“Hey, look. It’s Crumbwell”, a 6’6” man teased, his hair almost entering his mouth as he breathed in.

“Kruma Welt”, the younger man replied under his breath.

The tall man coughed jokingly, “Oh, my lord! How could I have misspoke”, he teased.

Another man winded back his arm and landed a solid punch into Kruma’s head, smashing his back against the walls of the alleyway. Blood poured down the victim’s forehead to his cheek.

“The only words coming outta your mouth better be how you’re going to pay us back”, the attacker demanded.

“Yes, sir”, Kruma said through the pain.

Another man approached Kruma and wiped above his eyebrow to remove the blood, “Now, now. Merchandise cannot be damaged so. Kruma, do you have the money?”

Kruma weakly held up a pouch, “11 copper for this month.”

The kinder man replied, “Oh, a little small this time. You know the interest is compounding, you should owe another 2.”

“I couldn’t get anymore.”

The taller man interjected, “You don’t need to eat every day.”

“How about working at a memory den? You’re someone’s type”, the kinder gentleman offered with a snake tongue.

A woman joining them laughed but said nothing.

“I’ll get your money”, Kruma replied with a snarl.

“Hey, watch your mouth!” the taller man yelled as he was about to punch Kruma again.

“Kruma! There you are”, Logan yelled into the alleyway with a false smile and waving his hand.

The quartet of thugs flinched and moved away from the 19-year-old victim, who was weak at the knees.

“You know this… hunter?” the falsely-kinder man asked.

Kruma was about to speak before Logan spoke for him, “Sure. He gave me directions before. We had plans to hang out today”, Logan lied as he put an arm around the man’s shoulders at a close height of 6’, “Don’t we?”

Kruma looked at Logan then back at the four, “Yeah, sorry, I lost track of time.”

“Ah, no worries. Well if you lot will excuse us”, Logan continued to act, making sure his armband was on full display.

The thugs frowned at Logan, but they were at least smarter than some others, so they didn’t start anything.

Taking Kruma back to the normal streets, the young man spoke, “Thanks, mister.”

“If you don’t mind me asking. Is it you in debt, or someone else?” Logan asked with a serious tone.

“It’s nothing to worry about. I’ll get through.”

Logan pointed at the man's face and chanted, “Clean”, removing the blood from Kruma, “Any more of those blows, you won’t.”

“A caster? Thank you nonetheless. But was it wise to intimidate four non-casters like that?”

“I could have killed them all”, Logan announced with a clenched fist, the pair still walking down the street, “But, that would only lead you to worse fates if they work for a loan shark.”

“How did you know they worked for one?”

“You told me.”

Kruma tutted.

“Look. These kinds of people like to worm and wiggle their way into great deals. How much do you owe?”

“It… wasn’t me. My grandparents took out a loan to set up a business in the north. But, they didn’t make it. So the loan sharks shifted the sum onto me and my parents.”

“I take it adventuring work is too far off for you? That’d probably make more than 11 copper a month.”

“I don’t know my class. I missed the census in two moves, so I never got assigned. The fee for the assessment at the G-Hall, and accompanying gear, is too high too.”

“He’s 19 and doesn’t know his class? Terrible luck”, Logan thought to himself.

“Look. Thanks for the help, but I need to get home”, Kruma announced defeated.

Logan scowled but accepted the man’s exit. Instead, he jumped to the nearby rooftops.

Sometime later, the quartet of thugs reported back to a larger building.

“Here’s the copper, 2 short”, the kinder man announced as he dropped a pouch on the desk of a wealthy-looking woman.

The wealthy woman sighed, “Go to his house in a week to pick up the remainder.”

“Yes, Alhertine.”

“Oh, Lasalle”, the woman called the kinder man.

“Yes?”

“Did you mean to bring company with you?”

The doors then opened as an attendant called out in a worried tone, “Miss. We have a visitor.”

“Welcome, hunter. Are you here for a loan?” Alhertine asked with a welcoming tone while her underlings moved to the side.

“Of a sort. I wish to take a look at Kruma Welt’s contract”, Logan requested.

“How’d he follow us?” the woman of the four asked under her breath.

“I apologise, but we cannot let client information fall into any hands besides their own and those within our company.”

“I am invoking hunter law, it is concerning a matter of security”, Logan replied with little break.

Alhertine tutted, “Very well. I am afraid I cannot relinquish what doesn’t exist, however.”

