TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 91
8th Class Erosion Species.
To simply discuss the difficulty of subjugation, it is specified that an 8th Class Erosion Species can be defeated if there is a knight order led by a Master-class Knight Commander, with an average of Master-level knights.
However, that is the minimum condition for defeating it.
The star rating attached to the Erosion Species only indicates their simple power level, completely ignoring their characteristics and unique abilities.
So, while it is possible to defeat an Erosion Species with the specified minimum force.
In that case, the specified force would suffer damage close to annihilation.
Therefore, when hunting World Erosion Species.
It is common to dispatch a knight order that is one level higher than the force specified by the number of stars.
Now.
An 8th Class Erosion Species, Agares, has appeared.
The Sky-Piercing Knight Order, Two Swords, is a knight order led by the Master-class Lilish Balheim.
While it is an Erosion Species that can be defeated under the specified conditions.
If the result means that this side must also risk death, it cannot be called a good outcome.
[What are you planning to do? It seems you know this creature’s characteristics. Once caught, it will be hard to escape.]
Crimson Garden also issued a warning about the current situation.
Kraush’s head was quite complicated at the moment.
World Erosion is always full of unexpected events.
As for why Agares came out to the eastern region, there was no explanation other than it being an unexpected situation.
The problem is that Agares has come to the east.
The east is the closest place to the city wall.
If Agares continues to run straight in the current direction, it will eventually reach the city wall.
While the city wall built to prevent World Erosion won’t collapse easily.
There is always the possibility of the unexpected.
‘How many have died because of such possibilities?’
So, the Balheim Knight Order must make a decision now.
Whether to face Agares and prevent it from reaching the city wall while enduring the damage, or to wait for reinforcements.
Or to retreat quickly, hoping that Agares will not reach the city wall and will turn back.
‘Both are terrible choices.’
One side risks total annihilation.
The other side risks the destruction of the city wall.
It was evident how much a single unexpected situation could worsen things.
“Lilish!”
At that moment, a voice was heard from ahead.
It was none other than Darvian Fenox, the Vice Commander of the Sky-Piercing Knight Order.
“Have you come? Let’s talk.”
Seeing other knight orders running towards this side from behind, it seemed they also sensed Agares’s presence.
They must have decided to join Lilish quickly.
Meanwhile, Kraush quietly circled the forest and returned to the Blue Sea Knight Order.
There was no point in showing himself with Lilish.
“Krad!”
“Where have you been?”
Then, the Blue Sea Knight Members gathered and voiced their concern.
They were naturally worried since Kraush had disappeared during the melee.
“I sent him to the Black Forest beforehand because I had business there. So don’t complain too much.”
It was none other than Reblian who defended him.
He was truly born with the ability to handle situations.
“What? Was it the Vice Commander’s order?”
“You could have at least told us.”
“Where was there time to talk in the midst of that melee?”
“That’s true, but still.”
While the members grumbled about worrying for nothing, Lilish and the commanders gathered.
They quickly discussed what to do about the current situation.
And the discussion ended quickly.
“All members of the Blue Sea Knight Order, assemble! We will return from the Demonic Realm immediately!”
At that moment, Vega, the Knight Commander of the Blue Sea Knight Order, shouted loudly.
So, they reached that conclusion.
With the Blue Sea Knight Order composed of Expert-class knights, there was no way to deal with Agares.
It would only lead to their massacre, so they must have decided to return and request reinforcements.
Of course, the journey back would be a forced march, but it was better than facing Agares.
“The Green Wave Knight Order will assist the Sky-Piercing Knight Order.”
On the other hand, the Green Wave Knight Order decided to stay.
Agares possesses several unique characteristics.
One of them is to make the surrounding Erosion Species go wild, which the Green Wave Knight Order will handle.
“The Sky-Piercing Knight Order will face the 8th Class Erosion Species, Agares. We will not choose a full-frontal assault. We will choose to stall until One Sword or other reinforcements arrive. Of course, the situation will change accordingly, so always keep an eye out for new orders.”
Lastly, the direction of the Sky-Piercing Knight Order was decided.
‘They decided to avoid a full-frontal assault.’
Lilish is also the Knight Commander of the Sky-Piercing Knight Order leading Two Swords.
While she alone might be fine, the other knights would almost certainly become Agares’s prey.
So, it seems she made this decision considering them.
‘If One Sword comes, then certainly.’
Agares could be dealt with without much difficulty.
