POV – Tobias

Reaching our home in the residential zone didn’t take long. Our apartment wasn’t particularly comfortable in terms of amenities, only having freezing cold water available on the tap and unappetizing food that restocks in the fridge.

Rin had insisted we stay in the same apartment, so we took one and gave a nearby one to Sidney and her boyfriend.

The apartments in Hell Difficulty were enormous compared to the other difficulties and while they have the issues I mentioned earlier, they’re livable. More comfortable than sleeping in the wild at least… although that’s a low threshold to beat.

Unlike Easy Difficulty apartments that should have hot water, amazing food, and other delicacies.

*Sigh…* I’m slightly jealous.

We could’ve used Sidney’s authority to get an apartment in Easy Difficulty, but we decided the advantage of privacy provided by an apartment in Hell Difficulty was worth the lacking amenities.

The Hell Difficulty area in this zone was built with the intention of having a place to house people from Hell Difficulty. The Redeemers obviously made them with durable anti-magic materials so they would survive combat between experts.

Those anti-magic materials make these apartments the most private place on this planet.

These walls wouldn’t stop someone determined enough with specialized abilities and skills, but they will prevent casual privacy breaches.

After entering the apartment and tossing the merchant on the ground, I took precautions to prevent his escape. Nothing too fancy, I tied him up and created a barrier around him.

Rin entered the room before I could analyze him, so I moved to talk with her instead.

“How are the preparations for Sidney’s departure going?” While I had been preparing some items, others potions and items that required medicinal knowledge I asked Rin to prepare.

“Preparations finished…” Rin mumbled her voice barely audible before she gestured toward our newest captive and inquired, “Who is that?”

“Feast you’re eyes upon the scammer that swindled me out of my artifact around…” I confidently began to explain… before realizing I wasn’t aware of the exact amount of time that had passed since we’d last been in the Residential Zone.

Rin tilted her head and clearly looked puzzled.

In turn, my confidence faltered causing the finale to sound awkward, “…The last time we were in the Residential Zone.”

Rin casually broke the barrier and examined his injuries, before questioning me. “You saved him?”

“What? No, I caused those injuries. He tried to escape.” I explained wondering why that was the immediate conclusion she had arrived at.

She shook her head, “He would’ve died today without your interference. You saved him.”

I felt depressed at her explanation.

He would’ve died today… Why wouldn’t you mention that sooner? Do you know how terrible it would’ve been for him to die before I got chance to have my revenge?

Well, honestly, I would’ve probably forgotten about him had I known he was going to die today. That would’ve made him irrelevant, although it would’ve made reclaiming my artifact difficult. It’s not surprising that Rin never bothered to consider him into her plans.

Still, that maniac… did that maniac cause his death today? Had I misunderstood the situation earlier?

Hmmmm… I’ll have to interrogate him when he awakens.

Refocusing, I realizing that Rin had begun administering medical treatment to the man. The thought made me depressed.

Rin has never given me medical treatment before. Rin’s only ever given me odd potions and remedies to demonstrate their effect and potency. Although, I suppose I’ve never needed proper medical treatment with my recovery speed.

That doesn’t change my depression as I watched her skillfully apply bandages and treat the wounds of someone I disliked.

I bite my tongue and moved on from the topic, specifying my request to Rin, “Only enough to keep him alive. I still have questions to ask him.”

Rin gently nodded her head and continued her work while taking the opportunity to discuss Sidney’s difficulty change, “The masks are on the food table, along with the potion.”

“Excellent. My plan is slowly reaching fruition.” I laughed evilly and moved toward the kitchen.

On the dinning room table, there were three masks and the anti-petrification potion.

The masks were designed to prevent airborne toxins from affecting the wearer, a useful tool to allow Sidney to explore the more dangerous areas of the Tutorial. There are various flowers that release deadly fumes into the air in the Tutorial, one of the most dangerous place there are the fields of innocent looking flowers.

That said, Sidney will not be utilizing all of them. I asked Rin to create masks for ourselves as well, in case we need them at a later date.

The anti-petrification potions should prevent Sidney from being petrified by the basilisk for several days after consumption, theoretically increasing her survival rate if she encounters it.

Although the potion is mostly pointless, if she angered that basilisk, the anti-petrification potion would only buy her seconds at most.

Everything’s settled into place. We need only initiate the transfer.

Pocketing the masks and the potion, I moved to exit the apartment and head toward the nearby apartment where Sidney awaited.

Before I headed off, I poking my head back through the door and asked Rin, who was busy treating the scammer. “Did you plan on watching Sidney depart?”

“Hmm…” Rin considered the proposal before slightly shaking her head and replying, “No, there’s no need.”

Before I completely left, I remembered to analyze the scammer.

{Risen Hosen – Extremely weak, his words are abnormally influential…}

Furrowing my brow at the information, I erred on the side of caution and informed Rin, “Don’t let him speak when he awakens. There’s a reasonable chance that his ability is related to speech.”

With that, I left Rin and the injured scammer alone and headed toward Sidney’s apartment.

When I arrived, I quickly stretched my muscles and came to understand more about the base.

When I entered, I found them training. Sidney stood aside providing input/feedback to her boyfriend’s training.

Interrupting their training, I announced, “Everything’s prepared. Have you memorized the survival tips I taught you? Are you ready to transfer?”

Sidney frowned at my sudden appearance, my ability caused them to not notice my location until I’d spoken up. Sidney bluntly stated, “I won’t transfer.”

