Chapter 3 - 1 My Home My Life – Regretful Good-looking Man

A few days has passed from settlement.
I had assumed that the hectic days were finally over and that the slow life was about to begin, but I continued my alchemy life.
First thing I need to do is earn money for Wendy and Shiro's accommodations.
I asked an expensive inn with a good reputation in the south area and managed to get the two slaves to stay with me.
50,000 Nord per person with meals per night. It is 100,000 Nord for two people.
Especially since Shiro eats a lot, I had to come up with a minimum of 50,000 Nord a day, for food alone.

Next thing is taxes.
If I get a home in this city, I'll get citizenship.
I've heard that citizenship allows people to petition their lords, use churches, and use public facilities such as the library for free.
If I use it in another town, I will be charged a fee.
As a matter of course, I also have to pay taxes, and if there are subordinate slaves, I have to pay their share as well.
At 100,000 Nord per year, the first-time payment needs to be two years, so 600,000 Nord will be needed here.
I can get 100,000 Nord a day with my <Pocket Money> skill, so it's not that much of a hardship, but I'd still like to save up for other miscellaneous expenses, but it's a necessary expense, so I can't help it.

Fortunately, the tool store had finished stocking up on my supplies, so I've made a lot of vibrators to sell to Yashisu, and I'm ready for moving day.

When Aina and Solte return, I can make some accessories from the ores, but the dungeon has to go to the entrance through the forest at the end of this city, so it will take some time.

So that's how I've been living my alchemy almost unchanged from past month!
Finally, the long-awaited move-in day was arrived.

An errand man from Darwin came to me and asked me to come and visit as I could come over at any time.
I told that man that I'd be right there, and I'm at the Alchemists Guild right now.
I come and give gratitude toward Reinrich for taking care of me with Wendy and Shiro.

[Glad you're here. You used to be a chick, but now you're all grown up.] (Reinrich)
[I've been working hard to live up to the name of Reinrich's disciple.] (Kazuki Shinomiya)

It was a hollow point to be complimented, but now that I had grown up, I was able to respond firmly.

[It took you a while to get the house, didn't it?] (Reito)

Reito-san joined us to congratulate me.
Now that I think about it, I haven't talked to Reito-san much, but it's probably thanks to Reito-san that the Alchemy Room is cleaned up every time I go out.

[I look forward to your future endeavors!] (Reito)
[I'm sure Reito-san has a lot of hard work to do, but please do your best!] (Kazuki Shinomiya)
[Oh, I don't have a problem with that. This is a bright and fun place to work.] (Reito)

It's no wonder that Reito-san has known Reinrich-sama for so long.
I'm sure this person isn't ordinary to return the sarcasm.
It may be fun, but it's not going to be bright.
I've never seen anyone from the Alchemist Guild other than me.

[Here it is, parting gift. Take it.] (Reinrich)

What Reinrich took out of her sleeve was a liquid in a small medicine bottle.

『Boost Medicine – Unknown』

Isn’t it completely out?
Why does boost medicine is having unknown effect?!
What are you planning to boost?!

[Hihi, you can't see it because of the low level of appraisal, right?　All you have to do is put a drop of it in the bathtub and you'll recover from fatigue and have a good night's sleep that day.] (Reinrich)
[I don't think it's going to be forced to sleep. I don't want to go through that whole "I woke up in the morning before I knew it" kind of thing.] (Kazuki Shinomiya)

If I pass out in the bathtub, I'm going to die if I mess up!

[You'll be fine. That's not a problem at all. I'm sure you'll thank me later and make another accessory for me.] (Reinrich)
[Oh, well, I'll ask for you then, too.] (Reito)

Reito-san is quite shrewd.
But it's a parting gift, and it doesn't seem to be as scary as I thought it would be, so it's OK.

[For the time being, I'm going to use it on a tired day. Thank you, Reinrich.] (Kazuki Shinomiya)
[There's one from me too. Yes, it's a class A alchemist certificate.] (Reito)
[Class A? Did they have a hierarchy? I don't know about this.] (Kazuki Shinomiya)
[Well, it's an outdated system, but if someone makes a significant contribution to the guild, it's only sent to one person a year. This year, with the bank, I've decided on you!] (Reinrich)

I don't know what time of the year it is, but I wonder if it's okay being me.
The bank is not a result of alchemy, and I was just working for myself.

