Chapter 136
Chapter 136
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 136
Chapter Title: Peter Jaeger's Holiday (2)
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I stood there dumbfounded by the absurd scene, slowly stepping down from the carriage and just watching as the man who had been kicking at the crudely mud-plastered wall of Charlotte's house like he was about to tear it down with his boots approached me.
He must've been making decent money as a loan shark, judging by his cheap but silk clothes and the sword decked out with all sorts of gaudy decorations.
As he came closer, he fiddled with the hilt of his sheathed sword like he was ready to draw it at any moment, radiating irritation as he spoke to me.
"Hey, young officer. Don't stand there glaring so fiercely and making things uncomfortable. Let's just both go our separate ways quietly. I'm only here to collect some money owed to me by the folks living here."
To get a read on these guys, I'd left my two-star cap in the carriage and kept my uniform coat on to hide my rank insignia on the shoulders, even though it felt a bit stuffy.
In his eyes, I probably looked like a captain at best, no matter how you sliced it.
But your typical loan sharks acted like tyrants around commoners or serfs, while crawling on their bellies before nobles—especially ones they hadn't loaned money to.
These bastards clearly had some backing.
"Ha, so just keep going on your way. What's this about blocking the road with your carriage and making a scene? You gotta think about the aftermath. We're loan sharks backed by Baron Belf and Secretary Oldenburg, even if we don't look it. Crossing us here means getting hurt, ruining your career, and all sorts of headaches. A hot-blooded young guy like you could throw your whole life away by sticking your nose where it doesn't belong."
With a nod from him, the roughnecks around him—armed with wooden clubs, hammers, axes—started circling me.
Most officers might back off from five armed thugs, especially with a baron and a secretary (equivalent to a colonel) as their muscle, scared off by the thought of ruining their lives over some misplaced sense of justice.
But by title alone, I was a viscount, and in the military, a major general—on par with the bureaucrats who bossed around secretaries like him.
Plus, with my semi-swordmaster skills, I could take these scrubs solo no problem.
If they were legit loan sharks sticking to legal interest rates, I might've paid off the principal and interest myself to let them go.
"How much does Charlotte owe?"
Hearing that, the man let out a mad chuckle, mocking me as he replied.
"Looks like you're pretty close to Charlotte, milord, so I'll let you know. Principal and interest together come to 150 gold. But that damn shack's been dragging its feet, paying a measly 1 gold a month, so the debt's piled up quite a bit. If you can't pay, you gotta cough up a daughter or something. The oldest one's gone AWOL—the most valuable one—and we can't even spot her. So we'll take the youngest girl instead. I've explained it all, so you must be ready to head out now. I trust a promising officer like you won't want to make enemies of Baron and Secretary."
Honestly, 150 gold was pocket change I could pay right then.
But the problem was these scum were exploiting Charlotte's family—my subordinates, essentially—with interest way beyond legal limits.
And by slapping on insane rates, they'd made it pointless for Charlotte to send most of her wages home to pay it off steadily.
From the start, they were after Charlotte or her sister for their looks, no doubt.
Even after taking one, they might squeeze for more.
"From what I heard, her debt was only 40 gold. Four years ago, so even at most, it shouldn't exceed 90. Where'd the other 60 come from?"
"Her old man's debt piled up 'cause he couldn't pay for ages."
"What kind of bullshit is that..."
I was about to press further when their boss-looking leader drew his sword right in front of me, face twisted in annoyance, and snapped.
"Think wearing an officer's uniform makes you immune to steel? Wanna die? Fine, drawing my blade might be a hassle. But if you keep blocking our way, we'll have to give you a taste of the rough stuff. Our patience ends here. Get lost."
With that, he swung to show me that "rough stuff" right away, aiming a right hook from above at my jaw.
I let out a resigned sigh and smashed the sheath from my belt into his chin, saying,
"Shut your dog mouth and come at me. I can handle twenty of you alone."
Then I drew my sword from my waist and declared,
"Final warning to everyone here. Since you attacked first, imperial law's noble privilege applies. I can kill you all right here and walk free."
The moment I said that, the other four grabbed their tools—weapons for fights, implements for shaking down debtors—and charged me.
But I had zero intention of killing these weaklings.
Even if noble privilege covered stepping up for my exclusive maid Charlotte, killing while under disciplinary action would get me summoned by His Highness the Crown Prince for a scolding.
