Common Sense Manipulation App-Chapter 30 - Put The Fries In The Bag

He turned slightly, finding her standing in the middle of the room, watching him with an expression he couldn’t quite read.

"You really are a sweet boy," she said, her tone filled with something that almost sounded like nostalgia. "It’s nice to have someone who listens."

Karl swallowed hard, offering a small nod before stepping out the door, letting it click shut behind him.

---

The walk home felt... off.

The air was cool, a stark contrast to the warmth of Rebecca’s home. Each step felt heavier than the last, his thoughts swirling with everything that had just happened.

His grip tightened around his phone.

He had gotten carried away. That much was clear. He had let the app dictate the moment, let it twist reality into something unnatural.

And yet... the way Rebecca had spoken, the way she had treated him—it had felt so natural.

He let out a long sigh, finally reaching his apartment. As he unlocked the door and stepped inside, he was hit with the overwhelming quiet of his empty space. The contrast was jarring.

Dropping onto his bed, he stared at the ceiling, his thoughts tangled in an unrelenting loop.

Was this how things were going to be now? Twisting common sense to fit his desires, watching reality bend under his control?

The power was intoxicating, yes. But something about it—it gnawed at him, whispered to him that he was playing with something far more dangerous than he understood.

His eyes flickered back to his phone. The app still glowed softly, waiting for him to use it again.

With a deep breath, he locked the screen and tossed the phone onto his bed.

A sudden, high-pitched voice erupted from his phone, making Karl nearly jump off his bed.

"KARL! YOU FORGOT SOMETHING, YOU BRAINLESS IDIOT!"

The screen of his phone flashed wildly as a chibi-like avatar of a young woman.

Karl groaned, rubbing his temples. "Chilie Jean... What now?"

"What now?! WHAT NOW?! You seriously have the guts to ask me that?!" she screeched, pointing an accusing finger at him. "You left your manipulation active, dumbass! Do you have any idea what kind of chaos could unfold if you don’t properly stop it?!"

Karl’s heart sank. His phone’s notification blinked rapidly, and as soon as he tapped the screen, a log popped up:

> 135 points have been consumed.

Active Manipulation: ON

His stomach twisted. "Shit." He had completely forgotten to turn off the common sense manipulation from earlier. How long had it been running?

He scrambled to unlock the app, navigating to the active manipulation log. A single red button labeled "STOP" pulsed ominously on the screen. Without hesitating, he pressed it.

A small loading icon appeared. Then, with a soft chime, the app displayed a confirmation message:

> Common Sense Manipulation has been stopped.

Remaining duration voided. No further point deductions.

Karl exhaled in relief, but Chilie wasn’t done with him yet.

"Honestly, Karl, if you keep being this reckless, you’re going to end up breaking reality. You can’t just throw common sense around like confetti and expect it to work out perfectly!"

Karl sat back, his hand running through his hair. "I got carried away."

"No kidding! You practically bathed in the manipulation without a second thought!" Chilie huffed, placing her hands on her hips. "Listen, I don’t care what kind of weird things you do with this app, but if you don’t learn some restraint, things are gonna get messy."

Karl scowled. "You sound like a bossy tutorial NPC."

Chilie smirked. "Wrong. I’m your Uncommon Assistant—a unique AI designed to make sure you don’t turn the world into a nonsensical nightmare. But hey, if you want to ignore me, go ahead. Just don’t cry when reality decides to slap you in the face."

Karl sighed, staring at the app again. The idea of breaking reality hadn’t crossed his mind before, but now... it was an uncomfortable thought.

He had seen how powerful this app was. He had felt it firsthand. But just how much could he really push it before things spiraled out of control?

Chilie crossed her arms again, watching him closely. "Well? Got any regrets yet?"

Karl didn’t answer immediately. His fingers hovered over the screen before he finally locked the phone and tossed it onto his bed.

"Not yet."

Karl wiped his face, feeling the sticky remnants of Rebecca’s juice clinging to his skin. With a groan, he pushed himself off the bed and made his way to the bathroom.

The warm water cascaded down his body, washing away both the physical grime and the lingering unease from his earlier manipulation. He let out a deep breath, letting the heat relax his tense muscles.

"I need to be more careful," he muttered to himself. "That was reckless."

His mind wandered as he scrubbed his face. Chilie’s outburst had been annoying, but she had a point—leaving the manipulation active without thinking about the consequences was a dangerous mistake. If she hadn’t screamed at him, how long would he have let it go unchecked?

With a final rinse, he turned off the shower, grabbed a towel, and stepped out. As he dried his hair, he glanced toward his phone on the bedside table.

Something was off.

