Chapter 221
The God who gave the Black Hood to Kraush.
The Nameless Girl.
Facing her, Kraush slowly began to loosen his stiff body.
She is a God.
Whatever the reason for her appearance before him, regression is ultimately a skill.
It wasn't strange even if she knew about regression.
'Moreover, regression was something stolen through the Black Hood.'
Rather, it would be stranger if the one who bestowed the Black Hood didn't know about it.
However, a faint sense of caution arose in Kraush's eyes.
That's because after his regression, he had heard stories about her from the Night God who gave him Nox.
[I only know that she is the God most resented by other Gods.]
A God who went around stealing the power of other Gods.
That was the Nameless Girl who gave the Black Hood to Kraush.
Kraush doesn't know her purpose.
Let alone why she gave him the Black Hood.
So, he couldn't help but be cautious.
Even if giving him the Black Hood had changed Kraush's life this much.
Kraush knew well that the intentions of Gods were not always benevolent.
"You're being cautious."
At that moment, the girl noticed Kraush's caution first.
She approached Kraush with a leisurely stride.
Then, Kraush felt an extremely strange sensation.
Even though she was clearly before him, he couldn't sense any presence.
'It's not for nothing that she's called a God.'
Let alone a God who went around stealing the powers of other Gods.
Rather, this might be considered natural.
"Don't worry. I don't have any intention of doing anything to you."
She spoke as if with the tone of a kind mother.
However, her unnaturally pale face only gave off an eerie feeling.
"What's the reason you gave me the Black Hood?"
The question Kraush had been curious about all along.
Many Gods have granted skills to many people until now, but Kraush knows they aren't always beneficial.
Gods grant skills and take compensation in return.
And that compensation can be taken when a human becomes a soul.
After learning this fact, Kraush grew to dislike the race of Gods.
But the girl before him was different.
She had given the Black Hood to Kraush without any compensation.
That's because she granted the skill without the usual contracts of other Gods.
Hearing Kraush's question, she remained silent for a moment.
Then, tapping her cheek slowly with her long index finger, she soon stretched her lips into a grin.
"Whim?"
And it was such a simple and hollow answer.
"Really, just a whim?"
"I think I'm not the type to act on whims much."
"Then why did you act on a whim with me?"
"Because you caught my eye at the time."
Words devoid of any deeper meaning.
That's why Kraush reminded himself even more that she was a God.
Gods fundamentally think differently from humans.
They respond to endless prayers from people, but not with the same common sense and thoughts as humans.
Sometimes, the miracles granted by Gods can take on utterly selfish forms.
"Your heart looked painfully scarred."
She said that and smiled slowly.
"So, I lent you my power."
And soon, Kraush realized one thing.
"Don't lie."
Upon hearing his next words, she blinked innocently.
She seemed unaware of what he was calling a lie.
"Be clear. You want something from me, don't you?"
She had said she lent it, not gave it.
Kraush understood well what lending meant.
It meant she intended to take it back.
'As expected, it wasn't given without compensation.'
She had given it to Kraush expecting something in return.
Whether it was whim or because he caught her eye at the time.
Even if all of that were true, just like other Gods, she too wanted something from Kraush in her own way.
The reasons she mentioned earlier were merely supplementary.
She didn't reveal the rest of the truth.
Noticing Kraush's suspicion, she remained silent for a moment.
Then, the smile she had been wearing completely disappeared.
As if even that smile had been stolen from someone else to try out.
"If I told you that."
She tilted her head expressionlessly.
"Would you stop using my power?"
Would you stop?
Kraush soon scoffed.
"I'll use it until I've squeezed every last drop out of it."
Kraush had already decided to use any means necessary to prevent destruction.
There's no way he would do something as foolish as sealing the Black Hood now.
If he could use it, he would exploit it to the fullest.
That was Kraush's belief.
"I don't know what your purpose is, but I'll use your power and every other God's power."
So, Kraush was speaking now.
"Just don't try to interfere with my purpose for the sake of yours."
Kraush warned her to keep at least that promise.
Then, she remained silent for a moment.
"Alright."
Then, she spoke brightly.
"I won't interfere."
At that moment, the wind blew.
Along with the wind, autumn leaves scattered.
Kraush felt that she was leaving.
So, Kraush decided to tell her one thing as she disappeared.
"It was thanks to you."
Amidst the swirling autumn leaves, Kraush spoke.
"Thanks to you, I'm alive today."
He wanted to say at least that.
Without her Black Hood, he wouldn't have been able to survive until now.
Whether that fact was conveyed or not, as Kraush blinked in the blowing wind.
Only an empty space remained there.
She had disappeared.
Kraush clicked his tongue slightly as he stared blankly at the scene.
'In the end, I didn't even get her name.'
Neither her purpose nor her name—he had gained nothing.
Of course, even if he had asked, she might not have told him.
