I Became A Thief Who Steals Overpowered Skills - Chapter 18

[EP.18] Crimson Garden August

The Immortal.

Crimson Garden August.
T h i s w a s c o p ie d f ro m kin g m t l . o r g

In fact, Kraush once attempted to steal her immortality a long time ago.

However, that was not his intention.

‘Arthur.’

He had instructed Kraush to do so to Crimson Garden before him.

But Kraush failed.

It was because of a single dial created to steal her immortality.

The condition was simple.

Be stronger than Crimson Garden August.

And Kraush could not fulfill that one condition.

Kraush at that time was merely a lump of curse with a resilient life essence.

Arthur, without saying much, even if Kraush failed to steal it, chopped up Crimson Garden and submerged her directly into a lava cave.

Adding that she would eternally melt and regenerate there, living an eternal life.

‘That Arthur, the bastard, must have wanted to use me as a tool to absorb the curse of immortality.’

That would have been why he could show such an attitude.

Kraush looked at the current Crimson Garden before his eyes.

After he exhibited his skill, she still remained hardened, unable to speak a single word.

It was a natural reaction.

The skill was the only method that could erase the curse-like immortality for her.

Thus, after a considerable time of silence, Crimson Garden opened her mouth again.
T hi s was c o p i e d f r o m ki n g mt l . o r g

“The terms of the deal are?”

And for the first time, her eyes sincerely changed.
Th i s wa s c o p i e d f r o m k i n g m t l . o r g

Without a single trace of mockery left, sincerity could be felt from the eyes of Crimson Garden, who was now looking at him directly.

She wanted to erase her immortality no matter what.

“Assist me in getting stronger.”

Kraush immediately brought out the content of the deal he had thought of right from the start.

Kraush had definitely become stronger.

And he would continue to become stronger in the future.

He would eventually become a formidable being by stealing more skills, mastering secretive arts, and refining them.

But that would only be within the realm of a genius.

Kraush knew all too well how powerless a genius could be faced with destruction.

Geniuses can change the world.

However, geniuses cannot protect the world.

The world needed someone beyond a genius.

So Kraush didn’t care about the means to become stronger.

Even if the person before him was a World Erosion bearer, Kraush planned to devour anything and everything that came his way.

Crimson Garden, a strong being comparable to Arthur with the species she commanded alone.

With her help, he could certainly become much stronger than now.

‘I have no intention to perish alongside the world.’

To Kraush, in fact, the world had been nothing short of shitty.

Born a half-penny, after going through all sorts of hardship, not only did he fail to receive recognition, but he was also betrayed by a comrade.

There was a part of him that just thought the world should just perish.

But even so,

This is the world where he lives.

Without the world, he doesn’t exist.

This is not a consideration for others.

It’s solely to survive that he tries to prevent the world from perishing.

So Kraush was determined to hold out with all his might, once again attempting to prevent the world from sinking into destruction.

That is Kraush Balheim.

A stubborn half-wit through and through.

“This is akin to the conditions for erasing your immortality.”

To unlock Crimson Garden’s dial, there was a need to become stronger than her.

Whether that strength was something visible or based on her perception, he still did not know.
T his w a s c op ie d fr o m k in g mt l . o r g

But the dial had laid out those conditions.

So, in some way, Kraush and Crimson Garden’s goals were aligned.

If Kraush grew stronger, he could fulfill the dial’s conditions and steal Crimson Garden’s immortality.

Thus, it was necessary for Crimson Garden too to make Kraush powerful.

“The conditions granted by the skill?”

“Yes, without meeting those conditions, even I cannot steal your immortality.”

Upon hearing Kraush’s words, Crimson Garden looked at him with her arms folded.

‘It’s not a lie.’

There’s no way a regressor would propose such a deal to her mindlessly.

‘Make me stronger,’ he had said.

Somehow, a snicker escaped her.

Did this young one even understand what that meant?

To become a disciple of the Dragon King Tribe, that’s what it signified.

‘…Indeed, nurturing something definite right in front of me seems better than blindly raising the ranks of world erosion in pursuit of something meaningless.’

A being capable of killing her.

