I Became A Thief Who Steals Overpowered Skills
Chapter 6 The White Chick, The Black Crow

What is she talking about all of a sudden?

“Emotions can be controlled. There’s no need to lean too heavily on the curse.”

“Bianca, aren’t you misunderstanding something?”

Even as Kraush said this, Bianca simply went on with her embroidery.

“I’ll come to visit often. If I talk to my father, since I am your fiancée, I can arrange to stay somewhere not far from here.”

“You don’t seem too happy to be my fiancée.”

“Even so, I cannot just ignore someone who has been abandoned.”

She doesn’t deny her reluctance to the engagement.

Kraush was astonished but eventually sighed bitterly.

It seems the northern goddess must be firm in her misunderstanding.

Bianca had always been one to blindly believe in something once she gets fixated on it. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the NovᴇlFɪre .ɴᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

It seemed she was incapable of doubting once she made a logical decision because she lacked emotions.

‘Can’t be helped.’

Under the table, Kraush activated Black Hood.

Above Bianca’s chest, a safe lock appeared.

The safe represented the difficulty of stealing using Black Hood.

Bianca’s safe was secured with a double lock.

While most curses don’t even have a lock, let alone a safe to begin with.

Bianca has lived with her curse since birth.

Therefore, she does not underestimate the curse’s value as others do.

Just as one wouldn’t underestimate the value of their own limbs, Bianca does not underestimate her curse.

‘Value is always relative.’

The value of Bianca’s curse was indeed high for her.

Hence, the appearance of a double lock.

‘Condition creation.’

To unlock it, Kraush needed to create conditions.

Double lock means definitely two conditions.

The first condition suddenly popped up in front of Kraush.

[ Become ‘friends’ with Bianca. ]

A clicking sound of disgust escaped from Kraush’s mind.

That’s why the difficulty of stealing varies depending on the value it has for the holder.

One can only steal what the other possesses when their guard is down.

So the biggest condition that could cause their guard to fall must be met.

For Bianca, the first condition was friendship.

‘Friends with a white ghost.’

Becoming a fiancée is easy, but a friend is difficult.

She rarely shows interest due to her lack of emotions.

‘It’s probably best to at least keep her by my side for now.’

Sending her back to Hardenhartz would only bring the time she turns into a white ghost nearer.

‘The lock must be picked little by little.’

Of course, to prevent her from becoming a white ghost.

And because the curse of the extreme blood poison is essential for my plan.

“Well, thanks. It’s reassuring to have a fiancée visit often.”

So, Kraush agreed.

He intended to spend time planning to steal her curse.

Yet, an unforeseen variable occurred at this point.

The adults love to speed things up, and the head of Hardenhartz is especially fond of hastening any process.

And as a result of talks between Hardenhartz and Balheim.

Bianca was arranged to stay in Green Pine Hall.

“Hello.”

Seeing Bianca arrive with her maids, carrying her luggage, Kraush wore a bewildered expression.

Although he had heard the news, he had not really expected her to stay at Green Pine Hall.

“Bianca, is it okay for you to leave home?”

She was, after all, only twelve.

It’s an age to be fond of a parent’s care.

“I’m fine.”

And Bianca answered without an ounce of emotion.

The affection of a family was too faint for her, who lacked emotions.

What can be done?

It is something set by the family, therefore inescapable.

Eventually, Kraush decided to just think of it as if he had gained another sister.

Thus a new member arrived at Green Pine Hall.

* * *

Time flies swiftly.

The weather, once midsummer, had breezed past autumn and now winter approached.

Moreover, commotion arose as news spread that a new academy was to open next year.

An academy established by the collaboration of the four kingdoms and the empire to nurture talents to counteract the erosion of the world.

It is the establishment of Rahelrn Academy.

“Soon, isn’t it.”

The minimum age for entrance to Rahelrn Academy is fifteen and the maximum is twenty.

Hence, as Kraush would turn fourteen next year, he still had some leeway.

“I must become stronger by then.”

Rahelrn Academy would be filled with individuals from the Skyborne Generation.

And it was their skills Kraush was eyeing.

Each individual from the Skyborne Generation possessed remarkable skills.

Moreover, Kraush knew their weaknesses best, having spent time with them.

And so, it would be easier to steal their skills.

He held no guilt.

The Skyborne Generation was the most loathsome to Kraush.

“Sigh.”

Kraush exhaled a blue aura as he unfocused from circulating his aura, causing it to stiffen.

In a short time, Kraush had gone from a beginner to an expert.

But even with a manual, he started to feel his lack of talent peeking through.

He thought he should learn extreme blood poison as soon as possible.

“That’s enough for today.”

Kraush left the practice field and saw a girl sitting on a chair in front of the ground, reading a book.

She felt his gaze, looked up from the book, and bowed her head.

Following her movement, her pure white hair cascaded down.

That hair color reminded him each time of the white ghost she would become in the future.

After all, that pure white was the symbol of the white ghost.

“Is your training over?”

“Were you waiting?”

“Yes.”

Seeing her say she was waiting nonchalantly, Kraush scratched the back of his head.

There was nothing he could say since that was what she said.

Since the day Bianca arrived to stay at Green Pine Hall, she followed Kraush around like a chick.

And this was due to the thought that Kraush might commit suicide due to depression.

However, unlike her uncle, she didn’t really understand depression.

So she was merely using the fragmented knowledge she had from her uncle.

That being—never leave someone with depression alone.

That was the only thing she knew.

