Bold Idea Put into Action

Feed her 56 yuan, then receive 112 yuan in compensation!?

There was actually such a good deal in this world.

Wasn't this the Perpetual Motion Machine!?

No... Su Youzi stared at Saotome Yukina, who was nibbling at the crepe in small bites, with a little cream still clinging to the corner of her lips.

Even the Perpetual Motion Machine wasn't this powerful.

In Su Youzi's heart, the girl's image instantly evolved from Little Rabbit into the Perpetual Motion Machine, and then into a cornucopia.

The tag above her head had even changed into a huge "Feed me."

The Butter Heroine?

What was that?

Other than smelling nice and feeling soft to hug, what else was good about her?

How could she make someone feel as exhilarated as the Perpetual Motion Machine?

Besides... only children did multiple-choice questions. Adults, of course, wanted everything.

Su Youzi could almost see herself becoming rich and embarking on a path of turning her life around with this Perpetual Motion Machine.

Saotome Yukina's movements gradually came to a halt. Her limpid eyes stared at Su Youzi, as though she were a pet waiting for its owner's instructions.

The girl felt somewhat unnerved under Su Youzi's gaze.

She had no idea what was happening.

What exactly had happened?

Senpai's beautiful crimson eyes were staring straight at the corner of her lips. It wasn't frivolous, but... the serious way Senpai watched her made Saotome Yukina feel as if she were completely naked, being scrutinized by Senpai without the slightest concealment.

"Sen... Senpai?" Her timid, soft voice rang out, and she even set down her beloved Strawberry Cream Crepe.

Su Youzi looked at the nervous Saotome Yukina before her.

This was her first Perpetual Motion Machine... Ah, no, this was her first operator.

She glanced at the "Operator Compendium."

It was probably a benefit for having an initial operator.

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

In a game, this was probably the level where she could poke the girl's cheek or take her little hand, only eliciting shyness rather than getting kicked out of the game.

Since that was the case... Su Youzi reached out toward Saotome Yukina.

The girl froze completely in place, her water-blue eyes widening.

From her perspective, time seemed to have stopped.

All that remained was the noisy, clamorous wind, thump, thump, thump—

Her heart pounded like a war drum.

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

"Gulp—"

Her throat struggled to swallow.

"Could it be..."

If things proceeded like the plots Saotome Yukina had seen in those romantic comedies,

Senpai's next move should be... to eat the cream from her fingertip rather than waste it.

"Isn't the progress between me and Senpai a little too fast?"

"No..."

"What am I even imagining!!!"

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

Even so, Saotome Yukina's ear tips were instantly dyed crimson, and... they even began to burn.

"What is it?" Su Youzi looked at the girl before her, deliberately pretending that she hadn't done anything excessive.

"No..."

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

The girl's little head lowered along with it, as if she wanted to bury it in her chest.

A smile spread across Su Youzi's face.

[Ding—]

[Heart Flutter: Saotome Yukina's affection +2.]

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

It turned out that she had chosen correctly.

Only... as Su Youzi browsed through the Material Slot, the corner of her eye twitched violently.

These Cat Paw Band-aids and Cat Tail Band-Aid weren't medical supplies at all. They were clothing accessories.

It was too strange. Far too strange.

But at the moment... Su Youzi was even more concerned about something else.

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

[While increasing affection, you will receive a random reward. Furthermore... while increasing affection, the materials you expend will receive additional compensation.]

[Attention...]

[Additional compensation can only be obtained on the premise that affection is increased.]

What Su Youzi cared about was "cultivation."

If this were merely an ordinary world, simply "feeding" her would already allow Su Youzi to make a fortune.

Although there was the restriction that "additional compensation can only be obtained on the premise that affection is increased," this was truly a business with ten-thousandfold returns.

But... this world was different—

This world... was one that contained dangerous existences such as Ability Users, Altered Users, and Calamity Beasts.

Beneath its peaceful exterior lay the essence of the survival of the fittest and the rule of the strong.

Su Youzi clenched the black-and-gold card in her hand.

That... might be something capable of changing her fate.

Something that could let her, a Level 0—Telekinetic Ability User, turn her life around.

She looked at the "Operator Cultivation" before her.

She looked at that line of blue text.

A bold idea began to take shape in Su Youzi's heart.

An idea that was even somewhat crazy.

She opened the "Operator Cultivation" interface.

On a cartoon-style street, two Chibi Figures sat facing each other.

The adorable figure representing Saotome Yukina was constantly puffing out pink bubbles above her head.

Su Youzi lightly tapped Saotome Yukina's Chibi Figure.

The adorable Chibi Figure immediately hugged Su Youzi's finger, its face changing into an (≧∇≦) expression.

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

[Operator: Saotome Yukina]

[☆☆☆☆☆]

[Feed]

[Cultivate]

[Interact]

[Locked]

[Locked]

[...]

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

Then she selected the black-and-gold "Beginner Combat Record."

She pressed confirm.

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

[Ding—]

[Congratulations, you have completed the mission: Successfully cultivated an operator.]

[Congratulations, you have received a reward: Newbie Tenfold Recruitment Voucher.]

A dark-gold hard-metal voucher bearing a small golden "X10" fell into Su Youzi's hand.

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

Su Youzi stared nervously at Saotome Yukina.

The girl's water-blue eyes suddenly widened. She shuddered as if electrocuted, and her already bashful, lovely face instantly flushed crimson.

Saotome Yukina's knees were pressed tightly together.

[Ding—]

The increasingly familiar intelligent machine female voice sounded especially pleasant to Su Youzi.

[Saotome Yukina's cultivation succeeded.]

[Saotome Yukina's combat experience increased.]

[Level.2—Water Ability User Experience: 3% → 25%.]

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

[Received Affection Boost Reward: Golden Bell.]

[Compensation received for cultivation materials expended.]

["Beginner Combat Record" ×2.]

Bold Idea Put into Action.