CHAPTER 24…………………………………………..
“….”
Feres stood quietly watching me, dressed all in black uniform.
He looked like a theology student preparing for the priesthood. I knew about his cruel disposition, but his outward appearance alone seemed pure and devout.
“When we passed each other earlier, you smelled like ante flowers. I thought if I came here, I’d be able to meet you.”
The slightly intoxicating scent of ante flowers filled the air. I slowly walked toward him.
“Ariana.”
He called my name cautiously, stopping me in place.
“Why have you come to see me?”
His bleak tone and emotionless gaze fell over me. He was only standing there, yet I couldn’t gather the courage to get any closer.
Maybe it was because I could clearly sense the distance he wanted to keep. It felt like something I had to respect. The line he drew seemed like one I must never cross if I wanted to survive.
“…I came to borrow money from you, Feres.”
“….”
“I heard it in the slums. If you’re truly desperate for money, they say you should find Feres. If you promise 10% monthly interest, he’ll hand it over on the spot without a word.”
“….”
“I’ll pay the interest. So please—lend me the money.”
I spoke, trying not to look intimidated. Perhaps because the setting sun was behind him, his features looked especially sharp. I tried to stay calm, but I was actually extremely tense.
Unexpectedly, Feres accepted the premise and asked:
“How much do you want?”
I couldn’t help but flinch.
I was the one in trouble if he refused—but the fact that he agreed so readily was frightening too. I had no idea what he was thinking. Pretending not to tremble, I lifted my chin.
“Five thousand gold.”
“….”
That was about 2.5 billion won. Not an amount a five-year-old girl should be asking to borrow.
Just like in the original story, Feres didn’t ask what it was for.
Whether the debtor squandered it on gambling or drugs, Feres was the kind of person who didn’t care and would still lend it.
His money was terrifying money.
Debtors who failed to repay were dragged into ruin if necessary—he always recovered the principal.
A half-blood of an evil god, they said—someone with the power to bind even the afterlife of dead souls.
At five years old, I didn’t even have the legal right to take a loan. But expecting Feres to care about legality was foolish.
…Why is he so quiet? Is the amount too large? In the original, it said he’d lend it if you just asked like this.
As the silence stretched, anxiety crept in that he might refuse.
If I turned out not to be a true blood relative in the Dragon’s Room test, it would be impossible for him to recover the money from me. I’d be exposed as a fake and suffer the Gold Dragon’s wrath.
Even if my age, name, and appearance matched the missing Berkshire heiress in many ways… for Feres, it might be a risk not worth taking.
“If you lend me the money, you’ll definitely get to see something interesting.”
Feres was written as a character who felt deep emptiness and boredom. I had expected him to mock me, but he reacted instead.
“Can you promise that?”
To spark his interest, there was nothing I wouldn’t say. I nodded despite a small flinch.
“I promise.”
He stared at me quietly, then murmured a spell.
The next moment, a small magic pouch appeared in midair.
“Count it. Five thousand gold coins.”
He handed me the pouch. Since I didn’t yet have an account due to not having received my title ceremony, he must have intended to give it in cash.
I shook my head.
“I don’t need to count it. I trust you, Feres.”
“….”
He paused, then suddenly let out a light laugh.
It was the first time I had seen him smile. While I was still dazed, a status window appeared in the air.
Possessiveness Level-Up EXP is increasing.
Just as the administrator said—borrowing money raised the experience. I had no idea what the correlation was between my loan and his possessiveness.
When he smiles… he looks like a completely different person.
I had only ever seen his indifferent expression. He’d look much better if he relaxed like that more often.
“So, Ariana. Is your business finished?”
“Yes.”
“Then.”
As if telling me not to speak further, Feres brushed past me.
I wanted to stop him, but I’d already borrowed the money and had no excuse left.
At least now Feres will recognize my existence.
How I came to the ante flower park. How I knew his name when he hadn’t told me. Why I wanted such a large sum.
I hoped he would mull it over and grow curious—but judging by his retreating back, it seemed like just my wishful thinking.
Even though the EXP went up, his attitude hasn’t changed at all.
It was difficult. By the time I hesitated, he had already vanished from sight again.
It would be nice if paying interest gave me an excuse to see him once a month.
Even if he collects, he’ll probably send a subordinate instead of coming himself.
It felt like I was the only one growing more desperate.
All that remained was Feres’s lingering scent.
I will curse that insolent brat—how dare she touch the gold offered to me. Fearless wretch.
The Gold Dragon had been sharpening his anger.
But when he actually saw Ariana enter the Dragon’s Room, even he was briefly flustered.
He’d intended to curse her immediately, but Ariana was far cuter than he imagined.
Her fluffy pink hair curled like cotton candy. Her eyes sparkled as if filled with tears, with gem-like pupils tinted a vivid pink. Even her rosy cheeks on pale skin resembled delicate cherry blossom petals.
Moreover, before the Gold Dragon could even point it out, Ariana apologized first without excuses.
Her attitude was exceedingly polite.
“O great Dragon, please forgive my ignorance. I will never again pick up money from the fountain. This is an offering of apology.”
Ariana opened the magic pouch and turned it upside down.
The Gold Dragon’s eyes widened.
Gold coins poured out endlessly like a waterfall.
Money, money, money…!
It was enough to cool his anger instantly.
He had just been thinking he could forgive her if he received 5,000 gold. Being obsessed with money, the Gold Dragon could tell at a glance that the pile amounted to exactly that.
Ariana had wanted to try doing something like this at least once—but it still stung a little.
“Are you a transmigrator?”
“…Yes.”
Seeing that the dragon pierced through her true identity at once proved he was indeed a dragon.
Ariana didn’t bother to deny it.
Congratulations, Reader! You have successfully avoided the Gold Dragon’s wrath! The Gold Dragon is highly satisfied with the 5,000 gold and will act very cooperatively toward you.
So that quest telling Chloe to chant that Alashong spell was designed for me to fail from the start, wasn’t it.
The Gold Dragon stared intently at the silent Ariana.
“I’ve only heard of transmigrators in legend. This is my first time seeing one in person.”
He found her fascinating—but the 5,000 gold caught his eye far more.
He had promised the Berkshire founding lord to conduct true-blood tests for descendants through the generations.
“Though the mind is that of a transmigrator, the body undeniably carries the blood of Berkshire’s founding lord.”
That was his judgment.
Had he not received the bribe and remained angry, he might have declared Ariana a fake and cursed her.
The Gold Dragon lowered his voice with solemn dignity and continued speaking.
