I Became A Thief Who Steals Overpowered Skills
Chapter 51 Hand in Hand

The Red Magic Tower.

One of only three magic towers in the world and a tower under the ownership of the Flame Emperor, counted among the world’s ten mightiest individuals. The Red Magic Tower had one peculiar characteristic:

It harbored an extreme belief in the omnipotence of magic.

The tower’s denizens held the conviction that magic could resolve absolutely anything. Thus, they dismissed those who were not magicians, especially scorning skills and curses as the most inferior of practices.

They believed that magic, created by humans, stood in a higher realm than blessings and curses bestowed by the gods.

Ironically, this very stance had elevated the Red Magic Tower to the upper echelons among all magic towers.

Determined to resolve everything through magic, the tower adherents maintained the most open-minded beliefs about the art of magic. Their ceaseless drive to break new ground with magic every day contributed to the tower’s continuous development and growth, establishing it as one of the most preeminent among all towers.

Thus, kingdoms supported the Red Magic Tower – regardless of its ideologies because its magical capabilities were held to be the finest, and collaboration with them proved immensely beneficial.

Kraush was currently in the region where the Red Magic Tower stood, in the magic city of Halgram.

‘Just as it always was.’

Halgram, befitting its nickname as a magic city, overflowed with all sorts of magical items. A quick look around revealed a man igniting a simple cigarette with a magical tool, exemplifying how commonplace such devices were entrenched in daily life.

For Kraush, this city held a distinctly uncomfortable association.

‘Abella.’

One of Arthur’s three women, she used to reside here. The memory of failing to procure painkillers made with magic here was vivid in Kraush’s mind.

Abella had barred Kraush from ever entering the Red Magic Tower. More precisely, she had cast a spell so he couldn’t set foot in Halgram.

It was because that man, who consistently treated him with contempt, had shown an exceptionally fierce reaction only in the case of the Red Magic Tower.

“Tch.”

Kraush mused that he might need to check on what that person was up to now.

While inherent magical power mattered, the most critical component of magic was knowledge contained in the mind. Kraush considered Abella to be the most dangerous among the three he remembered undergoing memory inheritance.

Given enough magical power, she would swiftly return to her days known as the Red Witch, a great magician of formidable prowess.

‘The fact I’ve returned cannot reach anyone, and most definitely not her.’

That was definitely something Kraush needed to be vigilant about.

‘Well, knowing her…’

For some reason, he felt she would just ignore it anyway.

“Mr. Kraush.”

Just then, Kraush heard Bianca’s voice as she disembarked from the carriage behind him.

She looked around, her expression one of wonder.

“So this is Halgram?”

“Yes, where the Red Magic Tower stands.”

“There are so many places to see when I’m with Mr. Kraush.”

Halgram was a free city, a considerable distance from Starlon. It took almost three weeks just to reach this place, so even Bianca, despite spending most of the time asleep, had her share of hardships during the carriage journey.

“Stay at the Green Pine Mansion next time. Don’t trouble yourself by following me unnecessarily.”

Kraush knew he had to keep getting stronger over the next year. So it was certain he would travel around a lot, leading to more carriage-bound days ahead.

On hearing him, Bianca slightly furrowed her eyebrows.

“I don’t want to.”

This girl’s expressiveness had definitely increased. Just like when she subtly chuckled eating imperial-grade chocolate not long ago.

“I like being by Mr. Kraush’s side.”

Saying so, Bianca approached and stood by Kraush’s side, her white hair swaying gently. Witnessing this, Kraush, scratching his head, decided to play it off.

“Do as you wish.”

“Will do.”

Lately, it seemed that Bianca was outdoing him in conversations.

To think he might be getting outwitted by a mere 13-year-old girl, Kraush fell into contemplation for a moment.

“Sir Kraush Balheim.”

Hearing a voice, Kraush lifted his head and saw a man in a blue uniform. With a matching cap, the man’s chest featured the Balheim crest along with five sword hilts inscribed within it – the emblem of the fifth-ranked order, the Knightly Order of the Sea.

