I Became A Thief Who Steals Overpowered Skills

Chapter 4 Ways for a Half-Penny to Grow

For their successors placed in the same predicament as themselves, not having been blessed, the half-penny ancestors spent their days in Green Pine Hall compiling their techniques and memories into grimoires of forbidden knowledge.

That is the very essence of Green Pine Halls secret archive.

It was an archive for the half-pennies.

Ha, just look at me.

Approaching the bookshelf, Kraush slowly pulled out one of the dust-coated grimoires.

What if he had discovered this place a bit earlier?

Not obsessed only with skills acquired through a contract with a god, but achieving mastery through the creations of mankind.

Im a bit late, arent I, ancestors?

Kraush spoke in jest, looking up.

This archive, sealed because of the worst half-penny, Demaris Balheim, was now reopened by his own hands.

However, interesting as these ancestral grimoires might be, the one Kraush sought after was different.

As Kraush turned his head, goosebumps crawled over his skin.

An icy chill struck his body, one that he felt despite having harbored the curse of numerous world erosions.

It was certain.

Demaris Balheim.

The grimoire left by a devil.

It was right there.

Step by step, Kraushs footsteps moved slowly.

At the very end of the library, he picked up a black book with an ominous appearance.

At a glance, it looked as if stained with blood. Gently, Kraush lifted it.

Then, a wild grin spread across his face.

I wondered why hed gone mad.

Kraush witnessed the swirling energy of the black grimoire and gripped the book tightly.

Just touching it made the tips of Kraushs fingers start to burn.

But not a single sound of pain escaped him.

He was accustomed to pain due to the curses of world erosion.

Such a triviality could not stop him.

The curse of the world erosion mustve consumed him.

It was through the curse emanating from the book that Kraush suspected why Demaris Balheim had gone mad.

The curse of world erosion is cruel.

Even he himself spent years researching, studying to unravel the curse, barely managing to neutralize it by pitting curses against each other.

Had he been subjected to each individually, even Kraush wouldnt have endured.

Besides, the effects of the curse are somewhat mitigated when stolen.

A curse is most potent when specifically tethered to its target.

Since Kraush had stolen it, the aimless curse weakened.

The terrible pain persisted, of course.

Crackle-

Kraush ignored his singed skin and turned the pages.

Slowly, he began to read.

The contents were diary-like.

Demaris Balheim.

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The story of a half-penny who eventually became known as a devil, consumed by world erosion.

Demaris had written down his tormented story meticulously here.

Nevertheless, the narrative failed to move Kraush much.

The real treasure lay further within the pages.

Ive found it.

In a flash, Kraushs eyes sparkled.

The reason why Demaris was called the greatest shame of Balheim was not because of some demonic act, but because he had become a monster mighty enough to be labeled the strongest in Balheim.

When warriors renowned throughout the worlds swarmed him, they had their heads severed by Demaris alone.

How could he have been so powerful?

The answer was simple.

He had forged a unique forbidden technique dealing with world erosion.

A mad grimoire that carved the power of world erosion into ones flesh, controlling it from within.

Thanks to this madness, he ascended as the mightiest.

Although, in the end, he became a monster overcome by world erosion.

Such was the forbidden technique he developed.

Extreme Blood Poisoning.

A forbidden art so dangerous, it was taboo even within Balheimdrawing in the world erosion into ones own body.

No one would have guessed this forbidden grimoire to be tucked away at the very end of Green Pine Halls secret archive.

If I master this, its possible.

Kraush clenched his fists as he read the contents of Extreme Blood Poisoning in detail.

Although when he had found it before, more than half was burnt, preventing him from learning it.

But this time was different.

Of course, Extreme Blood Poisoning is perilously risky.

However, Kraush had a plan.

The downside of Extreme Blood Poisoning is world erosion madness, and the curse that enables one to control such frenzy.

Kraush knew well the cursed one.

And that the cursed one was considerably close to him.

Though somewhat ridiculous to steal another curse again.

For the future, it was necessary.

Someday, Kraush intended to steal all manner of skills, not just curses.

The current Kraush needed to grow stronger even without skills.

Closing the grimoire of Extreme Blood Poisoning, Kraush rose from his seat.

Aliod.

Yes, Master Kraush.

From today, until I have mastered all the grimoires here in Green Pine Hall, dont let anyone else in.

That was the command of the current master of Green Pine Hall.

Aliod, beholding Kraush, widened his eyes and bowed his head deeply.

Yes, understood.

Kraush began to pull out more books once more.

Watching Kraushs back, Aliod was lost in thought.

How exactly does Master Kraush know of such a place?

A library filled with grimoires containing startling forbidden techniques.

Even Aliod, assigned as the butler of Green Pine Hall, had not known of this placeyet Kraush had found it so naturally, as though informed overnight by someone.

Then who could that someone be?

Perhaps.

There was only one entity who could teach such a place in Green Pine Hall.

The current patriarch of Balheim.

Balrok Balheim.

There could be no other.

Has the lord not yet given up on Master Kraush?

