After receiving the check.
Ian, along with Silvia, headed straight to the bank.
[Charles Bancorp Lichten Branch]
“Customer Ian! Welcome!”
An enthusiastic employee rushed over to greet him warmly.
It was the same female employee who always welcomed him whenever he came.
“Please come over here and have a seat. Oh, is this your girlfriend? She’s so beautiful. Here, have a cup of tea.”
Her guidance, from the entrance to the customer reception table, contrasted sharply with the unfriendliness of stock exchange employees.
Silvia was also smiling, looking quite satisfied.
“No trouble with repaying the interest, right?”
Although the inquiry seemed to carry a will and greed for collections and performance if unable to repay, Ian chose to interpret it positively.
‘…Well, at least they’re friendly.’
Ian decided to view things in a good light.
The employee, who had been alternating between smiling at Ian and Silvia, whispered cautiously to Ian.
“Um, Ian… I’m sorry, but additional loans might be difficult.”
“Pardon?”
“Although the Princess guarantees it, even just the interest being charged to you exceeds the average amount that a commoner can earn. I’m sorry…”
Perhaps the employee mistook Ian for seeking another loan.
Come to think of it, hadn’t he been increasing his loans every time?
As the monthly interest started surpassing what an average middle-class salary could cover, it seemed even the bank realized it couldn’t continue.
… But why whisper it?
“We wouldn’t want to embarrass you in front of your girlfriend…”
The employee wore a face filled with apologies.
In reality, if you dissected the employee’s words, they meant, ‘We can’t lend you any more money. Prove that you have the ability to repay.’
However, Ian found the cautious approach strangely pleasant, making the listener feel better. The employee was quite adept at handling interactions.
‘I should continue using their services often.’
Ian smiled lightly at the embarrassed employee.
“No, I’m not here for a loan today.”
“… Yes?”
“I’m here to repay the loan.”
“Re-repay?”
The employee’s eyes widened.
“How much?”
“The entire amount.”
“…All of it?!”
– Bam!
The employee stood up abruptly, making a loud noise, then quickly apologized to those around.
She continued to stare at Ian in disbelief.
“All… all that loan amount? H-how?”
She was beyond shocked.
Ian silently handed over a blank check with the amount from selling EcoMana stock.
“… Really?”
Tears welled up in the employee’s eyes as she looked at the check.
“Please convert the remaining amount into cash after repaying the loan.”
“R-remaining?… What?!”
She checked the amount and froze.
Ian was equally astonished by the overly flustered reaction of the employee.
“…”
Was this really such a surprising event?
While not a small sum, banks routinely handle much larger amounts.
— Swish
A tear trickled down the employee’s cheek.
No! Why is this happening!
Her mouth hung open.
“It was Ian who was paying interest with a lot of money…”
“……”
“I was really cheering on the inside. I couldn’t ask, but I thought there must be a story behind it.”
Ah. So that’s what it was.
He felt somewhat sorry for her.
“…”
Ian remained silent.
There was no way he was going to say Pongpong was starting to act like a simp.
Sigh. Sigh.
The employee, wiping tears with her sleeve, asked hesitantly.
“I-I’m really sorry, but… can I ask where your funds come from? Not from drugs, gambling, fraud, or illegal trading, right?”
Ian pointed silently at the check issuer.
“Oh right, the issuer… it was the Securities Association.”
Afterward.
Principal and interest repayment, document processing, etc., all proceeded swiftly.
“The remaining balance is 55 gold coins and 17 silver coins.”
The employee grinned broadly, presenting a hefty pouch.
“Congratulations, Ian!”
“Thank you.”
“Um, by the way…”
Dum Dum.
The bustling employee looked up.
“Will you be getting another loan next time?”
Her name tag caught Ian’s eye beyond her flowing brown hair.
[Veril]
“Of course, Veril.”
Kindness is always welcome.
◆
They returned to Silvia’s office.
The pouch of gold coins now fuller than when they left.
“… 55 gold coins.”
Silvia muttered as she gazed at the pouch on the table with a half-dazed expression.
“Are you alright, Silvia?”
Silvia didn’t respond to the question.
“…”
She just stared blankly at the pouch of gold coins.
“Uh, Silvia!”
“Eek!”
Silvia, startled, finally turned this way.
“W-what is it!”
“Just snap out of it.”
“Did I… seem strange?”
“Yeah. You were just staring at the gold coins.”
Blink Blink.
Blinking rapidly, Silvia’s eyes widened in surprise as she nervously extended her hand.
“I-I’ve never had any thoughts of sneakily taking Ian’s gold coins or anything like that!”
Silvia’s lips trembled with drool streaming down.
Under Ian’s piercing gaze, she shook her hand more assertively.
“I absolutely didn’t think, ‘If only I had that money, I could make it through this month.’ I would never have such shameless thoughts! Of course, I’m desperate, but I have confidence. Yes!”
Silvia raised her voice as if giving a speech.
It was a new side of her that seemed to draw inspiration from her noble upbringing.
– Whoosh!
Silvia stood up, clenching her fist.