The issue, as mentioned before, is the time.
‘Even if the Blue Sea Knight Order marches forcefully, it will take at least a day. Due to the nature of the Demonic Realm, space is distorted, so even a decent mage wouldn’t dare use spatial magic. Scrolls won’t work either.’
It took the Balheim Knight Order three days to reach the eastern terrain of the Demonic Realm, considering stamina distribution.
Even if they force their way through, it will take at least a day.
Moreover, it will take another day for the message to reach One Sword and for them to arrive.
So, the time they need to buy is at least two days.
Considering the variables that might arise in between, it could take even longer.
‘No matter how much it is One Sword, can they really buy two days’ time?’
Even now, their Aura is being consumed in real-time due to the black rain.
Frankly, it was hard to make optimistic observations.
Kraush’s eyes opened slightly.
The situation was worse than expected.
“Crim.”
Kraush quietly called Crimson Garden so no one could hear.
“Can you tell the creature outside to send Blavi through Serang?”
This was a move he had planned to use for the next transaction.
But given the dangerous situation, it didn’t seem like a time to be picky.
[It’s not impossible if we use Mirvis, but… If we do that, Mirvis’s actions will be restricted in Sephira from now on.]
Mirvis, a creature of Crimson Garden and a 3rd Class Officer of Sephira.
If her actions are restricted in Sephira, it would mean they could no longer receive help from Sephira in the future.
[Tsk, you’re not thinking of running away, are you?]
“No.”
Dealing with World Erosion would lead to such incidents happening hundreds, thousands of times in the future.
If they ran away every time, they would never stop the destruction.
[Will the princess of Sephira send the Heavenly Dog Star? He won’t want to leave his guard position.]
“She will.”
When Kraush followed Arthur to Sephira’s headquarters, he had checked Serang’s room.
There, Kraush found one thing.
Although it was meaningless after Serang’s death.
Now, that card will surely work as well.
I may not know everything about Serang, but I certainly knew one of her secrets.
“And Blavi is just insurance. It’s one of the second methods I prepared as a backup.”
Kraush’s eyes shone brightly between his closed eyelids.
From the moment he heard about Agares, Kraush had already decided to defeat him.
Later, Agares, who devoured countless Erosion Species and eventually grew to the 10th rank, was the one who broke through the city wall and assaulted the Empire.
Rather than risking losing the Two Swords here, it would be better to defeat him and prevent the beginning of the downfall.
‘The problem is that this time, I really have to take a risk.’
Kraush exhaled and then inhaled briefly.
“It’s always been dangerous, so there’s nothing new about it.”
[Have you lost your mind?]
Unfortunately, my head is perfectly fine.
Kraush’s thoughts remained unchanged.
He wouldn’t miss this golden opportunity to crush one of the beginnings of the downfall.
Especially since that beginning came to him in a relatively weak state.
If Agares reaches the 10th rank and his restrictions are lifted, he will eventually be able to bring out his true form from the Demon Castle.
That would truly leave us with no chance of winning.
‘Of course, there’s one immediate issue I need to address before that risk.’
Kraush looked towards Lilish.
Though Kraush felt uneasy about Lilish worrying about him.
Kraush learned through Pendal that the people he met after his regression were not exactly the same as those in his memories before it.
Kraush shook off the memories of the past Lilish.
He decided to focus only on the present Lilish.
Lilish planned to send Kraush back with the Blue Sea Knight Order.
But Kraush couldn’t return, not even to defeat Agares.
So, Kraush passed through the Blue Sea Knight Order, who were preparing to leave, and moved forward.
“Krad?”
A Blue Sea Knight Member called out to him belatedly.
“Where are you going! We’re over here.”
“What? Krad?”
They tried to catch Krad in haste, but it was already too late.
Now was not the time to keep hiding his identity.
‘Even with a gag order, stories leak out. I tried to keep it hidden as much as possible.’
I feel sorry for the 1st Prince, but I’ll handle the aftermath later.
Still, being part of the Balheim Knight Order, it should leak out less.
“Huh? That guy?”
As he passed the Green Wave Knight Order, they too showed signs of confusion.
Among them was someone who had been hit in the face by Kraush, grimacing at the memory.
Regardless, Kraush continued walking, passing even the Sky-Piercing Knight Order.
At that moment, the gazes of the Sky-Piercing Knight Order members were fixed on him.
Kraush met Lilish’s eyes.
“Lilish, my sister.”
