Chapter 20: House Hunting
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 20: House Hunting
I stood there dazed, having followed the Young Lady out on a whim, feeling at a loss for what to do next.
“Are you not coming?”
“Where to?”
“To the real estate office, of course. We need to find you a temporary place to stay, Alto.”
The Young Lady called out to me from a short distance away.
There was a strange sense of security in this distance, so I remained where I was.
“My Lady, you don’t need to use formal speech with a commoner like me.”
“I heard men like being addressed with respect?”
I just smiled.
“Not me. It makes me feel shy.”
“Then… Alto?”
“Yes, My Lady.”
“I’d like you to speak comfortably to me as well.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
“Why?”
“Even though we’re party members now, if I maintain proper etiquette and formality, it will give others the impression that we aren’t in a relationship.”
At that, she stared at me intently.
“Are you being considerate of me?”
“Of course.”
“Hmph.”
Brushing back a stray lock of hair, she beckoned to me.
“Let’s go to the real estate office. Since it’s your first time here, I’ll lead the way.”
“And please, speak casually.”
I reminded her once more, as she was habitually using honorifics.
“Follow me, Alto. This is our party’s first official activity!”
Our party’s first activity.
Her liveliness made my own heart flutter.
* * *
“This is the house closest to the center of Dakuren City.”
The real estate agent introduced the large two-story house in a monotone voice.
“It’s a duplex and very spacious. Above all, it has the advantage of convenient transportation.”
There wasn’t a hint of a smile, but the way the explanation flowed without a hitch showed her professional side.
“What do you think? For a place in the city center, it’s about half the size of the Adventurer Guild branch. Plus, it’s close to major hubs like the guild and the carriage station.”
The Young Lady seemed to like it.
However, as someone who was once in charge of the household affairs for Mirei’s party, there was one thing I couldn’t ignore.
“Why is it so dark in here?”
“Urgh…”
“Could you close the door for a moment?”
At my request, the agent closed the front door very slowly.
As the bright sunlight vanished, the house was bathed in a gloom reminiscent of early evening.
“It is spacious, but the houses on either side are so close that the light doesn’t get in well.”
“That is because residential spaces are packed tightly due to demand in the city center. Even considering that, it’s a popular house because of its location.”
I looked around the interior at the agent’s words.
The house was large enough that I could probably roll from one wall to the other ten times over.
But suddenly, I remembered when I was choosing a party house with Mirei.
‘It’s huge! Alto, let’s go with this one!’
‘Hmm, one side of this house doesn’t have any windows at all.’
‘What does that matter? It’s big! And it’s close to the guild!’
At the time, I also had a greed for size because I had been living in such cramped party houses before.
That place became the party house where I eventually left my ledgers in Lukart, and Diane and I were assigned the windowless rooms.
I had gained a room of my own, but it was smaller compared to the previous party house where we all lived in the living room.
And that small space kept me confined until the very end, never letting me hear a single knock from any of my party members until I left on my own.
That room was very dark and damp.
“If it’s popular, I’m sure someone else will take it. I’d like a place with good sunlight. I don’t mind if it’s a bit smaller.”
“Understood.”
The agent replied quickly, but I could sense regret in her posture as she turned away.
It made sense.
Even in Lukart, a house of this size would be considered large. Between the price and the maintenance costs, it wouldn’t sell easily despite its popularity because few could afford it.
Does it sound like Mirei’s party was incredibly successful when I put it that way?
Well, they were.
They were very successful.
After all, they were a Hero-rank adventurer party.
“I like big houses, though…”
“My Lady, don’t you live in Dakuren Castle?”
“You never know.”
Know what?
The Young Lady wore a mischievous expression.
“If we take on a dungeon quest or some other big commission, this house could become our party’s war room, couldn’t it?”
I let out a silent sigh.
When she said ‘you never know,’ I had briefly imagined us living together.
“Or, I might have a fight with my mother and come to stay at Alto’s place for a while.”
“My Lady, if that happens, unlike this morning, there will be no way to explain ourselves.”
“That’s just what other people think.”
“Other people’s perceptions create a part of who I am.”
