episode_0028

The lion-like beast sneered and taunted with a smirk.

“Friends? Ha, so you had time to play ‘friends’ with your peers but no time to earn money? The more I think about it, the more infuriating…”

“The only thing infuriating here is that mouth of yours, not my friend. Right? When I first heard you, I almost mistook it for a rag stuffed in your mouth.”

At my simple provocation, as if irritated, he released Karen’s collar and took a step toward me.

“…Why are there so many idiots who don’t know their place and act out like this?”

As he clenched his fist, the sound of cracking knuckles reached my ears.

“First-years like you strutting around like you’re something special. What, do you think you’re some prince from a fairy tale? I’m telling you nicely—get lost, brat.”

“I don’t even want to talk anymore. I’ll cut to the chase. Let my friend go and get the hell out. Or else, you might regret it.”

“Ha, regret it? Me? What, are you gonna tattle to the professor?”

The lion beast mocked me with a laugh.

“No. To me.”

“…..”

“You don’t even need to bother the professor. Judging by your level, I can handle you just fine.”

“…Ha, you little bastard.”

The smirk vanished from his face.

“Boss. Should we take care of him?”

“No. You all stay put. Don’t move no matter what. I’m gonna turn this punk into a cripple myself.”

Snapping at his subordinate, he bared his claws.

“Good. Should’ve been honest from the start. That feral look suits you.”

Lucky for me, he threw the first punch.

That means we’ve reached an unspoken agreement here.

An agreement settled with fists.

“You… fucking inferior human bastard!!”

He charged at me.

And so, I borrowed a persona.

“….!?”

His eyes widened in shock at my sudden transformation.

Seizing the moment of his hesitation, I swung my fishing rod with all my might.

The fishing line shot out like a living thing, coiling around his ankles.

“Gahk!”

With a short scream, he toppled over beautifully.

Watching him flail like a freshly caught fish, I let out a small laugh.

“Let’s see… Heh, quite the catch, aren’t you? Perfect for a commemorative photo.”

As I pulled the line, his body slowly lifted into the air.

“You little… I’ll kill you!”

His face flushed red as he wildly slashed his claws in every direction.

Did he not realize that instead of raging, he should’ve cut the fishing line wrapped around his ankles?

“You should’ve bitten down harder.”

I swung the fishing rod sharply to the left.

—BAM!

“Guhk!”

His body slammed into the wall.

This time, I swung it wide to the right.

—BAM!

“Kgh!”

A loud crash echoed as a small crack formed on the wall.

Now, down to the ground.

—BAM!

“Cough!”

He was flung mercilessly onto the floor.

“You fucking… bastard!!”

“Still lacking in lessons, I see. Quite the handful, this one.”

For the fool still flailing his claws in the air, I swung the fishing rod again with full force.

About 20 seconds into the angler persona’s amusement ride, he finally seemed to realize something was wrapped around his ankles and frantically grabbed at them.

Only a few seconds left before the line would loosen.

Time for a change of plans.

I released the fishing rod and canceled the persona.

“…..!”

As the fishing rod vanished, he plummeted to the ground in a pathetic heap.

“I’ll fucking kill y—”

—THUD!

I kicked his head hard as he tried to get up and borrowed another persona.

“…Repeating the same thing over and over kills the inspiration, you know.”

Mounting the fallen bastard, I pulled a carving knife from my tool belt and pressed it against his throat.

“……”

The moment the blade touched his skin, his body stiffened.

As I pushed the knife slightly, a few drops of crimson life trickled down his neck.

If I drove it in deep, he’d die instantly.

“You bastard, how dare you—!”

“Don’t move!! All of you, stay right there!”

One of his lackeys pulled a weapon and tried to rush me, but before I could say anything, the guy beneath me shouted to stop them.

He must’ve sensed his life was on the line.

“…I might’ve been a bit hasty. Wh-what do you want?”

Faced with death, his brain seemed to work faster—his lost manners hurriedly returning.

“…What I want.”

Originally, my goal was just to separate these guys from Karen.

But now, it’s clear I’m in control.

Why just separate them when I can sever their ties with Karen completely?

“…Tell me how much my friend owes you.”

“S-sixteen million Merk.”

No way Karen borrowed that much.

“…I’m asking for the amount Karen borrowed from you. Not the amount you claim she owes.”

“…She borrowed eight million. B-but she didn’t pay on time, so interest—”

I pressed the knife slightly, and his noisy mouth shut instantly.

“…Quick on the uptake, I see. From now on, don’t speak unless I allow it. The only words you can say are ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ Understood?”

“…Yes.”

He gritted his teeth in humiliation, but when I stared him down, his expression quickly relaxed, blinking rapidly.

A silent promise not to act up.

“…I’ll pay back the eight million Merk my friend borrowed. The interest? That’ll be the price of your life.”

I coldly recited the terms to the thoroughly broken man.

“…In return, never show your ugly face in front of me or my friend again. If you do, I’ll carve a masterpiece into that face of yours.”

“……”

His pupils trembled violently.

But he still didn’t open his mouth.

Did he not fully grasp the situation yet?

“…I can start carving now if you’d like.”

I twisted the knife slightly against his neck, widening the wound.

Thick red blood gushed out.

“I get it, I get it! Damn it…!”

His face pale, he finally screamed in panic.

“…I didn’t allow you to say that.”

“…Yes.”

Good.

That settles it.

“…Too bad. I wanted to try drawing.”

“…..”

“…You’ll get your account details from my friend. Now, disappear. Send your lackeys out first.”

“…You guys, go ahead.”

“Y-yes, Boss.”

At his command, the lackeys quickly fled the alley.

None were stupid enough to try attacking me.

If they had, the guy beneath me would’ve died instantly.

I sheathed the carving knife and canceled the persona.

Standing up, I spoke to the pitifully collapsed figure.

“Now you get lost too. Don’t forget my warning.”

“……”

Struggling to rise, he clutched his bleeding neck and limped out of the alley.

Dusting off my hands, I let out a hollow laugh.

‘What kind of conscience do you have to try doubling a debt with interest?’

It’s hard to believe Karen, who’s been through the wringer, would’ve signed a contract without reading it properly.

No doubt they scammed her with some shady trick.

Of course, inflating debt with illegal interest is a crime in itself.

‘Spending a lot today.’

Still, it’s no big worry.

It’s not like I’m broke.

I’ll just collect the eight million Merk from Karen steadily.

As much as I want to get closer to her, casually paying off a huge sum like that would only make her uncomfortable.

So I’ll just tell her to pay me back slowly.

Ah, maybe I’ll skip lunch and call it interest.

With that thought, I turned to where Karen should be.

There she was, sitting on the ground, staring at me with trembling eyes.

Maybe she was so shocked her legs gave out?

Thinking to help her up, I approached and joked lightly.

“Must’ve been desperate, huh? Borrowing from guys like th—”

Then, a single tear rolled down her cheek.

“…What the hell do you want from me?”

Her voice shook as she asked.