Chapter 157
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 157
Chapter Title: The Third Temptation
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“…It’s nothing. The table must have been a cheap one.”
Pernyan stopped his finger.
Of course, that couldn’t undo the hole he had already bored through it.
“Didn’t you say last time that this was made of the finest timber?”
“I swapped it out to try a new one. The Golden Turtle Merchant Guild doesn’t only deal in luxury goods.”
To change the subject, Pernyan pulled a gold coin from his pocket and flicked it into the air.
“…Returning to the matter at hand, money is like the veins of this world, even if I don’t lend it to you. Everyone needs it, and it finds its way everywhere.”
Even if not you, there are plenty of others to lend to, and plenty of ventures that need funding.
The spinning gold coin landed in front of Aint.
“I was merely considering the possibility that you might not be able to secure sufficient funds. Otherwise, I have no desire to take a loss. I could lend it out at a higher interest rate.”
Pernyan smiled as Aint nodded slightly in understanding.
The effect of having offered a low interest rate beforehand was now paying off handsomely.
- He’s not wrong.
- In truth, they have no need to be tied to you.
‘So, is this a genuine act of goodwill?’
- It can’t possibly be simple goodwill. He just wants the demons defeated more than anyone else.
Gardner had a good idea of the reason.
- Just like the Vile Breed last time, demons don’t place much value on money and jewels.
- Thanks to that, the Fallenbergs amassed enormous wealth fighting the Vile Breed a thousand years ago, but the two can never coexist.
That was why, a thousand years ago, the Fallenbergs had ultimately joined the first emperor.
- Of course, that won’t be the only reason. He’s also aiming to eliminate other competitors who might reach out to you.
‘Competitors?’
- You are a rising hero. Do you think there aren’t people who want to get a foothold in the still-weak Armian family?
Nevertheless, Gardner thought that taking Pernyan’s hand was the best option.
Other hyenas would be far more desperate to tear Aint apart than Pernyan.
It was better to be gnawed on by a single lion than by dozens of hyenas who couldn’t handle such a vast sum of money on their own.
Besides, this particular lion’s generosity was quite, no, exceptionally good.
- An interest rate of 5% with a 15-year term was a top-tier deal even a thousand years ago.
- Borrow as much as you can before that man changes his mind.
“…Is the offer you made last time still valid?”
Finally, the words Pernyan had most longed to hear came from Aint’s mouth.
‘Yes! I’ve secured a lifelong cash cow!’
Pernyan inwardly cheered but maintained the most composed expression he could manage.
“Of course. A merchant never turns away a customer who comes seeking a loan.”
Aint and Gardner would think this was an excellent deal. They weren’t wrong.
There were just two things they didn’t realize.
‘Just as I thought, he’s asking for a huge amount because the interest rate is low.’
One was that no matter how low the interest rate, if the principal was too large from the start, it was like a snowball rolling down a steep hill.
‘He thinks he can pay it all back in fifteen years? Unless he actually raids a dragon’s lair, there’s no hope.’
Worse, with a war—a notorious money pit—on the horizon, he’d be lucky not to have to borrow even more.
At first, the interest would eat into the principal, but eventually, it would become unmanageable.
‘This is how you make money with money. Money really does beget money.’
The other thing was that this money was Aint’s to begin with.
The low 5% interest rate was both a means to get Aint to borrow more and a manifestation of his last shred of conscience.
Pernyan barely suppressed the maniacal laughter that threatened to erupt.
“Shall we draw up the contract, then?”
“Yes.”
After Pernyan and Aint had signed, Pernyan tucked the document away with great care.
“By the way, Friedien being a Vile Breed. Is that really true?”
“Hear the details from Aria. As the person involved, she knows more than I do.”
The matter of the Friediens was far too trivial for Pernyan right now.
‘Where should I store this?’
It must not be damaged in the slightest.
‘I’ll have to put it in my secret vault at the main estate.’
The vault, which he had poured his heart and soul into creating, would be impregnable unless the Fallenberg family fell, making it the perfect place.
“The money will be transferred to you within three days, exactly as written in the contract.”
“…Such a large sum in just three days?”
“Do not underestimate the Fallenbergs.”
Pernyan declared proudly as he rose from his seat.
“I have urgent business, so I’ll be leaving first. As I told you, there’s much to investigate regarding the Friediens.”
“Yes, sir.”
Pernyan burst out of the door and called for Hyde.
