Chapter 21: A Visit to the Bank
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 21: A Visit to the Bank
I’m so, so, sooooo hungry!
The reason I woke up early the next morning wasn’t through my own willpower, but a forced awakening because I couldn’t overcome the hunger.
Thinking back, I arrived in Hus the day before yesterday. Yesterday morning was that incident with the Young Lady, and in the afternoon, I spent all my time looking for a house. I was so exhausted that I fell asleep immediately afterward.
I hadn’t eaten a single thing all day!
The Young Lady probably had dinner since she went straight back to the Lord’s Castle, but for me, living so far from the city center, it was impossible.
I was just too tired, anyway.
“I’ll take you home.”
“It’s fine. In fact, the sun will probably set by the time you’d be heading back. If that happens, you might get jumped by women on your way home. You stay here and finish tidying up, Alto.”
Before we parted, the Young Lady emphasized it several times.
“Let’s meet before lunch tomorrow. We’re going to the Adventurer Guild to register as temporary party members, okay?”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Before lunch! The location is in front of the central square fountain!”
It felt like I was being asked out on a date, which made my heart flutter.
Of course, I was the only one who saw it that way.
Call me gloomy if you want.
The important thing is that I don’t make it obvious in front of her or anyone else.
More than anything, I’m well aware that this is just a futile delusion of mine, so it’s fine.
“Ugh, I feel like I’m going to die…”
I was so hungry that I was actually feeling dizzy.
I need to wash up and get out there to put something in my mouth right now.
And since I’m heading out early, I might as well stop by the bank.
I need to change the receiving bank for my war veteran compensation, pension, and national subsidies to the Dakuren branch, and I have to collect my settlement subsidy as well.
Banks open at dawn and close early in the afternoon for security and protection of funds, so if I leave now, the timing should be just about right.
Click.
I locked the door with the key I received from the broker yesterday and stepped out.
My house—small, but entirely mine.
Moreover, it didn’t have any major flaws, and even though it had only been a day, it felt quite cozy.
Just like our Young Lady.
“……”
So far, I’m liking Hus.
Though that might be limited strictly to the city of Dakuren.
The dawn air was cool.
It was the perfect temperature to start a ‘Miracle Morning.’
Not too hot, not too cold.
“Let’s go!”
I’ll have to grab something to eat at the morning market.
* * *
“It’s already morning!”
As a result of walking at a somewhat leisurely pace, dawn had turned into morning.
The sun had risen overhead, and the bluish sky had turned a vibrant azure.
Was it really this far from my house?
I had simply enjoyed the walk, and since I’d been lost in small talk with the Young Lady yesterday, I hadn’t realized the distance.
Living away from people seems to have very distinct pros and cons.
Pro: There are no people.
Con: There are no people.
Ultimately, it’s an environment I’ll have to get used to.
“Ah, there’s a line.”
Since dawn was over, I gave up on the idea of eating at the market and headed straight for the bank.
If I wasn’t careful, people would swarm in, and there was a high chance I’d waste the whole day without finishing my business.
If I was really unlucky, I could end up standing in line in front of the bank for an entire week.
Sure enough, even if the population density was lower than Lukart, this was Dakuren, the central city of Hus.
A line had already formed outside the bank building.
I quietly went and stood at the very end.
Everyone standing in line had their hands out of their pockets, looking only forward or to the side.
If you did anything suspicious or looked shifty, you’d be searched by the bank guards and dragged to an interrogation room—or at best, sent to the back of the line after the questioning was over.
It was a culture born from the rampant muggings and pickpocketing that followed the war.
In severe cases, it wasn’t uncommon for young female pickpockets to have their heads split open by a guard’s club.
They were children, but since they were criminals targeting other people’s money, the public didn’t feel a shred of sympathy.
“Is that a man?”
“He looks peculiar.”
I heard the guards whispering, but it was fine.
I was used to it.
Still, I was lucky.
The line wasn’t that long from the entrance.
Fortunately, at this rate, I’d be able to keep my promise with the Young Lady.
I stood there, relieved, and was about to zone out until my turn, when the back of the line became noisy.
“Hey! Out of the way, out of the way! A gentleman is entering!”
“One guard, attach yourself to the gentleman!”
A brown-haired man was walking toward us, brushing back his bangs.
Even as a fellow man, I had to admit the scene looked quite cool.
They say extremely handsome men look like vampires, and that’s no exaggeration.
Claude from Lukart was the pinnacle of that description, while Gerend was the extreme opposite—the ultimate masculine, wild type.
“Oh my, he really is handsome.”
“That’s Vanita’s husband, right? The one who guards the city walls.”
Aha! So that man is the husband of the guard who guided me the day before yesterday!
The dad who supposedly dotes on his child even if he finds childcare a hassle.
Splendid. He’s contributing to the nation’s development.
“Move, move! He’s on his way to collect childcare subsidies!”
Not just the guards, but two women following the man shouted loudly as they pushed aside the women waiting in line.
No wonder it was strange for a guard to be attached to him; he was here for childcare subsidies.
However, Hus had one clear difference from Lukart.
