The melodious sound of giggling rang throughout the white space. A youthful goddess chuckling to her heart's content made for a wonderful sight. Halfsie thought that if it weren't for the fact that such amusement was based on its misery, it would definitely ogle and appreciate the view.
After enjoying a teasing session with her little furry ball, she recalled the important question she had to ask.
"Halfsie, let's talk."
She poked the silent creature.
The furball lay motionless on her palm, its extremities limply hanging at its sides. The soot-like spider silk that originally lacked luster now appeared so fragile that it could crumble with a single touch. It looked utterly spiritless, as though it might dissipate at any moment. However, upon closer inspection, a calculating look could be found within its sanguine eyes.
Now that its life was safe and sound, it began calculating its next move. Halfsie figured that its plan to touch the host's face was practically secured after its little performance. Hence, it proceeded with the next step of its scheme.
Noticing that the little guy refused to budge no matter what, she decided to play along.
"Hey. Are you dying?" the host asked nonchalantly.
"Before you kick the bucket, at least disclose who gave me this face, will you?"
"If you do, I promise I won't pluck your hair off after you die."
Caressing the smooth, silky fur of her system, she continued to 'persuade' it.
"I won't even cut your chicken feet."
Then, glancing at its arms, she added,
"Or these things you call hands."
Even her soft-spoken words couldn't hide the contempt she had for its limbs.
The system playing dead: ...
"Host, have you no compassion? Can't you see I'm on death's door?"
It finally lost its cool and lashed out, its childish voice laced with indignation.
Its host was so heartless, not even letting go after its death. Couldn't she see how pitiful it looked? Even if it wasn't genuinely dying, shouldn't its fragile state tug at her heartstrings? A cute little ball like itself was lying miserably on her palm, yet she continued threatening it relentlessly.
She watched the little guy's fur puff up like an angry kitten. She lightly flicked its face and spoke.
"How can I pity a scheming drama queen, huh?" she admonished.
That's right. She had noticed the moment the little fool started acting. How could she miss that flash in its eyes when she approached it? This donkey had even forgotten to conceal its excitement, and a giggle had escaped its throat. It made her roll her eyes. If it was going to play dead, it had better act professionally.
"No, I'm not. I'm an innocent system."
The furry ball shrank its nonexistent neck. If only it had tear glands, its eyes would have turned watery by now.
There was no way it was going to acknowledge such an allegation.
It was an honest-to-God system. It might be ugly as hell, with an appearance based on wickedness, but it had a pure heart.
[Okay, not entirely pure, but half-pure.]
It whitewashed itself.
"Tsk."
[Innocent, my ass.]
She couldn't help but utter a sound of disapproval.
This furball was literally a crony of a system that aimed to corrupt people. Which part of corrupting people's innate kindness and exchanging it for wickedness was benevolent, huh? It even had the nerve to claim it was squeaky-clean. She had to admire such delusion. Such chutzpah could truly broaden her horizons.
Examining the furball, which was dead set on maintaining its deluded self-image, she decided to let it go.
"Enough. Just tell me who performed such a miracle on my face."
She set the creature down and sat upright.
Realizing that its host might once again lose her patience, it turned serious. It retracted its unsightly "features" and discussed the matter earnestly.
"Host, I don't know who did it. The manual doesn't state that a tasker's appearance will change."
"Hmm."
She crossed her arms and contemplated.
Then, as if remembering something, she smiled.
"Could it be what Huo'er said?"
She cupped her chin and recalled the crimson-haired hottie she had met not too long ago. She kind of missed that narcissistic fellow.
[A golden finger, huh?]
Then, stroking the supple skin on her cheek, she muttered,
"My ultimate cheat is a peerlessly beautiful face?"
She smirked.
She didn't know whether she should be delighted or annoyed by such a realization. The handsome dude had said that her cheat was the manifestation of what she yearned for the most. Did that mean she had secretly desired to be godly pretty all along?
She was sure as hell that she hadn't had an inferiority complex in her last life, though. Come to think of it, could it mean that deep down, she was narcissistic enough to want everyone to feast their eyes on her blinding beauty?
She found the thought ridiculous.
Either way, she wouldn't care anymore. What mattered was that she was drop-dead gorgeous, and her life would only get better from now on. Besides, such a face could be used to easily exploit her way to victory in the planes to come.
She envisioned the Heavenly Being seeing her appearance and envying her to death. She only needed to rub it in that person's face that they were like a toad standing before her, the majestic swan.
She could also seduce the Heavenly Being's lover and then send them HD-quality proof of their infidelity.
Better yet, she could simply change her name to match the target's. Then they would have to live with the constant reminder that they shared the same name, yet their appearances were worlds apart—like a flower compared to dung.
Realizing the number of possibilities her cheat offered, she was elated.
[He's damn right. My golden finger is truly powerful.]
With that conclusion, she laughed maniacally.
She looked forward to corrupting the unlucky bastard's benevolence.
[Just the thought of it feels so exciting.]
The system couldn't help but tremble when it heard its host chuckle. It sounded horrifying, completely different from her giggles earlier. Even worse, although her laughter seemed to come from the depths of hell, the glee in her aureate eyes showed just how delighted she was.
[She must be plotting something sinister.]
It concluded that if it ever received such a look accompanied by that laugh, it should immediately retreat to a place its host could never reach. There was no way it was going to stay and wait for its demise.
The black ball sighed. Then, glancing at its host again, it pondered.
[Why couldn't I have been assigned to a normal host?]
The little guy couldn't help but despair over its future. How could it possibly relax when it couldn't even secure its tiny life?
Despite that, it unconsciously peeked at its host's face and marveled.
[If I frolic on her face, at least I can die in peace.]
Meanwhile, in a different space...
Huo had been reviewing documents nonstop. While in the middle of signing one, he paused briefly before continuing to write.
He felt a disturbing hunch that someone was defiling his name.
[Must be that annoying bastard again.]
Then, glancing at the word 'bastard' he had accidentally written, he exploded.
"Damn! You rascal! You won't even let me work in peace!"
A certain bastard: coughs Not me.
A certain female bastard: winks It's me, Huo'er. sends a flying kiss