Chapter 13: A New Home and Another Gold
"Buying a house? The Guild has dormitories, you know."
Mira looked at Ren with a hint of surprise. They were standing at the bar, the midday chaos of the guild hall raging behind them. Ren had just finished a mountain of food, his first real meal in weeks.
"No, I don't like living in dorms," Ren said, wiping his mouth. He looked around at the brawl, where Gray and Natsu were currently trying to shove a barrel over each other's heads. "I prefer my own space."
Since he had transmigrated to this world, he had been living on scraps and sleeping in alleys or the woods. Now that he had 6,000,000 Jewel, it was time to put down roots. He wanted a home of his own, a real foundation for his new life.
"Hmm..." Mira put a thoughtful finger to her chin. "A place of your own. Do you have any requirements for the house?"
"No special requirements. A slightly secluded location would be fine, as I don't want to disturb others if I'm... cultivating," Ren said, deciding on a neutral term for his system and magic practice. "A clean and tidy house is all I need."
Mira's eyes suddenly lit up. "Now that you mention it, I do know of a house that might be perfect! It fits all your requirements. Wait for me!"
Mira immediately ran to Makarov, who was sitting on his usual stool at the bar, to ask for leave. She explained she was going to take Ren to look at a house. Makarov, hearing this, immediately nodded in agreement. Buying a house was a major life event. Ren buying a house here meant he was truly settling down in Magnolia Town, and Makarov was happy to see a new child planting roots.
Mira quickly came back to Ren, her smile bright. "Alright, I've finished asking for leave. Let's go!"
Mira led Ren out of the guild hall, the sounds of the brawl fading behind them. The warm afternoon sun of Magnolia greeted them. The town was peaceful, the streets bustling with shoppers, and the scent of baked bread wafted from a nearby shop. It was a stark contrast to the S-Class mission Ren had just completed—the cold, tense night, the smell of blood, and the ozone-like tang of his own Cero.
This, he thought, was a life he could get used to.
"It's this way," Mira said, leading him away from the main street and toward the river that ran through the town.
"I can't thank you enough for this, Mira-san. And for... well, for Elfman-san. I'm glad you asked him to come along. It was good to have a partner."
"Oh, it's nothing," Mira giggled. "But I should be thanking you. Elfman... he's been different since you both got back. Happier. More confident. You gave him 1,000,000 Jewel? Ren-kun, that was incredibly generous."
"He risked his life just like I did," Ren said simply. "He deserved it."
Mira's smile softened. She was beginning to understand this newcomer. He was a monster in a fight, as Elfman's report had suggested, but he was also surprisingly kind.
They walked along the riverbank, the water sparkling in the sun. The path was quieter here, lined with cherry trees and small, well-kept houses.
"Near where I live, there's a middle-aged couple, Mr. and Ms. Santos," Mira explained. "The husband was recently transferred to Onibus for his job as a civil servant, and the whole family is preparing to move. They're planning to sell their house here. When I heard your requirements, they were the first ones I thought of."
Just then, a small canal boat glided across the river nearby. The boatman, a weathered old man, saw Mira and Ren walking together and tipped his cap.
"Oh, oh! Well, if it isn't little Mira! Are you on a date with your young man?" the boatman teased, his voice carrying over the water.
Mira's face immediately flushed a bright crimson. "O-Of course not! We're just... colleagues!"
"Don't be shy!" the boatman laughed. "Young people should fall in love while they're young. It'll be too late when they get older!"
As the boatman spoke, the boat had already drifted downstream.
"Ren-kun, please don't listen to his nonsense," Mira said, flustered.
Ren smiled, feeling a genuine lightness in his chest. "I know! He's just joking! But... you being so eager to clear things up actually makes me a little sad."
"Ah! That's not what I meant!" Mira's blush deepened.
"Alright, I'm just teasing you. I was joking too," Ren said with a laugh. He truly did like Mira. It wasn't just the "love at first sight" he'd felt for her anime counterpart; it was a simple, growing affection. She was kind, gentle, and strong.
Truth be told, he and Mira had only really known each other for a short time, but he felt comfortable around her.
Mira pouted in dissatisfaction, though her eyes were smiling. "Mmm~! Ren-kun is really mischievous."
After Mira finished speaking, she also laughed. Spending time with him was very comfortable and natural.
Before long, Ren and Mira arrived in front of a house. It was a charming, two-story home set back from the path, with a small wooden gate and a yard that held a large, shady tree. At this moment, a carriage was parked in front, loaded with a full cart of luggage, big and small.
"Mr. Santos! Ms. Bella! Are you leaving so soon?" Mira stepped forward and asked.
A kind-looking woman with graying hair turned and smiled. "Oh, Miss Mira! Yes, everything is ready over there. It's time for us to leave."
Ms. Bella smiled warmly when she saw Mira. "My, my, Mira. I've watched you grow up, from a little girl into a graceful, beautiful woman." Her eyes then drifted to Ren, who was standing beside Mira. "And this is... your boyfriend? Little Mira has grown up."
