Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Transaction
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The place we'd arrived at following Serena wasn't far from the real estate complex.
It was what you'd call the heart of the city.
As we walked along with her, the mansion from the pamphlet came into view.
There wasn't just that one mansion here—plenty of others dotted the area.
It was astonishing that such a large mansion complex existed so close to the royal palace.
The place looked even bigger and more luxurious than in the pamphlet.
After living in a cramped goshiwon, seeing a mansion like this made my head spin.
Not just a small-scale housing room—compared to any house I'd seen in real life, it was the same.
It was like something out of a movie or drama.
"Shall we go in?"
I'd been staring at the mansion in a daze when Serena gestured and spoke up.
"Ah... yeah... let's head inside."
Serena opened the slightly ajar side door next to the main gate and led the way.
Once inside the mansion grounds, a neatly manicured garden came into sight.
"Huh?? Mio?"
Mio was a Celestial Valkyrie. A-rank, wood-attribute supporter.
Though classified as a ranged DPS, her skills that boosted allies' attack and defense made her a staple in multi-party raids.
And there she was, tending to the garden.
Maybe because her concept was a tree spirit?
"This is an abode that can house up to 20 Valkyries, so they help out with the housework like this."
"Ah, I see..."
Besides the 15 main combat Valkyries, there could be ones taking on maid roles, I figured.
Depending on your preferences, you could raise all 20 for combat anyway...
Still, assigning an A-rank Valkyrie—who could easily be a main unit—to garden work suggested the owner was a pretty big shot.
Passing the garden, we saw a swimming pool off to the side, and the opulent mansion loomed ahead.
Serena pressed the intercom at the front door.
The door opened from within, and a Valkyrie came out to greet us.
"You're Ms. Serena, right? The Pilot mentioned you. Please, follow me."
The Valkyrie who opened the door was Erekina, a Celestial mage. SR-rank.
Inside the mansion, various other Valkyries lounged about, relaxing casually.
They barely glanced at Sua and me as we entered.
Erekina led us up to the second floor and into the parlor.
"Pilot, I've brought the guests."
She knocked on the parlor door like a secretary.
"Show them in."
A woman's voice came from inside.
'Not a guy, huh.'
Somehow, I'd pictured a Pilot as male—especially one from the Hainelrune Knights.
Erekina opened the door, revealing a woman sitting in the parlor, reading a book.
She had bright blonde hair loosely tied back. Looked late twenties, and stunningly beautiful.
"Come on in. Here to buy the house?"
"Ah... yeah... I am thinking of buying it..."
"Judging by your age, trying to snag a place like this—you're either a rich kid or a Pilot..."
She eyed me up and down.
"Your clothes say you're no rich kid... and that Valkyrie you brought along doesn't scream top-tier Pilot either. You sure you can afford this place?"
She glanced at Serena this time, her look full of reproach—like, what were you thinking bringing this guy?
"Ah... well..."
Serena visibly faltered under her gaze. She'd brought me blindly because I was a Pilot, but now realized I didn't meet the mark.
"How much are you selling for?"
I felt dismissed and spoke up impulsively.
"2.2 billion. You come here without even hearing the price?"
Her tone had shifted to casual, almost rude.
"No chance of knocking a bit more off?"
"It was originally listed at 3 billion."
"But you're in a hurry, right?"
I provoked her despite her firm tone.
She ruffled her hair in response.
"Ugh... If I weren't desperate, I wouldn't sell at all..."
At first, she'd seemed like a sharp, intellectual type, but now, messing up her hair and venting frustration, she came off as surprisingly laid-back.
Beautiful either way, no doubt.
"2 billion. Two months. Deal?"
"2 billion... two months..."
I mulled it over, doing the math in my head.
Even hiding Lije to get a loan, I couldn't conceal Lussera.
So for 2 billion, I'd need 20% down-400 million at least.
400 million in two months, 60 days, meant 6.67 million gold a day.
'Can I pull that off...?'
"If not, walk away. But a mansion like this for 2 billion? Not gonna come around often."
"Furniture stays?"
"No way—I'm moving too, so it'll be empty. You wouldn't expect me to throw in furniture after knocking off 200 million, right?"
Fair point, I had to admit.
"Alright. 2 billion it is. See you in two months."
Thinking about owning a place like this made it feel doable.
I'd made 6 million gold in a day before—a bit more effort, and it was possible.
"Down payment?"
"Pardon???"
Her sudden question threw me. I barely had any cash on me—what down payment?
"What...? Why should I trust you for two months? If you back out, I'm screwed big time."
Of course. Why wait on some young stranger?
"Ah... um... well... sigh... What to do? Look, I'm taking the knight order exam in three months—could you cut me some slack? I just became a Pilot yesterday, so I'm broke right now..."
She glared at me like I'd crawled out of the gutter.
"Serena... you messing with me? How's a punk like this buying my house?! Is this how you've been doing business??!"
She was furious.
"Ms. Diana... I'm sorry... I didn't check properly... I just assumed since he was a Pilot..."
Serena bowed deeply in apology.
Her reaction made me feel guilty too.
"Enough. Get out."
Her dismissal sparked my defiance.
Or maybe more accurately, defiance plus greed for the house.
Maybe because it was my first time seeing a place like this, but the opulence had me hooked, even though it wasn't mine.
The mansion was impeccably clean and organized, thanks to the owner.
Living here would feel amazing, I thought.
I'd never been attached to living spaces before—solo goshiwon life hadn't fazed me. But now, with power at my fingertips and this house in reach, backing off hurt.
"W-wait!! I have something to offer!!"
The words burst out before I knew it.
Serena and the owner, about to leave, turned back with puzzled looks.
They'd figured the deal was dead.
"Something for me? What?"
"Can we talk alone for a sec...?"
"Hm? What'd you say???"
She looked baffled.
A random guy suggesting privacy did sound weird.
"No! Not like that—I mean, what I'm offering is some... secrets... info...?"
I trailed off, sounding lame. But really, this intel was no small thing.
It was something that should've been kept under wraps.
"Secrets and info?"
She didn't seem impressed.
"If you know this, it'll blow your mind. I guarantee it."
She eyed me suspiciously, gauging if I was for real.
After staring silently, she spoke.
"Fine. Come in. Serena, could you step out for a bit?"
"Of course. I'll be outside."
Serena grabbed her bag and left promptly.
She had that career woman vibe, but next to this woman, she paled in comparison.
"Gulp..."
Alone with her now, I swallowed nervously without thinking.
"So, what secrets do you have for me? Better not be lame."
She looked a touch annoyed.
"First off, before I spill—you're with the Hainelrune Knights, right?"
"Yes. Diana, third knight of Hainelrune. Is it related to this info?"
"Definitely. I'm planning to take Hainel Kingdom's knight exam in three months."
"Ha...? You?"
Her eyes screamed, You, seriously?
"Fair enough. But once I show you this, you won't say that."
I grinned slyly, but her glare intensified.
She thought I was pranking her.
But the moment I summoned Lije and Lussera, her furious gaze turned to shock.
"Wh-what the...?!!!"
For the first time, a human expression cracked her iron mask of a face.