Gerard Millers' Tribulations (1)

Calix headed to the magic tower branch with Krout in tow.

On the Eren Continent, the magic towers handled more than just trading magic materials and artifacts—they played another crucial role.

Banking.

They primarily dealt with royal families and great nobles, storing money for a fee or buying bonds and collecting interest.

Some independent mages criticized the towers for being obsessed with profit.

But it was hard to deny that they poured astronomical sums into massive magical experiments no individual could afford, driving technological advancement.

That said, the Szczecin County branch was little more than a small outpost.

It was guarded by a single mage named Rosenne and her one assistant.

"Welcome... oh? A pretty boy and a handsome muscle man too! I don't know who you are, but handsome guys are always welcome. Come, sit down."

She greeted them warmly, like a friendly aunt.

It was a typical mage reaction—worldly status meant little to them.

With a casual wave of her hand, the teapot and cups floated over on their own and settled on the table.

And that was just the start.

The teapot had clearly been cold, but when Rosenne picked it up and poured into the cups, steam was already rising.

Calix was genuinely surprised after checking her abilities and status window.

He hadn't expected a Class 5 mage stationed at such a rundown outpost.

"That's unexpected."

"Hehe, what surprises you so much, young master?"

"Honestly, you don't seem like someone who'd be in a rural county like this. Not by your looks or your magic."

"Hohoho! You sure know how to talk."

"A skill to heat a teapot in seconds? That's at least Class 5. If you're that strong in your early twenties, you'd have to be the tower master's direct disciple, right?"

"Oh? Early twenties? Goodness! You're embarrassing me..."

She blushed slightly, cupping her cheeks with both hands.

"Huh? Twenties...?"

As Krout tilted his head and opened his mouth, Calix twisted his thigh hard.

"Guh!"

Luckily, she was looking down bashfully and missed the exchange.

"I'm a bit youthful-looking, but early twenties and tower master's disciple? No way. Hehe, I'm already past thirty."

Calix widened his eyes in feigned shock.

"You don't look it at all. Got some special maintenance routine?"

"Huh? Nothing special... I sleep a lot and wash with cold water in the mornings?"

"As expected! Born with it."

Calix seemed to completely forget why he'd come, chatting endlessly with Rosenne.

Krout spent the time grinding his teeth every five minutes and stifling yawns.

After over two hours of laughter and chatter, as the sun began to set, Rosenne finally asked why he'd visited.

"Come to think of it, what brings you here today? I lost track of time chatting ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with someone I actually click with."

"Actually, I need to restock explosion scrolls."

"Oh? Big spender. Scrolls are custom-made, you know? How many?"

"About thirty."

"600 gold... but pretty boy special: 500 gold."

"You sure? Don't push yourself..."

"No worries. It may look shabby, but a branch chief's authority is the same everywhere."

"Thank you."

Calix's bright smile ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠made her cheeks flush again.

"That said... I have one more favor."

"Anything."

Confident her affinity was high enough from her reactions, Calix broached the main topic.

"Recently, I opened a secret vault passed down through my family. My late count left behind massive debts."

"Oh? And?"

"I don't want debt collectors taking generations of savings... tough ask, but could you lend some reserve funds as collateral?"

"Reserve funds?"

Her face stiffened slightly.

Reserve funds were what magic towers—as banks—kept for sudden large withdrawals.

Big city branches hoarded gold and silver coins, but small rural outposts like this preferred royal bearer bonds.

Easier to store than bulky, heavy cash.

Calix was asking to borrow those temporarily.

"May I ask how much?"

"...60,000 gold."

She was stunned by the huge sum, falling silent.

"That's... I can't touch that freely."

"I know. So, gold and silver bars as collateral. Not long-term, but I'll pay interest."

"Interest?"

Her stiff expression shifted intriguingly.

"Of course. Short-term loan, but still a loan. Proper interest is only fair."

Calix kept a relaxed face to show no weakness in negotiation.

