I Became A Thief Who Steals Overpowered Skills

Chapter 175: Destroying Sigrids Plan

Chapter 175: Destroying Sigrids Plan

[The 7-star erosion species ‘Lavados’ has been defeated.]

After Lavados met its end.

A notification confirming its defeat appeared in the sky above.

Kraush, gazing upward, let out a hollow laugh.

He had a vague sense of what the message meant.

‘It’s telling us to defeat the remaining high-rankers before they can recover their strength.’

What a cruel system.

But that’s how the World Erosion worked.

Defeating one threat didn’t mean the danger disappeared instantly.

It was a reminder to never let your guard down.

Kraush quickly checked the points.

As expected, the scores were evenly distributed among the team.

All five of them had climbed into the highest rankings.

Naturally, Kraush was in first place.

It was thanks to the erosion species he had defeated on the way, as well as the significant points earned from taking down Mary and the 6-star species.

“Kraush!”

At that moment, Haring ran up to him in a rush.

When Kraush blinked at her sudden approach, Haring hurriedly examined him from head to toe, looking worried.

Then she looked up at him with concern in her eyes.

“Are you okay today?”

She was asking if he might collapse again.

Though Kraush felt a bit sore, he waved his hand dismissively, signaling she didn’t need to worry.

“I’m not planning to collapse every time.”

To prove his point, Kraush’s body was stabilizing at a faster rate than expected.

The fiery Ignis energy within him was rising, adjusting his body temperature, which had plummeted earlier.

The truth was, Kraush had developed Annihilation Snow Erosion for this very reason.

When his body couldn’t handle the excessive heat generated by Annihilation Erosion, he used Annihilation Snow Erosion to cool it down before it could overwhelm him.

It was a solution born by chance during his experimentation.

‘With this, I can use Annihilation Erosion for much longer than before.’

And being able to maintain it longer meant raising the limits of his power.

[ Judging by that look on your face, you’re thinking about pulling another reckless stunt. ]

Crimson Garden’s sharp intuition seemed to grow keener with each passing day.

“Lord Kraush!”

“Wahaha, that was fun!”

“Looks like my spear’s a wreck.”

The rest of the team approached as they spoke.

Karandis looked utterly drained, her arms covered in bruises.

Meanwhile, Ballack, as cheerful as ever, was swinging his two swords in wide arcs.

On the other hand, Glenn was gazing at his spear and the remains of Lavados with a hint of regret.

Though he had fought valiantly against the 7-star erosion species, he couldn’t ignore the gap in his own strength.

“What’s the plan now?”

During this moment, Haring, who was standing unusually close to Kraush, asked him a question.

It seemed like the distance between them had become much smaller compared to before.

“I’m just planning to wait here until the test ends.”

“But other students will probably try to come here.”

Haring glanced toward the forest beyond the frozen lava with a worried look.

It was true; students would inevitably flock to this location.

Defeating Kraush’s group would be the biggest opportunity to earn points.

However, Kraush shook his head.

“They won’t make it.”

This was the Red Line.

To reach this area, they would need to break through countless other lines.

Among them, the Orange Line was particularly treacherous, with several 6-star erosion species scattered throughout.

Even if students somehow managed to fight their way through, they’d be left in shambles by the time they arrived here.

There was no way they’d reach the Red Line in good enough condition to pose a threat.

After all, Kraush himself had only made it this far because Mary had cleared the path of a 6-star erosion species that had been blocking the way.

“And do you really think anyone who burns all their strength getting here will stand a chance against us?”

If anything, those students would only end up handing over their points.

There was no way they could do anything to Kraush’s group.

Haring nodded in agreement.

“Of course, it’s a different story if someone is aiming for first place.”

Kraush glanced at the three people who had just arrived nearby.

As their eyes met his, Kraush smirked.

“Well, if anyone here wants to aim for first place, they can try taking me on.

You’re all tired, but now’s your chance.”

At his words, the three exchanged glances.

Ballack was the first to respond, clasping his hands behind his head.

“I’d like to try, but nah. I’m fine without being first!”

With an innocent smile, he dismissed the idea.

Next, Karandis chimed in.

“Why would I even do that? It’s only meaningful if my future husband, Lord Kraush, is in first place!”

Her comment wasn’t worth paying much attention to.

“Everyone has their rightful place.”

Glenn, clutching his battered spear tightly, fixed his gaze on Kraush.

“And the place that suits you is at the front, leading everyone.”

There was a clear sense of acknowledgment in Glenn’s eyes.

Seeing Glenn’s eyes filled with conviction, Kraush couldn’t help but feel a pleasant sense of reassurance.

