After walking for some minutes, Satou and Zena arrive at general store.
"Hello, is anyone here?"
There was nobody to be found on the first floor of the general store, so Satou
called out loudly.
Satou could see on his radar that there was someone on the second floor, so he
adjusted his voice volume accordingly.
*Skill AMPLIFICATION acquired*
"Coming!" A calm voice called from the second floor, and footsteps can be heard coming down the stairs.
Shortly past the entrance of the general store was a wooden counter,
behind which there was a sofa set and a massive work desk.
There were all kinds of documents piled up on the table by the sofa set.
The place had the atmosphere of a detective's office from a bygone era.
"Thank you for waiting. I'm Nadi, a general merchant"
A woman who looked about twenty or so appeared from upstairs, her red
hair woven up in a bun. She was wearing a white shirt and a deep emerald green jumper skirt.
/Isn't she the daughter of the Marienteil/ Nadi think in her mind.
"What can I do for you today?
"Well, I was hoping you could help me find a place to live with a little condition"
"A place to live... condition.."
'I hope we can find a good place partner. We can use that house as our base on this town to'
'But host. I think this Nadi think something interesting'
'What do you mean by interesting? Usually something that you mean interesting is a problem, partner'
'khakhakhakhakha. Let's just see what she think'
/Man and woman.../
/Need a place to live.../
/Condition.../
Ting...
/Marriage/
Nadi really think something interesting there.
"Congratulations on getting married, Marienteil-san. I will help you get the best house available in the town" Said Nadi whit a big smile while holding both Zena's hands.
"Huh, wa..wait.. married? We not married yet!" Said Zena denied Nadi's statement.
"Ehhh, if you two not married yet. Why you looking for a house? Wait, don't tell me... Did you two want to elope? You can't, if you want to elope, you must go out from this town. You can go to different kingdom if possible. I will help you, i know someone that can safely sent the two of you out of town, even out of the kingdom" Nadi's misunderstanding became bigger.
"Awawawaw..." Zena can't say anything.
"Please calm down Nadi-san" Said Satou.
Nadi than looking at Satou and calm herself.
"I think you misunderstood about our purposes here Nadi-san" Said Satou, and Nadi only tilting her head.
Than, Satou explained that he needed a place that would allow his beast folk slaves
to stay with him, and with good security.
A quiet place would be nice if possible, but that wasn't as high a priority
as the first two things.
"Ahhh, I'm sorry for my misunderstanding" Nadi lower her head.
"It's okay, it's not that all of it is wrong. We will have our wedding in 4 year thought" Said Satou, and Zena can only lower her head with an embarrassed face.
"So it's like that" Nadi smirk toward the two.
"And for the house problem. If you looking for houses that okay with demi humans, you'll be best off in the west quarter or the nearby
workers' district. I'd be worried about the chances of crime at that place. But if it's a house, think it's acceptable"
Nadi flipped through some folders of real estate information.
/They actually had ledgers in this world. But I guess it
would be rude to say that out loud, right/
"What does your budget look like?"
"Well, I suppose around two hundred gold coin would be ideal. If that's not enough, I
can go as high as one thousand gold coin actually"
"Are you want to build a castle!" Nadi shout.
"The house at that part is not that expansive in the first place. if you have that much of a money, just buy an estate on the noble district!" Explain Nadi.
Based on the fact that the Gate front Inn was considered a bit expensive at
one large copper coin a night, and considering the extra people with him and a
little margin of error, Satou estimated about two hundred coins.
/I thought that would be enough, but judging by Nadi's reaction, I guess it
was more than enough/
"But for the purpose of having a beast folk in the house. I believe that these three places would be able to meet your requests.
However…" Nadi hesitated for a moment before she explained.
"All three of these houses had a questionable history" Explain Nadi
Satou decided it would be best to have a look at each one before deciding
whether to buy any of them.
After talking about the house, they decide to look at the house themselves. And in the way, Zena ask to Satou.
"Satou, did you already decide to life in this town?" Ask Zena
"No, not really. Why?" Satou answer Zena question with other questions.
"Than, why did you buy a house? not renting one?" Zena said her confuse.
"Oh,, it's just maybe you need to use the house too. Because you will not inherit your parents, i think you need your own house. Or, should i build it from the scratch?" Said Satou.
