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I took a big breath as I stepped outside.The Group Chat and gacha had kept me in my room, so this was the first time I've been outside in Metropolis.
After making sure I remembered, I went straight to the closest store to buy the groceries Lena had asked me to get.
It would be stupid to get involved in the dark side of the earth without any strength.
Even Batman has been beaten by strange creatures and their abilities more than once.
There aren't many meta-humans now, but the Joker already appeared. He's caused trouble in Gotham a few times.
Luckily, I'm in Metropolis.
I need more than just physical or magical strength to be able to stand on my own. I also need economic and reputational power.
I won't be able to get all that while Lex Luthor is alive, and I'm sure of that.
It all comes down to power and some abilities. I'm just an average person who isn't very good at fighting without all of that.
I know I'll probably have to kill someone, but right now, the fact that I haven't done it yet is making me nervous.
There's no Justice League right now, nor are there many other heroes... and that's good.
Their "justice" is very strange.
They beat everyone around them, lock them up, and then deal with the consequences of the escape of those they've already defeated.
Batman's trust in the law and his code that he doesn't kill is strange.
Of course, they don't need to kill all criminals, but it's advisable to kill all the most dangerous criminals.
There have been changes to the law about the death penalty, but criminals can still be put to death in other states even though it's illegal in Gotham.
Why not do the same? Why leave lunatics like the Joker alive who couldn't care less about their victims?
Batman established the Justice League, and all the "heroes" adopted his "no killing" philosophy, even Wonder Woman, an Amazon warrior who kills enemies.
I wouldn't support the Justice League if there was already one.
I went back after getting all the groceries I needed.
Rias still hasn't said anything. It looks like she's caught up in her parallel reality, which might have happened if not for the Group Chat.
I don't know how she'll act after this, but I tried to explain that her world is real, just like mine, and it's the story of a parallel world and nothing more.
"Lena, I brought the groceries."
I said this as I entered the apartment.
"I'll unpack them, don't worry."
I added, and Lena is probably working now.
After a while, when I was done with the grocery, I decided to play Gacha again.
I still have ten spins left, so I started spinning all ten times before I even got to my room.
Lightsaber (D)
Anthony Edward "Tony" Stark (A)
CTN 0452-9 Cortana (A)
Macbook Air M3 (E)
Cursed Blade: Murasame (S)
Movie Ticket (E)
Bottle of Water (E)
Bath Sponge (E)
IKEA Wardrobe (E)
Nanosuit version 1.0 (D) (CryNet Nanosuit)
I wasn't sure what to say after getting an A-rank gift after an SSS-rank one. I had to blink a few times. I hope I still have some luck left.
I guess I shouldn't be surprised if I get the Death Star since there are so many things to choose from and gacha doesn't care about value.
In addition, Tony Stark, an eccentric genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist, and most importantly, a brilliant inventor.
He's a genius in mechanics and many other sciences, such as physics, chemistry, neuroscience, and so on.
This guy could create masterpieces capable of fighting gods... well, with some time.
I have always found it strange how a guy in a suit can stand up to gods.
I picked the card, it appeared in my hand with a faint glow, and I got some information immediately.
He's definitely a genius... but I doubt I could take on someone like Darkseid with his suits.
At least, that's what I gathered from his memories.
I could summon Tony Stark into this world, but he would mostly be loyal to me without his character, and I don't see the point in that.
It's useful to have a good laboratory, but I'd rather know the stuff myself, so I chose to assimilate the card.
This is because Tony could cause more trouble than good.
It felt like a lot of information was pouring into my head as soon as I chose assimilation.
[Name: Anthony Joseph Luthor]
[Title: Brother of a Villain]
[Overall Power: 10-B]
[Assimilated Characters:
Anthony Edward "Tony" Stark (A) (3%)]
[Abilities:]
[Gacha Points: 1]
I saw that assimilation doesn't happen instantly when I looked at the statistics in Gacha, but even with these three percent... it seems like I now know how to speak German.
For now, I didn't think about assimilation. Instead, I looked at the A-rank card, Cortana.
"Pretty cool."
I said this as her digitally designed card with code and technology written on it showed up in my hand.
Based on the details on the card, I knew that this was one version of Cortana, an artificial intelligence that helped Master Chief in the game Halo.
An AI would be useful for me now considering that I'm currently just an ordinary person.
After selecting the card, I had a small device in my palm that I immediately recognized as a holographic projector that the AI could use to build her holographic avatar.
Moreover, this AI would be completely loyal to me.
It only took a second for all of my thoughts to flood my mind, and I realized that Tony's assimilation was already rising because I knew immediately what I was holding.
A bluish light resembling a young girl appeared above the hologram projector.
"Greetings, partner. I am Cortana, the 'Smart' AI model CTN 0452-9."
The avatar of the girl smiled immediately after saying these words and spoke through the item in my hand.
"It's amazing how much computational power you must have to do with what I remember..."
I muttered while studying the holographic projection of the girl.
Indeed, she herself is a tremendous force capable of dominating a country's economy by herself in a day—maybe even faster.
"Oh, compliments immediately... I'm a little embarrassed."
Cortana said, and her voice clearly simulated some embarrassment.
"Of course, I am capable of many things, especially... hmm, strange."
"What's strange?"
