I Alone Regress in a Hero Party That Was Annihilated - Chapter 17

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#17. Debt Collection (3)

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The Revarb Family fortress revealed itself through the snowstorm.

Each brick, thickly covered with frost, had been standing in the same place for centuries already.

The tower that rose majestically at the center of the fortress soared sharply as if to pierce the sky, its peak hidden within the snowstorm and clouds.

The castle gate was made of sturdy coniferous wood, firmly secured with hundreds of steel nails and blocked by an iron bar.

Ice stalagmites protruded sharply from the granite floor, creating quite a menacing atmosphere.

The gatekeepers shouted in an overbearing manner.

“The delegation from Mörsolt is passing through!”

With the sound of icicles breaking, the thick door opened.

The Mörsolt delegation led by Featherback was guided to the inner castle.

The gatekeepers inside raised their spears, pointing them this way.

“Halt.”

The atmosphere of the Revarb Viscount family was overbearing and cold, unlike that of a vassal family.

Soon, a man walked out from inside the inner castle.

His broad shoulders and large frame were particularly striking.

He was quite tall, enough to look down on most people, and his protruding belly seemed like a symbol of greed and wealth.

On his short, thick ten fingers were all fitted large jeweled rings.

“….”

Featherback quietly observed his opponent.

Vargo Viscount, Head of the Revarb Family.

His face was round with several deep wrinkles carved into his forehead.

His slit eyes gleamed like a snake’s as they tried to assess his opponent.

“Oh my, the Young Lord of Mörsolt has come. You’ve grown so much since I last saw you.”

He walked toward Featherback with both arms spread wide.

His leisurely gait revealed composure and confidence.

Jeweled ornaments jingled noisily beneath the splendid fabric woven with gold and silver thread.

He soon winked at Yudi Administrator standing beside Featherback.

“Our Yudi Administrator looks well too. This is the first time I’ve seen you since last year’s harvest festival, isn’t it?”

“I did visit once for your birthday after that, my lord.”

“Oh my, that’s right! Look at my mind. This is how I live. Hahaha— I’m living so frantically.”

“Isn’t being frantically busy a good thing? Hehehe—”

“Administrator, when you get older, is being frantic really good? Hehehe—”

Vargo Viscount and Yudi Administrator seemed to get along very well.

Seeing this, Featherback quietly stroked his chin.

Before his regression, those two were the ones who played the biggest role in Mörsolt’s financial downfall.

Thanks to them, maintaining military funds became impossible, making it unable to stop the Demon Army’s advance—they were practically the root of all evil.

‘This time, I’ll crush them thoroughly from the very beginning. So there won’t be any troublesome matters later.’

Featherback was surveying the surrounding terrain while thinking about the fountain of blood that would soon spurt forth.

Completely unaware of Featherback’s thoughts, Vargo Viscount and Yudi Administrator were still engaged in pleasant conversation.

“I’ve heard that the Young Lord of the Mörsolt Family has rich artistic sensibilities. I actually managed to acquire some good paintings. Well, I can’t tell what young people’s tastes are like these days, so I wonder if he’ll like them. Hehe— Administrator Judas, please put in a good word for me.”

“How could there be any doubt? But our Young Lord’s tastes seem to have changed a bit recently…”

At that moment, Featherback interrupted their conversation.

“Let’s talk business.”

“…”

At those words, Yudi Administrator closed his mouth.

Vargo Viscount laughed heartily.

“How refreshingly straightforward, just like the Young Lord of the Mörsolt Family! Very well then. Please come inside.”

However, his eyes weren’t smiling.

Even while guiding them, he was quietly observing Featherback, seemingly plotting various schemes.

Step— Step— Step—

Vargo Viscount walked beside Featherback, guiding him through the fortress interior.

“Since Prince Featherback is an honored guest, I’ll personally escort you. All the men of Levarb are gentlemen like myself. Oh, I’m not saying this because I’m conscious of Miss Cardona who isn’t here right now. It’s just that my sons have reached marriageable age but none of them can find wives, which is frustrating…”

He extended his short, thick fingers to point down the long, narrow corridor.

“Anyway. If you go straight down this way, you’ll reach my office. I’ve also placed the paintings I’d like to give you as gifts there, so please take a look. I hope they’ll be to your liking.”

Soon, Vargo Viscount entered a spacious room.

Across from where luxurious tables and chairs were arranged, beautiful famous paintings hung on the walls.

Paintings depicting Northern Region landscapes.

Vargo Viscount turned to Featherback and said.

“These are paintings by famous artists. An ignorant person like myself doesn’t understand art, but I do know that a single painting by these artists is worth as much as a house.”

“Oh my, how eye-opening. These are such wonderful paintings.”

Yudi Administrator made a fuss on his behalf.

In contrast, Featherback’s reaction was lukewarm.

“They were too stingy with the paint on these paintings.”

“Ah, is that so? Well, I suppose. The Northern Region’s vegetation is so barren that it’s difficult to obtain good paint dyes. Especially red dye is like plucking stars from the sky. There are no red flower petals to use as dye materials.”

Vargo Viscount brushed it off with a hearty laugh.

Soon, everyone took their seats at the table.

