After the loan sharks fled, Lumia politely apologized to the shop owner and quit her job.
She didn’t want to cause any more trouble after the debt collectors following her created an issue.
Kalian appeared with a pale face only after the situation was fully resolved.
He explained that he had been cornered near the restroom by a group of women chasing him and couldn’t do anything.
“Typical,” I thought.
“I wondered why the meddlesome guy didn’t show up sooner.”
I asked Lumia, “What happened for you to owe such a massive debt? Forget the outrageous interest— even the principal amount wasn’t small.”
She hesitated, trying to dodge the question, but when it became clear we wouldn’t let it go, she reluctantly confessed.
“My parents are sick. I needed money for their medicine… but their condition hasn’t improved.”
“How long has this been going on?”
“About two months.”
“So it started after we got to know each other. Why didn’t you say anything? If you’d told us, we could’ve found another solution.”
“I didn’t want to burden you…”
I rubbed my forehead.
Sure, asking friends you’ve known for less than a year to help pay your family’s medical bills isn’t easy.
“Alright, let’s go to your house.”
“My house?”
“I need to see your parents’ condition. First, we’ll take care of your family, and then we’ll deal with the money.”
“…Okay.”
Lumia, looking despondent, couldn’t refuse the offer of help and led us to her home.
It was in a slum on the outskirts of the capital.
Even in a wealthy imperial capital full of nobles, there were still impoverished people. The slum was where those people lived.
“I’m home,” Lumia announced as she entered.
Her house was modest.
There were no decorations, but for a commoner, it had the basics.
Lumia grew up with warm and loving parents despite their poverty.
Her father was a carpenter, and her mother was a seamstress, working hard to support Lumia’s academy tuition.
But now, her parents were bedridden and visibly sick—something not mentioned in the original story.
They were wrapped in thick clothes and blankets, yet their faces were pale, trembling as though stranded in the Arctic.
Their eyes were open but unfocused, unable to recognize Lumia, and their skin was ice-cold.
Kalian, watching from the side, spoke.
“Wade, could this be…?”
“Probably… Frostheart Syndrome.”
Frostheart Syndrome is a fatal disease where the heart slowly freezes, leading to death.
Patients complain of coldness even in warmth and gradually lose consciousness before succumbing to the cold.
We checked their chests after removing their outerwear and saw their hearts visibly turning blue beneath the skin—classic symptoms of Frostheart.
“It’s usually a disease found in cold regions. How could this happen in the capital?”
“Almost unheard of. Either they were extraordinarily unlucky, or… someone deliberately infected them. The latter seems more likely.”
“Deliberately? Who would do such a thing…?”
“We’ll have to investigate. Let’s keep this from Lumia for now.”
As I was cautioning Kalian, Lumia returned with glowing stones called Warmth Stones, which emit heat.
She placed them near her parents to prevent them from freezing to death.
“As you can see, my parents are very sick.”
“Yeah, this doesn’t look good.”
“I want to get the cure, but it’s so expensive that I can’t afford it. I’ve been relying on medicine to manage it, but even that’s running out… What should I do?”
“We’ll get the cure for you,” I said, exchanging a glance with Kalian.
The cure for Frostheart Syndrome comes in several forms, but the most effective is a medicine called Solis Cardin.
It’s expensive and rare, but it’s not beyond our reach.
“You’re serious…?” Lumia asked, confused.
“Do I look like I’m joking?”
“But it’s expensive. Even if you’re nobles, this isn’t an easy decision for you to make.”
“Who said it’s free? You can pay us back tenfold once you succeed. And besides, the cost of the medicine isn’t the real issue.”
I shook my head and pulled out a piece of paper, listing the amount of debt Lumia owed.
“This is the problem. How are you planning to pay back this absurd amount?”
“I’ll…”
“You’re not thinking of something ridiculous like selling yourself, are you? Do you think those scumbags would let you off the hook with that? They’d probably exploit you for life without even covering the interest.”
“But there’s one way.”
Lumia and Kalian both turned to me, their eyes asking, “What is it?”
“Negotiation.”
“Negotiation?”
“We’ll ask them to cancel the debt. Politely, of course— in a way they can’t refuse.”
The lenders have likely already recovered the principal with what they’ve collected so far.
They’re just harassing her for extra profit under the guise of interest.
So with the right proposal or by applying some pressure, we can wipe out the remaining debt.
“You’re planning to use violence again, aren’t you?”
“Not necessarily. I’ve got another plan this time. But if that doesn’t work… we might have to resort to physical negotiations.”
“Please don’t,” Lumia said worriedly.
“Those people—the Bloodline gang—are notorious around here. Their backers are too powerful to deal with.”
