Chapter 202 - New Residence and Its Price
"So, this appears to be a park. Children don't play here; stone-paved walking paths wind between the trees, kept neatly trimmed. This area is fenced off and has a sturdy iron gate that's currently unlocked. It's about the length of the street, so not very large. Maira, Claire, and I were standing in front of it. This place resembles the elven village, and since I met with Katarzyna of House Skynorth yesterday, and talked about living here, and she wanted to sell me this place and later she told that her granddaughter Petra wanted me be her husband."
"At that price!" I cut her off. It was an amount I couldn't pay.
"I was trying to avoid talking about that. Claire says the old elven domain used to look like this. It's gradually become more like other cities, and only this district remains. It's left as a protected area—"
"A protected area that needs protection? The buildings will rot if nobody lives here. Marmie-sama only lives here on the condition that the rent is discounted. And, Claire's investment in the Mateo Company—since she met with House Skynorth today—means it’s being sustained. Teo's mother is actually..."
Claire glared at her before she could reveal Marmie's mother’s identity.
"Matteo-sama can't be kept in the dark forever!"
"Then tell him yourself!"
"Anyway, this is basically a gift from the elven race. Attaching a price prevents people from getting suspicious, but putting it up for sale at a normal price would be absurd!"
Maira nodded.
"Claire is right. Lady Claire asked about it when we were discussing it at the Starunion residence. How can we expect you to live here otherwise? The place is a symbol of their respect for you and an investment in the future. It's to bind you closer to the elven race, and through you, House Starunion. They could simply let you have it for free, but then you'd be wary, unless they have some ulterior motive, they have no reason to trust a power suddenly appear like you!" She then looked to Claire, "You are doing what Marinne-sama did for the elven race and almost accomplished, she picked Masha from that village to know him and after her 'death' her effects live on!"
"That’s it. I’ve had enough of this discussion about how my body can be bought. Let's talk about the bedrooms."
Maira smiled mischievously.
"The upper floor has ten or more beds. We bought large beds for you to use. The other four buildings have enough space for four people to live in. How about separating them in half for two people each?"
Mizuki snorted.
"You're planning to bring men back, aren't you!"
"What is?! I am too!"
She elbowed me.
"Mash, a crystal core could fetch a considerable amount. One of that size could be-"
Marmie took an Ayran and placed it down, so Patricia wiped her mouth.
"Did you get a crystal core?"
I took the crystal core out of my storage. It was bigger than the one Mii had, but smaller than the one I saw at the Great Temple.
"I was thinking of donating it to the church."
"There was just the incident. Mash stopped them, but that was what they wanted to happen. And you were the only one who got arrested and brought before the Four House Council. Bishop Eliza probably thinks you're angry at her."
Strictly speaking, it was me and Marianne who were arrested and questioned, but it wasn't a big deal, so I kept quiet. If I gave the crystal core to Marmie-paying might solve the problem-but Eliza's feelings towards me worried me. Fear breeds resentment easily. I didn't want to spend time resolving it, nor did I want to get deeply involved.
"Never mind, I'll continue saving bit by bit to pay the Starunion family. I don't know what kind of attitude she'd take if I gave it to her directly, so can you, Maira, pass it to Eliza?"
I didn't want to be worshipped as a god. To be honest, giving it to Marmie is even more of a problem because she can read my emotions.
"Understood. But the church has money. I'll ask if they can spare some."
Maira nodded.
"Now, about the room assignments..." She said.
"The upper floor can accommodate over ten people. There are also large beds, so Mash can use them. There are four other houses which could be used for four people living in them. How about splitting them in half for two people each?"
Mizuki choked.
"You're planning to bring men back, aren't you!"
"What is?! I am too!"
She elbowed me.
"I-I mean, Claire and Lady Marianne have their rooms. I wasn't planning on living there either. Perhaps Mariana and I can take one of the houses for the time being, and the last one is a guest room."
Marmie sipped her Ayran and placed it down. Patricia wiped her mouth.
"Then there wouldn't be a room for me and Lady Marianne."
Claire raised an objection.
"You can stay with Mash. You'll never be alone here, right?"
Claire nodded.
"Right... ...That’s correct. Perhaps a separate room for me and Maira?"
No one opposed it, and Mizuki nodded in satisfaction.
"Wait, why does Mizuki want her own room?"
"I need time alone sometimes!"
"For masturbation?"
"No! I want to study for when we return to our original world, or-"
"You're so serious!"
I secretly vowed that I’d soon break in and shove the thing Marina gave me into her.