"Eu, lower the claw."
Raize's reminder sounded by her ear. Eu immediately pressed the button, then stopped according to his next instruction.
Then she pressed the grab button. Under Raize's steady control, the claw moved to the drop outlet inside the machine.
The penguin plush Eu wanted was finally obtained. As long as there was nothing wrong with the machine, he would not even need any special abilities to empty it completely.
Holding the little penguin plush in her arms, Eu did not continue playing in the arcade. After leaving together with Raize, she also started to feel hungry.
Her gaze was immediately drawn to the burger shop by the roadside, attracted by the aroma of hamburgers. Looking at the customers inside who were chewing burgers with big bites, Eu became very interested in this kind of food, though she did not know whether it would taste as good as Raize's cooking.
If Raize knew what the girl was thinking, he would definitely be speechless. Comparing hamburgers to my fantasy cuisine, who exactly are you looking down on?
Seeing Eu's interest in burgers, Raize took her to buy one. As for himself, he had no interest in this kind of food at all. It did not arouse his appetite.
On a park bench, when Eu took her first bite of the burger, she blinked and chewed carefully. Disappointment quickly showed in her eyes without any attempt to hide it.
The burger patty was nowhere near as good as Raize's meat dishes, and the other ingredients were the same. Raize had already expected this. After tasting fantasy ingredients, he himself had no appetite for ordinary food made with rough methods, and Eu was naturally no exception.
However, wanting to eat ordinary food was not impossible. As long as ordinary food could be made delicious, it would be fine. Raize took out a small bottle filled with sparkling golden powder from his backpack space.
This was a seasoning he had personally blended and synthesized. There were many different types stored in his backpack space, all made using pollen from the Solar Crown Sunflower.
Each Solar Crown Sunflower, aside from those that had been manifested, was also planted by Raize inside the world of Minecraft. These sunflowers grew by relying on the Sunflower energy from Plants vs. Zombies.
These golden seasonings could be paired with any food and possessed the power to turn decay into magic.
"Eu, try putting a little of this into the burger."
Eu looked at the small bottle of golden powder in front of her. After Raize opened the bottle, she smelled a strange fragrance. Just that single whiff made her want to taste the golden powder with her tongue.
After pouring a tiny bit of the golden seasoning onto the burger patty, the beef that she had already bitten into immediately turned a pale gold color, emitting a faint glow. A mouth-watering aroma of meat spread out.
As for glowing food, Eu was already used to it. She eagerly took another bite of the burger, and the delicious flavor exploded in her mouth. She squinted her eyes in enjoyment, her face filled with happiness.
After Eu finished the burger in her hands and accepted the air mineral water Raize handed her, drinking it down happily, she contentedly rubbed her small belly.
She was not full, but she was no longer hungry.
Eu curiously looked at the bottle of golden powder in Raize's hand and pointed at it as she asked, "Raize, what is this?"
"A kind of seasoning. It took quite a lot of materials and effort to refine. Normally it's only used when cooking for you all. Ordinary food becomes very delicious with just a little bit of it."
Raize handed the bottle to Eu. The moment she took it, she felt a warm sensation in her palm.
Holding the small bottle with both hands, the steady warmth transmitted from inside was definitely not an illusion.
After carefully smelling the fragrance of the seasoning, Eu felt her whole body warming up, as if she were basking in the sun.
"It feels just like the sun. Very warm."
Eu returned the bottle to Raize and shared her feelings. So this was how meticulous Raize was when cooking. Even the seasonings were extraordinary.
No wonder every dish he made ended up with a spotless plate.
"Eu, do you need to eat anything else?"
After putting the seasoning bottle away, Raize asked Eu. He knew her appetite and food intake very well. This amount of food was far from enough to fill her small belly.
Eu touched her stomach. Although she wanted to eat more, she treasured this relaxed time even more and wanted to play freely.
"Raize, I…"
"Buzz buzz~ my foolish…"
A sudden phone ringtone rang out. Eu stopped mid-sentence and gestured for him to answer the call first. Raize quickly picked up the phone and answered it without avoiding Eu.
It turned out that the company had completed the finished version of the Prototype game, and they now wanted the boss to inspect the results.
"Alright, wait for me a moment. I'll be there immediately."
Raize wanted to keep playing with Eu a bit longer, but now that the game was completed, he had no choice but to go.
Fortunately, the understanding and gentle Eu expressed interest in Raize's game company and wanted to visit it.
At home, Eu often played games and read novels or manga, so she knew that Raize had a game company.
After all, when Eu and Haruna needed to order things online, it was always handled by Raize, and he never lacked money.
After Raize brought Eu to the company, the employees greeted him politely. When they saw the girl closely following him, they were a bit curious, but since he was their superior, they could not directly ask.
She looked like she had a very good relationship with him. Makoto, Kobayashi, Taihei, and Takeshi all looked curiously as the two entered the office together.
Takeshi gossiped his way over to Taihei and asked curiously, "Taihei, what do you think the identity of the girl beside the president is?"
