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If I didn’t have [Subspace], I probably wouldn’t have known.

One of the features of my Gift was the ability to label the properties of anything I placed within it. It would also tell me a brief summary of it.

For example, if I placed a random rock in [Subspace], it would tell me the name, composition, brief history, etc.

So, when I placed Paul’s Automaton into [Subspace], I was able to view its composition.

I initially thought investigating the drone would give me a clue concerning Pariah’s capabilities. However, I never expected to see a familiar name pop up.

[Item Information]

Name: Spy-Automaton Drone (Num. 089)

Type: Construct

Maker: Paul

Grade: 1

Special Features: Spying. Camouflage. Missile Launch. Projectile Launch. Energy Conduction. Flight. Quick Maneuvering.

Brief History:

Made with the Gift of ‘Smithing’, it is useful for reconnaissance, and dealing with a wide variety of enemies using long-ranged attacks. It has weak durability and low firepower, but its maker can conduct energy to it, giving it additional properties.

[See Stats]

With the name and the ‘Gift’ factor, it was pretty easy to deduce who the culprit was.

Still… knowing who Pariah was, and coming to terms with it, were completely different matters.

“Paul is alive? Well, damn…”

That was my reaction when I found out.

How was that even possible?

I mean, he had next to zero offensive capabilities as a Level 1. Sure, the Demons I left behind were already half-defeated, but he was too much of a pushover to fight back, even if he wanted to.

Plus, he had no means of fighting… right?

Suddenly, I remembered a conversation we had while still figuring out a way out of the apartment.

‘He talked about using a gun. Then… did he?!’

I understood at that moment.

‘He must have made one in secret…’

The fact that he had the galls to do something like that behind my back, as well as survive against all odds, proved that he was a far more formidable person than I had thought.

I underestimated so many things and people in the past, nearly causing me to lose my life. I wasn’t planning on repeating those mistakes any longer.

Which was why… I made sure to prepare very well before he arrived.

Once I figured out Pariah’s identity, piecing together his plans —at least the general gist of it — wasn’t very difficult

‘He wants revenge!’

If he simply wanted to defeat me, Paul wouldn’t have used such a roundabout way. If his goal was to utterly ruin me, he would use my supposed weaknesses against me.

‘I’m relieved I didn’t reveal all my cards…’

My brain began getting to work, and then I planned countermeasures for everything I could think of.

Since he had a partner, there was the possibility that he would use her to take care of Tia and the rest, while he directly confronted me.

‘He doesn’t know about my [Subspace] abilities, then…’

While I had no idea how he got such a makeover, and why I couldn’t use my ‘Hoarder’ abilities on him, he didn’t seem completely aware of my own capabilities.

I had to capitalize on that.

Tia and the others were already my property ever since I took them into [Subspace] once before. I could retrieve them anytime I wished.

The same applied to the guards I gave them.

I could also monitor their status remotely —thanks to an additional Skill, so I was in no tight spot.

The problem was Paul himself.

He had changed too much, and I wasn’t very keen on unknown variables. Plus, he was capable of beating the Tower Of War, making him quite formidable.

Out of all the Gifteds around, he was most likely the most powerful around. As if that wasn’t bad enough, he had a keen desire to kill me.

That motive was dangerous.

Since the full extent of his capabilities was a mystery, the best means to employ was the safe route.

‘I’ll have a clone fight him!’

In order to be conservative with my resources, I used a low-costing duplicate to challenge him —gauging the battle from a distance.

And so, the moment of truth arrived.

My duplicate fought Paul earnestly… and lost.

Normally, that would make me more cautious, but… it was the nature of the battle that surprised me.

Sure, he had employed some tactics that were quite brilliant, but I could see through all of them even before they were made.

‘His intentions are too obvious!’

I wasn’t sure if he was doing it intentionally, or was relying on some sort of predetermined idea of how combat worked, but things got too predictable at a point.

The only thing I probably didn’t see coming was the Return Stone.

‘I thought he would just use an ultimate ability to blitz the clone, or something like that…’

The fact that he didn’t use any super powerful abilities told me two things.

Either he was saving his strength for the challenge ahead…

… Or he was simply weak.

Either way, they both meant the same thing.

Whether by intelligence or power, Paul was still inferior to me.

Once I realized this, it was time to make my entrance.

*********************

“… You disappointed me, Paul.”

The boy appeared genuinely shocked by my presence.

He must have thought I was returned to the Starting Point thanks to the Stone. Who could fault his logic?

‘If I was in that situation, it would have been easy to escape the Return Stone, though…’

But the flustered guy didn’t know about that, did he?

“Well, why don’t we get a bit serious, Paul?”

His shocked expression made me happy for some reason. How he went from overjoyed to completely stupefied.

‘I also feel kind of dumb… for overestimating this loser.’

“Kneel.”

>VWUUUMMM!!!<

Instantly, Paul heeded my words and fell to his knees.

‘Hmm, I see… My Hoarder Skill didn’t work, but Command functions just fine…’

That meant the problem wasn’t a result of Level Difference. I was of a higher Level. Then what caused the interference?

While watching his battle with my Clone, I tried using [Subspace] on him, but it didn’t work as well.

It was strange, no matter how hard I thought of it. However, there was one explanation I could think of.

Drawing closer to the confused boy, I looked him in the eye and decided to find out the truth.

“What do you know about (G) Essence?”