Dull wanted to confront the boy, but he remained in the mall. It also made Dull wonder why the boy was there in the first place. If he were homeless, the guards would have kicked him out, as Dull had seen them do with a performer earlier therefore the little thief must not be homeless.

'Why did he take my wallet then?'

Was he looking for something other than just money? Something else on his wallet...

Is it his ID?

Even though he got those IDs in the wrong way, they are still real since his name is registered with the government. If they search for him using his real name, they can find and track the false identity he made.

If the little thief really stole his wallet to get his ID, then it shows that the boy doesn't know much about him and is just curious. He took the ID to learn more about Dull. If the boy were a true "alien," he wouldn't use such simple tricks as stealing his wallet. In essence, the boy's behavior highlights his innocence and lack of experience.

What is the boy then? Is he really human or something different?

'Should I investigate this myself?'

It wouldn't be too bad. He is getting bored anyway so a little fun shouldn't be a problem.

Dull made it look like he left before concealing himself with the screens. The screen can absorb all the sounds he makes and hide his presence. It also works well for camouflage because it copies the surroundings and blends in.

Dull walked back into the mall at a leisurely pace, tracking the little thief. He kept his distance, only catching sight of the boy's golden hair from afar.

It appeared the boy was heading to the second floor since he chose the escalator over the elevator. However, he moved slowly, as if reluctant to reach his destination. He was so slow that Dull got so distracted by this that he ended up buying a toy called "lego" after watching a woman demonstrate it to some kids.

That wasn’t the only thing he noticed. The boy seemed to be some kind of celebrity, as many people and employees were staring at him and following his movements. A group of giggling girls whispered excitedly, pointing in his direction, while a couple of older gentlemen exchanged knowing glances, their expressions a mix of admiration and curiosity. Dull couldn't help but wonder who this child was, and why he commanded such attention.

As the boy ventured further onto the second floor, Dull realized he was likely heading to the mall's most expensive restaurant, known for its Michelin chef, since that was the only place on that side of the floor.

Approaching the restaurant, Dull spotted a maid rushing toward the little thief, clearly distressed.

"Young master!"

She exclaimed, her voice a mix of relief and urgency.

The person she was calling "young master" was actually the little thief he had been following around the mall.

So, the little thief is a young master?

Reflecting on their earlier encounter, he remembered the boy didn’t smell bad despite being dirty, suggesting he might have just been playing outside and wasn’t homeless. It also made sense that he took Dull's ID since he could easily look him up using his money.

"Young master! Where have you been!?"

She exclaimed, gripping the boy's shoulders tightly, which seemed a bit too forceful for a maid. He noticed the little thief give a phony smile as if trying to mask the tension in the air. Gently, he pushed her hands away, trying to ease the situation.

"Please be careful and calm down, nanny. There are eyes everywhere."

"R-right. I'm sorry for losing my composure but if you hadn't suddenly vanished, I wouldn't have been scolded by your father!"

"My apologies."

The nanny sighed and adjusted her hair.

"Your father is not happy. I hope you have a good explanation ready."

Her eyes darted around as if she feared someone might overhear their conversation.

"...Don't worry."

Dull listened to their exchange with indifference.

Just from observing the interaction between the boy, who was trying to comfort his nanny, and the maid, who was acting more like the master, Dull sensed there was some family drama brewing. The nanny's words hinted that there would be more trouble when the boy faced his father.

'I really don't want to see this...'

Dull prefers simple things and avoids complicated matters like family dramas.

But if he left, wouldn't he miss a great chance to watch the boy and his relationships? Perhaps there were others like the little thief? Not really.

In the bustling restaurant, he observed the patrons around him, each one seemingly ordinary, engaged in their own trivial conversations and routines. To Dull, they were just background noise, and he saw no reason to delve deeper into their lives.

Instead, he attached a screen to the boy to capture everything happening around the little thief. This device would capture everything happening around the little thief, allowing Dull to monitor his activities without involding himself in the boy's family drama.

Then, Dull teleported back to Alley 23, the closest alley to his apartment.

In an instant, he found himself in a dark alley, surrounded by the familiar smells of wet concrete and unplesant odors. He quickly took off the shimmering screen that had hidden him during the teleportation.

