I Became A Thief Who Steals Overpowered Skills

[ Aren’t you just getting better at scamming? ]

“Squeak, squeak.”

Kraush replied dismissively, maintaining his smile as he listened to the noisy chatter of outsiders.

Vioren was inherently a suspicious person.

Even when treated with goodwill, she would only grow more doubtful and retreat further.

Well, that was to be expected.

Half of her bloodline belonged to a World Eroder, so she had lived her life constantly on guard against everyone.

Even though she was the Magic Emperor’s child, the Magic Emperor didn’t actively take care of her.

‘To the Magic Emperor, Vioren was nothing more than an object of curiosity.’

What would happen if a World Eroder and a human had a child?

To satisfy this curiosity, the Magic Emperor willingly brought in a world eroder Barrier Master to conceive a child.

And the result of that was Vioren.

Having fulfilled the conditions of his curiosity, Vioren no longer held any value to the Magic Emperor.

However, this didn’t mean that he neglected her materially; he ensured she had the means to survive.

Thus, Vioren was left to grow up alone.

‘Anyway, these so-called magicians…’

Magicians are individuals who have reached the pinnacle of curiosity and inquiry.

For them, concepts like the dignity of life or lines that shouldn’t be crossed were easily disregarded in the name of exploration.

That’s why, if one were to name the craziest people in the world, magicians would always occupy all ten fingers.

Kraush particularly disliked the study of magic for this reason.

If even the Magic Emperor, the pinnacle of magic, was this deranged, how could the others be any better?

This was also why Kraush had always found the Red Witch, Abella, who had regressed with him, deeply unsettling.

To Kraush, she was a ticking time bomb that could go off at any moment.

Kraush decided to stop his thoughts there.

There were too many pressing tasks to dwell on things that couldn’t be solved right now.

For now, his focus was on Vioren, who stood before him.

“It’s simple. Create a barrier that other World Eroders can’t perceive me through.”

“…What?”

Vioren once again wore a dumbfounded expression.

That expression clearly conveyed a what are you even saying? reaction to anyone who saw it.

However, Kraush continued speaking without hesitation.

“I’ve become a target for the World Eroder. I need to block that.”

The Black Witch, who was observing the situation through Spectral Sight, watched Kraush intently.

She was also aware that he was the youngest son of Valheim.

However, she couldn’t approach him recklessly—not yet.

The series of information revolving around Kraush was extremely suspicious.

In front of the Mad Sword Emperor, Kraush had wielded the power of World Erosion with ease.

Even that fact alone raised countless questions.

The more one investigated Kraush’s actions thus far, the more peculiar they seemed.

‘By now, they must have realized that from Ebelasque to the Crimson Garden, everyone is keeping a close watch on me.’

The Black Witch, who bore the grand purpose of creating the God of World Erosion, would be especially cautious.

One mistake could ruin everything.

It was only natural for her to tread carefully.

‘This isn’t like the time when she could boldly abduct Brother Rai’s son.’

Thus, the Black Witch had refrained from approaching Kraush directly and was merely observing him for the time being.

‘But that won’t last long.’

It was only a matter of time before the Black Witch pieced together the information and made her move.

‘Whether it’s through negotiations or an abduction attempt.’

It all depended on how Kraush responded.

That was why he needed Vioren’s barrier techniques.

If he couldn’t directly monitor those approaching to gather information about him, it would inevitably appear even more significant and threatening.

‘I need to become an unpredictable variable that Ixion cannot ignore.’

Kraush fixed his gaze on Vioren.

Her expression was complicated in many ways.

After all, the youngest of Valheim had suddenly demonstrated the power of World Erosion.

And now, he was talking about avoiding the gaze of the World Eroder, leaving her unable to follow his train of thought.

“…You.”

After hesitating for a moment, Vioren finally muttered cautiously.

“By any chance, is your mother a World Eroder?”

Her eyes trembled violently.

It was a question worth asking, one she herself had wondered about.

