[The Residential Area: Background]

An empty planet. A city with the capacity to fill millions, yet completely empty.

Before the Redeemer’s had adopted it, the planet had been completely desolate.

Nobody would have come here. It didn’t have useful resources, nor a population to trade with, or even powerful monsters to hunt.

Yet, in a way, it could be called this universes last opportunity.

While the Redeemer’s used it, the planet had families, warriors, scientists, experts… people of all ages, vocations, and backgrounds…

Now though… it’s a planet almost entirely devoid of life. If not literally, then figuratively.

There were rare survivors, which had survived the mutation process.

… But, these survivors were lost in grief and almost devoid of all hope. Stuck wallowing in their misery at having failed.

People, who had once numbered trillions… whittled down to a mere several thousand.

Leaving an empty shell of a populated city. A ghost town. Desolate and alone.

Yet, despite this, not all these native survivors had given up hope.

In this place, though, it was nonexistent. Anyone who still contained hope had long since left this planet.

Thus, the planet remained desolate. A mere gathering place for the depressed and hopeless.

Until new people arrived… People from other universes. People who filled the survivors with hope.

Thought to be a blessing from the heaven to this dying universe… but, like all things, hope fades.

These people dismissed them when told the universe was dissolving. Unwilling, or unable, to accept the truth; they built their own society and government on this planet, ignoring the native doomsayers.

They not only actively ignored the natives, but their new government actively preventing people from leaving the planet.

While the natives powerful compared to the newcomers, they were outnumbered.

Newcomers who, in the name of ‘protection’, were destroying possibly the last hope of this universe.

The people who believed the natives were in the absolute minority, it seemed like nothing would even change.

So it continued, deadlocked...

Until the day, something would change it… or more specifically someone.

[Day 361, Around thirty days later…]

POV – Tobias

Well… I’m running out of time. Soon, the beacon will appear and everyone will abandon this zone.

I’m… not exactly sure what to do. I need to continue onward onto the next zone but… unlike Rin, I won’t be able to eat nearly anything in that zone.

She has her inheritance that provides her with the ability to eat nearly anything. I don’t have anything like that.

Staring at the world tree’s seed, I absentmindedly bite my lip. I… I can’t do it.

It’s too painful… At least, not without some type of anesthesia. Damn, damn, damn. Useless coward.

For the last few days, I’ve been waiting for the beacon from inside the valley. The one Rin and I lived in for awhile, that had the heritage. I was hoping Rin would come back here, but she hasn’t.

Actually, nothing of real importance has happened since leaving the world tree.

… Well, beside my Basilisk’s inheritance reaching level 4.

Nothing changed much in that regard though… At least, nothing notable beside the cooldown on Petrifying Eyes decreased to every 2 days.

Playing catch with the seed, I absentmindedly ponder what to do.

Honestly, I don’t have a clue.

I’ve already used up most of my knowledge of this zone and it’s already too late to begin searching for anything.

POV Swap – Rin

Rin had been searching for Tobias since arriving near the village. She hadn’t found him yet.

Rin had even attempted to ask that moron, Duke, if he’d seen Tobias. It… hadn’t gone well.

Duke still utterly insane. The moment Rin saw him, Duke claimed that he was completely aware of her foul plot and attacked her.

If toxins and poisons worked on him, Rin would have simply beaten him up and interrogated him. Unfortunately, Duke seems to be completely immune to toxins and poisons.

It’s probably Duke’s power. He’s too annoying to incapacitate without poisons though.

Resolving herself to avoid further interactions with insane people, Rin headed back toward the valley.

Last time she had been there, Tobias’ scent had already almost entirely disappeared.

She should have specified to return here.

Wait… Tobias scent is fresh now.

He’s been here?

Speeding up her pace, she quickly entered the valley and spotted Tobias. He looked extremely absentminded, constantly tossing something into the air and catching it.

Calling out to Tobias, Rin barely received an inattentive nod back.

This is the first time she seen him in several months… and he’s lost in his thoughts.

Eyelid twitching, she walked next to him and caught the object he was constantly throwing to catch his attention.

Glaring at Tobias. Rin repeated herself, loudly.

POV Swap – Tobias

While I was absentmindedly tossing the seed, it was suddenly grasp from the air in front of me.

Apparently, at some point in time, Rin had come back… and she’s glaring angrily at me… Honestly, that seems to happen a lot.

Then, she spoke in a clearly annoyed tone, “Hello, TOBIAS.”

Errrr… Now that I think about it, I never did figure out whether Rin was my girlfriend.

It’s kinda weird to think of Rin like that though. I’d always thought of her as a half-daughter, as I’d painstakingly created her character and existence.

It’s quite jarring to think of her as a girlfriend…

Wow, Rin’s grown quite a bit though… and become cuter. Her wolf ear’s really do add to her overall charm.

Heck… When I’d last saw her, Rin was at least 4 inches shorter…

She’s still glaring at me.

*Imaginary Cough* Pretending she isn’t completely pissed off with me, I politely greeted her. “Hello Rin… How’ve you been?”

Rin’s angry expression subsided, changing to resignation before responding, “Well enough, I suppose.” Stare at the seed in her hand, she questioned, “What’s this?”

Slowing taking back the seed from her, I automatically responded, “Seed from a world tree.”

Then, I remembered that I’d already mentioned that we didn’t have mana in my old universe.

