TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 1
“F*ck.”
A man spat out a curse.
It was a situation where not cursing was simply impossible.
His body was marked here and there with stains of cursed patterns.
His right eye had long since been ruined due to a curse.
Moreover, half of his body had almost no sensation left.
His name was Kraush Balheim.
A man once called the disgrace of the Balheim Family.
‘Disgrace, my ass.’
But even that label of disgrace was a thing of the past.
He was one of the Skyborne Generation who fought against the destruction known as the World Erosion.
Even the family that always treated him like a half-penny began to acknowledge him.
Because of that thirst for recognition, he struggled even more desperately.
But the result was catastrophic.
A meteor shower was pouring down before his eyes, signaling the world’s destruction.
The Greatest Evil, which had grown uncontrollably massive, was devouring everything.
Kraush stared blankly at such destruction.
Then, he turned to look at the man beside him.
“So now, cough, what are you going to do…?”
Kraush’s voice, distorted by the curse, barely came out.
Yet the reproach in his tone was unmistakable.
“What am I going to do, you ask?”
At that, a man with dazzling platinum blonde hair lifted his head.
Even as the world was crumbling, his melancholic face was so strikingly handsome it felt almost unfair.
Arthur Gramalte, the most exceptional of the Skyborne Generation and the one called the Hero King.
The downfall of the Empire’s proud Hero King was almost laughable.
Because he was surrounded by three women, each comforting him in their own way.
That wasn’t a Hero King; it was a Harem King.
“The world is destroyed. It’s over.”
Arthur answered with remarkable composure.
Even though countless people had died to pave the way for him to get here, his tone was like that.
As if the destruction had nothing to do with him.
“Is that all you have to say? Cough, how many people trusted you and…!”
“Kraush, shut up! Arthur did his best!”
At that moment, a woman with hair the color of the sea shouted.
Kraush furrowed his brows deeply.
Her name was Sigrid Ephania.
The third princess of the Empire of Ephania and the one who had elevated Arthur to the position of Emperor candidate.
A princess so infatuated with Arthur that she had lost all reason.
But her swordsmanship was so exceptional that she could even spar with Arthur.
“Damn it, cough cough! Lady Sigrid, I saved your sorry ass when you were bawling about losing one eye, and now you tell me to shut up? Is that how it is?”
Unlike his usual demeanor, Kraush’s words were sharp and cutting.
At that, Sigrid shot him a look of utter disdain.
“How dare you speak like that in front of me, Sigrid? Aren’t you afraid of the consequences?”
“Consequences? Consequences!”
Kraush spat out blood and raised both hands toward the sky.
“The world is destroyed, and you’re talking about consequences?! You crazy woman! Ephania, the place you cherished, cough, is already gone!”
Sigrid’s eyes widened at his words.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
But seeing her like that, Kraush’s expression only grew more contemptuous.
She had always relied on her royal status to mistreat everyone except Arthur.
Among them, Kraush received particularly harsh treatment.
The main reason was that Kraush belonged to the Balheim Family, the most powerful faction in the Starlon Kingdom.
“Ah, from our academy days, you pulled every damn stunt imaginable!”
Their bitter enmity had begun back at Rahelrn Academy.
Sigrid, with her innate talent for swordsmanship, had been the center of everyone’s expectations.
In contrast, Kraush, the youngest son of the proud Balheim Family of the Starlon Kingdom,
was a half-penny who excelled at nothing.
If it had just been a matter of comparison, he wouldn’t have cared.
But Sigrid had been the leader of the Imperial Faction within the academy.
Because of that, she relentlessly tormented Kraush to crush the Kingdom Faction.
Thanks to her, Kraush not only faced scorn from the Imperial Faction
but was also ostracized by his own Kingdom Faction as a disgrace.
The phrase “disgrace of the family and kingdom” had become so common it was practically ingrained in his ears.
Yet Kraush endured it.
He accepted that he was indeed a talentless half-penny.