Mira's face flushed slightly again. "No, Ms. Bella! He's a colleague from my Guild."
"Oh? So it's a Guild romance?" Ms. Bella teased.
"Of course not, he's just an ordinary colleague!"
"I haven't seen little Mira on a date with any male colleagues all these years," the woman said with a knowing wink.
"Ms. Bella~!"
"Hahahaha~! Just kidding," Ms. Bella laughed. "If I don't joke with little Mira now, I'm afraid I won't have the chance later."
"By the way, Ms. Bella, what will you do with this house after you leave? Has it been sold yet?"
Ms. Bella shook her head. "Not yet, but there's no time to deal with it slowly. I plan to entrust it to a real estate agency later."
"I see! Well, that's perfect. This colleague of mine is looking for a house, so I recommended your place to him. May we take a look?"
"Of course! Please do!"
Soon, Mira took Ren to tour the house. It was perfect. The house was neither too big nor too small. The yard was well-kept, and the house itself was very clean, clearly having been regularly maintained.
They stepped inside. The living room was flooded with afternoon light from a large window. The kitchen was modest but clean and functional. Upstairs, there were two bedrooms. Ren walked into the master bedroom and looked out the window. He had a perfect view of Kardia Cathedral in the distance.
It was fully furnished, and one could move in with just a few simple purchases. Moreover, the surrounding environment was beautiful, and it was a detached house, so he wouldn't have to worry about disturbing neighbors when he "cultivated." Ren was very satisfied.
"We love this house," Ms. Bella said fondly, "but the asking price from the agency is 4,000,000 J."
Mira stepped forward. "Ms. Bella, that's a bit high, isn't it? Even for this location."
After some friendly bargaining by Mira, the Bella couple smiled. "Well," Ms. Bella said, "since it's for you, Mira, and he's your friend... how about 3,000,000 J? A friend's price."
Ren, seeing Mira save him a million Jewel with just a few words, looked at her in a new light. He immediately agreed and paid the sum from his new satchel.
"You still say you're not a couple, yet you're already saving him money," Ms. Bella teased as she handed him the keys.
"No~!"
"Alright, we should go," Mr. Santos said, climbing onto the carriage. Ms. Bella turned to Ren, her expression warm but serious. "Young man, little Mira is someone I've watched grow up; she's a good girl. You must cherish her well!"
"Ms. Bella~!" Mira hid her face.
Ren looked the woman in the eye and said with a serious expression, "Don't worry, Ms. Bella. I will."
Ms. Bella was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter, patting Ren's shoulder. "Young man, you're quite good!"
"Ren~~~!" Mira whispered, even more flustered.
Soon, the carriage slowly departed. Mira and Ms. Bella bid farewell, as this parting could very well be a permanent one.
"Ren, you should get things in order," Mira said, trying to regain her composure. "I'm going back to the Guild first."
"Wait, you've helped me so much. Let me treat you to a meal."
"No! If others see us, who knows what they'll say," Mira said, still flustered. She had lived in Magnolia Town for so many years that almost all the residents knew her. She had only been out for a short while and had already been teased several times.
"Uh..."
"Hehe! Just kidding," Mira giggled. "I still have a lot of work to do at the Guild, so I need to go back and handle it. Maybe another time. I'm leaving now."
Mira finished speaking and was about to turn and return to the Guild.
Ren suddenly remembered something. His S-Class quest reward. His real reward.
"Wait a moment! Mira!"
"Hmm? Is there anything else?" Mira turned back, her blue eyes curious.
"I almost forgot the most important thing." Ren took a deep breath. He needed this. "Mira, can you... can you wish me good luck like you did last time?"
"???"
Mira was a little confused. "Good luck? Like... the day you joined?"
"Yes. Just like that."
Mira still didn't understand, but she saw the strange seriousness in his eyes. She smiled, her radiant, million-Jewel smile. "Of course. Ren-kun, I wish you good luck today too!"
[Ding! Obtained the Goddess's Blessing! Luck +100 points!]
Looking at Mira, Ren felt that familiar system prompt sound in his mind. She truly was his goddess.
By the time Ren came to his senses, Mira had already waved and was walking far away.
Ren hurried inside his new house, locking the door. He immediately opened the system interface. The "Draw x10" button, earned from the S-Class quest, was glowing.
[Do you want to perform a ten-pull?]
"Confirm!"
On the panel screen, streaks of starlight began to flash again, converging in the starry sky. Ren kept praying in his heart: "Golden! Golden! Golden!"
The ten streaks shot down.
White... Green... White... Blue... White...
His heart began to sink.
Blue... Green... White...
Nine pulls, and all of them were trash. Not even a single purple.
'Did the Goddess's blessing fail?!'
Then, the tenth and final star fell. The screen cracked... and a dazzling, blinding golden light lit up.
Ren was immediately overjoyed: "It really is golden!!"
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