The thought that he wanted to meet her again at least once crossed his mind.
Since he had conveyed what he wanted to say, it wasn't entirely fruitless.
Kraush's eyes looked down at the Holy Sword.
Someday, thanks to this thing, they might meet again.
He decided to wait for that time.
With that thought, Kraush turned away.
It was time to return to Rahelrn Academy.
* * *
Before he knew it, November had arrived.
The World Tree once again turned to autumn leaves, announcing the season throughout the academy.
'It's neither a cherry tree nor a maple tree, yet here it is.'
Despite being a distinct species, the World Tree that changed its attire every year fascinated Kraush.
After finishing his business in the Holy Kingdom and returning.
Over the past month, Kraush had once again devoted himself to training.
Feeling the gap between himself and the Smoke Demon, he felt the need for training even more.
He wasn't the only one.
Many students, for various reasons, were dedicating themselves to training after feeling their inadequacies.
Especially, the Second Year Students who failed the training course were even more committed.
Those who failed the Second Year Students' final evaluation had to undergo another six-month training course.
Dropping out was an option in its own way.
However, not many chose that route.
The moment they dropped out, they would be branded as failures for life.
'It reminds me of the old days.'
Having experienced failure three times, Kraush felt a bit sentimental.
Thanks to joining the Special Class, the final evaluation didn't hold much significance for him from the start.
"Mr. Kraush!"
At that moment, Kraush turned his head at the voice calling him.
There stood a healthy-skinned woman with red hair, waving enthusiastically.
Karandis Poseus.
She was the 9th Princess of Poseus.
Beside her was Haring.
Like a cat meeting its owner, a faint smile graced Haring's lips.
Seeing them like this, it seemed the two had been sticking together quite often lately.
'Well, among the Second Year Students in the Special Class, these two are the only women, aren't they?'
After all, Mary was always an exception.
For reference, Mary had been devoting herself to training since her conversation with Kraush.
As if to prove her Divine Spear days were not a lie, she achieved more training results than expected.
As if she were determined to become a star herself to follow the star that was Kraush.
Kraush didn't pay much attention to Mary.
From the start, Mary was better left to her own devices than kept close.
Trying to complicate the mind of someone not very bright would only exhaust her.
"Did you train well today?"
"Good work."
Karandis's bright demeanor contrasted with Haring's calm one.
On the chests of both women hung brooches with the Lion Emblem.
The brooches were none other than the symbol of the Lion Order.
Haring had joined the Lion Order due to the previous Hardenhartz incident.
Karandis had also eventually joined the Lion Order.
'The Lion Order has quite a high bar, probably because of Charlotte.'
With Charlotte, the strongest in Rahelrn Academy, firmly in place.
The Lion Order, backed by her presence, selected only top-tier students.
So much so that unless Charlotte personally approved.
The Student Unit had to conduct individual tests to recruit members.
The problem was that despite such difficulty, a significant number of Second Year Students flocked to join.
That just showed how much the Lion Order's reputation had risen.
"So, how about you two?"
"We trained too."
Karandis swung her arms energetically as she spoke.
In contrast, Haring straightened her back slightly.
"I've gotten a bit stronger."
As if expecting praise, Kraush gave a brief smile.
"Good job."
Karandis looked at the two with a hint of envy.
She knew well how deep the bond between Haring and Kraush ran.
But if she worked hard, that was enough.
"Mr. Kraush, did you hear the news?"
Karandis shifted the topic to the news she had heard.
"What news?"
"The Student Unit Competition."
The Student Unit Competition.
It was a year-end event held every December, like a grand finale.
The scoring method for the competition had two main aspects.
One was the missions and achievements the Student Units had completed so far.
The other was winning the competition held in December.
'Winning the competition, huh.'
Winning first place in the Student Unit Competition naturally meant a significant increase in funding.
It would greatly aid in operating the Student Unit.
More than anything, achieving first place in Rahelrn Academy, where talent gathered, carried another meaning.
'The aspiring talents who join in the future will aim for it.'
Furthermore, the existing students would also recognize.
That the Student Unit that achieved first place was not only leading Rahelrn Academy but also the entire world.
Kraush's eyes quietly turned toward the Rahelrn Academy building.
The Lion Order that Kraush belonged to wasn't his Student Unit.
It was the unit created by his sister, Charlotte.
However, he was now well aware that he was another representative figure of the Lion Order.
After all, a significant portion of the Second Year Students who applied to the Lion Order did so because of Kraush.
Therefore, winning first place in the Student Unit Competition as the Lion Order wasn't a bad idea for Kraush either.
Rather, it was a gamble.
'Sigrid will definitely aim for first place too.'
He would properly clash with her, who desired the Skyborne Generation.
'In that case.'
Crushing her was the right thing to do.
Kraush's eyes gleamed sharply.
The Student Unit Competition.
He would make sure to sweep it all.