[Detected: You triggered one Critical Hit. Obtained: 1x 100x Rebate Card.]
After the treatment ended, Natsuki Yuu saw the notification.
Critical Hit?
Rebate Card?
He skimmed it quickly.
[100x Rebate Card: Use on a heroine. Multiplies the food she consumes once into a 100x rebate.]
His eyes brightened.
In the apocalypse, food was one of the biggest problems. But with a rebate card, that problem could be solved cleanly.
Even if it was only one card.
He had gotten it from a single Critical Hit.
And judging by the wording, it did not seem hard to obtain more.
Natsuki Yuu did not use it immediately. After storing the card, he looked at the other reward.
The lottery draw he received for being the first to claim Mashiro Shiina.
A huge roulette wheel appeared in front of him.
It was packed with prizes.
Firearms, food, medicine, strange tools, and even abilities.
"Draw."
Natsuki Yuu did not hesitate.
The wheel spun.
It whirled for a long moment before finally stopping.
[Congratulations, Host. You obtained: Eye of Appraisal.]
[Eye of Appraisal Lv.1: The host can view the current status of any living being, with a chance to discern the target's weakness.]
"A special ability."
Natsuki Yuu's expression lit up.
He used it on Mashiro immediately.
[Mashiro Shiina]
[Status:]
[Panting, exhausted, semi-conscious.]
[Recently triggered a Critical Hit. Critical cooldown in progress.]
[No weakness detected.]
Mashiro had no strength left at all.
She was half slumped against the sink, unwilling to move even a finger.
But the blood rain stains on her body were gone.
Her beauty had returned as if nothing had happened.
If anything, she looked even more radiant, like the color had been pulled back into her.
Natsuki Yuu gently stroked her violet hair.
Dependence: 70%.
Not one hundred yet.
He could feel it. The first breakthrough had pushed her to the limit.
If he wanted to raise her dependence further, he would need a different method.
Still, seventy percent was already terrifyingly high.
"Too bad the Critical is on cooldown…"
Natsuki Yuu clicked his tongue.
So the Critical skill had cooldowns.
If it did not, with a body that could go all night, he would be farming rewards nonstop.
"What a waste."
He shook his head, then opened his own panel.
After recording his first heroine, his personal status interface was unlocked.
[Natsuki Yuu]
[Attributes:]
[Strength: 12] (Enhanced physique adjusted this to the maximum for an ordinary human.)
[Agility: 12] (Enhanced physique adjusted this to the maximum for an ordinary human.)
[Intelligence: 12] (Enhanced physique adjusted this to the maximum for an ordinary human.)
[Charm: 12] (Enhanced physique adjusted this to the maximum for an ordinary human.)
[Heroine Codex:]
[Mashiro Shiina: 70%]
[Inventory Space: 10 m²] (Increased by 5 m² after recording a heroine.)
[Items:]
[100 Food Gift Packs]
[1x 100x Rebate Card]
[Skills:]
[Eye of Appraisal Lv.1]
[Untaken Lv.1]
[Rigid Justice Lv.1]
Two new traits had appeared.
They originally belonged to Mashiro.
Now they were on him.
Natsuki Yuu checked their effects.
[Untaken Lv.1: Each time you claim a heroine, this skill levels up. Each level grants +2 to all attributes.]
[Rigid Justice Lv.1: Detects hostile lifeforms within a 3-meter radius.]
"No wonder all my base stats are twelve. Untaken gave me +2."
"As for Rigid Justice, the range is tiny, but it looks like it levels up. The radius should increase as the level rises."
Natsuki Yuu nodded.
He was satisfied.
At the same time, he realized something important.
Both effects had originally been Mashiro's.
Which meant the higher her dependence, the more he could extract from her, and the more he could raise those levels.
That was his conclusion.
"Ugh… is the treatment… over?"
Mashiro spoke weakly, her voice thin.
Natsuki Yuu rubbed her head.
"It's over. You won't turn into a Blood Corpse now."
"Thank goodness…"
Tears gathered at the corners of Mashiro's eyes.
Even if she had lost something important tonight, at least the crisis was gone. At least she could still face Tsukino-sensei.
Then Natsuki Yuu's next words cut straight through her relief.
"But Mashiro-chan, the Blood Corpse virus can relapse. You'll need daily treatment to keep it suppressed."
Mashiro froze.
She stared at him, disbelieving.
Natsuki Yuu lightly tapped her, the kind of teasing touch that carried a warning, not warmth.
"If you don't want to become a Blood Corpse, then be a good girl and accept treatment."
He tilted his head, voice calm.
"And to prevent any sudden 'episodes,' I'll restrain you from time to time. Just in case you hurt someone."
He gave his next actions a convenient excuse.
Mashiro did not dare argue.
She did not dare resist.
Her body trembled, fear tightening around her heart.
"All right. I'm taking you to rest. Look at you. Your legs are shaking so badly you can barely stand."
Natsuki Yuu scooped her up decisively.
Sore and drained, Mashiro could only let him carry her. He placed her on the bed.
Her hands were still bound. Lying on her side, eyes swollen red from crying, she looked at him as if pleading for mercy.
Natsuki Yuu hesitated, then untied her.
"Sleep. When you wake up, pack your things."
"Then you're coming to my place."
…
…
By the time it was around eight in the evening, Natsuki Yuu led Mashiro out.
"Na… Natsuki-kun… do we really have to do this?"
Mashiro's face was burning with embarrassment.
"Of course."
Natsuki Yuu tugged the rope in his hand, pulling her gently but firmly through the doorway.
She was wearing her everyday school uniform, but there was an extra layer of restraint. Her hands and feet were not tied, yet the rope ran along the lines of her body and held fast, outlining her figure in a way that made her even more self-conscious.
It was a method Natsuki Yuu had prepared on purpose.
A full-body harness.
"Relax. There's no one outside right now."
His voice lowered, almost soothing.
"And when we get to my place, there'll be food. You're hungry, aren't you?"
He patted her head.
Mashiro was much shorter than him. She lowered her gaze and nodded obediently.
"I understand…"
She let him lead her back to his unit.
It was Mashiro's first time entering a boy's home.
And especially like this, she could not help feeling stiff and out of place.
"Loosen up. It's safe here."
Natsuki Yuu sat on the sofa and crossed his legs. Then he casually took out a food gift pack.
With a flick, it transformed.
A roasted chicken appeared.
Each food gift pack could produce only one item, and the result was completely random.
"Want to eat?"
Natsuki Yuu tore off a drumstick.
The golden, glistening meat made Mashiro swallow hard.
Her stomach had been empty for too long.
She nodded quickly.
Natsuki Yuu tossed the drumstick onto the floor, acting as if it were nothing, and said lazily,
"Go ahead. Eat."
At the same time, he tightened the rope in his hand.
From that distance, Mashiro could only lower herself and stretch to reach it.