Chapter 127

Chapter 127

Damn Woman

***

[Isn’t it true though?]

Kraush felt dizzy for a moment.

At the same time, he recalled the stares from the students when he brought Dorma today.

He had thought those looks were mere curiosity about what was happening.

But if those stares were combined with the rumors...

Kraush’s head spun.

He imagined people saying he had gained another girl when they saw him walking with Dorma.

‘I align with people who have outstanding abilities, that’s all.’

The Skyborne Generation had a fairly equal ratio of men and women.

The problem was that a significant number of the men had joined Sigrid’s faction.

‘Sigrid doesn’t get along well with other girls.’

Knowing Sigrid’s personality, Kraush was aware she didn’t have good relationships with other females.

Sigrid had a selfish personality and a strong sense of possessiveness.

This trait showed in her interactions with both men and women.

‘A crazy woman who wants everyone in the world to love only her.’

Naturally, women weren’t fond of Sigrid.

Sigrid wanted to control every man around her.

Perhaps Sigrid was so drawn to Arthur because he didn’t fully give his heart to her.

She constantly craved Arthur’s love.

‘I had no intention of fitting in with Sigrid’s faction, so I mingled with other people.’

He hadn’t expected things to turn out like this.

“...Dorma, I have a fiancée. She’ll attend Rahelrn Academy next year.”

With a fiancée, it was absurd to think he was gathering women.

He just got involved with them, leading to this situation.

“The rumors are misunderstandings. Why would I do such a thing when I have a fiancée?”

“R-Right!”

Dorma nodded vigorously, denying the rumors.

“And as you said, I’m not particularly kind.”

Kraush decided to correct her perception of him as well.

“I’m willing to help you because I have a favor to ask in return.”

“A favor?”

Dorma tilted her head.

As if wondering how she could help Kraush.

But Kraush knew Dorma’s true value well.

There was a reason she was a specialist in the curse field.

There were generally two methods for removing curses.

One was eradication.

The other was sealing.

And the latter was why curse masters could carry curses.

Among Veltoa’s twelve disciples, Dorma was the only one who could seal even the highest-level curses.

Kraush looked at Dorma with a sense of regret.

If she hadn’t died, he wouldn’t have struggled so much.

Of course, even Dorma concluded that Kraush’s curses were beyond her ability.

But if she had been alive to help with the curse neutralization research, it would have made things much easier.

“Is there something I can help with?”

“Yes, I’ve been researching something with some known people recently.”

Kraush rummaged through the alchemy room.

He retrieved the list Darling had prepared.

“We’re thinking of synthesizing curses and poisons to create a momentary enhancement elixir. Using the curse neutralization theory I mentioned earlier. So we need some high-level curses.”

“Huh?”

Dorma took the list from Kraush with wide eyes.

As she read through it, her eyes widened further.

It detailed the curse neutralization theory, originally just an idea by Veltoa.

She looked at Kraush in surprise.

“Mr. Kraush, who wrote this?”

“A girl named Darling, the owner of this alchemy room. We wrote it together.”

Dorma looked at Kraush.

Dorma exclaimed in a panicked voice.

The voice belonged to Sigrid Ephania, the third princess.

A person Kraush despised the most in the world.

There was a soft laugh from outside.

“Yes, it’s Sigrid Ephania. Is this Mr. Kraush Balheim?”

“What do we do?”

Dorma looked like she had been caught stealing, her face pale.

She seemed aware that Sigrid disliked Charlotte.

Kraush was Charlotte’s younger brother.

“I’ll go see.”

Kraush reassured her and opened the door.

Sigrid stood a step back from the door.

Unlike Sizelry, who was born weak with light-colored hair, Sigrid had striking blue-silver hair.

Her beauty was exceptional, and she smiled brightly upon seeing Kraush.

“It is you, Mr. Kraush Balheim. Nice to meet you.”

She acted as if they were meeting for the first time.

And she made sure to address him politely, with “Mr.”

Someone like me, addressing you politely.

That was Sigrid’s true intent.

Kraush felt nauseated.

“Nice to meet you, Lady Sigrid.”

But he was equally shameless.

Kraush pretended it was their first encounter.

Behind her stood two men.

One with short white hair, who would later be known as the White Snake.

The other with long black hair, who would be called the Black Snake.

Twin brothers with different hair colors, they were prominent figures in the Skyborne Generation.

They had been recruited by Sigrid and were now her bodyguards instead of Mary.

Special Arts students whispered among themselves, noticing Sigrid had personally come.

While Kraush had visited the Special Arts classroom several times, it was Sigrid’s first time there.

“Dorma mentioned she was looking for you, Mr. Kraush. I came to see if it might be a bother.”

“Is that so.”

Clearly, Sigrid had figured out the situation.

‘She must have quite a few ears in the academy.’

No wonder she was so influential here.

“I had some things to discuss with Dorma regarding curses.”

“Curses?”

Sigrid widened her eyes in apparent surprise.

Had it not been Kraush, he might have been fooled by her act.

“Yes, Dorma is quite knowledgeable about curses.”

“Well, not that much...”

Dorma scratched the back of her head shyly.

“So I was asking for her help with recent research. I was going to inform you, Lady Sigrid, so this is perfect.”

Kraush explained smoothly.

Sigrid, thinking it over, smiled and looked at Dorma.

“Dorma, are you helping Mr. Kraush?”

“Yes, yes, Mr. Kraush said he’d help find Master!”

At the mention of her master, Sigrid’s eyes briefly sharpened.

Though fleeting, Kraush caught the look.

An expression of suspicion.

“Is the power Mr. Kraush wields a technique learned from Veltoa Lacroix?”

Hearing this, Kraush smiled slowly without answering.

As she understood the smile’s meaning, Sigrid’s expression hardened, then relaxed.

“Oh, I apologize for prying too much.”

She smiled, but Kraush sensed her hurt pride.

The person she had always treated as a curse bearer was now setting boundaries.

Naturally, she was offended.

Kraush was grateful for her consistency.

It fueled his resolve to see her brought down.