Returnee from Another World - Chapter 62: Unshakable Shackles

Chapter 62: Unshakable Shackles

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“What’s that supposed to mean? I never agreed to anything like that…” Amasawa said.

“Mr. Amasawa, please look at the contract again. There’s no clause prohibiting debt transfer, is there? In that case, the debtor’s consent isn’t required,” Yasunaga explained.

“That’s how it works. As long as you pay up, there’s no issue. The contract itself doesn’t change. You’re not planning to dodge payment entirely, are you? Then it’s all the same,” Akuzawa added.

“That may be true, but…” Amasawa muttered.

Amasawa’s words sounded hollow. I doubted he had any real intention of paying. He probably had some vague hope of fixing things, likely through a lucky gamble—a flimsy plan at best. If he were serious about working to repay the debt, he wouldn’t be in a place like this. I shot a sharp glare at Kyouka Amasawa’s father before continuing where Yasunaga and Akuzawa left off.

“Mr. Katsuji Amasawa, rest assured. If you can at least cover the interest payments reliably, we can be somewhat flexible with the repayment timeline. However, if you fail to pay even the interest or if we deem you lack the will to repay, we’ll have to take harsher measures,” I said.

My words, laced with a hint of anger, caused not only Katsuji but also Kyouka, sitting beside him, to tremble with a [Fear] aura. I might’ve let my emotions get the better of me. My resentment toward Akuzawa Hitoshi was compounded by anger at Kyouka’s father.

“Here you go, Masuda-san. This is the contract with the creditor’s name changed from Akuzawa to you,” Yasunaga said.

“Thank you. It’s in order,” I replied.

“As promised, we’ll give Mr. Amasawa 1 million yen in cash for now,” Yasunaga added.

“Y-yes,” Amasawa stammered.

“And Akuzawa will have no further involvement in this matter. No additional loans will be extended to you, Mr. Amasawa. Keep that in mind,” Yasunaga said.

The contract Yasunaga handed me formalized the transfer of Akuzawa’s personal loan to me. If a financial institution were the creditor, laws like the Money Lending Business Act or Interest Rate Restriction Act would limit excessive terms. But for personal loans, even if they violate interest laws, there are no real penalties, making it a free-for-all for people like Akuzawa. Amasawa likely turned to him because no legitimate lender would touch him. Now, with Akuzawa explicitly cutting him off, Amasawa’s clouded expression showed he was finally realizing how dire his situation was.

The debt transfer happening right after he signed the contract probably made him suspect I was in cahoots with Akuzawa. But regret wouldn’t change anything now.

“Hey, Akuzawa-san,” Amasawa said weakly.

“Sorry, pal. Our business is done. Don’t worry—8 million yen isn’t much. Bust your ass, and you’ll clear it in a few years,” Akuzawa said mockingly.

“That’s…” Amasawa faltered.

“Come on. Why not get a real job and earn some cash? Even a deadbeat like you could find manual labor work,” Akuzawa sneered.

That was typical of Akuzawa. He likely had plans to sink the Amasawa family deeper into ruin, but my intervention capped Katsuji’s debt at 8 million yen. His claim that repayment was manageable wasn’t entirely wrong—if both parents worked day and night, dedicating nearly all their income to the debt. For someone like Katsuji, though, that was impossible. Given what happened to Kyouka in my memory, expecting him to reform was naive.

“Let’s discuss a repayment plan, as things can’t continue as before. But we’re in Yasunaga-san’s way here. Shall we head to your home, Mr. Amasawa? Did you come by car or on foot?” I asked.

“Uh, on foot. But you don’t need to come to our place. I’ll pay the interest on time, I swear,” Katsuji said.

“Mr. Katsuji Amasawa, I understand you’re currently unemployed. I’m saying this knowing you have no repayment capacity. With no more loans from Yasunaga-san’s group, how do you plan to cover even the interest? Will you use the 1 million yen you’re getting now?” I pressed.

“No, that’s… I need that money for something else,” he said.

“Dad,” Kyouka said, her anxious gaze fixed on him.

Could I pretend to notice Kyouka’s secrecy, force the truth out, and push her to cut ties with her father? No, that’d be tough. Despite appearances, Kyouka’s stubborn and deeply loyal. She likely didn’t fully believe her father’s lies—she’s not that naive. She probably sensed something was off but couldn’t abandon him.

“I see. Then, Mr. Amasawa, you’ll need to take out life insurance. I’m fine with that, if you are,” I said.

“W-why?” he stammered.

“Isn’t it obvious? The repayment deadline is less than two weeks away. I doubt you’ll manage by then. We need some collateral,” I said.

“I’ll definitely figure it out by the deadline,” he insisted.

“Words are cheap. I’m asking how you’ll do it,” I said.

“Uh…” he faltered.

“Fine. I have a repayment plan that might work for someone like you. Let’s discuss it at your home,” I said.

“No, I mean, if you could just give me a little time—” he pleaded.

“No use stalling. We know your home and your family’s addresses. Running won’t help. Come on, miss, let’s go,” I said to Kyouka.

With my abilities, I could track them anywhere, and Kyouka wasn’t likely to vanish without telling me. That wasn’t the issue—her father was. She never mentioned being from a single-parent home, so should I convince her mother to separate? Either way, Katsuji was the root of the problem.

“Ow!” Katsuji yelped as I roughly grabbed his arm.

“Alright, Yasunaga-san, Akuzawa-san, we’ll be going,” I said.

“Sure,” Yasunaga replied.

“Hey, Masuda-san, don’t forget I did you a favor. I’m expecting a sweet deal next time,” Akuzawa said with a grin.

