Mushoku Tensei (WN) Volume 10

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I will marry Sylphy.

Marriage.

It is something I never experienced in my previous life.

It feels a little premature for that matter.

Thus I have a great deal of anxiety.

But, more than that, the expectation as a couple is high and such a thing is allowed.

When I think that the pretty girl is to get my poisonous fang, it would be coveted.

No, of course I don't intend to do anything that Sylphy hates.

However, I was troubled.

When I think about it, I don't know much about the marriage system of this world.

At least, I have never seen such a thing as a wedding ceremony until now.

Paul didn't hold a wedding ceremony with Lilia either.

At best, it's enough to have a celebration by calling people from the village.

Asura n.o.bles throw parties once they get married, but I've never heard of them holding something like a wedding ceremony.

However, marriage and relations.h.i.+p, the concept of a partners.h.i.+p.

But I don't understand it.

What is marriage?

What should a married man do?

What do I do?

16 years have pa.s.sed since I came to this world and I don't even have such basic common sense.

Now what?

If I don't know, I will learn.

A person can learn it.

If I don't understand, I should ask.

"Are you getting married?"

At first, I decided to ask Zan.o.ba (a 26 years old divorcee[Widower][1]) in time for dinner.

The place is a dining room in the dormitory.

"Over time, I gave my partner's family a domestic animal, a soldier, and food as gifts."

In the case of marriage in s.h.i.+rone, it seems to be common sense that a man sends a gift to the woman's relatives.

"Since you're a prince, isn't it easy to get?"

"Yes? For anyone, even if he is a prince, it is natural that the man sends the gift."

And then Cliff's head coincidentally pops by.

"It's reversed in Milis. The family of the bride gives her a betrothal present."

It has become regular for Cliff to have dinner with us.

This is because he has few friends, so it's lonely for him.

"Oh, but that's it. Don't you lose the woman's family?"

"Instead, the man helps out when there's something going on in the bride's home."

"I see."

Be it Milis or s.h.i.+rone, recognition of marriage is a strong connection between houses.

"Oh, a marriage is different for different races."

"How is it with the Elf Race?"

"......The truth is I haven't married Liese yet. We have the promise to solve the curse, so I don't know the customs yet. Since Liese is different from the other elves she doesn't seem to be particular about such things."

We had a long discussion.

But talk of a wedding ceremony never came up.

Won't there be something called a wedding ceremony?

There isn't. Is it good that there isn't?

"Then if you're to marry someone, what do you need?"

"You're right... First is a house?"

"Umu."

Zan.o.ba nodded at Cliff's words.

House.

A house.

"Oh? Why is it suddenly a house?"

"It's obvious. In order to get married, what are you going to do without a house."

Looking at Zan.o.ba's face, of course he's nodding.

In this world, is it necessary to have a house to marry?

That reminds me. Did Paul come to live in Buina village upon marrying?

Was he living in the adventurer's inn until then?

When I[2] asked, he said Philip granted him a house and a job.

"Generally girls can't enter the male dormitory, so their only options are to refrain from marriage before graduation or to leave the dorm after the marriage. Since there isn't a place to live in."

Now that you mention it that certainly seems true.

I haven't heard any stories of a couple living in a dormitory.

There is no dormitory for married people.

There aren't any concepts of long distance or commuting relations.h.i.+ps here.

Basically, a couple lives together.

"Anyway, if the daughter is from a good place, and the other side has a house, either way you are home free. It is resourcefulness that a man prepares."

There's too much male chauvinism in Cliff's words.

But is this the common sense of this world even without our families' a.s.sistance?

It'd be reasonable that I prepare for such a thing.

Rather, she might be disillusioned with me if I'm not prepared.

"I understand. First is a house."

Cliff made a suspicious expression when he said so.

"Wait Rudeus, are you getting married?"

"Yeah, well."

"With whom?"

A question from Cliff.

Somehow it doesn't seem right to give Sylphy's name.

It will definitely be found out at some point, but should I keep it secret for a little longer?

"It's the person who cured my disease."

"Oh, I see. Name?"

"Well, let's leave that as a secret for now."

"I see...... well, if the partner is from Milis, I'm acquainted with the bishop of this town, and I'm good with informal congratulatory addresses."

"Yes."

So there seems to be a wedding ceremony-like thing in Milis.

In j.a.pan, the wedding ceremony is regarded as particularly awful, but it isn't so here?