“I, Silvia Laurent of House Laurent, will triumphantly navigate this liquidity crisis!”
“Wow.”
Clap, clap, clap—Ian reflexively applauded with enthusiasm.
“Ugh!”
With heightened energy, Silvia pointed at the pouch of gold coins with her finger.
“Therefore, I have never coveted Ian’s gold coins!”
“… Wipe that drool off your mouth and speak, Silvia.”
“Chuup.”
Silvia swallowed her saliva and blushed as she sat back down.
“I’m embarrassed…”
Thump, thump, thump.
She tapped her forehead on the desk for a while before lifting her head.
“What will you do with that money, Ian?”
Silvia, with a bright red forehead, asked.
Ian smiled.
“Why are you laughing? I’m genuinely asking! Hmph!”
With her arms crossed, she pursed her lips.
“To invest.”
“Another investment?”
“Yeah.”
The reason Ian sought this money was simple.
“I’ve found a better investment opportunity than where I originally invested.”
It was a significant investment opportunity that wouldn’t normally be available unless it was an urgent event, with considerable value.
“… Where is that?”
“Here.”
“… Yes?”
“Laurent. I want to invest in the Lichten branch managed by Silvia Laurent.”
Silvia blinked slowly several times.
Her face seemed unsure whether to smile or cry.
Her confused face.
After a few moments of hesitation, her pink lips parted.
“Ian…”
“Yeah?”
“Why do you go out of your way to help me so much? From our first meeting, you’ve been helping me, giving me information, providing potions, saving me… What am I to you?”
Well…
She told herself…
“Silvia Laurent herself.”
“…Huh?”
A girl who, despite her aloof exterior, knows how to appreciate when something is given to her.
A girl who always strives to repay what she receives.
A girl with a vessel not lacking in talent, possessing faith and trust.
Silvia Laurent is such a presence.
That’s why.
“Someone with many things they want to do together. That’s you, to me, Silvia.”
Silvia’s violet eyes shimmered slightly.
Pook.
Silvia immediately lowered her head and muttered.
“I understand.”
“?”
“Well, I guess it didn’t mean what I thought it meant.”
“What does that mean?”
“… It’s a secret.”
Ahem! Silvia cleared her throat and raised her head again.
Her face was quite red, perhaps from the rush of blood.
But her voice was filled with determination.
“Should I consider this a business proposal? You want to be with Laurent?”
“Yes.”
Ian extended his hand to her.
Silvia reached out and held his hand.
“Please take care of me, Ian.”
With a smile brighter than ever.
◆
Back at his lodgings, Ian laid down on the bed after a long time.
“Ah, I missed this. Oh, bed.”
It wasn’t particularly cozy like a budget accommodation, but there was a comfort that came from familiarity.
As he lay buried for a while, his mind naturally began to churn.
“Now there are only two left.”
Having completed the second chapter of the scenario, the remaining heroines were Aria and Emilia.
“The scenario continues to intertwine.”
No, let’s be precise.
The main storyline progresses for the heroines.
After all, Fanta X Aca is a game about collecting and nurturing heroines.
Just as the episode of “Grand Duke of the North” was crafted around Sharon Pierce’s activity, there are episodes for Aria and Emilia.
This means that it will inevitably become entangled with religious denominations and religious organizations.
“Aria Lumines Bell is naturally associated with the church.”
Aria is a candidate for sainthood from the Church of Deus, commonly referred to simply as the ‘Church’.
Deus Church.
It is the state religion of most countries on the continent, including the Empire, and therefore wields considerable influence.
Considering Aria’s title as a saintess candidate, her influence extends not only to the Deus Church’s Lichten branch but also to the Pope.
The Pope of the Deus Church is not only the leader of the religion but also the leader of the Holy Kingdom of Constantine, a country located in the southern part of the continent.
“It won’t be easy.”
That doesn’t mean Emilia Raymond’s side is any easier.
Raymond is a prominent faction in the Empire.
Their influence, which has taken root not only in the Empire but across the entire continent, can never be said to be weaker than that of the Church.
“Hah, it’s like climbing a mountain after another.”
Ultimately, since they’ve become heroines, the scenario’s difficulty is expected to increase several times.
Of course, it’s not impossible to navigate without them.
After all, even Sharon Pierce, whom he once thought was completely stoic, was eventually utilized in some way.
For now, let’s observe the situation a little longer.
Aria Lumines Bell is reportedly not in good condition, and Emilia seems to be actively moving within her faction.
There’s a need to gather more information about them before the next main scenario begins.
“Phew!”
Ian stretched and let out unnecessary worries.
It’s daunting that the board has suddenly expanded.
But as the board expands, there are also many things to utilize.
The reason Ian left 10 gold after urgently funding Silvia was also for this.
The essence of this game is originally a “pay-to-win-style cute girl gacha game”.
“Skill is important, but money is equally important in this game.”
As the assets grow, the level of opportunities one can access—information, equipment, hidden pieces, etc.—changes.
“Shall I spend some money properly for a change?”
Smirk.
Ian’s lips curled up at the thought.
