Chapter 20: The Girl Development Plan
This time, Su Li didn't waste words.
With a thought, the Emperor appeared before them instantly.
"This is one of my abilities — Emperor Keke — the power to control time,"Su Li said simply, his tone calm yet terrifying.
"As long as I wish it, I can send you back to the past."
"Return… to the past?!"
Although Su Li's words were brief, their meaning hit Kurenai Yuhi and Kurama Yakumo like a bolt of lightning.
The fact itself was simply unbelievable.
"Can that really be done? Controlling time…?"Kurenai Yuhi murmured to herself, almost doubting her ears.
Although she had read Su Li's comics before, there were far too many to finish in a short period. She didn't know what Keke's ability truly was.
"Since you're doubtful," Su Li said evenly, "why not try it yourself?"
He loaded a four-shot into the Emperor.
"As long as this bullet hits you, it'll send you back in time. For the contrast effect, I suggest creating a small wound first."
"…"
Kurenai Yuhi swallowed nervously. Even though Su Li said so lightly, being shot was not exactly something one could feel calm about.
But then again… she had seen firsthand how miraculous Su Li's manga could be.
He wouldn't make fun of her in a situation like this.
After a few seconds of thought, she nodded."I understand."
Having made up her mind, Kurenai Yuhi drew a kunai and made a shallow cut across her finger. A thin line of blood appeared.
"Relax, don't be so tense," Su Li said with a small grin. He then pulled the trigger and fired at her arm.
Bang!
The four-shot bullet struck her arm.There was a brief sting of pain—Then, the wound on her finger vanished completely.
Kurenai Yuhi looked down in astonishment. The cut was gone, her skin perfectly smooth.
She couldn't find a single trace of injury.
Just as he claimed…He truly possessed the power to control time.
If this power really existed—
Then there was hope.Yakumo's parents might be saved!Their fate could be rewritten!
"My lord, please send me back to the past!"
Kurama Yakumo, realizing the truth, broke into tears. She quickly knelt before Su Li, her voice trembling with emotion.
Kurenai Yuhi also bowed deeply."Deputy Lord, please, I beg you—help her!"
"…Sorry."
What they received instead was Su Li's merciless shake of the head.
"Time isn't something that can be controlled so easily. To manipulate it requires a heavy price. Simply put—if I were to send you back many years, I'd lose more than ten, perhaps even decades, of my own life. So… no."
Su Li's calm refusal made Kurama Yakumo's face fall into despair.
A hopeless expression crossed her face.
Of course—How could something so miraculous happen so easily for someone like her?
But then why… why give her hope at all?
"Of course, I didn't say this just to toy with you."
Seeing the change in her expression, Su Li smiled faintly.
"The lifespan consumed can be replenished. That said, the cost remains steep. And we have no real connection — I can't just do it because I sympathize with you. Do you understand?"
In truth, even if Su Li wanted to help, he couldn't.
He hadn't yet mastered the Eleven or Twelve Bullets, so he couldn't send a target to the past or future.
But even if he could—He still wouldn't.
Because there was no reason to.
Su Li sympathized with Kurama Yakumo, yes… but he wasn't some self-sacrificing saint.
Unless their relationship grew strong enough that he was willing to bear the cost—or unless saving her parents would bring him greater benefit—he had no obligation.
And right now, neither condition was met.
"…"
Kurama Yakumo remained silent.
She wanted to plead, but she knew she wasn't qualified.
She had only known Su Li for less than an hour.
She had even attacked him earlier with illusions.
What right did she have to ask him for something so great?
"Having said that," Su Li continued casually, "I can give you a chance. In fact, I'm a manga artist—and currently, I'm short an assistant. Your artistic skills aren't bad. Would you like to become my assistant?"
After dangling the bait, Su Li finally revealed his real purpose.
"Let's set the terms upfront. I won't provide food, housing, or salary. However, I'll record your contributions. When your accumulated 'performance points' are enough to offset the cost, I'll send you back to the past to rewrite your parents' fate. How about that?"
"I'll do it!"
Without hesitation, Kurama Yakumo nodded. Her previously dull eyes now shone with determination and hope.
Her decisiveness made Su Li feel slightly awkward.
After all… she was just twelve or thirteen years old.
Didn't this sound like he was recruiting child labor?
And unpaid, too.No food, no lodging.
A proper black-hearted boss, really.
His conscience pricked slightly.
But Kurama Yakumo herself didn't seem to mind.
In the shinobi world, people matured fast and died young.
Adulthood wasn't measured by age, but by strength.
Even a seven- or eight-year-old who became a Chūnin could live independently.
So, perhaps it wasn't so strange.
And besides—Su Li hadn't charged her for exorcising her inner demon or for injecting the power of the sun to stabilize her body.
Technically, she wasn't working unpaid.
He was just converting her "salary" into performance points—an investment toward a miracle.
Compared to money, Kurama Yakumo clearly valued that promise far more.
Thinking of it that way, his conscience felt lighter.
"Well then, from today, you're my assistant. Pack your things—you'll be living with me from now on. It'll make it easier for me to continue treating your body."
"Yes! Um…"
Kurama Yakumo nodded quickly, but then paused awkwardly, unsure how to address him.
"Since you're my assistant, you can call me Teacher Su Li from now on."
"Yes! Teacher Su Li!"
"Good."
Su Li nodded in satisfaction.
It was the first time someone had ever called him "Teacher,"and it didn't feel bad at all.
If he was going to be called that—he'd have to train her properly.
He would make her into a capable assistant who could one day stand on her own.