Chapter 6

After putting away the personal work tools I brought in the desk drawer, I sat down in the chair and took a breath.

Erica was also sitting next to me, looking at me with a smile.

"Are you that happy?"

"Should we take tomorrow off too? Then you might understand how I feel."

Well, I guess it would be lonely to be the only one in such a large floor.

It would be better to work from home.

"Tomorrow too... Was today a day off?"

"Yes."

Guiding a colleague on a day off...

That's impressive.

"Sorry."

"Not at all. What are you going to do, Mr. Sieg? Since you're here, are you going to work?"

Even though it's a day off?

"No, I need to decide on a room. I'm staying at a hotel with a discount ticket from a friend today, but I have nowhere to live from tomorrow."

The studio turned out to be shared, so if this continues, I'll be living in hotels.

My savings will run out.

"Then, shall I show you around? I know some real estate agents."

As expected of a local.

"Is that okay? It's your day off, right?"

"That's no trouble at all. I have nothing to do anyway."

Does this girl have a halo?

"Then, I'm sorry, but can I ask you for a favor?"

"Sure. What kind of room are you looking for?"

"I don't want to be too demanding, but I'd like a studio. It would be nice to have two rooms. However, I want to keep the rent low."

Actually, my salary was halved due to this demotion.

"I see... How about living in the dormitory?"

Dormitory?

"There's a dormitory?"

"Yes. Well, it's an apartment owned by the branch, so it's not a shared living space."

It's like a company apartment.

"What's the rent?"

"It's 50,000 El, but branch employees get a discount, so it's half."

25,000 El...

That's cheap...

The cheap apartment I lived in in the capital was 70,000 El.

"Can I see it?"

"You can see my room."

"Wait a moment... Is it okay to go in? Wouldn't that be rude?"

I asked Helen for advice again.

"Since Erica said it's okay, I think it's fine to take a quick look. But don't stay too long. It's a woman's room, after all."

I see.

"Erica, can you show me just a bit?"

"Sure. Let's go then."

We stood up and went down the stairs, leaving the branch.

Erica led me through a narrow path next to the branch and stopped at the back.

There were two two-story apartments facing each other.

"Here it is. As usual, only I and Leonora live here. I'm in that room, and the one above is Leonora's."

Erica pointed to the door of the apartment on the left.

"It's right behind the branch."

"Yes. You can sleep in slowly in the morning. It's only a 30-second commute."

Well, that's convenient...

"By the way, where does the branch manager live?"

"The branch manager is renting a place elsewhere."

Probably a good one.

Since he's a noble.

"I see. If it's just Erica and Leonora, are there any vacant rooms?"

"Yes. Please come in."

Erica said that, went to the door, took out the key, and opened it.

Helen and I entered the room with Erica.

It was a living room with a kitchen.

"It's quite clean."

The wallpaper in the living room is nice, and it doesn't look old at first glance.

"This is the living room. There are two other rooms. Of course, it has a bathroom and toilet. I can't show you the bedroom because it's embarrassing, but I can show you the room I use as a studio."

Erica opened a door in the living room.

The room was about 8 tatami mats in size, with bookshelves and various equipment.

There was a desk, and there were signs of work being done.

"It's a sufficient size for a personal studio."

"It's a dormitory for the Alchemists' Guild branch, so the soundproofing is excellent."

I see.

"You don't have to show me, but how big is the other room used as a bedroom?"

"The same size as this one."

"Wow... Even at the original 50,000 El, it's cheap. In the capital, it would be twice as much."

It's a better room than the apartment I lived in.

"Ah, I've heard that rent and food are expensive in the capital."

Is that so... No, in Japan, Tokyo and the regions were completely different.

It might be the same here.

"Helen, what do you think?"

I asked Helen, who would be living with me, for her opinion.

"I think it's fine. It's spacious and cheap. The best part is that it's close to work. Mr. Sieg is weak in the morning."

It can't be helped if you're sleepy.

"Erica, I want to live here."

"Mr. Sieg, the way you say it..."

Huh?

Oh, yeah, that was a strange way to say it.

"I want to rent a room in this dormitory. What do I need to do?"

"Just submit an application to the branch manager. The rent will be automatically deducted from your salary. Well, it can wait until tomorrow, right? The branch manager has probably already gone home."

It's still noon, and he's already gone...

Well, that's what you get with a branch manager who's a political appointee.

"I'll do that. Thanks for your trouble on your day off. You really helped me out."

"Not at all. It's my duty."

Duty, huh...

"See you tomorrow."

"Yes."

I left the room, seeing Erica's radiant smile.

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