It's on the house

I don't really know how to feel if someone accused me of theft, since, as far as I thought, I was a pretty virtuous guy.

Yes, I said 'virtuous', not 'humble'.

I also had a personal belief, that I would not harm another person before he harmed me, but the only people who this rule didn't apply, were people who took the light off and mocked death.

I mean, would you blame me if you saw your own parents die in front of you?

Yeah, I thought so.

My previous life had become ruined from the moment I witnessed my parents' death, and I just couldn't bare to kill another person, thinking that they probably also had a family waiting for them at home too.

Anyways, I was feeling mixed emotions after seeing that the shopkeeper did not think that the credit card was mine.

"What makes you say that?"

The shopkeeper took another look at the card, and with a troubled expression on his face, he replied,

"Well, for one, the Dracyian family would never come to eat at my humble shop, they have enough money to spend at bigger restaurants. Hmmm... well maybe not for that failure son of theirs..."

'Oh, so it is just a reputation problem then, I can solve this by praising the quality of the food, and hope he gets distra-'

"But also because all of the Dracyian family are known to have dark black hair and red eyes, but you, young man, look nothing like a Dracyian."

"..."

'System, explain what the fuck is going on.'

[The host's body had undergone massive changes when inheriting the goddess' blessing, and the energy that was imbued was too much stress for it. Hence, the hair on your head has turned a silvery white colour.]

[Furthermore, the Host's body was forcefully awakened at the same time, so it has significantly reduced the amount of melanin, and therefore changed your appearance drastically.]

'Is this what you did not want to tell me earlier?'

[Yes. I advise you to activate your innate skill.]

And so, I decided to immediately do as I was told, not really knowing how it would help.

'[Monarch's Facade]'

"Hey... so, I didn't steal this card, in fact, it is mine. I don't really know how to prove it to you, but it is mine."

"Uhhhh... it is alright sir, I am deeply sorry, I understand.."

The shopkeeper was starting to drop beads of sweat from his forehead. He had evaded his gaze from me, and kept looking downwards, trying not to make eye contact.

'Huh... is this the effect of my skill? I don't remember it working this well with the guard.'

"Are... you sure?"

"Oh...! I must be stupid. Don't worry about it, you... don't need to pay! It's on the house just for you!"

His body had now started to shiver, and his eyes started to quiver.

"Well, if you insist, I guess."

Taking full potential of this opportunity, I took the card back and walked out of the shop with a happy smile, deactivating my skill as I stepped out.

'It would be better to keep me hidden from my family for as long as possible. So this was a great chance for me hehehe!'

*** {Shopkeeper's POV - A few minutes ago} ***

It had been another boring, tireless day.

I spent my time watching people walk past my shop, observing everything with a hand underneath my chin.

'Another day with no customers.' I sighed.

My family worked as farmers, while I spent my time selling the wheat that we harvest as noodles in the main city.

I had come to Axus City after hearing rumours about it being the 'Market Monopoly' of the world.

Like any other human, I wanted to make money.

And so, I started this independent shop as a way to earn income, however, it just so happened that the place that I bought the shop from, was near a place where people rarely came by.

'So that is why it was so cheap.'

In hindsight, I should have taken a risk to start my shop nearer to the main square, but there is nothing I can do about it now.

DING

'A customer!'

After so long, a customer finally arrived.

'I will make him some of the best noodles he has ever tried!' I pledged.

"Boss, I'll have a portion of noodles and some soda for the sides."

The customer looked to be a 16-17 year old boy, with striking, silvery white hair, crimson red eyes, and a pale white face.

'He isn't that bad looking you know.'

I quickly cooked up some food, hoping to treat him well enough that he became a long-term customer.

While the boy was eating, I couldn't help but wonder why he would come to a place like this even if everyone hadn't, but had to keep my thoughts to myself as he stood up at the counter.

"Boss, what is the total?"

I told him the price of the food at a small discount, hoping that it was cheap enough so he would come again.

"Here use this card."

The kid handed me a small black and red accented debit card, and I immediately recognised who this would have belonged to.

'No way... isn't this... a personalised Dracyian Family card?'

As far as I knew, these cards were custom-made, and only made available to a rich awakened family.

I, myself, was only a normal civilian, so my shop was the only way for me to earn money.

I began to panic, wondering who was this child to have the card of the Dracyian family.

Almost every normal civilian in Axus City knew about the Dracyian family, who were nicknamed the 'Black Dragons'.

Each of the family members was monstrous talents, and all had the same genes.

So who the hell was this guy?

His silvery white hair had no resemblance to the Dracyian family, and since I was a commoner, I had never personally met the family myself to know them enough.

Therefore, the most reasonable conclusion I had come to, was the fact that he had somehow managed to get his hands on a stolen card.

"Hey kid, are you sure you didn't steal this?"

"What makes you say that?"

As soon as the boy said this, I began to feel a shiver down my spine.

I looked down for one second and saw that his face seemed to be exuding a majestic aura, compelling my instincts to not anger him.

'I've messed up. What do I do? Please don't close my shop.'

Even though his face bared no hostility, the nerves on my skin proved otherwise.

"Hey... so, I didn't steal this card, in fact, it is mine. I don't really know how to prove it to you, but it is mine."

To me, this was obviously a death threat.

I mean, he is literally forcing me not to tell on him.

'What do I do!?? Have I pissed him off?'

All of a sudden, it didn't feel like I was talking to a 16-year-old boy.

It felt like I was talking to a king.

'I have to choose my words carefully.'

"Uhhhh... it is alright sir, I am deeply sorry, I understand.."

I could only hope that he understands that I meant no harm.

"Are... you sure?"

'He is testing me, yes, that must be it.'

The smile on his face hadn't changed, and somehow, this only left an eerie feeling lurking behind him.

'He must be wanting to get the food for free now. I can't mess this up.'

"Oh...! I must be stupid. Don't worry about it, you... don't need to pay! It's on the house just for you!"

As I uttered those words, it felt like time stretched for an eternity.

I didn't know why I was so scared of him, it just felt like it was ingrained by instinct, like the feeling of a rabbit meeting a hyena.

"Well, if you insist, I guess."

And finally, the boy took his card back and left, leaving me drenched in sweat.

In my mind, I was silently pleading,

'Please don't become my customer in the future...'

*** {Vincent's POV} ***

"Haaaa... now that was some good shit..." I muttered rubbing my belly.

[Host, I suggest you hurry and start training now.]

'Don't worry, I have already everything planned...'

It was not yet sunset, meaning that I still had some time to spend before starting my plan to boost my strength.

'System, since we are here, do you know if anyone offers training for normal 'G' ranked civilians?'

[But you are an awakened, normal civilian military training would not help you.]

To prepare for the upcoming Demon Invasion, the Atios Association had started to military train normal civilians as well as Awakeners. They funded Guilds which did this, promoting the idea that everyone should join in the fight.

In reality, however, the Atios Association did the funding to take control over the shares of Guilds and gain more control over the general population.

I knew this because there were a few quests to help out these guild centres when in the game.

'Just give me a map for the nearest guild centre which does.'

VWOOM

An image of google maps appeared on a floating blue screen in front of me, following me by the side when I walked.

'This is helpful.'