A few days had passed after the fight with Matthew, and I had no choice but to transfer rooms due to the extensive damage done to it.
"Still don’t know why she wouldn’t accept my money for repairs," I mumbled, "And I didn’t even have time to ask the system the questions I wanted to."
I currently sat in a well-furnished room with fully equipped bathrooms and what looked like a TV hung on the yellow-colored wall.
"Well, better late than never I guess"
Muttering something under my breath, I activated the system and prepared to pick up where I left off.
"How come—"
*Knock* *Knock*
I let out a heavy sigh at the continual disruption and opened the door.
A receptionist stood there with a stiff smile, her knuckles white around a clipboard. I could practically smell the fear in her eyes.
’Why is she so scared when I haven’t done anything to her?’
I opened the door wider and urged the stiff receptionist to talk
"T-The Regulators are here," she blurted out. "They handle... fight oversight, structural assessments, and compensation claims for estates caught in the crossfire."
Her words tumbled out in a rush, the kind of explanation someone gave when afraid of being cut off.
I leaned lazily against the doorframe. The casual gesture made her jolt as if she expected me to strike her down for breathing wrong.
’Regulators, huh? I guess battle aftermaths have to be dealt with’
"And what do they have to do with me?" I teased.
Apparently, she didn’t take the joke well and her face turned extremely pale, I could see her legs quivering, tears nearly spilling out from her eyes.
Dropping the fake smile I hoped I had on my face, I questioned internally:
’System. My skill: [Liar] is active right?’
******
[Ding!]
[Yes.]
*******
"I–If you d–don’t want to come, I–I could tell Madam Rose. She said we shouldn’t disturb you until it’s important but this isn’t too important—"
"Let’s just go" I sighed, pressing my head against my forehead as I trailed along her.
The nervous chatter filled the usually empty reception area and I spotted three people with dark silver coats, their insignias glowing with a golden hue on their chests
Walking down the stairs to the hall, a subtle hush spread across the room, their eyes averted from mine and their subtle whispers reached my ears.
’I think I should have a smile on my face’
My lips tugged upwards in a smile but it looked to have an opposite effect on the people as their faces paled visibly.
’.....Forget it’
I saw Rose from the corner of my eye and refocused my attention there.
’Who’s she talking to?’
I walked through the path created for me towards Rose. As I came closer, I noticed that she was speaking with a man who wore a similar outfit to the Regulators, but with a slightly different touch to it.
"Hey, Ro—"
"You! You’re the one who’s responsible for all this damage right?"
Snapping my head to the source of the loud voice, a young man with average features walked towards me with a scornful look on his face.
’Can they at least allow me to finish my words first?’
"Hey, I asked you a question" He repeated, "Were you the one responsible for the damage done to room V–12?"
The room had gone completely silent and I could feel the eyes of everyone on me and the official.
With my head tilted, I replied, "Responsible? Doesn’t a fight have to involve two people?" I stepped closer, his lips quivering unnoticeably with every step, "Or are you saying I destroyed the room deliberately?"
The official stuttered, taking a few hasty steps backwards as he replied, "Y–you obviously caused more damage"
My eyebrows raised upwards, a glimmer of confusion passing through my face as I asked, "How does that—"
"I think that’s enough"
Or at least tried to ask.
Before I could finish my query, the official had hurriedly gone behind the man, an air of condescendence surrounding him as he did so.
’I am going to kill him’
As I focused on the man before me, I realized he was the same one who had been talking to Rose just moments ago.
"I apologize on behalf of my subordinate. He’s new to the job and is quite... passionate"
’He’s still going to die,’ I declared. "It’s not an issue; I just want to know what this is all about."
Clearing his throat, he began, "The spatial formation placed in your room was destroyed, which in turn set off an alarm at our headquarters."
"And, as I’m sure you know, it is our responsibility to handle these sorts of things."
"Please get to the point" I replied with a neutral tone.
