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I collapsed, completely drained of strength.

The boiling rage inside me cooled down as if someone had poured cold water over it.

My consciousness, which had been hazy like it was shrouded in fog, became clear again.

“Damn it…”

I muttered while staring at the ceiling.

It was truly an unpleasant experience.

It felt like my body wasn’t my own.

As the erosion level increased, it became harder for me to control myself.

I touched my body.

The plump flesh felt familiar.

I had returned to my original self, Tristan.

But the fist that had punched William still hurt.

It was as if Tristan’s painful memories had left bruises behind.

‘Who would’ve thought there was such a past…’

The madness of the Ruelberta family, who craved magic.

A father who judged everything based on value alone.

And the nursemaids who were turned into corpse puppets by his hands.

Young Tristan despaired. He hated. He raged.

The trial reflected events from the past.

The visit to the Izakhel Duke’s family, the assassins’ attack—all of it had happened in the past.

And… Tristan would have killed William with his own hands.

In return, he must have gained ‘Wrath.’

+

**Personality Trait: Wrath**

**Rank: SS**

**Details:** At the bottom of despair, you awaken to wrath.

A boiling rage has taken root in your chest. This intense wrath burns even your soul.

Only those who inherit the flames of wrath can obtain this trait.

No one can face your wrath head-on. People will tremble in fear and kneel before your rage.

Rage and rage again. Until this world is consumed by flames.

*This trait is one of the Seven Deadly Sins.*

+

If what William said was true, Wrath must be a trait passed down through generations in the Ruelberta family.

A powerful trait that subjugates others, Wrath.

But as the description says, the more you use it, the more it burns the user’s soul.

Only then did I understand why William’s emotions had dried up.

It was because he was nothing but ashes.

A human whose soul had been burned away by wrath.

I also began to understand why the previous heads of the family had died young.

They must have chosen to become sacrifices to wrath.

William showed Tristan despair and ignited his wrath.

And then he was killed by Tristan’s hands.

This is the behind-the-scenes story of the Ruelberta family.

-You don’t need to forgive me.

I recalled William’s last words.

‘Even if Tristan hadn’t killed William back then, he would have died anyway.’

From the beginning, he had intended to die.

“……”

I stared blankly into the void.

The world stained with wrath was slowly clearing.

The world of the past, created as a trial, crumbled powerlessly.

A blue sky appeared.

A peaceful landscape, as if the trials I had just endured had never happened.

Then, a small face suddenly popped into view.

“Hey… you actually did it, huh?”

It was Michaela, looking down at me in admiration.

Only then did it sink in.

I had returned to paradise.

“Ahaha. If it were me, I would’ve shot that lunatic in the head a few times. What a waste. If you had, you’d be trapped in the trial forever.”

“……”

“Hey, you’ve changed.”

Michaela poked fun at me, her tone annoying.

If I had shot William back then, it would’ve been the end.

“And you even came out with a good trait, huh?”

Yeah. As difficult as it was, there were results.

+

**Personality Trait: Patience**

**Rank: SS**

**Details:** The world tests you. It shakes you and leaves indelible scars on your soul.

This trait helps you maintain your sense of self in any situation.

No matter what emotions grip you, you can remain calm.

When you reach your limit, you can take one more step forward.

*This trait is one of the Seven Heavenly Virtues.*

*Warning! This trait may conflict with your other traits.*

+

I had obtained one of the Seven Heavenly Virtues.

I was lucky.

It was the trait I had secretly hoped for.

Patience would serve as a leash to rein in my darker traits.

“Hey, you got something good, so why do you look so dead inside? Huh? Cheer up, loser.”

Michaela teased me from the side.

I sighed.

“I’m just tired.”

I was truly exhausted.

It had been a grueling trial.

I wanted to go back to the mansion and collapse into bed immediately.

“I get it.”

Michaela placed a hand on my shoulder.

“The trial is just an echo of the past. Whatever you did there, it doesn’t change the present. So forget about it.”

