Chapter 54: I Like You the Most, Brother (Please Vote for Me)

Now that Kurumi had already helped him win Kotori over, all he needed to do was step outside and form a contract with her.

Looking at his petite hands and taking careful steps with his short legs, Su Mo couldn't help but suspect that Kurumi had deliberately turned him into this. After his body reverted to its appearance from five years ago, he could naturally present himself as Kotori's brother. Considering Kurumi had somehow managed to max out Kotori’s affection toward him five years ago, was there some deeper meaning behind all this?

Stepping out of the alley, Su Mo slowly approached Kotori.

Kotori, terrified, was curled up in the corner against the wall, trembling all over. She muttered incoherently, her voice most often calling, “Big brother, big brother,” over and over.

Only when she sensed someone approaching did Kotori slowly lift her head.

“Big brother!” Her eyes widened with delight as she looked at Su Mo, and she burst into tears, preparing to leap into his arms.

But midway, Kotori’s body suddenly froze.

Her spiritual power was out of control, flames continually surged from her body. While these flames didn't harm her, if she suddenly rushed forward and hugged Su Mo, it would be like bringing disaster upon herself.

Thinking of this, Kotori was even more frightened—she didn't dare get close.

“Big brother, I... I’m so scared, Kotori is so scared!”

Standing in place, Kotori wept bitterly, her tears falling like pearls.

Looking at Kotori before him, Su Mo felt a pang in his heart and hurried to reassure her, “Kotori, don’t be afraid. I have a way to save you.”

As he comforted her, Su Mo explained the rules of the contract.

He could sense Kotori's spiritual power intensifying. If he didn’t stop her soon, the flames would spread and cause an even greater disaster in Tengong City.

“Kotori, listen to me. As soon as you form a contract with me, your rampaging spiritual power will be sealed.” Su Mo reached out his hand, giving her an encouraging, gentle smile. “Do you trust me?”

This time, Kotori didn’t hesitate at all.

Who knows how Kurumi had managed to win Kotori’s trust, but five years ago Kotori seemed to have extraordinary faith in her brother. She nodded her little head, “I trust you, big brother!”

“Very well!”

Following the system’s method, Su Mo skillfully summoned the power of the contract.

The process was exceptionally smooth: the contract power entered Kotori’s body without any hindrance. At the same time, he could see Kotori’s affection score displayed before him—it was a full hundred. Such a score was almost frightening.

He had studied affection scores recently.

Normally, sixty was passing; friendships usually hovered around this mark. Below sixty equated to strangers—like passing acquaintances, neither fond nor hostile. Negative scores likely meant enemies.

At seventy, there was some fondness. Eighty meant intimacy—familial bonds often sat here. Ninety was admiration, and at this level, a confession of love would almost certainly be accepted.

But a hundred was a different realm entirely. It meant sharing life and death, viewing the other as more important than oneself. Few lovers or couples ever reached this level—Su Mo had managed to win over spirits like Toka and Yoshino only because they were inexperienced, which made things less difficult.

So, seeing Kotori’s affection at maximum, Su Mo was speechless.

He seriously suspected Kurumi had instilled some questionable ideas in Kotori five years ago.

...

After the contract succeeded, Su Mo, for once, didn’t hear the system’s notification sound.

Normally, every time he successfully formed a contract, he could extract a power from his partner. But not this time.

Thinking it over, Kotori’s power originated from the Spirit Crystal, and in the previous cycle, he had already gained the super-speed regeneration from it. Perhaps that’s why he couldn’t extract any ability from Kotori now—otherwise, he could keep rewinding time and endlessly extract powers from contract partners.

Such an obvious bug—how could the Supreme God allow Su Mo to exploit it?

Once Kotori’s spirit powers were sealed, her flames gradually faded away. Even her spirit attire vanished completely. But soon, Kotori let out a startled cry.

The flames had covered her body, and while her spirit attire resisted the fire, her original clothes had been utterly burned. Now, returning to human form, Kotori realized she was spotless— even her hair ribbon had been reduced to ashes, and her long, dark hair now flowed freely.

“Stupid brother!” Kotori crouched on the ground like a quail, her pretty face flushed with embarrassment.

Su Mo could only sigh helplessly, removing his jacket and draping it over Kotori’s shoulders. As for any visual treat—there was none. Kotori at this age had nothing to show; even if she stood naked before him, it would mean nothing. Still, her reaction was surprisingly strong.

Having put the jacket on Kotori, she seized the opportunity to grab his clothes, clinging tightly to him.

“Big brother, I was so scared just now. I thought I was going to be burned to death.” Kotori’s eyes brimmed with tears, her voice quivering from fear. She even pummeled Su Mo’s chest with her little fists, though it was no stronger than swatting a mosquito. “And today is my birthday, but you didn’t remember at all. I hate you the most!”

Indeed, today was Kotori’s birthday.

But that had nothing to do with him—he hadn’t been in this world five years ago, so how could he have known her birthday?

That was entirely Kurumi’s fault.

Looking at Kotori’s timid appearance, Su Mo’s eyes suddenly lit up. Last time, when he went on a date with Kurumi, he had bought quite a few things, including a hair ribbon meant as a gift for Kotori. Remembering this, he fumbled through his pocket and was relieved to find he hadn’t lost it.

“In that case, let’s make this hair ribbon your birthday present.”

Su Mo held the black silk ribbon in his hand and gently tied Kotori’s hair anew, comforting her as he did, “I hope, once you wear this ribbon, you’ll find courage.”

“Does big brother want Kotori to be brave?”

Feeling Su Mo’s tenderness, Kotori blushed and asked.

Without hesitation, Su Mo nodded, “Of course!”

“Then Kotori will try her best to become the person big brother wants me to be.”

Leaning her head against Su Mo’s chest, after a series of shocks and joys in such a short time, Kotori—only seven or eight years old—was utterly exhausted.

She blinked sleepy eyes, and just as she drifted into sleep, she murmured:

“I love big brother the most!”