However, in this world, it seems to be offensive if you imitate a different sect.

I am not a follower of Milis.

Neither is Sylphy.

"Still, a house... A house will be expensive."

"s.h.i.+shō, if you do not have enough money shall I lend a.s.sistance?"

"Though... I would feel ashamed that I have to depend on Zan.o.ba for this kind of thing."

Even I want to maintain my pride as a man.

What is the market price of a house in this neighborhood anyway?

Hopefully my savings will suffice.

"Anyway, I'll check around town tomorrow. If it looks impossible, then I'll ask."

"Naturally. Rest a.s.sured, s.h.i.+sho will be able to purchase the biggest house in town."

Zan.o.ba said so and laughed.

Royalty doesn't feel any different despite being from a small country.

The next day I proceeded to the real estate agent.

Normally the local feudal lord would provide forms for citizens to rent out land and buildings.

However there is no feudal lord in the Magic City Sharia.

The Magic Triumvirate and the Magic Guild collaborate to manage the territory.

The problem that occurs in situations where there is no lord has been solved by installing a [Real Estate Broker].

Though I don't know what kind of problem was actually taking place.

I call it a [Real Estate Broker] for convenience, but the official name is [Land Management Agency] or something like that.

They buy and sell unoccupied houses, and manage vacant land and development.

It's like a so-called government office.

When I went to one of these real estate agents and said, [I want a house], the receptionist handed me a list.

The list of houses on the market was summarized in one page.

Size of the property, the size of the building, number of rooms, the price, the address, etc...

The list ranged from small houses to mansions, each property was very different.

"Um."

Honestly, I don't understand how much it cost to buy a house.

After all, I wonder about a single-room house with a garden would be good... it would be nice to have enough room to keep a dog.

Or wouldn't an apartment like a tenement house work?

Sylphy is the escort of the princess.

The house should be good, even without considering the fact that she's an escort.

However, because she's an escort, Princess Ariel might visit.

Since that's the case, it would be bad if we had a poor house.

Still, I instinctively clutch my wallet when thinking about buying a high-quality house suited for n.o.bles.[3]

Should I ask Zan.o.ba for support?

No, I am hesitant to use a friend as a wallet.

Especially since I'm not looking to buy a modest house.

"Um."

I might come with Sylphy.

I wonder if I should consult with the bride about such a large expense.

No, in this world a man should purchase the house. I also want to impress the woman I like.

When I talk to Sylphy I don't want to seem like a miserable excuse for a man.

I must show my resourcefulness.

"It needs to be large, have many rooms, and the property must be cheap..."

I start scanning the list for such a property.

No matter what world you're in, buying a house will be expensive for sure.

Though it could have been considered normal for a newly-wed couple to rent a cheap apartment in my old world.

"Oh?"

And there, I found a good property.

Right at the end of the list.

The property has a single structure.

For its size it could be considered a mansion.

It is located in a corner of the town, but it isn't far from the Magic University.

It is 2-stories, and it also has a bas.e.m.e.nt and a garden.

The only problem is that the house is slightly old.

The price is surprisingly cheap, less than the half price of a comparable property.

If it's this much, I can buy it and still have money left over.

"Why is this listing so cheap?"

The staff member shows a bitter smile when I asked.

"It's a fact that the mansion is haunted."

"Is it a curse?"

"Yes, around midnight you can hear sharp sounds, but even if you look for the sound you won't find anything. When you think that the house is rumbling or something and try to leave it, the next day you'll be found cruelly murdered."

Are you serious?

Well, I didn't hear the story well.

Haunted house.

And I wonder if it's evil spirits.

There are demons in this world, too.

"You didn't exorcise it?"

"A request was given to the Adventurer's Guild, but the adventurers were brutally murdered."

In short, n.o.body was able to succeed in exorcising it.

By the way, the subjugation rank of the request seems to be E.

I want to raise the rank, but the budget is lacking and there is also friction with the Adventurer's Guild, which seems difficult in various ways.

"Did you ask for help from the Magic Guild?"

"Yes, but they are in a difficult position to interfere with things of this nature, so we can only handle it on our own."

The real estate agent was about to give up on the haunted house.

Come to think of it, there was a similar case that happened when I was on the magical continent.

It's certainly a common thing in this world.

"If I succeed in exorcising the house, I don't suppose... that you could hand it over for free?"

This guy has a look as if he can't believe what I just asked.

Is that so.

