CH 222

“It looks like a store over there, there’s a sign. Do you think the residential area is over there?”

“If you lean forward, you’ll fall, Makina. Now we have to find a store that sells houses.”

“Can we have lunch first? I’m starving since I’m relieved of my tension now ……”

We talked about this as the carriage rattled through the town.

For the time being, I’ve finished greeting the king, and I’m sorry to say it like this, but I’ve repaid my debt of gratitude, so I guess you could say I’m free now.

I did this because I thought that if I became a castle servant, instead of broadening my horizons, I would become narrow-minded, so I have no regrets.

“I’m hungry too, but after thinking about it, I don’t think there’s anywhere we can park this carriage, right? So I think I’ll go home first.”

“Oh, I guess you’re right. Yeah, I get it! Then let’s ask if there is a renter somewhere.”

Machina then jumped down from the carriage and began to call out to a nearby lady. The carriage was moving slowly, so it was easy for Makina to jump off.

“Hello! We’re going to live in this town from today, do you know of a store that sells houses?”

“Yes, hello. Oh, so you’re going to be a resident, there’s a store called “Plateria” in the shopping area that rents out houses, you can talk to them there. Boyfriend? No, a husband? It’s nice to be young, isn’t it? Haha …… our hermits used to be like that too …….”

“A-Ahaha, thank you.”

As we watched her walk away, waving to Makina as she complains, and we walked the carriage to the shopping district.

“Wow, a horse!”

“Wow, it’s a carriage!”

“It’s dangerous so keep away, okay?”

The shopping street is bustling with people, and children come up to me. I smiled and chided them, and the adults standing off to the side opened their mouths.

“A nobleman? …… No, they don’t have an escort ……”

“But they’re well dressed, the man are handsome and the woman are beautiful.”

“…… We’re standing out ……”

“Oh ……”

We came by carriage because the road was wide, but we blushed, thinking it was the wrong place to board. I wonder if I should have left it with the gatekeeper, Kruiz-san. The moment I hesitated whether to go back or forward, Makina pointed her finger at me and called out.

“Isn’t that it? There’s a sign.”

“You’re right, let’s hurry.”

I hurried the carriage, hoping that I wouldn’t have to be exposed to curious eyes by now. The carriage stopped in front of the store, as there was no such thing as an empty lot, and Makina and I walked into the store.

“Hello, we heard we could see the property.”

“Customer! Welcome! We’ve got some really good ones here!”

“Oh, I’m sorry, I made a mistake.”

When I called out to him, a man with glasses and one eye covered shouted with delight from inside, and I was about to leave.

“Wait, wait!? You’re looking for a house, aren’t you? You’re in the right place!”

“You smelled like someone I know, after all ……”

“Ahaha ……”

Makina laughed dryly, as if she understood what I was trying to say. The man rubbed his hands and invited us to the counter.

“Now, now, come on in. I’m sorry I’m late, but my name is Norma, manager and employee of Plateria. Please to meet you. Jumping straight to the business, but do you have a particular floor plan in mind?”

The man with the black-rimmed glasses, Norma, quickly takes out his business card and holds it out in front of us. I took the card and said to Makina.

“I don’t have one in particular, so Makina, just tell me.”

“Yes, is it okay? Well, first of all, I definitely want a bathroom. Next is the kitchen. It doesn’t have to be big, but I think a separate table would be nice? Is it enough to have two rooms, one in the living room and one in the bedroom?  A garden where I can keep my pet would be nice, too. Is there a place close to the shopping district?”

“W-W-Wait ……!?”

As soon as Makina speaks happily, the clerk stops her, fixes her glasses, and starts talking.

“Ms. Girlfriend, that would be really difficult, you know?”

“So there is no such thing as a good deal, is there?”

“No, it’s not that there isn’t …… but from what I’ve seen, you’re both young, so I thought you can’t afford the rent ……”

“Oh, well then–“

I was just putting my hands on my bag when Norma opened her mouth.

“Well, you seem to be well dressed, so I’m sure you have money, right? If it’s the house she just mentioned, it would cost at least 80,000 beryl a month? Isn’t that difficult? If it’s just the two of you, I think it’s about this much.”

The document she brought out was a floor plan of a very small room with no bath, living room and kitchen together, and only a bedroom. I don’t mind if it’s something like this, but I’m going to ask.

“…… How much is it, by the way?”

“Well, it’s a pretty old building, so I’d say 20,000 Beryl. It seems that there are some gaps in the building, but you can repair them yourself if you want. I’m sure you can pay this much.”

“Uhhh ……”

I see, you are the type who looks down on people based on their appearance. As Makina swooned next to me, I was annoyed with Norma.

So I took out a larger stack of bills from my bag, piled them in front of me, and said.

“Is this enough for the house Machina mentioned earlier?”

“Eh ……? Eeeehhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? T-This, is this real ……? N-No way …… it’s real …… w-who are you ……?”

While sweating cold, I showed a squeaky smile, and to Norma, who was rubbing his hands, I leaned forward and said while looking at Norma’s eyes.

“I’m Lars Irving. Just in case, I’m also the second son of the Gust territory’s Lord. And I design clothes through the Leor Trading Company, that’s why …… I have money, though?”

“A noble young master!? Also, the costumes of the Leor Trading Company …… Eh, hehe ……”

When I narrowed my eyes and left with a resentful expression, Norma got on the counter and began to get down on her knees.

“I’m very sorry for everything!”

“Seriously …… Judging people by their looks will get you hurt, you know? So if you have a house, I’d like you to show us around and sign a contract.”

“Y-Yes, sir……! Fuh~ …… I’ve shortened my lifespan by at least a hundred years ……”

“That will make you dead then ……”

Makina makes a retort about it, but Norma just smiles and tells us. 

“Let’s see, how long you two will be staying here? If you are planning to stay for a long time, it would be cheaper to buy a house if Lars-sama has that much money.”

“…… Buy it, huh”

I think about it after being told that.

It’s true that if I pay 80,000 beryl a month for a year, it will be more than 800,000. If it continues for three years, the expense will be nearly 3 million. I have money on hand, and Leor-san sends me money. If I want to go somewhere else, can I just sell it?

I thought about it for a while, and then I replied to Norma.

Would he start with securing a house first?

Thank you for reading!

[Afterword Theater]

“You’ll have to do something else to keep the conversation going.”

I know, okay!?

“It’s about time, don’t you think it’s time for a goddess or a god or something to come out?”

Oh, I’m taken.

“You’re taken!?”