Chapter 52

"Is it a mansion?"

"Yes. I think it would be awkward not to have one..."

It has been about a year since our life in the capital began. From the house that the Margrave of Breichreiter lent us, Louise and I underwent hellish special training with Master Armstrong.

If it were only that, it would be hard to tell whether it was magic training or martial arts training, so I also received magic instruction from Mr. Brandt. To be honest, if I must say, the typical magic special training is the kind I receive from Mr. Brandt.

Thanks to him, he often stays in the capital to take care of me. When he returns to Breichburg for business, he says there's no problem since I can use the instant teleportation spell.

El goes to the palace for sword training with Mr. Warren. Eina also receives special spear training from a famous knight introduced by Mr. Warren.

What I'm trying to say is, except for holidays, I only return home to sleep, so I think the mansion I borrowed from the Margrave of Breichreiter is enough.

When I get home, Elise has prepared a meal and is waiting for me. On holidays, I go on dates with Elise. But if that's all, it would be unsatisfying, so I also go on dates with Eina and Louise on a rotating basis.

Other than that, on my way back from tiring special training with the master, I buy and eat snacks with Louise or go shopping. I meet up with Eina to go to the bookstore or look at clothes and accessories.

I think I'm living a normal thirteen-year-old's youth. What they call a "real life" person.

If asked whether such a thing existed in my previous life, it was a matter of not saying it, but it was a flower that should not be spoken of.

Anyway, considering my daily life, I think I don't need a mansion until I come of age.

However, it seems that Mr. Rottger's thoughts are different.

"Lord Vendelin, you are a baron in a robe. It might be a problem for a baron to live in a long-term rental."

"Is that how it is?"

"That's how it is."

In that case, I will look for a mansion suitable for a baron, as advised by an elder. The next step would be to secure servants to maintain the mansion.

Fortunately, there is no problem with the funds, which is the biggest issue. However, I also feel that it's just more unnecessary work and a hassle.

"I don't have any connections with real estate agents. El, do you?"

"Do you think I do?"

Naturally, El, who was in the same position as me, had no connections with real estate agents.

"The servants to maintain the mansion can be secured later, I think."

After dinner, when we talked about buying a mansion in the living room, Elise joined the conversation while making tea after the meal.

Since she is my fiancée, I intended to have her accompany me to look at houses, so it was convenient.

"In the case of Lord Vendelin buying a house, it would be difficult to build a new one, so it would be a used property."

"Is it impossible to build a new one?"

"There is no land to build a new mansion."

Elise answered Louise's question.

The kingdom has been ruled for a long time, and the number of nobles has increased over the years. Although a large area was set aside for the nobles' mansions during the construction of the capital, it has indeed been insufficient year by year.

"For a baron, it is usually just enough to have a mansion in the upper-class noble district."

The Brandt family, which Ehrich will inherit, is in the lower-class noble district where sub-barons and knights mainly live. On the other hand, the Margrave of Breichreiter's capital mansion is, of course, in the upper-class noble district. There is such a distinction even among nobles.

"But there is no land, right?"

"There is no land, but there are mansions."

Some nobles in the upper-class noble district, who have fallen or are in financial difficulty, move to smaller mansions in the lower-class noble district. Conversely, some nobles who are doing well move to larger mansions closer to the castle.

Such rises and falls are common. I didn't know why, but it seems that there are many mansions that are regularly bought and sold through real estate agents.

"Buy a suitable used property, renovate it to make it livable, and then hire people."

"Yes. Even though there are transactions, many mansions have been vacant for years, so renovations and cleaning are also necessary."

"That's a problem. I don't have any connections with real estate agents. Elise, can you ask Cardinal Hohenheim?"

"Yes, I will let him know."

There is no way a real estate agent recommended by Cardinal Hohenheim would try to rip me off. I asked Elise to make the introduction, but we ended up meeting a real estate agent that was far beyond my expectations.

---

"Nice to meet you, I am August Linnheim of Linnheim Real Estate. Yes."

"I am the Baron Bauvester."

"You are the hero who slew the dragon. Cardinal Hohenheim has ordered me to introduce you to a good mansion. Yes."

"Nice to meet you (Suspicious...)."

The next morning on a rest day, we greeted the real estate agent who came to our mansion. It seems that Linnheim Real Estate is one of the leading real estate agencies in the capital, mainly mediating the buying and selling of land and mansions for nobles. They also often prepare land for new churches, which is how they became acquainted with Cardinal Hohenheim.

