"About that favor, Lord Lucas." she said as I leaned back, feigning a casual confidence.

"Yes? What do you want?"

"I will send you a letter containing my request, if that is okay with you." she plainly stated.

“That’s fine by me.” I replied.

The next day, I’ve returned to the Belmont estate. I need to find a way to rid of the curses, and the key to that was finding a cure using the Search unique skill. However, I still couldn't control its power without the Mana Control skill. But that was about to change. With Skill Steal now in my possession, I could steal the Mana Control skill from someone else. Simple, right?

Wrong! Only mages possess Mana Control, and mages are uncommon in this world. Veteran adventurer mages are easy to find, but stealing from them would be dangerous and suspicious. Imagine the uproar if a powerful mage suddenly lost their Mana Control. The safer bet was to target a beginner mage. Their loss wouldn’t raise as many eyebrows, but beginners mages are well-protected by their mage masters, making them hard to get close to.

I drummed my fingers on the desk, thinking through my options.

"This is going to be tricky, but not impossible." I confidently muttered to myself as an idea popped in my head.

That afternoon, I went to Belmont Prison. It held many criminals of whom possessed useful skills. One prisoner in particular came to mind—a psychotic fire mage, locked up for arson. It was a risky plan, but if executed correctly, it could solve my problem.

I then made my way to the prison. Once inside, I approached one of the guards. "You." I firmly said. "You’re coming with me."

The guard looked puzzled but nodded. "Yes, young master. What do you need?"

"You will assist me and not report this to the Duke. If you do, I’ll cut off your head myself." I threatened as his eyes widened in fear.

"Understood, young master. What do you need me to do?"

"Take me to the arsonist." I ordered.

We moved through the dark, damp corridors of the prison until we reached the cell where the fire mage was held. His wrists were shackled with Demiritium, an anti-magic metal that prevented him from using his powers.

"Open the gate." I commanded the guard.

The guard hesitated but quickly complied, unlocking the cell door with a loud creak, the gate swung open. I activated my Appraisal unique skill, scanning the mage’s status. His skills were just what I needed.

Name: Biltvar

Vitality: E Tier

Strength: E- Tier

Agility: D- Tier

Endurance: E+ Tier

Intelligence: C+ Tier

Wisdom: C Tier

Extra Skills: [Mana Perception C- Tier]

Skills: [Mana Control C Tier] [Fire Magic C Tier]

Unique Skills: None

The mage then glared at us with wild, hateful eyes. “What does a brat want from—?”

Before the mage could finish his sentence, I lunged forward, grabbing his face with my hand. The mage's eyes went wide with shock as I activated my Skill Steal ability. I felt the power flow in me as I took his Mana Control and Fire Magic skills, including his Mana Perception extra skill. The process was quick but intense.

I could feel the power flowing through me!

The mage screamed and thrashed in confusion as his skills were stripped away. "What did you do to me?" he howled as his voice echoed through the cell block.

I stepped back, letting go of his face. "Your skills are now mine." I menacingly responded. "You should be grateful that you can’t commit any more crimes."

The mage crumpled to the ground, now utterly powerless.

I turned to the guard, who was watching in stunned silence. "Lock him back up." I ordered.

"Y-yes, young master." the guard stammered, quickly locking the cell door again.

My thirst for power didn’t end with the fire mage. I needed more. Specifically, I needed the Swordsmanship skill to balance my magical prowess with physical combat abilities. The Belmont Prison held more than just arsonists; it housed thieves and bandits, many of whom were skilled with a blade.

"Open the cells of the thief and the bandit." I ordered. "I still have unfinished business."

The guard nodded, his hands trembling as he led me deeper into the prison. We stopped in front of a cell where a notorious thief was held, known for his swift and deadly swordsmanship.

As the gate swung open, the thief looked up as his eyes narrowed with suspicion. "What do you want?" he spat as I lunged forward, grabbing his face just as I had done with the mage.

The Skill Steal activated, and I felt his Swordsmanship skill transfer into me. The thief screamed and his body convulsed as I ripped the skill away from him.

"Fucking brat! What did you do?” he furiously gasped as he collapsed to the ground.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"Consider it as a punishment for your wrong doings." I shortly replied.

Leaving the thief in a state of confusion and rage, I moved on to the bandit. He was a hulking figure, known for his brute strength and expertise with a sword. The guard hesitated as we approached his cell, clearly nervous about releasing such a dangerous criminal.

"Do it." I insisted.

The cell door creaked open, and the bandit rose to his feet, towering over me. "What’s this about?" he growled.

I ignored his question and jumped forward, grabbing his face and pinning him against the wall. The Skill Steal activated once more, and I felt his Swordsmanship skill flow into me, merging with the one I had just taken from the thief. The bandit roared in pain, his knees buckling as he lost his prized skill.

"You piece of shit!" he groaned, his voice a mix of despair and confusion.

You know what they say: The bigger they are, the harder they fall.

I turned to the guard, who was pale and shaking. "Lock him up." I ordered. "And remember, this never happened."

