I Became a Disaster-Class Newbie by Stealing Abilities - Chapter 30

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 030. The Celebration Banquet (3)
“What the—another Knight? There was another one?”
Ha Yeon-su stared at Myeol-seong-ryu, her shock visceral.
The manifested Moonlight was unmistakably the symbol of a Knight.
And its completion was leagues beyond what the trainee Knights wielded.
A full-fledged Knight, then.
One officially registered with the Order.
“Damn it. I thought I had everything under control—what is this disaster?”
An enormous variable had arrived.
But the die was already cast.
There was only one path forward: kill the Knight and complete the mission.
Crack-crack-crack-crack-crack!
The roaring inferno intensified.
The heat was suffocating.
Hot enough to incinerate bone and marrow alike.
An inferno capable of melting flesh within armor—for any ordinary fighter, even survival would be impossible.
Of course, when the opponent transcended “ordinary,” the equation changed entirely.
‘Let me see what I can really do.’
Myeol-seong-ryu’s tongue flicked across his lips.
A low hum filled the air.
Weighty power flooded into the blade gripped in both hands.
[Using Knight’s Oath!]
[You may increase one stat by +20.]
A special effect of Raymond’s sword, Malkarim.
He’d already decided which stat to boost.
[Anti-Demonic Resistance increased: 52 → 72!]
[Added the chill of the Ice-Fire Ultimate Sword!]
He already possessed Anti-Demonic Resistance bordering on the trainee Knight level.
And now twenty more points stacked on top?
With the chill of the Ice-Fire Ultimate Sword layered over it?
No matter how excellent the synergy between two Spirit Familiars, this was beyond calculation.
After roughly ten seconds, the flames began to falter.
Then they stopped entirely.
“Kyah… kyao… oh.”
“Wheeze. Wheeeeze….”
Salamander and Sylphid gasped for breath, their chests heaving.
Their magical reserves were depleted; they teetered on the edge of dispersion.
“I… this can’t be right. Even for a Knight, Anti-Demonic Resistance that… that high?”
Had she really stumbled upon someone who outranked even Python?
Seeing it with her own eyes, she still could not believe it.
Tap-tap.
Myeol-seong-ryu brushed the lingering flames from his body.
“It had some heat to it, but the magical reserves seem paltry. The duration is pathetic.”
With another three years of refinement, those Spirits might become marginally useful.
Assuming they pursued a proper growth trajectory and accumulated synergistic traits, of course.
“An undercover Knight? Why would someone of your caliber be mixed in with such rabble?”
Ha Yeon-su continued her barrage of questions, but Myeol-seong-ryu’s attention had long since drifted elsewhere.
[Plunder Condition: Force Ha Yeon-su to sever her bonds with her Spirit Familiars.]
[Reward: Randomly steal two of the target’s unique abilities, traits, stats, or memorabilia items.]
Spirit-class abilities and skills were notoriously difficult to acquire.
There were far too few Spiritists in the world.
Which was precisely why he should collect them whenever the opportunity arose.
If he could ever contract with a high-tier Spirit Familiar or a Spirit King, it would prove invaluable.
‘The condition is steep, though.’
Breaking a bond forged through years of trust and faith—that was never going to be simple.
But if he succeeded, he could steal two abilities outright.
‘There’s a path to it.’
The nature of the Ghoul organization.
With that in mind, it wasn’t impossible.
Myeol-seong-ryu activated the Essence of Fire.
Whoosh!
A small flame bloomed at the tip of his fingers.
“M-magic? That can’t be… How can a Knight use magic?”
“You seem to be under a misunderstanding. I’m not a Knight.”
“Then what’s with that swordplay?”
“Let’s just say I had the chance to capture a Knight who was badly wounded. It was grueling work, but thanks to him, I was able to master the Myeol-seong-ryu.”
At Myeol-seong-ryu’s words, Ha Yeon-su’s eyes went wide.
“What?! Are you insane? Don’t you know what happens when a non-Knight uses the Myeol-seong-ryu?”
“From what I hear, it usually means hanging or execution. Torture for about a month comes as standard.”
Myeol-seong-ryu shrugged his shoulders.
As if discussing someone else’s problem entirely, utterly unconcerned.
“Sigh. You really aren’t in your right mind either.”
“True. As a result, I’ve become someone with no way back. That’s precisely why I want to join your side. I’ve heard Ghoul welcomes criminals like me.”
“You’re actively interfering with our operation right now, and you’re asking for something like that?”
If a survivor escaped outside, reinforcements from beyond would arrive far sooner.
That’s why killing every last one was essential—to delay assistance as long as possible.
“I apologize for that. I thought proving my worth came first.”
Myeol-seong-ryu finished speaking and drove his blade into the ground.
As the Ice-Fire Ultimate Sword activated….
Crack!
A thin wall of ice stretched all the way to the ceiling.
The survivors became trapped rats in a cage in the blink of an eye.
Sound was cut off too—nothing could be heard from beyond.
Would this be enough?
He glanced sideways at Ha Yeon-su.
…….
She still wore that look of lingering doubt in her eyes.