Just as she carried the blood of a World Eroder, she speculated whether Kraush’s connection to the World Eroders might stem from the same reason.

Perhaps, deep down, there was an unconscious hope mixed in—a faint expectation that she had met someone of her kind.

It was only natural for a solitary island in the middle of the vast ocean to rejoice upon discovering another.

Observing this, Kraush fell into brief contemplation.

If he wanted to, Kraush could have told a benevolent lie.

But he decided not to bother with such an act.

He knew that the sense of betrayal she would feel later, once the truth was revealed, would be even greater.

“No, neither of my parents has any connection to the World Eroder.”

“Ah, I see…”

At those words, a hint of disappointment flashed across Vioren’s eyes.

Unconsciously, she had been clinging to the idea of belonging to the same kind.

There was no one else in this world who could truly understand her situation.

For that reason, she found it hard to hide her dismay.

“But.”

Kraush continued, as he let the same black flames as before coil around his hand, rolling them slowly within his palm.

“I do know what it’s like to be eaten away by World Erosion.”

Kraush had used the Snow Doll and various other means to suppress the madness of World Erosion.

World Erosion was a deadly poison to humans.

Thus, he understood better than anyone just how viciously destructive it could be.

“And I’ll help you so that you won’t have to keep fighting against World Erosion anymore.”

“…”

A lack of empathy.

Vioren, who had always lived as a lonely, isolated island.

To her, who had survived solely on her own, without any help from others, the notion of someone who could actually provide help was monumental.

Meeting someone who had endured the same struggles as her, someone who understood her pain.

That alone could surprisingly solidify a person’s resolve.

Kraush understood this better than anyone else.

It was why he had deliberately approached Vioren.

「Whether it’s the World Eroder or humanity, fuck it, neither place will have me. Both are meaningless to me.」

Remembering her outburst, Kraush fixed his gaze on Vioren.

“…”

Vioren maintained her silence, staring back at Kraush.

A flurry of thoughts flickered in her eyes.

It was the first time she had encountered someone capable of empathizing with her situation.

“…Did you propose this deal because you thought someone with a rotten personality like mine wouldn’t accept help so easily?”

Her next words, in many ways, were just like her.

“Think whatever you want.”

Vioren clenched her fists tightly.

After a long silence, Vioren reached up and untied the ponytail she had secured at the nape of her neck.

As the silver strands of her hair cascaded down, they shimmered faintly.

She had tied her hair up to avoid being reminded of her identity as the child of a Barrier Master whenever she caught sight of it.

But, for some reason, it no longer seemed to matter anymore.

With a defiant tilt of her chin, she snorted in mock contempt.

Despite her harsh expression, her face carried a sense of relief, as though a heavy weight had been lifted.

The realization that she was no longer a lonely island in the middle of an endless ocean had unexpectedly taken root in her heart.

“…How am I supposed to make something like that? I can’t even handle my own World Erosion.”

“Haha.”

Kraush chuckled at her words.

When Vioren narrowed her eyes at him, annoyed, he responded with a smirk brimming with mischief.

“Well, in that case, I guess you’ll have to go back to wearing a shell next month.”

In other words, if she wanted to live as a proper human, she had no choice but to figure it out.

Vioren’s face twisted with indignation.

After all his talk about helping her, his attitude had flipped in an instant.

It was utterly absurd.

But those very words were precisely the kind that could spark the rebellious fire in someone like her.

“Damn it! Fine! Let’s do this! I’ll make something so good it’ll knock you flat on your back! I’ve already bitten into the poisoned apple—what can’t I do now?”

Vioren spat out her defiance and spun on her heels, stomping away with determined strides.

Her short legs nearly caused her to stumble a few times, but she marched on resolutely.

Her face was filled with resolve.

For the first time, it felt like she had finally spotted a signpost on a seemingly endless road.

Watching her retreating figure, Kraush rubbed his face.

Maintaining a meaningful expression had strained his muscles.

