@MegaXL
he still feels needs to justify the use of his power everytime he even thinks of using it on humans
and thats on humans he deems dangerous literally making it a either us or them situation in his head
he is so unable to even think of the possebility of what you are suggesting
also and thats more of a human thing we are sentimental and mostly unable to build meaningful relationships to things we consider food or vice versa we cant bear to eat things that we have or had meaningful relationships towards
and yes if you go by the letter he is stealing things but actualy its much less precise its more like consuming the targets exp and skill without restrain
and consuming is just another word for eating to a human
which is something the mc knows which is why he trained it on criminals and prostitutes.
also he is building up towards seeing everyone besides the hero as food because he slowly but surely doesnt even tries to form meaningful releationships which is something you have to thank multiple females from the story for
who took the cake for me was the cat girl , gets rescued and healed by the mc from a point of certain death and still treats him like crap
the priestress at least tries to start a dialog with him even if she stops because she fears he could see through her
well both of you have already been judged as food so good riddance to you