Chapter 11

"First, one at a time."

I was worried about the recoil from the shockwave hitting me, but as expected, the [Cat's Paw Gloves] had no recoil, and there was no effect on me at all.

"W-What is this...?"

"What's going on...?"

The two remaining debt collectors, who had been tracking the trajectory of the debt collector who had turned into stars, opened their mouths in astonishment.

I turned to face them, clasped my hands together, and applied force.

In response to the pressure I applied, a cute pink paw made a "kyum kyum" sound.

"Hey, what did you do?"

"It's a punch."

"Huh?"

"Give me the IOU."

"Damn it! Don't mess with grown-ups!!"

Even though I answered their questions politely and spoke in a respectful manner, the debt collector's forehead veins bulged.

One of the two shouted and ran towards me.

As I watched him, I calmly extended the claws on my left [Cat's Paw Glove].

You know how cats can extend and retract their claws, right? The [Cat's Paw Gloves] have that function too, allowing me to extend the claws at will.

So, here goes.

"Cat's Claws!"

While watching the debt collector, who still had some distance to cover before reaching me, I raised my left hand. Then, even though the debt collector hadn't reached me, I slashed diagonally downward, tearing through the air.

Instantly, the space split into five parts, heading straight for the debt collector—

"Turn into stars!"

"Guahaaa!!!"

—Kiran

The debt collector, who had been running towards me, was swallowed by the torn wind and flew off into the sky.

"That makes two."

I looked up at the sky where he had flown and nodded.

[Cat's Claws] is a close-range attack that requires getting close to the target. However, thanks to the multiple enhancements, it can now create a wind that allows for mid-range attacks. It worked perfectly here.

"You... you..."

The last one. I looked at the remaining debt collector and clasped my hands together, applying force. Again, the pink paw made a "kyum kyum" sound.

"Give me the IOU."

I decided to leave the one who seemed to be the leader of the three for last.

I hope this person has the IOU and will hand it over willingly...

The debt collector, who seemed to have lost all strength in his legs, sat down. His face turned pale.

"O-Okay, wait, I'll give it to you. ...I'll give it to you!!"

Saying this, he held out his palms towards me, as if to say "Stop, stop!!"

Since all I wanted was the IOU, I obediently stopped in my tracks.

The man let out a sigh of relief and hurriedly searched his chest area. He reached into the inner pocket of his vest, where the IOU must have been.

"Here, look, is this it!? Or this one!?"

He showed me two IOUs.

I'm not sure of the details, but they had long texts and signatures with blood seals at the bottom. One was in my mother's name. The other—whose was it?

...Could it be? The debt the debt collectors mentioned, the one from the person who sold my father?

Father said he not only supported our family but also the family of the person who sold him (who is apparently dead). So, I should take this one too.

"Are these all the IOUs in this village?"

"Huh, ah... the IOUs in this village...? No, there are still more..."

The debt collector mumbled in response to my question. It seems there were more, but these two should be enough for now.

"Here, I'll put them down."

The debt collector said this, placed the two IOUs on the ground, and put a stone on top.

I see, he wants me to pick them up.

As I took a step forward, the debt collector hurriedly stood up. His legs seemed to have recovered. He slowly backed away, stopping about 1.5 meters from the IOUs.

—It's a trap.

By placing the IOUs on the ground, he forces me to bend down to pick them up. Bending down makes it difficult to use [Cat Punch] or [Cat's Claws].

He might be planning to escape during this time... or, by stopping 1.5 meters away, he might be calculating that he can pounce and catch me.

I could ask him to pick them up and bring them to me, but...

"I'll go get them."

I decided to fall for his trap.

After all, I'm only three years old. If he takes the IOUs and runs, it will be hard to chase him.

If [Cat's Claws] hits, it might send the IOUs flying. I want to keep the IOUs in my possession.

"Here, go ahead..."

The debt collector indicated the IOUs with his chin.

I nodded and approached them. As I bent down to pick them up—

"Hehe!! You're just a kid!!"

The debt collector's laughter and the sound of his feet kicking off the ground. He must be pouncing on me.

Without even glancing at him, I moved something near my tailbone with a "whoosh."

"Cat's Tail!"

The long, smooth, fur-covered tail hit the man's chest who was pouncing on me. Then—

"Turn into stars!"

"Kyaaaaaa!!!"

—Kiran

The man, who was quickly hit by the tail, which moved like a whip, flew off into the sky.

"Good. The last one."

As expected of me, the strongest three-year-old.

I puffed out my chest in satisfaction, and the triangular ears on my head twitched.