kscans

Chapter 170 - Finding a Home

As I have explained before, the Mutual Aid Society handles a fair number of requests related to non-humans. This time, I, or rather, the Strikers, ended up taking a job involving a non-human. Though Takahashi and Suzuki are running a little late, so I have gone on ahead.

"I'm coming in."

When I opened the door to a reception room at the Mutual Aid Society headquarters,

"Oh. You are Satou... is that not Satou Hideo. It has been too long."

Setsuko-chan greeted me. She was the non-human involved in this particular job.

"You have only shown your face once or twice since then, so I was lonely, you know?"

"Sorry about that. I have had my own share of things keeping me busy."

I guess it has been about a month since we took her in. Setsuko-chan had earned the right to live in this world. That included treatment for her battered body, but what she needed most of all was the knowledge required to get by in this world. The Mutual Aid Society gave her lessons, and after she passed her final exam, they finally decided she was ready to be discharged.

Still, she was from another world, so the Mutual Aid Society was not cruel enough to just throw her out on the street with nothing. They gave her a considerable sum of money to get started, and on top of that, they hired me to help her get settled, with my payment covered by the society. I was likely chosen not just for my power, but also because they valued my experience in helping two other otherworlders acclimate to this world. Takahashi and Suzuki are coming along because they are the same gender as her. They are mainly here to support me.

"Anyway, Setsuko-chan, your Japanese has gotten pretty good."

She had been able to communicate thanks to my translation barrier, but if she was going to live here, that could not last forever. So once her body had healed to a certain extent, I literally hammered the bare minimum of knowledge into her head. Honestly, it was not a method I could be proud of. It puts a heavy strain on the mind and body. The reason I did it anyway was partly to smooth out her learning process... but also because her attempts to pick people up were getting out of hand. Her constant use of the barrier to hit on all sorts of people was deemed a problem, and it was taken away from her.

Though, it seems she was only ever trying to chat them up, not get into any deep relationships.

She is a monstrous fool who crosses worlds for her fetish, but her sense of chastity is surprisingly solid. Her hitting on everyone was probably... similar to a guy's shallow desire to get friendly with any girl he finds cute. Still, her behavior was a disturbance to public morals all the same, which is why her words were taken from her. But to get this good in just a month. It took the Arima brothers much longer to study.

"Well, that is just the nature of my profession."

"Oh, right. You are an archaeologist. I guess analyzing ancient languages is part of the job."

"Indeed. The sensation of letting fresh knowledge soak into you is something I never tire of, no matter how many times I experience it."

"Wow... that is amazing. I am not a big fan of studying. By the way, what did you decide on for a name?"

"Morimoto Setsuko is my new name. The given name is the same, only now written with kanji."

The Arima brothers were the same. Why do they pick such Japanese-sounding names when they look completely foreign? I am sure the Mutual Aid Society suggested some more fitting foreign names... Apparently she is passing herself off as half-Japanese, but she has way more than a half-Japanese look to her.

"Ah, yes. I will be in your care from now on, so I should properly introduce myself again."

With a little cough, Setsuko... Setsuko-chan placed a hand on her chest and slowly began to speak.

"I am Morimoto Setsuko. An elf who has come from another world in pursuit of knowledge. As I am a non-human from your perspective, you may feel hesitant to associate with me, but I would be happy if we could get along."

She smoothly extended her right hand, and I took it without hesitation. My illusions about elves may have been shattered, but that is that. It is also a fact that she is not a bad person, so I have no reason to refuse her friendship.

"I am Satou Hideo. A lot of my pals are non-humans. I am not going to get flustered over a mere elf at this point. It is nice to meet you."

"Indeed."

What a refreshing exchange with someone from another world. Listening to us, one might think so, but your eyes are gleaming, Setsuko-chan. I am not happy about it at all. Because being the target of her amorous glances means I am definitely not handsome. She comes from a world with absurdly high standards for beauty, so even an average person is... just thinking about it is depressing.

"Looks like my two pals who are coming with us are still going to be a while, so let's decide what we can for now."

"I am counting on you."

"First up is a place to live. Do you have any preferences? Not that you would know what to ask for."

Apartments, mansions, single-family houses. I took out my phone to show her some examples, but Setsuko-chan stopped me with her hand.

"That is fine. I have taken the liberty of doing my own research on a computer."

"How diligent of you. So, what kind of place would you like?"

Since she is a scholar, maybe a house? She will probably need space for her documents and materials. And maybe she would appreciate being near a library? I mulled it over, but,

"An apartment."

"An apartment?"

"I am a single person, and above all, my livelihood is not yet stable. It would be wrong to start with a house right away."

With the money from the Mutual Aid Society and her own abilities, she could probably earn enough for a house just by taking on a few jobs. The Mutual Aid Society would handle all the guarantor business and what not. Still, she is right that it would be getting ahead of herself. Choosing to rent is a sensible decision.

"It seems apartments and mansions are distinguished by their construction."

"Yeah, well, that is more or less the gist of it."

There is no legal distinction, but I have heard that is how real estate companies classify them. If I remember right, apartments are wooden or lightweight steel-frame co-op residences up to two or three stories tall?

"In that case, I thought it best to start with a familiar wooden structure."

"I see, that makes sense."

Making her new life as close as possible to her old one. I had overlooked that point of view. She is living in another world. There will be many times she struggles with the differences from what she has always known. It is only natural she would want her home to be a place where she can relax.

"Also, while researching the differences between apartments and mansions, I came across an interesting perspective."

"Oh?"

"They are apparently recommended for people who 'enjoy neighborly relationships where you can see each other's faces'."

"Neighborly relationships, huh."

Now that she mentions it, that might be true. In a small apartment building, it is easier to see the residents' faces, and you would likely get to know them naturally.

"I believe it would be perfect for me, as I wish to interact with a variety of people."

"I see. So, what about the floor plan?"

"I would like a four and a half mat room."

"A four and a half mat room?"

"I like the cozy atmosphere."

Are you just swallowing everything you read online? I think you will find a four and a half mat room pretty inconvenient in reality.

"Even if there are no properties I like at four and a half mats, I would like the room to be as cozy as possible."

"..."

"What is the matter?"

You know, I have been deliberately ignoring it, but... I do not think I can anymore, so I am just going to call you out.

"What is the real reason you want a small apartment?"

"...Hmph. It seems you possess the keen eye of a sage."

Wrong. It is because your words are shallow and your eyes are gleaming with lust.

"In that case, I shall reveal my true intentions."

"...Go on."

"I have learned that this country has a wonderful culture."

"...A culture?"

"Making love in a hot, humid, and cramped room, drenched in sweat..."

"That is enough, I get it."

This one is a hopeless case after all...