Angel? She's still a demon after all.

[Ding ding ding ding ding!]

[★★★★★]

[...]

With a crisp notification sound, the world before Su Youzi seemed to turn into a dark sea, and the distant sky took on a mournful gray hue.

Snowflake-like fragments continuously drifted down from the sky, falling into the sea.

Then, as they neared the water's surface, they ignited, transforming into scattering red fireflies that dyed the distant horizon where sky and sea met into brilliant fireworks.

With her hands clasped behind her back, the girl stood barefoot on the sea.

She wore a carp skirt, not much different from her anomalous attire during the descent.

Only this carp skirt had changed to a deep, rouge-red color.

The carp skirt brazenly revealed the girl's still somewhat immature chest curves, and also revealed... a vibrant red, light-like line that split vertically from where her collarbones met, all the way down to her lower abdomen.

It was shame—

And an imprint.

And a contract.

Unlike the typical stockings or black over-the-knee socks that Anomaly users usually wore.

Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi's pair of long, slender, and perfectly white legs were displayed completely bare before Su Youzi.

Her toes lightly touched the sea's surface.

The girl tilted her chin up slightly, wearing an arrogant expression, her crimson eyes gazing at Su Youzi—

The scene froze.

"I am Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi."

Her tone was as haughty as when Su Youzi first met Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi, but in the next second...

"Eek!!!"

"No, that's not it. Even though Kiyomi is a citrus fruit..."

"I... I wasn't inviting you to taste me."

"Wait a moment!"

"Wuuu..."

The arrogant voice instantly collapsed, turning into a slightly trembling whimper, almost like she was biting her knuckles to hold back tears.

[Operator: Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi]

[★★★★★]

[Level 20 - Area-wide Mental Interference Ability User]

[Talent: Bombardment Domain]

[Innate Ability: Nightmare Singer]

[Eldest daughter of the Soga Ishikawa family, first-year student at Shiritsu Megumi Garden Academy, victim of the "Insight" plan. A seemingly arrogant girl, but... the chain on the collar around her neck seems to have been grasped.]

[Initial Affection Points: -5 (Obedience)]

[Dominator's Imprint: An absolutely loyal servant; you need not worry about her betraying you.]

[...]

It was a pleasant surprise.

Su Youzi truly hadn't expected Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi to also be a precious 'wild' 5-star Operator.

Thinking about it, it made sense.

Sakai Miho was an excellent student, admitted to Shiritsu Megumi Garden Academy through hard work and talent.

As long as no accidents occurred, the continuous combination of [Physical Restoration], [Perfect Proxy], and [Unyielding Will] would be enough for her to grow into a capable Valkyrie.

And then there was... Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi.

As the eldest daughter of the Soga Ishikawa family.

Although Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi's ability, "Mental Interference," was far inferior to Soga Toyura's "Mental Manipulation."

But... comparing Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi to that monster Soga Toyura was already high praise for the former.

Moreover, Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi's ability wasn't simply "Mental Interference."

It was the more powerful "Area-wide Mental Interference" with a wider range of effect.

Her being a 5-star Operator was reasonable.

Although... she was an Abyss-attribute Operator, just like Little Sakai Miho.

Su Youzi looked at the new achievement she had obtained, [Abyssal Voyage].

[You are already on the edge of a cliff, with a dark abyss below.]

In the game, the process of becoming anomalous is always described as falling into the Anomaly Abyss—what is known as Descent into Anomaly.

The abyss is almost synonymous with anomalies and calamities.

Is it saying that I am on the verge of becoming anomalous?

The more Operators with the Abyss attribute I recruit, the closer I get to the abyss?

Su Youzi didn't understand.

She simply and silently opened the achievement system and the Operator Compendium.

Looking at Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi, who was lying on the hospital bed, gazing at her expectantly.

Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi's affection points towards me were "-5".

The affection point indicator was "Obedience".

Su Youzi wasn't surprised.

Rather... after experiencing so much yesterday... and last night, it was a miracle that Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi's affection points towards her were only "-5".

She reached out, her finger joints slightly bent.

Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi immediately tried her best to arch her body, bringing her chin close to Su Youzi's hand, allowing Su Youzi to gently scratch the sensitive soft skin of the girl's slender neck and chin, as if petting a cat.

Mm, very obedient.

Just like in the dream... she had been taught well.

A hint of grievance seemed to flash in her crimson eyes, then quickly vanished.

Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi was truly terrified.

But... with Su Youzi's gentle stroking, she wanted to respond from the bottom of her heart, letting out a kitten-like whimper.

Her pride as the Young Lady of the Soga clan's Ishikawa family made the girl bite her lower lip with all her might, trying not to whimper aloud.

Su Youzi withdrew her hand.

Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi's arched body slumped onto the hospital bed.

Her crimson eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, the hospital bed's covers rising and falling with her breaths.

Just a little bit more... and she wouldn't have been able to control herself.

The girl's reactions were completely visible to Su Youzi.

Honestly... it was quite interesting.

However, what she was contemplating was a different matter.

Was it truly right for her to give Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi hope?

An Ability User who had once become anomalous had already lost the potential for growth.

Unless... they break through the shackles.

But Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi had only just reached Level 20.

To break through, who knows how many "Combat Records" she would have to consume.

Currently, she only had "Beginner Combat Records" on hand.

According to Su Youzi's speculation.

She would only be able to obtain higher-level "Combat Records" after she advanced to the First Sequence.

For Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi, who had already entered the Second Sequence, "Beginner Combat Records" might only have the effect of giving her a moment of pleasure.

She had given her hope.

But the time for this hope to arrive... seemed very, very far away.

Looking at the girl lying listlessly on the hospital bed, staring at the ceiling, Su Youzi gently tapped "nurture".

No matter what.

She still had to collect today's interest.

Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi, who had just relaxed, never expected... that the Goddess of Destiny would make a surprise return at this moment.

"Mew..." a pitiful sound, the girl almost sat up from the hospital bed.

But thankfully~

She was now too weak in the legs even to sit up.

"--Regarding the matter of me being too embarrassed to continue being embarrassed."

But... hope re-emerged in Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi's eyes.

Even if it was just a tiny bit.

She had felt it.

In the warm current of the "Gift," her ability, which she had thought was solidified and would never advance in her lifetime, had slightly... slightly inched forward.

There is still hope!

There is still hope!

"Get some good rest," the 'Demon' that dominated Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi smiled.

Because of the joy of just receiving the "Gift."

This demon, in her eyes... actually seemed a little gentler.

The young lady, sitting sideways in the sunlight with a gentle smile, was like... an angel.

"Oh, right," the angel's lips curved upward, and she kindly reminded Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi.

"Remember to change into a hospital gown."

"Don't catch a cold."

Looking at Su Youzi's upturned lips, Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi's lips trembled so much she couldn't stop biting them.

She really was still a demon!