"That was my mistake. I forgot about it," Ayase lightly covered her red lips, a faint smile glimmering in her eyes. Clearly, things weren't as she claimed.
"Alright, it's my fault for not paying attention. Next time, I shouldn't rely entirely on the system—I need to understand how to solve things myself." What else could Chu Lian say? It was obvious they were deliberately teaching her a lesson, ensuring she wouldn't overlook system quests or dungeon missions again.
These two things were directly tied to her personal growth. If she didn't pay attention to them and kept relying on the system's reminders, she really would be too irresponsible.
This time, spending nearly seven million Integrity Points was the perfect wake-up call. It made her realize that some things had to be done by herself.
Even though she knew that if she really forgot, the system would remind her—and both Shiroha and Ayase would probably point it out too—if she always relied on them like this, something would eventually go wrong.
Hearing Chu Lian's words of self-reflection, Ayase's eyes narrowed slightly, clearly pleased that she had understood. The little trap she and Shiroha had set for her was, after all, for her own good.
Besides, paying back seven million Integrity Points in three days was hardly difficult—provided Chu Lian could throw away her shame.
Ayase knew well that while the system had eight point types—once the Bloodstained Reward's Slaughter Points were added—each had a specific use. Most were difficult to earn and were consumed rapidly.
Almost every important item required its corresponding points. Given Chu Lian's current popularity, power, and quest speed, it was only natural they worried about her.
Goddess Points, Dream Points, Culture Points, Item Points, Skill Points, Admiration Points, and Slaughter Points all had heavy restrictions. Only Goddess Points and Dream Points were mainly used for high-level redemptions, while the rest had no overlap.
Only Integrity Points—despite seeming the most useless—were actually the most commonly used. For Chu Lian, they were the only points she could quickly earn right now.
The other points were too hard to accumulate in bulk, while Integrity Points could pile up easily. In certain special situations, they could even be extremely effective—just like this time.
According to the system's design, Integrity Points were almost the driving force behind the growth of all other points, essentially the system's most fluid form of currency.
In the beginning, this point wasn't even called "Integrity Points." It was originally known as the "Origin of Will," one of the system's three foundational points.
But since the methods and behaviors required to earn these points were... rather unusual, Ayase decided to rename them after arriving in this world.
The new name wasn't just easier to understand—it also conveniently allowed her to push a certain little loli straight into the pit of "lost integrity," all while she sat back to enjoy the show. What a beautiful arrangement.
Of course, Ayase would never tell Chu Lian that. Not just because it couldn't be explained easily, but because only by keeping it secret could Chu Lian truly learn her lesson.
Determined to remember this as a lesson, Chu Lian took a deep breath and decided to check her current status first.
She opened the system's attribute window and saw her updated stats:
Name: Chu Lian
Age: 13 / ???
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Date of Birth: 2002.02.08
Status: Normal
Stamina: 64
Agility: 69
Strength: 85
Spiritual Sense: 60
Spiritual Power / Magic Power / Mana / Inner Power: SSS / S / A / A
[Currently Usable: Spiritual Power / Magic Power / Mana / Inner Power: AAA / B / B / B]
Attribute: None
Luck: EX ~ E
Power Level: Half-step Earth Rank ~ Unknown (One more step and she'd be a proper warrior)
Personality: Sharp-tongued, Tsundere, Scheming, Tenacious, Loli, Ojou-sama, Onee-sama
Hobbies: Acting Cute, Losing Integrity, Yuri
Titles: Genius Literary Girl, Genius Music Girl, Drifting Wave Fairy, Loli, BlackNeko, No Integrity, Twin Lotus, Onee-sama, Eastern Dream, Goddess Maid
Innate Talents: Loli Heart, Orchid in the Valley, Rose of the Eternal Bloom, Tírnas's Blessing, Innate Spiritual Body (awakening), Battle Soul, Sealed, Sealed, Condition Not Met, Divinity, ???
Skills: Remilia-sama's Dignity, Head-Hug Squat Defense, Spiritual Bullet, Spiritual Explosion, Ordinary Punch, Mystic Eyes of Death Perception
Special Abilities: Apocalypse Virus Core, Void Manipulator (currently available users: Inori Yuzuriha, Hare Menjou), Electromaster LV1 (currently available users: Inori Yuzuriha, Hare Menjou), Teleport LV4
Soul Skill: White Rose (half-sealed, unlocked abilities: White Ring, White Blossom)
Achievement: "Without Great Breasts, How Can One Gather Hearts?" (Faith in progress)
Titles: Zombie Slayer – B Rank, Taboo of Life – A Rank, Dragon Slayer – S Rank
Auras: Depart, O Dead – S Rank; Depart, O Weaklings – S Rank
Cultivation Art: Divine Spirit Art
Items: Reimu's Donation Box, The Gloves Abandoned by the Ladykiller ×2/3, Misaka Mikoto Outfit, Kuroyukihime Outfit, Seraph-type IS Armor, Ultra-Virtual Neural Console, Lich King's Manual of Cultivation, Tírnas's Palace, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Undetectable, Key of Seven Illusions (Unknown Ability), ???
