[[The Gods,ancient beings,foolish beings and superior beings gave us skills,titles and systems to us new,naive and inferior beings.Then candidate these things,these gifts,these curses what do you think of them.]] The spoke at the same time with the same voice.
"They...gave us hope."
As if satisfied by my answer the nun smiled in front of me.
"But that's it."
[What..?]The nun asked in confusion.
"In the end we will be left to ourselves, with our own flaws, own ugliness,our own body,heart and soul against everything and everyone.But that again, that's it.Alone is useless."
[Oho.]Unlike the nun the horned woman chuckled,amused and interested.
"First there's pride,by being proud of your good and bad qualities makes you better than any god,who have even more pride than everyone else.The very being who spits words of humility while sitting in a throne in the high sky.Then there's humility,humble and self-counscious because it fears to lose these things it lowers itself and praises everyones qualities,the very things that humility take proud of, but at the same time it wise to not lose itself in it."
[[Then candidate,what's your answer?]]
"I need them, the both of them.The sin and the virtue,both of them.Pride boosts my confidence while Humility does not make me drown in pride."
[[Ha,hahahahahaha!Hah,hehehekeh!Ha,hahah!]]
Loud.And ugly.This is how I describe their laugh.Like a high screech.
"So how is it?Did I pass?"
[Humility?Hom many points for you?]
[Nine to ten.She highly qualifies.]
[Heh!Same.I wonder about the others,they are more stubborn than us.]
[[Your reward will be given from the core the moment you step in the next floor for flawlessly pass this trial.]]
"But I didn't achieved a perfect score so why flawless?"
[Heh.There's no one who's is absolutely proud of themselves and at the same time...]The horned woman snickered.
[No one is absolutely humble...]The nun clasped her hands.
[No one other than those fools...]
[No one other than the higher beings...]
[[Can be like that]]The two said as I feel being teleported outside.
[Don't worry about your companions,you will all be teleported to the next floor.]
[I can't wait for the other candidate.Heh.]
Other?Ah,the princess.Finding myself in second floor by my side my confused companions,I 'see' the notification from the system:
*Ding!
[You passed flawlessly the humility and pride's trial.The first and only one to have flawlessly passed the trial in the entire Universe hence the title [Maiden of Roses] and the unique artifact [Cross of Roses] will be given.Its descriptions are the following:
[Maiden of Roses]:One has only themselves and themselves they have to improve,the rose has to be beautiful and deadly,at the same time a lone rose cannot hurt a god, but many roses can.Increases charm by 50 and all other stats by 10.Increases all one's companions' stats by 10.
[Cross of Roses]:Teleport one's self and its targets to a domain made of only roses which will follow all whims of the the user.Can make the user and its companion disguise in roses.
"Oh!Deva!You passed!Eh?My stats raised!" "Hey there's no time to check your statuses!Velena lure all the monsters in one point and the moment the princess arrives bring them to her then use [Stealth] when near!After that we will get all the treasures!"
[Find the room of the trial of Kindness and Envy.And pass it.]
"Got It!Hehe,I can't wait to see their expressions,hehe."She runs as she creepily laughs.
Let's see our status
'little sister's status'
Name:Deva Yelena Race:Human Lv:05 Class:None Strength:40^ Dexterity:41^ Defense:35^ Magic:51^ Charm:86^...
Titles:Maiden of Roses(Increases charm by 50 and all other stats by 10.Increases all one's companions' stats by 10)...|
Name:Velena Race:Human Class:Assasin Lv:05 Strength:30^ Dexterity:60^ Defense:35^ Magic:15^ Charm:55^...|
Name:Ira Race:Ice elemental Class:Mage Lv:05 Strenght:15^ Dexterity:30^ Defense:20^ Magic:75^ Charm:70^...|
Strange,shouldn't I receive some extra stats every level up from my sisters?Mhh maybe there's a probability whether I receive or not that shared stats,mhh anyway I think we are pretty okay with these stats.
I and Ira waited and stood in a nearby empty room so we can know the moment the princess and her party arrives and at the same time meet Velena when she finishes her task.
It didnt take long as after an hour of idleness we hear the rambling of a feminine voice.
"How dare they give me 'barely passed the trial'...I followed the flow yet-" Before she could even continue, heavy steps and noises can be heard approaching.
