She Will Be the Hope of the Next Era

A warm current seemed to flow through her limbs and bones.

[Ding--]

[Received Nurture Material Cost Compensation.]

["Beginner Combat Record" * 2.]

[...]

[Received Nurture Material Cost Compensation.]

["Beginner Combat Record" * 2.]

[...]

Looking at the Little Rabbit beside her, who was biting her lower lip as if she might collapse, Su Youzi gently held the girl's hand.

The two clasped their hands together, fingers intertwined.

Ultimately, Su Youzi couldn't bring herself to click "Nurture" on Yamabuki Nanako, who looked like a primary school student from a nearby school.

Even though she knew Yamabuki Nanako was actually the same age as Teacher Unohana Chiyo.

But... Yamabuki Nanako's physique was just too tempting.

If this were in a game, it would be fine.

But in reality... just imagining Yamabuki Nanako's knees knocking together, sitting on the floor like a duck, with tears welling up in her light blue eyes.

That feeling of inner condemnation, like committing a crime, made Su Youzi unable to accept it.

It was just one "Beginner Combat Record" short.

It wasn't a big deal.

It definitely wasn't because... Su Youzi looked at Yamabuki Nanako's 5 (Unfamiliar) affection points in the "Operator Cultivation" interface.

Clicking "Nurture" directly might mean she'd be losing out.

Speaking of affection points, though... Su Youzi glanced at the "Operator Cultivation" interface.

Su Youzi suddenly felt that the Chibi Figure of Teacher Unohana Chiyo in the "Operator Cultivation" interface had undergone a subtle change.

The red affection hearts representing the operator's affection points had changed color, as if they had lit up.

They were exactly the same as the affection hearts for Soga Toyura.

As if they had been activated.

Even the Little Rabbit, whose affection points towards her were close to 60 "Dependence," still had the usual ordinary red heart.

But... Teacher Unohana Chiyo, whose affection points towards her were 'only' 41 "Favor," had her affection heart color change.

When did that happen?

Su Youzi wasn't sure herself.

To say the color had changed, the actual change was very slight.

Su Youzi wasn't even sure if Teacher Unohana Chiyo's affection heart had always looked like this.

This kind of thing was like trying to recall last night's review during an exam.

The more she thought about it, the more confused she became.

It felt like both thoughts were correct, yet both seemed wrong.

However... it wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

Su Youzi glanced at the Chibi Figure of Unohana Chiyo in "Operator Cultivation," who had strange bubbles constantly appearing above her head, and then looked at Teacher Unohana Chiyo beside her, her gaze rippling.

She might be able to use Teacher Unohana Chiyo to... get a slight judgment on what was going on with Soga Toyura.

That guy... could she really be a hidden sister-complex enthusiast?

Su Youzi found it hard to imagine Soga Toyura, who always appeared cold, distant, disdainful, and even hateful towards her on the surface, secretly being unable to sleep without hugging a life-sized body pillow of her sister.

It was too strange.

It was really too strange.

Could someone really be twisted to that extent?

If she was a Human Wrench, that woman was probably a Human Pretzel.

A sense of absurdity arose.

Strangely... Su Youzi actually felt it was quite fitting.

"The people from the Investigation Department have arrived," Yamabuki Nanako suddenly looked up, typing rapidly on the light blue screen.

"But..." Yamabuki Nanako showed a hesitant expression.

"The people who came from the Investigation Department this time... are from the Fourth Executive Department."

Hearing Yamabuki Nanako's words, Saion Sagara's expression suddenly turned cold.

Frowning, she looked at Unohana Chiyo, "Go and assist them with the investigation."

"Assist where assistance is needed."

"Refuse unreasonable demands."

"Even if they want to take Sakai Miho, refuse their unreasonable demands all the same."

"Huiqun Garden... is not a place for the Investigation Department's dogs to run wild."

Watching Saion Sagara sigh, Teacher Unohana Chiyo nodded, "I understand, Director."

She left the laboratory with Su Youzi and Saotome Yukina.