"Am I overthinking it?" Add Satou. While looking at Zena who just stared at Satou's face.
"No, it's not. Thanks Satou" Zena with her face flushed with embarrassment, muster up the courage to take Satou's hand.
After walking for some time. They arrive at the first house. The house was a two-story estate over three thousand square feet
in size, and a member of some criminal guild had assassinated its former owner. It had the appearance of a stately Western house, with ivy climbing
the stone outer walls.
When Satou examined the floor plan in 3-D with my map, he discovered a huge
hole in an area that couldn't be seen from the main gate.
This was probably where the assassin broke in, and they'd just left it as is.
Garden shrubs made it impossible to see the hole from outside the
grounds, so I asked for a tour and then led them to the hole. Under the guise
of getting lost, of course.
Then they passed by the second house without stopping the carriage. The reason
being that it was directly behind a street lined with brothels.
As soon as Nadi began to explain as much, Zena instructed the coachman
to keep driving, her voice is hard.
Satou could see from the side that her face was turning bright red, which was
kind of cute.
Then the third house was a crumbling mansion right near the outer walls of the
city, said to be haunted by ghosts.
Apparently, it had been the home of a noble until about a hundred years
ago. It was the biggest Western style house I'd seen yet, but Satou think that they definitely
couldn't live there.
Satou actually liked horror thing. But there's reason why he didn't take this house,
the basement. Yes, the basement of the haunted mansion appeared to be the hideout of a criminal
guild.
All kinds of murderers and other serious felons were lurking around
inside. Looking a closer look on the map. Satou discovered an
underground tunnel that led outside the city. He think that it had
been there since a noble owned the mansion. And that tunnel looked like it was being used
for smuggling and such.
Nadi started to head inside, but Satou stopped her.
"I have a strange feeling about this place. Let's not go in. That place is dangerous"
Zena looked at Satou with surprise. For sure, that wasn't the sort of thing that
someone would say after escaping a labyrinth full of wandering skeletons and
monsters would said right
"If there's a ghost or some kind of undead monster, you could always pay
a temple to come and do an exorcism"
Nadi proposed the sort of solution one would expect from a fantasy world.
"If we actually called a priest, I was sure the criminals below would just
hide themselves away thought.
I'll write a letter later explaining what I know and drop it off at a guard
station or something"
Satou explain why that place is dangerous. Of course, Zena and Nadi surprised hearing that.
"Don't said anything. They didn't know that i know they're there. Sstt" Satou said while placing his index finger on his lips. Zena and Nadi just nod their head.
"Let's get back. But we need to report them to the army first right?" Satou makes a suggestion.
After that the three go directly toward the army post near the house and explain everything what they know. The army didn't believe it at first, but after knowing the one who make the report is Satou, and a magic soldier also present there, they immediately mobilized troops to raid the house. Of course with information from Satou about the tunnel, they also place a troops in the other end of the tunnel. And in that day, rumors about a big criminals den got raided by the army and the one who lead them is Satou spread all over the town.
***
In the end, none of the houses they visited met all Satou requirements, so the house tour came to an end without bearing any fruit for them.
"With a budget of a hundred gold coins and more, I'm sure there must be
more options out there. I'll check with some other companies this afternoon
and find a few more properties that might work"
Nadi seemed to be more than willing to take charge.
"How about build a new house?" Nadi give her idea to Satou
"I also have the same idea actually. But if i want to build a house. It's will need a lot of time thought. And the procedure to build a new house is not that easy and fast you know"
"That's true. How about, something that similar like the third house? A property that is abandoned. I can ask a professional worker to do the repairs"
"Hmmm,,, it's good idea. But can you find a quiet place please. It's okay if it's on the outskirts of the town"
"But how about the security?" Nadi said her worries.
"It's okay, i will think it on my end. I can ask my acquaintance for that" Satou smile to Nadi.
"I'm curious who's your acquaintances that might be able to help you. But that's will be rude of me if i ask that, so I won't. I will prepare several possible places according to your request tomorrow"
"Okay, i will came again tomorrow"
Since Satou now had time to kill, he asked Zena if there was
anywhere she wanted to go. Apparently, the restaurant she liked required
reservations in advance, so it wouldn't be possible to go there today.
Zena looked a bit crestfallen about this, but Nadi came to her rescue.