As he walked toward the exit, a few men hanging around looked at him in confusion, their faces showing disbelief. They must have been wondering how he got there so fast since there were no other corners nearby. If he had come from across the street, they should have seen him earlier since the other side was quite far, but they hadn’t, leaving them puzzled.

He felt their stares but ignored them, walking faster. He knew they wouldn’t follow since they were too busy trying to understand what just happened.

When Dull got to his apartment, he saw something surprising. A chicken was lying on the sofa, its feet up, fast asleep. It was a funny and cute sight. On the coffee table, an egg rested, shining softly in the light, as if it were watching over the chicken.

'She is already at the peak.'

Dull sat next to the little chick and poked its belly. He called it the "peak," the moment when the chick is caught between life and death as new cells aggressively replace the old ones. The chick didn’t seem well, likely in so much pain that it had fainted.

"Poor thing."

Dull's face was blank as he continued to poke the chick's belly.

"...So cute..."

He wondered if he could make the chicks a bit chubbier without harming their health.

Many of his experimental subjects are strong monsters, so they usually have long and healthy lives. This means he doesn't have to worry much about their health. However, this chicken comes from a weak and short-lived breed.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Suddenly, he recalled everything he had bought at the mall and pulled out items he thought would look nice, focusing on things that wouldn’t spoil, like candies and chocolate sculptures. He scattered them around the apartment to bring it to life. When he finished, his apartment was filled with random decorations, making it feel more like home.

"That's better."

Beep.

Dull's attention shifted from the chick to the egg on the coffee table when it made a sound.

"Are you curious why I'm short a screen?"

Dull could control a hundred screens, which wasn’t a lot, but they could change size and shape, making them quite useful. As his assistant, the egg knew this and was aware of his missing screen.

"I secretly attached it to the little thief, remember him? The one I mentioned to you."

Beep.

The egg urged him to continue explaining and so he did.

"I was trailing behind him because I noticed he could feel I was there. This could suggest he comes from the Nothingness, as only those from that place can detect one another. However, he seems oblivious to the fact that I’m not human and is more intrigued by why I feel unusual to him, which might mean he isn’t from the Nothingness after all."

He let out a sigh and went on.

"This is the first time I’ve encountered something like this, so I’m feeling a bit confused."

Beep.

"Since I can’t tell if he’s human just by asking, I thought observing him might help. That’s why I kept following, but then some drama happened, and you know I can’t deal with that, so I left."

Beep.

"Yes, I know, very typical of me."

The conversation went on, and from another viewpoint, Dull seemed like a real psycho.

Was he able to grasp what his assistant was saying? Of course, he made it that way.

Even though the assistant could speak, Dull had changed it to communicate through beeps. Each beep, while it might seem harmless, held a hidden message that only he could understand. At first, the sounds might seem alike, but to Dull, they formed a complex language, with each tone and pattern carrying important information.

Why does his assistant make beeping sounds instead of talking? The reason was both simple and deep: it was to keep any information safe from everyone else. The Research Team managed to decode the message on their first attempt, but others found it much harder.

His assistant beeped again.

"Do you want me to explain more?"

Beep.

"Okay. I can’t keep anything from you. Here’s what happened at the mall..."

Dull then shared everything that occurred at the mall.

"What do you think? Is that little thief human or not?"

His assistant, resembling a small egg, contains a wealth of information because Dull has stored all his research and knowledge in it. Some of his supportive colleagues from the Research Team have also contributed their insights, including things Dull is unaware of. This tiny egg functions like a library filled with knowledge, a repository of facts, theories, and ideas that can be accessed at a moment's notice.

Whenever Dull finds himself grappling with a forgotten detail or a fleeting thought, the egg is there to remind him, offering up the information he needs with a simple prompt.

Although it wasn't originally designed to be an assistant, its capabilities have proven invaluable, transforming it into a reliable companion in Dull's work. The egg's ability to synthesize information and provide context has made it an indispensable tool, one that Dull has come to rely on more than he ever anticipated.

If Dull forgets something, the egg can remind him, so even though it wasn't meant to be an assistant, it has proven to be quite useful in that role.

"The others might have some information about this and shared it with you."

Beep.

"Hm? You want to see him yourself?"

Dull's brow furrows slightly as he processes the request.

"Alright."

He is fine with that since he was already planning to visit the little thief tonight. It will be easy to find him, especially since one of his screens is still linked to the boy, tracking his movements in real time.

Beep.