There was an implicit message in that gaze—a promise of unwavering support, even if Kraush stood at the forefront.

“Me too.”

Haring raised her hand high, signaling her agreement.

From the beginning, Kraush had never considered the possibility that Haring would turn against him.

‘This.’

Looking at the four people who had chosen to support him, Kraush felt a peculiar emotion welling up inside.

These four, if they continued to grow as they were, would undoubtedly become part of the Skyborne Generation.

The fact that all four recognized and acknowledged him as their leader was significant.

It wasn’t just support; it was a foundation for Kraush to step firmly into his role as the leader of the Skyborne Generation.

A quiet chuckle escaped his lips.

“Idiots.”

Perhaps because of his nature, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything flattering.

However, the four knew well enough that his teasing carried no malice.

Kraush’s gaze turned to the sky.

Though the ash from the lava had darkened the heavens, the sunlight still managed to pierce through, undeterred.

Somehow, it felt like a reflection of Kraush’s own heart.

‘Coming to Rahern Academy.’

He was certain now.

It had been the right choice.

Today, that certainty had only grown stronger.

[ He made it in time. ]

Crimson Garden’s voice suddenly resonated within him.

“Sigrid?”

[ A bit too late. ]

Kraush smiled faintly at the whisper-like reply.

It was because someone they had coordinated with beforehand had already moved into action.

During Rahern Academy’s midterm evaluations, there had been a string of murders.

To stop the culprit—Assistant Professor of Magic, Jenikalen—they had sent someone ahead.

‘Felray.’

As Kraush exhaled while gazing at the sky, he recalled their decision.

Originally, Sigrid would have stepped in, but her intervention would have only begun after the murders had already started.

Felray, however, was different.

More than anyone else, Felray would never allow Assistant Professor Jenikalen to harm a student.

‘I’ll leave it to you.’

Show them what it means to be the Hero of the Commoners.

* * *

At the same time.

Somewhere in Rahern Academy.

A boy opened his eyes.

At 17 years old, he was a first-year student in the Department of Magical Studies.

As soon as he opened his eyes, he frowned at the headache that throbbed in his head.

“Ugh, what’s going on?”

A son of a noble family, he soon realized after the mild headache passed, that he couldn’t move his body.

Before long, he noticed that he was tied to something, and his eyes began to widen.

“What, what is this? Why am I tied up?!”

He screamed, but his body remained completely still as if paralyzed. His voice echoed in vain.

It wasn’t long before he realized the place he was in was very dark.

Turning his head quickly, he saw what seemed like an abandoned building.

Outside the window, the sky was ominously dark for some reason, devoid of even a single speck of light.

In the space where no trace of brightness entered, unease settled on his face.

Soon, he realized he wasn’t alone.

There were friends from noble families who often hung around him.

They, too, were students in the Department of Magical Studies, but they seemed unconscious.

A bad feeling began to creep in.

He hurriedly tried to gather mana to use magic.

However, his mana felt completely empty and wouldn’t move.

“Can’t use magic, can you?”

“Je-Jenikalen Assistant Professor?”

Startled by the voice, he flinched and looked up.

There, he saw a man with a familiar silhouette.

A hunched back like that of a hunchback and a staff in hand.

With an unimpressive appearance at a glance, the man was Jenikallen, one of the assistant professors in the Department of Magical Studies.

Though his talent for magic was lacking, his knowledge was exceptional, which had earned him the position of assistant professor in the department.

However, his lack of magical ability made him a frequent target of the noble-minded and haughty students at the Magical Studies Academy, particularly those with strong aristocratic pride.

The students of the Department of Magical Studies, who had only ever walked paths of ease and privilege, invariably belittled and ignored him.

No matter how exceptional Jenikallen’s knowledge of magic was, it didn’t matter to the students.

They merely disregarded and ridiculed him, mocking him at every opportunity.

Jenikallen was particularly vulnerable to such scorn.

Having been born with an unimpressive appearance and frequently subjected to disdain, he had grown fragile under the relentless ridicule of students far younger than him.

And as a result…

He ended up touching something he should never have laid his hands on.

He made a pact with the World Eroder, the Magic Star.

Having become a servant of the Magic Star, he felt an unprecedented surge of overflowing mana.

In exchange for this power, he paid the price of his eyes, but it didn’t matter to him.

After all, the world was filled with horrific things.

Perhaps that’s why he wanted to burn all the horrors away.

If he didn’t completely erase the abominable things in this world, he felt an unbearable itch he couldn’t withstand.

And so, he came here to carry out his cause.

The cause of purifying the world.

?Assistant Professor Jenikallen, I may not be in a position to easily speak of your achievements, but I hope you recognize your own efforts and worth.?

