Card Apprentice Daily Log

Chapter 2303 Unwanted Compensation

Date: Unspecified

Time: Unspecified

Location: Lil. Red Storm, Seed World, Devil Merchant Code, Inter-Realm City, Sector WS9909, Infinity Library, Study Room

”Alright, Iʼll take your word for it. Iʼm planning to expand my business to the Dark Realm, so we might meet there soon. When that time comes, Iʼll consider myself lucky if you donʼt pretend not to know me, let alone give me a tour of your tribal forest,” Wyatt teased, accepting MayMayʼs invitation. How could he resist? It was too tempting, like being granted access to a forbidden forest. However, he also thought this might put him on the Librarian Zaltan Jrʼs radar once again.

Thinking of Zaltan, Wyatt let his imagination wander. He wondered: if Zaltan handed Dredre over when he achieved a certain level of favorability with her, would he also hand over MayMayʼs entire tribe if he visited her tribal forest? Knowing MayMayʼs favorability toward him, it was a tempting thought. But even Wyatt didnʼt believe Zaltan would be crazy enough to do such a thing, assuming he even had the authority to do so. After all, it was important to remember he was Librarian Jr. not the Librarian.

”Why would I do that? If I promised to give you a tour of my tribal forest when you visit the Dark Realm, Iʼll keep my word. Iʼm not a liar,” MayMay suddenly grew serious in response to Wyattʼs remark, taking his words at face value instead of seeing it for a harmless teasing.

Wyatt hurriedly explained, ”Why so serious? I didnʼt mean to call you a liar. I was kidding-just teasing you.”

”Why would you tease me? Arenʼt we friends?” MayMay asked, confused. She didnʼt understand the earthly concept of camaraderie, where friends often teased or played tricks on each other before sharing drinks and celebrating together. This culture, while often harmless, wasnʼt universal. Across the Myriad Realms-including the Dark Realm-loneliness and the fear of solitude drove many to accept such behavior as part of friendship, even though it was far from ideal. However, itʼs important to note that not all friendships function this way. Many friendships are based on mutual respect, understanding, and support.

Wyatt, unsure how to explain this to MayMay, ultimately chose to apologize. ”Iʼm sorry. It was wrong of me to tease you. As compensation, Iʼll let you kiss me whenever you want, wherever you want, and for as long as you want.”

”I forgive you, and donʼt want you to compensate me over something this small. Also, why would you assume Iʼd want to kiss you?” MayMay asked, baffled by Wyattʼs

peculiar offer. She couldnʼt imagine her ever needing it.

”Duh, because you can,” Wyatt replied simply. Then, narrowing his eyes and adopting a serious tone, he added, ”MayMay, thank you for your generosity. Iʼm eternally grateful. However, I must make up for my shortcomings as your friend. So please, accept my offer-or Iʼll be forced to increase the compensation.”

MayMay was speechless. Seeing Wyatt use her words against her, word for word, left her curious about how else he might ”increase” his compensation. However, she ultimately decided to accept his offer. ”Fine. Though I donʼt see myself ever using it.” ”You canʼt let it go to waste. You have to try it at least once. You might even like it. I know I will,” Wyatt said, keeping a straight face, as if imparting ancient wisdom. This approach was reminiscent of a marketing tactic used by online gambling platforms: partnering with payment apps to offer customers a ”free” scratch card with each transaction. More often than not, these scratch cards contained coupons for gambling websites. The strategy banked on a small percentage of recipients engaging with the offer, given the vast potential audience. It depended on its productʼs adductive factor to retain a regular stream of customer.

Wyattʼs demographic, however, was limited to MayMay, making the odds far lower. Still, Dredre had already proven his ”product” was addictive, and Wyatt only needed MayMay to try it once. He was sure, once she tried she would never be able to forget and keep redeeming his compensation for her.

”Iʼm sure youʼll like it,” MayMay replied, rolling her eyes. She stepped closer to Wyatt and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. ”If you wanted a kiss, you couldʼve just asked.” ”Thatʼs not a kiss,” Wyatt said, frowning in disappointment. MayMayʼs kiss had been more of a brief peck, her lips barely brushing his skin. Dredre had done the same whenever she was happy. What Wyatt sought wasnʼt an elderʼs endearing kiss but a loverʼs passionate one.

Here, he wasnʼt just after a kiss; he wanted to demonstrate that favorability was an unpredictable variable, not something one could control with calculations alone. One might think they can limit it to a desirable range but he was going to prove that only way to maintain favoribility was through reliability. Why a kiss and not a touch or a hug? Because a kiss was the most subtle yet effective way to make MayMay experience his productʼs addictive nature, which had only grown stronger since Dredreʼs last test. Wyatt only had his product to offer MayMay as Librarain had kept her satisfied in all other department.

”What do you mean? That is a kiss. Thatʼs how we kiss in my tribe,” MayMay said, confused. She kissed the children in her tribe like that, and her elders had kissed her the same way when she was a young pixie. No one had ever complained. Soon, MayMay narrowed her eyes, her gaze hardening. ”Are you teasing me again?” ”Why would I tease you again? Didnʼt I just apologize for that? Or did you not truly forgive me? Do you not trust me?” Wyatt replied, feigning exaggerated disbelief. Before MayMay could respond, he hurriedly proposed a wager, ”This is the Infinity Library, right? It should have books on kissing from across the Myriad Realms. Why donʼt you read them and tell me if Iʼm teasing you? If you find other forms of kissing, youʼll have to redeem my compensation for you to practice them all on me. Deal?”