NOVEL WEB Chapter 29
Chapter 29
Kraush first met Ebelasque through Arthur.
One day, Ebelasque was brought to the barracks where the Celestial Generation was staying.
She, unable to do anything on her own, felt overwhelmed by everyone around her.
To clarify,
she was actually avoiding everyone.
She never came out of the barracks at all.
In the first place, the Celestial Generation didn’t treat her, a world eroder, very kindly.
They kept her around, thinking she must have some value since Arthur brought her.
Kraush, too, hardly spoke to her at first.
All he knew was that she was the only necromancer in the world.
However, one day, Kraush struck up a conversation with her.
“You’re the one cursed even more than I am? What a weakling.”
It all began with Ebelasque’s typical haughty remarks.
Kraush looked at the man before him.
A man whose presence was almost non-existent.
He was none other than Ebelasque’s 12th corpse.
On his chest was a prominent crow tattoo.
“They say it’s a family that dominates the underbelly of the empire, huh?”
Little did he know it was actually just a group made up of corpses.
Well, in a way, it made sense—perhaps a necromancer would find it easy to assassinate.
Corpses, unlike assassins, wouldn’t spill anything if captured.
“So that’s why they dubbed them the Night Crows.”
Crows that feast on dead bodies.
An apt description for Ebelasque, the necromancer.
“What a naming sense you have.”
“Uh, what?”
When the 12th turned around, Kraush waved his hand dismissively, acting like it was nothing.
The 12th shrugged, proceeding with an uncertain expression as he took Kraush somewhere.
‘Speaking of which…’
Kraush glanced at Crimson Garden perched on his shoulder.
Crimson Garden was a world eroder just like Ebelasque.
She might already know about Ebelasque.
“Crim, don’t you know Ebelasque?”
[ I don’t know those weaker than me. ]
What an arrogant answer.
And Kraush knew it was true.
‘Well, world eroders aren’t exactly companions in the first place.’
It wasn’t surprising she didn’t know her.
“We’ve arrived.”
At that moment, the 12th stopped walking.
Before him stood an old door and a shabby building.
To say it was the dwelling of the world’s only necromancer was a bit of a stretch.
In the instant, a click sounded from inside as the 12th opened the door.
What unfolded was an overly decorated space.
The inside was entirely different from the shabby exterior.
Kraush clicked his tongue as he observed the room that reeked of vanity.
‘After all this time, still a creature of habit.’
He figured this must’ve been set up simply because she wanted a large and beautiful house.
As Kraush continued, following the 12th’s guidance, they arrived in front of a room.
At that moment, the 12th spoke.
“Now that I’ve brought you this far, tell me. How will you get back my heart?”
Seeing Ebelasque speaking through the 12th’s mouth, Kraush frowned.
“Didn’t you listen to me properly? I’m no goldfish.”
“A, a goldfish?”
“I said that my skill can only be verified in person. Open the door before breaking it.”
Kraush furrowed his brow as if to say, “Do I really need to repeat myself?”
He realized she was trying to avoid him because she didn’t want to face him.
[ What a nasty character. Anyone would think you’re kind if you behave so gently to a white chick. ]
Ignoring Crimson Garden’s snickers, Kraush knew he had to handle Ebelasque with assertiveness.
That was something he learned thoroughly back then.
This girl would become all puffed up, thinking she’s on top if you treated her kindly.
He couldn’t stand that.
“Eeek, eek.”
Moments later, a startled sound came from inside, and the door opened a crack.
Kraush swiftly thrust his hand in to open the door completely.
He absolutely despised uncertainty.
“AAAH!”
At that moment, a shriek sounded as a woman who had been rolling on the floor stumbled between the blankets scattered about.
Kraush watched her for a moment before grabbing a chair and plopping down.
The room was a complete mess.
Food was strewn everywhere, as if left half-eaten, and books were precariously piled up.
Kraush grimaced at the pitiful sight, contrasting it with the clean hallway outside.
“Clean up a bit.”
“I, it’s not what you think!”
Flushing with embarrassment over showing her messy room, she lifted her head.
But, it seemed she couldn’t handle making eye contact, and soon she looked down again.
As she did so, her black and crimson hair swayed.
Her messy hair was long enough to brush the floor.
Then there was her shirt, awkwardly stretched around her neck due to her overly inflated chest.
What a sight to show someone!
But still, she was the one and only necromancer in the world.
Ebelasque Venafoch.
And her current pathetic state was entirely by her own choice.
“Anyway, just lift your head.”
“W-What are you planning to do?”
“I told you, my skill can only be verified in person.”
Reluctantly, she raised her head.
Upon making eye contact with her violet-colored eyes, she seemed jittery and at a loss.
It was clear she found it quite uncomfortable to look someone in the eyes.
Then, as if a lightbulb went off, her eyes widened.
“Is it because your eyes are small? You don’t seem to look at me.”
Must be due to Kraush’s disguise.
Ignoring her unnecessary remark, Kraush activated the Black Hood.
‘Target: Heart.’
It was supposed to be her heart.
In that instant, five dials appeared before Kraush’s eyes.
Seeing that, he felt reassured.
‘The original owner of the heart must be Ebelasque.’
Even if the imperial family had her heart, the true owner was undeniably Ebelasque, triggering the activation of the Black Hood.
This meant that unlocking the dials could potentially get Ebelasque’s heart back.
“W-Well, what’s going on?”
Ebelasque nervously asked.
Stuck in the imperial family for a millennium.
As a tool, she had always wanted to get her heart back.
And the reason she wanted it back was simple.
She didn’t want to work.
The empire provided her a room and conveniences, but she had no interest in working.