She had purposely investigated while elevating the ranks of the world erosion in search of such a person.

But, Kraush suddenly appeared before her.

If it would lead to erasing her immortality, she’d sell her soul if necessary.

What did it matter to take on a disciple?

A provocative smile drew across her face for the first time in ages.

“Alright. If that’s the condition, I’ll nurture you. I’ll raise you to become the strongest in this world.”

Seeing the confident Crimson Garden, Kraush internally let out a sigh of relief.

Then he stood up and reached out his hand.

“Then I’m counting on you. Crim.”

“Yes, I too…”

But at that instant, Crimson Garden’s face crumpled.

“What, child? What did you just call me?”

“Crimson Garden is too long to say.”

While Crimson Garden showed a baffled expression, Kraush remained nonchalant.

‘Only that man dared to call me Crim before.’

She hadn’t expected someone else in this world to ever call her ‘Crim,’ and after letting out a huff, she clenched her fist.

“Call me Master.”

Then she struck Kraush on the head, as a master would.

＊ ＊ ＊

Kraush, who had never expected to be hit with a knuckle-rap, finished the investigation with Crimson Garden’s servant, reverted back to her investigator role.

Still feeling a tingling sensation in his head, Kraush was touching his head when a bird tapped the carriage window with its beak where he was seated.

The exceedingly crimson bird had a black star spot on its neck.

When Kraush opened the window, the bird hopped onto his shoulder.

“Crim, isn’t your color a bit too conspicuous?”

As soon as he addressed it as Crim, the bird tried to peck at his cheek with its beak.

This bird was none other than another servant sent by Crimson Garden.

“Don’t worry. The color can be changed freely.”

Saying that, Crimson Garden changed her feather’s color to black.

“What do you think? I matched it with the hair color of my unfortunate disciple. A crow truly resembles you.”

“Thanks for the compliment. Crows are smart, you know.”

“I said it because your inside is as dark as a crow’s.”

Should I consider grilling this bird soon?

Kraush seriously pondered this.

“So, where is the main body?”

Sending a servant meant that her main body was elsewhere.

Thus, upon Kraush’s query, she preened her feathers.

“Don’t you have a rough idea?”

“That damned regressor status.”

As her words suggested, Kraush knew the status of her main body.

She was an immortal.

Specifically, an immortal in eternal slumber.

Her main body lay somewhere in this world with its eyes shut.

And the only way to wake from that sleep was to erase the immortality.
T h is was co p i e d from k i n g mt l .or g

Thus, she desired to remove her immortality.

Eternal sleep, in a way, was even more accursed than death itself.

That was why Crimson Garden commanded the most number of species among those who erode the world.

Through their eyes, she could see the real world, not a dream.

‘Yet with those beings, she displayed a combat power equal to that of Arthur.’

Of course, in the process, those beings had all died, but that was beside the point.

If only that were to be considered, maybe Crimson Garden’s main body was stronger than Arthur’s.

‘Ended up chopped to pieces and dropped into lava, but who knows for sure.’

During these thoughts, Kraush felt the carriage lurch into motion.

It was finally starting to leave.

A farewell to the detested family estate.

One shouldn’t return there for quite a while.

‘Eventually, when father returns, I’ll have to visit at least once.’

But until then, goodbye.
Th is w a s c o pie d f r o m ki n g mt l . o rg

After about four hours into the carriage ride, Kraush finally arrived at Green Pine Mansion.

It had been just a few days since he left, but he felt like he was coming home as he saw something white hurrying towards the carriage.

That white figure reminded him, for a moment, of a white chick.

The identity of this ‘chick’ was none other than Bianca.

She approached Kraush as he got out of the carriage and said,

“You’re back.”

Was she here to welcome her fiancé?

Seeing her clutching a book, it seemed she rushed here after hearing the carriage, probably interrupting her reading.

The ever-expressionless Bianca lightly circled Kraush once.

Watching her curious behavior, Bianca nodded.

“You don’t seem to be hurt.”

“Were you hoping I’d come back injured?”

“I had heard it was dangerous.”

Was that her way of showing concern?

“You said you’d come back quickly, and yet it took days.”

