I Became A Thief Who Steals Overpowered Skills

Chapter 17 The Immortal

Just speak plainly.

Thus, Kraush met Arias gaze with an equally direct expression.

Is it because the son you thought a discarded piece suddenly brings news of worth, you now wish to claim him as a card in play?

Aria stopped pouring tea from the glass teapot and looked at Kraush with a questioning expression.

What do you mean by that?

Mother, do you wish to carry on with such a posture even in front of your own son?

The child she bore was treated as less than nothing and sent away to the Green Pine Mansion.

A standard mother would not accept that fact and would have visited the Green Pine Mansion continually.

But Aria had not showed her face even once to Kraush during his time at the Green Pine Mansion.

And that would be the case all the way until Kraush entered the Rahelrn Academy.

Hmm.

Seeing Kraush like this, Aria softly leaned her posterior on the table and then wrapped her hands around her cheek, tilting her head.

Our son seems to have changed quite a bit, hasnt he? So much that a mother might not recognize him.

Isnt it only natural for a child to grow quickly?

That I can see from Charlotte. No matter how much a child grows, they remain a child to their mother.

Aria chuckled softly.

However, it seems my son is quite different. Talking to you makes me feel like Im conversing with someone of nearly my own age.

Is that something you say to your son?

I wouldnt have said it to an ordinary thirteen-year-old son.

Ordinary.

At that word, Kraush burst into sardonic laughter.

Would an ordinary son ever catch your eye, Mother?

The Matriarch of Balheim.

Its a position one could never reach through beauty alone.

Balheim, with the highest martial might in the world, having surpassed the Ten Great Warriors to the realm of the Four Great Celestials, is also the place of Balrok Balheim, called the strongest patriarch in history.

In some ways, a seat more difficult to attain than that of a queen.

Thus, Aria had been through many secret battles and emerged victorious in the political sphere.

She was twenty when she became the Matriarch of Balheim.

And now, fifteen years have passed.

She has staunchly maintained her position as the matriarch amidst all that transpires within Balheim.

However, that is where the problem arose.

The path she took to get here was too treacherous.

As a result, she had lost many common emotions.

The first and foremost emotion she lost was maternal love.

To her, her children were simply beings that existed to maintain her own status.

She would play the part of a mother, but if ever it became an inconvenience to her position, she could easily set it aside.

After all, she had her daughter, Charlotte, to secure her status for a lifetime.

Therefore, Aria was infinitely tender towards Charlotte.

Whereas for Kraush, she only acted the part of a mother, devoid of any true maternal emotion.

The reason she had called for Kraush today aligned with his words.

The recent rumors about Kraush were vastly different from his usual actions.

So she had summoned him to see if he still held value as her child.

In her mind, she was hearing a ringing bingo.

Son, Mother loves you no matter how youve changed.

Saying so, she slowly sipped the tea she had poured.

The fact that you are my son will never change, no matter what happens.

Blood is much thicker than the red tea she was currently sipping, almost to the point of being a curse.

Aria knew this and thus smiled with her eyes.

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Our son will be as stubborn as his mother. There may come a time when he reaches this state.

And that was a fact that could not be denied.

Kraushs stubbornness was reminiscent of Aria, something he had deeply felt for a long time.

So if you have resolved to be strong, strive to be the strongest. Thats the only way to survive in Balheim.

Even if it was from the mother he resented, the tie of blood did not change.

And the real reason I called for you today lies elsewhere.

Aria said as she picked up a letter that was on the table.

The crest of Balheim was clearly stamped on the letter.

Its from the Patriarch.

This news caused even Kraush to harden.

What does it say?

He will be returning from the Forbidden Region soon.

The Forbidden Region a land where world erosion has proliferated so irretrievably that it is no longer recoverable.

This was a place that could not even be rated and was the most troublesome spot for each country.

Balrok Balheim was in one such Forbidden Region, all by himself.

