POV – Tobias

Jerking awake in a cold sweat, I push aside the blanket on the bed. It took a minute to calm down and realize my location.

Ugh… Another night sleep interrupted by bad dreams.

Send a cold glare at the wristband on my arm; it’s this thing’s fault. I never woke up from bad dreams before I put it on. I can’t even enjoy sleep anymore.

Whatever… Sighing to myself, I sat at the edge of the bed and rubbed my eyes in a futile attempt to wake up.

Glancing around, Rin was in a peaceful sleep beside me.

I hadn’t even realized she had gotten into bed with me. Quietly standing up, I moved without making a sound to prevent myself from awakening her.

Rin seems so peaceful while sleeping. Her ears flicked and her body cuddled against the blanket.

I adjusted the blanket to protect her from the cold thoroughly. I probably disturbed her when I woke up and pushed aside the blanket.

Pushing her hair aside to reveal her cute sleeping face. She really is too beautiful. What did I ever to do deserve her?

“Sorry… you can keep sleeping.” In a barely audible whisper, I apologized and moved out the bedroom.

Moving into the kitchen, I used warding to fill a bowl with cold water. After washing my face with the water, I began to wake up properly.

It’s annoying that the housing facility couldn’t even provide flowing water. The lighting isn’t great either. We had to purchase our own mana lights for the apartment that occasionally require refilling with mana to properly function.

I tried studying the light’s components, but they’re beyond my level of skill to replicate. It’s a simple invention using magic circuits that some artificer managed to create. Although they cannot even be considered in the same realm as my teleportation boots, these mass-produced goods that are nothing to scoff at either.

Considering how cheap they were and the amount available for purchase, people around here seem to have learned the basics of creating artifacts with magic circuits.

Artificer… someone who can creating artifacts with magic circuits. Another skill I would love to try out, but don’t have the time to waste properly learning.

Well, I can vaguely be considered an artificer through the creation of my musket but I only followed instructions in the manual.

The instructions were complete bullshit and barely made any sense, but they were instructions all the same. I actually learned more about programming from that endeavor because it was required to make the gun fire properly.

Remembering our ‘visitor’ tied up in the lobby; I moved to gather my clothes and dress myself.

Flipping God-hunter in my hand, I quietly gathered my belonging from the bedroom without waking Rin.

Pants… Check.

Green shirt… Check.

Villainous black coat and cloak…. Check.

Alright. Seems like we’re ready to interrogate this douchebag. Hopefully he’s awake by now, or I’m going to look silly getting all dressed up.

Entering the lounge where I’d left him. The scammer was asleep on our couch, seemingly awoken at some time I’d been asleep.

Checking his ropes, I realized they’d been sliced apart. I doubt Rin would’ve cut the ropes apart.

Pfft… he tried to escape? I’d already created a weak barrier surrounding the apartment to prevent anyone but Rin or myself from entering or leaving.

Unless he’s powerful enough to break the barrier or one of us accompanied him, escaping from this place is impossible.

Hmm… this isn’t really the place to interrogate him though. He might wake Rin up.

I found new ropes and tied him up again before tossing him over my shoulder. Then, I began walking toward a nearby abandoned building to properly interrogate him.

It’s already dark out. Hmmm… well, that’s fine it will just make the villainous act more convincing.

Unlike the apartments, which can only be entered by people the owner whitelists, other buildings don’t really have any restrictions in place by the system.

The scammer on my shoulder began struggling, indicating his awake state.

Ignoring his struggle, I walked calmly at a slow pace without a care in the world.

I wonder if the unnoticed works while I’m carrying someone like this? Something to potentially test out later.

The captive’s struggling became more frequent so I decided to speak some calming words, “Relax… everything will be over soon enough.”

Strangely enough, my words didn’t seem to calm him down. His struggle instead became more intense.

You are cruel sometimes. Did you know that?

