A Decision for the Future Life

When Desmond stepped into the church, the soft morning light filtered through the intricately designed stained glass windows, casting a mosaic of vibrant colors upon the scene. The sisters, clad in their flowing grey robes, diligently worked to clean the sacred space, their cleaning tools producing rhythmic wiping sounds that echoed through the chamber. The arrival of Desmond's family drew curious gazes from the sisters, momentarily breaking their concentration.

"Good morning, Sister Liliana," greeted one of the sisters as she approached them. Her fair skin peeked out from the loose sleeves of her robe, a stark contrast against the muted tones.

"Good morning, Sister Sistine," replied Liliana with a gentle smile. "We have guests here. Please guide them the rest of the way. I still have some tasks to attend to," she added, her gaze briefly lingering on Desmond, her expression revealing a hint of longing.

Liliana didn't even spare a glance at Bastian, afraid that acknowledging him might disrupt the serene ambiance that enveloped the church.

Sister Sistine turned her attention towards Liliana and noticed an adorable, cherubic baby nestled in Leona's arms. "Oh my, come here, you handsome little one," she cooed, her voice a soft melody as she focused on Desmond.

Unlike Liliana, Sistine had been granted permission by Leona to hold Desmond. With gentle steps, she carried him towards the center of the room, approaching a peculiar stone that commanded attention.

The stone resembled a podium, its surface adorned with a large, clear crystal embedded at the top. Its black-blue hue exuded an air of antiquity, enhanced by the ethereal morning light.

"Mr. Handsome, please place your hand upon this stone," Sistine requested, smiling warmly as she met Desmond's innocent gaze, briefly seeking Leona's approval.

Upon receiving a nod from Leona, Sistine tenderly guided Desmond's small, smooth hand to rest upon the magical crystal embedded within the stone. However, as she made the attempt, she sensed a subtle resistance from Desmond.

Simultaneously, Desmond found himself instinctively retracting his hand, awaiting the system's scan of the stone.

[Scanning the target...]

[Scan Complete!]

[Name: Identification Stone

Grade: Uncommon

Information: This stone is used to identify traits and display basic info.]

Upon realizing that the stone was merely an ordinary identification tool, Desmond relinquished his guarded stance, causing Sistine to audibly exhale, her relief palpable. She had genuinely feared the possibility of inadvertently harming Desmond's delicate hand.

As soon as Desmond's hand made contact with the crystal, a radiant white light engulfed the entirety of the stone. Concurrently, a transparent screen materialized before his eyes, displaying vital information.

[ALERT! | A spell has been cast on the host's body.]

[Terminate? Y/N]

Desmond felt a surge of confusion. His gaze darted back and forth between the now gentle glow emanating from the stone and the transparent system prompt that had materialized before him.

Um... yes? Desmond responded hesitantly, uncertainty creeping into his voice. He remained unsure of the potential danger, but if the system deemed the stone as a potential threat, it was better to err on the side of caution.

{Name: ???

Gender: ???

Age: ???

Race: ???

Class: ???

Occupation: ???

Trait: ???}

As Desmond selected "yes," the luminescence of the stone dimmed, and an additional screen materialized in front of him. Hovering in the air, it connected seamlessly with the crystal, its interface less intricate compared to the comprehensive system he was accustomed to.

"Eh? What's happening?" Sistine's brows furrowed in confusion as she glimpsed at Desmond's cryptic stats displayed on the plain wooden hovering board. The lack of specific information, with numerous question marks, caught her off guard.

Casting a glance back at Desmond's family, she observed a group of ordinary humans, their expressions reflecting their humanness without any hint of peculiarity.

"Could the stone be malfunctioning?" Sistine murmured under her breath, her voice barely audible.

Meanwhile, the rest of Desmond's family anxiously awaited Sistine's response. Their gazes shifted to her as they noticed the enigmatic status displayed for Desmond.

"What's wrong, sister?" Leona, concerned as a mother, hurried over and examined the stone along with her son's baffling stats.

"It seems the stone is experiencing some malfunction. It's an old artifact, after all," Sistine explained, glancing at Leona once more, seeking her permission to perform another test.

