TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 88
One of the Forbidden Zones, the Demonic Realm.
True to its name, the Erosion Species emerging from the Demonic Realm were fundamentally different from ordinary Erosion Species.
In other places, you’d only encounter 5-star Masters that required an Expert-level Knight Order to handle, yet here they appeared at nearly every turn.
The problem was that they didn’t appear alone but in groups of dozens.
Thanks to this, the Balheim Knight Order advanced forward, continuously engaging in battles.
Led by the Two Swords composed of Masters, with the Four Swords and Five Swords supporting them.
‘Smooth progress.’
At the very forefront of this Balheim Knight Order.
Facing a torn Erosion Species corpse, Lilish scanned her surroundings.
They were still some distance away from reaching the reported eastern area.
As a Knight Order specifically trained for World Erosion, everyone was keeping up without much trouble.
‘The Demonic Realm’s environment is tricky, though.’
Apart from the black rainwater obscuring the view, the Demonic Realm wasn’t an impossible place to navigate.
Of course, the constant drain on aura over prolonged periods made it somewhat cumbersome.
At that moment, Lilish’s eyes caught sight of a figure.
Jet-black hair, a crow perched on his shoulder for some reason, and those wrapped eyes.
With an ominous air that clearly suggested ties to the Underworld, he was Krad, a member of the Blue Sea Knight Order.
Lilish had been informed of Krad’s identity through the Vice Commander of the Blue Sea Knight Order before entering the Demonic Realm.
‘Kraush.’
Though a half-brother, he was the youngest of the siblings.
When she first heard about Kraush, she was puzzled.
She couldn’t understand why Kraush would go as far as to conceal himself in the Demonic Realm.
In her memory, Kraush had always been regarded as a half-penny of a younger brother.
Recently, there had been occasional rumors of his change, though she hadn’t confirmed it herself.
It was understandable, as Lilish, being the Commander of the Two Swords, lived a busy life day after day.
Back when Kraush was just learning to walk.
She was already part of a Knight Order, swinging her sword daily.
Back then, it was partly because she was trying to catch up to her older brother.
She genuinely enjoyed training.
And so, she grew up, eventually reaching the age of twenty-seven.
As a result, there was a considerable fourteen-year age gap between her and Kraush.
It was more like an aunt-nephew relationship than siblings.
Partly due to this age gap and her busy schedule with Knight Order duties, Lilish had never had a proper conversation with her siblings.
Not to mention, he was a half-sibling.
Even with Belorkin, who shared her blood, their age difference made their relationship awkward.
Charlotte was no exception, and of course, Kraush was even harder to approach.
Deep down, a part of her wanted to get along with her siblings.
But in reality, her innate dedication to Balheim’s martial pursuits always consumed that desire.
‘Kraush didn’t even come to Belorkin’s funeral, did he?’
At Belorkin’s funeral, she had attended in shock.
Hearing that Belorkin had died in the World Erosion brought her mother to mind.
Her mother, who had always worried about Belorkin deeply.
As the eldest sister, she secretly felt guilty for not looking out for her sibling.
But was it just her?
Charlotte left immediately after Belorkin’s body was buried.
Kraush didn’t attend, citing trauma from witnessing Belorkin’s death during the World Erosion.
Naturally, neither her eldest brother nor their father stayed long.
Only her stepmother exchanged a few words with her.
The family placed little significance on Belorkin’s death.
She spent a moment in thought in front of Belorkin’s grave.
According to his personal butler, Belorkin had seemed terribly lonely.
‘Lonely.’
It might have been inevitable for someone of Balheim’s direct line.
But those words lingered in her mind.
Her family, though her own, was truly, and unbearably, desolate.
And she knew that she was no different.
Was this really the right form of a family?
Though her eldest brother’s stature and Charlotte’s rising divinity were pressures in their own way.
Her innate interest lay solely in martial prowess.
Having turned her eyes away from her position early on, she faced less familial obsession comparatively.
So, Belorkin’s death gave her a chance to turn her eyes back toward her family.
And while she was contemplating her family day by day.
