Kays Translations

Chapter 54

The carriage from the trading company passed through the middle district and now headed toward the upper district.

Could the property be in the upper district? I had no intention of living in a noble’s mansion.

“Hmm… We’re heading toward the noble district…”

“Oh? Then are you going to show us a mansion? It’d be a pain to clean if we lived there, huh?”

“Yeah… I guess so…”

Normally, a mansion would require various kinds of maids for upkeep.

Of course, you’d also need gardeners and security personnel.

Naturally, that’s a no-go for me. I wouldn’t be able to maintain any secrecy.

If a stranger—or someone I never hired—suddenly appeared in the mansion, it would be chaos.

So even if they show us a mansion, my answer is NO.

“Seems like something’s going on though…”

I glanced up at the president sitting in the driver’s seat.

He looked a bit flustered… or was it just my imagination?

“Huh? Same, same! We just passed through the noble district!”

“What? But after this, there’s only the south gate, right?”

“Huh, I’ve never been that far!”

“Don’t tell me… we’re going to the castle…?”

The carriage continued through the south gate and into a road winding through the forest.

It was the road leading to the royal palace. Partway along, there was a fork that supposedly led to an artificial dungeon.

Could there be other paths?

Just then, the carriage slowed down and stopped in the forest.

“Apologies, but the road gets too narrow from here. We’ll have to proceed on foot.”

“Understood.”

We stepped down from the carriage into a part of the forest that seemed denser than the path I’d used to visit the royal palace the other day.

As the president said, ahead of us was a narrow trail just wide enough for three people to walk side-by-side, leading deeper into the forest… and supposedly, to the property?

“Suu… haa… wow, this forest smells so deep and fresh! It’s even greener than the mountains to the east, and it’s brimming with mana!”

“It’s different from ordinary forests and mountains?”

“Yeah, it is! This forest feels… a little sacred, somehow. I can’t explain it, but the air feels pure. I wonder why?”

Hmm… Maybe it’s the influence of the artificial dungeon, or perhaps there’s some kind of barrier or magical array because of the palace’s proximity.

Whatever it is, I can’t sense the difference myself.

“Please follow me, both of you!”

“Ah, we’re coming!”

Not wanting to be left behind, we hurried to catch up with the president.

But still… is there really a house hidden this deep between the city and the palace?

“This is the place. My, my… this is my first time seeing it too, but… it’s wonderful.”

“Wow! It’s like a house straight out of a picture book! Oooh… oooh… there’s even a little stream!”

“Whoa… this is amazing… such a lovely space hidden in the forest…”

It felt like a fairytale world had suddenly appeared in the middle of the woods—surreal, yet oddly nostalgic.

In the spacious garden, instead of a gazebo, there was an open-air kitchen-like structure that looked perfect for barbecues. A stream flowed gently alongside it, continuing from the forest.

There was even a well. On two large trees in the yard, metal hooks were attached—probably remnants from the previous owner for hanging laundry ropes.

It was a truly charming garden.

“Hmm… President? Was this maybe a wizard’s house?”

“Muo!? What makes you think that!?”

“I can feel it—the presence of magic. It’s lingering in the air.”

“Goodness me… As expected of you, Melt. You’re a skilled adventurer indeed. Yes, this house once belonged to a court mage who also served as the head of the royal research institute. It was their atelier and secondary residence. The royal family has preserved it for many years without selling it… but today, just now, we received a letter granting our company permission to list it. It read, ‘You are authorized to handle the sale of this house. Pigeon Trading Company shall receive 20% of the selling price as commission’ — from Her Majesty the Queen.”

“What…?”

“So that lady really was the queen… wow…”

So someone told her I was looking for a house, huh?

She definitely wants to keep me close… that’s for sure.

“I’ll show you the inside of the house too. Though it’s my first time entering as well… This was the secondary residence of the great sage of Lendia. I’m a bit nervous, honestly…”

“Is Her Majesty really planning to sell a house that belonged to someone that important…?”

“Let’s go see inside already! I’m getting excited!”

The house was made from beautifully white wood.