As he made his pact with the Magic Star, a boy’s words surfaced in his mind.

A boy, much younger and still youthful, known as the hero of commoners.

Though not particularly striking in appearance, the determined gaze in the boy’s eyes made Jenikallen understand why commoners adored him so much.

One day, that boy had saved Jenikallen, who was being tormented by students.

When Jenikallen was subjected to cruel pranks using magic, the boy had stepped in without hesitation, standing up to the aristocratic students of the Department of Magical Studies.

Seeing him, Jenikallen had many thoughts.

If someone like that had been by his side in his youth, perhaps he wouldn’t have fallen apart like this.

But alas, it might have been too late the moment he delved into the study of magic.

“What are you doing?! Do you think you’ll get away with this? I am the eldest son of the Bios family!”

At that moment, one of the students shouted at Jenikallen.

Hearing the cry, Jenikallen slowly let out a smile.

“And why would that matter? As someone who has become a servant of the World Eroder, why would I fear the power of some insignificant noble family?”

“A se-servant of the World Eroder?!”

The noble student shrieked as if in horror.

Being a student of Rahern Academy, he knew what it meant to be a servant of the World Eroder.

Those who had crossed a river that should never be crossed.

Such individuals were called the servants of the World Eroder.

In other words, the Jenikallen standing before them had already crossed the uncrossable river.

There was no doubt he would hesitate not even for a moment to harm those before him.

Those who have nothing to lose do not fear the consequences of their actions.

“I-I’m sorry! I was foolish! Assistant Professor Jenikallen, it’s my fault, so please, just this once!”

Realizing that the situation had reached its worst, the student hastily spat out words of apology.

Even as he watched the desperate pleas, Jenikallen felt no particular emotion.

Instead, he smiled slowly, as if he had transcended it all.

“You might as well have cursed me like you usually do.”

Saying this, Jenikallen approached the student.

The student screamed and struggled wildly, but the magic restraining him showed no sign of loosening.

The combination of Jenikallen’s innate magical knowledge and the vast mana he gained by becoming a servant of the World Eroder revealed his true potential.

Now, his magic was something no ordinary student at Rahern Academy could hope to escape.

No matter how much the student thrashed about, it was utterly futile.

Before long, Jenikallen’s hand was inches away from the student’s face.

“This is going to hurt quite a bit. It’s a peculiar spell that shatters every nerve, from the tips of your toes to the top of your head.”

The student’s face turned deathly pale.

The magic emanating from Jenikallen’s hand was filled with nothing but malice, unmistakable to anyone who saw it.

He was going to die.

He was going to die here.

Realizing this, the student broke into tears, his face contorted with despair.

It was then.

Swish!

A slicing sound rang out from somewhere.

Crash!

The sound of shattering glass echoed from the direction of the window.

In an instant, light flooded into the room, illuminating it.

Jenikallen squinted, frowning at the sudden brightness.

And then, he saw him.

A boy stood there.

The one called the Hero of the Commoners.

Felray.

He stood, gasping for breath, his chest heaving.

“Assistant Professor Jenikallen.”

At his voice, Jenikallen slowly straightened his hunched back.

“Student Felray.”

Jenikallen immediately understood why Felray had come.

For a moment, silence filled the air as Jenikallen, expressionless, finally asked.

“I hope you won’t try to stop me.”

His words, laden with a clear desire to avoid conflict, made Felray swallow hard.

In that instant, Felray’s foot moved forward.

Thousand-Li Ten Steps

A technique that closed the distance in the blink of an eye.

Before anyone realized it, Felray was already standing in front of the noble student.

Jenikallen’s brows furrowed slightly.

“Fe-Felray!”

The noble student, on the other hand, cried out as though he had just found his savior.

But what happened next was entirely unexpected.

Felray’s leg swung around, striking the noble student’s head.

“Guhh!”

With a scream, the noble student crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

Jenikallen’s empty, hollow eyes widened in shock, as though he had just witnessed something entirely unforeseen.

“……”

“There’s no need for your hands to get dirty, Assistant Professor.”

Felray said, lowering the leg he had just swung.

He looked straight at Jenikallen.

“If it’s something like this, I can handle it as much as you need.”

Felray’s earnest eyes met Jenikallen’s.

“I will change how commoners are perceived, and I will change how nobles think.”

Felray’s gaze shone brighter than ever, filled with unshakable determination.

Standing tall, as though making a promise to someone unseen, he straightened his back.

“So please, Assistant Professor Jenikallen, I ask you—don’t let people like this ruin your life.”

A hero should act like a hero.

Although he was still a young hero, the boy said so.

Translators note: