Chapter Four: We Need a Volunteer

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“Ethan, actually, there are many benefits to becoming a werewolf,” Ivy said, as if completely forgetting that she was speaking to an expert who had studied werewolf ecology in detail. “Immense strength, lightning-fast speed, and unparalleled regenerative abilities. Those devoted to the Huntress Goddess who wish to become werewolves have to simulate a wolf’s life for years and even consume human flesh. But all you have to do is wear this collar!”

Her eyes sparkled brightly, like a TV commercial salesman eagerly proclaiming, “Don’t pay 19,998, only 998, and you can take it home immediately!”

Ethan immediately saw through Ivy’s sales pitch. “But you become stupid.”

He had always considered himself an intellect-type hero; for a mage, strength and agility were secondary attributes.

Ivy picked up the collar and displayed it to Ethan like a prized product. “Don’t you think this collar is exquisitely crafted? It’s far more beautiful than many precious pieces of jewelry.”

“Once you become a werewolf, you can never turn back.”

Unmoved, Ethan replied, “Old demon hunter Augustus wrote in ‘Understanding 100 Types of Dark Creatures’ that he has never encountered anyone who transformed back from a werewolf to a human.”

“That’s okay. I can take care of you.”

Could that ever be okay!

Ethan immediately saw through Ivy’s true intentions. This Enlightenment Society follower only wanted to study cursed objects and the changes they brought.

He shot a look at the golden retriever perched above Ivy’s head, silently asking, “Can you control your girl?” The golden retriever, unable to bear it any longer, mustered all its strength and tried to headbutt Ivy, but it barely interrupted her chanting.

She went on endlessly about the benefits. “You’ll move into a big house, much larger than this one! Every meal will be fine beef. I can even hire a professional chef just for you. If you want, there could be a groomer to take care of your fur, and specialists to regularly tend to your teeth and claws.”

“I refuse.”

Ethan’s tone was resolute. Then he shifted gears. “However, I have a plan to recruit volunteers.”

This was a problem he would eventually have to face. Before the shelter staff arrived in town, how to properly keep cursed objects was a major challenge.

As the books stated, any mishandling during storage could lead to catastrophic casualties.

According to the characteristics Ivy had summarized, theoretically, arranging multiple people in shifts to guard the collar in the guild seemed the safest approach. But in practice, it wasn’t so simple, because besides the shelter, there was a black market. Nobles in the empire always liked to collect unusual items to show off their unique tastes.

If this suspected tier-three cursed object could be sold on the black market, whoever owned it would never have to live a life on the edge again.

Just imagining the guardians possibly turning on each other over ownership made Ethan wish fewer people knew about its existence.

Constantly guarding against the “attraction” of cursed objects was a thankless task. So he took a reverse approach—once a volunteer wore the cursed collar, its “attraction” would no longer affect others.

That left only one final question.

Who should be that volunteer?

Because once you put on the collar, there was no turning back.

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Ivy looked up at Ethan, quietly waiting for the next step of his plan.

“Miss Chloe is an excellent candidate. She’s the only daughter in her family; her parents died in an accident, leaving her only a modest little house. More importantly, if she suddenly disappeared, no one would notice.”

After all, it was a time of turmoil. Everyone knew a lonely girl like Miss Chloe wouldn’t survive long. “Instead of dying uselessly from hunger or disease, she could sacrifice herself to contribute to the town. Her name would be inscribed on the town’s central monument. That aligns with the Society’s mission.”

Just as Ethan expected, Ivy’s frown relaxed. It was clear she was very pleased with the plan.

As for any pangs of conscience…

That was never a concern for the followers of the Enlightenment Society.

“I’ll try to persuade Miss Chloe,” Ethan said immediately.

It took him only half an hour to bring good news back to the guild. Upon entering, he saw Ivy sitting in a corner on the first floor, holding a leather-bound book.

Seeing Ethan approach, she asked at once, “Where is Miss Chloe?”

“Miss Chloe is a sensible girl. When she understood my purpose, she quickly agreed.”

“How much is the settlement fee?”

Ivy answered readily, clearly this wasn’t the Society’s first time dealing with such matters. “If studying the cursed object is a research topic, I can apply for funding from the Society.”

In this era, where most people lived below the poverty line, the Enlightenment Society always easily found many volunteers willing to sell themselves for a good price.

“No need. I’ve already paid the settlement fee. Miss Chloe is waiting for us outside the town.”

Ivy nodded, lavish in her praise for Ethan. “I’ve always thought you had the potential to join the Society.”

That was a polite remark. Ethan just smiled and headed outside the guild.

The Enlightenment Society was for respectable people. Most members came from noble or wealthy merchant families.

Starving people had no time to pursue truth.

Outside the town, near the southwest corner by the river, there was a small wooden cabin. It had once belonged to an old hunter who had since passed away, leaving it vacant. Ethan had seen this in the guild’s records. When he first practiced fireball magic, he had made use of this cabin. After improving his fireball proficiency and unlocking long-range casting, he rarely came here anymore.

The sensible Miss Chloe was waiting outside the dilapidated cabin.

A thick rope was tied around her neck. Hearing their footsteps, she excitedly rushed over, making eager “coo coo coo” sounds.

Miss Chloe was a gentle girl. When Ethan carried her here, she quietly nestled in his arm without struggling or pecking him.

The settlement fee was half a loaf of wheat bread, which Miss Chloe happily ate.

“So this is the Miss Chloe you were talking about?”

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Looking at the cheerful little hen, Ivy’s expression darkened. The golden retriever on her head also bristled and looked at Ethan with suspicion.

“I’ve watched Miss Chloe grow up. Ever since her parents’ accident, she’s been all alone in the chicken coop.”

The cause of the accident was simple.

A year ago, the town endured a harsh winter, precisely when food was scarce. On a stormy night, townsfolk broke into her home…

Ethan looked down at the little hen hopping at his feet and pushed unpleasant memories aside. The chickens in this world were no different from those on Earth; if you raised them from a chick, they would always follow you.

“I believe this is the best solution for now. Even if the cursed object twists Miss Chloe’s soul, it will minimize harm to the town.”

Besides, it wasn’t conducive to Ivy’s research.

But Ethan believed people were pragmatic. If he asked a follower of the Enlightenment Society to abandon their curiosity, they would refuse. But if he suggested a compromise and brought a small animal to cooperate in the experiment, they would relent.

Ivy was silent for a long time before finally taking a deep breath.

She took out a notebook and handed the collar to Ethan.

“You put it on her; I’ll record.”

Ethan admitted that when he held the collar in his hand, his heart was still full of apprehension.

Especially when he met Miss Chloe’s innocent eyes, he felt an unprecedented sense of guilt.

“I will have your name engraved on the town’s monument,” he promised her before placing the collar on her.

The transformation happened almost immediately.

The gentle “coo coo” turned into a sharp screech. Miss Chloe’s body suddenly swelled several times in size. She shook herself off, pushing Ethan away, and her fur grew visibly before his eyes.

The entire process lasted nearly a minute.

Before him stood a massive creature, towering up to his waist.

The man and the hen stared at each other for a long moment.

Then, for the first time in his life, Ethan was tackled by a chicken.