Retired Heroes
“Wahaha! My eyes are perfectly fine now! Thank you so much. I should’ve thanked the Director in person too…”
“Ho ho, no worries. For the surgery fee, just go through that door ahead and pay at the counter.”
“Aigoo, thank you. After you.”
“Yess~”
Richard bowed politely to Hazel, the consultation specialist, her voice soft and soothing.
‘I thought my adventuring days were over! Ahaha! The rumors are spot on—this place is incredible!’
Richard, a 17-year veteran adventurer, had heard whispers about the Beauty Tower for months now. It was quite a trek from his dungeon haunt, so he’d never bothered visiting. But tales of surgeries without amputations had spread like wildfire among adventurers. Then, unluckily, an orc’s fist had smashed his face, and he figured his career was done for.
‘The world’s gotten so much better. A place like this actually exists.’
Richard grinned, relieved he hadn’t suffered worse damage. When the surgery first wrapped up, he’d nearly fainted again at the 120-gold fee. To scrape that together, he’d have to sell his beloved horse, ridden for over a decade.
But the guide, Hazel, had pointed him straight to Cash Capital.
“Hello? I’m the patient treated today. They said to pay here.”
“Yes, that’s right. Have a seat there.”
“...Okay.”
The man inside Cash Capital wore a pitch-black robe, exuding a sinister aura like a Black Moon Church priest—minus the crescent brooch.
“No title, name Richard, age 37, treated for orbital fracture today?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
“Your guided payment total is 120 gold.”
“Huh?”
“Something wrong?”
“No, it’s just... I heard I could borrow it?”
“Ah~! A loan customer? Why didn’t you say so earlier? How much do you need?”
At Richard’s words, George—former Black Moon Church collections expert—widened his eyes like crescent moons.
“Ahaha, well... this dungeon run went south, so if possible, the full 120 gold...”
“Hmm, the whole amount?”
“Yes. Is the full sum tricky?”
“Oh no, not at all. But going full amount bumps the interest rate a bit higher... Shall we proceed?”
“Interest? It attaches interest?”
Richard froze at the unfamiliar term, and George’s moon-like eyes turned icy.
“Sir adventurer? What’s the issue? You get treatment for free and borrow money interest-free? What fantasy world is that? North Continent? East Continent? Tell me if it exists—I’ll move there.”
“Well...”
“No need for long stories everyone knows—even kids on the street. Borrow the full 120 gold, one-year term, annual interest at 5 pun. Pay on the 24th each month. Weekends? Come the day before.”
George spoke as if it were obvious, leaving Richard breathless.
“The term’s too short! And 5 pun interest is outrageous—how am I supposed to...”
“Aigoo, sir? You know the magic tower right by the dungeon?”
“Of course! I came here because it’s better than that place, but the cost is insane!”
The dungeon-side magic tower was infamous: out of ten patients, eight died, one got permanent disability, and the last bore severe scars.
Richard raised his voice, sensing an angle—the Beauty Tower competed directly with it.
But he overlooked one key fact: his opponent was George, ex-Black Moon collections ace.
“Man, you’re a riot. Hey, old timer—if you’d gone there, would you be chatting with me now, all hale? Or just your ghost yapping. We save your life, then you whine about pocket change and slow payments?”
“Still, 5 pun a year is too much! Term’s way too short!”
George sighed in disbelief.
“Old timer, how many years adventuring? That scar says 15, 16 at least. Hate our loans? Hit the dungeon-side lenders. Base rate 2 wal—you know that’s quadruple 5 pun?”
2 wal: over four times 5 pun. No choice.
But Richard, who’d always seen loans as fool’s play, agonized. That pre-orc-run drink had been his downfall.
Self-recrimination didn’t last.
“120 gold at 5 pun is 6 gold interest—126 total yearly. Just 10 gold 5 silver monthly. What’s the big deal?”
“But... sigh, with wife and kids, five mouths total. Tightening belts more—”
“Patriot, huh? I’m single at my age. Tsk.”
George tsked sincerely, then continued.
“Pay from elsewhere or here—your call. Or front 1 wal. We’ll drop to 3 pun.”
‘1 wal... 12 gold? Sigh, manageable maybe... But 3 pun still means over 9 gold monthly!’
Seeing Richard waver, George smiled. Closing time.
“Or extend to two years.”
“R-Really? Then two-year term—”
“But two years jumps to 1 wal. Borrow 132 total.”
“What kind of rate—!”
“Just 5 gold 5 silver monthly for two years. Skip a few ales, cut some play—easy, right?”
“...”
5 gold 5 silver monthly. Richard’s eyes shook violently. Total debt rose, but monthly burden plummeted.
Borrow from brother-in-law? Raid wife’s pantry stash?
“Adventurer bro, no need overthinking. Oh, Cash Capital members get double mileage from Beauty Tower ties. Go long-term, rack points. Buy gifts for the wife—or offset loan. She’ll love it.”
“Really? Hmm... two-year term, please.”
“Smart choice. But our rates beat other lenders—with a catch: monthly guild quest from their list. Contract details...”
Beauty Tower mileage: 0.5%. Double was 1%—but Richard felt it sounded decent, explanation after explanation. Even signing the contract.
* * *
Today: Ailene Year 2, Month 2, Day 24—Friday. Loathsome Ling Office day, but steps light.
“...Loans booming, huh?”
“Keeps us fed. Need quick cash, Rachel? Not the best match, but half-year face-time earns discounts.”
“February payment received.”
My good mood rubbed off on Rachel, the office clerk. Made sense—my pay day was Cash Capital’s collection day.
“Busy lately? Didn’t even ask for receipt?”
“Don’t you skip it? Want one?”
“Nah. Later.”
Should ask anyway. Light steps out of Ling Office, back to Beauty Tower. Straight to second-floor Cash Capital, flung door wide.
“George! My favored loyal employee!”
“Ahaha, Baron! Too kind! Loving the new role. Haha.”
Everyone has their spot. George excelled at collections and loans.
“As you ordered, first payments next month. All two-year terms.”
“Good. Got all personal info?”
“Of course. Photos, names, addresses, family ties—verified. Post-contract, handed to guild.”
Too competent. Pulled gift from pocket.
“Excellent. Here’s a generous bonus.”
“Ah! Th-Thank you, Baron! Utmost loyalty!”
“Haha, carry on.”
I don’t trust easily. And the nicotine gum I’d fed the Jo clan had hooked George proper.
Perfect day. Heading to elevator for morning clinic, crystal orb buzzed.
“Ollie? What’s up?”
Post-Kellogg’s return, he’d made orbs for all staff.
—Hyuuung! Big trouble! Retired heroes gathering, badmouthing Beauty Tower!
“Retired heroes? Badmouthing? What’s that mean?”
—Retired adventurers called retired heroes. They’re protesting—hit dungeon front, heading to plaza! Plan to keep it up!
Ollie’s frantic telepathic sputter came through, but meaning eluded.
—They’ve huge influence! Adventurers respect ‘em, usually side with ‘em!
“Protest? No biggie. Clinic time—film and send video. Check later.”
—But... sigh, fine, bro.
I figured grumpy old-timers rejecting new ways.
Exactly three days later.
Beauty Tower visitors: halved.
“...This is insane. What the hell?”