And she was someone essential to saving the world as part of the Skyborne Generation.
“When you lost your eye, you acted like the world was ending!”
But that’s all over now.
The world had ended, the Empire had been wiped out by the World Erosion, and the Kingdom had suffered the same fate.
So Kraush, with a voice filled with hatred, pressed his hand against his cursed right eye.
If he had known it would come to this, he wouldn’t have stolen the curse from that crazy woman’s eye.
“All you’re good for is stealing, you trash!”
At that, Sigrid snapped.
She drew the White Dragon’s Fang, her pristine white sword.
The cold air emanating from it seemed ready to freeze Kraush on the spot.
But Kraush merely scoffed.
Stealing was all he was good for, huh?
“Yeah, cough cough, you’re absolutely right.”
Kraush hated his own ability.
Just as she said, all he could do was steal.
[Skill: Black Hood]
Steals what the target possesses.
*Conditions
1. The value of the target’s possession is determined by the target.
2. The conditions for stealing depend on the value as judged by the target.
It was a skill granted by the god he had made a contract with, and it was literally just a thieving ability.
The more precious something was to the target, the harder it became to steal—a strange ability.
But this ability had one significant advantage.
‘Even curses born from the World Erosion can be stolen.’
He could steal curses that even the world’s most skilled Curse Masters couldn’t lift.
Because of this incredible advantage, Kraush had joined the Skyborne Generation.
As a result, the curses accumulated in his body numbered in the hundreds.
Among them was a curse that prevented him from dying from curses but also condemned him to never sleep again, which was why he was still alive.
It was a number that would have killed anyone else long ago.
‘I thought I’d hit four digits soon enough.’
Unfortunately, the world ended before he could reach that milestone.
In any case, every curse on Kraush’s body had been stolen from the Skyborne Generation.
Arthur’s Fear Domination curse.
Sigrid’s Darkness curse.
The Saintess’s Tyranny curse.
The Flame Emperor’s Source of Evil curse, and so on.
Every curse, even those belonging to the now-dead, was carried by Kraush.
Curses are the most worthless existence to their target.
Because of that, Kraush’s Black Hood could be utilized most effectively.
“But, without me, you lot wouldn’t have made it this far…….”
Kraush’s one eye trembled with fury.
“Isn’t that right? Cough, Abella.”
His gaze turned toward the woman who had been crying in Arthur’s arms for some time.
Her small frame clutched a Staff Engraved with Stars in her hands.
Abella, the Red Witch, the greatest talent produced by the Magic Tower and a member of the Skyborne Generation.
She, too, was a companion who had come this far with Arthur.
“Arthur, Arthur, what do we do?”
But she didn’t even pretend to listen.
From the moment the world had ended, all she did was cling to Arthur and sob endlessly.
‘Well, that’s just how she always was.’
She had always been a woman who ignored him, never even pretending to listen to what he said.
When the pain of the curses tearing through his body became unbearable, he had gone to the Magic Tower for painkillers.
But they had turned him away at the door, refusing to let him in.
Of course, that wasn’t the only humiliation he had suffered.
From that moment on, he had already severed all emotional ties with her.
“You said you couldn’t use magic because of the Curse of Losing Voice. Cough, cough, but you’re awfully good at crying.”
Even so, the way she shamelessly begged him to steal her curses was utterly revolting.
Even now, the pain in his throat, as if it were being scraped by iron, and the coughing it caused were all because of her curse.
“How pathetic. Just stop already.”
At that moment, another voice rang out.
A woman who had been silently standing behind Arthur.
She was Mary Diana, the Strongest Knight and the spear of the Ephania Empire, protector of Sigrid.
With her jet-black hair, tall stature, and glamorous figure, she was undeniably attractive.
But to Kraush, she was nothing but a nuisance.
Because a significant number of the curses he bore belonged to that idiotic woman.
The Strongest Spear? What a joke.
