“Father! The debt collectors are here, causing a scene! They’re asking if we can repay the investment, and why we haven’t paid the interest…!”

“Tell them I’m not here! Damn it, I can’t repay if I don’t have any money!”

Count Ariant clutched his thinning hair with both hands, strands falling away. Where would he find the money to repay? The plan was to receive funding from the imperial family after the completion and use that to pay off the interest while gradually repaying the investors through tolls. But now, that completion had vanished into thin air, driving him nearly insane.

Currently, a whopping 20 billion lark was tied up in that damned road. Adding the back wages for the workers, the damaged equipment, and the interest, he needed nearly 30 billion lark. With the family on the brink of ruin, there was nowhere to borrow such a huge sum.

“Damn it. Should I just declare it completed? Just leave it as bare dirt…?”

“The emperor is supposed to be the first to use the road upon completion…”

“Ugh!!!”

It was a no-win situation. Was there no hole where a large sum could emerge? As strands of hair from his head piled onto the desk, he sighed in despair.

“Count! Aslan Vermont is here!”

“Damn it, another debt collection? Brush him off! Vermont’s investment has no interest and the deadline is still far off!”

“That’s not it; he came to make a beneficial proposal.”

“What? Bring him in! Ah! No, it’s too messy here. Take him to the reception room!”

Springing up, the count opened his eyes wide.

“First, declare the abandonment of the construction.”

“…”

That was Aslan Vermont’s opening line. What the hell was this madman talking about? There was a great spirit strong enough to scare even the spirit master into running away; how could such a minor construction right matter?

“It’s not a problem that can be solved by just giving up…”

“If you abandon it, I’ll propose a new contract. A contract that infinitely extends the deposit period for the investment you made.”

“Infinite…?!”

The count’s mouth dropped open. The amount invested by Vermont was a staggering 10 billion lark. This was more than enough to cover the interest for the other investors, and without having to sell off property, he would have the capacity to repay the principal within ten years.

“The condition is a 70% interest rate.”

“Excuse me?”

“Didn’t you hear me? I said 70%.”

“Seventy percent? That’s an interest rate even loan sharks would be shocked by…”

“Where would you find a loan shark willing to lend 10 billion lark just like that? If you don’t like it, let’s drop it. You could sell off some of your land, maybe even your title of count, and that might just cover it.”

“Please, don’t do this. Just reduce it to 50%!”

Aslan stood up, irritated. The count hurriedly grabbed Aslan by the collar. It was only natural for a sum as large as 10 billion lark to come with a high-interest rate, but 70% was just outrageous.

“If you’re going to hit me like this, I’ll have to start my own collections soon, alright?”

“W-well, you can take something else too. How about my daughter? My youngest daughter is twenty-five this year; isn’t that just right?”

Twenty-five? That’s past the point of being spoiled; it’s practically rotten. Aslan’s face contorted.

“I’m sorry! I let that slip! Anything you want, just say it!”

“You just said anything.”

Swoosh.

A chill ran down the count’s spine, and he froze in place.

“Then I’ll need to take a portion of your territory.”

“W-where?”

“There’s wasteland north of the city center. I’ll take all of that. But the condition is that I won’t raise any objections to whatever happens in that area.”

“Sounds good! Take it!”

It was useless land that couldn’t even be farmed. He could give away that land without a second thought. Would this allow for a valid contract?

“Then the deposit period for the investment will be unlimited. The monthly interest rate will change to 4%. Also, I will write up a contract selling the northern wasteland of Ariant to Vermont.”

“W-where’s my seal?!”

Aslan grinned, shoving the contract forward. The count hurriedly stamped it, fearing Aslan might change his mind.

With a satisfied look, Aslan departed. Left alone in the reception room, Count Ariant let out a sigh of relief and smiled.

“Ahahaha! I did it! I did it!!!”

He saved it! He saved the family!

Using Vermont’s investment to repay the debts to the other investors first, and if he paid 50% interest monthly...

Huh?

Does that mean about 5 billion lark would be spent on interest each year? With an average income of just under 500 million lark per construction project, he would have to exceed ten projects a year just to barely cover the interest.

But when would he repay the principal?

“AAARGH!!!”

Even if the interest rate dropped from 70% to 50%, it didn’t mean it was no longer a slave contract.

