Chapter 42. A Springboard To Get Stronger (2)

Translator: Aura

Krasue was not blessed with an extraordinary physique.

Fortunately, his body was stronger than others and his recovery ability was slightly better because the blood of the Valheim Family ran through his veins.

Still, that would only surprise an ordinary person. A genius by nature already had it all.

“It’s a pity.”

At Crimson Garden’s brief remark, Krasue looked up. Determination was reflected in his eyes.

“… One more time.”

“I don’t know how you don’t break down despite the circumstances.”

The tenacious Krasue’s blue eyes shone brightly.

Although he had devoured his ancestors’ secret arts, the power of the erosion of the world, his brother’s skill, and even the vast experience of his past life, there was one barrier he could not overcome.

Anyone else would have realized their limitations at this point and broken down, but Krasue’s will was unbreakable.

Crimson Garden smiled in delight at his attitude.

“That’s why I took you as my disciple.”

While she initially became his teacher because he promised her that he could erase her immortality, Crimson Garden grew to like Krasue.

She didn’t care that he had no talent, the tenacity he showed to endure her hard training was all she needed to make him the strongest.

“But that’s enough for today.”

“What?”

“Don’t you remember? Today is the day you set to depart for the martial arts tournament.”

Krasue, who frowned when she indicated that the training was over, belatedly came to his senses.

Certainly, this was the day he was to leave.

“It is essential that you train, but now the elixir is the priority for you. Only in this way will your miserable body become that of someone decent.”

As soon as Krasue heard those words, he struggled to his feet.

His limbs trembled, but he held on with clenched teeth.

“Damn, I need to hurry up and get ready.”

Krasue realized that he had spent more time on swordsmanship than he had available today, so he quickly returned inside.

Then he took a short bath, dressed, fixed his hair, and went to the ready carriage.

“Young Master Krasue.”

When Krasue walked out the front door, he came face to face with Alioth. His butler was clearly waiting for him.

The day Darling brought the cure for the terminal skin discoloration illness, Krasue immediately handed it over to Alioth.

Alioth was puzzled at first, but once he heard it was the cure for skin discoloration, he even took a few days off to visit his daughter.

Alioth returned about a week later, knelt before Krasue and tearfully expressed his gratitude.

He loved his daughter so much that he had even considered betraying his young master for her sake.

Now that she was cured, Alioth could die in peace.

— Don’t die.

Krasue ordered him.

— Alioth, I have saved your daughter’s life so don’t die until I allow you to. I trust that you will fulfill this in return.

The moment he heard those words, Alioth bowed his head in front of Krasue.

Alioth had it clearly engraved in his heart that Krasue was the master whom he would must obey for the rest of his life.

‘I’ve closed a chapter.’

Krasue felt that he could now forget the day Alioth died of poison in his past life. He helped heal his daughter partly for Alioth’s sake, but also because he wanted to erase that event from his own memory.

The first betrayal he had ever experienced was left behind, so Krasue felt much better.

“Take care of the Green Pine Lodge while I’m away.”

“Yes, I won’t let absolutely anyone in. Even if it’s the Head of the Family.”

At his firm promise, Krasue smiled.

Given his butler’s attitude, he could leave without worries.

As Krasue left Alioth behind and headed to board the carriage, he encountered a familiar person at the front of it.

The white-haired girl— Bianca Hardenhartz.

She was standing with a bag in her hands.

“Krasue.”

As had become usual, she called him in a closer tone.

She had a bag in her hands for one simple reason. She would return to her family at Krasue’s request.

The plan was for her to return to Hardenhartz to get the Red Snow Fungus, one of the two ingredients that Darling had said would be difficult to obtain even with money.

Given her status in her family, it shouldn’t be too complicated.

“It’s been a while since you’ve been home, so you can take it easy on the trip.”

It would take him a long time to return anyway. However, Bianca shook her head.

“I will be back soon.”

For Bianca, the Green Pine Lodge was now her home.

Krasue, who realized what she meant, smiled slightly.

She wasn’t treated very well at Hardenhartz. Her value as a noble was reduced by her curse.

Krasue suffered similar treatment in Valheim. Since he had no talent, he was called a good-for-nothing.

In a way, the Green Pine Lodge could be the place where Bianca felt at ease. Just as it was for Krasue.

Krasue reached up and stroked Bianca’s head.

It was a pleasant sensation to caress her snow-white hair, which moved all over his hand.

“I’ll be back soon, too.”

To tell the truth, he didn’t know what this journey had in store for him.

Just then, Bianca opened her bag.

She pulled out a lunch box from inside.

“Eat it on the road.”

‘I was wondering where she was yesterday, I didn’t expect her to be preparing something like this.’

“Who advised you to do this?”

“Ellie.”

‘I knew it…’

As he expected, it had been Bianca’s maid’s idea.

‘I had asked her to control her mouth, I guess it didn’t work.’

“Thank you for the food.”

Still, Bianca had prepared it for him, so Krasue accepted it.

Besides, he was hungry. He hadn’t eaten after so much training.

“Have a good journey.”

Bianca’s departure was after Krasue’s.

Krasue also said goodbye and got into the carriage.

As the carriage rumbled away, Krasue looked out the window and saw Bianca still there.

He wouldn’t be able to see that face he used to see every day for quite some time.

At that moment, Crimson Garden entered through the window and asked,

“You look very sad, like you’re about to die. Do you like that little girl that much?”

“I see her as the younger sister I never had. I guess I’m just worried about her.”

Unlike his past life, he had a better relationship with Bianca.

“Tsk, tsk. Let’s see if you still call your fiancée ‘younger sister’ after you knock her up.”

“If you talk nonsense, I’ll pluck out all your feathers.”

“Hahaha, can you catch me?”

Crimson Garden scratched her feathers and even deliberately looked helpless. Krasue just clicked his tongue.

He then opened the lunch box.

It contained sandwiches and a colorful salad.

Bianca had prepared the lunch box in such a way that he could eat without problems in the carriage.

‘Sweets.’

Krasue, who took a bite of a sandwich, remembered that Bianca liked sweets.

‘I’ll bring her some chocolates from the empire.’