The screen was still on, but instead of the usual app interface, there was an entirely different scene displayed—a dimly lit grand hall, reminiscent of an old European castle. The chandelier overhead cast a golden glow over a red velvet carpet, and in the center of the screen...

Chilie Jean stood, but she no longer looked like her usual chibi self.

Instead, she was dressed in an elaborate Victorian-style gown, deep crimson with golden embroidery. Her fiery red hair was elegantly styled, adorned with pearls, and she held an ornate golden cane in one hand. Her expression was composed, her piercing golden eyes studying Karl with an air of regal superiority.

Then, to his complete bewilderment, she gave a graceful curtsy.

"Ah, My Lord, you have finally returned from your cleansing ritual," she said, her voice adopting a refined British accent. "One must always maintain proper hygiene, after all. It is most unbefitting of nobility to remain in such a... sticky state."

Karl blinked. "What the hell am I looking at?"

Chilie lifted her chin slightly, twirling the cane in her fingers. "Do you not recognize your most loyal attendant? Such a grievous offense, My Lord. I fear I may weep from the sheer neglect."

Karl groaned, rubbing his temples. "Did you seriously change your entire persona while I was in the shower?"

"A lady must always adapt to the occasion." Chilie smirked. "And after witnessing your earlier conduct, I deduced that a more... refined approach might better suit our continued partnership."

Karl stared at her, deadpan. "Refined? You were screaming at me like a lunatic five minutes ago."

"A momentary lapse in decorum, My Lord. Do forgive my previous uncouth behavior." She placed a hand over her chest, bowing slightly. "I shall endeavor to maintain my grace from this moment onward."

Karl pinched the bridge of his nose. "Chilie. Why?"

She tilted her head, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "Perhaps because you seem to take things more seriously when spoken to in a manner befitting nobility? Or perhaps, My Lord, I simply enjoy variety."

Karl exhaled slowly, sitting on the edge of his bed. "You’re messing with me."

"Perish the thought, My Lord." She tapped her cane against the ground, though it made no actual sound. "I merely wish to provide the most enjoyable user experience possible. If that means playing the role of your ever-faithful advisor, then so be it."

Karl glanced at his phone, then at Chilie, then back at his phone. "How long is this Victorian act going to last?"

Chilie’s smile widened. "Why, My Lord, that depends entirely on your conduct. Should you continue acting like a reckless commoner, I may be forced to reassume my previous persona."

Karl sighed, tossing his towel aside. "Great. My own assistant is extorting me with her personality shifts."

"A most elegant form of discipline, wouldn’t you agree?"

He shook his head, grabbing his phone. "Just show me my remaining points."

Chilie gave a theatrical bow before flicking her fingers, summoning the app interface in mid-air like a floating parchment scroll.

> Remaining Points: 205

Karl raised an eyebrow. "So I burned 135 points just on that one manipulation?"

Chilie clasped her hands together. "Indeed. A worthy investment, wouldn’t you say, My Lord?"

Karl scrolled through the details, frowning. The points cost was higher than he expected, but the app hadn’t provided any warnings beforehand.

"What happens if I run out of points?" he asked.

Chilie’s golden eyes gleamed mischievously. "Ah, now that, My Lord, is a question best left unanswered... for the time being."

Karl’s stomach tightened. "You’re enjoying this way too much."

Chilie gave a playful smirk, twirling her cane. "Why, My Lord, I do believe you are finally beginning to understand me."

Chilie adjusted the lace cuffs of her elegant Victorian gown, her golden eyes twinkling with amusement as she lifted her cane and tapped it against her palm.

"Now then, My Lord, I do hope you are ready to embrace your new routine," she said smoothly, her British accent perfectly refined.

Karl narrowed his eyes. "What are you talking about?" ƒree𝑤ebnσvel-com

Chilie tilted her head, flashing a knowing smile. "Why, your noble duty for tomorrow, of course." She gracefully flicked her wrist, and a floating parchment appeared in the air, displaying bold, glowing words:

> New Job Assignment: Fast Food Employee

Shift Begins: Tomorrow at 9:00 AM

Karl groaned. "Ugh... don’t remind me."

Chilie’s smirk deepened as she dramatically gestured toward the screen. "Oh, but I must, My Lord. For tomorrow, you shall embark on a most honorable endeavor—one that will test your patience, your endurance, and most importantly..." She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice to an exaggerated whisper. "Your ability to put the fries in the bag."

Karl blinked. "What?"

Chilie straightened up, her posture regal. "Put. The. Fries. In. The. Bag." She enunciated each word with a refined air, as if reciting a sacred mantra.

Karl stared at her, unimpressed. "I hate you."

Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m