Chapter 19: The Debtor (1)

During his days of reckless living, Damian Hassen committed many sins against his family.

He caused a disturbance at a tavern and was chased out, making a laughingstock of his family.

He got into trouble with the young master of a marquess family, which led to his sister Louise being sacrificed.

Despite this, his family never abandoned him. They continued to protect Damian because he was family.

However, there was an incident that finally drained the family's patience.

It was when Damian borrowed money from a duke's loan company, using the family's land as collateral.

"Damian, you scoundrel!"

Lord Hassen vented his anger. His face turned as red as if it had been burned.

"You're just as I expected! I was a fool to have even a sliver of hope that you might change! I'll kill you today, and then I'll end my own life! Let's go to the afterlife together and confess our wrongdoings to our ancestors!"

Lord Hassen grabbed the decorative axe hanging on the wall and lunged at Damian.

"Dear, calm down!"

"Are you really going to kill Damian?"

"Father, please, put down the axe and let's talk!"

His mother, sister, and even his younger brother Abel tried to stop his father.

"Put it down! Today, we must settle this once and for all!"

Despite the family's efforts, Lord Hassen could not be calmed.

Damian looked at his enraged father with a complex expression.

"Damian! Hand over your neck right now!"

It seemed necessary to calm his father before resolving the situation.

Damian slowly knelt on the floor. Lord Hassen and the family's eyes widened.

"Father, I'm sorry for disappointing you again."

Damian spoke in a low voice.

"This time, even my death would not be enough to atone for my sins. But first, we need to resolve this matter, don't we?"

When he returned, Damian made a vow.

He would not live this life as he did in his previous one.

He would make his family happy.

"Please believe me one more time. I will take full responsibility and resolve this."

Damian spoke with sincerity.

Lord Hassen's face showed hesitation.

"…Can you really resolve it?"

"Yes, Father."

After a moment of contemplation, Lord Hassen put down the axe.

"…Since you've shown some improvement, I'll believe you one more time."

Damian bowed his head in gratitude.

Then, he immediately headed to the parlor where a guest from the duke's family was waiting.

Upon entering the parlor, the first thing he saw was a man in a suit.

The man was not alone; he was accompanied by three bodyguards.

"Ah, Lord Damian, how are you?"

The man stood up. His neatly combed hair, slicked back with pomade, glistened in the light.

"I am Olan Demisi, the branch manager of Dash and Cash's western division."

The man smiled warmly, but did not bow.

* * *

Olan Demisi.

Damian could not immediately recall this man.

What was a few months ago in reality was decades ago for Damian.

He had long buried the memory of this man.

"This is the first time I've seen you since you took out the loan."

But as soon as he heard those words, the forgotten memory slowly resurfaced.

-Where are you from? Ah, the eldest son of the Hassen family. No wonder you have such a distinguished air.

-I am Olan Demisi, in charge of the western branch of Dash and Cash. Unlike you, I am of humble birth, so there's no need to remember my name.

-It will take some time to bring the documents. Would you like some tea? We also have alcohol.

-How about using your family's land as collateral? That way, we can lend you more money.

-You think the interest is too high? It's just a formality. We can't just lend you the money, you know.

-There's no need to worry about your family's land. How could a commoner like me take away a noble's collateral?

This man was the one who convinced Damian to use the family's land as collateral.

"The repayment date you promised is today, so I've come to see you. You need to repay 30 gold, including the interest on the 20 gold you borrowed."

30 gold.

If he had received the 100 gold bounty for Agito, he could have easily repaid it.

But that 100 gold had long been converted into a different form.

'And I can't just give away the converted form.'

It was a gift from the church, and he couldn't dispose of it carelessly.

"As you know, if you don't repay the money by today, the land you used as collateral will become the property of Dash and Cash."

"Didn't you say it was just a formality?"

Following the memory, Damian asked.

Olan Demisi smiled slyly in response.

"Of course. How could a commoner like me take away a noble's collateral? But what can I do? The Duke of Goldpicks has ordered us to collect the debt, regardless of whether the debtor is a noble or a commoner."

Olan emphasized the name "Goldpicks."

The loan company Damian borrowed from, Dash and Cash, was a business operated by the Goldpicks family.

The Goldpicks family had accumulated wealth and fame through business for generations.

They owned many other businesses besides Dash and Cash.

"Bring the money quickly. Or do you… not have the money to repay?"

Olan Demisi smiled like a sly fox. Damian crossed his arms and fell into thought.

'In my previous life… I ended up losing the land, and the entire family was on the verge of being homeless.'

Fortunately, his sister Louise borrowed money from Erwin Ryanbloom, allowing them to keep the land and the fief.

However, in exchange, Louise had to serve Erwin Ryanbloom for the rest of her life.

'I can't let my sister go through that again.'

But even Damian had no way to come up with 30 gold immediately.

He needed to find a way to delay the repayment or eliminate the debt.

'…Wait, I remember there was a duel between the Goldpicks family and the Ryanbloom family soon.'

