### Chapter: 314
The headquarters of the Lagrain family.
In that place, Kraush was facing the Poison King Hauran Lagrain.
Hauran’s eyes held a deep displeasure, akin to looking at an unsightly scoundrel ruining his daughter’s life. Yet, he couldn’t stop scrutinizing Kraush.
‘He’s grown much stronger since then.’
Hauran narrowed his gaze.
He first met Kraush only about a year ago. During that encounter, he was surprised by Kraush’s latent potential.
Not just talent, but Kraush had developed into someone so formidable that none of his peers could even hope to match him.
However, there was still an unsettling feeling.
Anyone could see that Kraush’s strength was nearly borrowed from the future.
It felt as if he was struggling against his fate of eventually being caught up to by true geniuses.
Kraush had become strong purely from sheer willpower and that unyielding ferocity.
Yet, sometimes it’s those individuals who end up standing at the top.
So, Hauran didn’t dare look down on him.
In fact, he even assessed that Kraush could be someone leading a new era in the future.
But now, facing Kraush again, Hauran’s eyes displayed shock.
‘It’s only been a year.’
In that one year, Kraush had transformed into a completely different person.
Hauran thought Kraush was breaking through the limits of his talent.
But what surprised him even more was that the current Kraush had no signs of those limits whatsoever.
Whatever he had done, Hauran couldn’t even begin to comprehend the process.
‘…Could it be a complete transformation?’
Had he achieved something that even geniuses struggled with?
If so, it made sense that his potential would expand significantly.
But to undergo such a transformation at his age was unprecedented among the Heavenly Sword factions.
‘He’s undeniably becoming a monster.’
Hauran swallowed hard.
The boy he thought had only unmatched ferocity had now seemingly entered the realm of unparalleled talent.
He realized there was a good reason discussions of his nickname had circulated recently.
This kid would reach the Ten Great Lords soon enough.
And before long, he would ascend to the Heavenly Sword faction.
Where would he go next?
Hauran had no way of guessing.
But here lies the problem.
Now, beside Kraush, who was shining so fiercely he could swallow even other stars, was his daughter, Haring, who had become blinded by that light.
Even a hedgehog thinks its child is beautiful.
Hauran cherished and loved his daughter dearly.
She was his only surviving child.
Naturally, he couldn’t help but dote on her.
Yet the man she had set her heart on was on a dangerous path.
One that led her to be engaged to someone of the highest status in the Empire, no less.
‘Even the Imperial family has set their eyes on him.’
A deep sigh escaped Hauran’s lips.
“I came here to resolve this inner energy issue.”
Putting his stray thoughts aside, Hauran decided to get to the point.
The Fourth Princess, whom the Emperor had begun to secretly support, was present.
There was no room for meaningless chatter.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Why a kid like him had developed this inner energy, Hauran couldn’t fathom.
But he knew a thing or two about inner energy.
“I’ll take you to the workshop, so follow me.”
Since they were going to solve it, his office wasn’t suitable for it.
Hauran led Kraush to the workshop.
All the while, Haring was glued to Kraush’s side.
While Hauran felt resentful at his daughter’s attachment, considering the characteristics of the Lagrain bloodline, he couldn’t exactly stop her.
Once a Lagrain finds love, it binds them eternally.
“Here we are.”
Hauran opened the door to the workshop.
Inside, those preparing poisons were startled and bowed their heads upon seeing Hauran.
“Everyone, please step out for a moment since there’s urgent work.”
At Hauran’s polite request, those working hurriedly tidied up their tasks and exited.
Kraush felt the potent smell of poison filling the air as his gaze turned to Sigrid.
She had already donned a mask that was hanging by the entrance.
No need for him to fret over her.
Hauran continued deeper into the workshop.
Eventually, they arrived in a room filled with jars containing what looked like animal corpses.
Those were all beings that had lost their lives.
Given the lack of signs of hunting, it appeared they were using creatures that had died naturally for poison research.
Hauran took a wooden chair and placed it in the center of the room.
“First, let’s check.”
Kraush obediently sat down on the chair as directed.
Hauran placed both hands on Kraush’s back and silently concentrated.
In that moment of tense silence, after some time, he opened his eyes wide.
“……It’s true.”
He discovered the crystal lodged within Kraush’s body.
Hauran didn’t know what exactly the power contained within it was.
As far as he knew, only Kraush and the former Poison King, Durandal, could control Aura in the world.
But one thing was certain: the inner energy in Kraush’s body was in a very dangerous state.
Right now, he was suppressing it through the gates, but if that power were to burst forth, Kraush’s body would be shattered into pieces.
“Why did you carry something like this inside you?”
Hauran realized this inner energy had been intentionally created by Kraush himself.
So, shooting him a reproachful glance, Kraush scratched the back of his head.
“That was the best method I had at the time.”
At the time, with those Ixion guys always potentially crashing the party, Kraush needed to master the God of Creation Weapons quickly.
So he had to bring Aura from the Demonic Bastion in any form.
“Can you extract it?”
Kraush could still not determine the exact way to use this inner energy.
But one thing was clear: if he awakened it inside his body, it wouldn’t withstand it.
It was far better to extract it externally and then consider how to proceed.
Hauran contemplated Kraush’s inner energy again.
“Wait a moment.”
Then he approached the bookshelf.
There were various research journals there.
Hauran flipped through the research logs one after another.
He had prepared himself for the fact that it wouldn’t be an easy task.
