Atone with Death, Scum

She waited until it was time to leave before casually clicking the confirmation button for "nurture."

But... when Su Youzi turned back.

She found the woman's gaze still fixed directly on her.

Perhaps the "nurture" reactions between people weren't all the same—

Just like when Su Youzi clicked to use the combat record, she had prepared herself for 'everything,' but in the end... nothing happened.

Her heart felt as hollow as if a monster was hidden inside.

It chewed and crunched the improvements brought by the combat record to dust.

After Su Youzi clicked to use it, Teacher Unohana Chiyo seemed to show no outward change.

If anything... it was just that a few ripples appeared in the woman's eyes, which were already as calm as rippling water.

Like autumn waves, adding a touch of allure.

In short, it was completely different from Little Rabbit's startled, almost dissolving reaction.

However... Su Youzi didn't know if this was because Teacher Unohana Chiyo had seen too much of the world, or because everyone's "nurture" process was different.

Looking at Unohana Chiyo, who was watching her with a warm smile.

Su Youzi could only pretend not to know anything and waved goodbye to Teacher Unohana Chiyo.

Only after Su Youzi's figure disappeared from Unohana Chiyo's sight did the woman, still wearing a sweet smile, subtly sway.

She bit her lower lip.

Bright autumn light shimmered in the woman's eyes.

"Damn it..."

"Not too early, not too late..."

"Just to have a 'Gift' bestowed at this moment."

"It almost made me lose face in front of my well-behaved and cute student."

"But..." Unohana Chiyo looked in the direction Su Youzi had disappeared, "Would a bitch like the Goddess of Fate bestow a 'Gift' upon someone like me?"

Unohana Chiyo sensed the magnitude of the increase from this 'Gift.'

Then—

The woman's face immediately darkened.

She knew that fate would never favor her.

This 'Gift,' like a light drizzle.

It did nothing but stir up the inner flames hidden deep within her.

She subconsciously touched her pocket.

Unohana Chiyo then remembered... she had quit smoking a long time ago.

A sense of pent-up frustration, wanting to vent but unable to, seemed to settle in her eyes, making Unohana Chiyo's expression grim.

"But..."

"Speaking of which."

Unohana Chiyo recalled the long blade that the Assault Department Director had carefully taken away.

The Calamity Longblade, pulled from the flesh and bones of an Anomaly, had been twisted into the shape of a snail shell.

Little Yuzi's ability seemed to be more than just ordinary "telekinesis."

After all... the weapons of Anomaly were cursed weapons.

Like crystals, hard yet fragile.

It wasn't difficult to shatter an Anomaly's weapon.

But... to bend an Anomaly's weapon was like a fantasy.

What exactly was Little Yuzi's ability?

"Forget it—"

"She finally awakened her ability, I should bless Little Yuzi."

Soaked in the bathtub like a salted fish.

Most of the girl's body was submerged underwater, with only a small part of her face and her knees exposed.

Bubbles gurgled.

Su Youzi watched the little yellow duck bravely navigate the valley formed by her knees.

Her crimson eyes slowly relaxed.

She reviewed her gains for the day.

Besides peculiar items like "Disposable Cat Tail" and "Single Stocking," as well as "Blue Vitality Pill" and "Red Stamina Potion."

From Saotome Yukina and Teacher Unohana Chiyo, she respectively obtained one "Beginner Combat Record".

Leaving one combat record to nurture Little Rabbit tomorrow.

Teacher Unohana... she thought back to how the woman had looked at her back today.

She should still try to find an opportunity.

Su Youzi used two "Beginner Combat Records" at once. Unlike nurturing Operators, Su Youzi herself could use multiple combat records at once.

It felt as if a monster that would never be satisfied was still hidden in her chest.

Crrunch, crrunch--

The monster opened its huge maw, chewed the combat records, and swallowed them.

[Level.2-Telekinetic ▇▇▇ → Level.3-Telekinetic ▇▇▇]

After defeating that Anomaly girl in the morning.

Su Youzi's ability had already upgraded from Level.1 to Level.2.

To advance to the next level, five "Beginner Combat Records" were needed.

Just looking for Little Rabbit would take a full five days.

But... setting aside Soga Toyura and Yamabuki Nanako, who looked like elementary school students from the neighborhood.

If she nurtured all of them, including Teacher Unohana Chiyo and the few remaining Operators she drew.

It would only take one day.

She would be able to be promoted to Level.3.

This speed... even Soga Toyura back then couldn't achieve it.

Besides this.

A plain white hand reached out from under the water.

A rather fine crowbar fell into Su Youzi's hand.

[Weapon: Fine Crowbar.]

[☆☆]

Recalling the feeling when facing the Anomaly girl that morning, Su Youzi's wet eyes in the bathroom widened.

Crrk, crrk--

The crowbar bent, section by section.

Finally, it turned into a shape like a snail shell in Su Youzi's hand.

Her 'psychokinesis'... seemed to be a little different from that of ordinary telekinetics.

She couldn't lift objects or manipulate things with psychokinesis like usual telekinetics.

But--

When it came to destruction, or rather, bending things.

Her ability was very good at it.

There were countless kinds of abilities in the world, and Su Youzi didn't pay too much attention to it.

No matter how useless an ability was, it would change and improve when promoted in sequence.

Soga Toyura's queen-like dominance ability wasn't achieved in a day, it wasn't instantaneous.

She lazily pushed herself up from the side of the bathtub.

She wiped away the water droplets on her body.

She turned on a jellyfish night light and, watching the faint pink-blue glow, Su Youzi curled up tightly.

She... was actually a little afraid of the dark.

Night fell upon the land.

Tap, tap, tap, tap--

Hurried footsteps.

A man dressed as an office worker ran frantically down the street, as if fleeing for his life.

Tap--

The crisp sound of a girl's slender heels tapping on the ground.

It was as if it directly struck the man's heart, chilling him.

Tap--

Not too fast, not too slow... like a proud cat toying with a fleeing mouse, the hunter toyed with the prey.

He ran forward, but suddenly stopped.

Although the street ahead was empty, he felt like a desperate fugitive who had stumbled into a dead end.

His face pale and desperate... he turned around.

A slender figure appeared in his vision.

The entire world seemed to dim with the girl's appearance; the only thing drawing attention were her stunning crimson eyes.

"For Absolute Truth!"

"For the World's Origin!"

The man was ready to fight to the death. But... before he could even move, his body froze as if turned to ice.

The girl looked down at him coldly.

"You shouldn't have..."

"You really shouldn't have..."

"You shouldn't have reached your filthy hands..."

"Towards her."

Tilting her head, she looked at the trembling man struggling to break free, then turned directly.

The girl's back was delicate as she lightly raised her right hand.

"Atone with death—"

"Scum."