TPES 54

Chapter 54

“Is it really okay for us to do this?”
Kourin’s father asked, his voice full of worry.

At first, when he heard they were supposed to borrow money again, Kourin had been half in doubt. But after seeing the address written on the paper he handed over and coming here, that suspicion had melted away completely.

“It’s fine. He’s just fallen asleep.”
Kourin looked down at the man lying on the floor, fast asleep.

He had been the one who had relentlessly watched and cruelly tormented Kourin and her family. Just a few days ago, he had shoved her father and mother when they refused to pay interest, injuring their wrists and ankles.

“That’s right. You don’t need to worry. He’s just asleep. He’ll wake up soon.”
The woman who had introduced herself as a maid of Leonka lightly tapped the sleeping man with her foot. Then she took a rope from her pocket and tied him up.

“There will be many people coming soon. For now, please lock this man in that room over there. The others can stay in the room next to it. There’s food and bedding prepared inside, so don’t worry and rest for a few days.”

Kourin led her family toward the room she indicated. Inside, just as she had said, there was plenty of food and bedding. The place looked like a storage room, but it seemed to have been prepared recently and would be comfortable enough to stay for a few days.

Soon, the owner of the fabric shop next to the bakery and their family arrived. Following them were the butcher, the fruit shop, the clothing store—basically, all the market merchants gathered in that room.

Those who had been spying on them were already tied up in the next room, asleep.

“Is it really okay for us to do this?”
“I wonder. Can we really escape from those people like this?”

The market merchants, who had long been tormented by them, didn’t seem to believe they could truly escape. After being treated so cruelly, it was natural for people to feel weak.

“Don’t worry. We’ll definitely handle it.”

Even with Kourin’s reassurance, the people couldn’t calm down easily.

“That’s a relief, but… what if we fail…? We might really be sold this time.”
“Exactly. Those people are terrifying.”

When Kourin’s words of comfort didn’t seem to reach them, she stepped outside, feeling frustrated.

“Why did you come out?”
“I was just frustrated… What’s going to happen to the people trapped in there?”
“I don’t really know. I heard they’re sending them somewhere far away.”

The maid of Leonka was preparing for the next task as if her work wasn’t finished yet.

“More people are coming?”
All the market merchants were already here.

“That’s right. The market people alone weren’t enough, so more people were brought in.”
“Not enough? What’s the plan?”
“I don’t know. I just do as I’m told. Do I need to know everything?”

Kourin nodded at the maid’s simple answer.
Right. She just had to trust Espin and wait.

Yesterday, Igurun, who had borrowed money and spent the day frantically filling out paperwork in the office, had a very sweet dream that night.

He dreamed of himself as a junior baron, standing proudly in front of people. Upon waking, he headed straight to his office.

Although it was morning, the market was unusually quiet today.

“Good morning.”
Igurun greeted and opened the office door, only to find it locked.

“What? Nobody’s come to work?”
The employees who usually arrived before him always left the door open.

“Oh, that’s right. All the staff went out to monitor people.”

Since some visitors had come yesterday to borrow money, even the employees who usually stayed in the office had to go watch them.

Igurun took out the key and entered the quiet office.

The safe in the office, which had lent out all the money yesterday, was empty, but looking at it already made him feel full. Once people brought the interest today, the safe would be full again.

“So the interest coming in today is…”

Igurun took out the ledger and started calculating. The interest due today for the money lent yesterday and the day before totaled 23,000 litas.

While he calculated, no visitors came, but Igurun kept himself busy. He sorted out those who could no longer repay and thought about what to take from their homes.

Was this what it felt like to feel full without eating?

Smiling contentedly, he glanced at the clock.

“Already lunchtime? But why hasn’t anyone come?”

Normally, if there weren’t enough people to monitor, the employees would forcibly bring the debtors.

It was far too quiet. Only now did he start to feel uneasy.

Something seemed off, so Igurun hurried out of the office.

The market merchants, who usually opened their shops regardless, were nowhere to be seen. Only one shop—the florist who hadn’t borrowed money from him—remained open.

“What? Why is everything closed?”

Neither the market people nor his staff could be seen anywhere. In a market open year-round, this was impossible.

The people who had come to the market were also leaving, confused, and the market alley was completely empty.

Unable to believe what he saw, Igurun ran to the bakery and knocked on the door.

“Hey! You’re inside! Come out! Bakery! Bakery! Come out!”

He shook the door, knocked, and even kicked it, but no one came. The same went for the fabric shop, the butcher, and the fruit shop.

Wondering if he was dreaming, Igurun headed to the only open shop—the florist.

“Welcome.”
The florist greeted him warmly, then tilted her head as if realizing who he was.

“You’re from the office in front of the market, right?”
“Yes… But what’s happening at the market today?”
“What do you mean?”
“There’s nobody here. The bakery… what’s happening with it?”
“Oh, the bakery owner is sick.”
“Sick? Then the fabric shop?”
“The owner there is sick too.”
“What about the butcher, fruit shop, general store, and clothing store?”
“Yes. Looks like some kind of epidemic hit the market. How could everyone suddenly be sick in one day?”
“That’s impossible.”

It was truly impossible.

These market merchants owed him huge debts. Even if they were sick, they couldn’t afford a single day off.

Yet here they were, all resting together. Something was wrong.

“Ha, since everyone’s resting, I don’t feel like doing business either.”
The florist sighed lazily and looked outside.

“Oh, someone’s entering your office.”
“What? Who?”

Igurun pushed past the florist and pressed against the window. But the person had already disappeared.

“A woman seems to be dragged away by some big men…”

Hearing that, Igurun left the florist without a word. Now it seemed his staff had finally returned.

Feeling relieved, he dashed to the office and flung the door wide open.

“Why are you so late! Where’s the money!”

The person welcoming Igurun wasn’t his staff, but the woman who had lent him money yesterday.

“Was I late? I came quite leisurely, though.”

Behind her, big men stood. She pointed to the clock, which was counting down to the time yesterday when she had lent money.

“It’s almost time to collect the money.”

Unlike yesterday, she spoke less, sat in Igurun’s chair with her arms crossed, and looked down at him.