[By the way, the privilege is that you can use the Alchemy Room for free! So, all of the people in this guild are class A hikikomori, and they are being used as lodging.] (Reito)

Hey, this is something guild staff should not say, right?
It doesn't seem like Reinrich cares about such things, so if that's the case, I wonder if it is Reito-san who doing it.
After all, she must be a hard worker.
If I make an accessory with a good effect, I'll give it to you.

[Well, I have a lot of work to do, so I'll go back to my room.] (Reinrich)
[Oh, my bad. Thank you so much for everything you've done for me.] (Kazuki Shinomiya)
[It' s fine. Come here if you need anything. I'll always be here.] (Reinrich)

What the heck...........
It is not like your character. Reinrich......
You're like to say, "Hmmm. If you have time to talk like that, you should do some alchemy and earn some money. I'm much happier when I bring you a fine wine than words......”.
That's you, at the end of the day, don't really act like a teacher....

[True intention. Reinrich-sama is very fond of a 20-year-old Royal Bellard.] (Reito)
[You know what I'm talking about, Reito. I'm counting on you.] (Reinrich)
[... How much is that, by the way?] (Kazuki Shinomiya)
[The beginning price is 10 million Nord, and at high times it's about 30 million Nord. After all, they're priceless, native to a country lost in the war.] (Reito)

Expensive! What the hell is a 10 million Nord worth of booze?!
I mean, seriously real intention she said, I want you to take back what I just said!
CONCLUSIONS. To the end, Reinrich was Reinrich.

After that, we left the alchemists' guild and headed to our destination according to the map Reinrich gave us.
The directions are very simple, she said, from the central square to the front house, which went straight between the west and south districts.
This city is surrounded by two walls, the first wall on the outside and the second wall on the inside, and shops and guilds are only allowed to operate within the second wall.
Within the first wall there are only houses and apartments, and the citizens of this city live there all the time.
I thought that the presence of a second wall would create a disparity, but since the second wall is low and the gate is always open, there is not much to complain about.
If I have to say it, a wall is strong enough to create a shadow, but a house with that shadow is sometimes cheaper and preferred.
Conversely, there are places that get a lot of sunshine.
It's luxury houses that line the second wall of the West and South Districts.

And the house we were aiming for is the one adjacent to the second wall.
It's a whitish mansion, and the building itself may be a bit small compared to the others.
I'm sure former lord thought he was making it smaller because he was a single, but it's just good enough for me.
The sun comes up from the opposite side, so it is always sunny during the day, and the garden is large and far from the houses on the left and right.

First, there is a gate, and three men are waiting for us in front of it.

[Finally, you're here. Damn, you got the balls to keep me waiting.] (Darwin)
[Sorry, sorry. I giving thank to Reinrich since she having been taken care of me after all.] (Kazuki Shinomiya)
[Ho. I like it the way you act like that, you know?　Nowadays, there are people who set their sights on me and then run away without telling anything to me.] (Darwin)

That’s because they afraid of Darwin.
You're likely to make your subordinates do reckless things, aren't you?

[Father, can you introduce me to him?] (Unfamiliar man)

A man who has handsome actor-faced talked Darwin as father.
That shitty god making me this unequal!
Goddamn god, it is so unequal!
Hayato is also a good-looking guy, but this one is a different kind of good-looking guy.

[Oh, my bad. This is my son, Darma. He's my first in line to succeed me.] (Darwin)
[No, Father. That would be misleading. I'm just running a proper business, that's all.] (Darma)
[What the hell does that mean?] (Darwin)
[It means what it says, Father. Father has a bad reputation to start with, so take that into account.] (Darma)

How can I say this? It's a good first impression, so normal that it doesn't seem like Darwin's son.
It's not like I'm a party that say to destroy all good-looking people.
A good-looking guy can be a friend. I know I can. As long as he doesn't mess with other people's women.