She, who tends to blindly believe in something once she gets fixated on it, stared blankly at Kraush.

And Kraush, without much thought, blankly stared back at her before snapping back to his senses.

For some reason, he felt dazed only when with Bianca.

Was her gullibility contagious?

“I’m going to wash up.”

“Okay.”

Bianca closed her book and stood up.

Judging by her actions, it seemed she planned to wait for him outside the bathroom again.

When exactly could he be considered a ‘friend’ by Bianca’s standards?

Kraush was just contemplating whether they should go out sometime when Aliod appeared before him.

Aliod seemed to have matters to attend to.

As Kraush looked puzzled, Aliod extended a letter to him.

“An invitation has arrived from the Sanctuary of Stars.”

“The Sanctuary of Stars?”

Hearing the grandiose name, Kraush’s brows furrowed slightly.

Because it didn’t quite ring a bell for him.

“The gathering of the Starlon kingdom’s youth, I believe. There seems to be a party every year.”

Kraush belatedly understood.

Now that he thought about it, there was such a thing.

Though he had never participated.

‘This point in time is just too vague,’ he thought.

Spending day after day in Green Pine Hall without stepping out once, wallowing in self-pity.

Therefore, events and happenings from this period in his past were hazy in Kraush’s memory.

He had entirely shut out external affairs at that time, after all.

‘Rather, I know everything that happens at the academy.’

He regretted his past in many ways.

“Refuse it. There’s no time to waste on such things…”

Just then, something flickered through Kraush’s mind.

“Aliod, how many of Starlon’s youth typically attend the Sanctuary of Stars?”

“If it’s not an unusual case, most attend. Such parties can pave the way for the future.”

Hearing an honest answer, Kraush folded his arms and tapped his index finger, considering for a moment.

‘Will that guy be there?’

After a quick glance at Aliod, Kraush nodded.

Even though he was the master, he ought to play such a role to some extent.

It would also prevent Aliod from harboring other intentions.

“Then say that I will also attend.”

“Understood.”

Aliod concurred with Kraush’s opinion without objection and looked towards Bianca.

“I’m going as well.”

Naturally, Bianca declared that she would accompany him.

Bianca had no intention of leaving Kraush alone, in case he decided to commit suicide somewhere.

“Understood. I will inform them that both of you will attend.”

“Alright, let me know about the schedule later.”

Watching Aliod leave, Kraush stretched.

It occurred to him that this was the first time he was going out since his return.

‘Maintaining the status quo from the point of return?’

There was a world of difference between then and now, of course.

And it remained unchanged that he was a half-penny needing to delve into gold magic to become stronger.

‘But having learned one more martial art skill recently…’

Kraush decided not to be anxious.

“Kraush.”

Responding to Bianca’s call, Kraush turned his head.

Bianca, who still appeared to be in a daze, was met with his curious gaze, and she spoke.

“If you go to the Sanctuary of Stars, everyone will try to condemn Kraush behind your back.”

Lacking emotions, Bianca was straightforward with her thoughts.

Her words were likely true.

“That’s likely.”

And this was something Kraush had also anticipated.

‘It won’t be quite like the events at Rahelrn Academy.’

If Sigrid, the imperial princess, was an enemy back then, now it would be the young nobles of the Starlon kingdom.

The rumor that Kraush had been forsaken by Balheim was well known.

There wouldn’t be anyone flattering Kraush, nor would there be many with good words.

“Bianca, it might be better if you don’t follow along.”

Being his fiancée, she wouldn’t hear any pleasant words at the party either.

“No. I will go.”

But Bianca was unwavering in her decision.

“It’s the duty of a fiancée to protect their betrothed.”

Bianca moved based on the training she had received so far.

Without emotions, she was governed solely by logical decisions and education.

The curse of the Doll’s Eyes, an apt description indeed.

‘Impossible to think she’s just 12, considering her vocabulary and actions—all due to a lack of emotion.’

Perhaps feeling sorry for having treated Bianca harshly before his return,

Kraush tended to be more gentle with her.

Kraush raised his hand to gently stroke her hair.

“I wasn’t asking as your fiancé, Bianca. I’m considering your feelings.”

Bianca quietly looked up at Kraush as he patted her head.

Kraush often looked at her with a touch of regret and stroked her head.

The past few months.

Contrary to his actions towards the butlers and maids, he showed an unprecedented softness towards her.

Thanks to this, her impression had changed so much that their dreadful first encounter seldom came to mind.

「Bianca, about the meal…」

「You must have almost finished that book by now. Let’s go to the study.」

「You can sleep in more. I won’t be going anywhere. I’ll be training outside, so rest some more.」

Recounting her daily life with Kraush, she found that she no longer disliked him.

Even in Hardenhartz, kindness like this was unprecedented for Bianca, and she found Kraush’s behavior somewhat astonishing.

Understandably so since, like him, she too was a child sent off into a strategic marriage.

“I want to go.”

Thus Bianca spoke.

Even if not as a fiancée, her desire to assist Kraush remained the same.

“Even Bianca, not as a fiancée, will follow Kraush.”

Hearing her words, Kraush, who had been blankly blinking, withdrew his hand from her head.

Had he offended her?

Concerned that he had crossed a line as a fiancé, Bianca was mindful as Kraush turned away.

“Alright, let’s do that.”

Permission was given.

Watching Kraush, Bianca once again followed him like a chick, her steps lightened for some reason.

Though she ended up being scolded for unwittingly trying to follow him into the bathroom as well.

Sᴇarch the ɴøvᴇlFɪre.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.