Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Debt Collection (3)
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The castle of the Levarb House revealed itself amid the blizzard.
Each frost-encrusted brick had stood guard in the same spot for several centuries already.
The tower rising at the center of the castle pierced toward the heavens like a needle, its tip obscured by the swirling snowstorm and clouds.
The gate was made of sturdy coniferous wood, firmly secured with hundreds of iron nails and barred with an iron bolt.
Sharp icicles jutted from the granite floor, lending the atmosphere a rather menacing air.
The gatekeepers shouted in arrogant tones.
“The Meursault delegation passes through!”
With the sound of icicles shattering, the heavy gate swung open.
The Meursault delegation, led by Federback, was escorted into the inner bailey.
The inner guards raised their spears, aiming them this way.
“Halt.”
The atmosphere of Viscount Levarb's house was oppressively cold and arrogant, unbecoming of a vassal family.
Soon, a man emerged from deeper within the inner bailey.
His broad shoulders and massive frame stood out prominently.
He was quite tall, towering over most people, and his protruding belly looked like a symbol of greed and wealth.
Each of his ten short, thick fingers bore a large gemstone ring.
“……”
Federback silently regarded the man.
Viscount Bargo, patriarch of the Levarb House.
His face was round, with deep wrinkles etched across his forehead.
His slit eyes gleamed like a snake's as they sized up their target.
“Oh my, the young master of the Meursault House has graced us with his presence. You've grown so much since last we met.”
He approached Federback with arms spread wide.
His slow, deliberate gait exuded leisure and confidence.
Beneath his opulent fabric woven with gold and silver threads, jeweled ornaments jingled noisily.
He soon winked slyly at Administrator Yuda beside Federback.
“Our dear Administrator Yuda looks well too. It's been since last year's harvest festival, hasn't it?”
“I paid a visit for your birthday after that, my lord.”
“Oh dear me! That's right, isn't it? Look at my memory. That's how I live—scattered and busy. Hahaha!”
“Isn't being hectically busy a good thing? Hehehe!”
“Administrator, you're getting on in years—surely chaos isn't ideal? Hehehe!”
Viscount Bargo and Administrator Yuda seemed on extremely friendly terms.
Watching them, Federback quietly stroked his chin.
Before his regression, those two had played the biggest roles in bankrupting the Meursault House financially.
Because of them, military upkeep had become impossible, leaving them unable to halt the Demon King's army advance. They were the root of all evil, practically.
'This time, I'll crush them from the start, nice and slow. Make sure they cause no more trouble.'
Federback scanned the surrounding terrain, envisioning the fountain of blood soon to spray forth.
Oblivious to Federback's thoughts, Viscount Bargo and Administrator Yuda continued their chit-chat.
“I've heard the young master of the Meursault House has a fine appreciation for the arts. I've acquired some fine paintings just for this. Young people have such discerning tastes—I wonder if they'll catch your eye. Heh heh—Administrator Yuda, do put in a good word for me.”
“Of course. Though, our young master's tastes have... shifted a bit lately...”
At that moment, Federback cut into their conversation.
“Let's talk business.”
“……”
Administrator Yuda promptly shut his mouth.
Viscount Bargo let out a hearty laugh.
“Straight to the point, just like a true Meursault! Very well, let's head inside.”
But his eyes weren't laughing.
Even as he guided them, he kept a close watch on Federback, clearly scheming something.
Thud—thud—thud—
Viscount Bargo walked beside Federback, leading them through the castle interior.
“You're an honored guest, Young Master Federback, so I'll escort you personally. The men of Levarb are all gentlemen like me. Ah, not that I'm saying this with Lady Cardina in mind, who's not here anyway. It's just that my sons are of marriageable age, yet none have wed—it's frustrating, you see...”
He extended a short, thick finger to point down the long, narrow corridor.
“Anyway. Straight down this way is my office. I've left the paintings there as a gift for you—please take a look. I hope they suit your taste.”
Soon, Viscount Bargo entered a spacious room.
Across from a lavish table and chairs hung beautiful masterpieces.
Paintings depicting northern landscapes.
Viscount Bargo turned to Federback and said,
“Works by famous painters. An uncultured brute like me knows nothing of art, but I do know a single piece from these artists rivals the value of a house.”