At the moment Kraush called her ‘sister’.
Not only the Blue Sea Knight Order but also the Sky-Piercing and Green Wave Knight Orders froze.
The issue was that Lilish did not show any significant objection.
There were only two people in this world who could call Lilish ‘sister’.
One of them was Belorkin Balheim, who had now met his death.
And the other was Kraush Balheim, the youngest of the Balheim family.
So, who was the person standing before them now?
The answer was simple.
The face of the Green Wave Knight Member who had clashed with Kraush turned pale.
He looked like he was about to faint.
As all the Blue Sea Knight Members were in shock, only Reblian sighed deeply to himself.
He thought to himself that it would have been better to tell the Blue Sea Knight Members beforehand, but he didn’t say it out loud.
Kraush had his reasons for hiding his identity.
He revealed his identity because he considered the situation with Agares to be that urgent.
‘By revealing himself as a direct descendant of Balheim, he won’t be able to withdraw from the battle against Agares.’
Yet, Kraush revealed himself.
It naturally conveyed his intention to confront Agares.
‘In the end, even if he’s young, he’s a Balheim.’
Balheim never retreats against World Erosion.
Even if it means their own death.
That’s why Balheim is respected by many, even before being known as the strongest family.
The heroic image of Balheim always standing firm against the hellish World Erosion was undeniable.
Lilish’s expressionless eyes turned towards him.
Though it appeared calm on the surface, they were trembling inside.
Now, Kraush could read Lilish’s reaction.
Because he decided to see only her present self.
“I will also help in confronting Agares.”
At the moment Kraush declared this, Lilish’s eyebrows furrowed.
“Kra…”
“You know that my body is filled with the power of curses.”
Kraush raised his hand as if to show evidence, and black flames erupted.
“It will be helpful in confronting Agares. I know curses the best since I’ve handled them myself.”
Lilish opened and closed her lips repeatedly.
Her emotional thought of not wanting her young brother to step into danger.
Clashed with the rational thought that Kraush was a skilled individual who had single-handedly defeated a 6th-rank Erosion Species.
Though Kraush appeared to be no more than an Expert at the highest level.
He would become a force more important than a single member of the Sky-Piercing Knight Order.
Above all, he was also a Balheim.
Even if he hadn’t reached adulthood, the direct descendants of Balheim have equal rights to speak.
In the past, Kraush, who was treated as a half-penny and sent to the Green Pine Mansion, did not have such rights.
But now, everyone knew that things were different.
Of course, the commander here was Lilish.
If she gave Kraush a harsh order, she could send him back.
But when she met his eyes, filled with determination, she ultimately gave up on sending him back.
Since when had she become so emotional?
Balheim should act like a Balheim.
And now was the moment when he needed to be more Balheim than anyone else.
“Kraush, I am the commander of this expedition. You are a knight of my expedition.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Follow me. We will stop Agares.”
Lilish left those words and turned around.
She headed towards where Agares was coming from.
“Sky-Piercing Knight Order, follow Lady Lilish.”
Then, the Vice Knight Commander Darbian immediately led the knight members with Lilish’s call.
As the Green Wave Knight Members moved to follow, Kraush turned to Reblian.
“Tell Bianca that I’ll be back soon.”
“…She’s going to be very angry, I think.”
“I’ll deal with it when I get back.”
Reblian sighed, nodded his head, and turned around.
Indeed, even upon a second look, Reblian is enviable.
If I end up forming a Knight Order, I must bring him along.
“Kraush.”
At that moment, Kraush, hearing Lilish’s call, started to move.
Coincidentally, as Kraush began to walk, his hair color gradually returned to its original black with a hint of blue.
His closed eyes opened, revealing his original clear blue eyes shining brightly.
Perhaps because of his fast growth, a more handsome face than expected was revealed.
It was because he hadn’t taken additional potions that he returned to his original form.
“So that’s what you looked like.”
Maybe it was because it had been so long since she last saw her youngest brother’s face.
For some reason, Lilish felt even more awkward.
“You resemble our sister a bit.”
However, hearing Kraush’s playful continuation, Lilish, for some reason, let out a chuckle.
It was too late for her to realize she had such a brother.
“I’ll come back alive.”
“Since I’m going back, I’ll take down Agares as well.”
Thanks to her bold brother’s words, Lilish somehow felt a surge of strength.
With two direct descendants of Balheim shaking the world, there was no need to be afraid.
“Let’s go.”
To defeat Agares.