Chapter 21

The morning in the capital city.

After having a late breakfast (200 goats), Lilia and I walked down the cobblestone main street.

Lilia clung to my arm, pressing herself against me.

"Hehe, I'm so happy, Master."

"You seem to be in a good mood. What's up?"

"Yes! Having a home to live in together is truly special."

Lilia clung to me even more. Her abundant silver hair shimmered in the morning sun.

We then visited a real estate agency in the city.

To rent a place that would serve as our base in the capital.

Since it was a company listed on the map we received from the Adventurer's Guild, I thought it would be somewhat reliable.

The real estate agency was on a side street off the main street.

In front of the store, there were sheets of paper with property information posted.

One room, two rooms, no bath, with a bath. Residential shops, detached houses with gardens, mansions with carriage stops.

There were various properties listed.

All of them were expensive.

Lilia, standing next to me, frowned and groaned.

"Hmm. As expected of the capital... It's expensive."

"Well, in the worst case, we could get the cheapest room and live in the forest cabin."

"That cabin... Isn't it dangerous with monsters? It might be destroyed while we're away. We don't even know who owns it."

"That's why I wanted to come to a real estate agency that passed the Adventurer's Guild's review."

"Hmm... If Master has a plan..."

"Let's go in."

"Okay."

We held hands and entered the store.

The store had a counter in the middle, and a negotiation space in the corner, separated by a screen.

When we entered, a middle-aged man with glasses sitting at the counter suddenly stood up with a friendly smile.

"Oh, welcome. Are you adventurers?"

"Yes."

"Please, this way. I'm the owner, Rent."

We were guided to the negotiation space in the corner of the store.

At first glance, it seemed like a friendly reception.

However, I had seen the owner's eyes when we entered.

He had quickly glanced at my sword and Lilia's armor and flail.

Good equipment—judging us as wealthy adventurers.

—We need to be careful not to be taken advantage of, like at a slave market.

Lilia and I sat side by side on a two-seater sofa, and the owner, holding a file, sat across from us.

"Welcome. We specialize in properties suitable for adventurers, so I'm sure you'll find something you like."

"Suitable for adventurers?"

"Yes. Houses where the whole party can live, or multiple rooms with separate bedrooms and baths for men and women. Also, properties near healing facilities, as many adventurers get injured."

"I see. That's well thought out."

"Of course. —So, what kind of property are you looking for today?"

I glanced at Lilia.

She shook her silver hair and looked at the owner with a serious expression.

"We're looking for a rental property. The number of people living there will be two, so we don't need many rooms. Even one room would be fine. The location can be anywhere within the capital, but we prefer a first-floor room."

"First floor? Why is that?"

"After an adventure, we often feel weak. Climbing stairs to the second or third floor would be difficult in that state."

—That's a good explanation.

We needed a first or ground floor for the dungeon entrance.

The owner nodded, believing the lie.

"I see. With a small party, the burden is indeed greater... Then..."

The owner flipped through the file and pulled out a few sheets of paper with properties listed.

He laid them out on the table and explained.

"First, this one is near the southern wall. It has three rooms, a kitchen, and a storage room. It's close to a well and the gate, so it's convenient for returning home."

The monthly rent is 130,000 goats.

It's expensive, but with three rooms, it seems reasonably priced.

Lilia frowned.

"The wall is too close, so the sunlight might be poor. The drainage is also bad, so the laundry might not dry well."

—She's observant.

The owner showed another sheet.

"Then, how about a property on the north side of the city? It's an apartment in a quiet residential area. It has one room with water and a bath, and each room has a balcony with good sunlight."

The monthly rent is 150,000 goats.

It's expensive.

However, the north side of the capital is a high-end area where many nobles and officials live. It's a peaceful and secure location. Having water might be a good point.

Lilia put her finger to her chin and thought.

"It seems nice, but... there's no storage or kitchen... It looks like a room preferred by noble children who eat out. It might not be suitable for adventurers."

"You have a keen eye, madam."

"Oh, madam, no, no..."

Lilia waved her hand in front of her blushing face.

The owner showed another sheet.

