'What is he up to, anyway?'

It's odd how busy Cache is. This is the busiest he's ever been, which makes Dull even more curious about what he's doing. Unfortunately, Dull can't find out unless he messages his other team members, but they always ask for payment when he needs them to check on something, and their fees are outrageous.

"Whatever."

He'll just have to wait until Cache has some free time to ask him directly.

Knowing Cache wouldn't respond for a while, Dull decided to close their chat and check his assistant's message.

The report from his assistant isn't really important. Dull figured that out because if it were urgent, his assistant would have sent an emergency alert instead of a regular message, so he easily ignored it earlier to focus on Cache.

After reading the report, he pushed it aside since it was just about the little thief's family issues. He replied to his assistant, saying that Cache is interested in the child, so his assistant needs to work harder to ensure the child's safety.

With Cache involved, his assistant wouldn't dare do anything reckless, like accidentally harming the little thief just because they are a distraction to Dull.

Did his assistant actually do something like that? Maybe, maybe not—who knows?

After sending his message, his assistant flooded him with replies, but he didn't bother reading any of them and just closed their private chat.

"Alright. It's time to get to business."

With a quick motion of his finger, multiple screens appeared in front of him, each displaying different videos he found online.

What did he see? Games, of course. He needed to learn everything about them, so he planned to watch every video available until morning.

He focused on the screen in front of him while other videos played on nearby screens. Even though he wasn't really paying attention, information still entered his mind. After a while, Dull realized that the game Tower of Demiurge is very popular right now, especially since it has already gained so many players just a week after its release.

As he scrolled through the thumbnails, one video caught his eye: "What happens if the Tower of Demiurge came to reality?" The speaker at first excitedly talked about player engagement, reward systems, and the balance between challenge and success. Then, the speaker discussed what would occur if the game became real, which attracted a lot of views and comments.

"If it became real, huh..."

He understands it's just a "What-if" question that people think about out of curiosity, but it still caught his interest. It's a fascinating idea, and he was already thinking about it too the first time he played the game.

'Actually, creating a system like ours wouldn't be too hard.'

The game's system is quite similar to theirs, but it's not as helpful. It's mainly good for leveling up and checking stats, nothing more.

'But that's not the main issue...'

Making a new system like the AEIM System looks simple, but getting the needed "Permission" and being able to share "Authority" is what makes this challenging.

Where he came from, these two concepts were crucial for maintaining peace, alongside the law, which not everyone obeyed. "Authority" and "Permission" were different matters altogether. Even Dull respected these rules, not out of fear like how he views the laws.

He had the "Permission" to do anything he wanted on this planet—destroy it, experiment on humans, or even eliminate them for fun—but sharing his Authority with others felt almost impossible.

Permission isn't anything fancy, it's just a confirmation. Authority on the other hand is much more complicated.

Simply put, Authority means powers, skills, or abilities. This term is used in the Nothingness, while other places might call it something else. In Nothingness, all kinds of power are grouped under "Authority," without using words like divine power or skills.

Regardless, these humans couldn't magically manifest any kind of ability just because he set up a system and caused an apocalypse; that's not how it works. There needs to be a "source," which in this case would be Dull, to share it with the humans.

But why was he even pondering this? He wouldn't be allowed to share his Authority just because he wanted to.

'Though there is another option available...'

He could negotiate with someone in the Research Team in a high position who could help him get the needed permission from the Left Hand and Right Hand. However, this is just a guess for now because he isn't sure how interested they are in what he has, so it might work or it might not. Still, it could be worth a shot, so he decided he would give it a go.

'It's unfortunate that they are currently too busy...'

That's why he has to wait before he can confirm if an apocalypse is possible.

After some thought, Dull returned to concentrating on the games. It's nothing major, just some tips on how to play the game correctly as a beginner.

When morning arrived, Dull didn't mind that he had broken his usual routine of sleeping, waking up early, and having breakfast in the canteen below. As long as he couldn't beat Desi or the others, those daily habits didn't seem important.

***

"You and Desi seem to be spending a lot of time together lately."

Ames couldn't help but ask, curious while Dull cleaned the counter after a customer spilled a drink, which they thankfully paid for.

The two didn't appear to be very close even after Dull had been at the cafe for two weeks. This was likely because they had only worked together three times due to their schedules not matching. However, today, during one of those rare shifts that they are together, they began to chat more, watched videos on Desi's phone during their break, and she also overheard them discussing plans to leave together tonight.

