Part 3: Bold Ideas Implemented

Feed 56 yuan, then get a 112 yuan refund!?

There's actually such a good thing in the world.

Isn't this a Perpetual Motion Machine!?

No... Su Youzi stared at Saotome Yukina, who was taking small bites of her crêpe, a little cream still clinging to her lips.

Even a Perpetual Motion Machine isn't this amazing.

In Su Youzi's mind, the girl's image instantly evolved from a little bunny to a Perpetual Motion Machine, and then further evolved into a Cornucopia.

The label above her head turned into a giant "Feed Me."

Butter Heroine?

What's that?

Besides smelling nice and being soft to hug, what else is good about it?

How could it be as exciting as a Perpetual Motion Machine?

Besides, ...only children make choices; adults want them all.

Su Youzi could already envision herself getting rich with this Perpetual Motion Machine, embarking on a path to success.

Saotome Yukina's crêpe-eating slowed to a stop. Her watery eyes looked at Su Youzi like a pet waiting for its owner's command.

The girl felt a little intimidated by Su Youzi's gaze.

She had no idea what was going on.

What had happened?

Senpai's beautiful crimson eyes were fixed on the corner of her lips. It wasn't lewd, but... Senpai's serious gaze made Saotome Yukina feel as if she were naked, being scrutinized by Senpai without any cover.

"Sen... Senpai?" Her voice was soft and timid, and she even put down her beloved strawberry cream crêpe.

Su Youzi looked at Saotome Yukina, who was nervously fidgeting.

This was her first Perpetual Motion Machine... no, this was her first Operator.

She glanced at the "Operator Compendium."

Perhaps it was a perk for being an initial Operator.

Saotome Yukina's affection for her had easily reached 43 points (Favor).

In a game, this would be enough to poke the girl's cheek or hold her hand, only to be met with a blush, not kicked off the game.

If that's the case... Su Youzi reached out her hand towards Saotome Yukina.

The girl froze completely, her sky-blue eyes wide open.

In her perception, time seemed to have stopped.

Only the wind howled noisily, thump-thump-thump--

Her heart pounded like a war drum.

Senpai's slender, beautiful fingertips slowly pressed against the corner of her lips, wiping away a bit of cream mixed with strawberry jam.

"Gulp--"

She swallowed with difficulty.

"Could it be..."

If Saotome Yukina followed the plotlines from those romantic comedies she watched.

Senpai's next move should be... to eat the cream on her fingertip without wasting it.

"Is the progress between me and Senpai a little too fast?"

"No..."

"What on earth am I thinking!!!"

Unfortunately, Su Youzi merely pulled out a tissue from the paper box and wiped her fingertips clean.

Even so, the tips of Saotome Yukina's ears instantly flushed red, and even... felt hot.

"What's wrong?" Su Youzi asked, feigning innocence as if she hadn't done anything inappropriate, looking at the girl before her.

"No..."

"It's... nothing..." Her voice gradually softened.

The girl lowered her head, as if to bury it in her chest.

A smile bloomed on Su Youzi's face.

[Ding--]

[Flutter: Saotome Yukina Affection +2.]

[Received Affection Boost Reward: Cat Tail Band-Aid *1.]

It turned out she had made the right choice.

Just... Su Youzi scrolled through the materials tab, her eye twitching wildly.

These cat paw band-aids and cat tail band-aids weren't medical supplies but clothing accessories.

It was so weird, truly so weird.

But for now... Su Youzi was more concerned about something else.

She looked at the blue text in the "Operator Cultivation" module.

[While increasing favorability, you will receive random rewards. And... simultaneously increasing favorability, the materials you consume will yield extra returns.]

[Note...]

[Only by increasing favorability can you obtain extra returns.]

What Su Youzi cared about was "cultivation."

If it were just an ordinary worldview, "feeding" alone would have made Su Youzi incredibly rich.

Even with the restriction of 'only by increasing favorability can you obtain extra returns,' this was a truly foolproof business.

But... this world is different—

This world... is a world with dangerous existences like "Ability Users," "Anomaly," and "Calamity Beasts."

Beneath its calm exterior lies the law of the jungle, where the strong reign supreme.

Su Youzi clenched the black card with golden lettering in her hand.

That... might be able to change her fate.

Something that would allow her to rise from being a Level 0 Telekinetic.

Looking at the "Operator Cultivation" in front of her.

Looking at that line of small blue text.

A bold idea began to brew in Su Youzi's mind.

An idea that was even somewhat crazy.

She clicked on the "Operator Cultivation" interface.

On a street with a cartoonish art style, two chibi figures sat facing each other.

The cute chibi figure representing Saotome Yukina was constantly emitting pink bubbles above her head.

Su Youzi gently tapped Saotome Yukina's chibi figure.

The cute chibi figure immediately hugged Su Youzi's finger, its face turning into a (≧∇≦) expression.

Beneath her equally tiny sailor skirt, the girl's legs kicked wildly in the air.

[Operator: Saotome Yukina]

[☆☆☆☆☆]

[Feed]

[Cultivate]

[Interact]

[Unlock]

[Unlock]

[...]

Taking a deep breath, Su Youzi gently tapped [Cultivate].

Then she selected the black card with golden lettering, the "Beginner Combat Record."

She clicked confirm.

"Don't disappoint me..." Su Youzi prayed sincerely.

[Ding--]

[Congratulations on completing the mission: Successful Operator Cultivation.]

[Congratulations on receiving the reward: Newbie Tenfold Recruitment Voucher.]

A dark gold, hard metal voucher with a small "X10" written in golden font fell into Su Youzi's hand.

At the same time... the "Beginner Combat Record" in her hand slowly dissolved into specks of light and disappeared.

Su Youzi stared nervously at Saotome Yukina.

The girl's sky-blue eyes suddenly widened, her body trembling as if electrocuted. Her already bashful face instantly flushed a deep crimson.

Saotome Yukina's knees pressed tightly together.

[Ding--]

The gradually familiar robotic female voice sounded so pleasant to Su Youzi's ears.

[Cultivation of Saotome Yukina successful.]

[Saotome Yukina's combat experience has increased.]

[Level 2 - Water Ability User EXP: 3% → 25%.]

[Cultivation: Saotome Yukina's Favorability +1.]

[Received Favorability Boost Reward: Golden Bell.]

[Received resource compensation for cultivation.]

["Beginner Combat Record" x2.]

The bold idea has been realized.