But inside, he was desperate.

Stealing 100,000 gold was pointless if he couldn't use it.

Handing it straight to Gerard would advertise him as the thief.

Melting and recasting gold and silver took time and facilities he lacked, and secrecy was impossible.

Plan: Borrow bearer bonds to pay debts, then slowly liquidate the gold and silver.

But Rosenne shook her head, against his hopes.

"Sorry, that's impossible."

Calix's heart sank.

Damn! Affinity not enough? Too hasty!

As he bit his lip in self-reproach, she continued.

"Head office would never allow it. But..."

She trailed off, then asked.

"How about this?"

Greed began flickering in her eyes.

"As you see, central doesn't pay much attention here. Why not keep it our little secret?"

"Our secret...?"

"Pay back in six months, no big issue. After that, I'd liquidate collateral into bonds myself."

Calix smiled inwardly.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Mentioning interest earlier was bait for exactly this.

Heh, even a few months' interest on 60,000 gold is a fortune. Mages always thirst for research funds—they can't resist.

He bowed politely, gratitude overflowing.

"I'd be honored, lady."

"Hohoho, talking with you is so easy."

Meanwhile, Gerard stared at a single report, deep in thought.

A patrol scouting the secret fund vault area had vanished.

After long deliberation with eyes closed, he snapped his head up and shouted at the steward.

"The map! Bring the map!"

"Yes, sir."

A large map of the secret vault surroundings unfurled before him.

Gerard pointed to one spot, muttering.

"Missing patrol's last trace here... no way!"

It hit him like a hammer to the head.

He'd dismissed the initial report.

Unlucky patrols dying to mid-tier monsters wasn't rare.

Plus, the site was over ten days from the vault entrance along mountain paths.

But viewing the full map from afar changed everything.

Straight-line distance: just one or two days.

Canyons and cliffs prevented direct paths without wings.

Still, unease swelled.

"To Golda Plateau—now!"

"Understood, master."

Gerard Millers led his shadow unit toward the secret vault in haste.

Ominous foreboding gnawed at him.

And sure enough.

"Golem!"

"G-golems appeared!"

"Stay calm—switch to blunt weapons!"

"We're light gear only—no blunts!"

"What? You idiots! Grab construction hammers from the porters!"

"Y-yes, sir!"

Millsus Merchant Company, with Gerard, panicked at the sudden rock golems.

Direct guards and shadow unit stayed composed, but porters and mercenaries fled, collapsing formation instantly.

"Get it together!"

Shadow unit leader Cave bellowed with mana, staggering fleeing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠men with eardrum-shaking shock.

Shadows quickly rallied them: mercenaries with large shields forward, porters chaining pit traps.

"Stay calm! Rock golems are slow despite size. Keep distance and fight!"

Chaos subsided over time, but golems were tough.

Rare encounters meant little experience.

Kwajik!

"Argh!"

Even a knight-level shadow flew back from a golem fist, leaving Cave visibly shaken.

"Urgh! Golems...? I heard they don't spawn naturally."

"Yes. A controlling mage hides nearby. Careful— that power means at least Class 5."

The mercenary mage glanced around nervously.

"Makes sense. Listen! Shields draw aggro—shadows search surroundings thoroughly! Mage likely hiding."

"Yes!"

"And drop those damn rock piles! Overlapping attack range!"

"Got it, captain."

As Cave barked orders, Gerard approached.

Already irritated by unease, this worsened his mood.

"Failing basic armament is the commander's fault. No complacency near outpost, no incident. You'll answer for this later."

Harsh words, but true.

Cave swallowed pride, then vented at his aide.

"Mage found yet?"

"Sorry. Searching everywhere, but..."

Cave's face hardened as he told Gerard.

"We should retreat for now. Casualties mounting. Regroup properly..."

Gerard, on bad terms with the leader, cut him off.

"What nonsense! Tribute to the marquis in three days. Clear path in 24 hours, no excuses."

"Guh!"