Her absurdly inflated self-esteem made her insist on charging headfirst into World Erosion, bringing back curses, even when retreat was the only option.
“Pathetic? Bullshit. Do you not remember begging me to steal your curse, all because you didn’t want Arthur to find out about your feelings for him?”
And yet, the very next day after her curse was removed.
She had the audacity to enter the same room as Sigrid and Arthur.
Because of that, he couldn’t even go on the first date he had promised that day.
Now, whether it was a date or anything else, it was all meaningless since everyone was as good as dead.
“Every time you open your mouth, that’s all you can say.”
“Of course that’s all I can say! Cough, cough, because part of your curse still lingers!”
If the curses hadn’t canceled each other out on their own, who knows what words he might have spewed out right now.
“At the very least, you could have saved the world.”
Kraush exhaled heavily, as if resigning himself to everything, and turned to look at Arthur.
The biggest problem was Arthur, that guy.
Arthur, who had never once failed to meet expectations until now.
He had always seemed to know the future, effortlessly accomplishing everything.
But at the end, he had faltered and now lay collapsed like this.
Even so, Kraush had stayed by Arthur’s side.
Everyone around Arthur was nothing but fools.
But at least Arthur had told him he was needed.
Of course, Arthur hadn’t exactly stopped others from treating Kraush harshly.
But Kraush had stayed with the Skyborne Generation, even in this state, because he thought it had helped him too.
“You were someone who could do it.”
Kraush recalled the words Arthur had uttered as he watched the world crumble.
[It’s over.]
As if it were nothing more than the end of a play.
The calmness with which he had spoken those words had rendered all of Kraush’s efforts meaningless.
“Yeah, but in the end, you failed this time too.”
In the meantime, Arthur had risen to his feet.
Dark blood dripped steadily from beneath his chest.
That was why Abella clung to him, crying incessantly.
Because Arthur was dying.
After all, he had also failed to prevent the world’s destruction.
“This time, too?”
But Kraush mulled over Arthur’s words, his expression puzzled.
Because it sounded as if he had experienced this situation before.
“Don’t worry. This time, it’s different. I’ve obtained the card called Memory Inheritance.”
The expressions of the three women watching him changed.
Their faces looked as if they had made some kind of promise with him long ago.
Seeing that, Kraush frowned slowly, finding it bizarre.
“Arthur, what do you mean? Am I the only one who doesn’t understand?”
“Kraush, this isn’t the first time I’ve faced destruction. This world has been destroyed countless times.”
Arthur’s calm words only deepened Kraush’s confusion.
Destroyed countless times? What kind of nonsense was that?
Had Arthur gone mad at the very end?
“But it’s fine. I’ll just go back again.”
“What, what kind of nonsense is that! Arthur! Sigrid, Abella, Mary, you all know something, don’t you!”
Despite Kraush’s outcry, the three women only looked at Arthur.
As if Arthur was the only one in the world that mattered.
“Since we’ve come this far, I’ll tell you.”
Finally, Arthur gave him an answer.
“Regression.”
Regression?
Kraush’s one eye shook violently.
Because a word that seemed like it belonged in a story had come out of Arthur’s mouth.
Moreover, the other three seemed to already know about his regression.
“Re-regression?”
With that, Kraush felt as if all the pieces of the puzzle were falling into place.
Because Arthur’s actions, which had seemed as if he knew the future, now made sense.
Arthur’s eyes were sincere.
He really was regressing.
“And in this round, I obtained Memory Inheritance. With this Memory Inheritance, I can pass on the memories of Sigrid, Abella, and Mary to the point when I regress.”
“So, you’re going to regress and start over again?”
If he couldn’t stop the destruction on his own, then he could regress with others and stop it together.
Realizing this, Kraush’s one eye began to widen.
If that were the case, they might truly be able to prevent destruction.
Even if this round had failed, with those three—whose personalities were awful but whose skills were undeniable—the chances would be much higher.
For a moment, a glimmer of hope began to shine.