If he’d killed them all, perhaps. But merely locking them away wasn’t cutting it.
He had no choice.
Time to deploy Plan B.
Myeol-seong-ryu signaled toward one side.
The three ghouls who’d been waiting in advance rushed forward at once.
“You monster!”
“Re. Lease. Them. Now!”
The intonation was like reading from a textbook.
Sigh. They needed more acting lessons.
Still, only they remained unscathed even in flames at maximum intensity. He’d have to overlook this much.
“Tsk. Were there more of you little rats hiding about?”
Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom!
Flames forged from the Essence of Fire devoured all the ghouls in an instant.
* * *
Crackle. Crackle….
Ha Yeon-su stared at the charred remains of the ghouls for a long moment.
‘If he’d go that far against children, he’s absolutely no Knight.’
No Knight who knew honor and pride would ever do such a thing.
“My doubt is gone. However, that alone isn’t enough for us to accept you into our ranks.”
“What if I offered you a bribe you couldn’t refuse?”
“Hmm. For instance?”
“I’ll arrange for you to contract with a Dark Attribute Spirit. From what I understand, it’s something Spiritists would trade any treasure in existence for—am I right?”
“…Are you serious about that?”
Greed began to creep into the depths of Ha Yeon-su’s eyes.
It couldn’t be helped.
Water, fire, earth, light, wind.
Unlike the Five Primary Attributes, the Dark Attribute Spirit—no one even knew how to contract with one.
In fact, across the present day Korea and its many colonies, there wasn’t a single person who had successfully contracted with a Dark Attribute Spirit.
All that was known were scattered tales of Ancient Runes that symbolized dark spirits and accounts of their unsettling, ominous power.
But if she managed to succeed in the contract….
She would secure a far more dominant position within the organization.
She would become indispensable talent.
Perhaps she might even be promoted to one of the executive ranks.
But precisely because it was such an important matter, she needed to be all the more cautious.
“First, show me the summoning gate. I need to verify whether a contract with a Dark Attribute Spirit is actually possible.”
“Wow, you sure are suspicious. Here I am trying to give you something precious, and you’re acting like this.”
Myeol-seong-ryu swept his hand through the air.
Crack.
A rift opened in the void.
It was the Gate of Endless Suffering.
Crackle, crackle, crackle!
An ominous and alien aura poured from the widening gap.
Moreover, he had carved Ancient Runes onto the gate’s surface using Shakespeare’s Fountain Pen.
Hum!
Brilliant light erupted from the runes that symbolized the Dark Attribute Spirit.
“This… this is a summoning gate for Dark Attribute Spirits. Yes, that’s right. The runes and that characteristic dark magic—it matches the summoning gates I’ve read about in texts.”
Ha Yeon-su’s voice trembled with awe.
“But to contract with this creature, you’ll have to sever your existing contracts with your other Spirit Familiars.”
“What?”
“This one’s far too powerful. There’s no getting around it—just taking this one under contract will put an enormous strain on your body.”
A true Spiritist would never abandon their Spirit Familiars.
If a contract was severed unilaterally, the Spirit Familiars would wither and die slowly, cut off from the supply of magical power.
But.
For someone belonging to Ghoul, such a thing was no real concern. Spirits were ultimately just tools, after all.
“Well, I suppose it can’t be helped. Those two pieces of trash aren’t worth feeding anyway—one Dark Attribute Spirit would be far more useful than either of them.”
Ha Yeon-su’s decision came quickly.
“Kyao?”
“Shiii-eek?”
Salamander and Sylphid rushed desperately toward Ha Yeon-su.
The two Spirit Familiars whimpered frantically at her feet, trying not to be abandoned.
Of course, it was all for nothing.
[Ha Yeon-su has severed the contract.]
Clean, decisive.
The weakened Spirit Familiar collapsed on the spot.
Tears welled up in its eyes.
At the same time.
Status windows flickered before Myeol-seong-ryu.
Ping!
[Condition fulfilled!]
[You have stolen the skill ‘Forest of Spirits’!]
[You have stolen Ha Yeon-su’s ‘Memory’!]
What he’d gained was a skill and a memory.
‘The Forest of Spirits is a field-type skill that grants area buffs to spirits, divine beasts, and phantom beasts, if I recall correctly.’
It was specialized for group combat and had excellent effects in terms of sustained power.
Even better, he remembered it had a secondary effect that raised the favorability of the skill user as well.
This wasn’t bad.
In fact, it was perfectly suited to the current situation.
‘I’ll need to handle the most urgent memories first, then go through the rest.’
For now, saving the two spirits was the priority.
“Wait! What’s happening? Why is the summoning gate disappearing?”
Ha Yeon-su pointed at the emptiness and cried out.
Ah, that?
It was nothing special.
He’d simply dissolved the Gate of Endless Suffering.
He’d already obtained everything he needed.
Myeol-seong-ryu approached Salamander and Sylphid and knelt on one knee.
“You two have suffered long, faithfully following even a worthless master like that.”
Now the hellish time was over.
“Kyao-o…”
“Shii-i…”
[The skill ‘Forest of Spirits’ is activated!]
