[Golden Bell: A rather cute bell.—Its sound is crisp and clear.]
The Golden Bell hung from the Black Lace Choker in the Material Slot. Its adorable design seemed to suit Saotome Yukina perfectly.
Su Youzi couldn't help imagining the choker fastened around Little Rabbit's slender, snow-white neck, swaying with each bouncing step and ringing out a crisp, clear sound.
Su Youzi immediately felt... this game was really too good at this.
However, what truly made Su Youzi's heart race and her hands tremble slightly were the two hard cards with black backgrounds and gilded lettering that had fallen into her hands.
"Beginner Combat Record."
Two of them, at that.
Her idea was genuinely feasible.
Not only could feeding Saotome Yukina with money yield double the returns, but using a "Beginner Combat Record" to cultivate Saotome Yukina would also yield double the returns.
The girl's adorable, exquisite face and snow-white neck had been dyed bright red from embarrassment and trembling, making her look irresistibly alluring.
In Su Youzi's eyes, she had already completely turned into the shape of a "Beginner Combat Record."
Fill her up with "Combat Records"!
Turn Perpetual Motion Machine into Production Machine!
This was her one chance to make a fortune and embark on a life of reversal!
Unfortunately... on the "Operator Cultivation" screen, the chibi Saotome Yukina, who had sat back down in her chair, now wore an adorable, dizzy expression.
The chibi Saotome Yukina slumped pitifully in the chair, gazing miserably at Su Youzi outside the screen.
(×﹏×)
"----Girl resting----"
Judging from the white dialogue box beside the girl, "15:23:34" was displayed.
The "cultivation" cooldown should reset at midnight every night, and... barring any surprises, she could probably only feed her one card at a time.
Her dream of feeding the girl until she overflowed in one go had fallen through.
That made sense too... Su Youzi looked at the alluring flush on Saotome Yukina's face, as well as the mist spreading through her already clear, watery blue eyes.
If this continued without end...
Su Youzi was genuinely worried that a pink heart might suddenly appear in the girl's eyes at some point.
In this world, there was something known as "Grace."
After fulfilling certain special conditions, whether they were Ability Users, martial artists, or even ordinary people, everyone could receive the goddess's "Grace."
They might gain a new talent.
Or their abilities and physical constitution might improve.
What descended alongside "Grace" was a pleasurable sensation that seemed to make people crave more once they had tasted it.
There was a rumor that Kujo Iruka, the strongest Valkyrie of Imperial Capital University, hailed as the "Empire's First Archer,"
had become so intoxicated by the pleasure of receiving "Grace" that she had frenziedly hunted Calamity Beasts as though possessed.
In the end, she had been contaminated and corrupted into an Altered User.
Clearly—
Using a "Beginner Combat Record" on Saotome Yukina resulted in Saotome Yukina receiving a small amount of "Grace."
Su Youzi opened the "Operator Compendium."
Saotome Yukina's experience bar had already risen from 3% to 25%.
If she checked in once a day, it would only take four days for Saotome Yukina to advance into a Level 3 Water Ability User and gain the initial ability to heal minor injuries.
Then... what about herself?
Could she break free from the curse of being a Level 0 Telekinetic Ability User and officially become an Ability User?
Although the strength of a Level 1 Telekinetic Ability was limited to lifting a girl's skirt, a chopstick, or a spoon with telekinesis,
for Su Youzi, who had been shackled at Level 0 Telekinetic Ability for so long,
it was already an almost limitless temptation.
What was more, she had the Operative Cultivation Module, as well as Saotome Yukina.
As long as she had Saotome Yukina and maintained Saotome Yukina's affection for her,
it was equivalent to possessing a Production Machine that reliably produced one "Beginner Combat Record" every day.
Even Level 80 might not be beyond her reach.
A Butter Heroine?
Aside from smelling nice, being soft to hold, obedient, and warmhearted, what else did Saotome Yukina have?
Her goal was the Stars and Sea.
Biting her lip lightly and lifting her little face, her eyes hazy with an enticing mist, Saotome Yukina felt an indescribable sensation spreading through her heart.
Saotome Yukina, who was receiving "Grace" for the first time, had no idea what was happening.
But... when she saw the worried-looking Senpai with her brows drawn together before her, Saotome Yukina could only feel that she must look terribly embarrassing right now.
I embarrassed myself in front of Senpai.
For some reason... that seemed even more unacceptable to Saotome Yukina than the embarrassment itself.
She clearly wanted to call out to Senpai pitifully.
But Saotome Yukina clenched her little fists tightly.
Those honest, mist-filled, watery blue eyes and the girl's stubborn expression only made her look even more delicate and vulnerable, inspiring the desire to cherish her carefully.
Su Youzi reached out and gently covered Saotome Yukina's clenched little fist with her hand.
"Senpai's hand..."
"So warm."
The distinctive fresh, sweet-and-sour fragrance of citrus fruits seemed to drift over along with it.
The girl's slender fingertips lightly traced across the back of Saotome Yukina's hand.
"Is this 'Grace'?" asked the cool, melodious voice.
In front of Su Youzi, Saotome Yukina seemed to have completely lowered her defenses. Little Rabbit nodded repeatedly, her face filled with sudden realization.
So... this was "Grace"?
Receiving "Grace" was actually such a comfortable experience.
But... Senpai really was so gentle.
She was completely different from the rumors.
[Ping—] The intelligent machine female voice, which she had gradually grown accustomed to, rang in Su Youzi's ear.
[Comfort: Saotome Yukina's affection +1]
[Received Affection Boost Reward: Maid's Black Lace Headband.]
As expected of the heroine with the highest initial affection and the easiest to攻略.
Saotome Yukina's affection for Su Youzi was rising at an astonishing speed.
Looking at the lace headband that had appeared in the Material Slot,
Su Youzi suddenly had a bold guess.
From the Cat Paw Band-aids at the beginning to the Golden Bell and lace headband, they were actually all parts of a Maid Outfit.
Moreover... the owner of these accessories was most likely Saotome Yukina, who stood before her.
Su Youzi looked at Little Rabbit.
Her wicked smile deepened.
"It suits you pretty well."
"If this is 'Grace'..." Su Youzi slowly withdrew her hand.
"Then it really is a lucky thing."
"Th-that's luck I only gained after meeting Senpai..." Sitting stiffly across from Su Youzi, Saotome Yukina held her crepe and shyly refused to raise her head.
"Ah~" Su Youzi's smile gradually became more meaningful.
"If that's really the case,"
"then perhaps, Saotome,"
"you'll encounter 'Grace' quite often in the future."
Before you continue