Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Mansion
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"We're here, Mage."
"Thank you."
After parting ways with the coachman, I checked on my lodging first.
I'd been away from my lodgings a lot lately, so the spirits' satisfaction levels probably weren't great.
"You guys doing okay?"
As I opened the door to my lodgings, Undine leaped from her pottery vessel straight into my arms, as if she'd been waiting.
I caught her gently and checked the state of the water-filled pottery.
"You've grown a lot."
The mana lotus I'd bought last time for Undine had sprouted nicely and was already emitting a small amount of mana.
It'd look pretty good if I planted it in the pond at the mansion after buying it.
The potted plant next to it was in a similar state.
A fluffy, cloud-like Sylph floated above the pot, and beneath her, a blue windmill flower had grown.
Every time Sylph blew a gentle breeze, the flower's leaves spun rapidly, releasing mana.
At this size, it wouldn't die easily even if I transplanted it.
After tidying up the spots the spirits had messed with, I left the lodgings to buy the mansion I'd been waiting for.
When I opened the door to the real estate office in the bustling city district, the shop owner greeted me.
"Ah, it's you. What brings you here today?"
"I'd like to buy that mansion we looked at last time."
"The mansion? Oh... you mean the one Count Volkan is selling?"
The man stepped into the back for a moment and came out with a fancy letter stamped with a seal.
"Actually, when I told Count Volkan about you, he said he'd adjust the price of the mansion."
Oh.
That's welcome news.
"He cut it by a full 50 gold—down to 450 imperial gold coins. The count said if you want it, he'll hold off on selling to anyone else."
The shop owner showed me the ledger.
At the end of the page detailing the mansion's specs, the "500 gold" had been crossed out and changed to "450."
"If you're going to buy the mansion, you'll need to keep working hard from here on out. Does this give you a bit of a boost?"
"Yes. It definitely does. Here you go."
I pulled imperial gold coins from my inventory.
"I'll buy the mansion right now."
"...Huh?"
Having successfully bought the mansion, I headed back to my lodgings to pack.
There wasn't much to begin with—no furniture or anything—so it wasn't hard to fit everything into my inventory space.
Inventory slots vary in size based on weight and volume, after all.
The spirits, though, I carried by hand.
To put them in my inventory, I'd have to revert them to soulstones, and that would tank their satisfaction levels, so no choice.
I headed to the eastern edge of the city where the mansion was located.
Mansions lined the street in droves.
I found mine among them and approached.
It was Count Volkan's mansion at the farthest end of the eastern district—my mansion now, anyway.
Even though it'd been abandoned, it had been maintained steadily; the fence around it was spotless.
Opening the intricately forged black iron gate revealed the grand mansion welcoming me.
The garden out front had been manicured impeccably, like it was measured with a ruler.
That said, it was too visible from the street.
I slowly made my way around to the back along the path.
The backyard had some upkeep too, but it wasn't exactly tidy.
Standing in the empty center, I opened my status window.
[Special Package List]
[Blazing Seed Package]
[Purchasable 1 time]
[Lightning-Struck Sapling Package]
[Purchasable 1 time]
[Starfall Pond Package]
[Purchasable 1 time]
[Abyssal Rock Package]
[Purchasable 1 time]
Natural items came in packages—one for each of the four elements.
I bought the pond package first.
[Purchase Starfall Pond Package?]
- 100,000 cash
''A pond that stores mana under moonlight. The space water spirits love most. Greatly increases water spirit growth.''
I hit confirm, and a rune containing a miniature pond appeared in my item storage.
Pulling out the rune, I infused it with a bit of mana and tossed it into the empty space.
Then.
Woooong—
The ground rippled around the rune, and in the blink of an eye, a small pond formed there.
It didn't look particularly special, but the water filling it sparkled uniquely.
A special terrain that draws mana from moonlight: Starfall Pond.
Even now, it held some mana, but it'd really shine at night.
I immediately set down Undine's pottery near the pond.
Then.
- ...!!!
Splash.
Undine noticed the pond and dove right in.
She seemed thrilled, jumping in and out, splashing around happily.
