I Possessed a Game Where I Die If I Don’t Clear the Tower - Chapter 84

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 84. How to Stop Illegal Finance
After dismissing the Knight Duo to rest, Camilia entered her office with Netanel Fragma and Zehar Al Rashid in tow.
She was about to attend to her duties when she recalled something she had forgotten.
“Zehar.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
Camilia retrieved the ‘Lifestone of the Fallen Spirit Calamariare’ from her inventory and tossed it to him.
“Give it to the alchemist. Tell them to use it for research.”
Zehar Al Rashid caught the object as it flew toward him, his brow furrowing slightly.
The Lifestone of Calamariare was a reward that only dropped if the boss of the 6th Floor was left alive.
He seemed to have grasped the sealing method at a glance.
“…So you did not eliminate that creature on the 6th Floor.”
“Not all evil can be replaced. Even in the Lower Floors, that principle holds true.”
“That may be so, but….”
Zehar Al Rashid placed the Lifestone into his sleeve with a sigh, speaking with evident concern.
“Given how long it has been imprisoned there, its mind cannot be sound. I pray it does not sully the Lord’s ears with meaningless ravings.”
He was anxious that it might have revealed secrets related to himself or the First Lord.
“Indeed, its sanity is questionable—it called me a Schemer. The sort of nonsense that would make Nashu Shumel and Rohengreen Ashen laugh.”
Upon hearing that it was nothing of consequence, Zehar Al Rashid finally relaxed and conjured a messenger bird, sending it on its way.
Not long after, Noma Sterea, the Mayor, arrived at the office.
The messenger bird had apparently already conveyed the matter, for her eyes gleamed so brightly behind her spectacles that they were almost blinding.
“I understand you wished to discuss the matter of usury being conducted within the Territory.”
“According to Zehar, you seem eager to reform the operational methods?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
Noma adjusted her spectacles and spoke.
“I shall spare you the details and present only the essentials. Currently, the vermin—that is, the loan sharks—collect an average monthly interest rate of fifty percent.”
Fifty percent monthly? Had she misspoken and meant fifty percent annually?
Camilia questioned the unexpectedly exorbitant interest rate.
“…You mean the average—not the maximum—is fifty percent per month?”
“Yes. For reference, the most ruthless of them demand twenty percent per day.”
Fifty percent monthly equated to six hundred percent annually. Twenty percent daily amounted to seventy-three hundred percent annually.
The term “usury” referred to high interest rates, not blood-draining extortion, yet what manner of rates were these creatures applying?
For context, the legal maximum interest rate in Korea was twenty percent annually, and even Demon Bank Helheim, the most ruthless debt collection agency in this world, charged only fifty percent per annum.
‘So demons are reasonable, and humans are far more wicked… Though I suppose this is the standard darkness of a dark fantasy.’
I had not anticipated the game’s untranslated portions would be this dark.
Camilia was glad she had summoned Noma Sterea.
She could not allow such creatures to roam freely, bankrupting her subjects and draining their wealth.
“…What would you have done with them?”
The moment she hardened her expression and posed the question, Noma smiled brilliantly and answered without hesitation.
“If you would permit it, I wish to slaughter them all. Their financial dealings are unjust, and their contracts serve no purpose in benefiting the world. They are truly deserving of death.”
Netanel Fragma, who had been quietly observing the situation, let out a soft cough, apparently finding the statement somewhat extreme.
“Well, even so, they are subjects of the Territory. I naturally believe they should be punished according to your wishes, Lord Camilia. However, it’s also true that the relevant laws are incomplete.”
In other words, she was asking permission to squeeze the loan sharks dry or kill them as I saw fit, and to allow me to draft laws regarding usury.
“So you wish to lend a hand as well?”
“Only if my employer permits it.”
I’m sorry, but that’s absolutely impossible. I need to return to The Tower tomorrow if I’m to complete the 10th Floor before the month ends.
‘If I simply brought Korean financial law here… that would create its own set of problems.’
Korea’s primary financial institutions offer low-interest loans because most modern people repay their debts reliably.
Even when some fail to repay, the averages balance out, and banks don’t suffer catastrophic losses.
But finance in this world operates on the opposite principle.