It seems that they will sell it even if it's troublesome.

"I'm sorry, then can we proceed with a temporary contract so I can inspect the property at a later date?

"...Then, I'll ask for your name here."

Although I failed in the initial negotiations, I signed the temporary contract without minding it.

Since there was also a place for references I wrote Demon King Badigadi and Princess Ariel.

Submit.

The staff member's face paled a bit when he looked at the contract, then retreated back into the offices.

His supervisor appeared immediately.

While rubbing his hands together.

Did this happen because my name is famous?

No, mentioning Badigadi and Ariel might be the reason.

Well, whatever.

I cut in while they spoke a little and the negotiations were concluded.

Furthermore they reduced the price by half.

Well, the property was treated like a plague.

But I'm not going to complain.

A few days later.

I went to visit the haunted house.

The building itself is firm, even though it was built more than a hundred years ago.

In this world, probably because magical power dwells in everything, it may take time for it to rot.

The supports are made of solid stone and it has hardwood floors.

An intricate building made of stone and wood.

Moss and ivy are stuck to its outer walls.

However it's a beautiful thing.

I imagined it being a more terrible looking house.

"Well, Zan.o.ba-san, Cliff-san, will we give up?"

Zan.o.ba and Cliff stand a ways behind me.

Although I am an A-rank adventurer, I am self-conscious enough to not attempt this alone.

Therefore I asked Zan.o.ba to lend me his strength, he is a man I can rely upon.

Zan.o.ba can handle it even if a western doll waving a kitchen knife comes out.

Cliff also came along because he had the eyes of someone who wanted to help out his friends.

That said, he's a genius who can use advanced level Exorcism magic.

If the other party is a demon or evil spirit-based, he will certainly be helpful.

"It's a very good house. It looks a little cramped, but about this size... is this much considered reasonable?"

"Isn't this house too large to live in with only two people? If it was me, first I would buy a small house then save money. Then later, if it becomes too small, I would move."

The two opinions contrast.

I guess that means I'll take this as the middle ground.

"The price is low for a reason, now let's go."

"You are wise s.h.i.+shō, more than anything."

Zan.o.ba starts walking calmly while saying that.

He has a club in one hand.

It is a weapon that I prepared.

During subjugation requests being unarmed is bad, but this guy with his monstrous[4] strength seems to break all of his weapons.

So I gave him a club which I made with earth magic.

It's a free weapon to break.

Cliff is in the middle.

He's clutching his staff, which seems to be expensive, and looking around restlessly.

Even if the person himself intends to be cautious, I can only see it as being scared.

I act as the rear guard and prepare for an attack from behind.

It is important that the party protects Cliff who can use healing magic.

As for me, who's the most experienced, I'm in the back to also keep a close watch on everyone.

I walked over the broken stone pavement to arrive at the entrance.

There is a cracked wooden door.

One hinge is broken.

I better repair this later.

"I don't think that there's a risk of a trap, but please be careful."

"Yes, s.h.i.+shō."

While watching with my foresight eye,

Zan.o.ba grabbed the doork.n.o.b and just broke it.

No hesitation.

"Hey, don't break it so suddenly."

"Excuse me. The door was distorted and it wouldn't open. Renovation would have been necessary anyway."

Apparently, the door that looked safe upon first glance was somehow distorted.

"Is that so? But you should say something next time."

"Yes, s.h.i.+shō."

Just the answer is fine, Zan.o.ba.

Anyway, we entered the house.

We saw the lobby immediately.

There are stairs going up to the second floor directly in front of us and there are doors on our right and left.

There is a corridor leading to the back, near the side of the stairs.

Although it's viewed as a haunted house from the outside, the inside was bright.

The house's exposure to the sun is good. It is a good place.

Does a real estate agent regularly clean? There isn't much dust piling up.

"s.h.i.+shō, how should we proceed?"

"First we'll start by investigating the right side of the house, looking through all the rooms. I don't think that there are traps, but please be careful where you step because there is a possibility that the floor and ceiling have become rotten."

Zan.o.ba nodded, and Cliff looked back.

"You, you look like the real thing, you know."

"...For the time being, I am also an A-rank adventurer after all."

"Ah, that's right."

Cliff seems to be tense or something.

That reminds me, it seemed like he went off on an adventure with Elinalise and [Stepped Leader] the other day, but I never heard any details.

How did it turn out?

"That reminds me, how did the adventure go the other day?"

"...It was harsh."