"How would I know, Motoba?" Taihei glanced helplessly at the afro-haired man beside him. He was not very motivated at work, yet extremely interested in gossip.
Although he himself was also quite curious about who the girl with Raize was.
A girlfriend? The atmosphere didn't feel like that at all, but their relationship looked very close.
Inside Raize's office, he was introducing the place to Eu. The girl was quite interested in Raize's games.
As they chatted and laughed, Raize saw Eu's charming smile several times today. Just a few small jokes were enough to make her laugh.
He really could not imagine how such a girl, with such a low laughter threshold and so easily amused, managed to live each day as if without emotions.
Through genuine interaction, Raize had already come to understand some of Eu's pain. If there were a chance in the future, he should have the ability to help her resolve the burdens and suffering she carried.
Knock knock.
"Come in."
The sudden knock on the door sounded. Eu stopped smiling, and Raize tidied himself before calling for the person outside to enter.
The door opened. Kobayashi walked in holding a small stack of documents and a USB drive in one hand. She glanced at Eu sitting beside Raize, then looked back at him.
After all, there was an outsider present, and what she was about to say involved company matters.
Raize immediately notified her through telepathy.
[It's fine, Kobayashi. She's family, not an outsider.]
Hearing the familiar voice in her mind, Kobayashi raised her eyebrows without making a fuss. After all, with two giant dragons being kept at home, she had a strong heart and great acceptance.
Tohru had already told her about Raize's special abilities.
"Raize, the finished game has been wrapped up. The relevant documents and the game build are all here. As per your request, you'll be the one to accept and inspect it."
"I'll take my leave first."
After conveying the information, Kobayashi did not linger as a third wheel and excused herself.
Raize then took out a large box of specially made bento from his backpack space and handed it to Eu, while he himself began the final optimization of the Prototype game.
Eu, who had not eaten her fill, happily started eating while watching Raize seriously optimize the game beside her.
The speed of the keyboard tapping was extremely rapid. Under his optimization, the original finished version of the Prototype game steadily rose in quality.
Character models became more refined, the action engine was optimized, 3D effects were strengthened, environmental construction improved…
Before long, the Prototype game was fully optimized.
Opening the game on the computer, a familiar yet different loading screen came into view. The first test stage used the complete form of Alex.
The exquisitely detailed character model of Alex on the screen was extremely eye-catching. The use of skills such as the whipfist, claws, spikes, tendrils, and hammer was shocking and impactful. With Raize's enhancements to the skill effects, using them felt incomparably satisfying.
Freely venting destructive urges within the game world, who among players that have experienced Prototype would not feel exhilarated?
Raize tested the game's performance and quality there, while the curious Eu watched from the side. Although the refined visuals on the screen were somewhat violent and bloody, the story and overall game style presented were very appealing.
Eu did not truly understand games, but she did play them. A game with such powerful action effects looked impressive, and the plot displayed in the game was also very engaging to her.
After some time passed, it was already afternoon. After finishing the entire game storyline, Eu could not help but praise it, saying, "The game is amazing."
Whether it was the effects shown, the refined environments and characters, or the storyline driven by Alex's anti-hero style, all of it could be considered excellent.
Eu did not feel that watching the game with Raize was a waste of time. After all, she enjoyed it very much after it ended, just like watching a movie.
"Thank you for the praise. When the game is released, I'll let you play it too."
Raize smiled as he responded to Eu, who had been accompanying him. Now that the testing was complete and there were no obvious flaws, the game could be confirmed for release.
So what game should be made next? Raize opened the system's game directory in his mind, then opened a document directory on the computer and began recording the next plans.
The progress on Asura's Wrath over there could be transferred. The remaining music and voice acting would require the company's manpower.
He still had enough capacity to produce two more games. From games that could grant powerful abilities and were suitable for him, he selected God of War and Resident Evil from the system directory.
The focus was on God of War. The level of power granted by that game was no small matter. As for Resident Evil, it would also be helpful to him after clearing Prototype.
After carefully spending an hour, the scripts and planning documents for the two games, along with Asura's Wrath, were all handed over to his employees.
Raize was very satisfied with the finished Prototype game. The optimization did not take much effort, and the bonuses that should be given would all be given.
Originally, preparations for the new game's release should have begun next, but the company's veteran employees all received Raize's new game planning proposals in the meeting room.
Prototype had not even been released yet, and there were already new game proposals. The boss was truly productive.
As for the final voice acting and music for Asura's Wrath, following Raize's requirements and instructions, he entrusted the work to Kobayashi and Taihei.
The company, which had just relaxed, was about to get busy again. Although the workload suddenly increased, Raize's generous bonuses made it all worthwhile.
The company had a strict rule of not working overtime too late. When it was time to go home, everyone went home. Although there were no longer ghoul threats in this area, Raize had not removed this rule.