Suddenly, he remembered.

The knightly duel between the two families over the ownership of a gold mine.

The Goldpicks family lost the duel, not only losing the gold mine but also their honor.

'Thanks to the victory, the Ryanbloom family became incredibly powerful.'

Currently, the Hassen family had incurred the wrath of the Ryanbloom family.

There was nothing good about the Ryanbloom family's growing influence.

"I couldn't prepare the money."

Olan's sneer grew even wider, as if he had expected this.

"You shouldn't have borrowed the money if you were going to fail to repay it."

Olan slumped into his chair, looking down on Damian with his legs crossed.

"Are you a noble who doesn't even have basic common sense? Or did you forget because you lived like a reckless fool?"

Olan Demisi's attitude changed immediately upon realizing Damian had no means to repay.

However, Damian was not surprised. He had experienced this before in his previous life.

"Instead, I will repay the debt in another way."

"Oh, that's fortunate. How do you plan to repay the 30 gold?"

"Isn't there a duel between the Ryanbloom family and the gold mine soon?"

"Has the news spread that far?"

"I heard the duke's family is recruiting capable knights."

Olan's expression suggested he didn't see how this was relevant.

"Recommend me to the duke's family. In exchange for repaying the debt, I will secure victory for the Goldpicks family."

* * *

"Hahahaha."

Laughter burst out.

Olan Demisi laughed boisterously, forgetting his dignity.

"What did you just say? You'll secure victory for the duke's family?"

His belly ached from laughing, but he couldn't stop.

"Hahahaha."

"Haha."

The bodyguards behind him also couldn't hold back their laughter.

"Ha-ha-ha, indeed, you have great confidence. You're just like the knight who defeated the second son of the Ryanbloom family and drove out the violent organization in Landwalk City."

Olan Demisi was already aware of the rumors about Damian Hassen.

It was impossible not to know, as people always talked about it whenever they gathered.

"But did you really think such a lie would work on me? I'm getting a bit angry now."

However, Olan Demisi was not fooled by such rumors.

He knew exactly what kind of person Damian Hassen was, having seen it with his own eyes.

A fool with nothing but his noble title.

A dimwit with nothing to offer but a high sense of self-importance.

A brat who couldn't even understand his own situation and acted recklessly.

That was Damian Hassen.

"You probably won against the second son of the Ryanbloom family by poisoning him, and you just took credit for the church's work in eliminating the violent organization in Landwalk City."

Olan Demisi wiped away his tears and continued.

"Listen, don't try to deceive me like that. If you don't have the money, just come and ask for it honestly. Ah, just asking won't be enough."

Olan Demisi licked his lips.

"By the way, I heard your eldest daughter is quite beautiful. No, she's beyond beautiful. She's stunning."

Olan Demisi punched his palm.

"How about it? If you lend her to me for a week, I'll extend the repayment date by two months."

Olan Demisi pointed to the bodyguards behind him.

"By the way, I won't be the only one using her. See those guys behind me? They'll be joining in too. She might end up quite damaged, so decide carefully…"

Suddenly, the sound of metal rang out, cutting off Olan Demisi's words.

Damian Hassen had already drawn his longsword.

* * *

Olan Demisi loved his job.

Dash and Cash.

As a business of the duke's family, he could walk with his head held high and his shoulders back anywhere. The high salary was a given.

But the real reason Olan Demisi loved his job was different.

-Please, wait a month! I'll definitely repay the money!

He could witness the pitiful state of once-proud nobles.

-Please, just spare my mansion!

Born a commoner, he had always looked up to the nobility.

He had to bow his head when a noble passed by.

He couldn't even step on a noble's shadow.

Seeing nobles beg like they would lick his shoes was quite a sight.

-My daughter? Can't we find another way? No, I don't mind!

-My body? Wait, I'm married!

Olan Demisi occasionally indulged his secret desires.

The nobles couldn't resist. He was the creditor, and they were the debtors.

If it were a regular loan company, he wouldn't have such luxuries. He would be lucky not to be cheated by the nobles.

But Dash and Cash was a business of the duke's family.

Minor nobles on the outskirts had no choice but to bow to the duke's authority.

That's why Olan Demisi loved his job.

"You should reconsider."

Olan Demisi had to suppress his rising laughter.

A cornered noble begging him was the best scenario he could hope for.

"The guys behind me are not ordinary."

Olan Demisi always brought bodyguards with him.

They were not provided by the duke's family but were personally selected by Olan Demisi.

All of them were at least as strong as squires, making them reliable.

"Let's see…"

Damian Hassen pointed at Olan Demisi and the bodyguards.

"I'll kill the three of them, and I'll only cut off your right arm and let you live. I need a guide to lead me to the duke's family."

Olan Demisi and the bodyguards exchanged glances and laughed.

What is this fool babbling about?

"Consider yourself lucky that I find you useful."

Damian's eyes glowed a fierce blue.

It was like looking into the eyes of a predator lurking in the darkness.

"I don't usually let those who insult my family live."