I Became A Thief Who Steals Overpowered Skills

Chapter 2 The Transformed Halfwit

The world is unfair and screwed up.

That was always Kraush Balheims thought.

He realized this around the age of eight.

On the day he picked up a sword following his brothers and sisters.

That was the day Kraush realized the world had abandoned him.

Because his own sword-swinging felt so pathetically inadequate.

In fact, does a sword in the hands of an eight-year-old child even make sense?

However, the Balheim family to which Kraush belonged did not abide by average expectations.

The strongest household in the Starlon Kingdom.

Balheim.

Every direct descendant born there was a genius, all were crazed in their own way.

Except for one person, the disgrace of the Balheim family, the youngest, Kraush.

Nevertheless, he thrashed about and somehow wriggled his way into the Skyborne Generation.

But ultimately, his last moment was betrayal by those he considered comrades.

A body that could hold nothing but curses.

Indeed, it was a pitiful life, Kraush thought.

Until he opened his eyes today.

Flash!

Kraush saw a blurry ceiling as he opened his eyes.

His whole body was drenched in cold sweat.

At the same time, he saw his outstretched hand.

The same hand he had flailed with until the end, reaching out toward Arthur.

As Kraush stared blankly at his hand, he gradually began to regain his consciousness.

Buzz-buzz-

The sound of cicadas seeped through the window and whispered in his ears.

The incoming light informed him it was currently a summer day.

The distinct heat of summer caused beads of sweat to form on his forehead.

The world had been on the brink of annihilation in a terribly cold winterthis was the polar opposite season.

His gaze once again fell on his hand.

Huh?

Because the hand he saw was in perfect condition.

Kraushs thoughts came to a halt.

Along with that, he realized one more thing.

The eye which should have been blind could see clearly now.

And not only that.

His whole body felt strangely lighter than before.

Drip-

A bead of sweat trickled down from Kraushs forehead, sliding slowly to his cheek.

Looking around, he recognized this room as a familiar one.

Because this was the room he had lived in when dwelling in the Balheim family home in the past.

What was the situation right now?

The answer was simple.

Could it be

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The Black Hood he had stretched towards Arthur in the last moment.

His skill used in a vague hope that it could even steal skills.

Ive stolen Arthurs regression.

A chill ran down his spine as the realization set in.

Simultaneously, Kraush looked down at his hands again.

Hed hardly considered it possible but truly skills could be stolen too.

Kraush clenched his hand tightly.

A thrill surged through his body, knowing that his final gamble had paid off.

I could have checked sooner, really.

An ability that could even steal curses.

Stealing a skill had probably been an obvious thing.

But Kraush had never bothered to test it.

Even if he had stolen a skill, he lacked confidence in using someone elses skill polished over a lifetime.

But thoughts of stealing skills only came when his body was already ravaged by curses.

Moreover, his Black Hood had a clear drawback.

The difficulty of stealing is always relative.

Even a stone picked up from the road could be the most precious thing to someone.

In that case, even such a mere stone would not be easy to steal with the Black Hood.

The lock that manifests during the use of Black Hood is the condition.

Whenever Black Hood is activated, the conditions of the emerging lock could be very diverse.

And only upon fulfilling those conditions could the lock be opened and its contents be obtained.

That was the essence of Black Hood.

So naturally, skills are even harder to steal.

Obviously, ones ability is the most precious thing to anyone.

This made the conditions so hard that stealing was not easy.

But what happened in this case?

When Kraush tried to steal Arthurs regression, he saw no lock.

He simply activated Black Hood, and Arthurs regression was stolen.

How was that possible?

Maybe, just maybe.

A thought was darting through Kraushs head.

He vaguely remembered a feeling he got from Arthur.

A feeling of being worn out from endless routine tasks as if he was exhausted in the early evening.

To Kraush, it seemed like Arthur had regressed countless times before.

Regression is undoubtedly a great feat.

But repeating it countless times would be insufferable to any sane mind.

Thats even more true if it was a world progressing towards ruin.

Thats why Arthur opted for the choice of Inheritance of Memory with those three women.

Perhaps in his next regression, he wanted at least someone by his side.

The problem being, he himself had not even been treated as such a person.

Anyhow, Arthurs heart must have desired to rid himself of the ability to regress.

As a result, Kraush managed to steal regression without even encountering a lock.

For Arthur, regression may have been.

Perhaps it was a curse.

A curse that he desperately wanted to escape from.

Just a moment.

Suddenly, another thought crossed Kraushs mind.

He had stolen Arthurs regression and regressed to the past.

Then, what became of the Arthur he knew?

What Black Hood steals does not remain with the other.

After all, it cannot be considered stolen if it remains.

He had stolen regression from Arthur, and so it was certain Arthur no longer possessed it.

Does that mean the Arthur he knew remained in that pre-doomed cycle, the one just before?

In the face of the apocalyptic meteor shower heralding the worlds erosion?

Ha, haha.