After witnessing Kraush achieving a contract with a deity, did the lord perhaps subtly hint to Kraush the secret of Green Pine Hall?

Having reached that conclusion, Aliod clenched the fist rested against his chest tightly.

To think I almost gave up on the young master, whom even the lord has not forsaken.

He was disgusted with himself, finding his own actions contemptible.

At the same time, emotions welled up within him, reminiscent of the past when Kraush had first been born. He recalled the sentiments he had harbored as a butler to steadfastly support this person for life and eventually install him as the head of the Balheim family.

Master Kraush forgave me despite my mistake.

When the master overlooks a servants mistake, it is the servants duty to repay that kindness.

I shouldve been more resolute after a fall, yet how could I have made such a foolish mistake?

Blinded by his daughters incurable disease, Aliod detested himself for almost giving up on who he served. Failing to guide Kraush on the right path had been his responsibility as the butler.

And yet, he had momentarily contemplated betrayal.

Aliod made a firm resolve to reject the proposition made by Kraushs third brother.

My master is Master Kraush.

He etched this fact deep within his heart once more.

* * *

Several days after Kraush had entered the secret archive.

Belorkin Balheim, the third in the direct line of the Balheim family, heard some dumbfounding news.

Did that half-penny refuse my offer for his sake?

Belorkin furrowed his brows in frustration as he recalled Aliod, who had just bowed and left moments earlier. It was because Aliod had refused his offer for the sake of the half-penny youngest brother.

Belorkin had been assured that everything would be taken care of without complications.

Furthermore, he had promised to find a cure for his daughters incurable disease.

Yet, suddenly this man had changed his stance.

Damn it, wasnt he completely on my side before?

Belorkin had thought for sure that Aliod had long given up on Kraush.

Why then did he refuse the proposal now?

Trash like that should not be allowed to remain in our family.

Belorkin ground his teeth, filled with intense loathing.

Beside him lay a torn newspaper.

The protagonist of that newspaper was none other than Charlotte, hailed as a once-in-a-generation genius.

Belorkin pushed the shredded paper towards the garbage bin and rose from his seat.

He felt sickened to see her bloodline flourishing within the Balheim family.

One acclaimed as a genius on the one hand, and a half-penny that dishonors the Balheims on the other.

Both equally infuriating.

Is anyone out there?

Yes, Master Belorkin. Did you call for me?

Upon his call, a man appeared, opening the door abruptly.

Dressed in a well-kept butlers uniform, he was none other than Belorkins dedicated butler.

Check out Green Pine Hall where Kraush is staying. I need to find out why on earth his butlers attitude changed so suddenly.

Unable to make sense of it, Belorkin decided to investigate himself.

However, shortly thereafter he would come across a fact that drove him to even greater fury.

Green Pine Hall had been closed off to everyone by the order of its master, Kraush.

Even if it was the third brother, none could enter.

Amidst the growing anger of Belorkin, Kraush continued his daily routine of training within the secret archive.

Some days later, Kraush exhaled a long breath from his seated meditation position and opened his eyes.

A refreshing wave of aura cascaded through him from within, noticeably much stronger than before.

I might have made it to the threshold of an Expert.

There exist several realms of aura.

The first stage is that of an Aura User, the very foundation.

It is where one resides upon first awakening to their aura.

The next level is that of an Aura Expert.

This is where most aura wielders are found and where, arguably, the difference between ordinary and genius is distinguished.

There is a saying in the world:

Anyone who cannot graduate from Expert before thirty will remain one for life.

Such was the statement that illustrated Expert as the endpoint of the average.

And Kraush had just barely stepped into that realm.

Currently, he was 13 years old.

An impressive level considering his age.

However, his family was none other than the Balheim.

Balheim direct line members enter the Expert level by the age of 8.

Even Charlotte, two years Kraushs senior, had already reached the pinnacle of the Expert tier, standing on the verge of Mastery.

It wasnt for nothing that she acquired the epithet Sword Star before turning twenty.

Its still unbelievable talent, even now.

But even a talent like Charlotte was powerless in the face of cataclysm.

Compared to her, he was merely an Expert neophyte.

Truly, could such a level suffice to protect the world?

Well see about that.

Kraush was not particularly discouraged.

He knew he was a half-penny.

That fact was neither new nor surprising.

Above all, at this moment, he felt a sense of enjoyment.

He had lived with a curse that twisted him from within whenever he used his aura. Being an Expert or anything else did not matter in the past.

Moreover, all the grimoires in the secret archive had been created by half-pennies of the Balheim, just like him.

Thanks to this, the grimoires were comprehensible and attainable to him.

Even without Charlotte-like talent, he could grow stronger.

For now, that was enough.

Master.

Aliods voice called from outside the secret archive right on cue.

Kraush organized the grimoires before walking out.

You have entered the Expert tier, congratulations.

No need for that.

Kraush nonchalantly replied to Aliods congratulatory greeting and gave him a look asking what else he wanted.

The Lady Bianca Hardenhartz, your betrothed, has come to Green Pine Hall.

Kraush figured what was bound to happen had finally arrived.