“We’re heading to the main estate immediately. Magically treat the contract to ensure it can’t be damaged and place it in the vault at once.”
This was more urgent than any other matter.
* * *
“…It’s true. All this money in just three days…”
Three days later, what Pernyan delivered was dozens of dimensional pockets. And every single one of them was filled to the brim with gold coins.
Just how much was this? One thing was certain: it was more money than Aint had ever seen in his entire life.
- A Fallenberg is a Fallenberg. To think they could gather this much money in just three days…
In any case, it wasn’t bad.
- The reasons to return to the main estate during the summer break have certainly grown.
- Even if you have the money, your father is still the head of the house. You must explain everything properly and get his permission.
“Yes. That’s what I plan to do.”
To be honest, he was a little anxious.
The father Aint knew was a man who was content with the present, rather than one with an adventurous spirit or the ambition to make the family greater.
Would he really accept Aint’s intentions?
‘No, having come this far, it’s not a question of whether he’ll accept it or not.’
I have to make him accept it.
I must persuade my father and restore the Armian family. I absolutely must.
“But where to keep all this is also a problem.”
Aint fell into deep thought as he looked at the money pouches lying on his bed.
There were dozens of dimensional pockets. With all of them filled with gold coins and jewels, storing them was a challenge in itself.
This was especially true because it was impossible to put a dimensional pocket inside another.
He didn’t know the details, but he’d heard something about the magic circles breaking and losing all the contents.
- The best option is to take it to the main estate.
- As fallen as the Armian family is, surely they have at least one vault, right?
The problem was that the Armians lacked the power to protect this enormous sum, but as long as Pernyan didn’t spread rumors himself, it was unlikely anyone would find out.
“I suppose so, right? But the distance is too great to travel during the semester…”
- Don’t all the Electors have a direct magic portal to the academy?
- You should be able to use that, no?
“Um, about that.”
Aint gave an awkward laugh.
“We had one, but not anymore.”
- What do you mean?
“As you know, our family fell. We lost most of our territory in the process, and of course, the place where our main estate was located…”
The current Armian main estate was not the original one. Those lands had been handed over to the Schwabens when they seized the imperial throne.
- But that was a hundred years ago. That’s more than enough time to install a new direct teleportation circle, isn’t it?
“That may be, but there was no reason to. I told you, didn’t I? After losing the throne, I’m the first from the Armian family to enroll in the academy.”
After surrendering the throne, the Armian family had closed all its doors.
The academy was no exception, so there had been no reason to create a new teleportation circle.
- You’ve really fallen, and fallen hard…
“I will definitely raise our family up again.”
- You must. Otherwise, I won’t be able to face the former emperor.
The sword and the man firmed their resolve in unison.
For now, Aint stored the pouches in his wardrobe drawer. La Vie Douce Dormitory had tight security, so it was the safest place at the moment.
Though it wasn’t a good long-term storage solution.
- Ah, I have a good idea.
- Among the things the former emperor left at the academy is an extra-large dimensional pocket.
“Extra-large?”
- Yes. It’s probably massive enough to hold all the borrowed gold and treasure.
That, too, was one of the provisions the first emperor had left for his successor.
“Couldn’t someone else have taken it already?”
- If they had, rumors would have spread by now. Besides, like the armor, it’s hidden. No one but me knows where it is.
At those words, Aint’s face brightened.
“Then I can use that to carry it… but what about the armor?”
- Hmm, that is a problem. No, come to think of it, the biggest problem is whether or not you can beat Ruina Bercefe this time.
- It seems Ruina has had an awakening of her own.
Their worries deepened.
* * *
Sparring with Aint and Ruina had become a natural part of Verian’s daily routine.
He would wake at the crack of dawn, spar, and then attend his lectures.
That was why he felt it so keenly.
‘…These insane monsters.’
Both Aint Armian and Ruina Bercefe.
He realized that they hadn’t just improved day by day; they had ascended to an even more distant realm.
‘The world is unfair.’
How was this possible? The powerhouses he couldn’t even dream of reaching had become even greater monsters.
His own growth rate certainly wasn’t bad, so why was the gap widening?
‘And that damn Armian was weaker than me just a year ago! How does this make any sense?’
Verian, too, had grown up being called a genius in the Calburden territory.
As if to prove he wasn’t just a big fish in a small pond, he had even secured the second-top position at the academy.
Yet he had no idea why those two seemed utterly insurmountable.
