Volume 2 Chapter 14 Charge! Count Your Sins
After briefly explaining the plan, Frain shared his thoughts,
"A big gold coin? ...Wade, is your party crazy or something?"
"Hey, it's fine to make fun of me, but don't make fun of the party."
"I've known you've been crazy since our training days. It's about having a party that follows someone like you."
I glared at him with a stern expression, but Frain seemed unfazed. However, he had no further complaints and simply said, "I don't know if we can really get that big gold coin, but make sure to split it into five equal parts."
With that, the five of us, including Frain, decided to temporarily split into two groups.
On one side were Toxy, essential for cornering scammers, Frain, the informant, and myself as the leader.
On the other side, Ice and Clay scattered to gather information on loan sharks and the Nightfather.
"H-Here... it's here...!?"
Toxy gulped nervously. Perhaps feeling tense, he pressed his chest and took a deep breath with a sigh.
The three of us stood in front of a narrow signboard in an alley near the slums, where it seemed a scammer was located. The signboard read "House of Mysteries." Seems suspicious.
"Let's go in then."
Ignoring Toxy's deep breath, Frain urged impatiently. Hey.
"You're in a hurry. Just wait for Toxy."
"Huh? No need to wait. That coward can come in after we've dealt with the scammer Frowdus. We have plenty of time."
"...Makes sense, but..."
Confirming with Toxy if she's okay, she nervously replied, "Y-Yeah, go ahead..." I reassured her to take it slow, then turned to Frain.
"Got it, let's go."
"Yeah. Just approach him (the scammer) with a smile, he's a coward."
"Frain seems grumpy though."
"I'd be creepier if I was smiling."
"Did you realize that?"
After being kicked by Frain, we opened the door. A bell rang, and a hoarse voice greeted us, saying, "Welcome~" in a cat-like manner.
"Come all the way to the back. I'm just beyond the curtain."
Thinking it was an odd way of speaking, I walked down the hallway with Frain. Passing through the curtain at the back, we found ourselves in a dark space illuminated by the fantastical light of crystal, where a hooded man sat like a fortune teller.
"Welcome, lost lambs... My name is Frowdus. Please, tell me your troubles."
I glanced at Frain. His face matched the portrait for now.
"...So, what should we do next?"
"Huh? Wade, even though you were born in the slums, you don't know about that?"
Well, it's always good to take the initiative.
But before I could finish speaking, Frain jumped onto the desk with the crystal, clenched his fist, and brought it down.
"Gyaa!"
"Whoa!"
"Hey, you too, give him a punch. Let's teach him a lesson. Like this, see!"
With a dull thud, Frain pounded his fist even harder. I couldn't just stand by and watch, even though I was the one who started this.
I circled around Frowdus and delivered a weakened [Weight Increase] before punching his body.
"Ugh! I give up, I surrender. Please, forgive me. Why, why are you doing this..."
Finally, Frowdus started to cry out in pain. I looked at Frain in distress. Frain continued to strike without changing his expression.
"H-hey..."
"He's acting. It's a good idea to weaken your hand to cast a spell. But those who are truly defeated don't have the luxury to fake tears."
"I see."
I struck again. My blow, enhanced with magic, seemed heavier than Frain's, and gradually, the fearful gazes turned towards me alone.
"Got it! Enough already! I understand! At least tell me what you need! What do you guys want from me!"
Frowdus shouted, causing Frain to finally stop. Indeed, fake crying was a performance meant to make others stop, but when even that didn't work and the tough guy got angry.
"Hey! Come in here!"
Toxy timidly entered when called by Frain. Seeing her face, Frowdus flinched.
"Oh, damn it! If I knew it was about you, I would have run away immediately!"
"But you couldn't do it now, right? That's why I beat you up. Especially this guy's punch hit hard. I mean, a rib or two might be broken, okay?"
"Don't make fun of me, Frain. If I hit him with full force, his organs would burst, and he'd die. I held back. No bones were broken."
"Eeek."
In my explanation, the scammer Frowdus looked frightened. Frain also seemed exasperated, saying, "You occasionally say terrifying things without realizing it," and then, he continued.
"Well, that's the situation. We came to recover the huge losses you tricked her out of."
"N-No! I have nothing to do with it!"
"What are you saying at this point? Return the equivalent of six big gold coins that you swindled from her."
"S-Six coins!? You're lying! It was five!"
"I'm tired of talking about it. I see, you're the culprit."
"Ugh..."
Frowdus hung his head. As expected of someone aiming to become a knight, Frain seemed to have the upper hand in interpersonal negotiations.
But, Frowdus said,
"I don't have that money anymore. Not a single big gold coin left. Haha! I've spent it all! So what!? If I don't have it, how do you expect me to pay it back?"
Frowdus boasted, "I might as well gloat about it." Frain looked at me. "It's just as planned," I chuckled.
"Of course, I'll have you return the favor with interest. There's nothing wrong with that. Toxy's parents borrowed money and paid you five big gold coins. You just have to do the same."
"...Huh?"
Frowdus's expression tensed. Since there was still a hint of mockery in it, I punched him again. This time a bit harder. Enough to crack his bone.
"Ugh! Ah, stop, ah..."
"You think you can disrespect me? You hit the jackpot. We're underestimating you. We can beat you up without consequences. After all, you destroyed a whole family for money. One person has committed suicide because of you. It's like you killed them."
"Shut up! Even I... If I had a decent job, none of this would happen."
"Who said you could speak?"
I swung my fist down weakly, hitting the area where the ribs were missing, but the organs were present. "Oof," Frowdus exhaled and slumped down.
"What we want is to return all the money you tricked from her. Got it? Any actions that don't lead to that, Frowdus, we don't want from you. Understand? Say 'yes' if you do."
"Y-yes..."
"Will you return it?"
"Yes, I... will return it."
"How much is it?"
"Five big gold coins..."
"That's right. How will you return it?"
"...by borrowing money."
"From whom?"
"From whom."
At that moment, Frowdus looked at me in surprise. Then, he turned his unbelieving gaze towards Toxy.
"Hey, miss. Are you in your right mind? Planning to pick a fight involving Eujary's old man too? You'll be making Nightfather your enemy. Are you really willing to go that far?"
Reviewing, Eujary is a loan shark who lent money to cover the shortfall. He is also a senior member of Nightfather.
Toxy was puzzled by the question. So, I smirked and replied,
"Sounds interesting. You're going that far, huh?"
Upon hearing my words, Frowdus exclaimed "Huh" and tried to move away from me a bit.
"Hey, miss! Don't say bad things, stop this crazy guy! It'll get messy! All of us, including me, this guy, the little boy Frain, and you, will all be killed!"
"..."
"Why are you silent? You're the one involved! Only you can stop this guy, miss! Stop him!"
As expected of a scammer, he's good with words, so I raised my fist. But before that, Toxy swiftly slapped Frowdus's cheek hard.
"Shut up! Wade won't stop at that level, idiot! Stop saying whatever you want when you know nothing! We can't stop now! So, accept it!"
Slap! Slap! With a loud and satisfying sound, Toxy repeatedly slaps Frowdus' cheeks from left to right. Whether it was the final blow, Frowdus finally fell silent.
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