"A flea market just opened up yesterday in the plaza nearby. There are
always tons of bargains there, so the shop manager and I usually go around
on the last day picking up things on clearance" To Zena, she also whispered "It's a
great place for a date" causing Zena's face to turn red.
'I hear everything thought'
'khakhakhakhakha just go host'
According to Nadi, there was a popular love story called The Tragedy of
Muno Marquisate being performed on the outdoor stage that had been set up
in the market.
There were a lot of people there, so Satou narrowed down the range of his
radar, zooming in to a radius of fifteen meters around him. With that, he will know the details of who's came to him. And his efforts didn't bear a fruit.
"Master! nanodesu!"
"Found yooou!"
Pochi and Tama both run vigorously than jump latched onto Satou waist.
Behind them, Liza and Arisa could be seen as well.
'I focused my radar in fifteen meters, but i forgot Pochi and Tama detection have range more than that. Especially Pochi nose'
'Khakhakhakha...'
"Oh? What happened with the shopping? Why you didn't have anything?" Ask Satou by after seeing they didn't have any baggage.
"Our baggage was starting to get heavy, so we dropped it all off at the inn.
Look at this!"
Arisa took off her hooded overcoat and handed it to Liza, then did a little
twirl on the spot.
Her pale pink skirt fluttered in the air, showing off a glimpse of her bare
legs—although, being a child, there was nothing whatsoever to *show off*.
These must have been new clothes from Teputa Avenue.
Pochi and Tama opened their overcoats, too, proudly showing off their
new outfits. Tama wore a cute ruffled pink dress, Pochi wore an outfit like
Martha's, with a white dress shirt and yellow skirt, and Liza now sported a
sturdy looking getup that looked like a military uniform. She was wearing
trousers underneath a skirt.
Pochi and Tama tried to twirl around and show off like Arisa had, but
since the plaza was getting more crowded, Liza stopped them.
"You all look very cute" Satou patted Pochi and Tama over their hoods,
praising everyone.
'I wasn't just being polite here, they really were cute'
'Yeah, Pochi and Tama will always cute. I want to came out and hug them!!!'
'Why not?'
'Of course not. Not yet! I will endure this torture. But i will have the two for myself when i can freely come out. Khakhakhakha'
"By the way Arisa, is that a wig?" Ask Satou
"Heh-heh, that's right! It's to hide the color of my hair"
Indeed, Arisa was wearing a golden-blond wig.
Apparently, she bought it in order to keep her violet-colored hair from
causing problems with its cursed association.
Since it'd ward off trouble, I'd consider it a necessary expense.
"But there is one more thing that I wanted to talk to you about buying…"
Arisa pressed her nonexistent chest up against Satou, batting her eyes at him
coquettishly.
"Cut that out. What is it that you need?"
Satou pulled Arisa off and asked the question.
Zena's silent gaze make the satou feel a chill, and it'd be
even worse if Pochi and Tama started copying that behavior.
After letting Zena know where we were going, Satou went with Arisa to see
what she wanted to buy. The open-air stall she led me to had karuta style
playing cards on display.
With permission from the young shopkeeper, Satou examine
it.
The front of each card had drawings of wells, buckets, and so on, while
the back showed a Shig n word that corresponded to the picture.
The pictures were monochromatic, but key points were made to stand out
so that it was easy to understand what was being depicted, for the most part. The problem
is the "water" card, but there
weren't many other ambiguous cards like it.
0There were a hundred in the set altogether, each one carefully illustrated.
/This might be a good way to teach Pochi and Tama some vocabulary/
"What an interesting idea" Said Satou to the shopkeeper.
"Thanks! I thought of them myself, to teach my kids back home how to
read"
Apparently, the shopkeeper started out by drawing them on wood scraps
with charcoal. Thinking he might be able to sell them, he became acquainted
with a painter and talked him into making a set, then looked for a company to
sell them.
However, he explained that he wasn't able to make a deal, as they
couldn't come to an agreement between the cost of production and the selling
price. Apparently, the cards cost four silvers to make, but the company
wanted to sell them for only one.
"So each one is painted individually?"
"Well, yes, of course… is there any other way to draw it beside do it one by one?"
"I didn't really know either thought. Hahahaha" Satou laugh it out.