"Then, how about this? It's a rather old two-story house, but it's on the north side of the street, so it gets good sunlight. It has plenty of storage, a bath, and water."

The monthly rent is 160,000 goats.

The first floor has two rooms, and the second floor has three. It seems reasonably priced.

Lilia stared at the paper and groaned.

"The price seems reasonable... However, it's in the northwest, so it's far from the southeast forest and dungeon... The first floor is occupied by the kitchen and bath, so we'd have to climb the stairs to rest after an adventure, which would be tiring..."

I asked a question that came to mind.

"Are there few properties near the center of the city?"

"The main street, second, and third streets have a lot of foot traffic, so the first floor is usually a shop. The second floor is either a warehouse or living space for the shop. The third and fourth floors are often rental properties, but you'd have to climb stairs."

"I see. That makes sense."

I recalled the city's layout and nodded.

The first floor of buildings facing the street was almost always a shop.

The introductions continued, but no good properties were found.

—The first or ground floor is indeed a challenge.

I stood up and said.

"I'm sorry, but there doesn't seem to be a property that appeals to us. We'd like to walk around the capital and think again."

"Ah, I see."

"Thank you for your help—oh, right."

"What is it?"

"There was a log cabin in the southeast forest. Whose property is it?"

"In the southeast forest where monsters live? —Where exactly?"

Lilia answered.

"Quite far south... About a 7-hour walk in a straight line."

"Such a deep area! —No, it's far beyond the danger line for ordinary people. It would be impossible to send materials and workers to build a house there. Even if adventurers were hired to guard the construction, it would be destroyed by monsters immediately after completion."

The owner said, wide-eyed.

—This surprise seems genuine. The cabin is definitely unowned.

It's good to get an expert's opinion.

"I see. Then it might be a mistake. I'll come back again. It was helpful."

"Thank you. Please discuss with Master and come back."

"Yes, anytime. We always have good properties available."

We left the store.

The morning sun was blinding.

I said to Lilia, standing next to me.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't decide."

"No, it's fine. A place to live shouldn't be decided easily."

"Then, let's go for a walk around the capital."

"Yes, Master!"

Lilia smiled and clung to my arm. Her soft body pressed against me.

◇ ◇ ◇

We walked around the city together.

We looked around everywhere. It might have been the first time we walked around the capital without working.

Occasionally, when we got hungry, we bought skewers, fried bread, and crepes from street vendors. 500 goats.

We also rested on benches in small parks.

Under the dappled sunlight, Lilia let out a cute sigh.

"Just being here with you makes me happy, Master..."

"Walking together makes even a boring street fun. I just realized that."

"I'm happy if Master is happy."

She clung to me, pressing her chest against me.

Her smile looking up at me was very cute.

I put my hand around her slim waist and stood up.

"Let's go for another walk."

"Yes, Master!"

We walked through the city, clinging closely together.

—Then.

We were walking down a side street about five minutes from the Adventurer's Guild when we saw a building with a notice posted.

It was a small space on the first floor of the building.

It seemed to be a bentō shop.

There was a notice posted at the entrance.

When we got closer and read it, it said, "We are closing. Thank you for your long support."

It seemed the owner had died, leaving the shop vacant.

Looking into the store from the entrance, we saw that it didn't connect to the second floor. It was a first-floor-only property.

At that moment, an idea struck me.

"Right. We don't need a residence to create an entrance!"

"What!? You mean here!?"

"We just need an entrance. We can live in the forest cabin."

"But... that place is..."

"If my guess is correct, it should be fine."

"I understand. I trust you, Master."

Lilia looked up at me with a serious expression.

Her straightforwardness made me happy.

Total funds: 45 large gold coins, 31 gold coins, 11 large silver coins, 58 silver coins.

4,826,800 goats.

Thank you for your support with bookmarks and ratings!

We've reached 37th place in the daily overall ranking and 12th in the genre ranking!

Weekly overall ranking is 141st, and 36th in the genre.

It's amazing. Thanks to everyone.

So, I'm doing a memorial update today.

The next chapter will be in the evening or night.

→ 22. Trying to Rent a Shop