Chapter 9 Anicks’s Provocation


    Such a taste, you say.


    In the meantime, murmuring filled the air.


    The crowd had started to gather, curious about the situation after witnessing Kraushs kick.


    The boy had a flustered look on his face.


    Though he had acted impulsively, strong in his reaction.


    He knew that what he had done was not right.


    I, I was just acting upon Princess dias orders!


    Feeling the pressure of the situation due to his youth, the boy blurted out the name of the one who had sent him.


    The murmurs stopped at once.


    The young nobles began to disperse as if shushing each other.


    Kraush mulled over the name and then remembered someone.


    dia Starlon.


    It was the name of the second princess of the Starlon kingdom.


    Why would the princess summon Bianca?


    Princess dia asked me to invite Miss Bianca to join her, and I was attempting toply, as Miss Bianca kept refusing. I had no choice but to take her! Its royalmand, after all!


    Royalmand my foot.


    A mere princess didnt wield the power of a kings edict.


    However, nobles could ill afford to spurn a princess request, especially women nobles. It was all the worse among them.


    But why demand Bianca?


    Even so, Bianca was the youngest daughter of the Hardenhartz family, rulers of the north.


    However, due to the curse, she was deemed lower in stature among the nobles.


    In reality, many looked down on her.


    And she was summoned by the princess? Hardly made sense to anyone who sought the favor of loyal nobility.


    As Kraush pondered this, a memory shed through his mind.


    Anicks.


    The eldest son of the Graizar family, known as the Wood Archer.


    The very moment that Anicks crossed Kraushs mind, his brow furrowed.


    Thats because Anicks was the object of dias affections.


    Indeed, as time passed, thanks to dias fervent courtship, they were to be married.


    But there was a problem with Anicks.


    I remember now. That bastard was obsessively attached to my sister.


    At the Sanctuary of Stars, Anicks had faced Charlotte and was soundly defeated.


    The Graizar familys proimed prodigy crumbled before Charlotte, his pride shattered.


    The problem was that his sense of shame turned awry.


    Anicks despised and hated Charlotte.


    It was only natural since she had shattered his genius.


    Yet, he also admired Charlottes strength.


    As a fellow genius, he longed to be like her.


    Eventually, these sentiments morphed into aplex passion over time.


    And it seemed that somehow, an offshoot of this fixation had nownded on himself and Bianca.


    Thinking that summoning Bianca would make it possible to bring me along too?


    Charlotte was untouchable, so hed reach out to his sister, Kraush, in the meantime.


    Hah.


    Exasperated, Kraush pushed back his front hair  a sign he was angry.


    To dare touch Bianca?


    As tant anger emerged from Kraushs eyes, the young noble flinched.


    Then, consciously stung by his own fear of Kraushs re, he scowled deeply.


    No matter what, Kraush was Balheims direct line, even younger than him.


    Above all, Kraush was called the half-penny of Balheim.


    The rumors that Balheim had cast him out were nowmon knowledge.


    Balheim had been considered when deciding not to meddle, but as for Kraush himself, he was thought to be powerless.


    You, you!


    What?


    No, nothing.


    The boy was about to shout but recoiled when Kraush sharply cut him off.


    Kraushs fierce look intimidated the boy into a subdued silence.


    Get lost.


    At that moment, upon Kraushsmand to leave, the boy lifted his head.


    If he were to fail to aplish themand of the princess, he would certainly be dismissed from the position of the princess loyal servant.


    Thus, when the boy looked relieved at the chance to leave, Kraushs next words were quite unexpected.


    But instead of going back to Princess dia, youll head to Anicks.


    Wh-why to Anicks?


    Kraush looked at the self-proimed loyal servant and clicked his tongue.


    Dont the servants who follow the princess know why the princess issued such amand? My, youck discernment.


    Well,cking discernment is why people got charmed by someone like Anicks.


    Realizing that Kraush had just belittled him, the boys face reddened just as Kraush took Biancas hand.


    Then he began to walk away with her.


    Leaving the boy to his own devices would only attract more pests to bother him, Kraush thought, as he acted without thinking.


