Volume 10, Chapter 18 – I Want to Own My Own Mansion!

Although the Norta Empire had encountered a rare cold spell this year, for a city like Wilfred, which was near the sea and far from the extreme north, the cold was only to the extent of making people switch from their usual single layer of clothing to long sleeves. By Yisi’s estimation, the temperature in Wilfred City was around 20 degrees Celsius. If the air weren’t so humid, and if the sea breeze, tinged with a faint salty-fishy smell, were a little lighter, it would be a very pleasant place to live.

“Everyone’s clothes here are so revealing. Don’t they feel cold?”

Mary, visiting a coastal city for the first time, was full of curiosity. People wearing magnificent long robes were rarely seen on the streets of Wilfred City. To stay cool, most of the men wore short sleeves and shorts, while the women were dressed like dancers. Their tops were sexy short shirts that revealed their navels and collarbones, and for their lower half, they merely tied a piece of brightly colored cloth, like a beach towel, around their waists. Almost everyone’s skin had a bronze tan from long-term sun exposure.

At first, this attire gave a very sexy impression. However, because the people here lived by the sea and their skin was constantly battered by the sea breeze, it was not only rough, but their hair was also like withered grass, neither smooth nor shiny. In addition, they spent a lot of time working and had no time to take care of their appearance, so it was not at all as graceful as one might imagine. Of course, it was undeniable that some of the young women who paid attention to their upkeep and looked to be of some status were indeed very sexy.

Yisi glanced at the [Omniscient Map]. Although it was only 7:30 in the morning, and the sky was still early, the streets were already overcrowded. Wilfred City was full of tropical flair. Compared to the inland peddlers who mainly sold vegetables, the peddlers here mostly sold tropical fruits and seafood. Shouts for recruiting sailors and adventurer-guards could often be heard on the streets. Since paper was very expensive in this world, people mostly recruited by shouting in the streets. Just like Wilfred City’s other name—the City of Trade—this city’s market was quite lively.

Retracting her gaze from a stall selling fruit under a canvas awning ¹ a type of roofing system that delivers weather protection, privacy and aesthetics to outdoor spaces such as patios and terraces. Awnings are directly installed and supported by the wall from which it is installed or attached. , Yisi smiled and answered Mary.

“It’s still early morning. When it’s noon, Mary will probably feel hot.”

Having just come from the cold Duchy of Chloe, Mary’s impression was that it was still winter outside. So before leaving the inn, Mary had changed into a white long-sleeved dress and a large, round-brimmed bonnet. If she had stuck a feather in it like Tina, she would probably give off the feeling of a noble lady.

Pressing down on her white bonnet to keep it from falling off, Tina raised her head and asked.

“Waking this one up so early, where is Yisi going?”

“To a nearby agency.”

“Agency?” Edith, equally puzzled, pressed. “What kind of place is that?”

“Ah, it should be called an exchange in this world. I want to buy a mansion in Wilfred City.”

Wilfred City was under the jurisdiction of the Norta Empire, and there were no Ymir Temples in the Norta Empire. This cut off her option of lodging in a temple. Although she could continue to stay in an inn like last night, an inn and a home were two completely different concepts. Her group had already grown to eight people. Even if she shared a room with Laxy, Mary with Tiffany, and Pepe with Refina, they would still need at least five rooms, not to mention Tina’s status as the Demon Lord.

Renting too many rooms made communication very troublesome, and there were also the problems of prying eyes and the inn’s environment. Inns in this other world were not cleaned as often as those on Earth. The inns here focused more on keeping the price of lodging as low as possible than on comfort. This led to problems like beds in disrepair and poor soundproofing. It was fine if the traveler in the next room was a quiet person, but if it was a couple passionately in love, trying to sleep at night was torture. The reason she had gotten up so eagerly at seven in the morning was precisely because she had suffered a mental assault all night.

I’m so jealous of Laxy, being able to stand by my bed without her expression changing.

I remember Laxy saying that the First and Second Rank angels in the Kingdom of the Gods had physiological needs and a weak sense of shame, so they often did that kind of thing in front of Laxy. Laxy could probably act as if nothing was happening because she was used to it.

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While inwardly covering her eyes, Yisi held up one finger and explained to Edith.

“Um, didn’t I say it before, when we were in the Ymir Territory? That I wanted to live in a small town by the sea with Pepe in the future. After seeing how lively Wilfred City was yesterday, the idea of living here came up.”

“I don’t have an opinion on you wanting to live here, but this isn’t a small town at all.”

Is she feeling shy?

Yisi noticed Pepe was playing with a strand of her white hair.

