Chapter 79

Having triumphed in the dungeon battle against the Kingdom of Generate and returned to the imperial capital, I was granted a medal adorned with spirit stones and a new mansion closer to the castle.

...And to be given a house spirit as a reward, or rather, to be forced upon me, leaves me with a rather ambiguous feeling.

Honestly, with Felis around, I don’t need another house spirit. As for the mansion, having two is just redundant. Yet, I can’t just sell off the mansion I received from the emperor.

Sighing, I gaze at the more luxurious mansion that now stretches before me.

The emperor said, “This is so you can rush to my side if anything happens,” but it’s too large for me to live in alone.

Even though I’m supposed to hire servants, the mansion is more than twice the size of the one I used to live in.

Incidentally, Sayo, Lumin, and the children are staying temporarily at the mansion where we used to live.

I had considered living together, but in principle, commoners other than servants are not allowed to live in the noble district.

They were granted permission to stay for a certain period as an exception, but eventually, they will have to move to the commoner district.

Considering safety, it’s probably for the best, even for merchants who have permission to set up shops in the noble district.

As a noble who has only been one for a short time, I often learn from the stewards introduced to me by the emperor.

“...Still, what should I do with this mansion? Hey, Kokuyou?”

Kokuyou only responds with a “Hihin” and pushes my back with her nose, urging me to enter the grounds sooner.

“Alright, I get it. I’ll at least meet the house spirit first.”

The gate, which has been unattended for a long time, is a bit rusty, but I manage to open it and step inside. The courtyard is spacious, with the remnants of a fountain in the center.

A house spirit can manage the grounds if an acknowledged owner is present, but if there is no owner, they can only maintain the mansion at a minimum level.

It’s unclear how this works, but even if I asked the house spirit, who doesn’t speak, I wouldn’t get an answer.

However, there is an exception: Felis. But when I ask her, she only says, “I don’t know.”

She says my magic is delicious, but I’m not being drained of magic, and it’s not like a game system, so it’s a mystery.

While thinking about this, I reach for the door.

Slowly opening it, I find the inside is well-maintained.

As I walk through the hall, a white vortex appears before me, and then the house spirit—a young girl—materializes.

She looks to be under ten years old, with white hair that reaches her waist, just like Felis. She has blue eyes and a blue butterfly hair clip.

She stares at me intently, tilting her head in curiosity.

“I am Tōya, the new owner of this mansion. Nice to meet you.”

I greet her politely with a full smile. The young girl house spirit tilts her head in the opposite direction.

“Can I communicate with you like I do with Felis? Felis, can you come out?”

In response to my words, the spirit stone necklace around my neck glows, and Felis appears.

The young girl house spirit—smiles broadly.

Felis also smiles and extends her hands, and the young girl house spirit clings to her.

—Wait? Don’t house spirits not show expressions? Well, Felis started showing expressions after some time.

The young girl house spirit steps back from Felis and looks at me again, nodding vigorously.

It seems I’ve been recognized as the owner of this mansion.

The official who guided me looks surprised, his mouth agape.

“Unbelievable... For two house spirits to cohabit in the same mansion...”

I recall hearing something about this in the past, but since it’s unprecedented, it doesn’t matter to me.

What matters most is that she gets along with Felis.

Thus, having successfully received the mansion, I began my new life in this new place.