Logically speaking, since my old universe didn’t have mana, I shouldn’t have a clue what a world tree is. They thrive and grow from mana, and besides water, it’s their only requirement to grow.

Biting my lip at my mistake, I mentally chastise myself. This is the first time I’ve mistakenly revealed knowledge I shouldn’t have.

Luckily, Rin was too distracted with the seed itself to notice my abnormal knowledge.

Rin stated, “Really? I’d heard those are quite rare. Something like one only appearing every hundred years.” Her eyes never leaving the seed in my hand.

Shit, I cannot answer that without lying or saying something equally as suspicious.

Neither is a good option, especially lying as I wouldn’t know if my story contradicts another version of myself.

Activate delay and distract procedure. In an attempt to avoid the question, I used misdirection, “Rare huh? I wasn’t really sure what to do with it.”

Shit, that was still lying wasn’t it. Damn…

No, it was selective truth… but, still the truth. I wasn’t sure what to do with it. As in whether to use it, due to the pain.

Wait… I don’t like that smirk on Rin’s face. Mainly because I didn’t say anything funny.

Getting flashbacks, to when I was hunched over in pain from the poisonous berry and Rin smirked at my pain.

A shiver went down my spine.

She wouldn’t…

A small voice whispered in the back of my mind, ‘Ohhh… but, she would.’

Rin mutter, “Oh… I know a way to use it.” Her expression had lit up like someone had told her that tomorrow was Christmas day.

ABORT, EXIT, LOG OFF, ALT F4, SHIFT-TAB-DELETE! Damn, I was hoping one of those would work.

Deciding to simply cursed my past self for revealing too much information, I absentminded nodded.

I cannot escape this, not without lying.

... and even if I do, I don't think that it would work. She's far too excited for that... Damn it.

Rin smirked and handed over a bottle with purple liquid inside, and led us inside the building before telling me to drink it.

Stared at the bottle doubtfully and inquired, “What’s this?”

… is it anesthesia?

Rin proceeded to inform me about the procedure needed to implant a world tree seed in your body… But, didn’t mention what the liquid is?

Did she think I wouldn’t notice her avoidance tactic?

Girl, mere minutes ago, I used the same tactic on you. In terms of avoidance and misdirection, you are a mere amateur that shall never reach my level of skill.

I repeated the question… but, Rin simply repeating that I should drink it… so she can get started.

Damn it… That is so unfair. I caught your misdirection, play by the rules and inform me.

I stared at the purple liquid. Whatever it is, it probably isn’t anesthesia… or Rin would simply tell me.

*Sigh*… Maybe, this won’t hurt as much if Rin does it.

Drinking the liquid, I quickly felt numb and realized what it was… Paralysis poison.

Of course, it’s the only logically alternative to anesthesia. To prevent me from jerking and damaging myself, or from running away while in pain.

I quickly attempted to argue that such measures weren’t necessary… but, apparently this poison was quite fast acting.

When I attempted to speak, the only thing that came out was gibberish.

POV Swap – Rin

Smirking slightly, I prepared to insert the world tree seed. Tobias must be quite lucky, considering he’s acquired something like this.

Only rich noble mages of the highest caliber are normally qualified to use one… and even that’s only the qualifications, they’d still have to meet strict criteria and pay a large sum in order to obtain one.

Hmmm, It’ll be a bit difficult to do this with my sword through... But, normal weapons probably couldn't even damage Tobias...

Spotting a dagger with green scales inside Tobias' bag, I reached for it before stopping.

It's radiating danger. An impressive amount of it too... and considering there wasn’t even any danger before, it seems to be specifically threatening me.

An semi-intelligent weapon?

Gazing curiously at it, before looking back at the paralyzed Tobias.

Make that extremely lucky. I didn’t even know this zone contained a weapon like this.

Leaving it be, I decided to make do with my sword. It’ll probably hurt more, but… that doesn’t matter that much to me.

If he didn't want to experience pain, he shouldn't have ignored me after we'd just reunited.

Saving it, before swiftly opening a wound into the correct area.

Grabbing the seed, I prepared to implant it… but, was too slow and the wound had already closed.

... Tobias, has your regeneration speed increased? Couldn’t you have mentioned that earlier?

I’ll have to do it before the wound can close then.

Several minutes later, despite the increased difficulty, the seed was successfully implanted inside Tobias.

… and because he was paralyzed, I didn’t even need to listen to Tobias’ complaints while doing it.

Overall, paralyzing him was an excellent choice.

POV Swap – Tobias

OWWW…. Damn it Rin! Couldn’t you have been gentler!

If it's difficult to implant, you didn't have to attempt it so many times.

I probably could have done a better job myself. Would have been far less painful too.

Owwwww… I think she cut through a rib… and pierced a lung.

How long is this paralysis going to last?

And Rin, seriously, weren’t you supposed to be some type of poison master or something?

Do you, along with the native people of this universe, hate anesthesia?

At this point, you should definitely know how to make it. It's already been a year in this zone.

Actually… did you simply not bother because you thought it would be more entertaining?

All that pain simply because she couldn't be bothered... why does that seems like the most plausible and likely explanation…

Wait… Rin, where are you going?

Don't leave me here alone!

I can’t move... or speak here.

Seriously, don’t just leave me here paralyzed.

… and she's gone.

It doesn’t look like she’s coming back soon.... *mental sigh*, I should’ve just done this myself.