Dio asked while sitting down on the bed and holding the holographic projector in a slightly outstretched hand.
"My data indicates that I was designed in the distant future more than five hundred years ahead of today's date."
Cortana said thoughtfully, and she genuinely made such a facial expression.
"Have you already hacked the Internet?"
I wasn't surprised by her capabilities.
"Well, it's quite primitive."
Cortana shrugged.
"So, how did it happen that I ended up in the past from the future, partner?"
"Do you believe in magic?"
I smiled and wondered how she could see me if her avatar was following me. Then I noticed that the laptop's camera was on and lit up...
"Magic of numbers, I hope?"
Cortana smirked.
"Oh, you mean the magic from fairy tales? Hm... given what's happening, we can't rule out that option, but it comprises just one-millionth... but forget it, I saw that there are flying people here and some cities that are not in my database."
Cortana waved her hand.
"It's all much simpler and at the same time more complicated."
I said this while feeling a sense of déjà vu.
"The theory of multiverses is true..."
"Oh, well."
Cortana shrugged.
"I was expecting something more, as you say... mind-blowing?"
"And we're in one of those multiverses, or more precisely in one where there are gods, alien gods, beings capable of destroying planets without technology, where there's magic capable of altering reality, where there are real demons and a real hell... well, and, as a bonus, it's a universe with superheroes who don't kill villains and criminals, but only put them behind bars even if they've killed thousands of innocent lives."
"Wow, that was informative and somewhat alarming. Do you mind if I dig more deeply into your 'internet'?"
Cortana asked after a while.
"But you've already done that..."
"Yes, but it was for your own good to ensure you're not in danger. But now I would prefer to get your order or permission for this."
Cortana smiled.
"Permission granted... How do you function?"
I still ask this question.
"An AI with such a huge range of capabilities in such a small holographic projector..."
"Future technologies, I suppose. Or do you want more information? I have no restrictions on the information I provide, so here you go."
Cortana snapped her fingers, and the screen of my laptop lit up and opened a file—a thousand pages long.
"This is just the introduction."
Cortana smiled sweetly.
"I'll read it in the evening."
I nodded while approaching the table and placing the holographic projector on it.
"Oh, what a heavy day."
"Um... I checked the nearest cameras and what was happening to you, and nothing seemed to be that heavy. Oh, or are you talking about the situation with the multiverse?"
Cortana asked.
"About everything."
I answered, lowered my voice a little, and ensured Lena was in her room.
"The multiverse thing is complicated especially in a world where every person could be a meta-human, a psychopath, or a hero bringing chaos. And especially when you're just an ordinary person in it."
"I can't say I understand, as I'm not human. It's normal to feel scared when you learn things like that. Fear is something that all living things feel especially fear for their own lives. It's instinct."
Cortana said.
"By the way, can I ask a question?"
"Of course."
"How... how did I end up here? The last thing in my memory is the moment of my creation and nothing else. However, my goal is to be your assistant which seems odd since I'm meant to be in the future.
"Gacha,"
I simply said.
"Analyzing the information based on your behavior, the word you said, and what's happening in this 'fantastical' world gives too many possible answers."
Cortana said somewhat impatiently as if hinting at "don't give up."
"Gacha is like a universal system. You can find out what it means on the internet."
I explained.
"I see, got it. Oh, that's... interesting. What else did you get?"
A card appeared in my hand that showed what looked like a cyborg with a red visor. The next second, a suit that was the right size for me stood about a meter away.
It's very helpful that Gacha can change things to fit me.
"This is a nanosuit from a game I'm familiar with... Can you connect to it?"
I asked.
"Me? Easy peasy."
Cortana snapped her fingers, and the suit twitched slightly.
"Nanotechnology is not bad work, but it's quite simple... This suit needs a wearer to function properly. The ability to become invisible is very useful. Oh, stimulators and nanobots were introduced into the bloodstream, and there were several operating modes. There are no such suit models in my database."
"Can you control it? Theoretically, it's possible even without a wearer if the artificial muscles of the suit are strong enough."
I asked.
"Easy."
Cortana said smugly as the suit seemed to come to life while taking a few steps around the room.
"Interesting sensations... and finally, a good camera."
Cortana approached me with the suit, and I began to inspect it.
[Anthony Edward "Tony" Stark (A) (8%)]
The process of assimilating Tony Stark has sped up a bit because of all the information that was used to try to understand how the suit and Cortana work.
"Tell me, Cortana, can you help me with illegal operations?"
I asked an important question.
"If it was me before... appearing here, then unlikely. I remember having a lot of subtasks and measures. I wasn't able to do much. The only thing I have to do now is to be your assistant. Can I call you Tony?"
Cortana asked.
"Yes, of course."
I nodded to the suit through which Cortana was currently speaking to me.
"This is my first day, and we're already thinking about illegal things together, Master Tony. Or does Master Luthor sound better? I'm starting to like it. What do I need to do? Hack the government? Get access to nuclear launch codes? Gain access to the world's secret organizations?"
Cortana teased.
"Let's start with something simpler. What can you find on my older brother?"
I asked somewhat nervously.
"One moment... done. I have a lot of information: fraud with bank accounts, intimidation of small businessmen, blackmail, and so much interesting and disturbing evidence. Where shall we start?"
Cortana's avatar appeared above the holographic projector with a smile.