I have no idea what you are talking about God-hunter. My words were steady and reassuring. Anyone sane should instantly calm down from my soothing voice. Not my fault he’s insane and picked a fight with someone out of his league.

Please… you’re just having fun with your evil villain act.

So? What’s wrong with having fun sometimes? The zones will breakdown and the system protection will disappear in a few short years. I won’t have chance to mess around at that point.

Didn’t say there was anything wrong with it… just that torturing him with generic villain lines like that is cruel.

It is not generic, my evil villain speech is classic. Understand the distinction. Generic has a bad connotation indicating there’s no creativity put into it. My words are classic, they built up tension without giving away any information.

I understand the distinction that’s why I said ‘generic’. For someone claiming to be a genius, you’re quite slow at understanding.

Why you little brat…

Hmph, no… I’m not going to let you ruin this for me. I’ve waited a long time for my revenge against this dude. I might not kill him, but he’ll certainly ensure he regret stealing from me.

You were scammed. He didn’t steal anything. You were dumb and gullible and he took advantage. Frankly, that’s on you.

A vain threatened to pop on my forehead and I tightened my grip on the struggling man.

Is there a reason behind riling me up or are you just doing it for the entertainment value?

Careful now. Wouldn’t want to suffocate the prisoner.

Realizing my grip was a bit too tight; I loosened it and let the scammer breathe.

God-hunter, why is it that at times you spend days without speaking, only to briefly speak to annoy me. Do you spend all you’re time listening and thinking up clever retorts to my statements? Don’t you have anything better to do?

Don’t flatter yourself, Dad. A large portion of my time is spent growing. Do you think it’s easy to be a growing weapon? I have to spend the majority of my time strengthening myself. Beside, I don't need to waste time to thinking up retorts to your dumb comments. 

Tsk... whatever.

Dismissing my daughter’s statements, we had finally arrived at the abandoned building.

Setting the prisoner down, I squatted down in front of him and spoke. “You’re going to be a nice little captive and answer any question I want. Got it?”

The prisoner nodded multiple times indicating his agreement.

Thinking about how I wanted to begin this interrogation I deeded it was best to begin with my evil backstory. “There was a time –several months ago- when I was naïve. I went to the bartering area and trusted that what I paid for would be given to me. It wasn’t given to me… do you remember?”

I hadn’t removed his gag and didn’t plan to at the moment, the scammer shook his head a couple times.

“No, I suppose you wouldn’t. I’m nothing but another victim to be exploited.” I said with a sigh, bringing out God-hunter to threaten him.

Making muffled voices though the gag, the scammer tried to reply. If anything I’m surprised at how active he is despite being captured and tied up like this.

I didn’t untie him or remove his gag though. Analyze had already informed me that his words were some type of mental attack. Although I’m unsure of the exact effect, it best to keep his speech to a minimum for the time being.

“For the time being, we’re going confirm my theories without you speaking.” I plainly stated, ruining his hope of escape. Pulling out the two brown gloves and loosely held them above his body, “First question, which one of these is the Glove of the Hated One that you stole from me?”

However the captive wasn’t very cooperative instead mumbling into the gag. He should’ve listen and indicated with his head.

“Too bad, that question was a freebee too. It wouldn’t take long to figure it out myself. Two more wrong answers and you’re going to say goodbye to your pinky finger.” I threaten, flipping God-hunter in my hand as I threatened him.

However, I realized using God-hunter would probably cause damage to his soul due to God-hunter devouring it.

The next best scenario would be using another knife… Actually, can you cut him without devouring portions of his soul?

Well… I ‘can’.

Daughter of mine, what’s with that tone? Are you able to cut him without damaging his soul or am I going to have to use another knife?

It would just be a little nibble, it shouldn’t influence your interrogation. Isn’t it more villainous to tell him that you’ll devour a portion of his soul anyway?

That does sound villainous actually… Fine, we’ll do it your way. I'll tell him if he gets another question wrong.