"Well, they are all S-ranked..."

It probably wasn't that harsh for every member of [Stepped Leader].

I understand that their partner is a rookie.

They might not have been very considerate of that fact since it was their intention to educate him about this and that.

However, it's another story if Cliff didn't think of it like that.

"What should I do?"

"Please attack with Exorcism magic if you find an enemy."

"I understand... What should I do if that doesn't defeat the spirit?"

"Please withdraw, Zan.o.ba or I will handle it."

When I said that, Cliff made a face that seemed offended.

I follow up.

"Because if Cliff-senpai uses magic, the house may be damaged."

Cliff seems to be convinced when I say that.

I had better let the beginner get a hit in.

You use Exorcism magic if you find an enemy.

That's the first wave of attack.

Then I'll join in if that doesn't work.

"Zan.o.ba. There is a possibility that a demon who uses magic is lurking, so please be careful."

"Leave it to me."

Unexpectedly Zan.o.ba has a warrior's temperament and was not scared at all.

Rea.s.suring.

I enter the door to the right of the lobby.

It was a large room.

The room was around the size of 20 tatami mats.[5]

It was well lit, there was a large fireplace against the wall towards the back of the room.

I wonder if this place is the living room or the dining room?

The fireplace becomes a concern.

"Cliff-senpai, this fireplace, could it be a magic tool?"

"Here, I will know if I try to examine it."

Cliff was just about to go look around the back of the fireplace...

"Stop. There may be an enemy."

We'll stop there, I'll inspect the fireplace.

"Um."

Winters around here are cold, so heating is important.

If the fireplace is a magic tool, then the whole house will become warm.

If it isn't[6], then we'll consider remodeling.

No...! In the cold, Sylphy and I hugging each other naked is what will keep us warm... but a good fireplace is still hard to pa.s.s up.

"Get ready, when I start forcing air through the fireplace anything like a demon hiding inside should come flying out."

And to draw its attention, with magic I force a strong wind through the fireplace's chimney.

Nothing happens.

I listen carefully, but there isn't any sign that something is moving.

Some soot fell down from the chimney.

I wonder if I should try maintaining a fire in it at least once while we're here.

If there's a hole or something in the chimney and it starts a fire, that would be unpleasant.

Anyway, I decided to go and take a look through from the bottom.

I could see the sky from the depths of the chimney.

For the time being I light it and try to maintain the fire for a moment.

There is no sign that anything is lurking.

It should be all right.

"Cliff-senpai, thank you for waiting."

"All right."

Cliff investigated the inside of the fireplace and discovered a magic circle immediately.

As expected, since he has been examining a lot of magic tools and curses recently.

"It is usable?"

"I don't understand how the fire works, but it seems to be no problem with magic."

"Is that so, thank you."

All right.

I nodded and we moved to the next room.

Looking from the entrance, it is the room to the right.

The floor in this room is stone and there seems to be something like a stove.

Perhaps this is the kitchen.

A piece of cloth is on the ground near the stove, and when I went to pick it up I noticed it was a piece of tattered ap.r.o.n.

Sylphy might be willing to cook for me in a naked ap.r.o.n here.

If I think about that, it is something to be excited about.

Innovation, and then remorse.

We're here to get rid of the evil spirits.

It's not the situation to be getting up. [7]

I checked the stove and anywhere else that seems like it might be a hiding place.

"All right, there is nothing unusual, next."

On the way, I look at the rooms in sequence.

I discovered a door to the bas.e.m.e.nt behind the stairs.

I advance to the next room counter-clockwise.

There is nothing unusual.

There were places where the dust has piled up a little, but these rooms are so beautiful you wouldn't think of them as over a hundred years old.

Did the former residents even do repairs?

"Is this the last room?"

I finished inspecting the rooms on the ground floor.

Although I knew by looking at the floor plan, this mansion is symmetrical.

However, there was no stove in the kitchen on the other side.

That room might have been used for another purpose, not for cooking.

Maybe for laundry.

But, let's call it a kitchen for the time being.

2 kitchens.

2 large rooms.

4 small rooms.

2 toilets.

I get the impression that this house was built by renovating two smaller houses together.

The only staircase is the one near the entrance.

"The bas.e.m.e.nt or the upper floor. Which place is more likely to have a demon?"

"I guess the bas.e.m.e.nt."

"It will be the bas.e.m.e.nt."

Unanimously it was decided that we check the bas.e.m.e.nt first.