"Y-yes, young master," he stammered, quickly securing the cell door.

Back in the mansion, I wasted no time and I called up my status window with a snap of my fingers. I was eager to assess my newfound powers.

Name: Lucas Belmont

Vitality: S Tier

Strength: S Tier

Agility: S Tier

Endurance: S Tier

Intelligence: S+ Tier

Wisdom: S+ Tier

Extra Skills: [Mana Perception C- Tier]

Skills: [Mana Control C Tier] [Fire Magic C Tier] [Swordsmanship S+ Tier]

Unique Skills: [Appraisal] [Soul Siphon] [Search] [Skill Steal]

Curses: [Curse of the Weak] [Curse of the Talentless]

My eyes quickly scanned the list. And there it was: Swordsmanship S+ Tier. The two Swordsmanship skills I stole had stacked, elevating my prowess with the blade to an extraordinary level.

Mana Control and Fire Magic were at C Tier, and an extra skill, Mana Perception at C- Tier. It seemed my actions had not only granted me the abilities I sought but also enhanced my overall capabilities.

With my newfound Mana Control skill, I could finally use the Search unique skill effectively. My next objective was clear: To find a cure for the curses.

I then focused, letting my abundant mana flow steadily as I expanded my search across the entire continent.

Seconds passed, then minutes. Frustration began to creep in as nothing appeared. I tried again, widening my scope, searching any cure from plants to skills to people. I kept pushing my mana to its limits. Still… nothing.

Did the author removed the cure or was there no cure to begin with?

I repeated the process several times as my desperation grew with each attempt. Finally, I was out of mana and utterly exhausted.

Slumping back on my chair, I clenched my fists in anger. “That fucking asshole! How could there be no cure? What kind of twisted logic is this?" I yelled in fury.

Why did he create such a character who’s doomed to suffer? No wonder he was called 'The Bewitched' by both readers and characters in the novel. He was a tragic figure, a pawn with no significance, only crafted to feel pain and misfortune.

But I’m not like the original Lucas! I am who I am, and I refuse to give up now that I’ve gotten this far!

The thought of killing the author with my own two hands was extremely tempting.

I don’t care if I have to consume souls like medicine on a daily basis or commit heinous acts like stealing the skills of others. I would do whatever it takes to get back home!

I know I have the tools. I just needed to use them wisely. I had to be more ruthless, cunning, and unrelenting.

If the author thinks he can trap me here, then he’s sorely mistaken. I'll break this cursed story and make my own!

"I will find a way." I irefully vowed. "And when I do, there will be no one who will be able to stop me."

A year passed and I was now eleven years old. Just one year remained before the real story would begin and the Empire Academy entrance exams would start. The Duke was determined to ensure my preparedness, so he hired two adventurers to train me in swordsmanship and magic. Little did he know, I had already acquired all the necessary skills.

I played the part of an eager novice, pretending to struggle with basic techniques while knowing I could easily outmatch my instructors. My swordsmanship skills, stolen and perfected, were far beyond those of the sword instructor. Moreover, my mana control and magic abilities were on par with the mage instructor.

Eventually, the two of them had nothing left to teach me. They realized I had surpassed their expectations, yet they remained unaware of my true abilities. Despite my progress, I was reminded of the constraints of my social status. As an aristocrat and the only heir of the Belmont family, I was forbidden from signing up as an official adventurer.

However, that didn’t stop me from sneaking out the mansion. A few days after completing my sword and magic training, I decided to take matters into my own hands.

So one night, I ventured deep into the nearby forest to acquire the Quick HP Regeneration ability of a Troll. This ability to quickly recovers my body in case of a deadly wound

With the Search unique skill, it wasn’t long before I encountered one. Soon enough, the ground trembled, and the beast emerged from the underbrush, its grotesque form illuminated by the moonlight.

The troll noticed me and bared its jagged teeth that dripped with saliva. With a guttural growl it charged at me, swinging its massive stone club.

I dodged its attacks while I ignited my sword using Fire Magic to prevent its regeneration. I then slashed and seared through its skin and hide, with each strike accompanied by the nauseating stench of its burning flesh. The troll bellowed in agony as its rapid regeneration was halted by the fire. Despite its size and ferocity, my flaming sword gave me the upper hand.

The troll retaliated with another wild swing, but I easily evaded it and counterattacked again, slicing both of its arms with the flames cauterizing the wounds that would’ve healed instantly.

As the troll weakened, its movements grew more and more sluggish. Blood oozed from countless gashes, pooling at its feet. With a final thrust, I drove my sword through its chest and twisted my blade. The troll let out a blood-curdling scream and collapsed to its knees.

After that, I plunged my hand into the its gaping wound and activated my Steal Skill unique skill. Amidst the gore, I stole its Quick HP Regeneration bloodline skill, turning it into my very own extra skill.

I then raised my sword high and with a powerful swing, I decapitated the Troll. Its head rolled to the ground, its blood sprayed in an arc, and its body collapsed in a lifeless heap.