So, Kraush calmly waited for Hauran to find an answer.
After a while, Hauran found a clue in one of the research logs.
“Long ago, a man came to our family asking us to remove the inner energy he made in his own body.”
The man who had created inner energy in a human body like Kraush.
He called himself a sage.
“According to this log, he successfully managed to extract the inner energy.”
After that, the sage expressed his great debt to the Lagrain family and foretold that the Lagrain family too would shine like a star in the future.
Indeed, the Lagrain family had thrived since then and emerged as a known family within the Empire.
It was a fairy tale-like story, but given that it was written in the Lagrain family journal, it had to have been true.
“I plan to use the method recorded here, but there are several materials that are no longer available.”
Since it was so long ago, the journal mentioned plants and animals that no longer existed.
No matter how knowledgeable the Lagrains were about poisons, they could not create medicine from materials that did not exist.
So Hauran decided to take an extra step.
“The Kingdom of Jeblam, the Last Ark managed by the Lagrain family. Those materials must still be there.”
The Kingdom of Jeblam, the Last Ark.
In that twisted world of ongoing erosion, all the flora and fauna that had ever existed remained.
To some, it might look like a treasure trove.
But the fact that all living things were still alive meant that the invisible viruses and bacteria were also there.
So, if someone were to accidentally enter the Last Ark, they could be exposed to ancient, unforeseen diseases or be faced with something so poisonous that it could be termed deadly to humans.
Under usual circumstances, general folks were prohibited from entering.
Even those with decent martial skills would find it risky to enter without thorough preparation.
“The issue is that even the Lagrain family has not discovered one particular material.”
“What is it?”
“The Soulbinding Flower. All that’s noted is its shape and characteristics, but its existence remains dubious.”
Given that it was recorded in the log, it was understood to have been used, but its existence remained a complete mystery.
Kraush pressed his jaw for a moment.
The truth was, even he had never encountered that flower in his previous reincarnation.
‘Such knowledge wasn’t something I bothered to seek out.’
While he considered himself an expert on curses, he lacked expertise concerning poisons.
‘Hold on a second.’
Suddenly, a thought struck Kraush.
“Hauran, could you tell me what the characteristics of the Soulbinding Flower are?”
“Hmm, the Soulbinding Flower possesses the characteristic of binding the power of the soul. Those bound by the flower essentially become living puppets. That’s why it can be used to extract the inner energy without issues.”
Hauran, being the expert he claimed to be, easily described the characteristics of the Soulbinding Flower as if it were second nature.
Upon hearing this, Kraush pondered for a moment and began rummaging through his thoughts.
Then he recalled a similarly cursed spell.
‘Soul Confinement.’
One of the higher-level curses, just as its name suggested, it confines the target’s soul within.
Those afflicted with this curse become living puppets, just as with the Soulbinding Flower.
‘Not completely identical, but the characteristics are quite similar.’
Kraush turned his gaze to Haring.
Haring had been studying both curses and poisons alongside Darling and Dorma until now.
Perhaps she might have a method.
“Haring, can we talk for a moment?”
“Hmm?”
Still focused on Hauran’s story, Haring looked at Kraush with a puzzled expression.
Then she nodded, thinking he wouldn’t have brought it up if it weren’t important.
Kraush then proceeded to discuss the matter with Haring.
After their conversation, Haring thought over it before nodding.
“I don’t think it’s entirely impossible. After all, what’s needed is the effect of binding the soul.”
Haring responded positively.
However, she also expressed her concern.
“Still, Kraush, there’s a high chance of other side effects occurring.”
Since the materials would change, who knows what adverse effects could arise?
Moreover, given the nature of this side effect, Kraush couldn’t simply erase it carelessly using Ignis.
To fully benefit from the medicine, they had to endure any side effects that came with it.
Seeing Haring’s worry, Kraush smiled briefly.
“So far, Haring, I’ve never had any issues when using the elixirs you made.”
If anything, he had overcome crises thanks to them.
Kraush had never faced danger because of Haring’s preparations.
“ I trust your skills.”
Upon hearing that, Haring flinched but then clenched her fists.
“…Alright. If you trust me, then I’ll do my best to whip something up.”
Haring made a steadfast resolution to create a substitute material for the Soulbinding Flower.
Kraush decided to trust Haring and turned, only to make eye contact with Hauran.
At that moment, Hauran’s face had transformed into one of a demonic figure, leaving Kraush momentarily stunned.
Is this what every father with a daughter looks like?
“Hauran, I will personally go into the Last Ark to gather the remaining materials.”
Before his reincarnation, Kraush had trudged through the Kingdom of Jeblam several times.
Among those was a trip to the Last Ark.
“…Very well. I will prepare the remaining materials.”
Hauran finally granted his permission after rearranging his expression.
It was time to head into the Last Ark in search of materials.
＊ * ＊
Just as Kraush set off for the Last Ark, several figures arrived before the Lagrain family.
“Here we are. We’ll get ready.”
The one who appeared to be the commander wore a fedora and tapped his cane rhythmically.
By his side walked a burly man with a muzzle strapped across the snout of a dog that seemed to pop out abruptly.
“Sniff, the scent of poison is pungent here.”
The man, sniffing the air, was larger than the others.
The old man glanced at him.
“Are there any issues with the search?”
Hearing the old man’s question, the large man scoffed.
Then, revealing a murderous glint in his eyes, he responded.
“Not a chance.”
The moment the World Eroder’s mad dog set foot in Lagrain.