(Suspicious...), (Suspicious...), (Suspicious!), the four of us were in agreement without saying a word. August Linnheim, the owner of Linnheim Real Estate, wore expensive gold-rimmed glasses, a red sequined suit, and a silver bow tie.

I recalled a memory from my previous life of a fraudulent company president who dressed similarly.

(Elise), (Well... this suspiciously dressed person does have a good track record...), Elise, trying to defend the suspiciously dressed person, made me realize once again how kind and good she is.

"First, this mansion."

Guided by the suspicious Mr. Linnheim, the five of us were led to the first mansion, but from the very first one, I had a bad feeling.

Before even considering the size or layout of the mansion, a sinister black mist seeped out from the walls of the mansion.

"It looks like a seriously flawed property..."

"Yes! The baron who owned this mansion had a bad personality and was brutally murdered by his vassals."

"Right off the bat, a terrible history..."

After that, the baron's spirit, who was killed, appeared and gathered wandering spirits to occupy the mansion. The baron's spirit became the leader of the undead, a lich, and began to summon other undead.

"Why hasn't it been purified?"

"Because it's expensive."

It seems that the baron, who was killed by his vassals, not only had a bad personality but also poor financial sense. Due to his extravagant habits, he accumulated a large debt. After the baron's death, his family tried to sell the mansion to pay off the debt, but when potential buyers came to see the mansion, the baron's lich would interfere, and eventually, no one wanted to buy it.

Buyers want a mansion, not a lich, so it's understandable.

"Purifying the mansion with a magic user who can use holy magic costs at least 300,000 cents."

The cost varies depending on the number and strength of the undead to be purified, but it seems to be around that price. Considering the lich that is currently leading the spirits in the haunted mansion, the purification cost is not particularly high.

"Over time, the lich has become more aggressive, even merging with other evil spirits nearby."

"Does it have the potential to take human lives now?"

"Yes."

"Hey, is it really okay...?"

El looked worriedly at the mansion, but it seems that the seal on the walls prevents the spirits from leaving. Upon closer inspection, the seal was placed by the church, with the church's mark on the talisman.

"It would be best to take care of it until the end..."

"Would the church? I think it's difficult."

The church doesn't charge a fee, but they require an equivalent donation. In the end, they won't purify it if there's no money. Moreover, the high-ranking holy magic users in the church, as seen with Elise, are very busy.

Most of their magic power is used to heal the sick and injured who visit the church. They prioritize the requests of the poor for reputation and fame, as they won't get significant donations. Of course, wealthy people who can make substantial donations are given priority.

"The lich of the baron, who tried to kill the vassal who advised him to cut his extravagant spending but was killed instead, can't cause external trouble thanks to the seal. Even if it were purified, the church wouldn't receive any praise from the public."

Judging from the baron's reputation, it's true that purifying it wouldn't earn public praise. Perhaps, if the lich were destroyed and eliminated, it might receive public praise.

"True... Unfeigned true..."

"Also, this lich of the baron is quite stubborn. A holy magic user from the church failed to purify it before."

"That made it even stronger..."

"Correct! As expected of the Holy Maiden."

As Elise said, when a holy magic user fails to purify a spirit, it becomes resistant to holy magic and grows stronger, much like a virus that becomes resistant to antibiotics.

"Once it failed, but they didn't want to admit it publicly. So, they just sealed it and left?"

"Exactly! As expected of Baron Bauvester."

"But why are you recommending such a property to me?"

"Hey, what about the baron's family? What's their situation?"

Louise asked about the situation of the baron's family, who wanted to sell the mansion.

"Indeed, that's a good point. Are the baron's family stupid? They could borrow money to purify it and then sell it."

"They have too much debt, and no one will lend them money."

Additionally, there is no guarantee that the purification will succeed 100%. The church has actually failed once, even though they are hiding it. Moreover, even if it fails, they still charge half the cost upfront, which is why they hesitated.

Furthermore, the baron's family, who are on the blacklist of merchants due to the previous lord's massive debt, couldn't find any merchants willing to lend them money.

As nobles, they rarely lose their titles or lands due to debt. However, it is a fact that their family is in decline. They had no choice but to move to a small mansion in the upper-class noble district, leaving the land and mansion in a state of neglect.

"Merchants won't lend money to someone who might not return it."

Of course, it makes sense. Since the noble is of higher status, there is a possibility that they might run away without paying. Even if they are sued, the money will be returned, but dealing with nobles is troublesome. Considering the court fees and the hassle, it's better not to lend money to a failing noble.

When asked by such a noble, it's best to decline in a way that doesn't make them too angry. This is a necessary skill for a political merchant