“The inherited loan from his grandparents will do.”

“You seem to be misinformed. It is not an inherited loan, as this man’s name was not written in as a confidant nor a guarantor.”

“So the loan would seize the property until the current residents have paid the amount in full?”

“You’re learned in these situations. Yes, that is the case. If they do not wish to pay the sum, all they need do is move out.”

“As I thought. She was smart enough to follow the rules, but it’s a fuck of a loophole. They basically inherited it since they can’t really move in their situation”, Logan thought to himself.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“If you are curious on that front, the previous contract would not be relevant to your case”, Alhertine added.

“It is actually concerning the signers’ deaths. I need to look at their contract.”

“Of course”, Alhertine accepted. Clicking her fingers, one of the men from the quartet moved to a nearby counter and pulled out a roll of parchment and handed it to Logan.

Logan quickly looked over the contract, “Very well. I would like to take this contract on my own. I will offer the rest of the debt, or, if you would prefer I can have a match with those four. If they win I will pay double, if they lose you will end this contract.”

Alhertine chuckled, “Oh, now isn’t that an idea. What do you lot think?” she asked as she gave a stare of death to her underlings.

They all bowed and accepted the offer.

“Well, sir. It seems we have a deal. What name shall I write onto this document?”

“Logan Hall”, Logan replied, “Not smart enough to know my rank”, he thought to himself.

Moving outside the building in the courtyard, Logan spoke with the three guards he had asked to accompany him. Friends of the Spellthief and ones who would be susceptible to truth circle magic for confirmation.

“Do you want any additional rules?” Logan asked the four.

“No, we’re good”, Lasalle replied.

“Very well.”

“Let this match begin!” one of the guards called.

All four dug their feet deep into the floor, creating small craters before they all used Blast Rush to barrel down on Logan. Four activations of “Severing Slash”, were called as their swords all shone blue.

Instead of severing Logan into eight segments, their blades collided together and into the stone floor as Logan apparated in the air.

Throwing a hand down he called out, “Lightning Cascade”, causing bolts of blue to form in his fingertips and shoot towards the taller man. Instead of hitting and splitting, the man whirled around and slashed the lightning with his blade, cracking it all over.

The four darted away from one another as they all picked out hand axes.

Logan warped in front of the taller man, who reflexively looked behind him to retaliate but failed. Logan threw out a clawed hand as he chanted, “Necromantic Second Grasp”, forming a large shadowy claw over his human hand.

The taller man blocked it again, but Logan merely gripped the blade with his magic and snapped it in half. The taller man’s eyes went wide as Logan spun around and dug the broken blade into the man’s shoulder before swinging on it to slice at the aggressor with his dagger, severing the man’s right arm.

“Axe Hurl”, the three remainders called out as they threw hasty axes at Logan.

Logan warped away again, two axes hitting the taller man as he fell to the floor.

Appearing behind the woman, Logan dove a dagger into her back, pulled it out, and dug again as two Backstabs brought her to the floor.

Lasalle and the remaining man Rushed at Logan with red-misted blades, Logan side-stepping to avoid both. Lasalle then wove his hand in front of himself, creating a tall wall of fire as his ring activated.

The four hadn’t been that close emotionally, as this was the second time their collateral damage had killed their previous allies. Logan instead punched through the fire with his dagger, slashing at Lasalle’s face and dragging it down the back of his foe’s neck.

Circling the body, Logan kicked it through the same flames it had created.

The final man roared as his body started to glow red, veins popping across his face. Charging at Logan, the Spellthief opened his hand and chanted, “Sleep Shot”, causing a torrent of yellow dust and dandelions to flow over his victim. The berserk beast falling to the floor with a frothy mouth.

“Match complete! The winner is Logan Hall”, one of the guards called out as three corpses and one sleeping body were left on the floor.

Logan sighed as he let his battle stance relax. These level 8 foes would have done so well as normal adventurers, Logan could only wonder about the sort of pay they were offered to work for a loan shark.

Alhertine let out an audible gravelly sigh, “Very well. You won the match, and my subordinates are mostly intact. Their death insurance will cover their revivals.”

“They had themselves to blame for most of it”, Logan said as he approached the lady sitting at a chair.

Finishing a scribble on the documents, the woman handed them to Logan, “I am of my word, and with these witnesses, it would be insane to renege.”