“I did my best to come back as fast as I could.”

Bianca seemed to acknowledge this, nodding as though she was not unaware of it.

Kraush thought that she appeared even more stoic today than usual.

“Welcome back.”

At that moment, Aliod greeted Kraush.

“Yeah, did anything happen at Green Pine Mansion?”

“Except for a letter that arrived for Mr. Kraush, no.”

“A letter?”

As Kraush showed surprise, Aliod produced the letter as if he had it prepared.

Upon seeing the letter, Kraush immediately recognized the sender.

There was only one woman who would send a letter with a lipstick mark like this.

‘Darling.’

It was from Darling Danphelion, the future Grand Alchemist.

It hadn’t been that long since his trip to the Star Sanctuary.

There was no reason for her to contact him so soon.

Kraush opened the letter and scanned its contents.

After a moment, he was taken aback.

‘Is crazy always going to be crazy?’

The letter was an announcement that she had developed a cure for discoloration disease and that she would visit soon.

Creating a cure for discoloration disease in such a short amount of time, that was something.

Kraush looked at Aliod.

“This must be good news for you.”

“Excuse me?”

Aliod had a daughter who was suffering from the discoloration disease, so Kraush said as much and then carefully folded the letter and put it in his pocket.

“There will be a guest arriving soon. Let Darling Danphelion in when she comes.”

“Yes, sir.”

Despite his confusion, Aliod bowed professionally and made the arrangement, which was precisely why Kraush kept him around.

Then, Kraush’s gaze fell upon Bianca who was still standing there, staring at him in bewilderment.

“Mr. Kraush, Miss Bianca was quite worried about you.”

During this time, Aliod had discretely conveyed his message to Kraush.

“Bianca worried?”

About him?

After his return to the past, he had managed to become somewhat close to Bianca.

But the idea of her being worried about him was hard to believe.

“When they said Mr. Kraush was involved in world erosion, she wanted to go to the main house.”

Hearing that she had considered going to the main house to find him, Kraush realized it was sincere concern.
T h i s w a s c op i e d fro m k i n g mt l. o r g

She may not have emotions, but she was capable of worry.

Well, worry was more a matter of thought than of emotion.

Considering recent times, Kraush hadn’t checked her dial in a while.

Maybe by now, he had become at least a friend to her.

Kraush activated his Black Hood right away.

In an instant, a dial appeared before him.

As he weakly opened his eyes to look at the dial, Kraush then widened them in shock.

‘The first dial has been unlocked.’

The first dial that had been stuck on Bianca all this time was now open.

Kraush faced the expressionless Bianca who was looking at him.

This means that, one way or another, he had probably become a friend to Bianca by now.

He felt a sense of accomplishment for having taken care of her this whole time.

T h i s w as c opie d f r o m kin g m t l . o r g
Only one dial remained.

Soon, Bianca would regain her emotions.

Feeling inexplicably better, Kraush raised his hand and stroked Bianca’s head.

Bianca looked at Kraush, not understanding why but apparently not minding the gesture as she stayed still.

“Bianca, have you eaten?”

“Not yet.”

Too young to starve on this day.

“Aliod, prepare something tasty.”

“Yes, sir.”

As Aliod went to get the food ready, the crow-shaped Crimson Garden hopped off from the carriage and landed on Kraush’s shoulder.

Noticing this, Bianca’s eyes widened slightly.

“Oh, I forgot to introduce you. This is our new friend.”

Seeing the glimmer in Bianca’s eyes, Kraush crouched down to give her a closer look at Crimson Garden.

Bianca carefully lifted a small hand and stroked the feathers of Crimson Garden.

“It’s soft.”
Th is w a s c o pi e d f r o m k i n gm t l. or g

It seemed Bianca was not curious about why he had brought a crow, nor did she dislike the touch, as Crimson Garden allowed her to stroke without moving.

“What’s its name?”

Did Bianca like animals?

Upon hearing her question, a mischievous smile spread across Kraush’s face.

“Crim.”

T h i s w a s c o p i e d f r o m ki n g m t l . o r g
What happened between Crimson Garden and him after that would remain a secret.