Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: The Debt Collector (1)
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During his days as a wastrel, Demian Haksen had committed many sins against his family.
He'd caused a ruckus in taverns and gotten kicked out, turning his house into a laughingstock.
He'd messed with the young master of a marquis family, forcing his sister Luise to sacrifice herself.
Even so, his family never abandoned Demian. They kept protecting him just because he was family.
There came an incident that finally exhausted their patience.
It was when Demian had borrowed money from a ducal loan shark, using the family's land as collateral.
"Demian, you bastard!"
Viscount Haksen spat out his fury. His face had turned bright red, as if seared by fire.
"You son of a bitch! I was the fool for holding out even a sliver of hope that you'd changed! Today, I'll kill you, then end my own life! We'll go to the afterlife together and confess our wrongs to our ancestors!"
Viscount Haksen seized an ornamental axe from the wall and charged at Demian.
"D-Dear! Calm down!"
"Are you really going to kill Demian?!"
"F-Father, put down the axe first and let's talk!"
Mother, his sister, and even his younger brother Abel tried to stop Father.
Agnes must have thought this wasn't her place, because she quietly slipped out.
"Let go of me! Today, we're settling this for good!"
Even with the whole family stepping in, they couldn't calm Viscount Haksen.
Demian watched his enraged father with a heavy heart.
"Demian! Put your neck out right now!"
Before he could resolve the situation, he needed to calm his father first.
Demian slowly knelt on the floor. Viscount Haksen and the family's eyes went wide.
"Father, I'm sorry for betraying your expectations again."
Demian spoke in a low voice.
"This incident is too grave to atone for with death alone. But first things first—shouldn't we handle this mess?"
When he regressed, Demian had made a vow.
He wouldn't live like he did in his previous life.
He would make his family happy, no matter what.
"Trust me just one more time. I'll take responsibility and fix this."
Demian spoke with utter sincerity.
A flicker of hesitation crossed Viscount Haksen's face.
"...Can you really resolve this?"
"Yes, Father."
Viscount Haksen pondered for a moment, then set the axe down.
"...You've shown some changes so far, so I'll trust you one last time."
Demian bowed his head in gratitude.
Then, he immediately headed to the drawing room, where guests from the ducal house were waiting.
As he entered the drawing room, the first thing he saw was a man dressed in a sharp suit.
The man wasn't alone. He had three bodyguards with him.
"Oh, greetings, Lord Demian."
The man rose from his seat. His hair, slicked back with pomade, gleamed in the light.
"I'm Olan Demisi, branch manager of Dash & Cash's western division."
The man flashed a mild, affable smile.
Despite his polite tone, he didn't bow his head.
* * *
Olan Demisi.
Demian didn't recall the man right away.
It had only been a few months in real time, but from his perspective, it was decades ago.
Memories of this man had long been buried deep.
"It's our first meeting since you took out the loan."
But at those words, a forgotten memory surfaced.
-Who might you be? Ah, the eldest son of Viscount Haksen? No wonder you carry such refined dignity.
-I'm Olan Demisi, in charge of Dash & Cash's western branch. Unlike you, Lord Demian, I'm lowly stock, so no need to remember my name.
-It'll take a bit to bring the documents. Care for some tea? We have liquor too.
-Why not use your family's land as collateral? That way, we can lend you even more.
-The interest is too high? It's just a formality. We can't exactly give money away for free.
-No need to worry about your family's land. How could a commoner like me ever seize a noble's collateral?
This was the man who had sweet-talked him into putting up the family land as collateral.
"The repayment date you promised is today, so I've come calling. That makes it 20 gold borrowed, plus interest—a total of 30 gold due."
30 gold.
Agito's bounty had been 100 gold, enough to pay it off easily.
But that 100 gold had long since been converted into a cultivation method.
'Can't exactly hand over the cultivation method.'
It was a gift from the Church, carrying their goodwill—he couldn't just sell it off.
"As you know, if you don't pay by end of day, the collateral land becomes property of Dash & Cash."
"Wasn't it just a formality?"
He asked, following the memory of the past.
Olan Demisi let a sly smirk slip.
"Of course. How could a commoner like me take a noble's collateral? But what can we do? The Goldpixie Ducal House orders us to collect every debt, nobles and commoners alike."
Olan emphasized "Goldpixie Ducal House" in particular.
The loan shark Dash & Cash that Demian had borrowed from was a business run by the Goldpixie Ducal House.
The Goldpixies were a house that had built wealth and fame through business since ancient times.
They owned countless ventures beyond just Dash & Cash.
"Now that you understand, bring the money. Or... do you not have it?"
Olan Demisi grinned like a sycophant. Demian crossed his arms, deep in thought.
'In my past life... we lost the land, and the whole family nearly ended up on the streets.'
Fortunately, his sister Luise had borrowed money from Erwin Ryanbloom, saving the land and territory.
But as payment for that favor, Luise had been tethered to Erwin Ryanbloom for life.
'I can't let Sis go through that again.'
Even Demian had no way to produce 30 gold right now.