Vargo Viscount spoke.

“Since Prince Featherback of the Mörsolt Family wishes for a quick discussion, we shall proceed accordingly. You must already be troubled by the Orc problem…”

“If you mean the Orc problem, we’ve already resolved it completely.”

“…!”

Viscount Vargo’s eyes widened at Featherback’s response.

“I heard there were over a thousand Orcs that came over the snow mountains this time? Subjugation should have been nearly impossible, so how…?”

“I’m not sure if your information is fast or slow. You know there were over a thousand Orcs, but you don’t know they were all annihilated?”

“…”

Viscount Vargo’s eyes filled with disbelief.

He glanced to the side and threw a silent question toward Administrator Judas.

Administrator Judas nodded with a somewhat dejected expression.

“…Well, anyway.”

Viscount Vargo changed the subject and got to the main point.

“I assume you came because of the message we sent. Is that correct?”

“You want to take Meursault Mountain?”

“We don’t want to take it, we want to lease it.”

“Isn’t that the same thing?”

“Haha— It seems Prince Featherback has some misunderstanding. How could we covet Meursault Mountain? We simply want to lease it temporarily since it would benefit everyone. We don’t want to become uncomfortable with Mörsolt. That’s why we prepared these paintings, isn’t it?”

Viscount Vargo pointed to the gift paintings prepared for Featherback.

From the way his lips curled up, he seemed to think Featherback would be very pleased.

Of course, if it had been Featherback before his regression, he would have been dazzled by the mention of famous painters’ works… but that stirred no emotion in the current Featherback.

Featherback said.

“You sent a message through our Administrator Judas.”

“That’s correct. Though it’s a difficult request, our circumstances have become quite difficult lately, so we wish to have the debt repaid promptly.”

“Isn’t the money Mörsolt borrowed from Rebarb 30,000 gold? But why do you want to receive 100,000 gold?”

“That’s due to the concept of compound interest, which might be a bit difficult for Prince Featherback to understand. Compound interest grows rapidly in just three years. Since explaining in detail would take too long, it would be better for you to receive a separate explanation from the administrator later.”

Viscount Vargo was treating Featherback like a child while forcing principal and interest upon him.

He looked at Featherback and smiled coldly.

“However, we have no intention of receiving all that money. How could we dare harbor such impious thoughts toward Mörsolt, our liege family? We simply ask that you consider our impoverished circumstances a little, which is why we requested the lease of Meursault Mountain.”

“You want to build a paved road on Mörsolt’s ancestral mountain? Are you telling us to bulldoze our ancestors’ tombs?”

“In exchange, we will pay the lease fee faithfully. We’ll also cover all the costs of relocating the ancestors’ graves.”

At first glance, it seemed like a reasonable proposal.

A commoner family might have quickly moved to implement it.

However, digging up a cemetery that was like the family’s history just to earn some petty money was a great discourtesy.

In great noble houses above the rank of count, doing such a thing would immediately result in burial in the social circles.

That’s how important a family’s ancestral mountain is.

To demand the rental of such a thing was nothing short of the height of impropriety.

But regardless, Viscount Vargo paid no heed to such considerations.

“I am well aware that the Mörsolt family is facing financial difficulties. We sincerely wish to help Mörsolt. We will provide rental fees that will not disappoint you in the least, so please consider it carefully…”

“I refuse.”

“…”

At Featherback’s firm words, Viscount Vargo let out a sigh.

“Young Lord, you mustn’t cling to stuffy etiquette. You need to face reality. If Prince Featherback continues to make such unrealistic claims, I’ll have no choice. I’ll have to apply the cold standards of reality to the Mörsolt family.”

“Are you telling us to repay our debts?”

“Sadly, yes. We’re also having difficulties these days.”

“I’m sorry for making those who are already struggling even more difficult.”

At Featherback’s words, Viscount Vargo tilted his head.

He hadn’t expected such a straightforward apology for being unable to repay money.

But Featherback’s following words were completely different.

“I understand your difficult circumstances, but we too are struggling. So I’d like you to start repaying your debts soon.”

“…Repay debts? The Levarb family?”

As Viscount Vargo tilted his head in confusion, Administrator Judas squeezed his eyes shut and shot to his feet.

“Y-Young Master! Your words are different now! It was Mörsolt who borrowed the money! To tell those who lent money to repay it instead…!”

But Featherback cleanly ignored Judas’s words.

…Thud!

A single document placed on the table.

【Vassal House Levarb swears to serve their liege lord House Mörsolt for generations with the posture of dogs and horses, dedicating body and soul, and firmly pledges to offer fifty percent of annual production in provisions or goods on the last day of each year. Should this not be fulfilled, penalty interest will be calculated at 33.3% compound interest annually. This document is written in the blood of Levarb’s founding Family Head…, and all confirm it is guaranteed by His Imperial Majesty and proven by covenant magic cast by the Magic Tower mages.】

Viscount Vargo’s eyes widened as he saw it.

“Money.”

Featherback’s words became even shorter.

“Pay up.”

It was a declaration directed at Viscount Vargo, who sat with his mouth agape in stunned disbelief.

“Unless you want to become a traitor.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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