Exhausted, I collapsed to the ground.
The boiling anger within me cooled as if doused with cold water, and my hazy consciousness cleared up.
“Damn it….”
I muttered, staring at the ceiling. It had been a truly unpleasant experience. I felt as if my body wasn’t my own. As the assimilation level increased, controlling myself became increasingly difficult.
I touched my body, feeling the familiar plumpness. I was back to the original Tristan.
However, my fist, which had struck Milium, still ached. It was as if Tristan’s painful memories remained like a bruise.
‘Who would’ve thought such a past existed…’
The madness of the Ruelberta family, yearning for magic. A father who judged everything by value alone. And the nannies, turned into lifeless dolls at his hands. Young Tristan had felt despair, hatred, and anger.
The trial was a reflection of the past. The visit to the House of Duke Isak Hel, the attack of the assassins, all happened in the past. And… Tristan must have killed Milium with his own hands, gaining ‘Rage’ as a result.
+
Trait: Rage
Rank: SS
Detail: You realize rage at the depths of despair.
A boiling rage has taken root in your heart. This intense fury even burns your soul.
Only those who inherit the flame of rage can gain this trait.
Your rage will make everyone kneel in fear.
Rage, and keep raging, until this world is engulfed in flames.
*This trait is one of the seven deadly sins.
+
If what Milium said was true, then ‘Rage’ is a trait passed down in the Ruelberta family. A powerful trait that subjugates others, but as the description says, it burns the user’s soul the more it’s used.
I finally understood why Milium’s emotions were so dried up. He was left with nothing but ashes. A man whose soul was burned away by rage.
The reason why the previous heads died young also seemed clear. They chose to become sacrifices to the rage. Milium showed Tristan despair and ignited rage in him, only to be killed by Tristan’s hand. This was the behind-the-scenes story of the Ruelberta family.
-“You don’t need to forgive me.”
I recalled Milium’s last words.
‘Even if Tristan hadn’t killed Milium that time, he would have died anyway.’
He had intended to die from the beginning.
“…….”
I stared blankly into space, as the world stained with rage slowly cleared. The past world created by the trial crumbled away powerlessly.
A blue sky appeared, as if the trials I had just experienced never happened. Suddenly, a small face popped into my view.
“Hey… loser. You really did it?”
It was Michaela, looking down at me in awe. I realized then that I was back in Paradise.
“Haha, if it were me, I would have shot that crazy guy in the head a few times. Too
bad. If you had, you would’ve been trapped in the trial forever.”
“…….”
“You’ve really surprised me this time, loser.”
Michaela laughed annoyingly. Apparently, if I had shot Milium there, it would have been the end for me.
“And you even managed to pull out a good trait, huh?”
Yes. Despite the difficulties, there was a payoff.
+
Trait: Patience
Rank: SS
Detail: The world tests you. It shakes you and leaves indelible scars on your soul.
This trait helps you maintain your identity in any situation.
No matter what emotions you are engulfed in, you can maintain your composure.
When you reach your limits, you can go one step further.
*This trait is one of the seven virtues.
*Note! This trait may conflict with your other traits.
+
I had acquired one of the seven virtues, a trait I had secretly hoped for. Patience would act as a rein to prevent the outburst of my sinister traits.
“Why are you looking so down? You got a good trait, didn’t you? Cheer up, loser.”
Michaela teased me. I sighed.
“I’m just tired.”
It had been a grueling trial. I longed to return to the mansion and collapse into bed.
“I understand.”
Michaela placed her hand on my shoulder.
“The trial is just a shadow of the past. Loser, whatever you do there, it doesn’t change the present. So forget about it.”
Her face looked somewhat sad as she said this. Even as a god of this other world, she must have had tragedies she couldn’t change. Being omnipotent yet powerless is a gloomy affair.
“Advice from an expert?”
“Take it however you want. After all, whatever gods say, humans interpret it as they please.”
Michaela grinned. It was a smile that seemed to belong neither to an old soul nor to a child.
+
Character Profile.
Name: Michaela.
Age: ???