[ Why are you acting like it’s hard when you make that face all the time? ]

He decided to ignore Crimson Garden’s sarcastic remarks.

[ So, what exactly did you mix into that reagent? ]

Crimson Garden, still baffled, couldn’t grasp how Kraush had managed to stabilize Vioren’s World Erosion.

Kraush’s explanation sounded plausible, but the truth was, his ability to handle World Erosion relied entirely on the Snow Doll and the secret technique Extreme Blood Poison.

Since implanting Snow Doll in Vioren was out of the question, there wasn’t a proper solution readily available.

When Crimson Garden pressed him for answers, Kraush explained his method plainly.

After all, there wasn’t anything particularly special about it.

“Vioren was already almost at a perfected level in barrier techniques from the start.”

Vioren had desperately studied barrier techniques in order to survive.

When combined with magic, her barrier techniques had, as Kraush said, reached near perfection.

However, even someone like Vioren had weaknesses.

While she had achieved a new barrier technique that merged magic and traditional barriers, she lacked knowledge about reagents.

“So, just changing the ingredients in the reagent she used completely altered the outcome.”

That was precisely why Kraush had asked Darlene to make a reagent.

By chance, Vioren had used a reagent she mistook for a proper solution—a concoction Darlene had prepared for interrogation purposes. The unexpected result was what stabilized her condition.

In other words, Kraush himself wasn’t even qualified to propose a deal.

It was entirely thanks to Darlene that this issue was resolved.

[ Your nature is that of a con artist. ]

“I’m just using everything I can, that’s all.”

After all, as long as both parties benefit, what’s the harm?

＊ ＊ ＊

After making the deal with Vioren, she began visiting Kraush daily.

“Hey, shit, this time I did it!”

When Kraush finished his martial arts training and stepped outside, there was Vioren, holding a necklace in her hand.

Ever since Kraush had crushed Arsold Freya and the Imperial faction member, no one dared to cross him.

Everyone knew that provoking him could lead to dire consequences.

So, when they saw Vioren hurling curses at him, the other students were initially shocked beyond belief.

However, Kraush never reprimanded her for it.

In fact, he treated her with such familiarity that the other students gradually grew accustomed to Vioren’s presence as well.

Moreover, it didn’t take long for the academy to discover that she was Vioren Sedney.

No matter how much she tried to keep it hidden, the professors called her name during attendance checks, making her identity impossible to conceal.

The revelation that such a petite and adorable kid resided inside the fearsome Vioren caused a stir among the students.

Her name was on everyone’s lips for quite some time.

Though things had calmed down now, it was undeniable that she continued to draw attention.

“You’re so cute, Vioren. Want some of this?”

“Unnie brought cookies for you!”

Due to her naturally charming appearance, she ended up monopolizing the affection of the female students.

The women of the martial arts department, in particular, found Vioren utterly adorable and doted on her incessantly.

Compared to the rough, muscle-bound students of the martial arts department, Vioren, with her pristine and delicate appearance, stood out starkly.

“What the fuck is wrong with you people?!”

She shouted in panic, clearly overwhelmed.

Kraush, noticing her distress, made his way through the throng of women crowding around Vioren.

Thankfully, they quickly stepped aside when he approached, knowing that entangling with him was never a good idea.

“Give it here.”

Kraush took the necklace from Vioren and clasped it around his own neck. Then, he examined the brooch attached to it.

[ It’s visible. ]

If it could evade the gaze of the World Eroder, it also needed to evade the sight of Crimson Garden.

However, it failed to escape Crimson Garden’s notice.

“It won’t work.”

In short, it was a failed attempt.

Kraush removed the necklace and handed it back to Vioren.

She gritted her teeth and muttered, “Shit,” before turning on her heel and running off without hesitation.

Her strong desire to succeed was evident.

Until she perfected it, she would undoubtedly keep bringing her creations to him.

That determination wasn’t a bad trait.

‘Her expression is gradually improving.’

At first, Vioren had seemed awkward and shy about showing her true self.