“I feel like even if we were alone, you’d just spend the whole time doing housework, Alto.”
“Pardon?”
I asked, surprised.
“Housework is a must at home. If you don’t do it, dust piles up and mold grows in no time.”
“…I see. I’ll keep that in mind.”
I actually quite enjoy housework.
The unsightly dirt disappears, and as I work, my idle thoughts vanish too.
Somehow, while cleaning, I can forget reality.
This terrible reality.
“Just as a reminder, the residence for the relocating male is being purchased with Hus public funds, so you don’t need to worry about the price.”
Perhaps still regretful about failing to sell the large house, the agent adjusted her glasses and spoke curtly.
“Yes, I’m aware. Thank you for your concern.”
“If you say so… Understood.”
To be honest, that agent wasn’t always like that.
When we first entered the office, and even when the Young Lady walked in first, she had greeted us with a bright smile.
“We’re looking for a temporary residence for this man.”
But the moment the Young Lady introduced me, the expression vanished from her face, and her voice lost its inflection.
The difference was so stark it was startling, but it was something I had experienced often in Lukart.
Thinking about it now, I realized again what good people Branch Manager Karen and Ms. Arasen were.
They spoke to me without scowling, didn’t they?
If I had to choose, Ms. Arasen, who worked with a smile, had a slightly better attitude toward me.
“This area is a bit further from the center, but it leads to the market alley we just passed.”
“Oh! This isn’t bad either.”
For some reason, the Young Lady seemed satisfied just by being out of the Lord’s Castle.
Perhaps she was going through a rebellious phase and longed for independence.
“It’s smaller than the house in the city center, but it should be sufficient for your needs.”
However, I pointed toward the ceiling and a corner of the house.
“It seems like there’s a water vein running underneath here?”
There, dark mold was beginning to crawl up the wall.
“…Let’s move to the next house.”
Radiating even more coldness than before, the agent left the house.
“……”
The Young Lady watched her back in silence.
“This one is much further from the city center, but it gets plenty of sunlight, so there is no mold.”
How did she know without even going inside?
The agent already knew the condition of every house she was showing us today.
It was professional, but I wondered what would have happened if I hadn’t checked properly.
“Isn’t this exactly what you wanted, Alto?”
“My Lady, don’t you think the floor feels strangely uneven?”
“Ah, a little?”
“…Moving on.”
We moved again.
“This one has sunlight, no mold, and the floor is flat!”
“I see.”
“Yeah! Alto, come in and check it out.”
“Yes, this place meets all the conditions the gentleman requested. Even if it is near the outskirts.”
“What do you think, Alto?”
“My Lady.”
“Yes?”
“Can you hear me clearly?”
“Of course I can hear you.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity.
“But I’m standing outside the house right now.”
The house had absolutely no soundproofing.
“…Let’s go.”
Not just the inflection, but even the emotion was draining from the agent’s voice.
Our journey, which began in the heart of Dakuren City, was gradually pushed outward until we reached a secluded spot on the very edge of the outskirts.
“This is the only house left.”
The place the agent pointed to was a single, shabby house standing all alone.
The poor thing is all by itself too.
I liked it already.
As we stepped inside, the smell of age hit my nose.
And then, the warmth and soft sunlight enveloped me.
“It hasn’t sold for quite a while because it’s so far away. It has good sunlight, no mold, flat floors, and good soundproofing.”
“Hey, this is too much!”
The Young Lady protested to the agent on my behalf.
“What’s the reason for such a difference from the first house you showed us? It’s small and all the way out on the outskirts!”
“I simply looked for a place that met the gentleman’s criteria.”
“What did you…!”
“It’s nice.”
Before the Young Lady could get any angrier, I expressed my satisfaction.
“Pardon?”
The agent’s eyes widened behind her glasses, as if she hadn’t expected me to agree.
“The windows are south-facing, which is wonderful. It’s the perfect size for me to live in, the structure looks sturdy, and it’s perfect.”
“Alto, are you serious?”
“Yes, of course.”
I nodded with a bright smile.
“It’s hard to find a house this good.”
