"Ethan, actually, turning into a werewolf has a lot of benefits."
Ave seemed to completely forget she was facing an expert who had thoroughly studied werewolf ecology, "Powerful strength, lightning speed, and unparalleled regenerative abilities. Those followers of the Hunting Goddess have to simulate a wolf's life for years and eat human flesh, but you just need to wear this collar to achieve that!"
Her eyes sparkled, shining like a salesperson in those TV commercials saying, "Don't pay $19,998, just $998 and you can take the product home immediately."
Ethan immediately exposed Ave's rhetoric, "But you would become stupid."
He always considered himself an intellect-type hero, and for a Mage, strength and agility were secondary attributes.
Ave picked up the collar, showcasing the "product" to Ethan, "Don't you think this collar is exquisitely crafted? It's much more beautiful than many precious jewelry pieces."
"Once you turn into a werewolf, you can't change back."
Ethan remained unmoved, "The Old Demon Hunter August wrote in 'Getting to Know 100 Dark Creatures' that he never encountered an individual who could change back from a werewolf into a human."
"It's okay, I can take care of you."
Can this really be okay!
Ethan instantly saw through Ave's little scheme, this Enlightenment Society devotee merely wanted to study the cursed object and its changes.
He glared at the top of Ave's head with a disdainful look that said, "Can't you control your young lady?", even the golden retriever couldn't bear it anymore, mustering all its strength and slammed into Ave's head but with little effect, not enough to interrupt Ave's chanting.
She continued to eloquently describe the benefits, "You'll move into a big house, much larger than here! Every meal you'll be provided with the finest beef, I can even hire a professional chef for you. If you wish, you can also have a groomer to manage your hair, teeth, and claws regularly taken care of by specialists."
"I refuse."
Ethan's attitude was firm, then he changed the subject, "However, I have a plan to recruit volunteers."
This was a problem he was destined to face sooner or later, and before the personnel from the shelter arrived in town, how to properly store the cursed object became an issue.
Just as written in books, once the storage process slipped, the resulting casualties would be disastrous.
According to Ave's summed up traits, theoretically, arranging groups of people in the Guild to rotate watching the collar seemed to be the most proper way, but when put into practice, it wasn't so, as besides the shelter, there was also a black market existing in this world, the nobles of the Empire always liked to collect some peculiar objects to demonstrate their unique taste.
As long as they could sell this suspected third-degree cursed object, they wouldn't have to live a life licking blood off the knife's edge for the rest of their lives.
Thinking of the guards possibly fighting among themselves first for the ownership of the cursed object, Ethan felt it would be best if fewer people knew of its existence.
Constantly guarding against the "attraction" of the cursed item was thankless, so he adopted a reverse thinking method—in which a volunteer wearing the cursed item rendered its "attraction" ineffective to others.
So only one last question remained.
Who would be the most suitable volunteer?
It's important to know, once the collar is on, there's no turning back.
Ave raised her head to look at Ethan, quietly waiting for the next step in the plan.
"Miss Keroy is a very suitable candidate, she's the only child at home, and her parents died early in an accident, leaving her with only a simple little house. More importantly, even if she suddenly disappeared, no one would notice."
After all, it's a chaotic era, everyone knew that a lonely girl like Miss Keroy wouldn't survive long, "rather than die of hunger or disease in vain, it's better to dedicate herself to contributing to the town, then they can engrave her name on the town center's monument, that should align with the society's mission."
As Ethan expected, Ave's brows relaxed, it wasn't hard to see she was very pleased with this proposal.
As for the moral blame...
This was never an issue the followers of the Enlightenment Society would consider.
Ethan immediately said, "I'll find a way to persuade Miss Keroy."
It only took him half an hour to bring back the good news to the Guild. Upon entering, Ave was sitting in a corner of the Guild's first floor, holding a leather book in her hands.
Seeing Ethan walking over, she immediately asked, "Where's Miss Keroy?"
"Miss Keroy is an understanding girl, when she learned my intention, she quickly agreed."
"How much relocation fee is needed?"
Ave replied smoothly, obviously, this wasn't the first time the Society had experienced something like this, "If researching cursed items as a topic, I can apply for a grant from the Society."
In this era where most people hovered around the poverty line, the Enlightenment Society could always easily find many volunteers willing to sell themselves for a good price.
"No need, I've already paid the relocation fee, Miss Keroy is now waiting for us outside the town."
Ave nodded, praising Ethan without stint, "I always thought you had the potential to join the Society."
This was just polite talk, Ethan merely smiled and walked out of the Guild.
The Enlightenment Society belonged to the genteel people, most who joined were from the nobility and wealthy merchants.
Those with empty bellies had no leisure to seek truth.
Outside town, near the southwest corner by the river, there was a small wooden cabin. Originally, it housed an old hunter, but after the hunter died, it was left vacant. Ethan saw it on the Guild's records, during his early practice of the Fireball Skill, he used this cabin, later, once his proficiency increased and unlocked ranged casting, he rarely visited.
The understanding Miss Keroy was waiting outside the dilapidated cabin.
A thick rope tied around her leg, hearing the two approaching footsteps, and she excitedly hopped in place, letting out a thrilled "cluck-cluck-cluck."
Miss Keroy was a gentle girl, when Ethan brought her here all the way, she just quietly lay on his arm, without struggle or pecking.
The relocation fee was half a piece of wheat bread, and Miss Keroy ate it happily.
"Is this the Miss Keroy you mentioned?"
Looking at the cheerful little hen, Ave's face turned somewhat gloomy, the golden retriever atop her head stood up, also indicating skepticism towards Ethan.
"I watched Miss Keroy grow up. Ever since her parents had their accident, she has been left alone in the chicken coop."
The cause of the accident was simple.
A severe winter arrived at the town a year ago, coinciding with a food shortage. On a stormy snowy night, townspeople broke into her home…
Ethan looked down at the little hen that had jumped to his feet, casting aside unpleasant memories. The chickens of this world were no different from those on Earth, if you raised her from young, she'd always follow you.
"I think this is the best solution for now, even if the cursed item twists Miss Keroy's soul, it reduces harm to the town to the minimum."
Except, it's not favorable for Ave's research.
But Ethan believed people always compromised, if he asked an Enlightenment Society devotee to give up curiosity, it would inevitably be refused, but if he suggested they settle for the next best thing and even brought them an animal for experiments, they would concede.
Ave was speechless for a long time, finally taking a deep breath.
She still took out a notebook, handing the collar to Ethan.
"You put it on her, I'll record."
Ethan admitted, when he held the collar in his hand, his heart was full of trepidation.
Especially when he met Miss Keroy's innocent eyes, he instantly felt an unprecedented sense of guilt.
"I'll have your name engraved on the town monument."
He promised Miss Keroy, then put the collar on her himself.
The change happened almost immediately.
The gentle "clucking" turned to a sharp screech, and Miss Keroy's body swelled several times over with just a shake and knocked Ethan away, her feathers growing visibly from the eye.
The whole process lasted nearly a minute.
Presented in front of Ethan, Miss Keroy had transformed into a colossal creature, waist-high to him.
A person and a chicken stared at each other for a long while.
Then, Ethan experienced the first time in his life being pounced on by a chicken.