Chapter 13
Chapter 13
-Crunch! Munch, munch! Gulp.
Two days.
It had been two days since I purchased that walking catastrophe, that high-risk, high-return asset.
“More.”
The black-haired woman, who had demolished the stew down to the last lick, held out her empty bowl. Not a single drop of broth remained.
Watching her flawless cleanup skills, I clutched my empty wallet and swallowed my tears of blood inwardly.
‘My blood, my investment money!!’
In just two days, she had eaten enough to feed a family in the slums for at least half a year.
Even for a dragon, how could one human-shaped being generate such upkeep costs?
At this rate, before I could even raise Camellia to the level of a great mage, we’d all starve.
‘Cutting losses is the only way. Even if it hurts to the bone, only decisive exit can save us!’
Over the past two days, I had been stuffing meat into her mouth while frantically running errands outside. I searched high and low for aristocrats obsessed with dragons, known as ‘dragon lovers,’ or eccentric wealthy individuals, trying to offload this toxic asset at the highest price possible.
But all I got in return was being treated like a lunatic.
Perhaps understandably so. Who would buy an unproven, certificate-less “dragon” from a back-alley commoner at such an inflated price?
And trying to force her to show her true form was dangerous. Outside of feeding times, she ignored my words entirely. There was no telling what she might do.
“Sigh…”
Including the purchase cost of three gold coins and the food expenses so far, I wandered the market alleys trying to minimize losses, even if I couldn’t recover the principal.
Then it happened.
“Oh! Our dear Nasus, isn’t it? Haven’t seen you around your workplace lately. You must be very busy!”
-Clack.
In the corner of the dark, damp alley, a group of loan sharks blocked my path. Towering men with grim expressions.
And at their center, approaching with a sneer, was a familiar debt collector.
‘Of all times, I had to run into them now.’
I had barely managed to juggle the brutal high-interest loans using the funds Myrtle had invested, but some small debts were still outstanding.
If I used all the money meant for future investments to pay off my debts, there would be nothing left for Camellia. Then I’d be trapped in a cycle of borrowing again.
And now, thanks to the mad variable called the ‘feeding dragon,’ my financial plan had completely collapsed.
“A-ahahaha… brothers! Long time no see. The weather… is really nice today, isn’t it?”
“Cut the useless pleasantries. You missed this month’s payment by far, so we came ourselves. The money—where is it?”
“Well… I’ve got some expensive assets tied up at the moment! Really, just a little longer and I’ll have enough to pay you back with a nice profit!”
I pleaded with my most pitiful expression, but the collector spat at the ground dismissively.
“I’ve never seen a bastard who claims ‘I’ll pay soon’ actually do it. Hey, boys, take care of this one first. Maybe then he’ll find the will to repay.”
“Yes, sir!”
The burly men surrounded me, their expressions deadly. A dead-end alley, no escape. Sweat beaded on my back and veins stood out on my forehead.
Frantically, I searched for a way to get out of this.
“Hey.”
A cold, dry voice came from the entrance of the alley.
“Huh?”
The eyes of the rough men and mine turned to the source of the voice.
There stood the black-haired dragon, her red eyes gleaming with dissatisfaction, glaring at me.
“You… why are you here?!”
I shouted in shock. She walked forward confidently, furrowing her brow.
“Food.”
“…What?”
“It’s long past meal time. The one who promised meat hasn’t come, so I came to get it myself. I’m starving.”
I grabbed the back of my neck in disbelief.
‘This insane glutton! You only ate two hours ago!’
I wanted to scold her, but now was not the time.
“Ah… just stay home for now. I’ll bring it soon.”
As I waved my hands helplessly, the mood among the loan sharks subtly shifted.
Their eyes, along with the debt collector’s, lingered on her enchanting appearance.
“Oh? Is she family? Didn’t know you had such a beautiful sister.”
“Thought our client only bared teeth, but turns out he’s hiding a valuable asset at home.”
The sharks licked their lips, their smirks crude.
“If you can’t pay, you’ll make up for it with your body. No means to pay? Then we’ll take this pretty sister for ourselves, make use of her… hehehe.”
Just as the 3rd-rate thug reached out with greedy hands, the dragon cocked her head and asked me.
“These people, are they your friends?”
“…Not friends. Just business associates, something like that.”
I chose my words carefully and answered vaguely.
The dragon nodded as if uninterested, then arrogantly pointed at me with her chin.
“Understood. Then stop wasting time and finish that ‘business’ or whatever. I’m starving and dizzy.”
The massive men’s faces flushed red at being ignored.
The collector, however, seemed amused by her haughty demeanor. He stepped forward closer.
“Oh my, little lady. Hungry? No need to wait for that useless brother of yours.”
The man pulled out a hefty-looking silver pouch from his pocket, jingling the coins.
“I’ve got plenty of money. If you come with me, I’ll treat you to as much delicious food as you want. How about it?”
The dragon’s previously indifferent red eyes sparkled with starlight.
“Delicious food?”
She wiped a droplet from the corner of her mouth with her sleeve and asked with eager anticipation.
“Meat?”
“Hahaha! If our little lady wants, I’ll throw the grandest meat feast for you!”
At the collector’s bold promise, the dragon’s lips curved into a soft smile.
She glanced at me briefly.
“Heh. Don’t worry about him.”
The collector mistook her for a naive girl, hesitating due to her poor brother’s debt.
He crooked his lips in a nasty grin, stepped forward, and tossed a few silver coins to my feet. Then he poked my chest and sneered.
“Hey, Nasus. I’ll forgive the overdue interest thanks to your pretty sister. Better yet, I’m feeling generous today, so I’ll even shave a bit off the principal. Be grateful, yeah?”
The burly men behind him laughed at his display. He motioned to me as if to confirm his threat.
“Pick up the coins on the ground. Looks like you’ve been starving for a few days… today you’ll at least get a meal thanks to your pretty sister. Heh heh heh.”
“….”
“Alright, little lady! Forget that pathetic brother of yours and go grab some meat with us!”
The thugs’ intentions were obvious: take the girl, feed her, and exploit her in their usual crude way.
Normally, I’d have punched them without hesitation. But now was different.
At that moment, behind the thugs, I saw what felt like a saintly halo.
The sharks bringing the dragon to eat was, in my eyes, as sacred and tear-jerking as a benevolent saint bearing my heavy burdens.
‘Ten silver coins… interest forgiven… principal shaved…’
She fit the collector’s specific tastes, had the wealth to purchase a dragon, and could connect to me.
Rather than holding onto this toxic asset any longer, it was right to let her go now.
Feigning humiliation but unable to hide a twitching smile, I gestured dramatically at the dragon.
“Aww~ what can we do! These gentlemen are generous because they like you! Refusing wouldn’t be polite. Go with them and get as much meat as you can until you’re stuffed! Got it?!”
“Got it!”
The dragon’s mouth watered at the thought of meat, yet she checked my signal like a loyal hound waiting for its master’s command. Then, satisfied with my encouragement, she strode toward the loan sharks with full confidence.
The thugs could barely hide their grins as they saw the beauty approaching.
…
Watching their backs disappear, I finally exhaled.
Picking up the scattered silver coins, a sharp smile spread across my face.
They would soon realize what kind of disaster they had just invited upon themselves.
“Thanks for doing the dishes.”