The door to the bas.e.m.e.nt is attached to the back of the stairs to the upper floor.

A door which requires a key and looks like a storeroom.

The stairs leading into the bas.e.m.e.nt were dark...

I light the lamps which I prepared and handed them to Zan.o.ba and Cliff.

"I'll use my foresight eye to support from the rear. Don't part with the lamp even if you think that it's dangerous, I can't support you if I can't see."

"Wahaha, I am a Miko. There is nothing I fear."

While spitting out a reliable death flag, Zan.o.ba goes down the stairs.

Be more careful.

There might even be an arrow that will come flying out as soon as you open a door.

We arrived at the bas.e.m.e.nt.

"Hmm, there's nothing."

The bas.e.m.e.nt was deserted.

Some wooden shelves were lined up side-by-side.

It feels like an empty warehouse.

I light up the dark room, but there is no sign of something lurking.

There is a little stain on the wall, but it doesn't particularly look like blood.

Towards the end of the wall board, there's just a little rot.

This is... We have to accept this for the time being.

There isn't a demon.

That was anticlimactic.

"Okay, so the upper floor is next."

We go out of the bas.e.m.e.nt and head back to the lobby.

Then we carefully go up the stairs to the upper floor.

The wooden stairs don't make a sound. They're solid.

We make it upstairs and begin to inspect the rooms one by one.

The upper floor was also symmetrical.

There are two slightly larger rooms on each end which connect to the inside of their adjoining rooms.

The other rooms are six tatami side-by-side.

There are a total of 8 rooms.

4 small rooms of about six tatami.[8]

2 rooms of about twelve tatami.

The middle room which leads to the bedroom had an area of about six tatami.

In addition, there was the balcony in the middle room, too.

"Hm."

Let's put a big bed in the bedroom.

A bed large enough to fit three people lying down.

Maybe I could combine two normal beds...

No, sleeping huddled in a small bed isn't that bad.

You'll be warm when you wake up from sleeping side by side.

Being s.e.xually active, with Sylphy's chest to ma.s.sage within arm's reach.

It isn't too bad.

Anyway, the bed is important since I use it every day.

Oops, of course it isn't limited to erotic purposes.

It's also to sleep in every day.

"Cliff-senpai."

"What is it? Did you find what it was?"

"Do you think a bigger bed is better when you use it as a couple?"

"Ah...?"

Cliff falls silent for approximately several seconds.

Thinking.

He inhales suddenly.

And sighed.

"It is. Such a 'thing' is also important, but it's rude to the other party if you are always like that."

"Yeah... Hm, is that so."

His words are persuasive for some reason.

I wonder what Elinalise would do.

As soon as they are alone in a room, Elinalise would attack Cliff with bloodshot eyes.

I can't imagine it easily.[9]

I will take it to heart.

Oh, apart from that, is there a need to make the bed slightly bigger?

"Phew, there isn't."

I said with a sigh after looking around the last rooms.

"So, as planned, let's spend a night here."

"Yes. Thank you."

I didn't expect to see the problem when I was tentatively searching for it today.

Originally, it's a story of a guy that appears in the middle of the night.

Along with a sharp sound.

It's a creepy story.

Perhaps some kind of demon has settled down here.

I don't know of a demon ghost or any another demon.

I didn't think that it was a strong demon when I was in town, but carelessness is bad because the low rank adventurers that failed the request are now dead.

Unexpectedly, you don't know whether a homeless thief or something else has made this their headquarters either.

There's a kirikiri sound sharply picking at the entrance.

No, the door was broken. Then is it the back door?

A smell doesn't do for it.[10]

Isn't there a line?

Um, I don't know.

Are three people enough? I should have also brought Elinalise... just to make sure.

In her experience, acquired through age, she might have known about something like this.

But to be honest, I feel like I can't put up with her in a s.e.xual sense.

A shadow that comes creeping in when you see it in the middle of the night.

The temptation that is whispered in the ear...

[Cliff is sleeping in the other room.]

[No, it is not okay.]

I also understand that.

It's not good.

I made an announcement at the end of the second floor, from just outside the bedroom.

"I will wait here tonight. You may not show up during the day, but for the time being I'm sleeping here tonight."

"Hmm. Julie will be worried."

"I'm also worried about Liese."

The two people spoke their worries about the woman whom they each left.

Julie's a smart child.

However I understand that she's considered a slave as well.