“I heard from one of those thugs. They’re under the Rusavian family, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then there’s no need to worry. In fact, this might be a good thing.”
The Rusavian family is well-known for amassing immense wealth through commerce.
Eventually, they’ll rise to prominence not through swordsmanship or magic but through sheer financial power.
More importantly, they’re connected to a crucial character: Serena Rusavian, also known as the Platinum Serena.
She’s a genius in commerce, destined to dominate the continent’s trade, and a pivotal ally for Kalian in the future.
This connection gives me the perfect opportunity to solve the current issue peacefully and effectively.
Kalian asked, “You sound confident. Do you have a plan?”
“Of course. It’s nearly foolproof.”
“What’s the plan?”
“You’ll see. Anyway, I’ve already called someone to help. They should be here soon.”
“Who is it? A lawyer?”
“Someone even better.”
The sound of carriage wheels approached and stopped in front of Lumia’s house.
The visitor arrived.
“Is anyone here?” a familiar voice called from outside.
Opening the door, I greeted her with a smile.
“You’re earlier than expected.”
“Who would dare be late after your request?”
“Thank you for coming. Please, come in.”
The guest was none other than Evelyn, a figure who would play a key role in resolving this matter.
Nicknamed “Platinum Serena,” she is a commercial prodigy destined to dominate the continent’s trade.
Serena Rusavian, the second main heroine and Kalian’s future financial powerhouse, hails from this very family.
This connection is invaluable for resolving the current situation.
With my knowledge of the original storyline, I can confidently say that this problem will be solved smoothly and peacefully.
Kalian asked, “Why do you say it’s good? Do you have a solid plan?”
“Of course. It’s almost impossible to fail.”
“What’s the plan?”
“You’ll see. Speaking of which, I’ve called someone to help, and they should be here soon.”
“A lawyer?”
“No, someone even stronger.”
The sound of a carriage grew louder and finally stopped in front of Lumia’s house. Perfect timing.
“Is anyone here?” a familiar voice called out.
I opened the door and greeted her with a smile.
“You’re earlier than I expected.”
“Who would dare be late for your request?”
“Thank you for coming. Please, come in.”
“Of course.”
Evelyn stepped into Lumia’s house.
Kalian immediately stood to greet her politely, while Lumia panicked, stumbling around and making a mess of things, even stubbing her toe on the desk in her haste.
“W-What brings someone so esteemed to such a humble place…?” Lumia stammered.
“You have it backwards,” Evelyn replied calmly.
“I-I’m so sorry!”
Maybe I should have warned her beforehand.
Evelyn will play a crucial role today, putting the arrogant loan sharks in their place and drawing Serena Rusavian into the picture.
Even the notorious Rusavian family is like a child compared to the Duke of Rose.
Serena won’t be able to ignore Evelyn’s presence, and she’ll show up, hoping to establish a connection with the Duke’s family.
When the time comes, I’ll create an opportunity for Kalian and Serena to meet.
This will not only secure the second main heroine but also erase Lumia’s debt.
It’s a perfect plan.
“Heh.”
“Why are you laughing all of a sudden?” Evelyn asked.
“Just thinking about something.”
“Hmm. Well, that laugh isn’t unpleasant.”
Evelyn naturally took the seat of honor and turned to Lumia.
“Wade explained everything. Loan sharks are extorting you and your family with unreasonable interest, aren’t they?”
“Y-Yes…”
“That will be resolved by today.”
“Th-Thank you so much…”
“Thank Wade for that.”
Evelyn then looked at me.
“How would you like me to deal with them? Should I throw them into a volcano or tie them up and toss them into the sea?”
“There’s no need to go that far. We’ll visit them first, assess the situation, and I’ll let you know if anything needs to be done.”
“Alright. Do as you see fit.”
Just then, a knock came from the door.
Who could it be? I hadn’t called anyone else.
I opened the door and found a group of people, including some familiar faces—those loan sharks from earlier.
A few avoided my gaze in fear, but one particularly defiant one scowled and shouted, “Why the hell is this guy here?”
The man at the front, someone I didn’t recognize, asked, “You know him?”
“Boss, this is the noble who beat us up earlier!”
“So, you’re Kalian Bright?”
The man seemed stronger than the rest, exuding an aura of mana and the demeanor of a mercenary with wealth to back him up.
“You’ve got the wrong person,” I said calmly, attempting to close the door.
But before I could, the man forced it open, grabbed my collar, and threw me to the ground.
It didn’t hurt much, but for Lumia’s sake, I decided to act like a helpless victim.
Should I apologize and try to resolve this peacefully, or should I deal with him using my Arcanum-level skills?
As I debated my options, Evelyn rose from her seat.
Her role was just about to begin.