Perhaps he just didn’t want to admit it—that there was a massive wall between them and him.
*Grind.* His teeth clenched involuntarily.
Why was he the only one stagnating? Why was the difference so vast?
Every day, he swung his sword until his entire body screamed. He challenged Aint and Ruina, fell, and fell again, only to get back up.
Yet the gap didn’t close easily, and his blood ran cold day by day. It felt like he was standing still while everyone else moved forward.
“Why the long face? Is the Calburden family going bankrupt or something?”
The elf, Aria, sat down next to him with a bright smile.
“Mind your own business.”
“How can I when you’re sighing up a storm in the training grounds every day?”
“You, on the other hand, have brightened up. You looked like death just a few days ago.”
“Because my problem is solved!”
Aria beamed with a pleasant smile.
“Solved?”
“Ah, not exactly solved, but he said he’d solve it. No, he didn’t say he’d solve it, but he said he’d look into it.”
“You talked to Sunbaenim Pernyan.”
“Yep. You were wrong.”
“Suddenly?”
“You said it, didn’t you? That I was just imagining things. But Sunbaenim agreed to listen to my request. Is it still just my imagination?”
Aria shrugged, a gesture he found thoroughly irritating.
“You must have paid him.”
“No. Sunbaenim said he would do it purely out of goodwill, considering our relationship.”
The answer came out smoothly, but having known her for over a year, Verian had noticed one of Aria’s habits when she was lying.
“Like that money-grubber would ever do that.”
Even without that, the idea itself was ridiculous.
“That’s not what’s important right now, is it? What’s important is that I’ve cheered up, and you’re all crumpled.”
“Neither is important, so get lost.”
“It’s because you keep losing to Aint, right?”
Without waiting for Verian’s reply, Aria nodded to herself in agreement.
“I guess it makes sense, seeing as you were the only one who passed out during the fight with Andromalius.”
“…I didn’t pass out.”
“So you were taking a deep nap, then?”
“I heard you were laid up with a hole in your body, too.”
“At least I didn’t pass out.”
Verian, who had been contemplating what insult to hurl back, simply stood up without a word.
In his current state of mind, bickering any further with Aria felt like it would lead to genuine anger, not just playful banter.
Aria seemed to know this, as she didn’t try to stop him as he walked away.
Verian wandered the streets aimlessly.
Comparing himself to the strong-looking people in the bustling crowd was one of his habits when he felt troubled.
‘Strong.’
‘I think I could beat that person.’
‘Weaker than Aint.’
‘I’d win.’
Then, he suddenly stopped in front of a general store.
There was no particular reason. An old sword displayed in front of the shop had simply caught his eye.
“Welcome!”
“May I take a look at the sword?”
“Of course.”
He didn’t sense anything special from the sword. Nevertheless, he reached out as if drawn to it.
As Verian examined the sword, he discovered something very small engraved on the flat of the blade.
“What is this?”
“Ah, that? I’ve heard it’s an ancient script, but no one really knows it. There are a few old documents about it, but they’re not in good shape.”
“Old documents?”
“Would you like to take a look? There’s a related book inside. It would be even better if you bought it.”
Verian stepped inside.
“This is it.”
The shopkeeper brought out a very old, worn-out book. Verian brushed the dust off the cover and opened it.
“There’s nothing in…”
In that instant, Verian’s mind went blank.
‘…What?’
His body didn’t feel like his own.
His thoughts didn’t feel like his own.
It felt as though his body was floating into the air, like drifting naked in the sea.
‘…’
At the same time, an alien yet familiar energy burrowed into his mind.
Something he had experienced countless times.
Something that had already screwed him over in a big way.
An utterly sticky, unpleasant, and repulsive energy.
It was demonic energy.
In that moment, his mind snapped into focus.
Once, when he was turned into a Vile Breed without even realizing when it happened.
And a second time, when his memory was manipulated, and he foolishly repeated the same mistake.
Those two experiences awakened him.
He summoned his aura, creating a sharp conflict with the demonic energy that had infiltrated his brain.
His head felt like it was going to split open. His insides were in turmoil, and he coughed up blood. Still, he gritted his teeth.
Become a Vile Breed again? Why the hell do these bastards keep messing with me?
He clashed and clashed again, and finally.
“…I’ve already fallen for it twice. You think I’d fall for it a third time, you son of a bitch!”
Verian broke free from the brainwashing.