“Wha…” My eyes turned cold at her words. Rebellion? This late into the process? She’s forgotten her place. “Hmph, you will go or I’ll kill your boyfriend.”

“No. If you want me to transfer, you will let Ivan go… permanently this time.” Sidney declared, attempting to provide her boyfriend with freedom. “… and he’s not my boyfriend.”

“This wasn’t part of the plan, Sidney…” Her boyfriend interrupted, only to be ignored by the both of us.

“You are not in a position to bargain.” I answered, waving off her demands. She had no ground to stand on.

“I think I am.” She declared moving with my personal space and staring into my eyes with an unwavering glare. “You want something from me and seemed determined to get it."

“Don’t overestimate your value.” I sneered, “You’re replaceable. I could easily get someone else do the same job.”

“Go ahead… however, I’d bet training them would take another three months. You’re not in a hurry, right?” Sidney taunted, apparently aware that I didn’t have much time to spare.

The main reason I bothered training Sidney was that the time would’ve been wasted otherwise.

Unfortunately, Sidney’s taunt was right on the mark. I didn’t have time to waste training another apprentice. Who knows how long it would take to train someone else in preparations for Hell Difficulty? I needed to make my own preparations.

However, no longer do I required someone to collect the void flower from the tutorial and while  it’s frustrating beyond belief that she's refusing now, I don’t need her.

Still, it’s annoying. I’ve spent countless hours helping her grow stronger to improve her survival chance in the Tutorial Zone. If she never enters it, the time spent training her would be wasted.

“I’m right, aren’t I? You and Rin are in a hurry.” Sidney tested the limits of my patience.

“So what? Our plans have nothing to do with you. You’ll enter the Tutorial Zone or I’ll kill you precious boyfriend.” I threatened, taking a step toward her despite our already close proximity.

“Kill him and I’ll never agree to the transfer.” She looked in my eyes seemingly attempting to peer into my soul and asked. “What exactly are you so afraid of? Why do you need me to swap over to your difficulty level?”

Her gaze caused discomfort that shook me to my core, however I refused to give in. “You are mistaken, I don’t need you. Agree to the transfer… or I’ll write you off as a bad investment and won’t waste anymore time on you.”

“As soon as you release Ivan, I’ll agree.” Sidney demanded, refusing to submit.

Ivan pulled on Sidney’s shoulder attempting to get her to back off.

Ignoring her request, I announced, “I’ll give you a day to reconsider. I hope you don’t disappoint me. The consequences would be petrifying.”

Hmph, whether she understood the meaning behind my threat was irrelevant. If tomorrow arrived and she decides to continue this charade for freedom, I’ll petrify her boyfriend and use him as leverage to force her to transfer.

With the close proximity of our apartments, it only took a couple minutes to return to our own apartment.

In the timeframe spent elsewhere, Rin had finished providing medical treatment to the scammer and had covered his mouth to prevent speech.

Rin had begun preparing food in the kitchen, so I sat down and watched her skillfully cook for several minutes. Rin set her food, some type of meat skewers, on the table, she casually asked, “How did it go?”

Picking up one of the skewers, I causally stole her meal and replied. “Sidney refused to transfer, instead asking for Ivan’s freedom before she would agree. Thoughts?”

Rin stayed silent and continued her work as she thought over the problem, “His freedom is irrelevant, so long as he does not begin rumors about kidnapping.”

Good to know… but, ultimately unhelpful. I cannot guarantee that he will not begin rumors if I release him without releasing Sidney.

“Alright…” I said, taking a bite of Rin’s skewer and savoring the taste.

While I didn’t need to eat thanks to the world tree seed, Rin’s cooking skills have progressed rapidly since we first met, her food tasted delicious. I’d usually steal a portion to savor and eat alongside her, the exception being when we are running low on supplies.

“I don’t have anything urgent that need doing, thus I’ll take this time to get some sleep.”

Rin nibbled on her food in a cute fashion, and nodded in agreement.

Is she acting cute instinctually or is it on purpose?

Casually pondering useless things, I stood up and patted Rin’s head, scratching behind her wolf-ears as appreciation, before heading toward the bedroom. “Thanks for the food, it was delicious.”

Lying down on the double bed, which Rin and I shared at her insistence, I considered my course of action for the future.

Rin had mentioned earlier that she planned on staying in this zone for awhile to strengthen Kara’s guild. Most normal people would be useless for increasing our overall power. If I’m not mistaken, she plans on training a group of people and swapping their difficult level to Hell Difficulty.

However, I’m not needed for that endeavor. Considering the situation, it might be best to split up from Rin and acquire mana in Hell Difficulty’s Second Zone.

That is, if I can convince Sidney agrees the transfer.

I have two reasons for choosing the Second Zone instead of trying to head into the Third Zone. The most important reason is that it would allow me to keep an eye on Sidney. The other reason is that heading to the Second Zone would allow me to easily return to the Residential Zone.

Unfortunately, I cannot forcibly transfer Sidney to Hell Difficulty. After I input the system command and password, she will need to agree to commence the difficulty change.

Well, I created that safeguard for a reason. Another safety system put in place to prevent administrative abuse. Without that safeguard, someone could forcefully teleport anyone they came across in the Residential Zone into Hell Difficulty.

That would certainly be a funny way to kill someone though.

Well, staying in the Residential Zone is pointless to for me. While it has entertainment systems and advanced futuristic VR games, I sadly don’t have time to get involved with such luxuries.

I’ll probably stay here for another couple days and discover the mystery behind that maniac who attacked me before heading into the Second Zone.