Kraush suddenly appeared in disguise.
What was she to make of this?
“Hmmm.”
Brushing back her wet bangs dampened by the drizzling black rainwater, she slowly ran her fingers through her hair.
‘He must have a purpose.’
If that were the case, could she, as his sister, help him in some way, even now?
Since arriving in the Demonic Realm, she had been pondering what to say to Kraush.
“Lilish, is something troubling you again?”
Seeing her like this, the Jucheon Vice Commander approached her with a question.
It was Darvian Fenox, who had been assisting her for nearly ten years.
When she once asked him how to grow closer to children.
He had advised her to offer candy.
By coincidence, his advice led her to give candy to Kraush’s fiancée.
That had proven somewhat effective.
Perhaps he’d have good advice this time as well.
“How do you strike up a conversation with someone you’ve never properly spoken to before?”
“Why not just greet them warmly and say it’s nice to see them?”
“…That’s easier said than done.”
Unfortunately, it was the most difficult thing for her.
“Hmm, how about giving them a gift they’d like?”
“A gift.”
Lilish pressed her chin with her hand.
Would helping Kraush achieve his disguised goal count as a gift?
‘The problem is, I don’t know his goal.’
She inevitably circled back to the same question.
“Is it because of Mr. Kraush?”
Darvian sharply inquired.
Having assisted Lilish for so long, he had a keen sense of her concerns.
As befitting the Vice Commander of the Two Swords, he had also been informed of Krad’s identity in advance.
Lilish didn’t deny it and nodded.
Seeing this, Darvian glanced around.
He then spotted Reblian, the Vice Commander of the Blue Sea Knight Order.
“Reblian, the Vice Commander of the Blue Sea Knight Order, seems to have some rapport with Mr. Kraush. I’ll ask him.”
Reblian and Darvian were brothers of the Fenox family.
This would make it easier to approach him.
“Please do.”
Darvian began walking toward Reblian.
And ironically, Kraush was also watching her intently.
‘What is she trying to do now?’
Ever since entering the Demonic Realm, she had been sneaking glances in this direction.
Kraush had already noticed Lilish’s actions.
At first, he thought she might have something to say.
But since she still hadn’t spoken to him, it seemed that wasn’t the case either.
[She’s probably just checking on her younger brother, isn’t she?]
“Lilish?”
Kraush scoffed.
In Kraush’s eyes, Lilish was the most indifferent member of the family.
She would diligently focus on her own tasks and never interfere with others.
That was Lilish Balheim.
For such a person to initiate a casual greeting—
No matter how he thought about it, it didn’t make any sense.
[Then why don’t you speak to her first? That would give you your answer.]
“I’m currently just an ordinary member.”
In this position, could he really approach the Knight Commander of the Two Swords?
“Knight Commander Lilish!”
At that moment, the scout knight he had sent ahead came running, calling out to Lilish.
From the look of it, Kraush sensed that they needed to prepare for battle.
“Everyone, get ready.”
Sure enough, an order came directly from Lilish.
“The target is the named Erosion Species, Nisrok.”
The scout’s report had just been delivered.
Thud!
Suddenly, the entire ground rumbled.
The earth shook violently, as if an earthquake had struck.
While the knights prepared for an attack from Nisrok emerging from the Black Forest—
Kraush half-closed his eyes.
‘It’s not in front of us.’
Kraush’s gaze shifted downward.
Amidst his Sixth Sense spreading out—
Something massive from deep underground was surging upward.
“It’s coming from below!”
Kraush’s shout echoed at the top of his lungs.
BOOM!
The entire area where the Knight Order stood shattered with a deafening roar.
The knights standing above began to plummet into the collapsing ground.
Below, they could see a pool of fiercely flowing Black Rainwater.
Apparently, the Black Rainwater absorbed underground had formed a subterranean lake.
What would happen if they fell into it?
There was no need to explain.
Even if they were cloaked in Aura, the Black Rainwater would find a way in and transform them into mindless puppets.
For an ordinary group, this situation would have meant instant annihilation.
But unfortunately, the ones here were not an ordinary Knight Order.
