Chapter 98: No Turning Back
Despite my desire to find a solution, I arrived at the Beldran Workshop with no clear ideas in mind. It seemed that Tocciliano had already left, as I couldn’t see him anywhere.
“Hello.”
I called out to Beldran, who was slumped over the counter, looking rather lifeless. Slowly, he raised his head and, upon seeing us, displayed a look of surprise that quickly morphed into confusion.
“Oh, it’s you two. What brings you here?”
“Uh, well…”
As we hesitated to respond, Beldran’s expression shifted to one of realization.
“Could it be that there was something wrong with the furniture we delivered?”
“No, no, that’s not it at all!”
I hurriedly denied it, but it was difficult to articulate what was on my mind. The furniture itself was perfectly fine. Although we hadn’t camped out yet, so I couldn’t comment on its usability just yet.
“The branch manager of Mimina Trading Company mentioned your shop, and I was a bit curious…”
Rio picked up where I left off, causing a weak chuckle to escape from Beldran.
“Haha, I must have shown you a pitiful sight… Well, I suppose this is the consequence of the choices I’ve made in my work.”
“…”
“That’s right. It’s my grandfather’s own doing, so you two don’t need to worry about it.”
As I stood there speechless, Sariana emerged from the back, cradling Clay. I recalled that when I first visited this shop, I had tried to present some materials but was almost turned away without a glance. Still, I couldn’t believe that alone would lead to a deficit. There had to be deeper issues at play.
“Well, if it’s about furniture maintenance, other workshops can handle that. You don’t need to worry about it.”
“Eh?”
“Other workshops, you say…?”
I realized the implication of Beldran’s words, but the gravity of the situation left me momentarily speechless.
“There’s no helping it. I’m going to have to close this shop.”
“Isn’t there another way…?”
“There isn’t. I would never resort to selling my family just to keep the shop afloat. Damn it, I never expected the interest to triple overnight and be told to pay it back immediately.”
“Triple!?”
I spat out in frustration, slamming my fist onto the counter. Tripling the interest was simply outrageous. If they raised the interest after the loan was taken, it would be unbearable for the borrower. I understood the reasoning behind the increase, but surely that couldn’t be legal.
“Ah, apparently the trading company needed money urgently due to the destruction at the lumberyard.”
It was disheartening to think that the aftermath of the lumberyard’s destruction was affecting even this place. Was there really no way to help…? I had heard that the clothing store’s funding had been cut off as well… Wait, that’s it!
“Is it possible to get a loan from another trading company?”
If the clothing store could secure funding, then surely other shops could too. Unless they had already received it, there might be a chance—
“A loan? That’s impossible unless you’re a high-end shop. We don’t have the capital.”
Beldran dismissed my suggestion, but I couldn’t back down now. I had no idea how many shops had suffered due to Mimina Trading Company’s financial troubles, but I wanted to do something within my reach. It felt like a self-serving endeavor, but it was also crucial for my own peace of mind.
“But this shop was introduced to us by Rashiyu Trading Company, and I know Fleur there, so I can ask her for help.”
Beldran and Sariana looked at me with wide eyes. Clay, who had been set down, was now playing with Nil.
“Ah, well, that’s kind of you, but… you don’t owe us that much.”
“Please, don’t worry about it.”
I chose to remain silent about my true motivations, as I feared it would complicate matters. My intention was less about helping Beldran and more about maintaining my own mental stability. I also didn’t want to burden Clay. So, it was purely for my own satisfaction, and I hoped they wouldn’t think too much of it.
Moreover, this could be a good opportunity. I could finally put to use the items that had been gathering dust in my Dimensional Box. And with this approach, they might be more receptive than if we offered direct assistance. Knowing Beldran’s personality, he would definitely refuse any direct help.
“Shuu…? Are you sure it’s okay to make such a promise?”
“Yeah, I think it should be fine.”
I answered confidently to Rio, who asked in a small voice. If I approached Fleur this way, I was sure she would agree. Plus, it felt like aid could reach not just Beldran Workshop but also other shops affected by Mimina Trading Company’s financial issues.
“So please, just hold off on closing the shop for a little while.”
“Ah, well… if it’s just for a bit, I suppose that’s fine.”
“Don’t push yourselves too hard, okay?”
I nodded reassuringly to the two of them, who looked uncertain, and then left the Beldran Workshop.
“Alright, since we’re at it, let’s not just release my master’s legacy but also spread it around a bit.”
“Spread it around…?”
Rio tilted her head in confusion, but I realized that I needed to prepare a bit before spreading things out. It would be clearer for Fleur if I brought along some samples.
With that decided, I resolved to work hard on creating those samples tonight. I would head to Fleur’s place first thing in the morning.