"Here, your membership card is ready. Just verify it. But each person can only register one card. Take the other one home for the others to verify—you can share it among yourselves."
"Got it~"
After the meal, Kaguya took the membership card from Rin, a satisfied smile blooming on her face.
The card meant for herself already bore her silhouette.
The other one, at her request, had Tewi's likeness engraved on it, this way, she could conveniently borrow Tewi's allotted sessions under the guise of "fulfilling a hard-earned request."
As she busied herself with registration, Reimu, stationed at the counter, was counting the newly acquired cash with the fervor of a high-speed bill counter.
'Damn, Kaguya's so loaded she could stuff my donation box to bursting just by casually paying for a membership!'
Marisa reached over to help count, only for Reimu to smack her hand away, glaring like she'd caught a thief.
"You're struggling to count all that alone. I could help!"
"No! I'm enjoying this!" Reimu barked, wiping a bit of drool from her lips before diving back into her counting frenzy.
'She'd never had this much money to count in her life, no one was ruining this moment for her!'
Marisa rolled her eyes at Reimu's paranoia and wandered off to help Keine and the others clean up.
Meanwhile, the Sage's voice abruptly echoed in Rin's mind—
『 Membership services have been established, with three cards concurrently sold. 』
『 Hence, to encourage the host to further deepen customer engagement (not corruption), a side quest has been issued. 』
『 Side Quest ─ Gradually Expand Membership Services 』
『 Reward ─ Each new service added grants one draw from the product pool. Corresponding items will be stocked in the shop later. 』
『 Current Services: Bone-Setting Massage 』
『 Available Draws ─ 1 』
『 DING! 』
『 In order to boost initial sales, the host is rewarded with Facial Care Techniques and matching materials 』
『 DING! 』
『 Current Services: Bone-Setting Massage, +Facial Care 』
『 Available Draws: 1 ► 2 』
As the Sage's voice faded, a flood of technical knowledge surged into Rin's mind.
The sheer volume of information left him momentarily dazed. By the time he recovered, the air in front of him rippled like water.
A small flowerpot emerged, landing neatly on the counter. Inside grew a white flower, its petals shimmering with golden flecks under the sunlight.
Azure light cascaded from its stamen, flowing down the petals like a waterfall.
The entire bloom exuded an ethereal serenity, its fragrance calming the mind just by proximity.
『 Medicinal Potted Plant: Spring's Whisper 』
『 Added to permanent shop inventory. Due to rarity, restocks occur weekly 』
『 When blooming normally, it has soothing, stress-relieving properties. When crushed and mixed with spring water, ice lotus oil, molten fire nectar, etc., it can be made into a facial mask. 』
『 Other required materials are unique and will only restock when the host prepares to make masks.
'Another rare commodity, just like Wasted Dreams!' Rin examined the flower with interest, its enchanting scent drawing the attention of Reimu and Kaguya.
But Reimu only spared it a glance before returning to her money-counting.
Distractions were an insult to this windfall!
Kaguya, however, studied the plant with fascination.
"Boss, is this for sale too? It looks exquisite."
"Members-only. Either buy the potted plant as a decoration, or use a membership slot for me to process it into a mask for facial care."
"But…. it's scarce—only one per week. If someone claims it, others must wait. And the facial care service won't come cheap."
Rin smirked inwardly. Once these girls experienced it, they'd be fighting to reserve the flower—and that's when he'd cash in.
Kaguya's eyes sparkled. With her new membership, she could seize this opportunity!
"I'll take it! A bone-setting massage and facial care—let's do both!" She declared with the confidence of someone here to indulge.
"Coming right up. Rest for a bit while I prepare the mask."
After ushering her aside, Rin headed to the storage room to gather materials.
Watching the array of bottles and jars on the table, Kaguya's interest grew.
'This reminds me of Eirin's medicine-making. Maybe next week's flower can be handed to her for research.'
Just as Rin began mixing, an elegant figure holding a parasol materialized silently at the village entrance.
A unique floral scent had caught her attention.
Following the fragrance, Yuuka Kazami soon arrived outside the shop.
The moment she stepped inside, her crimson eyes locked onto the pristine white flower.
"Welco—oh." Rin's eyelid twitched.
'Did she install surveillance in here? How does she always show up when I get a new plant?'
Yuuka's gaze never left Spring's Whisper as she asked—
"For sale?"
"Sorry, members-only. And only one per week—this one's already taken." Rin gestured to Kaguya, who waved cheerfully.
'This woman feels terrifying. If even she's drawn here, this flower must be incredible!'
Disappointment flickered in Yuuka's eyes, but relief followed when she heard there'd be more.
"How to become a member?"
"Reimu."
"Ack—right this way! Our membership includes…" Reluctantly setting aside her cash, Reimu began explaining the perks.
Meanwhile, Rin turned back to the flower.
Snap.
The moment he plucked it—
Creeeak.
The sound of knuckles tightening ominously made his hair stand on end.
Yuuka was staring at him, her eyes radiating murderous intent.
But since the flower already had an owner, she restrained herself—barely.
Rin chuckled awkwardly before crushing the bloom under Yuuka's increasingly homicidal gaze.
"…Why?"
She ground out through clenched teeth.
"Ahem. This flower has medicinal properties. Mixed with certain ingredients, it becomes a facial mask. Combined with massage techniques, it offers exceptional skincare benefits. Keeps skin plump, hydrated, and silky smooth. Naturally fragrant, repels dust and insects."
"Also brightens complexion, prevents dullness, etc…"
As he listed the effects, Yuuka's glare wavered, shifting into something dangerously close to temptation.