Chapter 95: The Tour
“Let me show you around, Retze!”
The first tenant of the rented house has been decided: Retze. During the first expedition, the prices of houses fluctuated based on location. This area became cheaper while others increased in price. It seems he had anticipated this, but he prioritized raising his status as an adventurer instead.
There’s also the option to buy a cheaper place, live in it while making improvements, and then sell it for a higher price before moving on. However, Retze prefers to eat out and has no confidence in maintaining a house. He intends to make this his final dwelling.
So, it seems he plans to wait until the prices stabilize.
“A private toilet, a bath, and a storage room,” he mused. While the toilet and bath are fine, he wants a separate storage area for weapons and acquired items in addition to the regular pantry.
I ponder the layout while listening to Retze and the butler’s wishes. Maybe I should just go with a layout suited for adventurers?
“How about adding a door to the well from this side, not just the kitchen side, and making the washing area larger?”
Demon beasts and livestock are typically dismantled in designated spots within the town or in specific areas outside. It’s quite smelly…
However, smaller creatures like birds and rabbits are often processed inside the house, and adventurers bring back parts of demon beasts, so a larger washing area would be beneficial. There are washing areas around the well, but washing without proper drainage nearby is a bit concerning. After all, it’s drinking water—dangerous to mix!
The water veins are interconnected, and even if we change two or three houses, it probably won’t make much difference. Still, I thought it would be better than nothing, so I ensured that my house and Ash’s wouldn’t leak into the well or the ground. There’s already suspicion that the sewers below might be seeping in!
The space under the stairs is for firewood storage, which we use during winter. It takes up about the size of a small bathtub, so it needs to be easily accessible. The basement will remain a place for leftover firewood and the pantry, which won’t change.
With that in mind, I’ve been busy for a few days. During that time, it seems there was a third expedition. While Ash and the others were busy with their bear hunts, I was asked by both guilds to deliver healing potions.
Now, it’s time for the grand reveal.
“Is it already done? That was fast!”
“I did my best.”
Not to brag, but I fully utilized my physical abilities! I also had the spirits help with tasks that required drying or took time.
I guide Retze and Ash through the house.
“The first floor has the living room, bath, and kitchen. Plus, a temporary storage area.”
In this area, it’s common for craftsman families to live as landlords, with the first floor serving as a workshop and family living space, the second floor for family rooms, and the third for apprentices, while the attic is used for storage or rented rooms. If there are no apprentices, the third floor is also rented out.
This house won’t have a landlord living with us, but I haven’t made any significant changes aside from installing the bath, so it can still be sold to craftsmen in the future.
“Oh, it looks cozy,” Retze comments, but all I did was lay down a carpet and place a table.
“Shall we check the basement first?”
The stairs leading down are not particularly wide, but they’re big enough for a standard wine barrel to fit through.
“The front area is shared, while the back is divided into rooms. The keys are shared with the rooms,” I explain.
“Oh, it has a lattice door!”
Retze opens a door that hasn’t been locked yet and steps inside.
“Is this where the higher-quality alcohol and spare weapons will go?”
It seems he’s already considering what to place there.
The second floor has three rooms: one above the kitchen and two on the entrance side. Each room has a closet-like space.
“Is this a bed? …Oh, this is nice!”
“Make sure to air it out occasionally.”
The mattress is made from tightly bundled straw, which I didn’t like, so I stretched the skin of a giant lizard over a bed frame like a trampoline and laid down some textiles.
“What’s this room?”
While Retze rolls around on the bed, the butler continues his inspection.
“This is the storage room.”
“Hmm…”
“Ash, it won’t open if you push it.”
That’s a sliding door.
When I demonstrate how to open it with a clatter, they seem a bit surprised. Sliding doors in this world are mostly used for room dividers in castles and aren’t very common. It makes sense they wouldn’t be widespread in this world, where security is a concern.
“Ah, it opens from both sides and you can see inside,” they marvel, opening and closing the door curiously.
“I thought it might be a hassle to carry a light inside. If it becomes difficult to open and close, just clean the groove at the bottom of the door and apply some wax.”
I believe the sliding door makes it easier to see inside.
“The stone protrusions on the wall are for shelves, right?”
“Yeah, I installed two, so feel free to move them or add more as you like,” I reply to Ash.
The room is equipped with a bed, a fireplace, and a storage area. It’s small, but the space next to the storage is left open, so they can add a wardrobe or buy a chair to sit by the fireplace as they wish.
“There might also be a storage area for silverware in the butler’s room, but this is more personal and casual. I’ve heard many people, even non-adventurers, store whale oil and such in their bedrooms, so it’s quite convenient.”
I received the butler’s approval. In this world, people tend to stockpile and create supplies, often storing enough for half a year to a year, so having ample storage is never enough.
Typically, the basement is used for salted meat and wine—something low in alcohol that they drink instead of water—while the attic serves as a storage place for dried meat and straw. In regular homes, the beds are just bundles of straw lined up as mattresses. Additionally, if they keep chickens or goats, the feed is also stored inside the house.
The third floor is built the same way. While it’s quite spacious for a rental room, I don’t want to accommodate too many people, so the price is set high to limit the number of tenants. It’s fine if there aren’t any renters.
Retze seems eager to buy bedding and move in tomorrow.