Аннотация:We present near-infrared (NIR) and optical observations of the Type Ic supernova (SN Ic) SN 2021krf obtained between days 13 and 259 at several ground-based telescopes. The NIR spectrum at day 68 exhibits a rising $K$-band continuum flux density longward of $\sim 2.0 μ$m, which is likely from freshly formed dust in the SN ejecta. We estimate a carbon-grain dust mass of $\sim 2 \times 10^-5$ M$_ødot$ and a dust temperature of $\sim 900-1200$ K associated with this rising continuum and suggest the dust has formed in SN ejecta. Utilizing the one-dimensional multigroup radiation hydrodynamics code STELLA, we present two degenerate progenitor solutions for SN 2021krf, characterized by C-O star masses of 3.93 and 5.74 M$_ødot$, but with the same best-fit $^56$Ni mass of 0.11 M$_ødot$ for early times (0-70 days). At late times (70-300 days), optical light curves of SN 2021krf decline substantially more slowly than that expected from $^56$Co radioactive decay. A late-time optical spectrum on day 259 shows strong Ca II and [O I] ejecta lines from the SN. Lack of H and He lines in the late-time SN spectrum suggests the absence of significant interaction of the ejecta with the circumstellar medium. We reproduce the entire bolometric light curve with a combination of radioactive decay and an additional powering source in the form of a central engine of a millisecond pulsar with a magnetic field smaller than that of a typical magnetar.