Kraush had agreed to go with her.
"Yeah, I promised to protect you before, remember? I'll make sure you can enjoy the festival comfortably."
"You've noticed the Opposition Faction's movements, haven't you?"
So Austria was aware of that situation too.
"Diona gave me a heads-up. She told me the Opposition Faction had approached her with a proposal."
"What did Diona say in response?"
"Of course, she rejected it. If she did something like that, it would only make my position more difficult.
But even without Diona, it seems they haven't given up. Their goal is to completely restructure the Holy Royal Family."
Austria sighed lightly, as if she had a slight headache.
"And Mirey Beakis, the Cardinal, is also involved in this."
"Mirey Beakis?"
"According to Diona's investigation, one of the central figures of the Opposition Faction is Tersada Beakis."
Tersada Beakis.
The Archbishop of the Holy Kingdom and even rumored to be a candidate for the next Pope.
A man who was one of the Ten Strongest Under the Heavens and also bore the nickname of the Holy King.
He was Mirey Beakis's father and one of the pillars of the Holy Kingdom.
However, there was one problem here.
'Tersada Beakis wasn't originally part of the Opposition Faction.'
Tersada Beakis wasn't particularly affiliated with the Opposition Faction.
The fact that he had joined them this time.
'Something has changed.'
Perhaps the recent Black Witch's Bell incident had influenced him.
He might have harbored resentment toward the Holy Royal Family, who had decided to execute Mirey Beakis despite her rise to Cardinal.
After all, the Holy Royal Family and the Church were separate entities.
This might be an attempt to completely divide the Holy Royal Family and the Church.
The situation had become more complicated than expected.
"Thank you for telling me."
If it weren't for Austria, he wouldn't have known about this.
When he expressed his gratitude to her, she pulled her chair a little closer and sat down, as if it was nothing.
"So, you're going to play the bodyguard role properly, right?"
"Don't worry. I won't let anyone touch you."
At least, he had grown strong enough to protect Austria.
So, don't worry, he said, and as he did, she glanced around and then pulled her chair even closer.
"......So, you're coming alone, right?"
"Well, I suppose so. Everyone's busy these days."
Everyone was in the middle of pouring themselves into their training.
While Kraush was balancing work and training, others were in a different situation.
Let alone going to the Holy Kingdom.
For those not affiliated with the Holy Kingdom, it was a rather awkward matter.
So, this time, he planned to move alone as much as possible.
"Alright. That's fine, then."
Austria stood up, seemingly satisfied with that.
She seemed unusually cheerful today.
'Tersada Beakis, part of the Opposition Faction.'
It seemed like a strong wind was about to blow through Freeman.