“Welcome. I am Reblian Fenox, vice commander of the Knightly Order of the Sea.”

Fenox hailed from one of the knight families under Balheim, an elite by birth, serving within the relatively modestly-ranked Knightly Order of the Sea.

‘Pushed out in the struggle for position, I guess.’

Kraush, surmising his situation, nodded in acknowledgment.

“You must have heard from the Knightly Order commander.”

“Yes, I have been informed that you wish to join the Knightly Order of the Sea. I came to guide you, but before that, may I inquire about something?”

He posed his polite question.

“Don’t worry. I have no intention to start from the bottom in the Knightly Order. I wanted to be associated with the Order of the Sea merely to avoid broadcasting the arrival of a Balheim direct descendant to the Red Magic Tower.”

Kraush, anticipating his question, clarified in advance. His joining the Knightly Order of the Sea was about creating an alibi.

Understanding this, Fenox placed his hand on his chest, bowing slightly.

“I see. My apologies. Then, I shall assist you until your objective is met.”

Within Balheim, ranking as the fifth sword might be commonplace, but outside, the Knightly Order of the Sea held the prestige akin to that of a principal knightly family.

And here was the vice commander, extending such courtesy to a young boy of merely 14.

Kraush once again felt the power wielded by direct descendants of Balheim, as well as reflecting on how negligible his own voice had been before. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the N0vᴇlFire(.)nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

‘It seems the Head Butler represented my examination results quite favorably.’

In the past, Kraush wouldn’t have been treated well by even the eighth-ranked sword, not to mention the Knightly Order of the Sea. But things were different now. Balheim no longer saw Kraush as a half-penny.

‘Yet there is still a long way to go.’

Had it been Charlotte, the commander himself would have rushed over.

“Instruct Aliod, my exclusive butler, on the details.”

“Yes, as you command.”

After another bow, Fenox turned to have a conversation with the awaiting Aliod. Watching, Kraush felt a pang of hunger. Carriage life meant meals were often lacking, stimulating his appetite.

‘Eating well at this time is important.’

Kraush was, after all, in the throes of a growing spurt. With his height and weight increasing daily, eating was essential.

“Aliod, I’m thinking of grabbing a meal nearby.”

“Should I arrange for an escort?”

Aliod, finishing his discussion with Fenox, promptly inquired. However, having no liking for such arrangements, Kraush waved a hand dismissively.

“No need. Tend to your duties. I roughly know the location of the Knightly Order. I’ll head there after eating.”

“Understood.”

Though he said this, he knew well that someone from Balheim would follow him in the shadows.

Unlike that secret trip to the empire in the past, this time, he had notified Balheim directly about his journey here. If outside Starlon, a direct descendent of Balheim would be covertly tailed by a knight adept in stealth until adulthood – not just by a butler.

So, undoubtedly, such a knight was already shadowing Kraush now.

Reflecting on this, Kraush could gauge how much effort Aliod had put in behind the scenes when he had ventured to the empire.

Even as a half-penny, a direct descendant was still a direct descendant. If something had happened to Kraush in the empire, Aliod would have lost his authority as a butler and even risked execution.

But Kraush was both Aliod’s savior and his master. From the moment Kraush requested, Aliod had risked his life, securely sending Kraush beyond the empire and meticulously preparing for any potential harm to his charge.

In this regard, Kraush felt anew the indispensable utility of Aliod. Even among the elite butlers specifically chosen within Balheim, no one else was quite as resourceful.

“Bianca, let’s go eat.”

“Yes.”

Responding to Kraush’s call, Bianca followed him at once. She gazed at Halgram with fascination, gripping his coat tails from behind.

As Kraush stepped onto the main road, crowds began to bustle around them.

“Ah.”

Perhaps that was why, as Bianca, holding onto Kraush’s coat, was caught up among the people, she inadvertently let go.