    Suddenly, Kraush remembered something.


    Bianca.


    Yes?


    You knew it was the princessmand, so why didnt you go?


    Bianca was only 12 years old, and even if she was more insightful than her peers, she was still young.


    Kraush, a returnee with knowledge of circumstances, knew what was going on.


    Bianca didnt know how she and Anicks were entangled.


    Yet, why had she so adamantly refused the princessmand?


    Because Kraush told me to wait for you here.


    Kraush blinked once.


    Did this mean she had prioritized his word over that of the princess?


    Kraush observed the expressionless Bianca for a moment, then lifted his opposite hand and stroked her head once.


    Good job.


    If she was obedient to hismand, he should praise her.


    Due to her small stature, Biancas head wobbled in all directions under Kraushs hand.


    Augh escaped Kraush, and he withdrew his hand.


    The irritation from earlier had eased somewhat.


    Now with his mood lightened a bit, it was time to settle things with Anicks ahead of time.


    * * *


    Anicks was located not too far from the main party hall.


    Plenty of time had passed, and the young nobles were enjoying their ownpany by this time.


    And so Anicks chose to be out on the terrace, a ce known for its scenic views.


    Upon reaching the terrace, Kraush was met by a familiar face.


    A boy with patterns on his skin resembling a tigers stripes.


    Bk Hogma.


    Anickss henchman Bk stood guard at the entrance to the terrace.


    As soon as he caught sight of Kraush, Bks cat-like eyes sparkled.


    Hello, hello! Great to see you!


    Facing the eager greeting, Kraush regarded Bk with a stony expression.


    Bk was a swordsman with the skill to wield two swords with remarkable dexterity.


    Though he was sufficiently capable in terms of skills, he had a few personality issues.


    To describe him: a wildcard, an unpredictable explosive.


    Bk was extremely difficult to handle  a real oddball.


    I came to see Anicks.


    Therefore, Kraush wanted to pass by Bk without friction.


    The prospect of dealing with Bk was an unwee headache.


    Yeah! Anicks said if Kraushes, to let him in!


    Luckily, it seemed Anicks had already given his orders in advance.


    Alright, then.


    But no way!


    Just as Kraush was reaching for the terraces doorknob, Bk stepped in front of him, blocking his path.


    Bk, only a year older than Kraush, looked him in the eye without faltering.


    Thus, Bks face broke into a grin, clearly visible for all.


    Im interested in you, Kraush!


    Im not interested in men.


    Huh? Does it have to be a girl?


    Bk tilted his head in confusion.


    Kraush felt his temples throbbing.


    So?


    Lets fight!


    Somehow, it seemed to be heading in this direction.


    Bk was known for his recklessness, eager to fight without fear when Charlotte had visited the Sanctuary of Stars.


    Of course, he ended up beaten miserably, but unlike Anicks, Bk was not one to dwell on defeat.


    He was a character who relished the act ofbat itself.


    Which is why it made sense for him to be excited at the prospect of battling with Kraush, another member from Balheim, just like Charlotte.


    This is the Sanctuary of Stars. Fighting is off the table here.


    But I fought with Charlotte! I want to fight you too! You look weaker than her, but still.


    Comparing himself to the star that stands above Starlon, is he?


    Kraush pondered briefly.


    He could just ignore Bk and push past to the terrace.


    But given Bks personality, it didnt seem like he would step aside easily.


    Not that Bk was weak.


    Hes as strong as an Expert.


    His realm was a bit above mine.


    But the real problem with Bk was his inherent battle instinct.


    His unpredictable nature became apparent in battle too, which allowed him tost the longest when facing Charlottethough that meant only three seconds longer than Anicks.


    I dont want to entangle with this guy now when I have to meet Anicks.


    Looking into Bks eyes, however, he seemed unlikely to let it go.


    Fine.


    So Kraush decided to give in.


    Wow, thanks!


    Whoosh!


    And no sooner had Kraush epted than he shot his fist out towards Bk, who was thanking him.


    His fist,den with aura, almost reached Bks nose when, with astonishing reflexes, Bk threw his head back dramatically.