“My goodness, what eye-openers. Truly magnificent paintings.”
Administrator Yuda gushed in his stead.
Federback's reaction, however, was lukewarm.
“They skimped on the paint.”
“Ah, is that so? Well, the north's harsh environment makes quality pigments hard to come by. Red dyes in particular are rarer than stars—there's no red petals for the material.”
Viscount Bargo laughed it off boisterously.
Soon, everyone took seats at the table.
Viscount Bargo spoke.
“Since Young Master Federback of the Meursault House wishes to get straight to it, so we shall. Especially with those orcs giving you headaches...”
“The orc problem is already resolved.”
“……!”
Viscount Bargo's eyes widened at Federback's reply.
“I heard over a thousand orcs crossed the snowy mountains this time. Subjugating them should've been near impossible—how...?”
“Not sure if your intel is fast or slow. You knew they numbered over a thousand, but not that they were wiped out?”
“……”
Unbelief clouded Viscount Bargo's eyes.
He glanced sideways, silently questioning Administrator Yuda.
The administrator nodded with a somewhat deflated expression.
“……Anyway.”
Viscount Bargo changed the subject, getting to the point.
“I assume you've come regarding the message we sent. Correct?”
“You want Meurso Mountain?”
“Not own it—we wish to lease it.”
“Same difference.”
“Haha—seems Young Master Federback has some misunderstanding. Why would we covet Meurso Mountain? We merely thought a temporary lease would benefit everyone. We have no desire to sour relations with Meursault. That's why we prepared these paintings, no?”
Viscount Bargo gestured to the gift paintings for Federback.
His twitching lip suggested he thought Federback would adore them.
Of course, the pre-regression Federback might've lost his mind over famous painters... but it stirred nothing in the current one.
Federback said,
“You sent the message through our Administrator Yuda.”
“Indeed. It's a difficult request, but our finances are strained these days—we seek prompt repayment of the debt.”
“Meursault borrowed 30,000 gold from Levarb, didn't we? So why demand 100,000?”
“That's compound interest, which might be hard for you to grasp, Young Master. It balloons in just three years. Too detailed for now—ask the administrator later.”
Viscount Bargo treated Federback like a child while demanding principal and interest.
He smirked bitterly at Federback.
“But we won't take it all. How could we dare such irreverence toward our liege house Meursault? We're merely asking you to consider our dire straits and approve the Meurso Mountain lease.”
“Pave roads over Meursault's ancestral graves? Bulldoze our forebears' tombs?”
“In exchange, we'll pay steady rent. We'll cover all relocation costs for the graves too.”
It sounded reasonable at first glance.
A commoner house might jump at it.
But digging up ancestral grounds for pocket change was a grave breach of etiquette.
Great noble houses above earldom rank would face social burial for less.
Ancestral graves were that sacred.
Demanding a lease was utter absurdity.
But Viscount Bargo ignored decorum entirely.
“We've heard of the Meursault House's financial woes. We sincerely wish to help. The rent won't disappoint—please give it thought...”
“Refused.”
“……”
Viscount Bargo sighed at Federback's firm declaration.
“Young master, you can't cling to outdated etiquette—you must face reality. If you keep making unrealistic claims, I have no choice but to apply cold, hard reality to the Meursault House.”
“Pay the debt?”
“Sadly, yes. Times are tough for us too.”
“Sorry for making the struggling even more so.”
Viscount Bargo tilted his head at Federback's words.
He hadn't expected such a ready apology for defaulting.
But Federback's follow-up was entirely different.
“I understand your hardship, but we're struggling too. So, it's time you repaid your debt to us.”
“……Us repay a debt? The Levarb House?”
As Viscount Bargo tilted his head, Administrator Yuda squeezed his eyes shut and shot to his feet.
“Y-Young master! You can't backtrack now! Meursault borrowed the money! Demanding repayment from the lenders...”
But Federback utterly ignored Yuda's outburst.
...Thud!
A single document placed on the table before them.
Viscount Bargo's eyes bulged upon seeing it.
“Money.”
Federback's words grew even shorter.
“Pay.”
It was a declaration aimed at Viscount Bargo, whose mouth hung open in stunned disbelief.
“Unless you want to become traitors.”