Episode 63

Originally, the great nobles of the Empire did not borrow money.
To be more precise, they did not borrow money “personally.”
It was something deemed unseemly for the dignity of an honorable great noble.
Of course, great nobles also needed money from time to time.
In those cases, merchants who were either friendly with them or wished to gain favor would come to them of their own accord.
A polite greeting, some stories about the world, compliments for the mansion and family, and then a phrase like, “As your humble servant, may I offer you a small sum?”—and then the great noble would nod as if reluctantly granting permission…
…After that, the head butler would take care of the details.
As things went like this, most of the Empire’s great nobles had no idea how to personally borrow money.
Let alone the sons and daughters of those families, who had just come of age?
They wouldn’t even know how to broach the subject.
That’s why Aryan, the branch manager of the Kaako Merchant Company, couldn’t help but be shocked when a boy obviously of noble birth came and asked to borrow money.
‘Is he really from the Wardanaz family??’

• * *
  Filone village was quite prosperous for its size.
  People thronged the streets and there were all sorts of shops that could not be found in the countryside.
  Even one inn would have been enough for a place like this, but inns were lined up close together, and the taverns were packed with people.
  Not just Filone village, but every village or town in the area was lively in the same way.
  The reason was simple.
  It was because of the magic school.
  Since the region itself hosted the school, the area was overflowing with natural magic power.
  A place full of all kinds of dungeons, monsters, and rare ingredients!
  On top of that, the mages working inside the magic school needed all sorts of ingredients and reagents for their experiments.
  Who would bring them such things?
  Most mages were so frail, when they stood up from their desks, they would wilt at once.
  They naturally had to hire adventurers.
  Since the rewards were great, adventurers would gather in droves, and as ingredients and reagents piled up quickly, the excited mages would experiment more, hire again, and then the imperial treasurer, after reading the itemized bill, would roar, “Bring me Oshu Gonadaltes!!” in anger…
  Anyway, except for a few, it was a happy cycle completed in this region.
  It was good luck for Ihan as well.
  As long as he had money, he could buy almost anything he needed. Better than having money but not being able to buy anything.
  “So, please lend me some money.”
  “Ah, no. Young master of the Wardanaz family. Wait a moment… Please, just wait a moment.”
  “Can’t you?”
  “No! It’s not that I can’t. Of course I will lend it to you.”
  The goat beastkin branch manager hurriedly waved both hands.
  If this really was the Wardanaz family (and not an imposter), lending money was unquestionably a good deal.
  He never even considered the idea of going to the Wardanaz family to ask for repayment.
  Just forming a connection with someone from the Wardanaz family was already a gain.
  Aryan steeled himself.
  ‘Good. Even if I have to dip into my own savings…’
  But as a merchant, he couldn’t help but be nervous.
  How large a sum would the other party demand?
  If it was more than his life savings, he’d have to send an urgent message to headquarters for special permission…
  “How much do you want?”
  Ihan hesitated.
  Seeing this, Aryan grew more and more anxious.
  How much could it be??
  “…Would twenty silver coins be possible?”
  “…Excuse me?”
  “If not, even fifteen silver coins…”
  “……”
  Aryan was left dumbfounded before realizing something.
  The other party was wearing a school uniform he’d seen somewhere before.
  A magic school uniform, to be precise.
  ‘He was a magic school student?!?’
  And a first-year, no less. Knowing how insane the school’s harsh rules were, Aryan couldn’t help but be startled.
  How did a first-year even escape??
  ‘Ah… right, it was the Wardanaz family.’
  Aryan found himself convinced.
  The person before him truly was from the Wardanaz family.
  Who but a Wardanaz could escape the magic school as a first-year?
  ‘Never imagined a great noble would personally come and ask to borrow money… but, it’s the Wardanaz family!’
  “Twelve silver coins, then?”
  “Ah, no. You don’t have to keep lowering it.”
• * *
  After taking stock of the situation, Aryan did his best to make Ihan comfortable.
  He brought tea and snacks, and said he would hand over the silver with no strings attached, only for Ihan to eye him suspiciously in response.
  “A-ah, no. I don’t have any ulterior motives.”
  “I think I’ll go elsewhere…”
  “Really! I just thought the young master would be strapped for cash, so I was trying to be considerate!”
  Aryan was aggrieved.
  What money could a first-year who’d barely escaped the magic school have?
  This was supposed to be one of those touching scenes: “Money is no concern. I trust you, young master.” “Mr. Aryan! You have an eye for people. Even when I succeed later, I’ll remember your trust!” That sort of thing…
  “Ah, if that’s the case… I don’t have money, but I do have something that could turn into money.”
  “?”
  Aryan cocked his head.
  It was hard to believe that a recently escaped first-year had something of value.
  ‘Don’t tell me, his wand…’
  Aryan smiled wryly to himself.
  That was a common mistake for magic school students.
  He’d heard last year that a third-year tried (and failed) to sell their wand after sneaking out.