Realizing this belatedly, Count Ariant howled.

The 10 billion lark he obtained from cleaning out Leon’s gang was being put to good use.

With a monthly interest rate of 4%, that meant 4.8 billion lark would come in for free each year, doubling the interest in just two years.

Since he stipulated that the principal must be refunded in one lump sum, there was no option for gradual repayment.

In reality, repaying that principal was virtually impossible unless a gold mine emerged in his territory.

That was why he extended the deposit period infinitely. That way, Ariant wouldn’t collapse and would consistently pay the tribute, or rather, the interest.

After all, parasites don’t want their hosts to die early.

Of course, I’m not saying I’m a parasite.

It’s just a saying.

[The Evil God, ‘Carly,’ is very pleased with your actions.]

What a foolish fellow.

I’m merely rescuing Ariant from crisis while receiving the rightful payment in return. Seeing Carly happy made me feel oddly satisfied.

“It’s almost your turn, Yulia!”

“Whew. Whew. I’m so nervous! It’s a great spirit, and they say it’s enormous. Even the famous spirit master ran away…!”

Yulia, speaking in a flurry of words, was clearly tense. Perhaps it was the pressure of facing the great spirit soon. Unlike her usual calm self, she was stamping her feet anxiously.

“Don’t worry. Even if we fail, it would just mean the long-cherished project connecting the capital and Vermont fails.”

“That’s serious! That makes it even more burdensome!!!”

“Then should I give you some courage?”

“I don’t need your encouragement…”

“This road construction is a joint effort between Charlotte and Yulia, so I will give you 0.1% of the tolls collected every year.”

“Wh-what…!”

Yulia’s eyes widened, and she quickly became enthusiastic. This road construction would have been impossible without both Charlotte and Yulia.

Thanks to Charlotte, they were able to start construction by breaking through the mountain, and now, if Yulia could just persuade the great spirit, they could finish paving the road and start operations.

So, some form of reward should be given.

That way, they’d be motivated. For those dreaming of gathering 10 billion lark to break free from my grasp, it would be a sweet reward.

‘Even at 0.1%, it would only amount to about 10 million lark…’

Even if the road operations turned out to be a huge success, it would take them a century to gather the 10 billion lark.

Of course, there was no need to let them know that.

“I’ll do it! I’ll definitely do it! I even sent a scary ghost to enlightenment, so what’s there to fear from a great spirit…!”

“Come here for a second.”

I called Yulia back, who was quickly igniting her enthusiasm. Today marked the moment Yulia would debut before the public as a necromancer, or rather, a spirit master.

So I instructed the maids to prepare her well.

Looking at her now, I noticed her knee-high socks were a mess.

“Who wrinkled these socks like this?”

“Hmm? Socks? They were too long, so I wore them like this…”

“Did the maids say anything about it?”

“I didn’t hear anything like that?”

“I did! The maid sisters were giggling among themselves, saying the uncle would like it if I wore them like this!”

“…”

Good. When I get back, all the maids will have their pay cut.

I let out a deep sigh and tapped the desk.

Yulia, confused and oblivious to the meaning behind it, just stared.

“Come up here and sit.”

“Here? Why? Ahh…!?”

There wasn’t much time left. When she hesitated, I lifted Yulia up and set her on the desk. Then, I swiftly pulled off her wrinkled socks.

Now that I looked, they were even inside out…

I absolutely couldn’t allow such poor fashion in front of me. Socks should be smooth, covering the legs completely without any wrinkles. The outline of her legs should stand out even more, despite being covered by the fabric.

That was the strength of socks.

I couldn’t help but sigh.

“Stay still.”

“But it’s too ticklish…! Eek!?”

I flipped the socks back to the right side and held Yulia’s ankle, pulling the socks over her.

As my hands touched her, Yulia gasped, holding her mouth shut.

“Ugh!?”

With the heel perfectly aligned and without creating any wrinkles, Yulia’s legs trembled.

I told her to stay still.

“Alright. That’s how you wear them. Fix the other side yourself and come back out.”

“Th-this…!”

Yulia’s face turned crimson, her eyes filled with indignation as she glared at me.

I bolted out of the room, feeling like I’d escape with my life. If I pointed out her fashion one more time, I’d surely be killed. Kids these days...