That wasn’t paint—it was the natural color of the wood itself.

It seemed to be built from various types of timber, giving it a naturally blended look.

Maybe it was what you’d call eco-conscious? Personally, I was especially drawn to the outdoor kitchen-looking structure in the garden… That’s totally my thing!

I’ve seen stuff like that on Youtub〇 before! Those videos of outdoorsy guys cooking wild meals in the middle of nature… BAM!

Inside the house, there was a pleasant, herb-like fragrance.

Looking around, I spotted neatly arranged test tubes and small bottles filled with clear liquids on the shelves. That must be the source of the scent.

The furniture was all elegant woodwork. In the kitchen connected to the living room, I noticed some equipment that didn’t seem intended for cooking—odd machines that didn’t quite fit the domestic vibe.

Large windows let in sunlight and opened to a terrace. It looked like you could set up big tables out there and throw a party.

It was a truly beautiful home.

“My, my… this really is a wonderful house. The palace staff must have been maintaining it all this time. I can’t find a single spot of damage.”

“Wow… I bet the previous owner was an alchemist or herbalist too. Look at all this specialized equipment.”

“You know a lot, Melt.”

“Yeah, my grandma used to use tools like these too…”

For just a moment, I thought Melt’s voice sounded a little sadder than usual.

“This house feels like it’s part of the forest. A very smart person must’ve built it, huh?”

“Apparently, the first floor has a living room, kitchen, and… the next room is a lounge with a sunroom. Hmm… It seems the sage also had a taste for the arts. Take a look.”

The president called us over from the next room, having opened the door and peeked inside.

When we looked—

“Oh, a piano. And… a painter’s easel and canvas stand too.”

“Ah! That’s a musical instrument, right? I’ve never seen a real one before!”

Melt ran over to the piano in the room and started inspecting it with wide-eyed curiosity.

“According to the letter, all the furniture and equipment in the house will be included in the sale. Hmm… The sage must have spent their later years here, immersed in the arts.”

“Hey hey, how do you make it play sound?”

Melt gently tapped the closed lid of the piano as she asked.

She looked so adorable that both the president and I couldn’t help but smile.

“Here, open this… and gently press these white and black keys with your fingers.”

“Wow, they’re so shiny and pretty. Okay then… here goes.”

A ping sound echoed through the room as the piano note rang out.

“Wow! It made a sound! That’s so fun!”

“Haha, yeah it is. Excuse me for a second…”

I played the notes in order starting from Do.

It didn’t seem like the piano was out of tune, so I used a single finger to play a simple melody—something we learned in elementary school.

What? Use all my fingers? Don’t be ridiculous!

…Well, maybe it’s not impossible.

“Do do… So so… La la… So…”

So nostalgic. I only ever played this during music class as a kid, and yet somehow, I still remember it perfectly.

You know the one—the one that goes with the sparkly stars in the sky.

“Ohhh? So that’s what music sounds like?”

“It’s just a simple tune, something super basic.”

“Hm, do you have experience with music?”

“Not really, nothing worth calling experience.”

Oops, maybe I said too much.

“Haah… What a lovely house! By the way… is there a bath?”

“Hmm, now that you mention it, there was a stream flowing through the yard. Perhaps they draw water from there.”

“All right, let’s look for it!”

And so we started searching for the bath.

Eventually, we found a large bathhouse surrounded by glass, similar in design to a sunroom, with a view of the surrounding forest.

“You’d be totally visible from outside! Someone might see you naked! We’ll have to make sure it’s well-hidden.”

“Haha, indeed. But since it’s the sage’s villa, there’s likely some sort of protective measure in place.”

“It’s really luxurious… Not in a flashy way, but built for true comfort and elegance.”

“Yes. And the house isn’t overly large either—likely because the previous owner had no intention of hiring housekeepers.”

Hmm… From a security standpoint, this place is ideal.

The only concern is safety. Supposedly, few adventurers come to this area, but someone could still wander in while exploring the artificial dungeon.

Then again, intrusions can happen anywhere.

