Golden Sun's Debt

How the hell did I know the sock factory was called Geumtaeyang Textiles? Even though I'm only holding one debt note right now, when Eris brought out the whole stack for the first time, there were countless sheets. Makes sense—if someone lent out that much of an inheritance, there'd be plenty of borrowers. Damn debtors. Not a single one has paid anything back, and that's the problem. When am I supposed to track all these bastards down and beat the money out of them? And even if I do beat them, will the cash actually appear? Some of them might genuinely have nothing to give.

While turning those thoughts over, I examined the debt notes. Not just glanced at them—whenever a name looked familiar, I searched it online to confirm. Was the guy lying or not? If a name stuck in my head that much, it was obvious he wasn't broke, and the internet proved me right. So today, I'm going after the closest one on the list.

"A miser like that needs a good beating."

Geum Tae-yang, president of Geumtaeyang Textiles. Weird name, but what can you do? This is some author's creation, after all. Wouldn't be strange if some deranged writer cooked up a character called Golden Sun. Whether this guy is actually a blonde, tanned thug or not, well…

"Of course I know Geumtaeyang Textiles. I wear their socks all the time."

Geumtaeyang Textiles is a pretty popular sock company in the Southern District. The reason is simple: Choi Ji-ah, master of the Jujak Guild—the strongest force in the district—loves their product. Honestly, it's hard not to. You won't find socks this comfortable anywhere else. People from other districts even buy them, so the company sells well. The Jujak Guild doesn't officially sponsor them, but since everyone likes the socks, there's no real danger. Still, how dare they borrow money and then act like they don't have to pay it back? At the very least, I'm collecting what they owe. Bastards.

"Situation observation. Observation target—Geumtaeyang Textiles."

At the very least, I need to figure out how Geumtaeyang Textiles protects its business. My vision shifted completely, and there he was: the blonde, tanned thug. Wait, that really was Geum Tae-yang? Is the author completely insane?

"Alright, everyone! Let's work hard again today. The weather's getting hotter, so I've prepared some nice cold ice cream for dessert!"

His tone sounded surprisingly normal. Given the name Geum Tae-yang, I'd half-expected something like "Uhyo www, eat this rich ice cream and cool off wwwww," but apparently the author who made this cursed world isn't completely brain-dead. Or maybe they just didn't fully commit to the concept.

"Whoa, ice cream again today?"

"This place is insane."

"The welfare here is actually insane."

"The work's tough, but the rewards make it worth it."

"And the pay is ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ridiculous."

The moment ice cream was mentioned, the employees started chattering. So the company has enough capital to hand out ice cream every day and pay high wages? Well, it is listed on the stock market and the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠share price keeps rising, so that tracks. Investors trust the company enough to put money in. With a business this successful, what kind of sob story did our idiot boss Eris buy into? Eris really needs to learn how to be suspicious.

"But isn't it weird?"

Weird how? One of the workers spoke up while still focused on his task. I tuned in.

"If things are going this well, why is the president still using the Murim Alliance's free protection service?"

The Murim Alliance's free protection service. Anyone who's ever run a business knows about it. Aside from the Esper Hunters who are obsessed with killing monsters, both the Murim Alliance and Carpediem offer protection services to businesses. Carpediem's version is basically extortion, but the Murim Alliance actually provides real protection. That's why they have a strong image as chivalrous types. The free service sends low-ranking members from third-rate affiliated sects. It's basically a trial—if you like it, you pay for proper protection from stronger martial artists. Like those free trial items in games that are actually paid content. Of course, the free version only sends weaklings, so if you really need protection, you end up paying anyway.

So why is that guy still using the free service?

"Are you stupid? Who would touch this place? If someone did, Choi Ji-ah would go 'Who the hell was that?!' and cause a scene."

Fair point. The master of the Jujak Guild, Choi Ji-ah, refuses to wear any socks except Geumtaeyang Textiles'. If someone messed with the factory, she'd definitely lose it. But Choi Ji-ah, I'm just here to collect a debt. If violence happens during the process, that's not my problem, right? In the underworld, reputation matters. I came to collect what's owed, and if they talk shit and refuse to pay, of course violence follows. The mighty Jujak Guild wouldn't personally intervene over something so normal—that would tarnish the Esper Hunters' image. No matter what kind of person Choi Ji-ah is, she'll follow basic principles. Plus, the ones I'd have to fight are just the Murim Alliance's free protection weaklings. Even I can handle ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that much.

"Guess I'll head in now."

Time to catch Geum Tae-yang, who's even skimping on protection fees. How should I enter? Boldly. I haven't done anything wrong. I threw the gate open with all my strength and walked inside. No need to show hostility from the start—I don't want to disturb the hardworking employees.

"Ah, you're all working hard. Thanks to Geumtaeyang Textiles, I've been wearing great socks."

When you're in this kind of situation, acting friendly keeps people from getting suspicious. The employees smiled faintly, pleased by the compliment from a stranger. They were curious who I was, but didn't find anything strange about it. After all, they might not know me, but their boss might.

"I've got business with the president, so I'll head in~ Keep up the good work~"

Thanks to Situation Observation, I already knew where the president's office was. Naturally heading there would make the employees' gazes disappear. The office was on the second floor, up the stairs. Since it wasn't a massive corporation, finding it wasn't difficult.