"But is the material only wood? Can you use other material?" Ask Satou to the shopkeeper.
"It's not easy to find a good material that can be use. Save for children and robust"
"I'm not good whit this kind of thing, so i can't help you. How much will you sell if i want one set?"
"Four silver please. I already happy enough that other people know what good about this" The shopkeeper smile.
"What's your plan for the next time you make them? It seems like there's
a demand, so the only problem is the price. It wouldn't be so bad to
experiment a little, right? You could try to find cheaper material or maybe
some method of cheaply mass-producing them. And something like this will surely popular in the noble society. They need something to educate their children right" Said Satou while giving the payment money to the shopkeeper.
/A little bit of advice couldn't hurt, right?/
Satou stole a glance over his shoulder just long enough to see the fire returning
to the young shopkeeper's eyes as they walked away from the stall.
"What's left to buy after this?"
"A few small personal necessities and such. If there's enough room in the
budget, is it all right if I buy some sewing tools and a hand mirror?" Arisa said with hopeful eyes.
"Sure, as long as it's a necessary item and within the budget, I don't mind.
In fact, it's fine if the hand mirror is a little outside the budget, so go ahead
and buy one for us"
Parting ways with the others as they left to continue shopping, Zena and Satou
started to head toward the stage to see the play, but Arisa's voice stopped them.
"Master, aren't you going to see the stage play?"
"That's the plan"
"You bought the tickets they were selling at the entrance to the flea
market, then?"
"No, I didn't…"
"Lilio told me you just have to pay a penny at the stage entrance…" Zena said explaining why they didn't buy a ticket.
"You could do that, but then you'll have to stand in the back and watch.
The tickets cost two coppers, but you can get a seat inside if you have them"
"It's ten times more expensive just to be able to sit?"
Zena was surprised.
"Zena, you know how long the play will be?" Satou ask.
"No, i never see it myself" Zena embarrassed not knowing about it.
"I want to see it too" Arisa lift her hand.
"Me too""nanodesu" Tama and Pochi also do the same. Liza just silently waiting behind them.
"Then, let's buy the tickets. Tama and Pochi will sleep in the middle of play. So it will be easy if we have a sit"
"I will not""not sleeping nanodesu" Tama and Pochi pouting in protest. Satou just pat their head.
Satou than gave Liza a little pouch with twenty copper coins, and the rest of them
headed toward the stage, while browsing the flea market as they went.
Zena seemed to be having fun, and there's no displeasure as she walked around holding hands with Pochi
and Tama. But still, Satou feel a little guilty because it's should be just the two of them.
"I'm sorry Zena. It should be just the two of us" Satou apologize to Zena.
"No, it's alright. I'm enjoying this time" Zena smile.
Arisa look at the two curiously. And she eventually ask.
"Master, is Zena-san your lover?" Arisa ask Satou with a straight face.
"Ehmm, you can said it like that. She's my fiancee. And we already plan our wedding too" Satou answer with his poker face. Zena can only lower her head in embarrassed.
"Heh!? Why you didn't said anything about that, master? I fell bad trying to woo you in front of your fiancee, master" Arisa said it while hugging Satou arm and looking at Satou with a smirk.
"It's okay. Satou already prepare a house for us to live together. So i will not jealous just for that" Zena said with a cold stare toward Satou.
"Zena-san, why you not hug master too? It's good you know" Arisa invites Zena.
Tama and Pochi than clinging at Satou led after looking at Arisa that hugging his arm. And Liza hug Satou from behind.
"See, even Tama, Pochi and Liza doing it" Arisa smirk toward Zena.
"Came on. Just hug master. Better you kiss him too" Arisa tease Zena.
"I will not doing something like that in the public!" Zena shout.
"Hehh...So it's okay if it's private" Arisa smirk. Zena hide her face with her hand.
"Ufufufufufufu..." Arisa hiding her mouth using her hand.
"Arisa, stop teasing Zena to much" Satou flick Arisa fore head.
"Ehehehehe" Arisa laugh while rubbing her fore head.
Satou walk toward Zena and pat her head.
"It's okay Zena. Arisa just teasing you" Satou smile.
"It's okay, when the house finish. I can hug you as much as i want" Zena smiled and said that in a small voice, so that no one could hear her words.
Of course Satou could hear Zena's words clearly with the skills he had.