Chapter 18: Imperial Capital – Martial Arts Tournament – 24
We took a two-day break starting the day after returning from the Dungeon.
On the first day, as planned, I went to the tailor to order adventurer outfits for the women, made from Elemental Silk. It seemed that the design of the outfits would be tailored to each individual’s preferences, so there was no room for me to interfere in that regard.
By the way, we had gathered quite a bit of Elemental Silk, so they mentioned they would also be making undergarments. I was curious about Larni’s comment regarding “a woman’s moment,” but there was no further mention of it at the tailor’s. I had a vague idea of what she meant, but since the original topic was not firmly established, there was nothing to be done.
The outfits would take about two weeks to complete. The manager of the tailor shop was astonished by the large amount of Elemental Silk we brought in, but quickly returned to his merchant demeanor, saying, “If you happen to have any surplus, I would love to purchase some Elemental Silk from you. In fact, we have been receiving orders from the Imperial Family for quite some time…” and he began negotiating.
I had considered going through the Guild, but it seemed like a hassle, so I decided to hand over all the Elemental Silk we had and said, “Please use any surplus from the order for your shop. In return, I would appreciate a discount on the production costs of the outfits.”
“Thank you very much. Actually, I’ve heard rumors that Princess Marishielle’s marriage is approaching, so I wanted to secure these materials as soon as possible.”
After the deal was struck, the manager whispered this to me, and I couldn’t help but make a rather ambiguous expression. It was a relief that the women didn’t overhear.
On the second day, I went with Mariane to consult the Grand Master of the Adventurers’ Guild about purchasing a house.
“Wow, that’s a great idea! Mariane, you made a good suggestion,” the esteemed Dorozitte said with a cheerful expression as we sat across from each other in her office.
“I appreciate it. So, Grand Master, is it possible for Soushi to buy a house in the Imperial Capital?”
“The Imperial Family is the only authority that can grant permission for buying and selling houses in the Central District, but I’m sure they would approve without hesitation. There are always a few vacant houses available, so you won’t have any trouble finding a property. I don’t foresee any issues.”
“Where should we go for the consultation?”
“There’s a real estate agency that caters to the Imperial Family in the Central District. They should handle all the basic procedures for you. They did for me as well.”
“Thank you. It seems that’s the way to go, Soushi.”
Encouraged by Mariane, I bowed my head to Dorozitte.
“Thank you for your guidance. I will head to that real estate agency right away.”
“Hehe, I admire your promptness in taking action. By the way, you plan to have all your party members living together, right?”
“Of course, that’s the plan.”
“That sounds fun; I’m envious. Are you also planning to hire servants?”
“Oh, I almost forgot. I intend to hire at least three servants for now.”
“That makes sense. If you’re going to have nearly ten people living there, you’ll need a rather large mansion, and at least three servants would be necessary.”
“However, I have no leads on finding suitable candidates…”
“Why not ask the Imperial Family for assistance? I believe they could send you three people right away.”
“Is that really alright?”
“Actually, it would be a problem for them if you hired unsuitable individuals. They might send you some with a complicated background, but you have no shady dealings, do you, Soushi?”
The term “complicated background” likely referred to the possibility of sending someone who might be an informant for the Imperial Family. Well, there’s always that risk with any hire, but knowing they were from the Imperial Family would make it easier to manage.
“The only concern would be Geshura’s magical tools.”
“Ah, that’s true. But for that, you can simply lock Geshura’s room and make it off-limits. Even if they have a complicated background, they wouldn’t be allowed to investigate secrets. If they were caught, it would ruin their trust with you. At most, they might report if you made any treasonous remarks against the Imperial Family.”
“Then there’s no problem. I have no intention of doing anything of the sort. Understood, I will consult with the Imperial Family about that. Thank you for all your help.”
As I expressed my gratitude once more, Dorozitte replied, “You’re welcome,” and then let out a light sigh.
“Oh, but I really envy you. The members of ‘Soul’s Guidance’ are truly close, and I feel at ease when I’m with them. It might be due to your character as the leader, Soushi… But I’ve been living alone in a large house lately, and it’s been rather dull. I feel it even more since I’ve been traveling with ‘Soul’s Guidance’ for so long.”
Though it sounded like a mere musing, Dorozitte occasionally glanced in my direction. Mariane let out a deep sigh beside me, so it seemed she was trying to convey something to me. It was clear that she wanted me to say something in response.
“Of course, once I’ve settled in and can invite people over, I’ll invite the Grand Master to my home. And please feel free to visit anytime afterward. As friends, of course…”
“Really!? Then I would love to come visit! Ah, having friends is truly a blessing!”
She leaned forward eagerly, clearly thrilled by the suggestion. It seemed she had been single for quite some time, and given her position, there were few people she could speak to as equals. In that sense, I was indeed fortunate.
“However, while being friends is wonderful, I wouldn’t mind if our relationship deepened further. A person like you, Soushi, could probably handle twenty or so, right? I’ve heard that the legendary adventurer with Divine Fortune had more than twenty surrounding him.”
“Grand Master, please refrain from making inappropriate comments at work.”
Mariane admonished Dorozitte, who stuck her tongue out in a playful manner to deflect the reprimand. We left the office before she could say anything even more outrageous.
Afterward, we went to the real estate agency, and the next day we would be visiting three properties.
The following day, we all went to look at the houses, each of which had been occupied by nobles of at least count rank. As someone who had once been common, I found each mansion dizzying in its grandeur.
Each property had over thirty rooms, including those for servants. They were equipped with kitchens and bathrooms, and separate dining and reception rooms, which justified the need for at least three servants. Moreover, I had forgotten to consider that a splendid garden came with the properties, meaning we would also need a gardener. It was my first realization of just how much money it took to simply live as a noble.
“I really need to calculate the costs carefully. Besides hiring servants, there are repair and maintenance costs, taxes, and all sorts of expenses that are far beyond what I initially thought.”
After we finished viewing the third property, I muttered this, and Sfenia looked at me with a puzzled expression.
“Isn’t the compensation you receive from the Kingdom and the Empire sufficient to cover that? Considering your income from adventuring, I think you’d have plenty of leeway.”
“That’s true, but I can’t just rely on rough estimates… I mean, I really need to calculate these things properly to avoid any risks. I might even need someone skilled in accounting.”
“I see. Normally, you would need someone like a steward or a butler for that.”
“Ah, I understand now. It would be good to have someone to manage household affairs. There’s more to consider than I thought.”
“I think it’s fine to hire someone when the need arises. For now, I can handle it if necessary.”
“That sounds good. We can try managing it ourselves first, and if it becomes too much, we can hire more help. But finding the right people is the biggest challenge. I can’t keep relying on the Imperial Family.”
“If you put out a call for applicants, I think the children of barons and viscounts would flock to you. Especially if they know they could work under the Heroic Count. I believe the women would be particularly eager.”
At her last comment, not only Sfenia but the other members also turned their gazes toward me. What kind of image did they have of me? I thought I was being sincere in my interactions.
“…Well, I get it. It seems like we can manage somehow. So, which house did you all like best? Personally, I think the first house was nice and new.”
“I agree with Soushi’s opinion.”
“I agree too~”
“I think it’s a good choice.”
“I’m in favor. Did you notice that it’s close to the Grand Master’s house?”
“Newer houses require less maintenance, after all.”
“I’m fine with any place as long as I can live there.”
“I noticed there seemed to be a workshop in the basement, so I’m in favor as well.”
“I have no objections either.”
With a few dubious remarks mixed in, we reached a unanimous decision on the house, and I began negotiating with the beaming manager of the real estate agency.