"Message Cache? Yes, I sent him a message while transferring money earlier, but he hasn't responded yet."

Normally, Cache replies quickly, making it seem like he has no other tasks. Since he hasn't replied this time, it likely means he's either busy with the Right Hand or with the big boss. That's the only situation where Cache takes longer to respond.

"Anyway, I’ll look into it myself."

Hopefully, he can find something helpful. His assistant hasn't replied either, which suggests they're already working on his own research.

After a while, his assistant beeped again, and Dull listened closely. He took a moment after decoding the full message to think about what his assistant suggested.

"So, you think they might be human, even if you're not certain, but that strange presence with the little thief is connected to the soul?"

His assistant, a sophisticated piece of technology he had modified for their unique needs, had pointed out that there were no records in his extensive library of anyone appearing so human yet being oblivious to their own presence or its reasons. This lack of documentation was not surprising, given that their kind seldom interacted with lower races.

Instead of relying solely on existing information, his assistant chose to theorize and explain the situation to him. It was a testament to its advanced programming and the depth of its analytical capabilities.

The assistant had suggested that the strange presence accompanying the little thief might be a manifestation of something deeper—perhaps a connection to the very essence of what it meant to be alive. In other words, the soul.

"He could be an example of reincarnation."

This means he might have existed in the Nothingness at some point, but something his past self did caused him to be reborn.

Although that is logical, there is still an unanswered question that causes him to frown.

"It doesn't make sense that his 'presence' remains."

Usually, when a soul goes through reincarnation, all past memories, any harm, brand, or mark to the soul are erased, making the soul completely new. This process is meant to provide a fresh start, free from the burdens of previous lives. It’s strange for someone who has been reincarnated to have a unique presence like those who exist in the Nothingness.

It’s strange for someone who has been reincarnated to have a unique presence like those who exist in the Nothingness. If he truly is a reincarnation, then how could he still carry the weight of his past?

"Now I'm interested in his past life. Sadly, I can't look into that thief's background."

If he could, he would have easily learned everything about the little thief without all this effort.

The mystery surrounding the thief's origins and actions is tantalizing, a puzzle that begs to be solved. What choices did he make in his previous life that led him to this moment?

Beep.

"You are wondering why I'm going to such lengths for this?"

The thief's story is intriguing, but his assistant doesn't think Dull should put in so much effort. While he points out Dull's dedication, it's really because he doesn't want to be involved and is trying to make excuses. Dull sees through this.

Even if the assistant wanted to meet the thief, it would be more for analysis than genuine interest. His assistant isn't very enthusiastic about the tasks and is just doing what is expected to help him.

"I have nothing else to do. What more is there?"

Just focusing on emotional research isn't enough to keep his burnout at bay, so spending more time on the thief's background might help him feel better.

Beep.

"There is no benefit to this? I understand that. It's sweet of you to be concerned about it."

Dull gently touched the shiny egg, its surface smooth and cool beneath his fingertips.

After patting the egg, Dull then tossed it as far as he could. It hit the door with a loud thud, then fell onto the marbled tile, bouncing a few times before coming to rest near Dull's feet. Dull looked down at his assistant with a cold stare.

He patted the egg gently, a fleeting moment of tenderness that quickly evaporated as he tossed it as far as he could. The egg sailed through the air before it struck the door with a loud thud, the sound echoing through the otherwise quiet room.

After the impact, it fell onto the marbled tile floor, the smooth surface amplifying the sound of its descent. It bounced a few times, each rebound a desperate attempt to regain some semblance of dignity, before finally coming to rest near Dull's feet. Its glossy surface reflects the harsh overhead lights.

He looked down at his assistant, the egg, with a cold stare that could freeze fire.

The egg, a creation that he helped design and develop, had served him faithfully for years, yet at this moment, it was nothing more than an object of disdain.

"I don't appreciate being questioned by something like you. You should control your behavior."

Despite the countless hours spent perfecting its programming and nurturing its development, and even though the egg had been his assistant for a long time, Dull felt no affection for the egg. It was merely a tool, a means to an end, and nothing more.

Beep.

The egg emitted a soft, mechanical sound, a response that was both obedient and pitiful.

"Good."

Dull replied, his tone devoid of warmth. He kicked the egg away from him and watched it as it rolled across the floor.

Dull turned his back on it, dismissing the assistant as he focused on the screen in front of him.