“But it’s so far from the city center…”
“That’s part of why it’s good.”
I bowed my head to thank the agent.
“Thank you for showing me such a good house.”
“Yes, well… since the price is dirt cheap, it’ll cost less of Hus’s tax money, so it’s fine by us. We’ll handle the payment, so let’s just sign the contract here and be done with it.”
“Yes, certainly.”
Dipping the pen in ink, we signed the contract right there.
Though temporary, I now had a home of my own.
“I’ve finished signing…”
But whether she was angry that the commission was so small, or just annoyed from walking all day, the agent snatched the contract and the clipboard away as soon as I finished signing.
“Good work.”
Spitting out the words coldly, the agent began to walk away on her own.
Standing there awkwardly, I laughed sheepishly and was about to turn my gaze back to my new home when—
“Stop right there.”
The Young Lady called out to the agent.
“Is there a problem?”
“You, what kind of disrespectful behavior was that toward a customer?”
“My business is finished, so I am returning to my office.”
“Did I say anything about you leaving? I’m asking why your attitude is so appalling.”
To my surprise, the Young Lady was furious.
“Alto is the first man to migrate to Hus. Shouldn’t you do your best to find him a suitable home? Even if he weren’t a man, isn’t it a broker’s duty to introduce houses that match a customer’s wishes?”
And she was saying all this for a man like me.
“Yes, and that is why I brokered a house that satisfied all his requirements. I fail to see what I have done wrong.”
“I’ve been trying to be patient, but this is the last straw!”
The Young Lady pulled a crest plate from her pocket.
The agent’s eyes bulged when she saw it.
The crest, made of delicately carved patterns and encrusted with jewels, was the symbol of the Dakuren family.
“I, Airune Dakuren, the rightful heir of Hus, command you. Kneel!”
The Young Lady’s shout echoed across the empty field.
The scene was truly strange.
For a furious roar, there were only three of us there—the Young Lady, the agent, and me.
“L-Lady Dakuren…?”
I see. Since the Young Lady was on a tour to inspect the people’s lives, she must have been traveling without revealing her identity.
Her attire was that of an adventurer, so it made sense why the agent hadn’t shown proper respect until now.
Come to think of it, she never mentioned who she was when we entered the real estate office.
“How dare you disgrace me in front of the first man to migrate to Hus?!”
“I-I am sorry! I didn’t know he was your guest, My Lady…!”
“So you admit that you choose your attitude based on the person?”
“T-That’s…”
“Discriminating over a measly commission!”
No, My Lady.
The commission might be part of it, but the biggest reason is my face.
“A woman like you has no right to do business. I shall inform the Acting Lord immediately to revoke your license and tear down your shop!”
“A-Ah, My Lady! I have committed a sin worthy of death!”
“Since you said it yourself, shall you truly try dying?”
What kind of logic is that, My Lady?
Telling her to die just like that.
It’s terrifying.
Speechless, the agent dropped her glasses and could only weep.
“As if you have any right to cry!”
“My Lady, My Lady! I’m fine!”
“Alto!”
The Young Lady shouted at me.
“This woman insulted you. My party member!”
Those words slightly thawed my heart, which had been frozen since Lukart.
Perhaps because of that, the melting water made my chest feel heavy with emotion.
“Thank you for being angry on my behalf. But I am still an outsider. Please do not punish a resident of Hus because of an outsider.”
“This woman is being punished not because you’re an outsider, but because she did wrong.”
“Even so, if people hear she lost her shop because of an outsider, that resentment will come back to me.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong, so why!”
“That’s just how people’s hearts work.”
And it’s also human nature to be moved by a single small act of kindness.
The huffing Young Lady finally spoke to the agent.
“Begone. This man has saved your life.”
“Thank you! Thank you so much!”
As the woman bowed repeatedly, I picked up her glasses and handed them to her.
Snatching the glasses, the agent ran toward the city center without looking back.
“You are far too kind.”
To the Young Lady, who had suddenly reverted to her noble way of speaking, I tried to offer a simple, innocent smile.
“I have to be.”
Because that’s the only merit I have.