As I exchanged farewells with Yasunaga and Akuzawa, I gripped Katsuji’s arm, wary of him trying to slip away. With Akuzawa smirking and listening nearby, I feared slipping up. Maybe that’s why I was rushing. Gently touching Kyouka’s back, I guided her and her father out of Ando Finance.

Outside, I immediately called Sayaka. Her familiar car was parked nearby, and her voice called out. I approached, leaned through the passenger window, and whispered so only she could hear.

“Sayaka-san, I’m taking these two to their home. There’s no time to explain, and I know it seems suspicious, but please don’t talk to them. If they ask anything, I’ll answer,” I said.

“Understood. Treat me as just the driver,” she replied.

“Sorry, but please do. Here’s the address,” I said, showing her the contract with the Amasawa family’s address.

Turning to the pair, I said, “Mr. Katsuji Amasawa and miss, please take the back seat. No need to worry—we’re just going to your place for a talk.”

I ushered them into the car, perhaps a bit forcefully, and slid into the passenger seat. In the back, Kyouka looked crushed by an aura of [Fear] and anxiety. Unable to find words to comfort her, I sat silently during the drive.

◇

“You…” Mizuki Amasawa said.

“I’m sorry, Mizuki,” Katsuji replied.

In twenty years, Kyouka might look like this. Mizuki Amasawa, Kyouka’s mother, sat before me, strikingly similar to her daughter. At a glance, she could pass for Kyouka’s older sister, looking youthful despite likely being in her late thirties or even mid-forties, depending on when she had Kyouka. Yet, their faces were nearly identical.

But there was a key difference. Mizuki exuded a mature, almost sensual allure, the kind that stirred men’s desires—a seasoned charm absent in Kyouka’s youthful innocence. Her face showed traces of weariness, contrasting with Kyouka’s vibrancy.

I’d never met Mizuki before, and even my fragmented memories held no trace of her. In my past life, Kyouka had ended our relationship before we grew close enough for such introductions.

“But how will you repay it? From what I’ve heard, your part-time job, ma’am, barely covers living expenses,” I said.

“That’s… Then I’ll take my daughter’s place,” Mizuki said.

“Mom!” Kyouka exclaimed.

“Hmm, I’m not so sure. You could earn decent money in the mature escort business, and your husband, who caused this debt, couldn’t complain. But that’d only cover the interest, not the principal. You understand that won’t solve anything, right?” I said.

Honestly, I was exasperated. Mizuki’s reaction was unexpected and unsatisfying. I’d already told her about Katsuji’s 8-million-yen debt, mostly squandered on gambling. At first, Katsuji denied it desperately, but when I pressed, claiming Akuzawa had told me everything, he went silent, unable to respond.

Kyouka likely suspected her father’s “business” excuse was a lie. She didn’t seem shocked, just sat quietly beside him, head bowed. Mizuki was somewhat surprised but didn’t lash out at Katsuji. Her face showed a mix of despair and resignation, not anger. I’d hoped the debt would push them toward divorce, but Mizuki’s aura lacked any red [Anger], dashing that hope.

“If he gets serious and works, we could pay off the principal bit by bit. We intend to repay, but making Kyouka a mistress? She’s still in high school,” Mizuki said.

“Even so, this is the best solution we have. The terms are generous—just a few hours once a week serving a certain person,” I said.

“Then I’ll do it instead,” Mizuki insisted.

“With all due respect, you don’t have the same value. It’s because your daughter is young and beautiful that she’s worth it. Had she stayed with Akuzawa, she’d be servicing countless men in the sex trade. This is a far better option,” I said.

So, how would they repay? I repeated the same fabricated story I told Akuzawa and Yasunaga: if Kyouka served a foreign client for a year, the debt would be erased.

“No way I’m letting my daughter do that,” Mizuki said.

“But Mr. Katsuji Amasawa already agreed, didn’t he? You understood what Akuzawa’s deal meant when you signed, right?” I said.

“You!” Mizuki snapped at Katsuji.

“No, I didn’t mean…” he mumbled.

“You can’t claim ignorance. The young lady might not have known, but you did. So, miss, what’s your decision? Endure for a year, and the debt vanishes completely,” I said to Kyouka.

“Uh, I…” Kyouka stammered.

Why did I have to torment Kyouka when Katsuji was the problem? It was because I wasn’t fully certain about her situation. Did her email truly change the future? In my memory, Akuzawa toyed with her mercilessly. If that fate was inevitable, shouldn’t I be the one to enact it?

If I did, Kyouka would likely hate me as James Masuda, and it’d scar her mentally. But wasn’t that better than letting someone else do it? At least I could control the situation to some extent.

It was a perverse, insane act—handing my girlfriend over to be taken. But it was the only way I could think of.

“You have about two weeks until the repayment deadline. Give me an answer by then. I’ll be back soon. For now, I’ll take my leave,” I said, standing abruptly.

I didn’t spare Katsuji a glance—he was beyond saving. If Mizuki were reasonable, there might’ve been hope. I’d considered alternative ways to handle Kyouka’s situation, but that seemed unlikely now. Mizuki wasn’t as bad as Katsuji—she didn’t sell her daughter—but she showed no sign of giving up on him. At this rate, the whole family was headed for ruin.

Was it love, dependence, or just resignation to a bleak life? Mizuki’s aura showed no will to change.

Should I have Nishikuse seduce her? No, leaving it to someone else could backfire. If anyone, I should do it. She’s older, but her body is enticing enough. With Aphrodisiac, I could break her completely, then meet her once a month for sex. In my original life and that world, our ages aren’t that far apart.

Lost in those thoughts, I caught myself leering at Mizuki, my gaze sliding over her body.