Why are you feeling useless? Not dealing enough damage? Not contributing enough out of combat? Going down too quickly so you can't contribute in combat?
PCScipio has some good advice, but if we know what you want to do we can give more.
Investigator is a pretty weak partial multiclass. Having access to a single second level spell at CL4 isn't doing you any favors, and Studied Target taking a move action is crippling. I'd either want Swash1/Invest8, full Swash, or mix in some Rogue or Fighter for some extra oomph.
Your stats are pretty painful. No strength means no Power Attack, which really gimps your damage (and most importantly your crits). No Con means those D8s from investigator are extra painful. Being Rapier focused also means you can't take Piranha strike, which doubles down on the lack of PA.
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So the first problem I see is that you're comparing yourself to stronger builds.
Archery is the strongest damage output in the game. No need to move means you're always full attacking, and Rapid Shot/Manyshot means they're probably making 4 attacks per round (well 3 but one is double damage) where you're making 1 or 2. On top of that Inquisitor has some pretty nice swift-action buffs to throw on as well.
Two-Handed Strength weapons are also pretty easily superior to Dex weapons. Power Attack is better for them, that Slayer is getting +9 damage per hit from that, and even 18 Strength will give him +2 bonus damage as well. Since you don't even have Power Attack he's looking at ~+10 damage per hit and there's not much you can do about it.
Finally you've got a high crit-range weapon with a whole lot of damage that's not multiplied on a crit (+5 from Swashbuckler and +2 from Studied combat). This means you're getting maybe 30 damage on a crit, which means you need crits just to keep up.
What your build should do well is defences,and better skills. It also means you can do more with lower Stats. Judging by your stat array I'm guessing you started with a 25 point buy (or a good roll) which means you're getting less out of Dex to damage than you would in a 15 point buy (or lower rolls).
If you want to be more helpful getting more levels in Investigator will help, but as john salb pointed out that d8 HP is going to hurt. Your Parry/Riposte should up your defences somewhat, but if you're missing a lot anyway you might have trouble (Investigator will help here, they end up very good at hitting their studied target). If you don't already have it, QUICK STUDY will definitely help you, as will Mutagen.
This post is long enough and I have to go to bed, but I'm sure there will be more.
I play a similar inquisitor and honestly your damage will never match him.
But I also play a swash/investigator :) So you bring the skills to the table and you should be pretty decent on skills and def. That will be your big thing, for damage...this will be a challenge with the build. Mutagen and losing the levels of swash for investigator are your first step..the 5 levels sound good for swash sound good but really you wont miss them, just get a keen rapier asap. Would your gm allow you to move points in your stats around? Maybe mention to him you are feeling left behind sometimes they will take pity on you :) Cha 16 really isn't helping you. If not get a effortless lace and then retrain for piranha strike.
I would work on versatility though, personally that to me is where my build shines. (Sorry if this is disjointed I have a one year old yelling at me when she sees I'm not watching her.) My level 7 has a 19umd..which means I have a bunch of wands,(comprehend, cure, detect magic, shield, faerie fire) I also use Alchemical allocation (I took extend potion and enhance potion) I have a ton of potions and always on the look out (pots of barkskin,heroism, fly even bull str etc) basically 4x a day I can extend those and make them my level as needed.
So to give a idea at level 7 I usually have a AC 28, +16 hit and 1d6+11 (+3 Precision) 15-20 crit (keen weapon) BUT I also have 12+1d6+1 to all knowledge skills, +16 diplomacy, +20 disable device, +20 perception, +16 +1d6+1 spellcraft and of course the umd. You just need to keep in mind it isn't just damage :)
The big problem I see is that your build does not really have a unique role. You have two characters that can fill the role of skill monkey while still being good at combat. Both of them are single classed so are getting access to higher level abilities. No matter how optimized this character becomes there is still going to be two other people who can do most if not all that you can do.
It also looks like you are trying to split your levels fairly even. This is usually a mistake especially on a spell casting class. A level or two dip may not be that bad but more than that usually ends up with a weaker character.
Well, in a way, you sacrificed your character's effectivity for the character's fluff. Retraining Swashbuckler levels to Investigator levels should work for the "regaining the mind" thing, though.
Firstly, Swashbuckler is one of the weakest classes in the game.* Slayer and Inquisitor are stronger classes, with a skillset similar to your character's., thus what you're experiencign isn't all that surprising. Investigator is actually a pretty good class, but a) a bit light on the damage dealing side unless you know what talents to grab, and b) your multiclassing rather hurts - at 9th level, you should have access to extracts like Channel Vigor, Displacement, Fly, and Heroism (and a +4 Barkskin would help with defense), and get extracts like Greater Invisibility, Monstrous Physique II, and Echolocation at next level. That one class has charisma as a secondary focus and the other intelligence doesn't help, either.
Investigator basically needs Quick Study and Alchemist Discovery -> Mutagen to be good in combat. You should try to get these ASAP, and look at extracts that might allow your character to do things other can't.
I've tried were stealth which my character was spotted and attacked down
You do know you have Invisibility on your formulae list, right?
*) Cavall will disagree because of one very specialized Swashbuckler being good in a campaign practically tailored towards that character, but you've seen the problems.
Well, in a way, you sacrificed your character's effectivity for the character's fluff.
And there's nothing wrong with that. I've got a fluffy blind Wizard, Drow Wildsoul, and dominatrix Pain Taster. So long as you're having fun it doesn't really matter your character's effectiveness.
That said, you don't seem to be having fun with your current character. I understand useless feeling in my Starfinder campaign where I built an Intimidate-focused character and then quickly learned everything in the campaign was either an undead, a construct, or a plant. I still have fun with the roleplaying aspects though, so the uselessness of my main abilities doesn't bother me too much.
