Chapter 34: The Price of Help—Payment Through Deprivation!

"You're really foolish," Jack muttered, staring at the scorched spot where Kageyama Saeko had been obliterated. "You saw me walk out of a dimensional portal and still mistook me for an ordinary human?"

He sighed and shook his head.

Jack could've said these words earlier—before the battle ended—but there was no point. He had no desire to waste time talking before completing a mission. That was a mistake only villains made. Talk too much and you end up giving the enemy a chance to retaliate.

He wasn't a villain—but he knew better than to get distracted before the job was done.

"Anyway," he said, turning toward the woman he had just saved. "Your crisis has been resolved, and my mission is complete."

Yuka Nagata blinked, still dazed. "O-Okay…"

Her voice trembled, her body rooted in place, unable to move from shock. The events that had just transpired didn't seem real. The man in front of her had annihilated a powerful Orphnoch—one that even veteran Kamen Riders might struggle to defeat—and he did it without transforming.

No belt. No gear. No visible powers.

Just raw, overwhelming force.

Yuka stared at him in awe. Who is this man? she thought.

And then, as if something clicked in her mind, her memories shifted. Knowledge of the Thug Group, the mysterious organization connected to the multiverse, surfaced in her mind. It seemed that with every mission issued, the employer would naturally gain partial awareness of the group's existence.

She now understood what had happened.

And with that knowledge came the next step: evaluation.

Following the mission protocol, Yuka gave Jack a five-star rating.

> ★★★★★

But as she reached the part about payment, her expression darkened.

She had nothing.

When she was still an Orphnoch, she could have offered her powers or transformation ability as payment. But now, stripped of everything, she was little more than a regular human.

"I… I'm sorry," she said softly, her eyes full of guilt and fear. "I don't think I have anything I can offer as payment."

Jack's brows furrowed. He had been expecting this.

He didn't believe Yuka was trying to avoid payment—he could tell she was sincere—but the rules were the rules. Every mission required a payment. The Thug Group didn't operate for free. Even if they didn't personally care about the reward, the system would demand it.

At this point, Yuka's life was one of the only commodities she had left. Jack didn't know how much lifespan she had to spare, but if the system decided to drain it all…

Well, she might not survive.

Still, Jack couldn't ignore the debt. Payment must be made, one way or another. That was the law of the Thug Group.

Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed through the ruined street.

"Yuka!" a voice shouted.

Both Jack and Yuka turned to see a young man running toward them—his eyes wide with concern and relief.

It was Yuji Kiba.

Jack immediately recognized him.

Yuji Kiba—an Orphnoch who had once stood for coexistence between humans and Orphnochs. A tragic figure. In the original timeline, Yuka's death would've been the catalyst that pushed him to Blacken—to turn against humanity out of grief and rage. Eventually, he'd fall in battle after sacrificing himself to help Takumi defeat the final boss.

But now… the timeline had shifted.

Yuka was alive.

So, perhaps, Kiba's fate could change too.

"I'm fine," Yuka said, stepping forward with a gentle smile. "This man… he saved me."

Kiba skidded to a halt, panting. His eyes darted between Jack and Yuka, his chest heaving with emotion.

"I… Thank you," he said, bowing deeply toward Jack. "Thank you for saving her."

To Kiba, Yuka wasn't just a friend—she was a trusted partner, someone he had fought alongside in countless battles. Losing her had destroyed him in the original timeline.

But now, that loss had been prevented.

Jack gave a nod. "You're just in time, actually. She's safe, but there's still one problem left. And she could really use your help."

"Huh?" Kiba blinked in confusion. "What kind of problem?"

Jack straightened up and pointed toward Yuka. "She's unable to pay the fee for the rescue mission."

Yuka lowered her head in shame, her fingers curling into fists. "I don't have any powers left… I have nothing of value..."

Kiba was silent for a moment.

Then, without hesitation, he stepped forward. "I'll pay for her."

Jack raised an eyebrow. "That's a generous offer. But are you sure? You don't even know what the cost might be."

"I don't care," Kiba replied immediately. "If it means helping her, I'm willing."

Jack held up a hand. "Wait. Don't rush into it just yet."

He turned serious.

"There's something you should know. When someone else pays on behalf of the employer, the system doesn't simply copy the payment. It deprives it directly from the person offering it."

"Deprives?" Kiba echoed, puzzled.

Jack nodded. "Yes. It doesn't matter if it's physical strength, ability, memories, years of life, or even something intangible. Whatever the system chooses as the equivalent value for the mission, it will be taken from you directly."

Kiba's face stiffened slightly. "So if I say yes, I won't be able to choose what I lose?"

"That's right," Jack said. "The system makes that choice. It may be a piece of your power. It may be a year of your life. It may even be something deeper—like an important memory. That's why I'm asking: Are you sure you want to do this?"

Yuka's eyes widened in panic. "No, Kiba! Don't do it! It's not worth it—"

"It is," Kiba interrupted, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You're alive because of him. That alone is worth anything I can give."

Yuka bit her lip, trembling. "But… what if it takes too much?"

"Then so be it," Kiba said firmly. "I won't let your second chance come with a price that costs your life."

Jack studied the man closely.

He's serious, Jack thought. No hesitation. No regret. Even when faced with the unknown, he still chooses to protect others.

He admired that.

"Well," Jack said, clapping his hands once. "Then it's settled."

> Ding! Compensation transfer initiated.

> Yuji Kiba has chosen to pay on behalf of the employer. Scanning for suitable value…

A faint glow surrounded Kiba's body, and a progress bar appeared in Jack's mind. Moments later, the system issued another notification.

> Payment selected: 5 years of life and 20% of current combat power.

> Transfer complete.

Kiba winced slightly as the glow faded, and he stumbled forward a step, momentarily weakened. Jack caught him before he could fall.

"You okay?" Jack asked.

Kiba nodded, breathing heavily. "Yeah… just felt like my body got lighter and heavier at the same time."

"That's the deprivation effect," Jack said. "It takes what's owed without harming the soul. You'll recover."

Yuka rushed to Kiba's side, grabbing his arm with teary eyes. "Why would you…? Why did you…?"

Kiba smiled weakly. "Because you're alive."

That was all he needed to say.

---

A moment later, Jack received his final system message for the mission.

> Mission Complete. Payment Received.

> New bond established between Kiba Yuji and the Thug Group. Possibility of future employer status: HIGH.

Jack looked up at the two of them.

"I'll be going now," he said. "You both have a future to build."

"Wait!" Yuka stepped forward. "Can we… see you again?"

Jack gave a mysterious smile. "Perhaps. If the world needs saving again—and if the price is right."

He raised his hand, opening a portal behind him.

Before stepping through, he glanced at Kiba.

"Take care of her. You just sacrificed something important. Make sure it wasn't for nothing."

Kiba nodded solemnly. "I will."

And with that, Jack turned and walked through the portal.

The swirling vortex shimmered for a moment—then vanished.

Yuka and Kiba stood silently for a while, watching the sky.

Unaware that in another world, Jack had already received his next mission notification.

> Ding! A new employer has requested assistance…

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