But even a penny-pinching president would have at least one bodyguard for protection. A man in a suit stood in front of the office door. If he were from the Murim Alliance, he'd be wearing robes even if he was a weakling, so this guy was just a regular guard. Not affiliated with any organization. At best, he was a slightly strong civilian. Normally you'd hire two for emergencies, but he only hired one. I don't know what Geum Tae-yang was thinking, but there's no real danger. He's probably just for show.

"Who are you? If you don't have an appointment, you can't see the president."

What's the point of an appointment when this guy's just standing around doing nothing? Still, I shouldn't cross the line by beating him up right away. I calmly pulled the debt note from my pocket and showed it to him.

"Your boss borrowed some money from us. See? Twenty million won right here."

It was borrowed quite a while ago. Probably used as startup capital when Geumtaeyang Textiles was first getting established. Honestly, looking at the company's current state, paying back twenty million shouldn't be hard. If he claims it is, he'll just get the shit beaten out of him.

"Hmm, it does have the president's seal, but…"

The guard trailed off, looking uncertain. Makes sense—he started working here after the loan was taken out, so he wouldn't know about it.

"So? Are you opening the door or not?"

"Could I check with the president first? This isn't something I can decide alone."

Well, what power does a guard have anyway? Fine. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I nodded, and the guard went inside. After a moment, he came back out with a serious expression.

"He says this month's profits are in the red, so it's risky. He says he'll pay next time, so please make an appointment and come back later."

What? In the red? What kind of bullshit is that?

"Hey, guard."

No more polite speech. The guard frowned at the casual tone.

"Hey? Guard? I politely explained the situation and told you to leave, and now you're crossing the line?"

"Crossing the line? You're the ones who crossed it, you bastard. I'm not an idiot. You think I don't know you're paying employees ridiculous wages and giving them ice cream for dessert every day?"

Saying it out loud, he actually sounds like a pretty good boss. At least he's not doing anything shady with the money. But refusing to pay back what he owes is just infuriating. Since he's pissing me off, I have to get rough.

"You're claiming to be in the red while taking care of employee welfare like that? Is your boss really that much of a saint? A miser who uses the Murim Alliance's free protection service because he's too cheap to pay for real security?"

"H-how did you…"

"You think I'd come to collect money without knowing this shit, you bastard?!"

Wham! First impressions matter in human relationships. I decided to make my first meeting with Geum Tae-yang very memorable. So I kicked the guard in the stomach with all my strength, sending him flying. He coughed up blood as he was thrown backward, smashing through the door and collapsing.

He didn't die, right?

"Cough! Cough cough…"

He's alive. Good.

"W-what?! Who are you?!"

Geum Tae-yang, who had been sitting in his chair reviewing documents, shot to his feet in shock. Wait, I thought he'd be slacking off, but he's actually working diligently? Or maybe he's working this hard because he wants to hold onto every penny he earns? Not that it matters to me.

"Who am I? I'm here to collect the money you borrowed."

I wanted to reveal my title, but that would just show "Fantasia (Ruined)," which wouldn't look cool. So instead of a title, I cracked my knuckles and put on a threatening air.

"When you borrow money, you pay it back. Don't you think?"

"No, even if I don't have the money to pay! This month is in the red, so I can't pay!"

"What kind of company is in the red every single time? Does that make any sense?"

"Haa…" Geum Tae-yang sighed and rubbed his face with his palm. "Fine, I can pay. If you tell me to pay, I can pay any amount. But Fantasia is a completely insane organization, isn't it? Where else is there an organization with a male boss? Why should I pay back money I borrowed from that kind of idiotic group? If anything, you should be grateful that Geumtaeyang Textiles even makes socks for you…"

"Hold on. What did you just say?"

"What?"

"You said the boss is male?"

Eris is a woman. When she was in just her panties, there was nothing bulging out, so she's clearly female. Not crossdressing—actually a woman.

"Yeah, the boss of Fantasia, Casey Selenor."

"Casey? Not Eris Selenor?"

"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm telling you, the boss of Fantasia was a man."

That can't be right. Who the hell is Casey Selenor?

"What? Your reaction is weird. You were sent by Fantasia, right? Don't tell me the boss of Fantasia is actually a woman? Wow, I didn't think that guy had it in him. So he killed the girl and took her body after all? And he's calling himself the boss?"

That's impossible. There's no way an idiot like Eris would kill a girl and steal her body. When I asked just in case, she personally said it wasn't like that. But then I remembered how Eris had looked in front of the police—completely different from the Eris I knew. In that moment, a chill ran down my spine. What if Eris's stupid, foolish behavior had all been an act?

"Fuck, what kind of nonsense is that?"

Logically, it doesn't add up. But something's definitely wrong. Once this is over, I need to go ask Eris directly.

"Anyway, shut your mouth and prepare the money. If we leave the guard like that, he'll die, so call an ambulance too."

"Yeah, go fuck yourself, you bastard."

"What the… Did you go crazy from fear?"

While I was wondering about that, I heard footsteps behind me.

"I've come to provide the protection service you requested."

There stood some bald guy, and Title Collector read the title above his head.

What the hell is this detailed weakling?