And he wishes to see you once he gets back.

A hint of confusion flitted across Kraushs eyes.

Whatever he had done could barely be considered childs play, surely not enough to catch Balroks ear.

Perhaps.

Had his father seen something?

Balrok Balheim was a being who had entered the realm of demigods.

If that were the case, he might see something close to foreseeing through the stars, perhaps even something in him.

Stay here in the main house until then.

Upon hearing that he should wait until his father returned, Kraush raised his head.

Mother had the expression of someone simply delivering an order.

Was that written in the letter?

Eh? Well, it wasnt written as such but

Then I shall return to the Green Pine Mansion.

With Kraushs declaration to return immediately, Aria showed a sign of confusion for the first time.

Ah, son?

The Green Pine Mansion is where I was originally assigned, isnt it? Even Mother and the Patriarch agreed on that point.

With those words, Kraush flashed a smile that closely resembled Arias.

I will come when the Patriarch calls for me. Or perhaps.

Aria then realized that Kraush had become an even greater hardhead than herself.

The Patriarch should come to me personally.

Kraush, nonchalantly spouting words others would hardly dare, opened the door.

I will give my testimony about the recent strange symptoms of world erosion and then take my leave.

Unable to stop Kraush, who was now exiting the room, Aria had been shocked by his earlier statement.

Kraush, having left his mother behind, sighed as he stood outside the door.

This was why he had been reluctant to meet with his mother.

Her presence was just as prickly to him as well.

I wish all this was over soon.

He found it ironic that he longed to return to the Green Pine Mansion, the very place he had so loathed.

Perhaps because of this, the face of the expressionless chick suddenly came to mind.

Shes probably reading a book again.

That was the thought on Kraushs mind when he happened to come face-to-face with someone walking in his direction.

He was the maid in charge of Kraushs room, and she bowed her head the moment she faced Kraush.

Mr. Kraush, the World Erosion Investigation Team Sephira has requested your assistance.

Good timing.

Might as well give them something thrilling to document.

World Erosion Investigation Team Sephira.

Experts on world erosion and a group composed of talented individuals sent from various parts of the world.

Supported cooperatively by the four great kingdoms, each small country, and even the empire.

Thats why Sephira has the highest authority when it comes to researching world erosion.

Thats why even Balheim had to comply with Sephiras investigations without question.

If they did not want to turn all states into enemies, that is.

Youve arrived.

As Kraush opened the door to enter, there stood a stern-looking woman.

She was dressed in the inflated-front uniform specific to Sephira, holding a file envelope in her hand.

The number etched on her chest was level 4.

Considering the ranks within Sephira go from 9 to 1, she had a considerably high rank.

It made sense, given the gravity of the matter at hand.

Mr. Kraush Balheim, correct?

Yes, thats me.

As the other party was all business, so too did Kraush respond professionally as he sat down.

Sephira would continue to be a necessary group.

Their knowledge related to world erosion was unparalleled after all.

So he had no intention to be on their bad side.

Only, that would be until the one who would wreck all of Sephira would appear.

For now, it should still be fine.

That person wont be active until a bit later on.

So, Kraush decided to focus on the woman in front of him.

Just then, Kraush noticed a small black star mark on her neck, peeking through her hair.

As Kraush stared blankly at the black star, for some reason, he felt an urge to laugh.

?

When Kraush suddenly started laughing, the Sephira investigator turned her head.

She gazed at Kraush suspiciously, while he relaxed further into his chair.

So this is where the offspring of the Immortal was hiding.

I would have never guessed theyd be so close.

Immortal.

As Kraush uttered that name, the womans body froze.

I would like to propose a deal with you.

The small black star mark etched on the womans neck.

It was none other than proof of being an Immortals offspring.

Ordinarily, it wouldnt have been visible, but Kraush absorbed the world erosion within his body.

As a result, he began to see who the offspring of the Immortals were.