She had even been anxious about people finding out she was Vioren Sedney.

But as she grew accustomed to being herself and became more comfortable with others’ perceptions of her, Vioren began to adapt to her new life.

This adaptation was a monumental change for her.

Having always lived behind a facade, she had never learned how to connect with others truthfully.

Moreover, her constant battle with the corrosive effects of World Erosion left her teetering on the brink of death daily, forcing her to pour all her energy into perfecting her barrier techniques.

Naturally, she had no meaningful relationships and no time to form any.

However, once her World Erosion stabilized and she could maintain her true form, everything changed.

For the first time, she could genuinely hear what others thought of her.

Previously, hidden behind a mask, she had reacted defensively to others’ opinions. But now, she could accept their responses with honesty.

This change unexpectedly helped her recover many of the emotions that had fractured deep within her over the years.

In addition, resolving the situation where she couldn’t focus on anything other than barrier techniques opened up a new world for Vioren.

Now, she could finally turn her attention to various other things around her.

The impact of this realization brought more changes to her than she could have ever imagined.

To the point where, even while working on the barrier Kraush requested—a barrier to evade the gaze of the World Eroder—she found herself with time to spare.

It was then she realized something.

The task Kraush had assigned her was, in a way, filling the void that could have consumed her after losing her sole purpose in life.

This understanding, subtle as it was, kept her moving forward without stopping.

“Kraush!”

Perhaps that’s why these moments had become so fulfilling for her.

“Do it again.”

Even though Kraush’s curt demand of “Again” made her grind her teeth, she found herself looking forward to figuring out how to improve next time.

And, truthfully, she also felt a little thrill at the thought of one day proving him wrong and humbling him.

Somehow, the world was starting to feel wider.

She never imagined her life could feel this fulfilling.

“Again.”

Today, too, Kraush coldly demanded a redo. Vioren snatched the pendant from him and, turning around, sprinted off, only to stop mid-step.

When she glanced back, she saw that several people had gathered around him.

Kraush had a knack for drawing people to him.

Though as rough and blunt as he was, those who stayed by his side knew that wasn’t the whole picture.

Kraush shared many similarities with her.

Perhaps because of that, a thought began to creep into her mind:

Maybe I, too, could live like that someday.

“…Ha.”

She let out a laugh, partly incredulous at herself.

The very idea of having such a thought, even for a moment, amused her.

But at the same time, it made her realize just how much she was stabilizing emotionally.

Yet, another feeling quietly emerged within her—a sense of unease.

Eventually, the day would come when she completed the barrier Kraush had asked for.

And then what?

Would she be consumed by a crushing sense of emptiness?

After all, her life’s sole purpose had always been survival.

Her mother had left, and her father had abandoned her.

What could her life’s goal possibly be now?

“Vioren.”

While she was lost in these thoughts, Kraush called out to her, stopping her in her tracks as she turned to leave after his usual demand.

“If you have any desire to find your mother…”

Vioren’s eyes began to widen slowly.

“Once you’ve completed the barrier, come to me again. I’ll give you a clue.”

To find her mother.

It was something she had never once considered before.

Her lips moved wordlessly, trying to form the question: How on earth do you know something like that?

But Kraush said nothing more and simply turned away.

Vioren stared blankly at his retreating figure, her hand tightening around the experimental pendant she had made.

“Did he learn mind-reading or something…?”

Yet, for some reason, she felt as though something was filling the emptiness inside her.

Whether he had said it to deliberately motivate her or merely to push her toward completing the barrier, she couldn’t tell.

But one thing was certain.

He was helping to fill the void in her heart.

“Fuck, this is embarrassing.”

Exhaling deeply, Vioren turned and ran off.

The fire of determination reignited in her eyes, chasing away the weariness that had begun to creep in.

One day, she would master barrier techniques far stronger than those of the World Eroder Barrier Masters and claim her place among the Skyborne generation.

Vioren Zeblam.

This was a pivotal moment in her growth.

Both as a person and a Barrier Master.

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