As long as I didn't kill, thirsty bards would spin it into a fine tale, boosting my rep.
Anyway, these guys were the real villains here.
"Whoever this punk is, our backers are way bigger! Beat him down!"
"He smashed Big Bro's jaw. Break that noble bastard's ribs—four hits at least."
"Fuck, why's he messing with our business screwing desperate folks?!"
With that, the four rushed me together.
I dodged the hammer swing from the front guy and slashed his calf with my sword.
Then stomped the instep of the one swinging a club from behind, snatched his dropped club, and smashed the right shoulders of the two coming from the sides.
As I approached their leader—whose jaw now barely worked—I shrugged off my coat and tossed it toward the carriage.
Courteously flashing my insignia, I asked,
"I get who's backing you, but I'm Major General Peter Jaeger. So tell your fancy Baron and Secretary this: if they wanna complain, come straight to the Jaeger estate."
Then I tossed a pouch with 40 gold at his feet and said,
"Take the principal and get lost. Don't ever show your faces before me again. If you do, I'll deal with your Baron and Secretary first."
The loan shark realized even a secretary or baron was nothing before a major general like me. His broken jaw slurred his words badly, but it sounded like,
'Understood, please just spare us.'
From what I saw, their two backers would cut ties once they heard their man picked a fight with me.
These guys would likely end up as unidentifiable corpses in the slums.
Still, I'd use Laura's connections later to launch an audit and make those two pay dearly.
The men who'd been causing chaos moments ago fled desperately, struggling every step. I helped Charlotte down from the carriage.
"Those loan sharks won't come back to your house anymore, so relax."
To reassure her, I patted her shoulder, then spoke gently to her trembling little sister and brother—early to mid-teens—and her elderly mother huddled in the corner.
"Those guys won't come back here. No need to worry—come on out."
No matter how scum-like the loan sharks were, after trying to gang up on someone with more power than their backers, they'd never return.
They'd abandoned human morals, but they shriveled before anyone stronger.
After a moment, the three emerged from the corner, fear somewhat eased.
But seeing my two stars, they froze for a different reason. Charlotte stepped in to explain to her flustered mom and siblings.
"This is Major General Jaeger, the one I serve. On his way back from work, he wanted to stop by our house, so we did—and he just chased off the debt collectors. He paid off all the debt too. No more debts on our house, Mom."
Hearing that, Charlotte's mom, sister, and brother—who seemed about academy age—went slack-jawed, stunned by the sudden stroke of fortune.
Their tormenting debt was gone, and the incredibly high-ranking person Charlotte served was right there in their hovel—they couldn't process it.
But realizing they were being rude before a noble, they started to kneel. I stopped them, saying,
"I'm from commoner stock myself, so no need to be so formal. I stopped by today and ended up helping unintentionally, but Charlotte's done me so many favors that this is just me paying her back a little."
"...Is that so?"
"She handles my personal needs and helps with my unit's paperwork—huge help. Without her, I'd be buried in documents. Thank you for raising such a fine daughter."
With some Korean sensibilities lingering, speaking casually to her civilian family—especially an older woman—felt a tad awkward.
But just this respectful attitude had her mom and siblings on the verge of tears, moved.
And to secure Charlotte's unwavering loyalty now, I needed to give her family a proper path forward.
"I heard after her father left, you've struggled raising the kids alone. So move to a nicer place than this. I have a house big enough for three—go there."
The house I meant was one I'd bought with a bonus when I first made captain.
Four rooms—level for low nobles or well-off commoners.
Then I looked at the boy before me and asked,
"Ever thought about the academy? If you're confident in the written exam, I'll give you a recommendation for next year."
This wasn't just for Charlotte—it'd boost my rep too.
The empire's fastest commoner-to-noble riser opening the academy path to officer ranks for his maid's talented brother from a fallen merchant family? That'd spread like wildfire nationwide.
"Y-Yes! I'll work hard!"
"Then in five years, we'll meet as fellow officers."
"Thank you, sir! I'll really give it my all!"
With evening squeezing from Laura looming, I promised suitable jobs and support fitting their situation, then climbed into the carriage to leave, saying,
"You'll have lots to do packing by day after tomorrow for the move, so stay with your family till then."
"Thank you, Major General. But... I want to serve you, my lord."
Her switching from "Major General" to "my lord" felt odd, but it showed her resolve to repay the lifelong favor I'd done her family.
Good. Time to solidify my circle like this.