Quest Items: Dragon's Heart, S-Rank Quest Scroll – Pursuit from the Realm's Great Youkai, SS-Rank Dungeon Space Quest – Overlord
Special Item: Dragon Bloodline – SS Rank
Weapon: Key of Seven Illusions (Bow Form)
Pets: Spirit Cat Cub (Tina), Suicune, World-Ending Dragon (Nina)
Profession: None
Sub-Profession: None
Hidden Profession: Spacetime Traveling Merchant
Affinity: A (A highly charming person who makes it difficult for others to feel dislike at first sight)
World Affinity: This World – S
Special World: Trial Space
Completed Quests: Goddess Development Plan Main Quest ① – Debut of the Literary Girl, Side Quest ① – Sudi High School, Special Quest ① – Storm Approaches, Goddess Quest ① – Debut Performance of the Genius Music Girl, Daughter of Fate ① – Repel the Strong Enemy, Special Quest ② – Siege of Zombies, Nightmare Duet, Profession Quest – Spacetime Traveling Merchant
Talents: Writing – C Rank, Music – C Rank, Performance – S Rank, Eloquence – B Rank, Basketball – C Rank, Driving – A Rank, Painting – B Rank, Cooking – B Rank, Mastery of Classical Huaxia Instruments – S+ Rank, Singing – A Rank, Acting Cute – A Rank, ???
Current Points Owned: Goddess Points: 37,210; Culture Points: 300,354; Skill Points: 0; Admiration Points: 325,417; Dream Points: 3,244; Item Points: 30; Integrity Points: 27,542; Slaughter Points: 10,350
"Phew, at least there's been a lot of improvement. My status panel is getting clearer, but these points... I just manage to save some before they're all used up again. I really don't know how I'm supposed to keep accumulating them at this rate." Chu Lian looked at her attribute screen, letting out a sigh of relief tinged with helplessness. Truly, her points were never enough.
"Actually, it's not bad at all. The fact that you managed to gather this many points in less than a year is already impressive. Don't be so discouraged." Ayase comforted Chu Lian softly. In her eyes, the fact that Chu Lian had achieved so much by the time of the second main quest was already remarkable.
"I just feel like I could've done better. If I were smarter, more motivated, I would've earned far more points than this. Someone more clever than me, with the same conditions and your help, would've probably reached Earth Rank by now, instead of lingering around half-step Earth like me."
Chu Lian was never someone who settled easily. Satisfaction only came when she felt she had done her absolute best. If even she herself wasn't convinced she had, how could she be content?
"Smarter people tend to play it safe. They wouldn't be foolish enough to push themselves the way you do. Everything you've earned is because of your own effort—don't you see that?" Ayase stepped forward and tapped her lightly on the forehead. Chu Lian covered the spot she'd hit, but couldn't help laughing.
That's true. Why did Chu Chu and the others come to rely on and trust her so much after their journey together? It was because she had never disappointed them—always their protector and guide, shielding them from anything that could harm them.
"So, Ayase, what kind of preparation should I make for the Dungeon Space?" Chu Lian decided not to dwell on meaningless thoughts anymore. Right now, she wanted to know what Ayase thought about the upcoming dungeon.
"Just stay as you are for now. It's the first Dungeon Space, so even I'm not sure what will happen. The best you can do is avoid making any irreparable mistakes," Ayase replied. She couldn't give much useful advice either—this was her first time encountering a Dungeon Space activation.
When it came to the system, she wouldn't claim to know everything, but she understood at least ninety percent of its contents and functions. However, the Dungeon Space was a different matter—it was another world entirely, even if those worlds were based on existing models.
She knew well that, just like the world of Guilty Crown, each of these was merely a story projected from their world into another. The real world behind it could differ drastically.
Even if the system's corrections ensured that nothing major would change in the early stages after entry, as one delved deeper, those variations would become increasingly significant—until eventually, the situation would exceed all expectations.
They couldn't change that, nor could they prevent those transformations from happening. So rather than preparing blindly, it was better to adapt as situations arose.
That way, not only would she avoid wasting effort on unnecessary preparation, but Chu Lian could also build valuable experience in handling emergencies.
"So there are things even you don't know, Ayase. Looks like I really can't keep relying on the system. It's been my greatest support all along, but if I depend on it too much, one day I'll lose my own drive to move forward." Chu Lian understood now that in the future, when decisions and choices arose, she would need to handle them herself—not rely on Ayase to do it for her.
"Your cultivation art, the Key of Seven Illusions, and the things Tírnas gave you—they didn't come from the system, did they? Yet they're not inferior to the system's rewards. No, in fact, they're far superior to most of them. That's your own ability, a symbol of your independent growth," Ayase said softly, pulling Chu Lian into her embrace. Her voice was gentle, filled with warmth. Watching Chu Lian grow had always been what she wanted most.
She wasn't worried that Chu Lian would stop needing the system once she grew stronger. The system's secrets went far beyond what Chu Lian currently knew—there was still much to be discovered. It would remain her greatest aid on the path to the peak, and Ayase knew Chu Lian was far too smart to abandon it.
"Alright, aren't you going to check the rewards from your Spacetime Traveling Merchant quest?" Ayase asked with a teasing smile, gently releasing her from her arms.
"I know, I know. You should get some rest, Ayase. You've been working hard these past days. Now that you finally have a chance to relax, I'd rather see you catching up on sleep," Chu Lian said with a smile, squeezing Ayase's hand and pushing her gently toward the sofa.
"Yawn... Fine, then. Go on and take a look—if you don't understand something, just ask Shiroha," Ayase murmured, stretching lazily. Knowing Chu Lian didn't need her help right now, she climbed onto the sofa, curled up, and soon drifted off to sleep.
"Spacetime Traveling Merchant, huh... Let's see what kind of things I can exchange for this time." Chu Lian said with eager anticipation, instructing Shiroha to bring up the Spacetime Traveling Merchant interface. She leaned in closer and began to study it carefully.