Blue leaves sprouted around them, and emerald-colored orbs began to float upward.
Their vitality and magical power slowly recovered.
Life kindled in the eyes of the Spirit Familiars, bit by bit.
“That… that’s my skill, isn’t it…?”
Ha Yeon-su murmured, staring at the Forest of Spirits.
Then realization dawned.
“You. You can steal abilities? Don’t tell me—bringing up the Dark Attribute Spirit was a condition for stealing my power?”
Right.
Your instincts are sharp.
“Usually people are too panicked to think that far ahead.”
But if you were that clever, you should’ve foreseen what comes next.
[The intermediate fire spirit Salamander and the low-rank wind spirit Sylphid have developed extremely strong affection and trust toward you!]
[The contract has been completed!]
In an instant, blazing heat—
—seared through his entire body.
The sensation that erupted when forging a spirit contract.
“Kyaaaah!”
“Shrieeee!”
Salamander and Sylphid had fully reclaimed their power.
Their fury at the betrayal made them tremble with rage.
“W-wait. I’m your master. Don’t you remember? Hurry, destroy that man! I’ll make a new contract with you. Kill him right now!”
Ha Yeon-su stumbled backward, screaming.
But it was already too late.
Far, far too late.
A torrent of wind gales mingled with the colossal inferno.
Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash!
The raging fire swallowed Ha Yeon-su whole.
“Aaaahhhhh!”
Hellfire so scorching it was unbearable.
Crackle… crackle….
In moments, Ha Yeon-su had turned to char, then scattered as ash.
Between the ashes gleamed several items, glinting in the light.
One problem handled.
Next was—
Myeol-seong-ryu’s gaze turned toward the staircase, some distance away.
They’d said they were targeting the Scouters, hadn’t they?
‘Ransom. That’s the goal.’
Indeed, holding hostages from a major guild would yield considerable profit.
They’d surrender much for the sake of honor and reputation.
‘I’d better hurry.’
If handled well, this could net far more than mere merit points.
Screeeek!
Myeol-seong-ryu shattered the wall he’d created with the Ice-Fire Ultimate Sword.
Inside, the trapped people were trembling violently.
“Go outside at once and call for the guild’s aid.”
“What? You… weren’t you working with that woman?”
“Of course not. I was merely acting to divert your attention.”
Those who saw the ash drifting through the air understood that Myeol-seong-ryu spoke the truth.
“Go now. If you return with the guild’s high-rankers, we can apprehend them all.”
“You go first. I’m going to search inside for more survivors.”
“No, you mustn’t! There are executives from Ghoul inside. If you go alone, you’ll die for nothing!”
Ghoul’s executives were wanted persons with high bounties on their heads.
At minimum, you’d need fighters of 8-star rank or higher to stand a chance.
Which meant—
He had to be stopped.
Before their savior threw his life away.
“That may be true, but someone has to stay and fulfill that role, don’t they?”
One doesn’t calculate when saving another’s life.
That’s what he was saying.
“Who… just who are you…?”
A hero.
That’s how everyone saw Myeol-seong-ryu as he faded deeper into the darkness.
Of course, she hadn’t noticed him humming tunelessly and drooling over the prospect.
* * *
At the same moment.
Cheon Su-ho, one of Ghoul’s executives, was pressing down on Python with relentless force.
“Ha ha. Running out of steam already? Your spear’s moving like a slug now. No wonder people say the 5th Order Knights are knights in name only.”
“You talk a lot for someone who’s resorted to every dirty trick in the book. Criminal scum.”
Crack-crack-crack-bang!
Python thrust his spear again and again, parrying the onslaught.
The rookie knight he’d brought with him was already dead from the first ambush.
He himself couldn’t guarantee how much longer he could hold out.
Defending against the explosion that erupted right before his eyes had consumed most of his remaining mana.
If not for that, even one of Ghoul’s executives wouldn’t have dared mouth off like this.
Of course, when your life hung in the balance, all such excuses were worthless.
‘There’s no feeling in my fingertips.’
He couldn’t tell if he was still gripping the spear or if he’d already dropped it.
At most, one or two more exchanges.
Then his neck would be forfeit.
But right then.
A soft whisper.
Someone slipped into the heart of the battle as naturally as could be.
Cheon Su-ho paused mid-swing, his blade hanging still as he studied the intruder.
A young girl with white hair and antlers sprouting from her head.
She looked a bit odd, admittedly, but she was just a child.
“Hey there, little miss. I’m just about to reach the climax right now. You’d better scurry off before things get ugly.”
One more step and he’d have his quarry—a Knight of considerable standing.
Nothing would stand in his way, no interference, no distraction. The exhilaration of victory would be his alone to savor.
If anyone dared dampen that ecstasy…
He’d tear them to shreds.
“Fall back. You’re no match for him.”
Python forced the words out through gritted teeth.
Then.
“How amusing you both are.”
Baek Seol-gi smiled—a smile red as blood.
“If not for Myeol-seong-ryu’s instruction, creatures like you wouldn’t even merit a word from me.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————