Occupation: Absolute God, The First Human, Ruler of Paradise, etc.
Trait: Possesses all traits existing in the other world.
+
Having all the problematic traits must be exhausting.
“If you’re done, then leave. Loser.”
Michaela’s hand on my shoulder tightened. It hurt quite a bit, but I didn’t show it. She’s doing it on purpose, isn’t she? It seemed like she could read even this thought, as she chuckled and said,
“My Paradise doesn’t need a villain like you.”
As she finished speaking, my perspective suddenly shifted. In an instant, I found myself standing in front of the familiar mansion.
It might have been Michaela’s consideration to quickly send me back home. But I clicked my tongue as I walked towards the mansion.
“She could have at least sent me to my room….”
Such a petty god. Yet… I felt like I was forgetting something important.
Hmm….
No matter how hard I thought, I couldn’t remember.
It was not until the next day, around lunchtime, that I realized what it was.
*
“Wendy, have you found out what it was yet?” Tristan called out.
Wendy was reading a letter. Unlike usual, it wasn’t a menial task, but simply reading what was written. It was lucky in a way that she had learned to read for working at the Earl’s house, but to Wendy, this situation felt like a new form of torment she had never experienced before.
“I…I’ve been looking for you all day in Paradise…” Wendy stammered, reading from the letter.
“Read it again,” Tristan ordered.
“Ah, please no more, Earl! This is too much…” Wendy begged, her eyes moist. But Tristan’s demeanor remained cold.
“Hurry up and read it. Or is there a word you don’t understand?”
“No, it’s not that…” Wendy’s voice trembled.
Wendy swallowed hard and continued reading the written sentences.
“You…you’re a bad person,” she read.
“So it says.”
“You’re still the scum of humanity… I’m sorry!” Wendy couldn’t take it anymore and knelt down.
“Is that also written in the letter?” Tristan asked, looking up from his newspaper.
“No, I was apologizing,” Wendy replied, shaken.
“For what?”
“That…”
Wendy looked up at him. There stood Tristan Ruelberta, the Earl, the owner of the mansion, and her master. His intimidating eyes met hers, and Wendy quickly lowered her gaze again.
“Earl, you’re not a bad person,” Wendy said softly.
“Hmm.”
Tristan tilted his head.
“Is that what Lady Bella Isak Hel wrote as well? She must be quite pitiable. Being young yet having such a fickle mind.”
No, Earl! You misunderstood me!
Wendy twisted in discomfort, like an octopus out of water. Tristan frowned at her squirming form.
“Wendy, compose yourself.”
“Yes, Earl!”
“If you’re to be my personal maid, you need to act accordingly.”
“Yes, Earl…”
Wendy clutched the hem of her apron with her small
hands. She was wearing not a worn-out maid’s uniform but a much more luxurious one, symbolized by the black lion emblem of the Ruelberta family. It was a special uniform only worn by personal maids.
“But where is your supervisor?” Tristan asked.
“My supervisor, Earl?”
“The one responsible for your training.”
“Oh, about that… Since I am the first personal maid to serve you directly, Earl, there hasn’t been anyone to hand over duties to me…”
There was no predecessor to her position. In a way, that made sense. Nobody wanted to become the personal maid of Tristan, known for his foul temperament.
Understanding this, Tristan nodded as if it made sense.
“I see… In that case, I’ll have to start training you from scratch.”
“Training, Earl?”
“Yes, proper training to serve as my personal maid. This will involve a lot more than just reading letters and managing household tasks. You’ll be expected to understand and anticipate my needs, be discreet, and maintain the utmost level of decorum at all times.”
Wendy’s eyes widened slightly at this new information. She was both nervous and curious about what this ‘training’ would entail.
Tristan, noticing her expression, added, “Don’t worry. It won’t be anything beyond your capability. But you will need to be diligent and attentive.”
“Yes, Earl. I will do my best,” Wendy responded, determination mingling with the anxiety in her voice. The thought of being directly trained by the Earl was daunting, but Wendy was resolved to rise to the challenge.
Thanks for the chapter 😁