He needed to delay repayment or find another way to clear the debt.
'...Wait, I remember a duel coming up soon between the Goldpixie Ducal House and the Ryanbloom Marquis Family.'
It hit him suddenly.
A knightly duel over gold mine ownership.
The Goldpixies lost, forfeiting the mine and their honor.
'Winning that duel made the Ryanbloom Marquis Family incredibly powerful.'
The Viscount Haksen house currently held a grudge from the Ryanblooms.
Having their influence grow would bring nothing good.
"I haven't prepared the money."
Olan's smirk deepened, as if he'd expected it.
"Then you shouldn't have borrowed it."
Olan flopped back into his chair, crossing his legs and looking down on Demian.
"A noble who doesn't even grasp basic common sense? Or did your wastrel days make you forget?"
The moment Olan realized Demian couldn't pay, his attitude flipped.
But Demian wasn't surprised. He'd seen it all before, in his past life.
"I'll repay the debt another way."
"Oh, splendid. And how do you plan to cover 30 gold?"
"The Ryanbloom Marquis Family's duel over the gold mine—isn't it soon?"
"The rumors have spread here already?"
"And the ducal house is recruiting skilled knights, right?"
Olan gave him a look that said, *What does that have to do with you?*
"Recommend me to the ducal house. In exchange for clearing the debt, I'll bring victory to the Goldpixie Ducal House."
* * *
"Puhahaha!"
Laughter burst out.
Olan Demisi laughed crudely, forgetting all decorum for the first time in ages.
"What did you just say? You'll bring victory to the ducal house?"
It was so funny his sides ached. It hurt, but he couldn't stop.
"Puh."
"Pfft."
Even the bodyguards behind him couldn't hold back.
Snickers slipped through their lips.
"Uahaha! Impressive confidence. As expected of the knight who took down the Ryanbloom Marquis Family's second son and cleared out Landwalk City's thugs."
Olan Demisi had already heard the rumors about Demian Haksen.
How could he not? Lately, any two people gathered were talking about it.
"But you thought that nonsense would fool me? Now I'm getting annoyed."
Olan Demisi didn't buy the hype.
He knew exactly what kind of man Demian Haksen was. He'd seen it with his own eyes.
A fool with nothing but his noble blood.
An arrogant nobody with an ego too big for his station.
A clueless punk throwing tantrums.
That was Demian Haksen.
"He probably slipped poison to the Ryanbloom second son, and the Church handled the Landwalk thugs—he just took the credit."
Olan wiped tears from his eyes and continued.
"Listen, don't try to fool me like that. If you need money, come beg honestly. Ah, but begging alone won't cut it."
Olan licked his lips with his tongue.
"Now that I think about it, your eldest daughter was quite the beauty. No, beyond that. My eyes nearly popped out."
Olan smacked his fist into his palm.
"How about it? Lend her to me for a week, and I'll extend the deadline by two months."
He pointed to the bodyguards behind him.
"Oh, not just for me. See them back there? They'll join in too. She might break in spots, so choose carefully..."
A sudden metallic ring cut Olan Demisi off.
Demian Haksen had already drawn his longsword.
* * *
Olan Demisi loved his job.
Dash & Cash.
Being part of a ducal business meant he could strut anywhere with his head high and shoulders back. The pay was excellent, needless to say.
But the real reason Olan Demisi loved his job was something else.
-S-Sorry! P-Please wait one month! I-I'll pay back the money for sure!
He got to watch proud nobles grovel pathetically.
-L-Like this, I beg you! The mansion at least...!
Born a commoner, he'd always looked up to nobles.
When they passed, he had to bow his head.
He couldn't even tread in their shadows.
Seeing those same nobles beg like they were licking his shoes was quite the sight.
-M-My daughter? I-Is there no other way? N-No! I-It's not that I hate it!
-M-My body? W-Wait! I'm a married woman!
Olan Demisi occasionally indulged his secret desires.
The nobles couldn't resist. He was the creditor; they were the debtors.
With a regular loan shark gig, he never could've enjoyed such luxuries. Hell, he'd be lucky not to get stiffed by nobles.
But Dash & Cash was backed by the ducal house.
Even fringe lesser nobles had to bow to the duke's authority.
That's why Olan Demisi loved his job.
"You should rethink that."
Olan Demisi stifled a rising laugh.
A cornered noble biting back—that was his favorite scenario.
"My friends back here aren't your average muscle."
Olan always traveled with bodyguards.
Not ducal hires, but men he'd handpicked himself.
All at least quasi-knight level—reliable.
"Let's see..."
Demian Haksen pointed at Olan and the bodyguards with his finger.
"I'll kill the three of them and cut off your right arm, leaving you alive. Need a guide to lead me to the ducal house."
Olan and the bodyguards exchanged glances and laughed.
What the hell was this idiot babbling?
"Consider yourself lucky I'm sparing you for your usefulness."
Demian's eyes gleamed blue.
Like the eyes of a beast lurking in the dark.
"I don't usually let scum who insult my family live."