After handling the company matters, the sky had still not reached dusk. Walking out of the company with Eu, Raize said apologetically to the girl:
"Sorry, Eu. I clearly promised to spend the day playing with you, but in the end…"
Today, the game was scheduled to be completed and required his inspection, but when preparing to go to the company from home, Raize could not bear to see Eu in that state at home, which was why he brought her out to play together.
Facing Raize's apology, Eu did not feel that he had wronged her in any way. She had a very happy day, and accompanying him at the company was the same. It felt fulfilling and satisfying.
Holding the penguin plush in her arms, Eu smiled faintly and replied:
"Being with Raize today was very enjoyable. The company was the same."
Through the changes beneath the girl's disguise, Raize could see Eu's smile coming from the heart. The exquisite doll seemed like an angel fallen into the mortal world. Being able to see a smile on that usually expressionless face was not easy at all.
Those brilliant, gorgeous blue eyes truly expressed her emotions: happiness, joy, and satisfaction.
Raize's heart also felt a sense of fulfillment, as if he were infected by her emotions. A slight smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
He looked up at the sky, then at the surroundings, and immediately locked onto a high-end clothing store. Thinking about the purple dress Eu always wore, how could a girl only have one outfit?
"Eu, there's still some time. How about we go there for a bit?"
Raize pointed toward the clothing store. Eu followed his gaze, and seeing the many beautiful dresses of all kinds displayed in the window, her eyes lit up.
But thinking that she only had one day, and that even wearing other clothes would be useless since she would still have to return to the restraints of that heavy armor, she hesitated.
"No, those clothes… huh?"
Seeing Eu hesitate and start to refuse, Raize naturally knew what she was thinking. Without giving her time to decline, he grabbed her small hand and led her straight into the store.
Layers of fine energy streams wrapped around Eu's body. With no strength to resist at the moment, she was directly pulled inside by Raize.
Once inside, Raize released her hand without hesitation, turned around, and said to her:
"Things in the future can be thought about later. The problems on your body will be resolved one day. Right now, you're just an ordinary girl. Just do what you want to do."
As he spoke, he first cast a spell outside the store to disperse idle onlookers, then temporarily removed Eu's disguise to reveal her true form.
Regarding Raize's willful and forceful behavior, Eu felt both amused and helpless, but she did not dislike it. That pull had dragged away the gloom in her heart as well. Since she was already inside the store, she could not very well walk out without regard for appearances.
Inside this high-end fashion store, Raize accompanied Eu in selecting suitable clothes. Eu's figure was petite and slender, but there were plenty of clothes in the store that suited her.
Eu continuously changed outfits in the fitting room. Although she was small, she had the potential of a perfect mannequin. Her noble temperament allowed her to easily carry any outfit.
The female attendant beside them kept praising her nonstop, saying things like how everything fit perfectly and how beautiful his girlfriend looked in each outfit, subtly hinting that he should buy everything for his girlfriend.
After all, almost every outfit Raize liked, as long as it suited Eu, was bought.
Having encountered a big spender, the attendant naturally knew how to encourage him to keep buying.
Raize smiled without caring about the attendant's misunderstanding, but after hearing it, Eu's face turned red, making her look even more delicate and lovely. Every time she came out in a new outfit, Raize would take photos with his phone.
It was only after Eu changed into the final pure white dress and shoes that Raize felt this last, show-stopping outfit was the most suitable for her.
The pure white dress symbolizing innocence fit Eu perfectly. She looked exceptionally elegant and beautiful, with a fragile appearance that stirred a strong desire to protect.
Below the skirt, her smooth and graceful fair calves were exposed, and light-colored sandals wrapped around her feet.
As if sensing Raize's undisguised gaze, the round toes on her feet curled slightly in bashfulness.
This outfit somewhat resembled the white dress Tachibana Kanade wore in Raize's memories, but on Eu it carried a different, astonishing beauty.
A beautiful girl like Eu drew even the female attendants' gazes repeatedly.
With such a noble temperament, they would believe it if someone said she was a princess.
Raize looked intensely at the beautiful Eu before him. The speed at which he took photos with his phone was so fast it left afterimages. Facing his undisguised gaze, Eu felt shy and uneasy.
"Eu, this one really suits you. It's truly very beautiful."
Satisfied as he recorded this stunning moment on his phone, Raize looked happily at the beautiful girl before him. After witnessing Sei's beauty, he had little reaction to ordinary girls anymore. Eu could be considered the second exception.
If Sei in his memories was like sacred sunlight, then Eu was noble, intoxicating moonlight.
"Thank you…"
Eu glanced at herself in the mirror and liked this outfit very much. Facing Raize's undisguised affection and praise, she felt happy and shy.
She had not worn other beautiful clothes in a very long time. Being able to wear such exquisite outfits like an ordinary girl made her feel extremely satisfied and happy.
After leaving the high-end fashion store, Raize bought Eu a crepe and sprinkled it with Star Powder. They ate while walking along the road. His arms and neck were laden with shopping bags containing Eu's clothes, with some items left at the store to be delivered to their home.
The ones he carried were the outfits most suitable for Eu.