Chapter 67
Since I'd cleared up a major question, I asked about the other things I'd been wondering about.
"The loan is listed under the Sky-Cleaving Sword, but what happens if the party disbands?"
"In that case, the loan recipient changes from the party to each individual member, and we'll collect each one's share from them~ So there's nothing to worry about~"
"What about joint liability?"
"That's not a problem~ They won't be able to skip out on their debts, so we'll collect every last bit from each of them~"
Those guys always blame other people when things don't go their way.
It's entirely possible the party could fall apart as they shift the blame onto one another.
I'd been worried about that, but I was relieved to learn it wouldn't be a problem.
And there was one other thing I was wondering about――.
"What happens if one of them dies before they've finished paying us back?"
"When a debtor dies, we turn their soul into mana and make them repay what they owe, so it's not a problem~"
"So there's no chance of us not getting paid?"
"That's right~ Though in that case, they'll lose their souls, be cast out of the cycle of reincarnation, and fall into an endless hell~ But that's only fitting punishment for defaulting on a debt, don't you think~?"
"O-oh..."
MP-san, your smile is scary.
"Well, those worthless bugs don't have the courage to kill themselves, and they're not gutsy enough to go adventuring either. Don't worry; I'll squeeze every last drop out of them~"
I'd already collected 200,000 MP, but the amount they'd borrowed hadn't gone down at all. They still owed a little over 2.67 million.
I wonder how much more MP plans to squeeze out of them...
"What do you think will happen to them, MP?"
From what MP had told me before, if they turned over a new leaf now and repaid with everything they had, they'd just barely be able to avoid ruin.
As for me, I'd really like to see them ruined, though...
"That's pretty much impossible~ Even if they turn over a new leaf, they'd have to give up everything and repay their debt like their lives depended on it, and even then, they wouldn't make it~"
MP gave a sinister smile.
"They might try a little, but I doubt they'll make it in time~"
"Then I'm looking forward to nine days from now."
"Me too~"
"I'm getting excited too!"
In today's duel, I paid them back many times over for the humiliation of being made a fool of.
But there was one more thing.
The issue of repaying the mana they owed me was still nowhere near resolved.
Nine days from now was the gateway to hell.
It would be the beginning of an antlion pit that would strip them of everything.
"Well, we can put them aside until then."
Counting down the days until I could see how they met their ruin was another pleasure in itself.
But we had our own adventure to get on with.
The duel had brought things to a close, so tomorrow we'd start fresh.
"Rinka's worked hard, and things with those guys have reached a stopping point. Let's take tomorrow off, then get back to clearing the dungeon the day after!"
"Yes! I'll do my best!!"
"I'll do my best too~!!"
It was already late.
We decided to go to sleep――.