Returning to the dormitory, she parted ways with Kujou Katora in the corridor.
Soga Yuzu watched Kujou Katora shuffle step by step into her bedroom, and then... just as Kujou Katora was about to close the door.
She tapped the "Operator Development" interface, her finger rubbing against the "Develop" icon above the head of the chibi Kujou Katora, who was wearing the same feigned reserve as the real person ꒰⑅°͈꒳°͈꒱.
Thump, thump, thump—
Suddenly, the flustered footsteps of a woman came from the dormitory opposite.
The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, revealing a rather wicked smile on Soga Yuzu's face.
Feigning ignorance, Soga Yuzu slowly approached Kujou Katora's room, putting on a look of concern. "What's wrong?"
"Kujou-senpai."
"Guh—" Kujou Katora, who had almost stumbled and fallen, leaned awkwardly against the wall with her right hand and tilted her small head up slightly.
In the darkness, the woman's eyes seemed red.
She pressed her back against the door.
"N-No... nothing."
Her voice floated up and down, light and airy, even carrying a hint of cute grievance and moisture.
Lady Fate, that wicked woman!!!
Kujou Katora cursed inwardly over and over again. Every... every time, she launched a surprise attack at such unexpected moments.
And always in front of Miss Yuzu.
Although... Kujou Katora had already vaguely sensed that Lady Fate's "Blessing" was related to Soga Yuzu.
The "Blessing" she had endured these past few days was more than she had endured in her entire life before.
Moreover... although the magnitude of improvement was pitifully small.
All the "Blessings" from so many days added together couldn't even help her break through half a level.
But... the pleasurable experience brought by this "Blessing" was maxed out.
Kujou Katora suddenly thought of her sister... no, that Fallen "Empress of the Abyss."
She suddenly felt a massive sense of irony in her heart.
She felt Fate's mockery of the Kujou clan.
That guy hunted "Catastrophe Beasts" like a madwoman, entranced, just because she was intoxicated by the pleasure of receiving the "Blessing."
In the end, she was contaminated, fell, and degenerated into the most powerful "Aberrant" of this era.
And she completely lost the qualification to receive the "Blessing."
As a result... by staying by Miss Yuzu's side, she herself received a "Blessing" almost every day.
Although the intensity was pitiful, like a joke or a slap in the face from Lady Fate.
But... if Miss Yuzu had been born a few years earlier and appeared by that guy's side.
That guy probably wouldn't have Fallen in pursuit of the "Blessing," but would have preferred to be Miss Yuzu's dog instead.
She wondered if Miss Yuzu's ability to trigger "Blessings" in those around her would work on Aberrants.
If it could work on Aberrants, then she was really looking forward to what would happen when that bastard met Miss Yuzu.
Just thinking about that guy who had already Fallen... having a twisted look of humiliation on her face but ultimately having to submit.
Kujou Katora instantly felt that would be fantastic.
Although... this scene seemed inexplicably familiar. Had she seen it somewhere before?
Anyway, she was really looking forward to seeing that guy, who claimed to be "The Abyss of Eternal Smiles" even after Falling, being tamed and showing a humiliated expression.
She looked forward to it even more than killing her with her own hands.
Covering one eye, the girl's shoulders trembled as she panted lightly.
Based on Kujou Katora's observation of Saotome Yukina.
She was already certain that Miss Yuzu possessed some ability to trigger "Blessings" in girls who met special conditions, perhaps those Miss Yuzu held affection for...
"Wait a minute..."
"Held... affection?"
Kujou Katora's heart suddenly went thump-thump, and a strong illusion arose—
"She likes me."
Biting her lower lip lightly to twist away that strange thought, and feeling the power of the "Blessing" flowing through her body, the scarlet-eyed girl hid in the darkness.
She tried hard to suppress her abnormality and answered Soga Yuzu, "I'm fine—"
"I just accidentally tripped."
Even though she was so ashamed she wanted to die, the "Blessing"... was an unusually satisfying thing.
Plus... the more ashamed she felt, the faintly more excited Kujou Katora became inside.
The more she realized her excitement, the more ashamed she felt of her own weirdness, and then it accelerated madly into a vicious cycle.
Every "Blessing" was a fuse detonating the shame deep within Kujou Katora's heart, making Kujou Katora feel she was going further and further down a strange path.
[Ding—]
[Taming: Kujou Katora Favorability +1.]
[Favorability Increase Reward Obtained: Slave's Self-Cultivation.]
[...]
The corners of Soga Yuzu's mouth curled up wildly.
With only a door panel between them.
The ability "Blood Manipulation (5%)" allowed her to faintly sense Kujou Katora's position and posture.
After completely throwing caution to the wind and ignoring Kujou Katora's yandere attributes, or rather—
After satisfying the need for herself hidden within Kujou Katora's heart.
The pleasure harvested from Kujou Katora was immense.
"Then..."
"Rest well, Kujou-senpai."
"Also~"
"Don't forget the movie tomorrow night."
"Okay." Inside the room, Kujou Katora responded in a trembling, low voice.
Clack—
Waiting until the sound of the dormitory door closing came from behind her, Kujou Katora sat down on the cold, damp floor, preparing to let out a long breath.
Just then... she suddenly heard Miss Yuzu's voice from behind her.
"What's wrong with this door?"
Miss Yuzu... didn't... go back to her room?
"Guh..." With unfocused scarlet eyes in the darkness, Kujou Katora felt as if she were a marionette about to completely break, the strings of fate wrapped around Miss Yuzu's fingertips.
Soga Yuzu listened to the sound of the girl slowly sliding down against the door to sit on the floor from behind the opposite dorm door, her smile wicked and brilliant.
-
-
-
Nightfall.
After counting today's harvest, Soga Yuzu hugged her legs and soaked in the bath.
A bath and a girl—it was one of the best ways and scenes to give out fan service... ah, no, to relax the body and mind.
Taking stock of today's harvest, she kept two "Combat Records" as seeds.
Soga Yuzu used all the "Combat Records" she had accumulated over the past few days at once.
[Level 8 - Hand of Paradox EXP 17% → 44%.]
The empty monster in her chest chewed with a crunch, crunch, but Soga Yuzu still didn't feel even a shred of satisfaction.
The girl curled up, her crimson eyes resting mistily on the water's surface.
She flipped through "Operator Development".
Ms. Unohana Chiyo's chibi figure was also soaking in a bath, but... Ms. Unohana Chiyo's bath seemed quite large; perhaps 'bathhouse' would be a more appropriate description.
The little rabbit was burning the midnight oil, studying hard.
Mihou Sakai was actually still training. Seriously... she just got out of the hospital not long ago; does she want to send herself back in?
However... the fact that she wasn't... having a meltdown, but just striving hard, was actually good news.
And Soga Yura... this guy, standing on the roof in the rain (￣^￣)ゞ, acting cool—what exactly does she want to do?
Does she not know her constitution is actually very poor?
Soga Yuzu poked Soga Yura's chibi figure hard, and only became delighted when she saw the girl's expression turn into the familiar look of (˃̣̣̥᷄⌓˂̣̣̥᷅).
Then... Soga Yuzu looked at Kujou Katora.
Thump, thump—
Her heartbeat seemed to stop for an instant.
Kujou Katora's stamina was precarious, like a candle in the wind.
[Ding—]
[Part 7 - Rescue Operation]
[Your Operator Kujou Katora has encountered an unprecedented crisis. As her master, you may need to provide some powerful assistance.]
[Mission Requirement: Rescue Kujou Katora.]
[Mission Reward: Godmother's Laurel.]
[Ding—]
[Do you choose to support?]
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