The light of a world that had seemed bleak in the face of destruction.
“Yes, I’ll start over with everyone.”
Suddenly, Kraush looked up upon hearing the word “everyone.”
The three people beside him had already known this fact long ago.
But what about himself?
What about himself, who had desperately survived amidst the dying members of the Skyborne Generation, stealing everyone’s curses?
“Wait. Arthur.”
Thus, Kraush decided to ask.
Didn’t you alone recognize me?
“…What about me?”
It was the moment he barely opened his lips, which had been tightly shut, to ask the question.
Arthur, as he had at first, quietly looked at Kraush before he suddenly began to laugh for the first time.
“Puhahaha.”
Upon hearing his sudden burst of laughter, Kraush was stunned, and at that moment, Arthur slowly raised his head, tears wiped away by Abella.
Then, his golden pupils shone brightly.
“Kraush, what’s the point of passing on your memories when your body and mind are both in tatters?”
Arthur said this while looking down at the dazed Kraush.
“Don’t worry. I quite like you. Without you, the Skyborne Generation wouldn’t have come this far. Your ability to steal curses is very useful. But that doesn’t mean I need you as you are now. What I need is you, with a clear mind, following me.”
Those words seemed to treat him like a tool.
Just a disposable tool to be used once and thrown away.
A tool that was necessary every time they regressed, but nothing more, nothing less.
“See you again. Kraush.”
With those words, a bright light suddenly began to emanate from Arthur’s body.
Realizing that Arthur had started to regress, Kraush stood up in panic and stumbled to the ground.
It was because one of his legs, affected by a curse, wouldn’t move properly.
While rolling in the mud, Kraush spat out blood and shouted towards Arthur.
“Wait, wait! Wait! Arthur! Take me with you! You bastard! If you’re going, take me too!”
Yet, Arthur’s expression remained unchanged.
From the beginning, Kraush had no value in Arthur’s life.
The reason he pretended to recognize him was solely because he thought Kraush would be useful.
He had never once acknowledged him as a comrade.
Did he only realize this fact now?
‘That’s already…’
Wasn’t it something he had realized long ago?
When members of the Skyborne Generation ignored and humiliated him, Arthur just watched silently without saying a word.
As if such treatment was only natural.
If he had truly considered him a comrade, he would have stopped them long ago and stayed by his side.
Instead of acknowledging his achievements, he treated him like a tool as well.
‘I was just…’
He was just consoling himself in his mind.
While claiming to be helpful to the Skyborne Generation, and that he had to prevent the world’s destruction, he was merely filling the self-esteem that had been lacking since his family days.
Like this.
Is this really the end?
Really?
It was the moment Kraush’s consciousness began to fade.
Kraush looked down at his hand.
A world heading towards destruction.
Arthur leaving.
The ability to steal what others possess.
It was a part he hadn’t even considered because his body was already ruined by curses long ago.
But there was always a doubt he had from some point.
Could he really not steal a skill?
Of course, a skill is the most important thing to a person, so it’s not something that can be easily stolen.
But now was not the time to worry about such things.
Kraush’s hand reached out towards Arthur.
Did he do the same thing in Arthur’s previous rounds?
If he had succeeded, he would have regressed in this round as well.
If he didn’t, it means he failed.
But it didn’t matter.
If he didn’t do this, everything would become meaningless under the destroyed world anyway.
“Damn it!”
With a single curse, the moment Kraush’s outstretched hand glowed.
Kraush lost consciousness amidst the bright light.
* * *
“Huh?”
As the bright light disappeared, a single note of confusion echoed.
Amidst the meteor shower falling to bring destruction, one person slowly raised their head.
And then, realizing that no one was beside him, he slowly began to widen his eyes.
“What, what is this?”
Why was he here when he should have regressed?
As he questioned this, his thoughts were cut off by the meteor shower falling from above.
Originally, he should have regressed to face the 10th round, the 9th round Arthur Gramalte.
It was the day he truly died.