"Come on, Sakuya, you can stop time! Can't you at least try?"
After dinner, while Sakuya was washing the dishes, Patchouli stubbornly pestered her again.
Such a powerful ability—wouldn't it be a waste not to use it now?
Sure, there might be a tiny bit of risk, but this would be her first offense—surely the boss wouldn't come down too hard on her!
Sakuya rolled her eyes with clear annoyance. She had seen exactly what happened to those foolish enough to stir up trouble at the general store.
Trying to tempt her into this? Unforgivable.
"Aren't your own spells pretty amazing? Why not try it yourself?"
"Ahem, well, you see... I've been draining my mana reserves pretty hard lately. Still recovering." Patchouli muttered awkwardly.
After taking the potion, her magic capacity had shot up, but her recovery rate had taken a big hit too.
She'd barely recovered a fifth of her energy since crafting spells for both Marisa and herself yesterday. Then, she went sneaking around looking for Wasted Dreams, which cost her even more.
She couldn't afford to completely burn out her mana now. If Rin caught on and she couldn't fight back—even Marisa had put up more resistance!
But Sakuya remained stone-faced, rejecting her flatly.
"Not doing it. I don't want to end up like our Mistress and the others—out cold."
Rin's powers were freakishly bizarre. Once you fell for it, it was like having one foot in the abyss.
There's no "just once" when it comes to corruption.
Seeing Sakuya's utterly unshakable expression, Patchouli pouted and muttered bitterly as she left the kitchen.
Just you wait. When I make it through all this and start settling scores, you won't be able to run.
She cast a sidelong glance toward Rin, who was heading toward the bathroom with a mop, and rubbed her still-warm belly a little uneasily.
It's now or never. She had to go for it herself!
Just as she began subtly inching toward the bronze gift box's hiding place, two other figures stealthily moved in the same direction.
The moment their eyes met, all three of their expressions turned rather... strange.
"Patchy, you too?"
"Don't be ridiculous. I'm just out for a post-meal stroll."
"What about you, Reimu?"
"I'm helping clean up, obviously."
"You're seriously saying that out loud?"
Watching these two spout such utter nonsense, Marisa's eyelid twitched wildly.
She just wanted a taste—why did she have to face off against this many people?!
"I mean, fighting now isn't gonna help anyone. Why not work something out peacefully?"
"Look, I am the first employee here. I've suffered a ton lately, so just let me have this one, yeah?"
"If the boss stocks more in the future and you all want to help, I'll totally take the lead."
Marisa pleaded earnestly. Haven't I been through enough? Do none of you have a conscience?!
But Reimu just let out a cold laugh.
"You've already been... broken in by the boss. You've got a better chance than us of cozying up to him and sweet-talking your way in."
"So why not leave this opportunity to someone who really needs it? It's not easy putting food on the table, you know."
"If you insist, though... you can pay me whatever Yukari offered, and I'll step aside."
Marisa froze. Whatever price Yukari had offered—it definitely wasn't some pocket change.
As for "cozying up" to Rin?
Out of the question. She was still in her die-before-submitting phase.
And even now, she was barely staying out of bed. If she really cooperated... she might not be able to walk ever again!
Seeing she couldn't reason with Reimu, she turned her puppy-dog eyes toward Patchouli.
But one look into Patchouli's eyes—burning with resentment and dark energy—made her flinch.
Did I do something to her...? Why is she this mad?
"This deadlock isn't getting us anywhere. How about we— Patchy! Why is your hand glowing?!"
Seeing magic pulsing from Patchouli's hand, Marisa snapped to full alert.
We're still trying to negotiate, and you're already making your move?!
Caught in the spotlight, Patchouli stiffened and rushed to explain.
"I was just checking if the item was still there. We're not the only ones who want Wasted Dreams, you know."
"But bad news: someone already beat us to it."
With a grim face, she opened the drawer—revealing that the bronze gift box had vanished.
Marisa and Reimu's faces darkened immediately, as if they had locked on to the prime suspect.
They dashed out of the room, cursing up a storm.
Yet shortly after they left, a faint violet glow pulsed inside the drawer—and the bronze box reappeared.
"Too naïve." Patchouli sighed, pulling the box out and preparing to sneak it to Yuugi's room. But her body suddenly froze.
It felt like... an eerie pair of eyes had just locked onto her. Cold, oppressive, utterly unnatural.
Yet just as suddenly as the sensation came, it vanished—like it had never been there at all.
She stared, dazed, in the direction of the bathroom.
'Did Rin notice me? ...Did he just let me go?' Patchouli's eyes lit up.
Sure, he was a little pervy, but he was surprisingly easy to reason with!
Grinning, she hurried off with the gift box to Yuugi's room.
Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Rin smiled gently to himself—
『 Patchouli has fallen into a hypnotic state. 』
The unsuspecting victim had already arrived in front of Yuugi.
Seeing the bronze box in Patchouli's hand, Yuugi's eyes lit up like fireworks. She shot upright in a flash.
After a quick glance out the door to confirm no one had followed, she locked it tight.
"No one tailed you, right?"
"Relax. I've got it covered." Patchouli tossed the box over without hesitation.
"Woooooaaaah! Patchy, you're a goddess!"
"So many people tried and failed—and you pulled it off?! That's insane!"
Yuugi beamed with admiration—it was like stealing a sacred offering from under a god's nose!
Patchouli gave a sheepish laugh. Sure, Rin did let her off the hook... but she still got the goods!
"I got what you wanted. Don't forget what you promised me."
"Don't worry, when it comes to drinking someone under the table, I'm built for it."
"I'll get the boss completely wasted—he's yours after that!"
"Perfect. Just don't drink it now. We need it for tonight's plan."
"I got it!"