I Became A Thief Who Steals Overpowered Skills

Chapter 140:

Well, I’ll Do It Myself

***

After Kraush’s conversation with Haring ended, he found himself being scolded by Astria while waiting for Charlotte to come out.

“I just healed you not too long ago, and now you’re off to another dangerous place?”

“I already explained why I’m doing this.”

“You’ll push yourself too hard again, just like with Agares. If you show up in the same condition, I might not be able to heal you this time.”

Kraush didn’t think that would be the case.

He knew Astria’s healing abilities well enough to be confident that she could handle even worse conditions, but he understood her concern.

So, he decided to reassure her a bit.

“I don’t plan on ending up like that again. Besides, this time, I’m not moving blindly on my own.”

The Empire might superficially appear to be pursuing the World Erosion that injured the Poison King, but the truth was likely different.

There had to be another underlying motive.

Kraush was heading to Hardenhartz to uncover that truth.

‘I also plan to get Ebelasque’s help on this.’

That person wouldn’t want to be hunted down by both the Empire and Starlon.

They would have no choice but to cooperate.

“So, there won’t be any reckless actions like you’re thinking.”

Astria looked at him with a skeptical expression.

“Promise me.”

Then, she suddenly held out her pinky finger in front of Kraush.

He wondered what the point of such a verbal promise was.

But, feeling he had no choice, Kraush raised his hand and hooked his pinky around hers.

“Aren’t you worrying a bit too much?”

“Who said I’m worried about you? Healing you is tiring, so promise me.”

She said this while biting her lip.

“…I can’t move independently outside the Academy.”

It was clear she wanted to follow him.

But the truth was, she hadn’t fully resolved the matters with the Holy Kingdom.

Her attendance at Rahelrn Academy was the result of a conflict with the Holy Kingdom.

If she were to act independently or leave the Academy, the Holy Kingdom wouldn’t simply stand by.

So, she needed him to promise.

To promise that he would return to her.

“And by the way, you…”

Astria glanced at Haring before trailing off, then sighed heavily.

“How many times are you going to sigh?”

“It’s all because of you.”

Astria shot Kraush a look full of frustration.

“…I thought you wouldn’t be like this just with me. Do you even realize you have a fiancée?”

Of course, he was fully aware.

“You’re mean.”

As Kraush looked at her blankly, Astria snorted and walked away.

That was her typical reaction when she was sulking, something Kraush had seen many times before.

[How could she not be upset when the guy she likes is flirting with another girl right in front of her?]

Flirting? What a thing to say…

She knew very well that wasn’t his intention.

“You and the Saintess are close.”

Meanwhile, Haring looked at Kraush with a hint of curiosity.

To Kraush, Astria was just an ordinary person, but to others, she was a woman chosen by God, so her reaction was understandable.

At that moment, he heard whispers from around the women’s dormitory, and saw students quickly scurrying away.

Kraush immediately realized who had arrived.

“Another one joins the mix.”

It was none other than Charlotte.

Just her presence drew everyone’s attention.

She glanced briefly at Haring before turning her body.

“Follow me.”

It seemed she wanted to have the conversation about joining somewhere else.

Kraush gestured to Haring, and she quickly followed him as they trailed behind Charlotte.

Charlotte drew attention wherever she went.

Just by watching her, Kraush was reminded of her status at Rahelrn Academy.

After following Charlotte for some time, Kraush arrived at a classroom in the main Martial Arts building.

There was a lion emblem hanging on the door.

The Lion Order.

It was the group formed around Charlotte.

Charlotte opened the door without knocking.

Inside, a few members were organizing documents but tensed up at Charlotte’s entrance.

“Master, you’re here?”

A man with glasses, who looked very much like a Literature major, greeted Charlotte.

He was the son of the Starlon Chancellor.

Having cleaned up many of Charlotte’s messes since childhood, he had a good relationship with her.

He was probably the only person Charlotte could consider a friend.

So, naturally, he had joined the Lion Order as well.

“Delon, prepare the meeting room inside.”

“Oh, actually, there are guests in the meeting room right now.”

At the mention of guests, Charlotte’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Guests?”

There weren’t many people who would refer to themselves as a guest of Charlotte.

In the past year, Charlotte had nearly obliterated anyone who tried to visit her.

It was hard to imagine she would have any guests now.

She glanced back at Kraush before striding forward.

Once again, without knocking, she opened the door.

She looked inside the meeting room for a moment before tilting her head slightly.

“Kraush.”

Then she called Kraush inside.

As Kraush approached the meeting room, he saw two familiar faces.

“…Sizelry?”

“We greet Her Highness, the 4th Princess of the Ephania Empire.”

Even Haring, who had followed him in, looked a bit surprised as she greeted her.

The girl who received the greeting seemed very relaxed.

“You’re late. I’ve been waiting for quite some time.”

Inside the meeting room were none other than Sizelry Ephania, the 4th Princess of the Empire, and her escort knight, Sera Benapoch.

“What are you doing here?”

Kraush asked with a bewildered expression, and Sizelry responded with a mischievous smile.

“Well, I had a feeling that things would lead in this direction.”

She calmly took a sip of tea.