“Next question, are you allies with that maniac who attacked me earlier?” I casually asked while flipping God-hunter in my hand repeatedly like a stereotypical gang boss threatening an underling.

He shook his head repeatedly, clearly the fear of pain was enough to overpower any remaining hesitation.

“That’s good. That maniac almost certainly planned to kill you. In a way, I’ve saved your life. That means you owe me… and I don’t like people owing me.” My tone turning dark for the last sentence and I stopped flipping God-hunter momentarily.

However, my tone turned cheerful as I asked the next question, “I’m sure you wouldn’t want to owe me anything either, right?”

Watching the fear in his eyes as the scammer shook his head back and fourth brought a smile to my face. However, my facial expression soon turned into a frown.

Wait… does that mean he wants to owe me or that he doesn’t want to owe me?

With the way you phrased it, it could be either.

Ugh… how annoying. Communication without speech is difficult. I’m thinking of removing his gag. Can you inform me if my thoughts deviate from normal?

Your thought process is strange even without mental interference, but I can try.

“I’m going to remove your gag and you are going to tell me everything you know about that maniac from earlier… understand?” I asked, and received several nods in agreement from the captive.

Removing the gag, the scammer immediately inquired, “Who are you?”

“Tobias.” I instinctively greeted, before frowning and pointing God-hunter at him, “I’m the one asking questions here. Any more unprompted questions from you and I’ll kill you.”

“Right, okay… no questions.” The scammer replied, stretching his jaw. “You asked about the maniac from earlier? I don’t know too much. I think he’s a special type of shapeshifter that can steal people’s abilities.”

“Shapeshifter?” Frowning at his words, that didn’t make sense. Analyze didn’t mention anything about shapeshifting.

“Right… yeah. When I first met him, he had my partner’s body and used her ability.” The scammer merchant explained, more comfortable now that he’d been freed from his gag.

I’m not sure I bought his story. Utilizing someone else’s ability isn’t as simple as shapeshifting into them. Even a basic ability of someone else would be extremely difficult to replicate.

Someone else might believe it, but I know more about abilities than anyone else in this universe. An ability cannot be stolen or disabled, they’re engraved on the someone’s body and soul.

When I created abilities, I did so with permanence in mind. There is no ability that can copy, steal, or nullify other’s abilities.

“Do you expect me to buy your bullshit?” I scoffed, “There’s no way a shapeshifter could utilize someone else’s ability. It’s insane to even think that.”

“An illusionary ability, then?” He probed, throwing out a possible but unlikely possibility.

I briefly considered the possibility but soon denied it, “There was real danger behind each strike when we fought. An illusionist wouldn’t be able to portray that feeling with every strike.”

The merchant scratched his head and continued, “Well, I only know what I saw and heard. He said something similar to, ‘When I kill you, I’ll figure out your ability.’ Considering he changed form in front of me, my theory was shapeshifting. If you want to deny my theory, feel free to come up with your own.”

Wait… Is he somehow storing their souls after killing them and using those souls as a vessel to channel their abilities? Is that even possible?

...Who am I kidding? Even time travel is possible in this universe. I didn’t outright ban that method so why wouldn’t it be possible? That would also explain why he constantly went for vitals and seemed obsessed with killing me.

However that doesn’t explain one thing…

“Why did he leave you alive?” I stared down at the captive with suspicion.

The person tied up sensed my suspicion, “What?”

“He could’ve easily killed you while leaving to prevent this knowledge from spreading. So… why did he leave you alive?” I clarified, backing up and searching the surrounding area.

“What’s wrong?” he asked shaking at the ropes tying him up.

There’s only one reason to leave him alive despite showing him his ability. He’s bait.

…And I’m the mouse that bit the cheese.

Several dark shadowy figures were approaching the building from all angles. I’m already surrounded.

He must’ve had a tracker on him. Damn, I should’ve just interrogated him in our apartment. How annoying.