    The flexibility with which Bk bent his spine, almost touching his head to the ground, was admirable.


    But before Bk could bounce back, Kraush kicked his legs.


    Thwack!


    Bk was lightly lifted into the air as he took the hit to his legs.


    Kraushs elbow then followed up, smashing into Bks abdomen.


    Bang!


    Having taken the blow from Kraush, Bk sprawled onto the floor.


    While Kraush silently looked down on him, Bk rolled back to his feet with a backflip in the next moment.


    All the while defending his abdomen with his arms, Bk began to sparkle in his eyes anew.


    Going all out, huh?


    Youre the one who wanted to fight.


    Kraush rolled his neck to either side with a crack.


    Kraush was indeed half-penny.


    He was insignificantpared to the Skyborne Generation, having been merely a curse shuttle amongst them.


    But still, he had survived until the very end.


    One of the reasons Kraushsted until thest was not so much because he didnt stand at the front lines but because of his desperate struggle to survive, he wielded a faint might of his own.


    At the very least, he wouldnt be beaten by some kids.


    Of course, by the time he became an adult, it was expected that hed be outssed by their talents.


    But that meant, for now, he wouldnt lose.


    Great! Awesome! Lets keep going! I want to grab my weapon!


    Really? Dont think we need to continue, though.


    Right as an excited Bk shouted, Kraush coldly responded.


    Before understanding Kraushs words, blood suddenly gushed from Bks nose.


    Huh?


    At Bks moment of confusion, his eyes rolled back, and he just copsed onto the ground.


    Watching this, Kraush dusted off his hands, and Bianca tilted her head.


    How did you do that?


    Its a martial art.


    The name of the martial art was:


    Inchforce.


    The technique devised by the former half-penny of Balheim, endowed with the strongest destructive force at the shortest range.


    It was also the martial art Kraush had learned from the only book he managed to obtain from the burnt archives of Green Pine Hall.


    Thanks to this art, Kraush had crossed countless life-and-death thresholds.


    Therefore, it was the martial art he was most skilled in.


    But its a martial art thates with a fair number of conditions.


    If those conditions are met, the technique could prate armor and deliver an internal strike.


    When Kraushs elbow collided with Bk, he had already used Inchforce.


    Despite blocking with his arm, the impact was fully transmitted to the inside, shaking up Bk internally.


    Ugh, urgh.


    Suffering from Inchforce, Bk trembled a few times but ultimately couldnt get up.


    It was a natural oue since he had taken the bare impact of Inchforce without using aura for internal defense.


    Leaving such a Bk behind, Kraush grabbed and opened the door to the terrace.


    There stood a man and a tall woman by the railing of the terrace.


    The man was Anicks Graizar, the Wood Archer.


    And the woman was his subordinate, just like Bk, Elfin Emilia.


    Elfin nced at Kraush, then moved past him, seemingly heading towards Bk.


    When Kraush stepped aside to let her by, Anicks showed a slight smile along with his droopy eyes.


    To defeat Bk like that. Im impressed.


    This guy, too, must have known Bk would challenge him to a fight, yet he had him wait at the entrance anyway.


    Casting a dark re at Anicks, Kraush thought of him as a shadowy character.


    I figured you were scheming to call me through Princess dia and Bianca, so I came directly.


    You realized that much?


    Anicks genuinely seemed surprised by the response.


    Rubbing his chin reflectively, he wore a look of curiosity.


    Its different from what Ive heard. How peculiar. Is the rumor wrong, then?


    If you mean the rumor that Im a half-penny, then yes, thats true.


    Kraush had no intention of denying the rumors of his past.


    He had no interest in such rumors anyway.


    The ruin of a world which not even the Skyborne Generation could prevent was fast approaching.


    Instead of fretting over rumors, he needed to be a little stronger.


    Only, if you get beaten by me today, that rumor might change a bit.


    Kraush was more aware than anyone that as he became stronger, naturally, the rumor would change.


    And Anicks was the very person who could help alter that rumor.


    Because I n to steal that guys skill.


    A member of the Skyborne Generation.


    He was one of Kraushs targets.