In Lukart, no matter how much of a man you were, you had to wait your turn at the bank.
Because of that, a culture had developed where a girlfriend or wife would wait in line first, and the man would show up only when it was his turn.
But here, they just pushed their way in?
I’d heard that outside of Lukart or the capital, the number of men drops significantly in the provinces, so this might be an effect of that.
The man, walking leisurely into the bank, locked eyes with me.
“What? Are you a man?”
“Yes!”
“Hmph… how peculiar.”
Which part?
I’ve only ever been judged by the binary of ‘ugly’ or ‘handsome,’ so the ambiguity of ‘peculiar’ is a first.
“Well… since you’re a man too, do you want to come in with me?”
And why is this guy naturally speaking down to me?
Is the hierarchy decided by looks?
If so, I have nothing to say.
“No, mine is just simple business. You’re here for childcare subsidies, so it’s only right that you go in first.”
If you’re not doing the childcare, at least get the money quickly and give it to the guard lady.
I only had that petty thought for a split second.
The man in front of me wasn’t actually that bad of a person.
He even asked me if I wanted to go in with him, didn’t he?
He’s worlds apart from those handsome guys who seduce and steal women from other people’s parties.
Yes, indeed.
“Alright then.”
The man coolly entered the bank with the women.
If he’s fathered a child, he’s a patriot.
He deserves the treatment.
Though it would be nice if they cared about the mother who actually gave birth to the baby, too.
“Next person!”
As a result of waiting patiently, my turn came in less than two hours.
Alright, time to get paid.
With a fluttering heart, I entered the bank.
“May I have your name?”
The female bank teller made a strange face when she saw me.
“It’s Alto.”
“You’re an adventurer? Mr. Alto, who moved from Lukart to Hus… could I have your relocation certificate?”
“Here it is.”
While looking at the simplified documents I’d prepared in advance, the teller stuttered slightly as she asked for what she needed.
When I quickly handed over the relocation certificate, she put on her glasses and checked it thoroughly.
Reliable.
“Yes, everything is confirmed. You will be paid 8 million Dalk immediately. Um, if you don’t mind, could I recommend a few financial products so you can effectively manage that 8 million Dalk?”
“Ahaha, since I’m an adventurer, I’m not really interested in financial products.”
So her reliability was strictly for the bank’s benefit.
Unfortunately, it seemed I was a tempting prey for the teller.
“I see. I understand. However, to receive your settlement subsidy and national subsidies, you’ll need to stop by the bank every month.”
She backed off surprisingly easily, but her intentions were obvious.
Today wasn’t the only day.
As she said, I’d have to visit every month to get my subsidies.
She figured she’d have a chance to persuade me every time.
“You’re withdrawing the full 8 million Dalk, correct?”
“No. I’ll withdraw 2.5 million Dalk, and I’ll save the rest. I’ll use part of that to pay toward my bank interest and principal.”
The teller’s eyes widened.
Actually, men these days tend to be big spenders, so they usually withdraw large sums like national subsidies all at once and blow it all.
I heard they immediately buy luxury goods until they’re broke, then work with women to make up the rest of their living expenses.
Haha, the exact opposite of me.
“Did you take out a loan here?”
“No, in Lukart.”
“How much is it?”
“40 million Dalk.”
“Forty mil—! Ahem! Since it’s such a large amount, we’ll need to verify the facts with the Lukart bank and receive a certificate before you can start paying the principal and interest here.”
“That’s a shame. I wanted to pay it off as quickly as possible.”
The teller’s gaze softened at my attitude as a diligent debtor.
After receiving a stack of bills from another employee, the teller licked her thumb and skillfully counted the amount.
“Here is 2.5 million Dalk. I recommend you verify the amount here before leaving the bank.”
“Ah, yes. And… there’s one more thing.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
I cautiously looked around and gestured for the teller to come closer.
When she only leaned in slightly, I gestured again. The teller spoke in a troubled tone.
“I have a boyfriend.”
“This isn’t a flirtation. It’s bank business.”
“Sigh, fine. Is this enough?”
She finally leaned in close.
It was something that could be misunderstood, but I always had to be careful with this matter.
After taking a deep breath, I whispered into the teller’s ear.
“Alto Bertrand, National Merit Recipient. I am applying for my war veteran compensation and pension. Please guide me through the relevant procedures.”
“…!?”
The teller gasped and bolted upright from her seat.
Unable to steady her ragged breathing, she looked at me again with eyes full of disbelief, and I slowly nodded.
“Hic, eek…! M-Manager! Branch Manager!”
Hey, that’s too loud.
All that effort I put into whispering…
Slam!
“Oh my~! Mr. Alto! Where is Mr. Alto~?”
“Yes… over here…”
Not long after, the inner door swung open, and a middle-aged woman in a neat suit came clicking out in her heels.
I had no choice but to raise my hand. The Branch Manager’s mouth split into a wide, greedy smile.
“I’ll escort you to the back~! You! Go make some coffee, quickly!”
“Y-Yes, ma’am!”
That smile was so crass that it felt like an insult to even compare it to the one the Young Lady had shown me.