A hollow laugh began to escape from Kraush Balheims mouth.

Quite the scene, Arthur.

Who would have guessed that the very regression you so despised would ultimately betray you in the end?

With a sneer for Arthur, Kraush rose to his feet.

He could hardly muster sympathy for someone who had regarded him as no more than a tool.

In fact, Arthur should probably be thanking him, for Kraush had taken the dreaded regression off his hands.

So what year is it now.

But Kraush faced a dilemma similar to Arthurs.

That was the knowledge of the worlds end.

An apocalypse that not even the Skyborne Generation could halt.

If he couldnt prevent it, he would die as well.

Damn it.

Kraush uttered a curse as he got up from the bed.

Then he felt the reasonably muscular body he had honed; without talent, he had still managed to swing his sword daily, trying to live up to some standard.

Inadequate compared to his siblings, but he possessed at least a modicum of muscle.

Yet, that would be insufficient.

Kraushs gaze traveled to the full-body mirror reflecting his image.

Perhaps he was in his early teens.

Smaller and younger than his memory suggested, his bright, intelligent blue eyes vividly peered back at him.

Can I prevent it?

Could he, who had been treated as nothing but a receptacle for curses, prevent the end of the world?

Carrying such doubts, Kraush clenched his fists.

Enough nonsense.

It wasnt about whether he could prevent it; he had to.

If the end came, he would die just like everyone else.

There were no other choices.

With that resolve, Kraush kicked open the door and stepped out.

The long-unseen desolate corridor unfolded before his eyes.

This was the Green Pine Hall of the Balheim family, where he had spent his early years.

Though it was called the Green Pine Hall, it was really a place of exile for the most worthless of the Balheim bloodline.

The Green Pine Hall was modest, managed with no more staff than a single butler and three maids.

If I am here, then.

It meant that the proof ceremony of when he was around ten had been completed.

Young Master? Where are you off to in such a hurry?

In that moment, a butler who had come outside called out to him.

The butler, noticeable for his white beard, named Aliod, had been assigned to accompany him to the Green Pine Hall.

Seeing his face, Kraushs eyes lit up.

Thats right, this must be before Aliods time as well.

For Aliod was the only butler in Balheim who had ever taken care of him.

It had been a long time since Kraush called his name.

Aliod.

Yes, Young Master.

As Aliod bowed his head in response to his call, Kraush too smiled in return.

When exactly do you plan to use the poison my third brother gave you to kill me, the disgrace of the family?

Aliods face hardened significantly.

Kraush continued to smile as he observed the reaction.

Aliod, the butler of the Green Pine Hall.

The very person who had laced Kraushs stew with poison given by his third brother around the age of fourteenthe first betrayal that Kraush had ever faced.

Aliods mind was filled with confusion.

The Kraush Balheim before him was the direct descendant of the Balheim that he had been assigned to since birth.

The Starlon Kingdom, the only nation strong enough to contend with the mightiest Euphania Empire, held its ground due to the Balheim family.

All direct descendants born there possessed inherent martial prowess.

Thats why, despite their strength, even the Empire hesitated to take action against Starlon head-on.

However, Kraush Balheim was different from the rest.

Typically, before a Balheim reached the age of ten, numerous deities would already be clamoring for a contract, bidding for their allegiance.

The greater the contractors prowess, the higher the deitys standing, which is why the direct descendants of the Balheim family were always a top priority for the gods.

But not for Kraush Balheim.

During the proof ceremony of the Balheim family, which took place when he was ten, a rite that was meant to display ones superior nature within the Balheim lineage, Kraush was unable to forge a contract with any deity.

Even his inherent martial prowess was deplorable.

Ultimately viewed as the shame of the Balheims, he was cast off to the Green Pine Hall.

For Aliod, being the butler of such a person was excruciating.

The direct descendant he was to serve for a lifetime was this inadequate, sealing his future prospects as well.

Young Master, what are you saying?

Aliod, his face a mix of bewilderment and alarm, blurted out to Kraush.

Up until yesterday, Kraush had been nothing but a wastrel, despairing his own life.

Aliod had never imagined he would catch on to a proposition he had received just a few days prior.

But that wasnt all.

Have you changed?

Kraushs eyes were typically void of life, absent of any real substance.

This made Aliod even more despondent, yet today was inexplicably different.

There was an intense yearning in his eyes, so strong it was almost odd.

As if he had transformed into an entirely different person overnight.

What in the world

What had happened last night?

Apart from falling asleep exhausted from wielding the sword, Aliod couldnt recall anything out of the ordinary.

While Aliod was caught off guard,

Kraush slowly brushed over his own forehead.

Perhaps due to the absence of curses, his hair was notably soft.

He might still be branded as the familys disgrace, but he was noble of Starlon by birth, and well-groomed for it.

However, he knew all too well that it wouldnt be long before his hair turned as drab as his spirit.

He seems flustered.

Looking at Aliods face, Kraush had a feeling this time things might be different.