She hurried to grab hold of Kraush again, raising her arm. But before she could, Kraush’s hand promptly appeared through the crowd and took hold of hers.

A light tug brought Bianca back to his side. As she looked up at him with wide eyes, Kraush clicked his tongue.

“You lose focus gawking and let go, see?”

Kraush had kept an eye on Bianca, making sure she was always close behind. So when she let go, he promptly reached out and grabbed her hand.

“Sorry.”

“Knowing’s half the battle. Just don’t let go and follow me closely.”

With that, Kraush led the way with Bianca’s hand firmly in his.

She quietly observed their clasped hands.

It was a hand that often took hold of hers. Though gruff, he frequently looked out for her in such ways.

The roughness from daily training seemed pronounced, and compared to hers, the hand was larger.

Yet, for some reason, the hand felt unusually warm now. Although it was nearly spring and the weather was warmer, it wasn’t searingly hot.

Bianca couldn’t quite put into words the tickling sensation at her fingertips as the spring breeze brushed across her cheeks.

The bustling noises of the people on the thoroughfare drifted to her ears.

The spring sunlight from above offered just the right amount of warmth.

And the scent of flowers dotted along the road’s edge playfully teased her nose.

In the warm spring of Halgram.

Bianca felt as though, even amidst the crowded ambiance, she and Kraush were in their own world.

And strangely, it was a most pleasant feeling. Despite merely walking hand in hand.

She gazed absentmindedly at Kraush’s back. Mix feelings – the frustration of not seeing his face, yet finding comfort in this closeness.

“We’ve arrived. It’s still here, Bianca… why are you grinning?”

Having reached their destination, Kraush stopped and asked Bianca, puzzled by her expression.

Startled, Bianca shifted her gaze from their entwined hands and belatedly lifted her head.

Then, she touched her cheek with her free hand and tilted her head.

“Am I smiling?”

“Yeah, just like when you’re eating chocolate or dozing off.”

Bianca blinked.

Soon after, she pouted a bit petulantly.

“I am not smiling.”

“But your face was just—”

“No, it wasn’t.”

As she asserted that, Kraush wore an expression of disbelief.

She had been beaming a moment ago, eyes relaxed, so why deny it?

‘Caught sight of something pleasing, maybe?’

Although Kraush wasn’t sure of the specifics, he said,

“Alright, we’re going to eat here.”

Belatedly glancing up, Bianca saw an old-looking restaurant.

Looking around, she realized they had somehow moved quite a distance from Halgram’s main thoroughfare.

“It looks old.”

“Can’t say that out loud. Inside, don’t do that either.”

Lest they receive unkind stares. With that advice given, Kraush entered the restaurant.

“Oh my, we have such cute visitors.”

A server greeted them with a smile upon seeing Bianca and Kraush enter hand in hand, both appearing quite young.

Kraush, registering that they were still holding hands, let go. But Bianca immediately reached out again.

Kraush hesitated, then turned to Bianca.

She looked back at him blankly, as if she didn’t know why she had reached out again.

“…You said not to let go.”

Why did it sound like she was reprimanding him?

“We don’t need to hold hands inside the restaurant.”

After Kraush let go again, Bianca quietly held her hand, and the server, wearing a pleased expression, led them to a table.

Despite an open spot opposite him, Bianca naturally sat beside Kraush as though it was the most obvious choice.

Kraush, seemingly accustomed to her presence, opened the menu and ordered food as per Bianca’s preference before scanning the surroundings.

It was the usual lunchtime, and he expected a certain individual to show up.

In a secluded spot, Kraush’s eyes captured a familiar figure.

He let out an incredulous sigh.

‘Found her already.’

A woman, stealthily stuffing her face with bread while tucking ordered food into a basket, stood out with light brown hair and a dull half-closed face.

Kraush knew her all too well.

The one who would be known as the Flame Emperor.

Aslan Igrit’s personal attendant.

She held the key to uniting with ‘him’ – the one with the Lunar Body.

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