  The basic wand issued by the magic school wasn’t worth as much as students thought.
  “These are ledgers of debts owed to me by other imperial noble families.”
  “……”
  Aryan’s jaw almost hit the table.
  What in the world…?!?!
  “Originally, I planned to take this around the mansions, but damn it—no, the principal had the mansions moved elsewhere.”
  “Th-that’s right. If it’s something like this… it really is a valuable thing.”
  That was practically as good as cash.
  And not just cash, either.
  If he went to one of those houses with it, they would surely repay his favor to one of their own bloodlines.
  That was the pride of imperial nobles!
  ‘But…’
  As covetous as he felt, Aryan drew a line.
  “That’s more than enough. I’ll lend you the money.”
  “Then, about these ledgers…”
  “No. Please keep them, young master.”
  “……”
  At this, Ihan looked at Aryan as if wondering, ‘Is this merchant perhaps working his first day ever?’
  Normally, the one lending money kept the collateral, not the borrower.
  Aryan grew emotional.
  ‘I’m showing my trust…!’
  The reason Aryan didn’t covet those ledgers was simple.
  They were, in effect, a pledge between the Wardanaz and other noble families.
  If young master Wardanaz later took them to another family’s mansion, the gratitude would be huge.
  If Aryan took those ledgers and went around, it might bring him some benefit, but the Wardanaz family would not view it kindly.
  -That merchant must have tricked naive Ihan and taken the ledgers!
  Aryan would rather take a small loss than be suspected of duping the young master.
  Even if that meant being mistaken for someone working their first day as a merchant!
  “Young master, think about it. You’re from the Wardanaz family—what does it matter if I have the ledgers or not?”
  “I see. But wouldn’t it be better for you to have them…”
  “…Shall I guide you around the village? You must have a lot you need.”
  Aryan changed the subject.
  Students who’d just escaped always needed the same things.
  Ihan nodded.
  “I’d appreciate that. But you’re not planning to guide me only to shops linked to your merchant company, right?”
  “…Of course not!”
  Aryan was starting to get confused about whether this youth was a scion of Wardanaz or a scion of the Wardanaz trading company.
  There was none of the innocence or naïveté typical of noble-born youth.
  “?”
  Following Ihan out the door, Aryan noticed all the snacks he’d brought earlier had vanished.
  ‘Did he eat them all? That’s odd. I don’t remember him eating?’
  As Aryan cocked his head, he noticed Ihan’s cloak pocket bulging.
  ‘…No way… Come on… It can’t be…’
• * *
  “How about this cream puff? It’s a dessert made by one of the town’s top artisans. The thin crust is filled with cream—a favorite even among nobles…”
  “No, recommend something easy to store and compact.”
  “……”
  “……”
  Ihan acted like a quartermaster preparing for war.
  No matter how tasty, anything bulky, fragile, or perishable was ignored.
  He pursued only maximum efficiency through maximum compression.
  “This canned food…”
  “Canned goods are the latest trend in the Empire! Isn’t the packaging lovely?”
  “I can’t pack tightly with that!”
  “……”
  Seeing Ihan reject things without a moment’s hesitation, Aryan reconsidered.
  …Should he suggest employment at his company after graduation?
  He had all the makings of a great merchant.
  Ihan chose all sorts of food, calculated the weight and volume, and selected the boxes himself.
  “Just a moment, young master. You can’t bring a wagon to the school. The principal would punish us.”
  “I know. I’ll carry it all myself.”
  “…???!?!”
  Not only Aryan but all the other employees looked on with faces that said, ‘Should we stop the manager?’
  “No. He must have a plan.”
  But Aryan didn’t budge.
  He had to acknowledge it now.
  This young Wardanaz had the blessing of an experienced merchant.
  He surely had a plan!
  “Shall we go to the tailor next? We’ll have a suit made for you.”
  “?”
  Ihan glanced at him as if to say, what are you talking about?
  “Uh… those rags… I mean, aren’t those clothes uncomfortable?”
  The magic school students’ outfits looked uncomfortable and rough—even the staff could tell.
  But Ihan didn’t care.
  “They’re not really uncomfortable.”
  “!?”
  “Of course I do need clothes…”
  Aryan felt relieved to hear Ihan’s next words.
  At least he was thinking about clothes!
  “Let’s go to the fabric store, not the tailor.”
  “…You’re planning to make them yourself…?”
  “That’s right.”
  “……”
  Inside the fabric store, Ihan selected only thick, sturdy materials.
  Aryan felt dizzy watching.
  Something was definitely happening among this year’s magic school freshmen.
  “Why is this fabric cheaper, if it’s the same?”
  “It’s out of fashion…”
  “Then give me the out-of-fashion fabric. Between this and that, which holds up better against water?”
  Just as at the grocery, Ihan’s skill shone at the fabric store.
  Selecting only the best among piles of fabric, even the experienced fabric store owner and Aryan, branch manager of the merchant company, had to admit it.
  At this moment, the one commanding the scene was that young boy of the Wardanaz family!