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16. Werewolf (5)

「This is the smart way to live. Do you understand?」

「Yeah, thank you. I learned a lot.」

I understand now.

And I will never forget.

「No problem. Now then, give me the rest of the tuition fee.」

Without knowing what I was thinking, the man demanded payment.

If you ask someone, “Please tell me about the wages and conditions of the person you hired,” they usually won’t respond. So I gave him an advance payment and said, “I want to hire that girl, so teach me the ropes. I’ll pay as a tuition fee.”

Naturally, this man has the right to receive the remaining compensation.

「…Sure. Give me your hand.」

「You’re into these things, aren’t you? I can’t believe you’re willing to pay this much money to learn how to use the dog. Do you have that kind of hobby?」

I took out my wallet and placed three Mel silver coins, or 3,000 yin, in the man’s outstretched right hand. After seeing the man grasp the silver coins that Shizuku was supposed to receive, I put power into my right hand.

The one I chose was the evolved form of the skill [Slash Enhancement] that I had lent to Altora. A skill that cuts through anything together with space itself no matter what material it is made of.

「[Subspace Rupture], activate.」

「……Huh?」

—Plop.

The sound of something heavy falling on the floor. When the man heard the sound of silver coins rolling on the floor, he finally seemed to realize that it was his right hand.

Blood gushed out from his arm, which was cut in half along with his desk.

「Hiaaa!!!!!!!!! My, my arm! My armmmmm!!!」

「What’s the matter? Hold it properly. This is the money you love so much, right?」

I picked up the silver coin and held it out to his left hand this time. The man stared at the silver coin in my hand, but made no attempt to take it. He simply lost his composure and shouted.

「Bastard! What, what did you do!? What did you do to me!?」

「What did I do, you ask?」

I am the one who is supposed to ask that. I asked the man while showing his right arm on the floor.

「What do you think that child, Shizuku, was eating today?」

「W-What are you talking about!? How would I know!」

「A poisonous plant where if you eat it, your hands will rot and fall off.」

It is impossible to have a “dialogue” with this man. I will make him realize what he has done by using his own body. There are people in this world who won’t understand otherwise.

Shizuku was preyed upon by such a human.

Shizuku doesn’t seem to have any intention of repaying the “debt” herself. Now that I’ve lent her my skill, there’s no way she would lose to this man. She retreated without resorting to her power until the end.

Not only that, but she kept her promise to me and gave me all her coins.

“Werewolves are a noble race. Just as I heard in folklore.”

That’s why I’ll do it. For I have long since lost my nobility and pride.

「W-Who are you in the first place! You have no right to do something like this–!」

「I do have the right. It’s because you didn’t pay that girl the money you said you would pay.」

The greasy man was trembling and suddenly his left hand was clutching a bag full of gold coins.

「I already told you! Werewolves aren’t humans! There’s no law that says I have to pay them the same wages as humans…」

「No.」

I took a step forward.

The frightened man backed away wildly, but the distance between us didn’t change much.

「You told me that you would pay that girl. That’s why I lent her my skills. I made an ”investment”.」

「I-Investment?」

That’s why I was helping her. It doesn’t matter whether she’s human or a wolf.

「This is a recollection. You have unfairly exploited the profits generated by my skills. That’s why I am retrieving them. I will not take your life as long as you don’t resist.」

「Shut up! This money is mine! You think you can mess with me and get away with–」

「You turned the 3,000 yin wage into 600 yin.」

「……Huh?」

Without waiting for the man to finish speaking, I held my right hand in front of his eyes.

There is a word called “Healthy Five Bodies”. It refers to a healthy body with no imperfections, and the “five bodies” refer to the head, both arms, and both legs.

His right arm has already fallen off. All that remains is his left arm, right leg, and left leg.

「Would you like to become one-fifth as well? Don’t worry. I’ll heal you as many times as you want.」