“Thank you for assisting the hunters. I shall take my leave, Miss Alhertine.”

Following the direction he saw Kruma go in before, as well as the scouting done by Umbra, Logan knocked on the door of a sizable shack, better kept than Vern’s but not extravagant.

An older woman opened the door, her face full of soot, “Day, sir. How may I help you?”

“You must be Mrs Welt. I have come with a present for you, your partner, and your son. Might I come in?”

“Sorry? Who are you?” the woman asked before spying Logan’s armband, “Sir Wolf?”

“My name is Logan Hall. I met your son earlier today.”

The woman looked back into the house and shouted, “Kruma, do you know this man?”

Kruma approached the door and was shocked to see Logan, “How’d you know where I live?”

“Day, Kruma. I bring good tidings and presents. May I enter?”

“My husband and I are off work right now, so we’re all in”, the woman admitted as she opened the door.

Logan nodded his head as he entered.

“I told you things were fine, sir Logan”, Kruma enforced.

“What’s all this noise?” an older man asked, brushing his black and grey hair back.

“We’ve a visitor, dear. One with good news?”

“He’s the one I told you about, the one who stopped the debt collectors”, Kruma added.

“Ah. Good to meet you, sir. I am Advelt Welt”, the man spoke as he shook Logan’s hand.

“And I am Waerell Welt”, the lady introduced as she also shook the hand while looping her long black hair around her ear.

Sitting at the table, Logan pulled out the contract and handed it to the family, “I had a talk with Alhertine’s Loans. I relinquish this contract to you.”

The family’s eyes went wide as they almost fought over the contract, unfurling it quickly to read over the text.

“But, sir Logan, how did you get this?” Advelt asked.

“I offered payment but took a match instead. The contract is over and the business no longer holds this residence as their property.”

“That was quite risky. But I thank you from the bottom of my heart, sir Logan”, Waerell said as she bowed her head almost onto the table.

“What do you want in return?” Kruma asked rather directly.

“Kruma!” Advelt scorned.

“Hardly anyone does things without wanting payment, so what’s yours?”

Logan smiled, “I offer this with no intention for repayment. I hate those kinds of people anyway. But, if you do want to give repayment, how about joining my guild?”

The family sat in awe for a moment before Advelt spoke up, “But, my son is classless.”

“No. He is a Knight”, Logan announced offhandedly.

“A Knight!” Waerell shouted, “My son, a Knight!” she repeated with glee.

“How’d you…” Kruma thought aloud.

“I have better magic than the assessors, I saw it when we first met. That information is free.”

“Even so. He has not been assessed nor does he have the gear to—” Advelt began.

Logan held up his hand as if to stop the thought, “My guild provides all of that.”

Waerell slammed her hands on the table and had her mouth open wide into a smile.

“No”, Kruma replied.

“Kruma”, Advelt responded softly.

“I cannot abandon my family to go off fighting monsters. Especially now that we can rebuild this house and move on from the debt debacle.”

Logan looked over the parents, noticing their clothing and mannerisms, as well as certain tools and clothing in the house. “Then, how about they come work for me too?”

“Sir? We are both classless.” Advelt replied.

“I happen to be needing a foyer attendant and maid. Your professions should line up with that”, Logan analysed.

“I am a cleaner for several locations”, Waerell quickly admitted.

“I am a part-time bartender, but…” Advelt similarly spoke.

“Do you really want nothing else?” Kruma asked, suspicious of Logan’s intentions.

“Truly. You can read my leaflet if you’re worried”, Logan reconciled as he handed another leaflet out.

The family read over it for a while, Logan easily hearing Waerell say that she wanted to accept the offers.

“As workers, not adventurers, Advelt and Waerell can still live in this house. Or, you may move into the guild if you’d prefer. The same goes for Kruma, but we would need to write that up for the Guild’s Association.”

The family spoke for a bit before Kruma answered, “Let’s see this guild house of yours.”

Moving to the guild house, the parents looked in awe at the interior’s size, with Advelt investigating the bar counter for what he’d be working with. Eventually, the three entered the side interviewing room to finalise the details, but something interrupted the final portion as the Spellthief saw Kruma’s status. Something Logan did not want to hide.

“Kruma, this changes things. It would not sit right with me knowing this and forcing a year’s contract onto you without the knowledge.”

“What?”

“You’re a Hero.”

--- *** ---