Sizelry was, after all, a princess of the Empire.

Surely she had informants feeding her information.

She must have used that information to uncover the truth of the situation and decided to come here.

And she had accurately concluded that Kraush would come to the Lion Order.

Kraush’s eyes narrowed slightly.

He wondered what this mischievous princess was up to this time.

“Don’t look at me like that. I’m here to help with this matter.”

“You’re here to help?”

“You owe someone your life, don’t you?”

Kraush quickly realized who Sizelry was referring to.

None other than the former leader of the Night Ravens, Ebelasque Benapoch.

Though Ebelasque probably hadn’t intended to create a debt, the result was that she had helped Sizelry.

And now Sizelry was here to help in return.

“Besides, in terms of justification, my presence will be a great help. After all, having a princess of Ephania and a direct descendant of Balheim together strengthens the image of harmony, don’t you think?”

Sizelry had even figured out the plan Kraush had in mind.

She was a woman who never let her guard down.

Having said everything she felt necessary, Sizelry looked over at Kraush.

Kraush clicked his tongue softly.

She was right; her presence could indeed stop the Empire from acting recklessly.

“Kraush.”

At that moment, Charlotte, who had been listening quietly, turned to Kraush.

Her eyes were as lifeless as ever, but there was a slight hint of annoyance in them.

“Explain yourself properly.”

She had thought they were joining her Order, but now she realized there was another reason.

Her pride had been slightly bruised.

* * *

After hearing everything except for the part about Ebelasque, Charlotte sat with her arms crossed.

To be honest, nothing could proceed without Charlotte’s approval.

The plan relied on the assumption that Charlotte’s Lion Order would take on the mission in Hardenhartz.

Charlotte quietly listened to Kraush’s explanation, and after a long moment, she uncrossed her arms.

She then turned to Kraush.

“I understand the story. Since this is my little brother’s first request, it’s not difficult to accept.”

Kraush let out a long breath of relief.

He had been worried that Charlotte might refuse.

Charlotte was the one person Kraush could never predict.

Her actions were solely dictated by her own desires.

So, even if he explained that this could prevent a war, he had feared she might react indifferently.

‘But that’s precisely why I need Charlotte’s help.’

Arthur and Sigrid were currently suspicious of Charlotte.

To fuel that suspicion further, Kraush needed to show Charlotte in action more often.

That was another reason he had chosen her.

“But there’s a problem with that plan.”

At that moment, Charlotte brought up another issue.

“Rahelrn Academy hasn’t received any mission requests from Hardenhartz. Moreover, this is a matter involving a World Erosion. The Academy won’t easily approve a mission like that.”

No matter how exceptional a student of Rahelrn Academy might be, they were still just students.

World Erosions were monstrous entities that couldn’t be handled by students alone.

It was unlikely that the Academy would approve a mission requiring them to face such a threat.

“A mission can be created if we contact Hardenhartz.”

Kraush was engaged to Hardenhartz.

Hardenhartz, wanting to maintain a good relationship with Kraush, would likely issue the mission if contacted.

The issue was whether Rahelrn Academy would initially accept it.

However, there was a unique rule at Rahelrn Academy that could enforce mission approval.

“You’re talking about submitting a petition to the Headmaster.”

Charlotte quickly caught on to Kraush’s intentions.

The Headmaster, Durandal, had a peculiar rule unique to Rahelrn Academy—a system where students could challenge the Headmaster if they wished to submit a petition.

In other words, if the conditions were met, even a World Erosion mission could be accepted.

“I’ve already submitted a petition as a Literature major.”

Then Sizelry revealed that she had already filed a petition.

Unlike other departments, the Literature department submits their petition through writing rather than physical combat.

The strength of the Literature department lies in their intellect.

However, both Kraush and Sizelry were well aware of its drawbacks.

“Submitting a petition as a Literature major takes too long.”

“Indeed, that’s the problem.”

When Kraush pointed that out, Sizelry acknowledged it with some regret.

Petitions from the Literature department go through detailed procedures before reaching the Headmaster.

As a result, it takes a considerable amount of time for the petition to be reviewed by the Headmaster.

Given the urgency of the situation, they couldn’t afford to wait.

Therefore, the quickest way to get a petition accepted was to challenge the Headmaster directly.

“I can’t challenge the Headmaster again.”

Charlotte clicked her tongue in disappointment.

She had already succeeded in petitioning for the creation of a new special category and presented it to the Headmaster.

While petitions could be submitted as many times as one wished, only one would be accepted.

In other words, Charlotte couldn’t help with this petition.

But Kraush had expected this.

In the past, no petition had ever been approved unless it demonstrated overwhelming strength.

Only someone with Charlotte’s level of talent could get a petition approved, especially outside the Literature department.

Haring’s expression darkened.

She knew that she wasn’t capable of getting a petition approved.

However, there was one person in the room who wore a confident expression.

“Don’t worry.”

While everyone else was deep in thought, Kraush spoke up, his blue eyes gleaming.

“I’ll take care of it.”

To get the mission to support the World Erosion hunt approved, Kraush would have to prove his strength to the former Headmaster, Durandal.

End of Chapter