Trespassing can occur anywhere people don’t frequently pass through.

To be honest, the queen’s hidden intentions make me a bit cautious, but I’m really drawn to this place.

The biggest reason… is the piano.

Of course, the beautiful garden, bathhouse, and location are appealing—but being able to play music freely, that means—

“Melt. I’ll ask one of my ‘musically talented friends’ to come visit sometime.”

“Huh? Ah, I see what you mean.”

“Oh! So you have a musician friend!?”

I do—one of my created characters. And due to my inability to actually play, I couldn’t inherit the basic skill set before.

The character’s main job is “Musician,” with the sub-job “Dancer”—a kind of production class that also acts as a buffer.

I want to try that. Plus, actually testing whether I can play real instruments sounds fun.

Well, the real goal is to see whether I can obtain any of those “combat-use skills allowed only for low-combat production classes.”

If I, as Shizuma, can acquire any of those emergency-type skills… it could be game-changing.

That’s why I’ve decided—I want to live in this small mansion nestled deep in the forest—

“President, how much is the price? I’d like to make the purchase.”

“Oh! Please wait a moment. The price is quite high—1,200 large gold coins.”

“But that’s not an amount I can’t afford now. Both the royal family and you are aware of that, right?”

“Yes, of course. I’m sure there are circumstances beyond what I can imagine. So then, may I take that as a final decision?”

“Wait a second.”

Before I make a final decision, I need to ask the opinion of the person who’ll be living here with me.

“Melt, I really like this house. What about you?”

“I love it! As long as I’m not seen naked while bathing, I have no complaints!”

“There’s probably a magic barrier to keep people away or something.”

“Ahh… yeah, that kind of spell probably exists. I love this house too! The stream in the garden is so pretty, and I bet we can even catch some shrimp! I love shrimp. Just boiling them makes them delicious.”

I see… That’s a very Melt-like perspective.

“President, it’s decided.”

“Very well, understood. From here, it’s about ten minutes on foot to Lindblum. While the shopping district is a bit farther, it’s not so far as to be inconvenient. For adventurers like you two, I’m sure it won’t be an issue.”

“Exactly. That distance is nothing if you run.”

“Totally!”

“Then let’s formalize the contract tomorrow, here at this location. As for the house’s details, someone from the Mage Research Institute—currently in charge of managing the property—will be sent. Could I ask you to make the payment at that time?”

“Understood. Honestly, I’m pretty excited…”

“Me too, really excited… Our new home… finally, finally ours!”

“Fufu, I’m so glad you like it. Well then, shall we head back to town? I’ll return to the guild, but you two can get off near your inn if you’d like.”

“Ah, then please do.”

And so, at last, Melt and I decided on our base.

The fact that it’s surrounded by forest is convenient for me, especially when I need to change characters, and even with the slight caution I feel due to the royal family’s involvement, it’s still an incredible property.

Once we were safely dropped off in front of the inn, Melt looked up at it with a sentimental expression.

“So, this means we’ll be saying goodbye to the inn keeper and her husband at Hamusutei soon… That makes me kind of sad.”

“Yeah, they’ve really taken care of us. But this place lets you come just for meals, apparently, so why don’t we drop by sometimes to eat and say hello?”

“Oh! That’s a great idea! Haah… So much happened today, my heart feels full.”

Smiling contentedly, Melt reached her hand out to me.

“Family. Same, you became my family. More than the house… this is what truly made me happy.”

“I see. I’m happy too. Having someone I can trust as family—it means a lot.”

When I took her hand, she once again intricately intertwined her fingers with mine, forming some kind of symbol.

A family ritual… right?

“My place… maybe it’s not a house, after all.”

“Hm?”

“Here. Maybe it’s right beside you, Same. Maybe this is the place I come home to now.”

“I see… that’s pretty deep.”

“Did I sound smart just now!?”

“You did, you did.”

And I’m sure I feel the same way.

As the two of us gazed up at the inn, I let my dreams expand toward the life ahead—with the new family I’d found in this world.

May this feeling, this happiness, last forever—

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