In the corners of the male dormitory, many of the n.o.bles like to prowl indiscriminately.

But Zan.o.ba doesn't need to worry.

Elinalise is a woman who is lascivious.

I also know that she is popular.

She may have an affair by taking advantage of when Cliff isn't there tonight.

It will be a worry for him.

In contrast, how about my Sylphy?

She will escort the princess today.

It's as usual, nothing to worry about.

No, I said I would go out today, but I didn't say that I was going to stay out.

Possibly, she may plan to come to my room and talk a little bit before going to bed.

However, I am not there.

Sylphy might be left waiting in a cold corridor.

A voice echoes out [Rudi's late...] all alone.

I'm worried about it.

"The night will fall soon."

At Zan.o.ba's words, I look out and see the sunset's reflection in the window.

I can't tell her before tonight.

Sylphy would have already returned to the girl's dormitory.

No, even without saying it directly, if I write something in front of the door saying I'm out tonight...

All right, let's do it, let's do it now.

Oh wait.

What will these two do while I'm out.

It is regrettable.

For the time being, I'm the leader of this party.

Well it's a little thing.

Even Sylphy will understand it, if I explain it properly later.

No, but I heard somewhere a long time ago.

The acc.u.mulation of little things will produce a big crack later on.

d.a.m.n, I have a bad feeling about this.

During such a time I'm wearing a death flag on purpose, I must dispel this bad feeling.

"Zan.o.ba."

"What's the matter?"

"...When this request is over, I'll get married."

"Yes. It is something that should be done quickly if you want to celebrate grandly in this mansion."

Zan.o.ba nodded while looking puzzled.

My bad.

I had a bad feeling I wouldn't make it out the front door.

I felt that it would be impossible to succeed if I said something like [Please give us your blessing.] while riding the mood here.

That... For the time being, I'll put some hard thing in my breast pocket.

And, although I thought that, I have no breast pocket.

It is not possible to suddenly stop a flying .357 magnum bullet like this.

Cliff interrupted my line of thought.

"Invite Liese and me to the celebration."

"Isn't that natural?"

"It's okay if you take me for granted, but I would feel sorry for Liese to be left out."

Because Cliff is a guy who cannot read the mood, I wonder if he's always this glum.

Pitiful guy.

I'll invite him properly.

Of course, Elinalise also.

Ah.

Nevertheless, I am a man.

I want to end this quickly and rub Sylphy's b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

No, I will strongly endure for now.

Because I will have many troubles later.

While I considered this, it became nighttime.

On the other hand, Sylphy heard the information that Rudeus had prepared a house for them, so at that time she was lying around and hugging a pillow while remembering her delusion.

We will take turns keeping watch at night.

Two people sleep while the other is the lookout.

If there is an abnormality, we wake up the two remaining people immediately.

It's such an arrangement.

That said, I'll wake them up by all means if there's a particular "Kirikiri" sound.

The room we are sleeping in is the same one in which the previous resident was cruelly murdered.

It's a room at the end of the hall on the upper floor.

It may be related to the place that a demon appears.

I can't really think of this kind of thing being caused by some sort of homeless thief, but if it is then it would ease my mind.

If the opponent is a human, dealing with them is easy.

There might even be a reward for catching them, which will help the wedding fund.

If the opponent is a demon, it's simpler.

Search and destroy.

It is really simple.

"Wake up Rudeus! There's a sound!"

It was Cliff who woke me up.

I sprang up immediately.

Zan.o.ba is still sleeping.

We had rotating guard s.h.i.+fts for about two hours to allow each other to get a shallow sleep.

Since we don't know the exact time, we used an hourgla.s.s.

It is the second s.h.i.+ft now.

In the middle of the night.

It's just the right time for a demon to come out.

"Please wake up Zan.o.ba."

I briefly told Cliff and moved to the door.

And I listen carefully.

Kiri ...... Kiri .......

...... Kata ...... Kata .......

............ Kyi ....... Kyi ......

Hm, this is dangerous.

It sounds real.

It's very clear.

The sound is like a chair creaking.

Scary.

I was able to see with foresight eyes.

"Afu ~a ......"

Zan.o.ba while rubbing his eyes, yawned greatly.

I confirm it and put my hand on the doork.n.o.b.

Then, I open the door slowly, so as not to make a noise.

I look at the hallway.

Nothing.

Just in case, I also look at the other side.

Nothing.

The top, the bottom. Nothing.