"You two didn't even talk a week ago, and now you're friends? What's going on?"

"Games."

"Games...?"

Ames echoed, his brow furrowing in confusion. It took a moment, but the pieces fell into place.

"You mean video games? So Desi finally got you into gaming, and now you two are close because of that."

"Yeah, something like that."

"...That's nice."

"What's the matter?"

Dull sensed a hint of relief in Ames' voice, which confused him.

"Nothing. I'm just happy you're playing with him."

Ames had always known that Desi had a gaming addiction, but it was more than just a pastime. It served as a way to briefly escape from his heavy responsibilities. Desi put in long hours at several jobs to help his family, and the burden of covering his siblings' school fees was a lot to bear.

Though he appeared cheerful, Desi was often stressed because his finances were tight.

Ames could feel the stress beneath the surface, a persistent concern that troubled Desi when he thought he was alone.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Now, Desi has Dull to help take his mind off stress. It may not mean much to Dull, but Desi likely enjoys the company since Ames and the boss don’t really understand his hobbies, making it hard for him to connect with them.

Lacie, however, is not an option for two reasons. First, Lacie is only 19, but she has liked Desi, who is 27, since they first met. Desi stays away from her to prevent her from developing stronger feelings. He isn't ready for a relationship at the moment, so he believes that keeping his distance from Lacie is the best way to manage their friendship.

Ames gave Dull a friendly pat on the shoulder.

"Keep playing with him. You can even go out if you want and enjoy something else other than games. Just ask the boss for some money, and she’ll give you some."

Her words were lighthearted, but there was an underlying sincerity in her tone. Ames had always been supportive of Dull's interests, even if she didn’t fully grasp the gaming world. After one last pat, she headed back to the kitchen, leaving Dull with a mix of confusion and curiosity.

"Okay?"

Dull thought Ames was acting a bit strange, but since she didn’t explain, he just shrugged and returned to his work.

Dull and Desi have different schedules. Dull works from Monday to Thursday, while Desi works from Thursday to Sunday. They can only hang out on Thursday nights when they are both free. They could play on other nights, but Desi often works part-time at a mechanic shop near his apartment, so their game nights are unpredictable.

Dull doesn’t have to wait for Desi to play games because he can go to the internet café alone. He’s even saving up for a computer to play at home. However, Dull wants to beat Desi first. Once he does, he can move on and find better opponents.

However, he didn't want to leave the man until he surpassed Desi's achievements, levels, and everything else, as he hadn't done so yet. The drive to outdo Desi was a burning motivation for him.

In Tower of Demiurge, players must depend on their own skills. The monsters, especially those lurking within the tower's depths, are formidable foes, capable of defeating players with a single, devastating blow. This unforgiving environment demands not only skill but also a keen understanding of the game mechanics. Players must learn to dodge, counter, and exploit the weaknesses of their enemies, all while navigating the treacherous terrain of the tower.

Additionally, players need a stroke of luck when farming for artifacts, which are essential for enhancing their characters' abilities. These artifacts can significantly improve stats and provide the edge needed to conquer tougher challenges. However, the odds are stacked against them, with only a 1 in 10 chance of obtaining a desired artifact, making each attempt feel like a gamble.

"Usually, games aren't this difficult."

Desi remarked as they walked to the internet cafe. This was their second time playing together; the first was last week when Desi convinced Dull to join him, as they often played alone due to busy schedules.

Desi brought this up because Dull was curious if there were other games like Tower of Demiurge. He wanted to download more games once he got his computer.

"This game is designed for those who dislike easy or pay-to-win games, like Gacha games, and want a real challenge. Although you can pay, it's only for character costumes with minor buffs, which aren't enough to make the game easier."

Monsters in Tower of Demiurge have over 6 moves each, even the weaker ones. Their attacks are random and lack any pattern, making online tutorials ineffective. While some predictions can be accurate, it doesn't change the fact that a monster can defeat a player in one hit, even if they are 5 levels higher.

"I know you won't like those games, so I'm giving you a heads-up."

"Just tell me."

"Haha, you're so eager! If you really want to try, I can send you a list."

"Yeah, that sounds good."

If Desi's words were true, he would just delete the games and move on.

As Dull walked quietly, his mind started to drift, even though Desi was still talking next to him. He had something on his mind and couldn't keep it in, so he looked at Desi, who noticed his intense stare and paused.

"Is there something on my face?"

"No, but I have a question."

Desi felt Dull's strong gaze and scratched his cheek before nodding.

