I Became A Thief Who Steals Overpowered Skills

Chapter 129

Are You Out of Your Mind?

***

Today, as always, she was highlighting her sun-like hair and exceptional figure, holding a tray of food.

The amount was quite large, and as Kraush stared, she hesitated and subtly turned the tray.

“…I’m eating more today because I used a lot of energy.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

Knowing how much Astria typically ate, Kraush wasn’t too concerned.

Astria wasn’t the type to gain weight no matter how much she ate.

‘Though I think all the nutrients are going somewhere else.’

Better not to mention that to her, or she’d get angry.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“If you’re eating here, save me a seat.”

“Huh?”

“Let’s sit together.”

Kraush’s words made Astria’s eyes widen slowly before she unintentionally smiled brightly.

Realizing she was smiling, she flinched and blushed.

“Do as you please.”

Acting aloof, Astria turned her head and walked to a seat.

Despite all the eyes on her, her gaze remained fixed on Kraush.

Unlike before, Kraush, knowing her true feelings, understood that her gaze wasn’t hostile.

So, after ordering a set meal with soup, bread, meat, and vegetables, Kraush approached Astria.

For some reason, the area around her was empty.

‘Probably because there aren’t many first-year students around.’

Most second-year students were just becoming adults.

Astria’s status might have made them hesitant to sit by her.

First-year students, having been through more, would have boldly taken the chance to talk to her.

Sitting down across from her, Kraush noticed Astria staring at her tray.

‘She wasn’t usually this quiet.’

Astria seemed shyer than he remembered.

“Thanks for healing me last time.”

Kraush initiated the conversation.

Astria flinched and looked up.

“You always push your body too hard. You’re going to end up in a condition you can’t handle.”

Her first words were of concern.

Kraush had relied on Astria several times already.

So she was aware of his condition.

“Is that so?”

“It’s not just so! At this rate, you’ll die before you’re thirty.”

She was serious.

Kraush’s body, constantly overstrained, was gradually shortening his lifespan.

Though he tried to replenish himself with various things, there would come a time when it wouldn’t be enough.

“I’m fine. I have a plan.”

“You’re not fine at all.”

Astria’s eyebrows furrowed in frustration.

“Are you worried about me?”

“Of course I am!”

Astria looked at him with an annoyed expression.

Looking at her, Kraush couldn’t help but think of her past self.

She had always worried about him.

Begging him to take care of his body.

“Really, don’t worry. I have something in mind. And thirty is still a long way off.”

After all, the world would end before he turned thirty.

“You…”

Astria looked like she had a lot to say but sighed instead.

“Promise me something, at least.”

“Promise?”

“If you get hurt, come to me no matter what. I can heal you no matter what state you’re in.”

She was saying that if he was going to push himself, he should at least heal properly.

“Isn’t that just beneficial for me?”

Kraush would certainly appreciate the treatment.

When he asked, Astria looked him in the eye.

“I mean it.”

Her sun-like eyes met his.

Understanding her true intentions, Kraush paused.

Helping him was also beneficial for Astria.

The reason was simple.

She liked him.

Astria’s face started to redden again, having candidly expressed her feelings.

“So, promise me.”

“I promise.”

It was a promise that had no downside for Kraush.

When he agreed, Astria smiled slightly, then, unable to overcome her shyness, lowered her head.

Her body had grown, but her heart was still tender in many ways.

***

After finishing his meal with Astria, Kraush headed straight to the training ground.

Having spent the morning in his room, he was ready to stretch his body.

As Kraush approached the Martial Arts training ground, a familiar face exited.

“Kraush.”

Recognizing him, she showed a bright expression.

Then her face hardened, and she grabbed Kraush’s sleeve.

“Wait, don’t go in yet.”

It was Haring.

Seeing her suddenly stop him, Kraush tilted his head.

“Why? Is something happening inside the training ground?”

“Well…”

Haring hesitated.

Noticing, Kraush naturally focused his aura into his ears.

Enhanced hearing allowed him to catch the sounds inside.

“So, this is our space. You guys should leave.”

“T-That’s unfair. We’re also students of Rahelrn Academy. Why only us?”

“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”

“Ugh.”

He heard the sound of a dispute.

Understanding the situation, Kraush looked at Haring.

“So, the ones causing trouble are those Imperial faction guys who don’t like me?”

“…Yes.”

Haring reluctantly answered.

She looked up at Kraush with worried eyes.