Clang! Clang!
Balheim’s knights avoided the fall in their own unique ways.
Some swung their swords against the walls to halt their descent—
Others used Aura explosions beneath their feet to create platforms and escape.
It became clear why the Balheim Knight Order was hailed as the strongest.
All except for one.
Someone deliberately threw themselves downward.
With her long, blue hair flowing, it was none other than Lilish.
Splash!
She dove into the subterranean lake filled with Black Rainwater.
At that moment, a small whirlpool began forming on the surface of the Black Lake.
“Prepare yourselves! It’s coming!”
“Get ready to attack!”
The commanders, realizing Lilish’s intent, shouted as they directed the knight members.
CRACKLE!
Through the whirlpool of the subterranean lake, a colossal, monstrous form emerged.
Its violet skin was draped in grotesque chains, and it had a cylindrical body.
Its gaping, four-part mouth was lined with rows of jagged teeth.
It was Nisrok, the named Erosion Species threatening the eastern region.
On its back—
Lilish, her sword embedded, was rising into the air with Nisrok.
Despite the immense wind pressure, she remained undeterred.
In fact, even amid such conditions, she continued carving wounds into Nisrok’s back with her blade.
Meanwhile, the Balheim Knight Order followed her lead and launched attacks on Nisrok.
Her direct subordinates, the Sky-Piercing Knight Order, took the primary role in this assault.
“Azure and Green Knights, block the Erosion Species coming up from below!”
The other knight orders, apart from the Sky-Piercing Knight Order, confronted Nisrok’s offspring emerging from the holes it had created.
They were tasked with creating a battlefield where the Sky-Piercing Knight Order could effectively engage Nisrok.
Of course, Kraush was also performing this role.
‘Lilish really is a monster in her own right.’
Kraush briefly marveled at Lilish, who relentlessly attacked Nisrok without faltering.
Even though she had been overshadowed by Charlotte—
Lilish was an unparalleled powerhouse in her own right.
[Kraush.]
But regardless of her formidable skills, the World Erosion was a place full of unpredictable variables.
Responding to the Crimson Garden’s call, Kraush crushed a Nisrok offspring with his fist and turned his head.
“Yeah.”
Far away, something that had triggered his Sixth Sense was hurtling toward them.
It was aware that its prey was being hunted.
“Vice Commander Reblian.”
Kraush moved to Reblian’s side.
“…Krad?”
Reblian, who had been commanding the defense against Nisrok’s offspring, turned to look at him.
Kraush tilted his head slightly.
It was a signal to Reblian that he would need to act independently.
Reblian looked flustered.
Independent action in this situation?
It was troubling.
“Harphas is coming.”
When Kraush informed him, Reblian froze.
Harphas, the named Erosion Species ruling the eastern region.
Its arrival here would cause utter chaos.
Reblian quickly scanned his surroundings.
But his detection abilities couldn’t match Kraush’s Sixth Sense.
He couldn’t pinpoint its exact location.
He could barely sense the presence of a colossal force approaching amid the chaos.
“I’ll hold it off, just so you know.”
“What?! Harphas is a 6-star Erosion Species! Mr. Kraush, you can’t handle it alone!”
“I know. That’s exactly why it’ll be pandemonium if it gets here.”
Reblian was so startled that he forgot to treat him like a Krad and shouted.
Fortunately, in the chaos of battle, no one heard his voice.
But whether he shouted or not, Kraush was already moving.
“Don’t worry. If nothing else…”
Black Flame ignited beneath Kraush’s feet.
“World Erosion is my specialty.”
In that moment, his body pierced through the melee in an instant.
Seeing Kraush vanish in the blink of an eye, Reblian’s eyes widened in shock.
He had thought Kraush was merely a top-tier Expert.
But his movements just now far exceeded that level.
‘Mr. Kraush is just… what on earth…’
He stood there dazed for a moment before snapping back to his senses.
Even though Kraush was far stronger than he had expected, his own mission remained unchanged.
‘I must inform Lady Lilish.’
After all, only a Direct Line could stop the erratic actions of another Direct Line.