Bold of you. To think an Immortal would plant its offspring even within Sephira.

Mr. Kraush, Im not sure what youre talking about.

The investigator looked at Kraush with a deadly glare.

However, such a menacing look didnt intimidate Kraush in the slightest.

Lets not beat around the bush, Im the only one who can erase your immortality.

And as soon as those words followed, the investigators expression began to change slowly.

With that, her features started to transform entirely.

Her hair, previously black as night, turned into a fiery red, and her eyes glowed a deep crimson, burning brightly.

Her pupils resembled those of a reptile.

Several more black star marks appeared on her neck as she exhaled a heavy breath.

Phew.

Just that was enough for Kraush to feel an altered presence emanating from her, a different sort of pressure filling the air.

Beads of cold sweat formed on Kraushs back.

Even if he wasnt overwhelmed by the feeling, his body reflexively reacted: indeed, an ephemeral mind-body of the Immortal had merely transferred for a moment.

She radiated such an overwhelmingly dominant aura.

My child.

The words she uttered were enough to solidify even the easy-going Kraush momentarily.

Are you a regressor?

Regressor.

As soon as he heard the term, Kraushs thoughts came to a halt.

Kraush certainly counted himself among regressors.

But the real regressor was someone else.

Arthur Gramate.

He was the true regressor.

Does this being know about Arthur?

No, that couldnt be the case.

If she did, she wouldnt have asked him if he was a regressor.

It was more likely she knew of the existence of regressors in some way and was guessing at it.

At the same time, Kraush realized why Arthur, in the past, sought to kill the Immortal.

The Immortal knows about regressors.

How it came to know this must have been a secret Arthur could never let out, for he was a regressor.

I dont know if Im a regressor or what, but if I were, do you think Id admit it?

At the moment a human child boldly asks me for a deal, there is no other explanation but that of a regressor.

The Immortal said, chuckling as if she had figured it all out.

I was after something else. I came to find out who was tampering with the world erosions I cultivated, but I seem to have caught an unexpected fish.

The madness of elevating the levels of world erosion.

It seemed her reason to do so had nothing to do with regressors.

Whatever it was she was searching for, the Immortal wore a look of supreme arrogance.

To erase my immortality, you say, regressor? How ridiculously funny. A creature trapped in the cycle of time dares to put on airs before me, who transcended time?

And it seemed that she ultimately mistook him entirely for a regressor.

Im only half a regressor.

He wasnt the true regressor.

The real regressor was Arthur.

Arthur, who went through the same turns as Kraush, no longer exists in this world.

But Arthur exists in this world.

The disappearance of the regression I stole is proof.

The regression that Kraush possessed was gone.

After all, a skill is a unique power that only one person in the world can possess.

In Kraushs black hood was Ignis, but there was no regression.

Because this Arthur possessed regression, Kraushs was erased.

Thus, the true regressor was indeed Arthur.

How many turns Arthur has taken, I still cant say.

But it was clear that he did not know that Kraush had regressed.

Did you enjoy the worlds youve seen? Feeling like the whole world is yours just because youve experienced regression? How laughable. What remains for you is just emptiness.

Considering the mocking laughter of the Immortal, Kraush remained silent for a while.

Then after a moment, Kraush lifted his hand.

In that instant, a pen that had been atop her documents somehow ended up in Kraushs possession.

Noticing this, the Immortal flinched.

She was very well aware that what Kraush just did was neither magic nor an aura.

Its a skill.

Kraush blatantly made it clear that it was a skill.

He casually twirled the pen in his hand and looked at her stony form.

And its a skill that could even steal your immortality.

Upon hearing this, for the first time, the Immortals eyes shook with apparent distress.

Shall we have a conversation now? Crimson Garden.

The Immortal yearning to erase its immortality.

Youre facing the only person capable of erasing it.

The one standing before her was the World Erosion bearer.

Crimson Garden August.