I carefully placed the lotus from the pottery into the pond.
A message popped up saying her satisfaction had risen sharply.
I quickly bought the next natural item.
[Purchase Lightning-Struck Sapling Package?]
- 100,000 cash
''A tree that endures even storms. The natural feature wind spirits find most intriguing. Greatly increases wind spirit growth.''
Confirming brought up a rune containing a barren tree shape.
When I used it, a stark white tree—like a lightning bolt frozen in place—sprouted next to the pond.
- !
Sylph, who'd been clinging to her pot, zipped straight to the lightning-struck tree.
She circled it curiously, then...
Krarooom—
She struck it with lightning.
...Isn't that just attacking it because she doesn't like it?
Nope.
Sylph zapped it a couple more times, then turned into a pitch-black raincloud and started pouring rain around the tree.
I carefully planted the windmill flower next to the tree.
"Whew."
That took care of satisfaction for the newly hatched spirits.
Still, better to buy the other natural features too.
Planting all four types would boost affinity a ton.
[Purchase Blazing Seed Package?]
- 100,000 cash
''A flower that blooms only in roaring flames. What fire spirits love to play on. Greatly increases fire spirit growth.''
Confirming revealed a rune with a flickering, flame-wreathed flower inside.
I used it on a bare gravel patch.
Fwoosh—
A massive flame-wreathed blossom erupted there.
Now for the last one.
[Purchase Abyssal Rock Package?]
- 100,000 cash
''Rock from the deep underground. What earth spirits bond with most. Greatly increases earth spirit growth.''
Using the rune with the abyssal rock produced a chunk of deep black stone unlike any I'd seen.
It looked ugly at first glance, like it'd ruin the view, but... it somehow harmonized with the other features.
With all four natural items installed...
[One with Nature]
- Affinity +150.
[Rare Terrain Collector]
- Affinity +170.
[Affinity 280 -> 601]
''Bond with spirits increases.''
- Spirit limit +1
[Current spirit limit: 2 / 3]
"Hmm."
Using all the natural packages pushed my affinity well over 500.
My spirit limit opened up by one too.
In that case...
Time to pull a new one.
『Top-Grade Soulstone (Fire)』
—A stone imbued with the fierce mana and power of blazing flames.
[Generates Burning Heart periodically]
『Burning Heart』
—A red gem commonly found in ash volcanoes. The flickering flames inside evoke a heartbeat.
[!] Hatch the soulstone? Remaining space: 2 / 3
[Current Affinity: 601]
I quickly finished the pull.
Then hit hatch.
『Top-Grade Soulstone (Fire)』
—Hatch? Requires regular mana supply.
[!] Insufficient mana for hatching.
I shoved in the low-grade soulstone from the pull, and soon the top-grade one began vibrating.
It cracked open with a crack, and a spirit made of pure flame emerged from within.
[Top-Grade Soulstone (Fire) hatching complete.]
- Affinity +100.
[Current Affinity: 601 -> 701]
"Ifrit."
As I called its name, the floating spirit leaped into my arms.
It blazed fiercely, but it didn't burn my clothes.
Just a bit warm, that was all.
I brought it to the blazing flower.
Fwoosh—
Ifrit dove right into the flames.
Their fires merged, burning even more intensely.
Made of mana, it didn't affect the surrounding grass.
"Like it?"
I gently stroked Ifrit, who was sprawled out on the flower's blazing petals.
It seemed pleased, wiggling happily while riding the flower.
[Spirit: Ifrit grows.]
- Burning Heart generated immediately.
[Spirit Collector]
- Affinity +50.
[Current Affinity: 751]
Soon, Ifrit grew a handspan larger.
At the same time, a red gem dropped below it.
Flames roared inside the blazing red gem, rippling with fire magic power.
I couldn't hide my grin as I picked up the Burning Heart from the ground.
This alone would fetch at least 50 imperial gold at the magic tower.
"Good job!"
I ruffled Ifrit wildly.
It looked confused but accepted the praise meekly, since it felt good.
Stepping back a bit, I took in all the spirits at once.
I smell it.
The smell of money.