As others have said, you have too many levels in swashbuckler and not enough in investigator.
One other option to consider, if the character is a follower of Desna, is to take Butterfly's Sting and pair up with the scythe-wielding slayer. Your character won't be doing the damage, but you will definitely be useful!
So here is a different question, considering the party makeup how attached are you to the character/concept? Looking at the party I am seeing what you are talking about..everyone has a place and specialty and I could see getting frustrated. Honestly I have a opposite issue, I tend to play my character in the background to let others get the first chance to roll.
So basically I would try to figure out what you think the party needs. Going with more investigator will help in combat but it seems like you are lacking in a bunch of areas.
As others have said, you have too many levels in swashbuckler and not enough in investigator.
I think this is the crux of it. Your multiclass is 50/50, which isn't great for pathfinder. The retraining should help, and even fits the character you're describing.
One other option to consider, if the character is a follower of Desna, is to take Butterfly's Sting and pair up with the scythe-wielding slayer. Your character won't be doing the damage, but you will definitely be useful!
I was going to suggest this but forgot the name. =P This would mean you're still not doing all that much damage, but you're giving a pretty huge boost to your ally.
Along those lines you could also consider Magus (INT-based sword fits your character concept) or Bard (CHA based, but 6+INT skills, bonuses to knowledges & Versatile Performance make it a very "smart" class) as alternatives to Investigator. The Magus would up your own damage significantly, while the Bard would help your party more. I don't usually suggest different classses, but you're retraining anyway. If I were in your shoes I'd probably stick with Investigator, but these options would be pretty strong if you want to change.
As others have said, you have too many levels in swashbuckler and not enough in investigator.I think this is the crux of it. Your multiclass is 50/50, which isn't great for pathfinder. The retraining should help, and even fits the character you're describing.
There are some archetypes where you may want 5+ levels in swashbuckler to qualify for certain Advanced Weapon Training options (if your GM allows it) or to stack bonuses for certain weapons (like flying blade and Startoss Style), but inspired blade isn't one of them IMO.
Why are you feeling useless? Not dealing enough damage? Not contributing enough out of combat? Going down too quickly so you can't contribute in combat?Could be luck I'll admit that or it could be the dream dimension. My damage feels low often, as I move in attack once even with a 15-20 crit range dealing 18 damage(Missing the 15-20 with 14s a lot lol). Compared to my scythe-wielding slayer who puts out high 20's and the inquisitor who blows up many enemies in a single volley. Most creatures we fight I try to parry I often fail and get hit....
Well, OP&R is overrated, so I'm not surprised that's starting to break down at 9th.
The main problem is the single attack, when a fair chunk of the time you probably have a full-attack sequence available. You choice of archetype also (without expenditure of feats or gold) limits you to a rapier, which is not a light weapon, and therefore denies you the use of Piranha Strike.
Rolling the character over into Investigator, as others have suggested, is one solution, as it grants flavorings of rogue and alchemist, albeit at the cost of dropping to 3/4ths BAB. Since they've already done that, I'll propose something a little different: be a professional Cuisinart. With a psychic, an oracle, and a critter-dude already covering the caster bases, what your party really needs is a second primary melee role, and I'm guessing that the slayer with the scythe has large but infrequent single attacks that only rarely crit).
Stats.... You have way more Int than you need (you're not a wizard!). I'd rather see Con, Wis, and Cha all higher than Int.
Multiclass build:
01 Bloodrager[Id Rager(Despair)/Urban] (or Barbarian[Urban], if Id Rager's obtuse mechanics make your GM's head explode), Extra Rage, Two Weapon Fighting
..."Power from Despair: The phantom gains a +2 bonus on attack and damage rolls against creatures that are shaken, frightened, panicked, cowering, or subject to effects such as aura of despair or crushing despair..." (Nethys) With this, and the ability to dex-rage, you'll be +2 to hit versus a non-rage build nearly all the time and +4 versus anything scared. Your AC will also be +2 while dex-raging.
02 Swashbuckler1, [Panache pool][finesse]
03 Ninja1 [SA+2d6], Accomplished Sneak Attacker or FEAT(g)
04 Ninja2 [Ki Pool], [Forgotten Trick or Flurry of Stars or Trick(?)]
05 Ninja3 [SA+3d6], Quick Draw
06 Ninja4 [Uncanny Dodge][Trick:Long Step]
07 Swashbuckler2 [Charmed life], Improved Two Weapon Fighting
08 Swashbuckler3
09 Swashbuckler4 [Feat: Lunge], Piranha Strike
10 Swashbuckler5 [Swashbuckler Weapon Training]
Equipment: +1/Furious/Agile wakizashi (pair; one adamantine, one cold-iron or other metal), Celestial Armor, Goz Mask.
At 10, you'll pick up Improved Critical for free as part of Swashbuckler Weapon Training.
Tactics: always be full-attacking:
* Long Step: ...move 10' with a 5'-step.
* Lunge: ...increase your reach by 5'
* Dodging Panache : ...spend a point for a free 5' that doesn't count
...all of these essentially let you full-attack anything within 20', or 25' if they take a swing at you.
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OP&R is mostly a modest buff to your damage output, since you have to roll reasonably well to parry an attack which would hit your AC (which should be pretty high as a Swashtigator).
@OP: Make sure you're making full use of your Inspiration. I've seen some Investigator players neglecting to use the free Inspiration on knowledge checks, for instance. Use Inspiration to boost key saving throws.
Finally, Iron Will is worth considering for just about any character in Strange Aeons.