A low click of his tongue betraying his calm demeanor, he replied, "We’re going to need you to follow us to the headquarters for further investigations"
Rose slowly walked next to the man with hidden apprehension and explained hurriedly, "You’re not in trouble or anything, they just want to confirm what they saw on their Aether codices"
’Does she think I’m going to do something to her? Am I that much of a monster in her eyes?’
Watching her averted gaze, I wanted to say something but was cut off rudely by the higher-up.
"Let’s go" He spoke, "We don’t have all day after all"
I stared right into his obsidian eyes in hope of seeing something other than arrogance or....fear, but I was left dissapointed.
Nodding slightly, I followed behind him, the six other officials including the one I would eventually kill followed behind me in a circular fashion. Almost as if they feared I would attack them.
The whispers of the guests staying at the inn never died down during the whole ordeal, and Rose’s eyes never once met mine.
She had always been kind to me in ways this place never was. Not romantic—no, never that—but she was a rare warmth in a world that thrived on coldness. For a while, she felt like a ray of sunshine.
But even the brightest sunshine casts a shadow. And right now, she was standing in mine.
As we walked out of the inn, a black carriage carried by horses that were branded with glowing runes across their bodies came into view.
My eyes couldn’t leave the black carriage as unpleasant memories of the darkness I found myself in any time I fell asleep resurfaced.
The blood curling cackles followed suit, the continuous cracking of my bones from that day accompanying it.
*****
[Ding!]
Skill: [Strong mind] is in use!
******
My mind slowly reverted back to it’s former state and I entered the carriage with no visible change in expression.
The carriage’s interior was sleek, lit by pale mana crystals that cast a steady glow. Six officials sat in pairs along the benches, their uniforms crisp and eyes sharp. At the far end, their leader reclined with quiet authority, watching me in silence.
’Maybe I should check his stats. It’s been a while....’
I willed the system to activate, my eyes locking on the leader. The familiar blue screen blinked into existence—
********
[Ding!]
[Error!]
[The host has forfeited the option to treat other people as characters.]
[Statistic evaluation and trait analysis of other individuals are no longer possible.]
[This restriction is permanent.]
**********
My mind blanked.
I stared at the continous blinking red interface in hopes for an alternate option but none came.
The system eventually dissapeared due to lack of interaction and I was left with the neutral gazes of the officials staring at me. Original content can be found at novel·fıre·net
’What is the meaning of this?! How am I supposed to fight effectively when I can’t even gauge my opponents?!’
Extreme frustration grew within me. My fists clenched at my sides, nails digging into my palms.
’This was supposed to be my advantage... my edge over people who had trained their whole lives while I was still figuring things out. Without it, I’m just—’
I cut the thought short, shaking my head violently. No. I refused to let the system strip me down to nothing.
’I still have my skills, but I’m not even sure if that’s going to last forever’
Calming my thoughts, I watched my system interface and found out that apart from my skill list, question bank and my character information, there was nothing else there.
Even the mission section.
For the first time in a while, I felt something stirring in my chest—not anger, not even frustration, but dread.
I dreaded the fact that the only advantage that I had was going to be stripped away from me.
’System’ I called out.
******
[Ding!]
*******
’Why can’t I see the mission section and other people’s information?’. The extreme sense of unease weighing heavily on my mind as I asked.
******
[Ding!]
[The host has asked two plausible questions.]
[2 of the remaining free trials shall be used.]
[Stand by.....]
********
I stared intensely at the blue interface, ignoring the continuous bumping of the carriage and the constantly changing scenery.
A few minutes later, the system rang into life and I unknowingly straightened up as I prepared to read the answers.
******
[Ding!]
[The host is unable to see other people’s information due to the fact that he has begun treating them as real people and has established bonds of different kinds with them.]
[The mission section is also unavailable due to similar reasons but shall be restored in the event of an unavoidable occurrence.]
******
I sucked in cold air as I watched the disheartening results that I was faced with.
’It’s just one thing after the other isn’t it? First I’m arrested and I’ll possibly take the blame for I and Matthew’s fight, now the only thing that made me....different is slowly slipping away from me.’
Staring out the window and watching the large buildings that lined the roads, a thought crossed through my mind.
’I didn’t read all of this in my novels’