Chapter 2: This Trash System!

[Current Villain Value: 20]

Staring at the virtual info box in his vision, Linux was now certain—

—The [Evil Deeds Incentive System] bound to him was the most scammy system on the entire cat site, bar none.

In short, tormenting [Magical Girls] would grant him incredible evil rewards.

At the same time, it would increase his [Villain Value].

The higher his [Villain Value], the stronger his evil aura, making him more likely to attract [Magical Girls] and create more opportunities for torment.

But the chance of getting wrecked would also rise accordingly.

An ironclad system with ever-changing hosts.

Every time the current host gets annihilated by a magical girl, the [Evil Deeds Incentive System] automatically resets itself, unchanged, ready to welcome the next unlucky soul.

By the time Linux activated it, it was already the 101st generation of the system girl.

In other words, this godforsaken system had literally screwed over its previous 100 hosts to death.

“Impressive, truly impressive.”

Linux couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

Now, as he examined the system’s options for doing evil, he fell deep into thought.

He had to admit, the rewards for options A and B this time both looked incredibly tempting.

But choosing either would be a one-way ticket to death.

Option A—transforming a magical girl into his own Villainess Executive—sounded absolutely wonderful.

But between magical girls, there were bound to be bonds of friendship or something similar. Sooner or later, there would inevitably be some redemption arc where she’d be swayed back to the light.

The moment the Villainess Executive defects, the Villain Boss would be as good as dead.

Option B—broadcasting the magical girl’s defeat live worldwide—was even more extreme.

This would be a direct challenge to every magical girl on the planet. He’d absolutely get doxxed and annihilated in real life immediately.

Not to mention, the reward was just a juvenile Godzilla, which wouldn’t be any help at all.

Even if he somehow survived, the Villain Value gained from doing evil would skyrocket his chances of sudden death from then on.

In conclusion, options A and B were absolutely out of the question.

“Interesting.”

At this thought, Linux’s previously tense nerves relaxed completely.

—He had successfully eliminated all the guaranteed-death options.

So, what remained was the one and only risk-free correct answer.

[C. Trick the magical girl into going on a date with you, causing her to lose her combat ability from excessive shyness!]

[Reward: Just an ordinary pack of marshmallows (worth 100 yen)]

In this world, 20 yen had roughly the same purchasing power as 1 yuan in his original world.

So, 100 yen was just five yuan.

As a system reward, it was pathetically stingy—no wonder it had been overlooked.

But in Linux’s eyes, this was the only option with zero risk, and it wouldn’t increase that goddamn Villain Value either.

“I choose C.”

Without hesitation, Linux gave his firm answer to the system in his mind.

Then, he reached out with both hands.

He turned [Magical Girl Silver White]’s face toward him, forcing her to meet his gaze.

Under a cascade of dazzling silver hair, her face—that of a dignified, elegant, and proud older sister—was like an untouchable flower atop a high peak.

“Wh-what are you trying to do to me?! Kill me, torture me, do whatever you want… but turning me into one of you is absolutely out of the question! Th-that’s against the rules!”

“Grant me one request,

and I’ll let you go.”

Linux stared into her pink-gold eyes and spoke with complete seriousness.

The moment the words left his mouth, the beautiful [Magical Girl Silver White] visibly froze.

“Wh-what kind of request…?”

She blurted it out almost reflexively.

But she quickly caught herself.

“No! A magical girl would never make a deal with a Villain Boss!!”

“Why not hear me out first? It’s not like listening will cost you anything.”

Linux offered a friendly smile and shrugged lightly.

Still dressed in his clinic doctor’s attire, his black hair and dark eyes gave him a refined, scholarly appearance.

His tone remained calm the entire time, with not a hint of malice.

His overall demeanor was so approachable that [Magical Girl Silver White], who had been on guard like a cornered animal just moments ago, now settled down.

She stared at the Villain Boss in confusion, waiting to hear his condition for releasing her.

“—It’s 6 p.m. now.”

Linux first raised his left wrist, showing Tachibana Asuka the time on his watch.

“Two hours. Just go on a date with me until 8 p.m., and I’ll let you go. How about it?”

“……?”

Tachibana Asuka was utterly dumbfounded.

She had assumed the condition for her release would be something utterly vile, shameless, and filthy!

Like betraying the other magical girls or something…

But she never expected it to be… just a two-hour date…

This…

Tachibana Asuka blankly lowered her head, looking down at herself.

Gradually, she managed to regain her senses.

—The Villain Boss’s request… kind of made sense.

After all, she was still in her [Magical Girl Silver White] transformed state.

Appearance-wise, even among magical girls, she was exceptionally striking—and this wasn’t just her being vain.

Just the fact that she was the cool, silver-haired older sister type was amazing enough.

Every inch of her skin was as soft and fragrant as milk, exuding an intoxicatingly sweet scent.

Not to mention, she was clad in a dreamlike magical battle dress with a knightly aesthetic.

How could a greedy, evil Villain Boss not be interested in such a beautiful magical girl?!

This so-called “date” was probably just an excuse.

But…

“Idiot!”

“Oh?”

Linux showed no irritation at her sudden insult.

Then, in the next second, an incredible silver-white light erupted from Tachibana Asuka’s entire body, enveloping her in an instant.

It took a full thirty seconds before the light finally faded.

The beautiful silver-haired older sister was gone.

In her place stood a petite, slender black-haired girl in a Japanese-style school uniform, her hair cut in a neat bob.

—Compared to the mature form of [Magical Girl Silver White], this was like night and day.

“Magical girls can only transform once a day, and each transformation lasts at most thirty minutes. Bet you’re disappointed now.”

As if her disguise had been publicly stripped away, she turned her face aside with a cold smirk, her lips curling in self-mockery.

“As you can see, this is my true form—Tachibana Asuka, an utterly ordinary girl. Still want to go on that date with me?!”

“Ahh, I see.”

Linux nodded lightly.

Almost without thinking, he immediately changed his mind.

“Then let’s make it until 9 p.m. Once the time’s up, I’ll let you go.”

“W-wait a second!”

Tachibana Asuka’s self-deprecating smile vanished instantly.

No matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t understand.

Even after reverting to her true form, the other party wasn’t disappointed—if anything, he seemed even more enthusiastic.

“It was 8 p.m. just now! Why add another hour?!”

“Because Silver White-chan’s true form is even cuter.”

“I’m not cute at all!!!”

As if personally insulted, Tachibana Asuka bristled like an angry kitten.

—There was no doubt about it: [Magical Girl Silver White] was perfection.

Compared to her transformed self, her untransformed self was as plain as an ugly duckling.

Yet, the Villain Boss across from her undid the medical bandages restraining her.

Just like before, he raised his right hand again, extending a formal invitation.

“Go on a date with me. Three hours, and I’ll let you go. I keep my promises.”

“Guh…”

The girl’s face flushed crimson against her will.

—This Villain Boss must be out of his mind!