Honkai Star Rail: Corruption System

"Hmm, Mr. Svarog, you really do care about that girl, don't you?" Topaz remarked, a faint smile playing on her lips. "But you've made the right call. Just take me straight to the weapons factory – it'll save everyone a lot of trouble. My time is precious too, and I really must be going."

Topaz gently stroked the source code chip in her hand, a hint of triumph coloring her tone.

Turning her head to Daziel and March 7th, her voice softened slightly. "Since Mr. Svarog is willing to cooperate, the rest is up to you two. Miss Clara's injuries look quite serious, please take good care of her."

Daziel nodded, a grim set to his jaw. They were responsible for Clara's accidental injury; it was only right they took responsibility.

"Alright," he agreed, "I promise you, we'll go with Topaz and find that weapons factory first."

Svarog hesitated for a moment, his gaze shifting between Daziel and March 7th. His voice, when he spoke, held a distinct edge of warning. "You two. For Clara's sake, I'll trust you again, for now. Before I return, I expect to see Clara's wounds properly treated."

"You have my word, Mr. Svarog," Daziel promised solemnly. "I can't bear to see anything truly bad happen to Clara either."

As soon as Svarog had left with Topaz, Daziel and March 7th carefully carried Clara into the room and gently laid her on the bed.

A deep, ugly wound marred Clara's thigh, blood welling up and staining the bedsheets a spreading crimson.

Despite the biting cold outside, the skin around the injury was an unnatural, bluish-purple – a clear sign the wound was far worse than they'd initially thought.

"Is a blood vessel damaged?" Daziel frowned deeply, his voice laced with worry. "We need to stop this bleeding immediately, or the wound will get infected…"

March 7th crouched beside the bed, her brow furrowed as she examined Clara's injury. She shook her head, a note of helplessness in her voice. "Neither of us are doctors, and Miss Natasha's clinic is miles from here…"

"Then what do we do?" Daziel's voice rose, tinged with panic. "Even getting medicine from Rivet Town will take too long!"

Just then, a cold, mechanical voice echoed within Daziel's mind.

"Ding!"

[System detected host in distress. Generating new solution.]

[Please wait… system scanning!]

[Scan successful!]

[New target acquired: Clara]

[Corruption Value: 0%]

[New Task: Lick Clara's feet to increase Clara's Corruption Value to 10%]

[Task Reward: Special Treatment]

[Special Treatment: Heals Clara's injuries without scarring, for future host interactions…]

Daziel's brow furrowed deeper, cursing silently. That damned Otherworld System. Always picking the worst possible moments to cause trouble!

Wait a minute… this inexplicable battle… could it all have been orchestrated by this blasted thing?

Just to set up this task? To make me do something this perverted?

He glanced at Clara. She had the body of a child, not quite a loli, but still undeniably young…

He looked from Clara to March 7th, a wave of dilemma washing over him.

No. Now is not the time for shame!

Saving her has to be the priority!

But… best not to let March 7th see the details of this particular task. I need to distract her somehow…

An idea sparking in his mind, Daziel turned to March 7th. "March," he said, trying to keep his voice steady, "could you… could you fetch some water to wipe Clara's face? She looks a bit weak."

He desperately hoped his tone sounded natural.

March 7th, blessedly, didn't suspect a thing. "Okay, sure. I'll be right back." She nodded and turned to get water.

Daziel watched her go, a pang of guilt twisting in his stomach, but he pushed it aside. Hesitation was a luxury he couldn't afford.

Taking a deep breath, he focused his gaze on Clara's bare feet.

Her ankles were slender and pale, her toes perfectly round and delicate, pink and soft as if they'd never been confined by shoes. Now, they were slightly curled, looking vulnerable and helpless.

How does she run around barefoot in this freezing cold every day, without a single callus, without even getting dirty?

And if I lick them like this… will there be hygiene issues?

Of course, this really wasn't the time for such questions. Answers wouldn't be found by overthinking. At this point, Daziel was still clinging to naiveté, still momentarily paralyzed by the choice in front of him. He was still days away from truly abandoning his ingrained moral compass.

But even so, the hesitation didn't last long. Daziel steeled himself, making his decision.

He slowly lowered his head and gently licked Clara's toes.

Wow… sweet!

The taste instantly reminded Daziel of the Alpine lollipops he'd loved in his past life…

"Mmm… ngh… so… itchy!" Clara murmured softly, a delicate moan escaping her lips, laced with sensitivity and a touch of discomfort.

"Ding!"

[Target character Clara's Corruption Value increased by 2%]

[Current Corruption Value: 2%]

[Keyword triggered: Sensitive point]

[Host, please continue your efforts. Have you considered that Clara's frequent ankle sprains when wearing shoes might be precisely because her feet are overly sensitive? Continued licking may yield… unexpected benefits.]

Daziel's heart jolted in his chest. He quickly straightened up, his head spinning. He noticed Clara's face was even paler now, but… the wound on her leg did seem to have changed. The bluish-purple tinge around it was already starting to fade, and the bloodstains seemed to be congealing.

"This… is it actually working?"

Surprise warred with a rising tide of guilt within Daziel.

Just then, March 7th returned, a basin of water in her hands. She stopped short, seeing Daziel crouched by Clara's feet, and the distinct sheen of moisture on Clara's soles. She froze, instantly stunned.

"Daziel… what on earth are you doing?" March 7th's voice was a mix of shock and disbelief.

This was completely unexpected. Daziel hadn't counted on her returning so quickly.

He scrambled to his feet, trying to explain in a panicked rush. "I… I was treating Clara's injury! I just licked her feet, and her wound really does seem to be healing! It's my new… Abundance Blessing!"

"Licked… her feet?! Abundance Blessing?!" March 7th's eyes widened to saucers, staring at Daziel in utter disbelief. "Hey! Hey hey! Even I can tell that's a load of bull! Are you serious right now? Your explanation is just… ridiculous! Is that how Abundance works?"

"I… I don't know, okay?" Daziel stammered, feeling utterly flustered. "Maybe your blessing back then was Aha's, who knows? But doing this really does seem to be helping her wound!" He couldn't possibly reveal the system's bizarre task.

"I don't believe you!" March 7th shook her head vehemently, anger tightening her voice. "You're making it all up! You just wanted to… to take advantage of Clara!"

"I didn't!" Daziel protested quickly, "I really just want to save her, I swear!"

"Then why the hell did you lick her feet?! What kind of treatment is so completely insane?!" March 7th demanded, her voice sharp and accusatory.

"I… I…" Daziel was completely tongue-tied, utterly lost for words. He had no idea how to even begin explaining.

_

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