Her face looked somewhat melancholic as she spoke.

Even as the god of this otherworld, there must have been tragedies she couldn’t change.

Being omnipotent yet powerless must be a depressing thing.

“Is this advice from an experienced one?”

“Think of it however you like. Gods’ words are always open to human interpretation anyway.”

Michaela grinned.

It was a smile that could belong to either an old man or a child—hard to tell.

+

**Character Profile.**

**Name:** Michaela.

**Age:** ???

**Occupation:** Absolute God, First Human, Master of Paradise, etc.

**Personality Traits:** Possesses all traits that exist in the otherworld.

+

Having just one of those traits would be a headache, but she has all of them. Must be exhausting.

“If you’re done, get going. Loser.”

Michaela’s hand on my shoulder tightened.

It hurt quite a bit, but I didn’t show it.

This brat, she’s gripping me on purpose, isn’t she?

As if she could read my thoughts, Michaela giggled and said,

“My paradise has no need for scoundrels like you.”

With those final words, my vision flipped.

In an instant, I was standing in front of the familiar mansion.

It might have been Michaela’s way of telling me to hurry inside and rest.

But I clicked my tongue and walked toward the mansion.

“She could’ve at least sent me to my room…”

What a petty god.

But… I feel like I’ve forgotten something important.

Hmm…

No matter how much I think about it, I can’t remember.

I realized what it was the next day around lunchtime.

*

“Y-you disappeared, and I… I searched everywhere for you…! I looked for you all day in paradise…!”

Wendy was reading a letter.

Unlike her usual chores, this was an easy task—just reading what was written.

It was fortunate that she had learned to read while preparing to work in the count’s household.

But to Wendy, this situation felt like a new form of torment she had never experienced before.

“T-this… you b-bad… guy.”

“Read it again.”

“Eek!”

Oh, please!

Count! Please!

This is too much…!

Wendy pleaded with teary eyes.

But the man’s attitude was cold.

“Read it quickly. Are there words you don’t know?”

“N-no, that’s not it…”

“Then read it.”

“Y-yes…”

Wendy gulped.

And then she read the sentences written in the letter.

“Y-you… bad guy.”

“I see.”

“Y-you’re still a scoundrel… sob… a t-trashy… jerk…”

“I see.”

“I-I’m sorry…!”

Unable to hold on any longer, Wendy fell to her knees.

The man who had been reading the newspaper finally looked up.

“Is that also written in the letter?”

“N-no. I’m saying I’m sorry…”

“What are you sorry for?”

“Well…”

Wendy looked up.

There stood a plump, ill-tempered-looking man.

Count Tristan Ruelberta.

The master of this mansion and Wendy’s lord.

The moment her eyes met his terrifying gaze, Wendy quickly lowered her head.

Wendy spoke in a trembling voice.

“Y-you’re not a bad guy, Count.”

“Hmm.”

Tristan tilted his head.

“Did Princess Bella Izakhel write that too? Poor girl. She’s still young, but her mind seems to be wandering.”

Gahhh!

Count! That’s not what I meant!

Wendy squirmed uncomfortably.

Her wriggling, like an octopus out of water, made Tristan frown.

“Wendy. Pull yourself together.”

“Y-yes!”

“If you’re my exclusive maid, act accordingly.”

“Yes…”

Wendy clutched the hem of her apron with her small hands.

The maid’s uniform she was wearing wasn’t the old, worn-out one but a much more luxurious one.

A special uniform embroidered with the black lion symbol of the Ruelberta family.

Only an exclusive maid could wear this uniform.

“By the way, where’s your supervisor?”

“Huh?”

“The person responsible for training you.”

“W-well… Since I’m the first exclusive maid for the Count, there’s no one to hand over the duties to…”

There was no predecessor to guide her.

In a way, it was only natural.

No servant would willingly become the exclusive maid of Tristan, known for his nasty temper.

Tristan nodded as if he understood.

“I see… Then I’ll have to train you from the start.”

“Train… me?”

 

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