After leaving the laboratory, Little Rabbit, who had finally recovered a little, asked Teacher Unohana Chiyo in a weak voice.

"Teacher Unohana..."

"That Fourth Department..."

Teacher Unohana Chiyo stopped walking. "The Investigation Department's Fourth Department, you mean..."

"That is a very special department."

"They are actually completely independent of the Investigation Department, and even maintain absolute independence within the Empire."

"It has nothing to do with money or politics."

"Not for profit."

"Not for power."

"The Investigation Department's Fourth Department's target is always only one: Anomalies."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Little Rabbit answered subconsciously.

Teacher Unohana Chiyo suddenly turned around.

The gentleness on the woman's face vanished in an instant. That inorganic... terrifying aura made Little Rabbit feel as if a dark gun barrel was pressed against her forehead.

Cold sweat soaked her back.

If she wasn't holding Senior Youzi's hand, Saotome Yukina felt like she would have collapsed onto the floor.

"Scared already?" Teacher Unohana Chiyo looked at Little Rabbit, whose hand was being held by Little Youzi.

For some reason~

Perhaps it was another drizzle-like "gift" from that bitch, the Goddess of Destiny.

She just wanted to suddenly scare her.

"N-no! I was just startled."

"Teacher wouldn't hurt me."

Listening to Saotome Yukina's words, Su Youzi tightened her grip on the girl's hand. This was her Little Rabbit.

Teacher Unohana Chiyo revealed her gentle smile again.

She reached out and patted Saotome Yukina's cheek.

"The people in the Fourth Department..."

"are even more terrifying than Teacher."

"Their target is indeed only Anomalies."

"But... anyone who might be related to Anomalies will be arrested, interrogated by them..."

"They are a bunch of complete lunatics."

"However, Saotome classmate and Little Youzi don't need to worry."

"This is Huiqun Garden."

"They... can't do anything here."

In the laboratory, Yamabuki Nanako and Saion Sagara watched the girls leave with Teacher Unohana Chiyo.

Only after the laboratory door closed heavily.

Did Saion Sagara walk towards the silver-white Intelligent Machine arm beside her.

She reached her hand into the force field.

Touching the dark purple feather twisted into a spiral shape.

A terrifying Calamity Aura was released almost instantly.

Even with layers of force fields blocking it, Yamabuki Nanako immediately sat down on the floor with a thud. "That is..."

"The one Chiyo brought back back then...?"

"Yes," Saion Sagara nodded. She released her hand.

The dark purple Calamity Aura, like a tide, slowly receded.

"Kujo Iruka..."

"No--"

"It's the feather of the Empress, the Sixth Sequence Anomaly, from the Abyss of Eternal Smile."

She looked in the direction of the laboratory door as it closed.

Her expression was grave, very grave, even... a little sorrowful.

Su Youzi's resume appeared before her, line by line.

A rule-based ability that can only bend things, a joke ability?

What a joke.

A 'normal' high school girl, who hasn't even officially entered the Sequence yet... had forcefully twisted the Calamity Crystal of a Sixth Sequence Anomaly.

"She will be the hope of the next era."

[Record--]

[Currently observed Eighth...]

[Crackle... Seventh rule-based ability.]

[Temporarily naming its ability--]

[Reverse Logic Hand.]

[Subject - Soga Toyura possesses the conceptual-level "Bending" ability.]

[Test subjects include... First Sequence Anomaly derivative crystal, Sixth Sequence Anomaly derivative crystal, multiple Lachiram Metal, Second Sequence metal-element Ability User's body.]

[Anomaly body--Untested.]

[Calamity Beast body--Untested.]

[Test results...]

[Except for the Second Sequence metal-element Ability User's body, all other test subjects were 'twisted'.]

[Inference...]

[The seventh rule-based ability, "Reverse Logic Hand," can twist all non-living abilities.]

[Cannot take effect on humans "doubtful"...]

[Danger Level: EX.]

[Secrecy Level: EX.]

[Recorder: Yamabuki Nanako, Saion Sagara.]

If you find this book good, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you don't lose it next time.