I listen carefully.

I hear nothing.

The sound has already stopped.

Zan.o.ba got up.

"What's up?"

"There's nothing there."

We can either search inside the house or wait until there is a change in this room.

The former resident thought that he misheard the sound, left it unattended, and died.

The thing is, if we wait here... and there is some kind of threat...

No, even the previous resident, if he heard a sound that clear he would have gone to investigate.

Do I imitate him?

"I will search for the enemy."

"All right. Is the formation the same as before?"

"Oh, be careful."

"If s.h.i.+shō protects the back, it would be a relief."

Zan.o.ba has a stone club.

Cliff filled with tension, followed.

"Cliff-sempai, do you remember what to do?"

"I'll cast Exorcism magic."

"That's right. Thank you"

So it's okay.

Zan.o.ba is the tank while Cliff uses Exorcism magic, and if that doesn't work I'll use a rock bullet.

All right.

"Zan.o.ba, go."

A night search began.

I know where the rooms are since we examined the house once already during the day.

The search operation went smoothly.

First, I examine all the rooms upstairs.

Nothing unusual.

Then, we carefully went down to the ground floor.

We check out the rooms one by one, such as the stove or fireplace, and other places something might be hidden.

Nothing unusual.

The rooms are all beautiful.

"s.h.i.+shō, only the bas.e.m.e.nt is left."

"Ah."

We move to the bas.e.m.e.nt.

The door behind the stairs.

The stairs to the bas.e.m.e.nt.

It's dark.

There seems to be some strange sense from the bas.e.m.e.nt.

It seems I'm also tense.

I could hear my heart thumping.

A single deep breath.

While paying attention at the back, we descended the stairs.

I feel like I'm descending into h.e.l.l.

We arrived at the bas.e.m.e.nt.

"What's up?"

"There is nothing."

Zan.o.ba answered so.

I also tried to light up the surroundings with a lamp.

I try to look carefully at the corner.

But, there's nothing there.

However, the former resident would have examined the bas.e.m.e.nt too.

It's the most suspicious place.

However, there was nothing to be found even if you look at a glance.

"For the time being, let's prepare for a surprise attack once we return to the room."

I heard the sound.

Then the enemy will come.

Alternatively, it may wait to attack until after we fall fast asleep...

Well, we can also try to pretend to be asleep until tomorrow.

We carefully leave the bas.e.m.e.nt.

And go up to the second floor.

We walked to the hallway and came back to the room we waited in.

"Zan.o.ba, please be careful when opening the door, It is also possible that it is lurking in the room where we slept."

"I understand."

Zan.o.ba slowly reached the doork.n.o.b while grasping his stone club.

It opened.

Nothing happens.

"...."

"...seems to be all right."

Nothing.

No attack.

"Fu ~u......"

A sigh.

Let's see if it attacks the place again while we are sleeping

Or, for example, if it attacks while using the toilet.

That reminds me, I didn't examine the garden.

When tomorrow comes, I guess I should also investigate the garden.

And.

Then, suddenly.

I looked back.

There it is.

Down the hall.

Lowering its posture as if to crawl.

The upper body part peeped out from the stairs.

It tilts his head looking at me.

I wonder if it's human.

There was an eye. There was a nose. There was a mouth.

There was no hair. There were no ears.

And I didn't feel its life either.

"..."

In the dark, while the pale silhouette rose, the guy was looking at me.

For several seconds, we stared at each other.

"You-"

The moment I was about to say something.

That fellow moved.

It raised its upper body as if about to leap, then jumped to the second floor.

There were four hands.

There were also four feet.

In the dark, that person while brandis.h.i.+ng a kind of stake in his hand, while moving four feet, without a sound, ran over here with tremendous speed.

"Uoaaa!?"

I lost my balance.

I shot a Rock Bullet at once while falling on my backside.

It crosses my mind, my concern is that it might break the house.

Hesitation weakened the power of Rock Bullet.

The Rock Bullet crushed the shoulder of the guy and it staggered.

However, the guy doesn't stop.

He raises a stake toward me.

Then I try to avoid it with foresight eye.

"s.h.i.+shō!"

Zan.o.ba jumped in front of me.

A stake was swung down swiftly into Zan.o.ba.

The stake struck an inch from his heart.

"Zan.o.ba!"

It didn't stick.

Zan.o.ba's Touki stopped the stake.

Is, it's Zan.o.ba indeed!

Nothing serious!

