He wants to give me an ability to tip the scales a bit. But, the thing is, merely helping me in this way can be considered tipping the scales. He is, after all, God. And so, even if I ask for an ability that's completely useless to me, like, the ability to do instant makeup on my face, it would still be considered 'tipping the scales'.
And so, an ability that gives me no immediate benefits; an ability like stealing other's ability – it would still be considered tipping the scales. And that would be enough, wouldn't it? He would have done his job.
Now, if, after stealing a lot of other abilities, I become quite powerful; that's none of HIS concern. At the time he gave me the ability, I hadn't become that powerful. If I used that ability later 'wisely' and grew stronger because of that, that's not his fault. He stays in the safe zone, and so do I.
"Smart." He remarked.
"Wait a minute!" When I heard his remark though, the smirk on my face disappeared because of the thought that came to mind, "Were you planning to make me think of this ability all along?"
"…" No answer, which I think happened deliberately.
I mean, thinking back on it, the fact that helping me is enough to consider tipping the scales, he can't give any ability that adds to my power, or it will be considered more than just tipping the scales a little. So, when he mentioned the limitations of the ability he can give, he wanted me to figure out an ability that doesn't exactly make me any stronger on immediate effect.
Furthermore, an ability like Conjuration, which was the example he mentioned earlier – it is an ability that allows one to possess anything they want, by the act of conjuring it up.
Stealing other's ability allows one to possess anything they want too, but this time by stealing it from others.
That similarity might have been what made me think of that ability when he mentioned his example.
I probably had a stupid expression when I figured it all out back then. I can say so with certainty because Danny was enjoying himself while my back was turned to him.
I thought I'd steal his ability as a Tamer-class Mage first to get back on him first, but of course, didn't go through with it because that'd be pretty stupid of me, depriving me closest ally of his ability.
In any case, that's how I decided the ability I would have. And when granting me that ability, he said, "Since you are one of those weebs who won't be satisfied until you think of a name for this ability, I'd give on to you."
I was curious as to what name he had thought of. Turned out he wasn't the one who thought of it though.
"Someone I once knew had this ability and this is what he called it – Moral Dystopia."
When I first heard that somewhat cool name that would be totally cringe if I say it before using the ability, I wondered what kind of person would the guy God mentioned had this ability would have been. The second thing I wondered was why was that the name of the ability?
"Is there some significance behind that name?" I asked.
"Nothing that you need to worry much about." He answered rather plainly, "But if I am to answer your question, then yes, there is some significance behind that name. It's hard to explain though so don't ask me to do that."
Is this guy really God? Well, I mean, he probably is, but he doesn't act like an omniscient, omnipotent being, does he?
"I have already given you that ability you asked for, so I would be leaving now." He seemed tired from his voice as he said that, "I doubt I'll need to speak with you again so say whatever you want to right now, if there is anything."
"Actually, I did want to ask you." A question that was burning in my head for a while, "Why didn't you stop Dues ex machina?"
"It's just none of my business." He answered plainly, "I'm not supposed to meddle with things like these unless humans are at stake. In this situation, a human like you was at stake because you were going to go to hazardous places without any ability, so while not much because it's just one human, I have ground to do something. Back then, no human's life was at danger by her plans, so my duty was to just observe, not interfere."
"…"
"… what!?" He questioned when I didn't say anything.
"So you knew that this all would happen, that her plans would succeed and you just observed?" I asked, with a bit of anger in my voice.
"Yes, that's precisely what I did." Yet, his voice as he answered was plain and bored, as if he didn't even mind if I start hating him or cursing him or whatever. I guess, since he's God, it really wouldn't bother him if a human hates him or loves him. He is, after all, supposed to look at every human equally, without caring about anything, even without caring about how they feel about him.
"So, is there anything else?" He inquired.
"No." I answered.
And so, his voice disappeared.
"How'd it go?" Danny, Grey and Jessica – all three who were silently watching me this whole time asked. To them, it would have probably looked like I was mumbling to myself since they couldn't hear God's voice coming directly to head. They knew however what was going on so it didn't matter much.
"It went fine. I got the ability I mentioned."
"The ability you mentioned God tricked you into thinking of?" Danny asked sarcastically.
"Y-yeah!" I said with a bit of a blush, because of the embarrassment caused by being played like a fool so easily. I mean I know he's God but still, I'm the protagonist. We are both in one digits, at least as far as this damned book goes.
"Alright then," Grey said as he stood up, "I guess it's time for you to head out now, isn't it?"
"Oh yeah, today's the day." Jessica said with a mix of excitement and worry.
"Hah!" I sighed. "Yeah, before that, could you give me a few moments of alone-time?"
I made that request and they agreed.
"Danny, could you go to that bitch and find out where she wants to send us?"
"So you want me to run your errands while you relax in here?"
"Yes!" I said with a smile and he sighed and he accepted.
The next few hours I spent reflecting on everything that has happened until now. It all came to an end when later, after finding things out, Danny broke my door to enter and told me to head out. And I looked at the mirror one final time before doing so.
In the mirror, I saw myself in the black noble attire that was given to me by Jessica as some sort of good-luck charm. And I said to Danny,
"I'm ready to head-out when you are."
*****