Chapter 86: Renovation Again
“With summer approaching, I won’t have to live in fear of Yellow Spot Disease anymore…”
Though I was still in the preliminary stages, I was pushing forward with the plan to sell the prescriptions outright. However, it seemed that accepting only gold would be a bit tough for the Guild, so I was trying to negotiate some conditions that didn’t involve just money.
Is it really that difficult to deal with someone who doesn’t care about status, honor, or privileges? I’d be perfectly fine with cash payments, but when they said they didn’t have enough funds, it put me in a bit of a bind.
The purchase of materials from the Second Subjugation Squad was on the horizon, so it seemed they wanted to keep some cash on hand. Most of the members of the subjugation squad were Gold Rank adventurers, and after their mission, they would likely move on from this town—making it hard to offer rewards other than gold.
I heard that during the First Subjugation, a significant amount of gold was spent just on buying Magic Stones. Personally, I wouldn’t mind waiting until the Guild sold the materials elsewhere or until the processed goods were ready to sell.
“By the way, is the house on ‘Gray Fox’s Back’ for sale?”
‘Gray Fox’s Back’ is the name of the street that leads to my house and Ash’s.
It used to have a different name, but it was renamed after the outbreak of demon beasts centered around the Gray Fox. Incidentally, the street that suffered the most damage along the city wall is called ‘Gray Fox’s Claw.’
“Oh, Lord Jean, you’re renting, aren’t you?”
“Yes, since it’s nearby, I’m curious about who might buy it.”
“Please wait a moment.”
What I thought would be a casual chat turned into something more serious as the staff member disappeared somewhere. They didn’t need to take it that seriously. If my neighbor was a hassle, I could always move.
I sipped the tea that was served and glanced over the documents. The treatment was better than the last time I came; previously, I had either herbal tea or low-alcohol beer. This tea was quite expensive.
“Thank you for waiting.”
After a while, the staff member returned with new documents in hand.
“Lord Jean, would you like to buy a house?”
“No, I’ve only lived in this town for less than a year.”
Without causing any trouble, I could buy a house facing a narrow street after five years, and after ten years and some achievements, I could buy a place facing a main street.
Moreover, there are areas where the wealthy live or areas that are strategically important, which require recommendations from specific organizations or individuals. Just having money doesn’t guarantee you can buy a house in the city.
“The Merchant Guild and the Apothecary Guild will recommend you. We’re currently checking if you can purchase your current rented house as is, but you could also acquire a house on a better street.”
The staff member smiled cheerfully. She had honey-colored hair with a few freckles and moved with a briskness.
It seemed that the new documents were about properties handled by the Guild.
“The house on ‘Gray Fox’s Back’ is indeed for sale. It’s currently entrusted to the Merchant Guild, but since the timing is poor, we plan to turn it into a short-term rental until after the subjugation settles down.”
The poor timing was likely due to the rumors of a potential outbreak since the subjugation squad was formed, bringing back memories of past incidents, making buyers hesitant or willing to lowball. Even though my house had been reinforced, few would want to buy a property next to a city wall that had once crumbled.
If someone were to buy it, it would probably be someone like me who would be thrilled to get it at a low price.
“Just between us, it seems that Gold Rank Amedeo is looking for someone, and there’s a high chance he will stay in this town even after the official subjugation by the Adventurer’s Guild. The short-term rental is primarily for his entourage.”
Ugh, how annoying!
“If I can buy the house I’m currently living in, I’d like to buy that one too.”
And then I’ll magically transform it and rent it out to regular citizens!
I received an explanation about the properties handled by the Merchant Guild, but since I liked my current house, I was hesitant. The Guild was subtly pushing for more expensive options, along with the benefits of their recommendations, but if I were to move to a place with a larger garden, I’d have even more work to do…
While we were talking, it turned out that my current rented house could also be purchased, so I ended up buying both properties. As a side note, I received permission to add a door from the kitchen to ‘Gray Fox’s Claw’ street.
Structurally, it would lead out beneath the arch connecting the city wall and the second and third floors, but having only one entrance at the front was quite inconvenient. I was worried that my Butler would catch on to the fake entrances, especially since Ash was involved.
So, the trade-off was two houses and permission to add a back entrance. I wasn’t sure if I needed permission to add a new entrance, but since my house was built to support the city wall, I figured it was better to be safe.
Normally, houses share walls with the buildings behind or beside them, so adding a new entrance would be physically impossible. It would be difficult unless it was a standalone house like Ash’s, which didn’t face an alley.
If I were to break a hole in the wall, it would be like invading someone else’s home. It wouldn’t work unless it was a single-family home belonging to the ruling class or a standalone house outside the city wall.
Once the renovations were complete, I planned to rent it out through the Merchant Guild. I had requested some work related to the sewers beforehand, but it seemed they were busy, so it wouldn’t be done right away. I was happy to see improvements in the town’s sanitation, so I had no complaints.
Now, what kind of renovations should I do? It would be structurally difficult to have a bathroom or kitchen in every room, and there was still the issue of the well. In the end, I guess I’ll have to put the water facilities on the first floor. Maybe I should check out some other rental houses for ideas.