“Ahaha… it’s not like I mean to live here forever. I’m just buying it as a mansion for winter vacations. Isn’t it the same for those nobles who have their own territory but still buy a mansion in the royal capital?” At this point, Yisi glanced at Refina, who quietly let out a sigh of relief. Refina was probably considering that the sun here was too strong, and it would be hard for her to go out. This was also precisely why Yisi didn’t plan to live here permanently. Yisi pretended not to have seen this and rephrased it in a way that wouldn’t trouble Refina. “Besides, it’s too close to the sea here. It’s not good for the skin, so it’s not suitable for a long-term stay.”

Edith nodded to herself.

“I see. Indeed, this place is very suitable as a vacation spot. The Pescia Territory is too cold.”

“But Wilfred City is the largest coastal trade city in the Norta Empire. Buying a mansion here won’t be cheap. With our current savings, I’m afraid it will be difficult. Onee-sama, if it’s just for a vacation, we should buy a mansion in a small town or village on the outskirts of Wilfred City.”

Camilla’s suggestion made Yisi pause for a moment.

She had indeed forgotten the issue of money.

“Er, Camilla, how many gold coins do we have on hand?”

“Thirty-seven platinum coins, eighty-one gold coins, and some silver, copper, and iron coins.”

So that converts to 3,781 gold coins? It’s definitely more than enough to buy a house for an ordinary family, but to buy a noble’s mansion with a garden, courtyard, underground storage, and a separate building for servants, it’s probably quite difficult. Not to mention, after buying the mansion, she would need to hire people for long-term upkeep. She really didn’t want to travel all the way from the Blood Clan’s territory to Wilfred in the future, only to be greeted by a massive mansion caked in dust from long-term neglect. Just the thought of it was maddening.

Not enough gold coins…

Yisi frowned, troubled.

All this time, she had almost never encountered a situation where she lacked money. Whether it was staying in an inn, buying gifts for her companions, or purchasing the magic materials needed to forge magic weapons, as long as she needed it, Camilla would give her the corresponding amount of gold. Plus, they frequently received profits from Margaret, and the group would also sell monster materials and magic cores from their hunts to the Adventurers’ Association and the Magic Casters’ Association. Therefore, she had always thought that she and her companions had at least a few gem coins in savings. She didn’t expect the reality to be so different from her expectations.

Camilla added in a low voice.

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“If Onee-sama had listened to my advice last time and cut back on various expenses, we should have at least one gem coin in savings by now. We would only need to save a little more to have enough to buy a noble’s mansion.”

“Is that so…”

Yisi couldn’t help but sigh. Actually, she still had the three gem coins Evelyn had given her when she left the Ymir Territory. But those three gem coins had come from Evelyn pawning her treasures, which she had saved for many years. Their sentimental value was far greater than the value of the coins themselves, so they were on her ‘list of items that must never be used.’

It seems my only choice is to forge a magic weapon like the Holy Sword Durandal and sell it.

That magic weapon, which she had given to the Marquis of Taris and was called the Holy Sword Durandal, had been sold at auction for twenty gem coins. In the past, she always felt she had more than enough gold to spend, which was why she hadn’t gotten into the business of selling magic weapons. Looking at it now, it seemed there was no harm in occasionally being an arms dealer.

Mistaking Yisi’s silence for regret, Camilla said softly.

“Onee-sama, should we go back?”

Edith crossed one arm over her chest and joined the conversation.

“Mmm, I didn’t bring that much gold with me either. But as long as I write a letter to Father, Father should send someone with the gold. Since it’s a place we’ll use for vacations in the future, it’s only natural that I should pay for it.”

“Eh?” Yisi blinked. “No, I don’t intend to give up on buying it. I’ll take care of the money. For now, let’s go to the exchange first.”

Responding to her companions’ worries with a smile, Yisi followed the [Omniscient Map]’s guidance, leading her companions through the bustling market to a two-story stone building that looked no different from an ordinary residence, with only a sign hanging by the door that read ‘North District Housing Exchange.’ When Yisi had asked the innkeeper where she could buy a house, the innkeeper had recommended this place. According to the innkeeper, the proprietor here was originally an adventurer. Because her adventuring partner had died, she gave up adventuring, chose to live in Wilfred City, and made a living as an agent, helping people gather information on buying and selling houses.

“Ordinary.”

“Shh. If the owner hears you, she’ll boil Tiffany into jelly.”

“Demon.”

No, no, Tiffany is the one who’s like a demon, a little demon at that.

Secretly sticking out her tongue, Yisi pushed open the plain door and walked in with her companions.

Since it was a place where everyone would live together in the future, Yisi wanted everyone to choose it together.

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“Welcome.”