Just rolling around in her room and reading books was her ultimate dream.
That’s why Ebelasque was willing to bring Kraush on board.
She thought maybe this boy, who seemed to see through her, might know something.
And if not, she could just turn him into a corpse and toss him into the assassination unit.
Plus, with a crow on her shoulder, it was a perfect match.
‘But why is the crow staring at me so intently?’
As Ebelasque made eye contact with the crow, she seemed unimpressed, as if she would never bow down to a mere bird.
Yet, when the crow looked at her and snickered, spreading its wings, she flinched and turned away.
That crow was indeed frightening.
“It’s possible.”
In that moment, Kraush delivered the answer Ebelasque was waiting for.
“R-Really?”
“Yeah, but you need to give me permission first to transfer your heart to me.”
There are two ways to unlock the dials.
One is by using brute force, following the dials’ conditions to release them.
The second is by obtaining permission from the other party; if the person completely and wholeheartedly consents, all dials will vanish.
‘However, this is trickier than expected.’
Even if the other party verbally agrees, if they don’t genuinely feel ready psychologically, the dials won’t disappear.
This psychological aspect often served as a substantial barrier.
After all, the human heart isn’t something that can be swayed at will.
“How do I give permission? I give my permission!”
Ebelasque hastily shouted that.
But her dials still numbered five.
It’s easy to say, but actually giving up your heart isn’t something one just hands over.
“You have to genuinely feel that way, not just say it.”
“Wh-What do you mean genuinely?”
“Yeah, genuinely.”
Ebelasque furrowed her brows, looking perplexed.
Seeing that, Kraush clicked his tongue and got up from his seat.
He then plopped back down right in front of her, startling her as she found herself face to face with him.
Kraush gently patted her shoulder.
“Ebelasque, just imagine this.”
“Uh, ooh.”
“You don’t want to work, right?”
“Of course not!”
She replied with the most spirited voice she had ever used.
That’s the Ebelasque he knew.
“If you get your heart back, you can lounge in this room every day, taking care of the corpses. You could have a room at a comfortable temperature filled with books, eating whatever you want while idling away your time.”
Ebelasque swallowed hard.
It was only natural since this was the future she had always wanted.
“But if you don’t get your heart back, you’ll have to help the imperial family for the rest of your life. Working day in and day out.”
And her complexion worsened.
Having suffered through a millennium, she knew too well that would be her fate again if nothing changed.
“…I want to throw up.”
Just imagining it seemed to make her sick.
“Will you keep living that dreadful life of working every day?”
“I, I don’t want to work anymore.”
“Then you must genuinely offer your heart to me. For the sake of a life where you don’t have to work forever.”
As Kraush whispered, Ebelasque’s eyes began to tremble.
She cautiously looked up at Kraush.
If she handed over her heart to this boy, she wouldn’t have to work anymore.
At least not as she was living now.
She didn’t want to kill anyone at someone else’s command anymore.
After considering this, she told Kraush.
“I’ll give you my heart.”
“Make it more certain.”
“I’ll give you my heart!”
“More, clearly say what you want from me.”
As Kraush pressed her again, she squeezed her eyes shut and bowed her head.
“Please, take my heart!”
And it was at that moment.
All the dials that had been in front of her vanished in an instant.
“Done.”
“Did it, really?”
When she looked up with a surprised expression, Kraush nodded.
‘What an easy one.’
Finding someone’s heart is usually a tricky endeavor, but Ebelasque’s desire not to work made the process quite apparent.
“Now hurry, give it back to me!”
“Why should I?”
But Kraush merely leaned back with his arms crossed, tilting his head.
When Ebelasque widened her eyes, Kraush made an incredulous face.
“This is a deal. Ebelasque, I’m going to help you get your heart back after the job is done.”
How shameless to expect everything in return after saving her.
“Job? You mean work again?! You demon! Bad guy! No! I don’t want to work!”
With that, she began rolling around on the floor.
Watching a grown woman acting like this was genuinely a pitiful sight.
As Kraush refused to indulge her antics, he infused his aura and slammed the ground.
Only then did she flinch and stop rolling around.
“Cut the tantrums. I’ll meet your desires, and you’ll meet mine. That’ll conclude the deal. You’ll be free.”
Why didn’t she understand something so simple? Kraush glared at her as she clenched her fists tightly.
“What, what is it that you want?”
Realizing something, she instinctively covered her chest.
“W-Wait! I’m not into kids! Get back to me later!”
[Kekeke, shameless girl.]
Kraush looked at her with disdain.
“You read those smut novels too much to be saying that.”
Ebelasque’s shoulders stiffened.
“I-I don’t read that kind of stuff!”
“Just go ahead and confess the title of the novel you’ve been hiding.”
“EEEK!”
She hurriedly shoved the novel under the blanket.
Kraush watched her pathetic ambivalence and returned to his chair.
“The deal is just how I mentioned earlier. What Sigrid commanded you and to help stop it. That’s how you get your heart and your freedom.”
Kraush spoke to Ebelasque firmly, indicating she should stop the nonsense.
“Now spill what Sigrid instructed you to do.”
Hearing Kraush’s words, Ebelasque hesitated for a moment.
Sigrid was after the heart that had been passed down in her family for generations.
Because of that, she knew she wouldn’t be able to escape Sigrid until her heart was retrieved.
To get out from under Sigrid’s thumb, she definitely needed Kraush’s help.
“Serra Betella.”
In that moment, the name of Sigrid’s aide slipped from her lips.
“I was told to kill her and use her corpse to eliminate Sigrid Epania.”
Then, even more absurd plans spilled out.