Upon hearing their conversation, realization dawned on Desmond.

"System, what would have happened if I hadn't terminated the process early?" Desmond inquired, his voice tinged with curiosity.

[System Conclusion: The host's trait, occupation, class, name, and gender would have been displayed.]

The system's succinct response rendered Desmond momentarily speechless. He realized that he alone bore the responsibility for his actions, as the system had merely provided a warning, leaving the subsequent choices in his hands.

"Is it possible to hide my trait rank?" Desmond asked, his thoughts muddled with complexity. They found themselves deep within enemy territory, and it appeared that his family had significantly offended some influential figures within this region.

After thoughtful contemplation, Desmond opted to conceal his trait rank. The reasons behind this decision were multifaceted. Being marked as a person of interest could potentially make him the primary target of his family's enemies, a trope he had often encountered in the novels he had avidly consumed. By eluding capture and growing stronger through his escapades, he might follow in the footsteps of those fictional protagonists.

However, choosing to hide his trait meant that his enemies might not perceive him as a significant threat. While they would still pursue him, their focus would be diverted elsewhere, reducing the immediate danger he and his family faced.

Both scenarios hinged on the specific circumstances at hand. Desmond's perspective was shaped by snippets of conversations and observations he had overheard within his family. Yet, he remained uncertain whether the enemy's target encompassed his entire family or solely his parents.

[System Conclusion: The system can conceal any information as long as the host grants permission.]

"Can I deactivate this function whenever I desire?" Desmond posed a crucial question, his gaze fixed on the possibilities that lay ahead. If an opportunity arose in the future where showcasing his talents could secure valuable resources or aid their cause, he needed the flexibility to deactivate the function at will.

[System Conclusion: The host's command is absolute. The function will be immediately deactivated upon the host's command.]

"Very well, function activated," Desmond commanded, his voice resolute and determined.

As Sistine, her nerves still tingling, cautiously guided Desmond's hand to the crystal once again, the stone initiated its sequence, briefly glowing before presenting a screen that contained Desmond's detailed information.

{Name: Desmond

Gender: Male

Age: 1 day

Race: Human

Class: None

Occupation: None

Trait: Selfishness (Rare)}

Upon witnessing the absence of question marks, Sistine breathed a sigh of relief. She had been apprehensive, fearing that she might falter in performing such a seemingly straightforward task.

However, a heavy silence hung in the air, causing Sistine's gaze to drift towards the rest of the family. Disappointment etched across their faces, and she couldn't help but notice their collective disheartenment.

Only then did she realize the nature of their son's revealed trait. "Please, do not lose heart," she implored, her voice laced with effort. "Although the trait may seem inclined towards the darker side, it does not define a person's behavior, neither in the present nor in the future."

"The gods merely use traits as reflections of a person's past mistakes," Sistine explained, exerting herself to shape a positive perception of Desmond's trait in the eyes of his family.

However, as she beheld their peculiar gazes fixed upon her, confusion settled within her.

"Thank you, sister, but you have misunderstood. Just look at my husband. Can you discern any signs of wisdom emanating from him?" Leona responded, her tone playful, a chuckle escaping her lips as she observed Sistine's earnest attempt to assuage their concerns.

Leona had already retrieved her son, cradling him securely in her arms. She gestured towards Bastian, who was carrying Alice on his shoulders.

Bastian simply offered a warm smile in response, acknowledging the truth in his wife's jest. Compared to Leona, he might appear slightly slow-witted and, at times, even foolish.

"Father, let's go!" Alice, perched upon her father's shoulders, tugged playfully at his hair as if she were controlling a spirited steed.

"Careful there, my sweet," Bastian chuckled, his laughter filled with joy as he and Alice approached Leona. Suddenly, Alice reached out and lightly touched Desmond's rosy cheeks, a mischievous smile spreading across her face.

"Hehe, little brother's cheeks are so soft!" she exclaimed, delighting in the tactile sensation. Her playful poking came to an abrupt halt as her mother swiftly reprimanded her, gently but firmly reminding her of proper conduct.