Just as they entered, a mature elven woman with pointed ears and revealing clothing appeared before them. The [Omniscient Map] reported that this was a level 31 Elven magic caster.

The agent the innkeeper mentioned must be this elven big sister in front of me. Yisi looked her up and down. Compared to the locals with their brown skin, this elven woman’s skin was very fair. Her appearance was similar to that of a human woman in her early thirties, but since elves had a longer lifespan than even the Blood Clan, she was definitely at an “old granny” age.

What Yisi found strange was that, based on what the innkeeper said, she had initially thought this elven big sister was the type who was very devoted and single-minded in love. However, judging from the man in the room who was frantically getting dressed, and the elven big sister’s own disheveled clothes, the “single-minded” part seemed to be just her own wishful thinking.

Noticing Yisi’s strange gaze, the elven woman, the proprietress, asked with a grin.

“Surprised?”

“…Mhm. Before I came, the innkeeper told me you were single.”

Yisi’s honest answer made the proprietress laugh out loud.

“Almost everyone who sees me says that. No need to be embarrassed, little girl. In our elven world, this is just a normal greeting. It doesn’t count as being unfaithful to my husband. Elves value the heart. That said, little girl of the Blood Clan, this is a housing exchange, not a place to play, okay?”

Is she treating me like a naive child who doesn’t know the world?

As for how she knew she was of the Blood Clan, she probably smelled the scent of blood on her.

Not minding being underestimated, Yisi cut straight to the chase.

“Mhm. We want a relatively quiet and sufficiently large mansion. The requirements are that it must have a courtyard like a noble’s mansion, as well as a storage room and a separate building for servants to live in. Don’t worry about the price.”

“Oh? How rare.” The elven woman’s previously indifferent eyes suddenly turned serious. When her gaze swept over Laxy, her expression gradually became thoughtful. “Usually, the people who come here are at least wealthy people in their thirties or forties. It’s rare for young people like you, little girl, to be able to afford a house in this city of trade. Ladies, you should just go back.”

“Are you looking down on us?”

Camilla’s question made the elven woman show a bitter expression, and she spread her hands helplessly.

“Apologies, it’s not that I’m looking down on you, but I don’t have a house that meets your requirements. What the little girl described is a noble’s mansion. Ever since the emperor ascended the throne, that kind of thing is already a historical relic in the Norta Empire. We at the North District Exchange don’t have such a luxurious mansion. If you ladies are set on buying one, you might be able to meet a former noble in a hurry to sell if you visit the former ‘noble street’ one by one. But I advise you ladies not to get your hopes up. The nobles who were willing to sell their mansions have already done so. Those who aren’t willing to sell, mostly don’t need the money.”

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“Dear, don’t we have an abandoned noble’s mansion on our hands?”

The man, who had finished dressing, walked up to the elven woman and whispered. Because his voice was very low, Yisi had to concentrate to hear him clearly.

“Where? How come I’ve never heard of it?”

“Didn’t you tell me last time? Several years ago, before His Majesty Adonis ascended the throne, the owner of that mansion went out to handle some business and left the house in your care, but he never returned. Later, when His Majesty ascended the throne and wanted to reclaim all ownerless noble mansions, you took ownership of that mansion to prevent it from being taken.”

“Sss… that’s right. But that mansion is completely uninhabitable. Even the curse-breaker I hired at a high price couldn’t break the barrier there.”

“That doesn’t stop us from selling it. We can trick this group of girls into buying it at a low price first. After the transaction is complete, we take them to the mansion. Even if they want to back out then, it’ll be too late.”

“No. That goes against my principles. I can’t deceive customers.”

Frowning, the mature elf pushed the man away and looked apologetic.

“I’m sorry, young ladies. I really don’t have a mansion here that meets your conditions. You should go and check on the noble street.”

“What about the mansion that man mentioned?”

If it’s just a barrier, I should be able to break it easily.

Having her conversation overheard by Yisi, the elf’s apologetic face showed a bit more guilt.

“That mansion was the property of a former high-level magic caster. Before the owner left, he set up a powerful barrier around the house. We can’t even get close, let alone live in it. Little girl, you should give up.”

“Can you let us try first? If we can remove the seal, you sell the mansion to us. If we can’t, I will pay you one gold coin as compensation for closing your shop today.”

“One gold coin? Of course you can!”

Hearing the offer of one gold coin, the man immediately agreed on the elf’s behalf. The elven woman hurriedly pushed the man aside.

“O-one gold coin isn’t necessary! If you’re paying compensation, one silver coin is enough. With an angel in your group, you might be able to break the barrier. There’s no time to lose, I’ll take you ladies to see the barrier—oh no, the mansion, right now.”