"Shi-""Everyone in formation!""Why so many?""So fast!""How did they found us?""Guh!Sebastian tell my wife that, I love her,uh...""Agh!Alfred!No!You damn monsters!"
Cries and yells of despair started to resound in the entire floor as they start to clash with the monsters.
Hehe.Good job Velena.
"Ah,those expressions,those tears!So beautiful!"Velena appeared as a blush could be seen in her face.
"Enough Velena,you can have your fun in the next floors, now let's find those treasure chests."
"Aw,such a shame,well then..."
Like last time we ransacked the entire floor's treasures and after that we immdiately went to the room of the trial.
This time there's in the right side of the silver door a statue of a smiling motherly figure and on the left side a child intensely watching the woman.
The moment I got near,[Oh my, is a candidate,are you ready?]
"Yes",I anwser without hesitation
[Ok then!Welcome to 'my' test.Candidate]
...
...
[[We lowly beings,watched under the mortal sky with resentment and unfairness those noble and dirty beings, showing off their powers and possessions as they created miracles after another while we unsuccessfully tried to replicate their actions.The higher beings sensing our yearning gazes and seen our foolish behaviors and creations they gave us with a smile these gifts,these curses to us.Then now what do you think?]]
This again?I want so much to say flowery words...but I feel that the moment I say those words,I'll be laughed at.
"Hah"I snicker to myself.Just say whatever you want Deva.
[What's wrong,little one?]
"Heh,nothing.Then let me tell you my opinion."
"They are in the end like us,"
"Not about mortality,talents,innate gifts or absolute power."
"I'm talking about their behaviors,behind those smiles are scorn or pity the same ones we give to someone labeled as 'inferior'.Like us that we watch others who have something we don't have and feel envy,they too feel envy others that have something they don't have whether it is something trivial or of grand value.They should too be seen with scorn and pity as we watch them from below.Fight them with our own replications and see if they don't get hurt and get a scratch.Can't we lower beings surpass with our own miracles the so called gods."
[[Mhh...the answer?]]
"I'll use them as tools."
[[Hoh?]]
"Use kindness to make others side with me and being idolized like the gods did and envy as fuel to improve myself.That's my answer."
Haah.I think I failed right?...
[[Kukukuku,heh]] I blankly watch the two supress their laugh,but not a derisive one but a pleasant one?What's going on?
[That's right,use kindness as tool,] The woman smiles but instead of warm one that makes you think her as a kind and caring person,there's a cold smile while her eyes are empty.
[Kek,So envious that you are like that,candidate.Yes envy is useless other than to use it as a fuel to push yourself over the limits,no matter how foolish the goal and method you use, envy will be always be there to whisper you 'go on,don't you want to obtain or be like that person?Then go ahead push yourself to archive that goal'.] The child laughed as it clings on the woman's shoulders.
[[Congratulations!A perfect score 10/10.Use well that kindness that gods gave you and that envy to surpass them.]]
Like before I am being teleported in the next floor.
[Kekeke,such a good candidate we have,don't you think kindness?]
[You are right,hah I hope that the other candidate be same,if not.I would be really disappointed and bored.]
*Ding!
[You passed the kindness and envy's trial with a perfect score.No one had the audacity to tell the things you said other than you, and your answer was the correct one.Congratulations on passing this trial with a percfect score and being the first one in the Universe hence the title [Ambitious heart] and the unique weapons[Kind and Envious] will be given.The descriptions are the following:
[Ambitious heart]: To those whose heart has still some fire inside them on this cold world,fight!Increases defense by 40 and by 10 all other stats.Increases all one's companions' stats by 10.
[Kind and Envious]Two daggers made from the two emotions,one is pale pink while the other is dark green, they are made from two similar materials: The tooth of an ancient dragon.One from of light and the other of poison.The 'Kind' dagger can emit a powerful light and has the property of 'blind' by hitting a target it has the probability of 25% to temporarily blind the target and 0,5% to permanently blind a target.The 'Envious dagger releaseas poison on its blade.It has the properties of 'Poison' and 'Absorption' it poisons a target the moment it has been hit and is able to absorb all kind of poisons.
I found a perfect gift for Velena.