Kings and nobles never borrow with any intention of repaying. When repayment comes due, they instead kill the creditor or fabricate charges to drive them away.
Commoners borrow and endure as long as they can, and when they truly cannot manage, they sell their children to settle the debt.
With a default rate approaching fifty percent, lenders need an annual interest rate of at least one hundred percent just to break even on principal.
To implement modernized policies—preventing interest from exceeding principal, eliminating illegal collection practices against families—one hundred percent annual interest wasn’t even sufficient. The rate would need to be higher still.
In summary, maintaining usury while reducing the Territory’s subjects’ debt to manageable levels was nearly impossible.
Yet I couldn’t eliminate lending entirely. Money must circulate for the economy to flourish.
I tapped my fingers against the armrest of my chair before reaching a conclusion.
“I’ll establish a bank. Whether people deposit money or borrow it, all such transactions will be handled there.”
“A bank, my lord?”
“There’s no need to perfect the system immediately. For now, we simply need to establish it as an official institution.”
Noma Sterea grasped the situation without difficulty.
“If all financial operations fall under the jurisdiction of Nidstar Bank, then all loan sharks become criminals violating Territory law, don’t they?”
“Precisely. So announce the bank’s establishment first. Make it clear that from the day of the announcement onward, no one may privately issue loans.”
“And if someone refuses to comply despite your mercy, how should we handle them?”
“I noticed the Territory’s subjects enjoy gathering in the Plaza.”
Noma Sterea’s face brightened with an almost radiant smile as she clasped her hands together.
“Brilliant! Even the Golden Scales would praise this as a flawless plan beyond their own capabilities!”
It’s something any economics undergraduate could devise.
I gestured dismissively.
“Establishing a bank shouldn’t be difficult. It falls within the Golden Scales’ domain, after all.”
“Of course. Banking is our specialty. Oh, and Horan will be absolutely delighted. He’s been pulling out his beard worrying about how to control the rising prices.”
Noma sprang from her seat, eager to deliver this joyful news immediately.
I stopped her before she could leave.
“Among the loan sharks, there should be one named Shylock. He’s someone I’ve been watching—don’t handle him first.”
“Haha, you’re quite something, Lord Camilia. Handle? Why use such frightening language?”
‘That’s exactly what you were planning to do.’
Instead of reciting the Golden Scales’ three-step loan shark elimination plan that I’d read through mind-reading, I simply fixed Noma with a pointed stare.
Fortunately, she didn’t persist and meekly backed down.
“So I should exclude only that one person?”
“And anyone whose status remains uncertain.”
Noma left the office with reluctant acceptance, promising to carry out my orders.
Netanel watched her disappear through the doorway, then asked quietly.
“You’ve changed direction toward establishing a bank, haven’t you? Because setting new ordinances regarding usury would complicate matters and drag things out?”
The half-elf Priest’s eyes narrowed as if to say, ‘You’re planning to drag her to The Tower without assigning her this task, aren’t you?’
Every word was true, but Camilia answered brazenly.
“It’s difficult, complex, and time-consuming, but I’ve chosen the method that yields the greatest benefit in the long run.”
“My, how bold of you.”
When Netanel invoked his own earlier words about establishing a new foundation, even the great High Priest couldn’t bring himself to press further.
In the end, he released a deep sigh and muttered under his breath.
“I should really bring in a capable priest, even if it’s just to ease my grievances. At this rate, I’ll become more familiar with the inside of The Tower than the outside.”
Watching Netanel, Zehar Al Rashid smiled faintly.
It was the coldest smile he could muster—from someone who had pleaded countless times to be taken to The Tower yet, except for the first instance, had never been allowed to go.
“Priest, really. Anyone listening would think you were the only one ascending The Tower.”
“Oh dear, did it sound that way? It’s just that my employer keeps me so tightly bound that I couldn’t help myself.”
….
The temperature dropped.
Not an illusion—the temperature genuinely fell.
She wasn’t the only one who felt the chill, yet Netanel continued smiling like a fox.
Cold sweat beaded across her back.
Their relationship had never been particularly good, but this collision felt different.
‘If I leave this as is, someone’s going to get hurt.’

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