"It's actually quite simple—the effect is amplified by combining Acting and Vocal Ability, then utilizing Emotion Transfer."
Explaining to himself aloud, Yuu recalled the earlier sensation.
Shouting to help the girl was a subconscious reaction. Even Yuu didn't know why he chose to do it at that moment or why the combination of skills he happened to use successfully kept her from falling into the water.
He didn't intend to dwell on it too much. Call it a moment of inspiration, like a miracle. The world is full of such coincidences.
Yuu wasn't afraid of failure either. Whether the shout worked or not, he wouldn't be targeted under the No Suspicion Whatsoever status.
What caught his attention most was the combination of two skills and one status, like an ability often seen in manga or novels—
"Word Magic."
Acting's displayed emotions as the bullet, Vocal Ability as the barrel, and Emotion Transfer as the trigger.
When combined, the bullet of words fired this way could subtly influence the opponent's mind and body.
"Good grief, this is too fantastical…"
Rationality pieced the situation into a conclusion, but his feelings made it hard for Yuu to believe.
Was this really some kind of urban superpower? The Siscon Soldier King Also Wants to Be a Rental Boyfriend?
But on second thought, the No Presence status couldn't be explained scientifically either. Limiting the System's abilities to a manga-style framework was just asking for boredom.
Calming his wavering emotions, Yuu placed his palm on his forehead, tapping his eyebrow.
For now, let's settle on this conclusion—
"Congratulations, Host has acquired combined skill: Word Bullet."
The System didn't notify him, so Yuu made it up himself.
Effect: Injects fake emotions into words, subtly influencing the opponent's mind and body, even achieving extraordinary effects (insufficient samples, mostly speculative).
Example: Before the girl fell, disguise anxious and worried emotions, fire the Word Bullet "Stand tall!" at the opponent, prompting an immediate reaction, stabilizing their unbalanced body with gymnast-like agility, and standing upright.
That's much clearer.
Lowering his hand from his forehead, Yuu let out a soft sigh.
The initial shock faded to normalcy, with neither sadness nor joy in his heart, only a hint of resignation.
"This rotten System, does it know I'm not a pervert, so it only gives me manga-style lewd skills and statuses like this?"
Like Transparent Room or Hypnosis Campus series… If his mind weren't upright, he might've long taken the crooked path with the System's help.
Back then, Yuu might've targeted Sora first—his beloved little sister.
Turning her into a cheerful girl who loves going out, no longer eating junk like chips daily, then calling him Onii-chan~ with an innocent, sweet expression!
That's how real hypnosis should be used.
"Sadly, though my lips have been tainted by someone, my heart remains pure."
Quickly tossing the issue to the back of his mind, Yuu left the man-made lake. Amid the vast mountain scenery, he once again didn't know where to go.
"Haruno said she'd contact me later, but how long is 'later'?" Glancing at his phone, Yuu couldn't help but grumble.
He'd waited over half an hour, and if she didn't give him a clear time soon, he planned to head back so Sora wouldn't worry too much at home.
After thinking for a moment, Yuu decided to head out and see what she was up to.
With No Suspicion Whatsoever active, the manor was like a public bus to him—hop on, hop off anytime.
But just as he started walking toward the three-story building, he received a message from Haruno.
Haruno: {Hahaha, finally done~~~ I'm free to move until lunch. Head to the shopping area on the west side of the resort and wait for me there. No one should spot us, so we can have a quick secret date!}
Yuu replied with an "understood" sticker, recalling the resort's map and sighing softly:
"Secret date, my foot… I'm a rental boyfriend, not a homewrecker."
Not only did he surprise her, but now Haruno had to risk getting caught by her parents to go on a date with him…
Forget a rental boyfriend—even a real affair wouldn't dare play like this!
This job was tough.
Though Yuu complained inwardly, his body honestly headed toward the shopping area a few kilometers away.
(Is it true that hanging out with good people makes you good, and with bad ones, you turn bad?)
With Haruno, he was starting to go a bit off track.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Around 11 a.m.
The sun blazed in the clear sky, but the cool mountain breeze dispelled the summer heat.
Perfect dating weather.
Since the resort was newly opened and membership-based, the shopping area had few visitors. Most shop staff idled at their stalls, only straightening up when someone passed, greeting with a wide smile, "Welcome~."
Then, when the visitor passed without a glance, they slumped back like sunflowers lacking water, wilting at the counter.
"Sorry, I'd like to pay."
"Alright, the total is…"
After the payment, the handicraft shop staff returned to standby mode, staring blankly ahead.
But moments later, she blinked suddenly and stood up in shock.
"Wait, was there a customer just now?!"
Her head spun. The staff quickly checked the payment history and confirmed someone had bought a wooden comb and a hair tie, with the receipt printed.
Whether she was too lost in thought or the customer's actions were too natural—like staying over at a girlfriend's house—she processed the payment without much thought, not even recalling if the customer was male or female.
"Hmm, this won't do… I need to be more spirited at work!"
The shop assistant slapped her cheeks, returning to enthusiastic work mode.
Meanwhile, Yuu, who'd impulsively bought two small items at the handicraft shop, sat casually on a bench under an umbrella, waiting for Haruno.
He pulled a blue knit hair tie from the paper bag, squinting at it in the sunlight, a satisfied smile forming on his lips.
"A winter-style hair tie—should suit Sora perfectly!"
Rarely traveling far, how could he not bring a souvenir for his sister?
Though she'd probably prefer regional potato chips and care little for hair ties…
If Sora dared show disgust at a gift her brother carefully picked, Yuu would confiscate her chips.
So he wasn't worried she'd dislike it—it was just a token of care.
After putting away the hair tie, Yuu took out a handmade wooden comb with bright cherry blossom patterns.
His fingers gently traced the design, his brows slightly furrowed, his eyes showing doubt.
"Though it's not odd for a rental boyfriend to give a gift to a client… giving a comb to a woman shouldn't have any weird meaning, right?"
He just felt the comb suited her, so he bought it without much thought… He should've researched first.
"…Sigh."
Lingering in doubt, Yuu finally sighed and tucked the wooden comb back into the paper bag.
Giving a gift was impulsive, and choosing what to give was impulsive too—only after calming down did he realize how foolish he was.
Anyway, the rewards he'd gotten today were plenty, and as a rental boyfriend, he'd done his best. Skipping this wouldn't matter, right?
"Huh? What's that? A gift for me?"
As Yuu thought this, Haruno's cheerful, light, and slightly soft voice rang out.
Yuu looked up.
Haruno approached, propping her knees and leaning forward, curiously eyeing the two paper bags on the bench.
For some reason, all his earlier doubts vanished. Yuu instinctively said:
"The right one's for my sister, the left one's for you."
"Got it~"
Haruno's eyes curved like crescent moons. She happily grabbed the left paper bag, sat beside him, leaning against his shoulder.
After opening it and seeing the wooden comb, she looked at Yuu with slight surprise.
Uncomfortable under her gaze, Yuu could only look into the distance, saying casually: "Just picked it randomly. A cheap 888-yen wooden comb. If you don't like it, give it back."
"When receiving a gift from someone, no matter what's in your heart, saying 'thank you, I love it' is the proper thing, right?"
Speaking nonchalantly, Haruno placed the comb in his hand, her lips curving into a slightly mischievous girl's smile.
"As for whether I really like it, brush my hair, and you'll find out! Come on!"
"Huh?"
Haruno turned, flicking her head with a touch of joy.
Yuu looked at the wooden comb in his hand, then at her back, his mouth slightly open, frozen in silence.