"Sure, go ahead."

He looked at the man for a moment before asking his question.

"Consider this: how would you react if suddenly there were monsters everywhere and a strange system started to show up?"

The question caught Desi off guard, leaving him momentarily at a loss for words. He hadn't expected Dull to ask such a thing.

"Why do you want to know?"

"Just answer the question."

The man spoke firmly, leaving no room for debate, which made Desi feel a tightness in his throat. Even though they were about the same age, Dull had an aura of someone who had experienced much more. His presence was intimidating, a mix of sharp intellect and intensity that made Desi feel small and unsure. Was it because he used to be a scientist?

He was quite shocked when he heard from the others because Dull never mentioned it, even though he should be proud of having such an intimidating job.

"So?"

Dull replied, sounding impatient as always.

"Just give me a moment..."

After all, it was a strange question to ask out of the blue.

Desi looked at Dull, who was casually walking next to him with his hands in his pockets, observing the people around them.

'We've only been getting closer for a week, but Dull is... How can I put this?'

Dull can seem very intense and serious when he's feeling intense emotions, which sometimes makes Desi feel uncomfortable and triggers his fight-or-flight response. However, in truth, Dull is actually quite laid-back.

Once you started talking to him, it became clear that his background contributed to the strong presence of this young person. The reality was that he was just a person deeply focused on his research, dedicating most of his time and energy to it. By the time he wanted a more normal life, he found himself out of sync with a society that had moved on without him.

Desi might have been a bit harsh in his judgment, but it truly reflected how he felt—so please, no harsh opinions! Don’t be like Dull, who looked down on him for enjoying Gacha games, treating him as if he were some kind of addict or weirdo. That was far from the truth! He simply appreciated the art of the characters, and, well, he is a man. Still, he doesn’t engage in any inappropriate behaviour with Gacha characters.

Now, back to the main topic.

"Well... While that might sound exciting, I think I'd rather sit this one out."

Dull stared in shock at his answer, tilting his head in confusion.

Desi wondered why his response surprised him.

"Why not?"

"Isn't that essentially an apocalypse?"

"Obviously."

"Who in their right mind wants an apocalypse?"

"You don’t?"

"Of course not!"

Desi looked at the man in exasperation, understanding that Dull thought poorly of him to believe he would want the apocalypse, which basically meant the end of the world.

"Why would anyone choose to put their family in danger? Just because I’m good at playing games doesn’t mean I want to face real-life threats or risk my own life or that of my loved ones. Games exist precisely because they are fictional and don’t translate into reality."

They offer an escape, a chance to explore fantastical worlds and engage in epic battles without any real consequences. The thrill of victory in a game is exhilarating, but the stakes are entirely different when it comes to the safety of those we care about.

"The idea of risking my family’s safety for adventure seems not just reckless but unimaginable. I value the time I spend with them, the laughter at dinner, and the comfort of their company. No game, no matter how engaging, can ever take that place."

"So, you would prioritize your family's safety over your own enjoyment?"

"Well..."

...Isn't that just common sense? They are his family, who have cared for him, and he loves them, which naturally makes their safety the top priority.

However, he held back from saying this directly, knowing that Dull, who grew up without a family, might not grasp the nuances of family ties. It wouldn’t be right to be so blunt, so he decided to respond more thoughtfully.

"I would always choose my family. I can't see how I could be happy if those I care about are in danger."

"Hm. That was quite the speech you did there."

Dull replied with a thoughtful hum.

"Hehe. Did that impress you?"

"No."

Desi chuckled, finding joy in his straightforward reply. Conversations with him are always entertaining.

He extended his arms while speaking in a more serious voice.

"But... I genuinely wish that an apocalypse never happens."

"Is that so?"

After this exchange, Dull became unusually quiet. When he looked at the man, a serious expression appeared on his attractive face, as if he was pondering something significant. Desi found it odd that Dull was so absorbed in a conversation about something imaginary. Sometimes, his behaviour struck him as strange.

"Did I not answer well enough?"

He asked, perhaps expecting a more adventurous response like Desi's enthusiasm for games.

"Who knows? I still value your answer"

Dull shrugged and turned his attention back to the road.

Desi felt puzzled by Dull's actions, and a strange chill ran down his back. He rubbed his arms, trying to get rid of the uneasy feeling that hung in the air like a storm about to break.

'I hope it’s nothing...'

He thought, worry filling his mind. He planned to call his family later to see how they were doing.