[Nice to meet you, I'm called Darma. Adopted by Father Darwin, I now focus on construction and design, and mainly do construction, so if you don't like the interior or want to build an addition, you can always call me!] (Darma)
[Yeah, I'm Shinomiya Kazuki. I belong to the Alchemists Guild.] (Kazuki Shinomiya)

What can I say, he’s normal.
No, no. I don't mind that at all.
Even though he is Darwin's son, it's a bit of a disappointment or something.

[I have heard all about it. I understand you're Reinrich-sama's disciple and young master of the Alchemists' Guild.] (Darma)
[Young master you said...... And those two are my subordinate slaves, Wendy and Shiro.] (Kazuki Shinomiya)
[Nice to meet you, I'm Wendy.] (Wendy)
[Shiro] (Shiro)
[They are very beautiful people, aren't they? I'm really glad they didn't turn out to be Dardaril's thing.] (Darma)
[Oh, it's like you know everything, isn't it?　On knowing that, do you think someone might grudge against me?] (Kazuki Shinomiya)
[Of course, it is. Today, not one of us adopted children knows about the game, and not one of us holds a grudge against young master. Rather, all eyes are on the young master who took this house from father.] (Darma)

What the hell?
I have a feeling I'm going to get nothing but attention and annoyance from the Darwin family.

[But, you know, even though you're get related with him in law, your family get involved, in a way, due to my fault.] (Kazuki Shinomiya)
[It's okay, I don't care what he's like. Just forget about it.] (Darma)
[No, I'm just asking because I don't want someone having grudges toward me.] (Kazuki Shinomiya)
[Oh my, I see.... It is unexcepted.] (Darwin)
[There were a lot of people who were unhappy with Dardaril, so I don't think we need to worry about that. If anything, I think they are pleased. I consider it an honor to be in close contact with the young master we are now focusing on.] (Darma)

Darma says with a twinkle in his eye as he takes my hands in his, but being Darwin's son, I remain somewhat cautious. I don't want a painful reprisal.
Then Meira slapped the hand that had been gripped, and we both let it go.

[Oh, Darma. Didn't Father tell me to marry this young master?　Isn't it funny that you should be more familiar than I am?] (Meira)
[I think it's impossible for Meira, don't you?　There are two very good-looking ladies, and above all, your personality makes it difficult to get married, even if your partner is a very ordinary person.] (Darma)
[What?] (Meira)

No, no, no.
No way.

[Yes, that's right. Darma is a man lover. And he likes people who can do it better than he can.] (Darwin)
[Don't do that, Father. It's not that I like men. I just can't get aroused unless it's someone who's better than me.] (Darma)
[You also stop this... You are only one that see me like that] (Darwin)
[Mmm-hmm. Your father is the person I respect the most. Young Master is the third.] (Darma)

A chill run down my spine.
Oh dear. Even through, he's pretty man!
What a shame! It's a waste of beauty! What a waste of a good-looking man!

[I'm a normal guy, so...] (Kazuki Shinomiya)
[Ahaha. It’s a shame.] (Darma)
[Wendy, Shiro, help me! He doesn't look so disappointed!] (Kazuki Shinomiya)

This is me using Wendy and Shiro as a shield in front of that good-looking guy.
It's pathetic. How miserable I am.
But I can see it in his eyes. That's a hunter's eye for a prey.

[Don’t make my master fall into that. Shiro] (Wendy)
[Hmm, I will protect master-sama] (Shiro) (TLN: She change on called MC from “Nushi” to “Goshujin-sama”)
[Oops, that's okay. I don't like to force myself. I hope that one day you will understand.] (Darma)

The regrettable good-looking man laughs refreshingly when he says that.
Ops... I still can't stop getting goosebumps.
I don't mean to discriminate against you if you're into men or something else, but please don't put me in trouble since I am normal guy!
And who is in second place...

In my mind, only Hayato and Yashisu appear.
In fact, if I considers about what he said earlier, I think Reinrich is included.
I wonder if there is an age limit for this guy.