Takumi was stunned, then laughed. "You protect me? Are you serious?"
Little Mizuki nodded earnestly. Then, realizing something, she shook her head like a little chick and said,"Back in kindergarten, you always made the teachers and classmates mad, and no boys wanted to play with you. I thought... if anyone bullied you again, I'd step in and teach them a lesson... to stand up for you."
Takumi was genuinely amused. Mizuki's face turned scarlet. She looked down, too shy to say another word.
"But they still bully you every day. You can't even protect yourself—how are you going to stand up for me?" Takumi asked with a playful smile.
Mizuki bit her lip, her voice barely above a whisper. "No... lately you've been teaching me to do bad things. The teachers all say I've been corrupted by you. So no one bullies me anymore... only you still bully me."
Takumi's smile faded slightly. "That's true. Come to think of it, no one else has messed with you lately—only me. But if you know I bully you, why do you still want to protect me?"
She lowered her head again. She didn't really understand why herself. She just felt like she wanted to.
Takumi reached out. Mizuki thought he was about to pinch her cheeks again, so she shut her eyes tightly and shrank back.
But instead, he just patted her on the shoulder.
He smiled. "I don't expect you to protect me, but... thank you anyway." He turned to look at the boy from Taekwondo class. "As for learning Taekwondo, if you really want to do it, ask Auntie to sign you up. Who knows? Maybe you'll become really strong one day."
Mizuki stared at him in surprise. "Re... really?"
"Of course. These kinds of things are hard to predict," Takumi replied casually.
Children's hearts don't always understand complex feelings. But even so, Mizuki was beginning to realize why she didn't dislike it when Takumi bullied her. It was because he never dismissed her ideas.
And whenever she was too timid to try something, Takumi would nudge her forward, giving her the courage she lacked.
From a distance, Rin's voice echoed—her mother was calling Takumi back.
Takumi responded and waved goodbye to Mizuki. "I've gotta find my mom. See you at school tomorrow. Don't forget to bring me snacks!"
[Your words have subtly influenced Mizuki's heart, altering her future in small but meaningful ways][Adventure Reward: +1 Charm]
Huh? Was that a hidden event?
Watching Takumi walk away, Mizuki waved her small hand, a faint blush blooming on her cheeks. After a moment, she turned back toward the café where her parents were waiting.
That night, Mizuki quietly watched her mother sobbing on the living room couch.
Every time she met with Mizuki's father, her mother ended up like this.
But tonight was different. Mizuki took a glass of water and gently handed it to her.
"Mom... divorce Dad. Don't be unhappy anymore."
Auntie He froze, stunned by her daughter's words. She stared at Mizuki—usually so quiet—and broke into even louder tears.
Then, smiling through her sobs, she asked shakily, "Who taught you to say something like that? You can say things like this now?"
Mizuki wasn't stupid—just quiet. There were things she'd wanted to say for a long time. A month of Takumi's "corruption" had finally given her the courage to speak them.
She pulled her daughter into a hug, gently stroking her hair. "Alright. From now on, Mommy will listen to you. I'll try to be happy."
A month passed.
It was Wednesday morning. Aizen was driving Takumi to school.
Takumi was flipping through a kindergarten reader in the backseat when the system's voice chimed in, bringing tears of joy to his eyes.
Finally! After two months of coaxing Mizuki and diligent cultivation, he had reached level ten!
[Congratulations! After two months of hard work, you've reached Level 10—your first milestone in cultivation! Your first exclusive talent has been unlocked. As proof of your growth, low-grade pills from Mizuki no longer significantly boost your progress.]
Takumi wasn't surprised by the prompt. He'd eaten so many snacks over the past two months that most candies had lost their flavor. If translated into cultivation terms, it probably meant his pill resistance had increased.
[Your current attributes are—][Strength: 3][Energy: 2][Stamina: 4][Charm: 2][First exclusive skill unlocked]
[Qi Luck Link: Your bond with Mizuki has started to shape your cultivation path. Over the past two months, you've noticed that when Mizuki grows, so do you. In the world of cultivation, this phenomenon is known as "Qi Luck Link." Founders of great sects all rely on such bonds. You've studied this connection deeply... and achieved a breakthrough.]
[How to Use: Simply form a contract with a fairy willing to follow you. When their cultivation improves, your progress will double. However, the contract only succeeds if the other party gives genuine consent—forced contracts will fail.]
Form a contract? This setup feels strangely familiar…Still, this ability was ridiculously powerful.Double the growth for free? I love a good cashback bonus.
[Coincidentally, Mizuki has appeared before you again today. As partners over the past two months, would you like to form a contract with her, or choose someone else?]
"Takumi, we're here. Dad has to head to work now."
Aizen pulled the car to a stop at the school gate.
Takumi gave a soft grunt of acknowledgment, opened the car door, and jumped out."Drive safe, Dad."
Looking ahead, he spotted Mizuki standing near the gate, chatting with her mother. Aunt He's complexion looked noticeably better today. She gently touched Mizuki's head and said something—most likely a reminder to behave at school.
Mizuki, carrying her little schoolbag, waved cheerfully."Bye, Mom! Have a good day at work!"
Takumi approached just as Aunt He's taxi pulled away. Mizuki straightened up when she saw him, her tone sweet and clear.
"Good morning, Takumi."
He watched the departing taxi with curiosity."Your mom seems to be in a good mood today."
Mizuki nodded and glanced in the same direction."After the divorce, both my parents have been a lot happier."
She pulled a small bag of candy from her pocket and handed it to him."Here, this is today's batch. I asked Mom to buy them specially. All your favorite flavors."
In the past two months, Mizuki had changed quite a bit under Takumi's influence. Some of her bad habits had faded, and she talked more freely. Though she was still occasionally shy, she wasn't as bottled up as before.
Takumi waved his hand dismissively."Starting today, you don't need to bring me candy anymore. I don't want it."
"Huh?" Mizuki froze, her earlier happiness quickly draining from her face.Tears welled up in her eyes."Why? Are you not going to steal my snacks anymore? Why don't you want them?"
Takumi was speechless."What do you mean, steal? When have I ever snatched your stuff?"
"No—I mean... Why don't you want them all of a sudden?" she asked in a panic, convinced she'd done something wrong.
Takumi replied casually, "I just don't feel like eating them anymore. Keep them for yourself."
The truth is, they don't help me level up anymore. There's no point.
Mizuki's eyes shimmered with confusion and disappointment.
Takumi glanced at her tearful expression and clicked his tongue."What are you crying for?"
... Patreon Seasay