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TL: ALT
Chapter 168 – Explorer’s Housing Situation
When I contacted Haitani-san after recovering from my cold,
She replied, “In that case, there’s an apartment owned by Paladin Knights. As part of our employee welfare program, we can offer you a much lower rent than the market rate.”
“Is it like a dormitory?”
In an instant, my brain completed a simulation: dormitory = communal living = I won’t fit in and will stand out.
“No, we also rent it out to explorers other than Paladin Knights. Only to people we can trust, of course.”
“Is it different from the apartment Serika has?”
“Yes. Most people can’t afford the rent for the apartment that Serika-san owns. There are several guild-owned properties in town, so we can think about access to the dungeons we’re exploring. If it’s just for the affiliated explorers, there will be vacancies, so we’ll rent it out to other explorers as well.”
“Is that so?”
“Some people move when the dungeon they’re exploring changes. We have basic facilities, so you can move in with just the clothes on your back. If you change your mind, you can cancel the contract on a monthly basis.”
“That’s convenient.”
Or rather, Haitani-san even manages real estate.
Did she understand my doubts?
“It’s hard for explorers to rent real estate. Not only is their income unstable, but they could die in the dungeons at any time.”
“Oh, so there’s a risk that they might suddenly die and leave the rent unpaid?”
“Yes. But if it’s known that they’ve died, it’s still better. If the tenant disappears, the landlord has to go to court to collect the rent.”
No wonder they don’t want to rent it to them.
“What do people usually do?”
“Most people get their guild to vouch for them. Explorers who don’t belong to a guild can also get a guarantee from the Explorers’ Association. However, it costs a pretty penny.”
“I see.”
“If it’s Kurashiki-san, it might be less inconvenient to buy an apartment or a house all at once!”
“No, like I said, I don’t have the money to buy an apartment in Tokyo.”
“Is that so? With Kurashiki-san’s ability…”
“…there are certain circumstances.”
If I use Escape, I will lose (50-S.Lv×10)±20% of my money.
The amount of money I lost should have decreased now that my Escape skill level is 3, but it’s still not easy to save money.
Well, there is a way to save money by increasing the level of the dungeon boss with secret monsters and then taking the money directly from the dungeon to the bank.
I think I have enough money to make a down payment on a loan… but from what I hear from Haitani-san, it seems that Explorers can’t even get approved for loans.
In fact, compared to my father, who is a company employee and bought his family’s house with a thirty-year mortgage, it seems like my income is very unstable, and I won’t be able to make the repayments.
I think that’s why Haitani-san said I should just buy it outright.
“If that’s the case, I think it would be better to rent a guild apartment. I don’t think we can know what kind of life you’ll lead as a future researcher at this point.”
“I guess you’re right.”
“I think it would be better if you just moved in with Serika-san.”
“W-well, there are stages, you know?”
“I see.”
“Why do you seem so disappointed?”
“No, it’s nothing. I was just thinking that if I thought Serika-san was being held by another man right above my room, I’d be so frustrated that I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on my work…”
“No, another man…”
You are definitely a woman, aren’t you?
Or rather, Haitani-san also lives in the same apartment building.
…If that kind of noise came from upstairs, I don’t know how much ridicule I’d get.
Living together sounds good, but… no, maybe it’s not good, but the current situation is that I’m going to move into the apartment that Serika bought with her own money.
Even if we share the rent and other expenses, I’m going to look like a pimp on the outside.
I really don’t want to go from being a shut-in to a pimp.
If I’m going to live with Serika, maybe I should buy a new place and pay for it, too?
In that case, I might have to think about getting married before moving in together.
To be honest, I can’t even imagine that right now.
“Anyway, if that’s what you want, I’ll make the arrangements. Do you have any preferences about the place?”
“That’s a big help. As for the location… well…”
Since I’ve gone into trouble, I might as well ask for one more thing.
“Actually, I’m thinking that when I’m back in action, I’ll try to visit some A-rank dungeons around the country.”
“A-rank, you say? You won’t try the S-rank dungeons?”
“I still have a lot of things to do. So I was hoping you could find me an A-rank dungeon that meets my requirements.”
“I see. And you want to choose a room that takes into account access to that A-rank dungeon, right?”
Haitani-san immediately understood my intentions.
“As I thought, you’re quick to talk. The conditions are…”
I told Haitani-san the conditions of the dungeon I wanted to explore.
“The terms are even more original than last time. How many do you want?”
“As many as possible.”
“I think there are about twenty or so…”
“I’m thinking of visiting as many as there are.”
“As always, you say the most extraordinary things as if they were natural. I’ll need some time to examine the conditions carefully…”
“Sorry, there’s no need to rush.”
“No, now that you mention it, your support is the next most important thing after Serika-san’s work.”
“…So, there have been requests from various places?”
“There have been, but not as many as I thought.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. It seems that the world still doesn’t fully realize the true value of Kurashiki-san’s work.”
“My work…? What do you mean by that?”
“Right now, the government is putting pressure on the Association to identify the ‘ability’ that summoned the dragon. And if possible, to gather the holders of that skill.”
“Oh, I see.”
The government seems to have misunderstood things.
Phantom Beast Summoning is a super-rare skill that was obtained under special conditions that are almost impossible to obtain.
What’s more, the Kudave summoned by this Phantom Beast Summoning is a phantom dragon that drifted in from another world.
There probably aren’t any other summoning skills that can rival Phantom Beast Summoning, and it’s not like you’ll come across summoning beasts that can rival Kudave very often.
But apart from me, no one else knows the details of Phantom Beast Summoning or Kudave.
I used a powerful summoning skill, and the dragon I summoned was one of the strongest summon beasts, but that’s as far as I know.
So I wonder, are there other people who have that kind of skill? Or is it possible to acquire this skill in some way? I wonder if there are other summoning beasts that are as powerful as that dragon?
I think that’s where the conversation is going.
“That’s convenient.”
In time, the otherworldly nature of Phantom Beast Summoning and Kudave might be revealed, but for now, at least, it is recognized as ‘one of the powerful skills.’
“Do not let your guard down. The quickest way to get information is to get it out of your mouth.”
“I understand. I’ll be careful.”
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