NOVEL WEB Chapter 19.2
19.2. Crystal Adventurers
“Nord”
It was a short while after Nord had been promoted to a Crystal Adventurer.
Although Elsa had returned to her hometown, and their party disbanded, Nord naturally continued his activities as an adventurer.
The season had passed late autumn, and early winter was halfway through, with snow starting to fall intermittently.
In the Kingdom of Hamil, where the harsh winter snow isolates the land, many adventurers dislike working under such conditions and suspend their activities until spring.
However, Nord took on requests eagerly, seeing this as a prime time to earn without competitors.
In winter, adventurers usually receive requests related to gathering, delivery, and escorting, as many monsters hibernate.
There are also requests to hunt or capture winter-specific beings like Ice Spirits, and occasionally, monsters that remain active despite the snow.
Since this was Nord’s first winter as an adventurer—and with Elsa gone—he mainly focused on gathering tasks.
On that day, he completed a request to collect Frostgrass, a plant that grows on snowy mountains, and returned home after a week away.
When someone called out to him, Nord turned to see that it was his mother, Maria.
Dressed in elegant attire, she stood there with her back perfectly straight, as if a steel rod were inserted down her spine.
“Yes, Mother? What is it?”
“I need to talk to you. Come to my room later.”
Facing his mother Maria, Nord noticed her voice was calm and guarded, revealing nothing of her emotions.
“Understood. I’ll come after I remove my armor.”
As instructed, Nord went to his room, placing his gear aside without bothering to maintain it, and then headed to Maria’s room.
He wondered if there was anything he might be scolded for as he knocked on the door.
“It’s Nord. May I come in?”
“Enter.”
Upon entering, the familiar interior of the room greeted him.
The walls were decorated with floral patterns, and intricately carved pillars stood prominently.
It was an unusual display of elegance, considering the typically modest and austere Felice household.
Still, with few vases, paintings, or other decorations present, the room felt spacious and uncluttered.
Maria, his mother and caretaker, was alone in the room.
The absence of the twins, Clarissa and Christopher—who would soon turn one—suggested that the maids were looking after them.
Nord recalled how he, too, had been raised in this room until he moved to his own as a child.
“So… what is this about?”
“It’s about Hanna.”
Nord cautiously began the conversation, but to his relief, it wasn’t a reprimand.
Though he had earned a reputation as a rising adventurer in the guild, Nord still feared his mother’s wrath, like any ordinary young man.
In truth, Maria’s strong and commanding nature made her a formidable figure even among noblewomen.
Relieved that it wasn’t about himself, Nord now grew curious about his sister Hanna.
Since childhood, he had cherished his sister, who had always doted on him.
“There’s talk of a marriage for Hanna…”
“Hanna is getting married!?”
Nord smiled, finding the news delightful, but Maria’s hesitant tone made him pause.
“Mother?”
“…”
Maria remained silent, her expression unreadable.
Nord waited patiently, sensing that something was troubling her.
After a moment of stillness, faint voices of his younger siblings playing in the garden could be heard through the window.
“The problem is… the marriage negotiations aren’t progressing well.”
Maria’s words, filled with frustration, hinted at the difficulties they were facing.
“Why is that?”
Nord interjected, though by now he had a sense of why he had been summoned.
His suspicions were confirmed by what Maria said next.
“The prospective groom’s family doesn’t hold the Felice name in high regard.”
It must have been difficult for Maria to admit this to her own son.
She spoke in a fragmented manner, as though weighed down by regret.
The unfavorable reputation she mentioned undoubtedly referred to the family’s debts.
The Felice family had a long history and was renowned for its martial accomplishments, even producing royal guards three generations ago.
Though a knightly house, its status posed no issue unless they sought marriage with someone far higher-ranked—like an earl or marquis.
“Who is the suitor?”
“He is a baron serving in the royal palace, and a friend of the household where Hanna works.”
There was no doubt now.
Over the past decade, the Felice family had accumulated a series of debts due to the burdens of raising many children.
At one point, they were on the verge of being unable to take out further loans.
A brief inquiry would reveal these financial troubles, and this unfortunate reality had become a stain on the family’s reputation.
Recently, with the efforts of Nord and his siblings, the family had started paying off debts, albeit slowly.
Given time, they could eventually restore the family’s financial standing.
However, for now, the Felice family was undeniably drowning in debt.
Marriages driven by financial motives were frowned upon, regardless of class, and the groom’s family was wary of such a scandal.
“––So, you’re saying we need to show that we’re making an effort to repay our debts?”
“Yes.”
“And how much would that require?”
In order for Hanna to marry, how much did they need to earn?
Twenty or thirty silver coins, perhaps? Or…
“Two hundred silver coins.”
––What?
Nord immediately began calculating what kinds of lucrative requests the guild might have available.
But his thoughts were interrupted by the amount Maria had just mentioned.
“…Mother, could you repeat that?”
“Two hundred silver coins.”
He hadn’t misheard.
“May I ask… how much debt does our family have in total?”
Timidly, Nord inquired.
Though he had asked the steward Alex about it before, he was never told the specifics, as he wasn’t the heir.
Still, he knew the family’s finances were dire, with expenses continuously outweighing income.
When Maria finally revealed the total amount, Nord couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of awe.
––How had the Felice family, a mere lower noble house, managed to borrow so much?
It was as if they had suddenly become a powerful lord.
In truth, the Felice family’s annual income was around thirty silver coins, including allowances.
Compared to noble houses with territories, who earned ten times as much, their income was modest.
Even for those wealthier houses, repaying such a sum wouldn’t be easy.
Nord listened as Maria explained the origin of their debt.
The borrowing began even before Nord was born.
When his father Albert married Maria, their finances were stable until the birth of their eldest son, Albireo.
However, war broke out with a neighboring country when Maria was pregnant with Hanna.
Eager to rise in rank, Albert joined the army, borrowing money from relatives to fund his campaign.
While his efforts earned him a promotion, the debts remained.
The couple’s relationship blossomed, and with it, more children were born into the Felice family.
Each birth, funeral, and military campaign added to their expenses, forcing them to delay repayments and take on new loans.
Interest accumulated, turning their debts into a massive burden.
The demand for two hundred silver coins was a result of these compounding debts—some of which had remained unpaid for nearly twenty years.
Even if they repaid this amount, more debt would still remain, but Nord understood why it was necessary.
If they repaid part of the debt abruptly, other creditors would question why they weren’t prioritized.
Additionally, the Felice family needed to provide a dowry for Hanna’s wedding—a costly endeavor.
If they didn’t settle some of their debts first, creditors might spread rumors, tarnishing their reputation further.
The groom’s family was particularly concerned about such scandals.
(––Still…)
After promising Maria that he would do his best, Nord left the room, deep in thought.
As a newly promoted Crystal Adventurer, Nord’s annual income amounted to only forty silver coins.
And from that, he still had to cover the costs of consumables and equipment maintenance.