As I walked into the bakery, the rich aroma of bread tickled my nostrils even more intensely.

　The owner of the bakery brought me into the store and called out to a woman in an apron who was serving customers behind the counter.

She said, "Oh, you have a visitor. Can you wrap up five Delicious Jumbo sandwiches for me?

　The woman in the apron was smiling and serving the other customers in the store, but...

　When she saw the master, the woman's smile instantly changed to a shura-like expression.

"Hey, you!　Where have you been wandering around at this time of day!　Ur-chan isn't even here today, so you know I'm busy!　Get inside and help me!

Oh, scary. Okay, I'm coming. I'm sorry, I'll wrap it up.

　The master went into the back of the store, and after a while, he came back inside, wearing an apron and hat, shopkeeper style.

　After a while, he came back into the shop wearing an apron and hat.
　I paid two silver coins and received the sandwiches.

　I paid two silver coins and received the sandwiches. I thought he was busy, but there was one thing I was curious about.

"Um, I don't mean to be rude, but... Uru, are you not getting along very well with the employees here?

　In addition to the master and his wife, there were two other employees in the store, who were hurrying back and forth between the baking area and the sales area.

　When he heard my question, he looked a little confused.
　And then he asked me back.

"Is that what Uru-Bo told you?

...... Yes. He said something like that, but with a slightly different nuance.

　The master groaned, folded his arms, wrinkled his brow, and said, "No, Uruban is not a real man.

I don't think there's a single one of our employees who doesn't like Ur-boy, but he's a good guy. My wife and I even love Uruban as if she were our own daughter. It's just that ...... Urubo seems to be hiding something important from us. It's hard to get him to open up to you.

Uru is more ......?

Yeah. I think it's not good to force him to say something he doesn't want to say, so I'm waiting for him to say it, but it's not easy. Brother, do you know anything?

"Uh, no. ......

　Oh, no, ." One thing I do know.

　I think he's hiding the fact that he's a werewolf from the people in the store.

　But it's certainly not my place to tell you this, unless you've told me yourself.

I'm sorry, ....... I have an idea.

I'm not sure what to say. Well, I can't help it. Hey, brother, if you can, if Ur-boy is troubled by something, can you support him? It seems that we can't help her with her problems.

"...... I understand. I also have my own work to do, and I don't know how much I can do, but I'll do my best.

Okay. Thanks, bro.

　After such an exchange with the master, I left the store.

　The three students and Uru were waiting for me outside the store.
　I handed them each one of the Delicious Jumbo sandwiches I had purchased.

It's huge!　But it looks good!

　The bread was so jumbo that Rio was surprised to receive it, just as the name implied.
　It was so big that Rio was surprised when he received it.

　The browned bread was filled with chicken, egg filling, vegetables, and sauce, and it certainly looked delicious.

　At four copper coins per piece, it seemed to be a good price.

　Ulu told us about a park nearby, and we went there, sat on a bench in the warm sunshine, and ate the bread together.

It's good!

"Delicious!" "......!

...... This is good.

　Rio, Iris, and Maifa were engrossed in biting into the bread.
　Uru was proud to see them, as if it were her own.

　I also chewed on a piece of bread and called out to Ur.

"You don't tell them at work that you're a werewolf, do you?

　Uru rolled her eyes and looked at me.

　Then he laughed and replied.

"...... Yes. I can't tell you that. Everyone can't work with a monster. That's why I'm lying to everyone at work. I'm supposed to be a normal person like everyone else.

　While saying this to herself, Uru herself took a bite of bread.

　Rio, who was listening to the conversation, interrupted him with a look of disapproval.

You know, Uru, why don't you stop calling yourself 'monster'?　You're normal except on full moon nights, right?　If you haven't bothered anyone on that full moon night except when you were a child, then that's fine.

　In contrast, Uru gulped down the bread she had been munching on and replied without looking at Rio.

I'm sure you're right about that. ....... It's not that easy to separate the two. And although we've managed to get away with it so far, we never know when we might make a mistake and attack someone again. So I think you have to think of yourself as a monster.



"That's not how ...... works!　I don't get it!

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

　I chuckle at this and check with Uru one more time.

So that's why you don't get along with the people at work?

That's what I meant. I'm afraid of tearing up someone I've become friends with with my own hands, like I did when I was a kid. ...... That's why we try not to be friends with anyone anymore.

"Well, ......, then why are you with us?

　This time, Iris joined the conversation.

　Urs scratched his neck in an annoyed manner.

It's ...... a lot of things. In the event that you're not sure what to do, you'll be able to find out how to do it on your own. ...... And above all, it's because everyone is brave and strong. If we make a mistake and go out of control, everyone will be able to beat us back. Ah, but if I'm a nuisance to everyone, I'll leave right now. If that happens, please don't hesitate to tell me.

...... Ur is too concerned about people's problems. I'm not sure if you've ever heard of this, but I'm sure you've heard of it. ...... I always live my life leaning on others as much as I can. You can learn a little from me. ......

　I'm not sure if you've heard of it, but I'm sure you've heard of it.

　It's a good thing that you're not the only one who has a problem with this.

　In any case, the bottleneck of ...... is the curse of the beast (lycanthropy).

　If only we could get rid of that...



　So after we all finished our lunch, we holed up in the library again in the afternoon and started researching about werewolves.

　Well, actually, I thought, there's no hope of solving the problem here.

　If the curse of lycanthropy could be controlled so easily, there should be werewolves living more openly in human society by now.

　The fact that this is not the case is because there is no solution to this problem...
　I've had this suspicion from the beginning.

　But the way of things is to start with the basic means, and if that doesn't work, to think about the next step.
　If you neglect the basics, it's quite possible that you'll find the answer in the easiest place.

　It's always a bad idea.
　That's what I thought, and I was halfway through the process when I gave up...

　And then.

I found .......

　Maifa, who was looking through a book, said to me.