Kraush placed his hand on her head and turned around.

“Then we have to respond right away. Why wait?”

To show Haring her worries were unnecessary, Kraush roughly opened the door.

Bang!

All eyes turned to him at once.

Imperial faction first-year students stood before younger second-year students.

The Martial Arts training ground was used by all students, regardless of year.

Kraush quickly realized which faction the second-year students belonged to.

‘Starlon.’

They were all from the Starlon faction.

The Imperial faction first-year students were bullying the Starlon second-year students.

Looking around, Kraush noticed other kingdom students were staying out of it.

They preferred to watch rather than provoke the Empire.

‘No Starlon first-years.’

If there had been Starlon first-years, they wouldn’t have let this happen.

But they were all absent.

Most Starlon first-years were with Aniks or Charlotte’s Lioness Squad.

Aniks and the Twin Sprout members were away, and Charlotte’s squad was still on a mission.

Naturally, no Starlon first-years were around.

And the professor was also absent.

Today, after the morning training session, students were given individual training time in the afternoon.

So the professor wasn’t around.

‘They timed this well.’

The Imperial faction had targeted the Starlon second-years when the Starlon first-years were absent.

Because the Starlon second-years had only one person to rely on at Rahelrn Academy.

“Kraush Balheim.”

“He’s here.”

“This is going to get big.”

As expected, Kraush’s appearance drew immediate attention.

The Imperial faction students bullying the Starlon second-years sneered.

‘Not from Sigrid’s faction.’

The Empire was vast.

Within the Empire, there were multiple factions, not just Sigrid’s.

‘In this timeline, Sigrid focused on gathering the Skyborne Generation.’

She spent more time on that than unifying the entire Imperial faction.

So internal divisions arose within the Imperial faction.

Kraush cracked his neck.

The Starlon second-years’ eyes were on him.

Having entered Rahelrn Academy to chase their dreams, they were now being crushed by the Empire’s tyranny.

Their faces were on the verge of tears.

Kraush didn’t feel much sympathy.

After all, he had no fond memories of Starlon.

If he had entered with his half-blood status, they would have gossiped behind his back.

Now, the situation had completely changed, so that wouldn’t happen.

But Kraush was no longer a half-blood.

Whether he liked it or not, he was representing Starlon and was the top second-year student in Martial Arts.

Disregarding Starlon meant disregarding Kraush, the top second-year.

If they bared their fangs at him, they had to be prepared to be bitten back.

It was time to teach them that lesson.

“Do you want to kick Starlon out?”

Kraush spoke as if he had heard everything.

“Kick them out…”

One of them started to respond with a sneer, but before he could finish, Kraush was in front of him.

Unable to follow Kraush’s speed, the boy raised his arm too late.

Kraush’s foot was already in motion.

Bam!

The boy, hit by Kraush’s kick, flew across the training ground and rolled on the floor.

“Cough, gah.”

The impact was so strong that he coughed and clutched his body.

“What are you doing?”

“You bastard!”

The Imperial faction students’ faces turned to rage.

They had instigated trouble with Starlon to provoke Kraush, but they hadn’t expected him to initiate a preemptive strike so aggressively.

Ignoring them, Kraush grabbed another boy’s head.

The boy tried to react, but Kraush was faster.

Kraush’s knee struck his abdomen.

“Gah!”

As the boy screamed in pain and doubled over, Kraush slammed his head into the ground.

Smoke rose as Kraush, without hesitation, stomped on the back of the boy’s head.

Bang!

With the sound reverberating, blood seeped from the boy’s face under Kraush’s foot.

Kraush coldly looked around at the others.

Flinch—

The sheer brutality and decisiveness in Kraush’s actions made them freeze.

Seeing Kraush’s cold eyes, they thought of someone.

Charlotte Balheim.

The craziest person at Rahelrn Academy, who didn’t care about origins, be it the Imperial faction or the Four Kingdoms.

If someone crossed her, she’d destroy them, ensuring they could never lift their heads in her presence.

Kraush made them realize he was her brother.

“Did you think facing me would be easier after dealing with Charlotte?”

Kraush’s sneering smile made their eyes change.

As they prepared to charge.

“Stop.”

A voice rang out, halting the Imperial faction students.

Turning, Kraush saw a man with gray and black hair, wearing glasses.

Kraush recognized him.

‘So it’s this guy.’

Another central figure in the splintered Imperial faction.

Pandora August

One of the people who annoyed him even when he was a half-blood.