Zan.o.ba grabbed the guy's face with one hand.

It thrashed its 8 limbs in a frenzy, pounding on Zan.o.ba.

"Then our G.o.d gives grace to the Mother Earth!
I do it against the law of nature, and give the foolish person Heaven's vengeance!
[Exorcist Rate] !"

Cliff started chanting while half of his body was still inside the room.

White light shot out from his staff and hit the guy.

However that guy's movements don't stop.

It isn't a ghost?

I aimed my hand at the guy.

Rock Bullet.

Next I'll hit him in the face.

But in this position, I'll hit Zan.o.ba.

"Zan.o.ba, step aside, I'll use a Rock Bullet!"

"s.h.i.+shō, please wait!"

Zan.o.ba didn't move.

Even though his clothes were tattered from being continuously struck with the stake, he didn't flinch.

Why?

"It's fine, move! I'll do it!"

"Please wait! s.h.i.+shō! Thank you!"

Zan.o.ba hugged him.

As if to protect it from me.

It continued to struggle in a frenzy.

Zan.o.ba's clothes were shredded.

Despite his superhuman strength, he revealed an uncharacteristically slender back.

For several seconds, for several minutes, as time pa.s.sed.

The guy moved intensely, but gradually his movement dulls.

Eventually, it stopped moving.

"Fu ~u......"

Zan.o.ba confirmed it, stripped off his torn clothes and tied up that guy's hands and feet.

"s.h.i.+shō, first to the room."

"Ah."

I was prompted by Zan.o.ba, and we returned to the room.

In the room, Cliff was trembling and shaking.

"I, I, wasn't running away you know. I thought the narrow hallway was becoming a hindrance."

"Well... It was a wise decision."

"R-Right?"

It wasn't convincing.

Well, I was also abruptly scared by it, and I won't say anything.

"s.h.i.+shō."

"Zan.o.ba, you survived. But it was dangerous. Because even you aren't an immortal like a Demon King..."

"s.h.i.+shō its amazing, look here, please look at this."

Zan.o.ba was very excited.

While completely ignoring my words, he had sat on the ground.

I hear a light sound unexpectedly clang-clang.

Zan.o.ba lights it up with a lamp.

"This, this is a... doll?"

There a pale colored, wooden doll was laid out.

Four hands and four feet.

It is a strange figure, but it is a doll.

The feet were bound with cloth, when I thought that I didn't hear its footsteps. It is a black cloth.

I thought that it was a stake, but it is a broken hand.

Among the four hands, two of them were broken.

On it's face was a nose and a mouth made with minimal effort.

Something like a gla.s.s ball is fitted for the eyes.

It is inorganic too.

I met eyes with the d.a.m.n thing.

To be honest. I don't want to look at it too much, it's too creepy.

Also... at some point it starts to move.

If you look at Cliff, he also seems to agree with me.

Holding his staff, he was staring at the doll vigilantly.

"s.h.i.+shō, this is amazing."

Only Zan.o.ba was different.

He seems to not be able to hide his excitement.

If it comes with a rare doll, this is it immediately.

"Zan.o.ba, no matter how much you like a doll-"

"s.h.i.+shō! This doll is moving! A doll moving!"

And, that said, I also noticed.

It is.

This doll attacked us.

"A doll that moves..."

A doll that moves.

Golem.

Automota

Maid Robo. Wa wa wa.

Such words crossed my mind.

The fear had faded in an instant.

"It certainly is amazing."

"s.h.i.+shō, did you realize it at last?"

I listened to Zan.o.ba whose tone seemed to imply "There's no way s.h.i.+shō wouldn't realize it".

It was a tone that stimulated pride.

"Ah. It was nice of you to not break it. Zan.o.ba, there's no doubt in your judgment."

"Fu fu, I noticed that this was a doll at first glance."

"Indeed, your eye for dolls has already surpa.s.sed me."

I properly praised Zan.o.ba who had a satisfied look.

However, it is a moving doll.

If you think about it, there are moving minerals like a golem or something like that in this world.

This doll is a wood carving, but maybe its possible to move a stone figure.

Being able to move the figure itself.

Using a man-made material such as silicon, creating a doll with the skin of a person is possible.

And if it moves...

The dream spreads.

"Zan.o.ba, what should we do. My heart is racing."

"s.h.i.+shō, me too. I can barely contain tears of joy!"

First of all, let's take this doll back home.

Then examine how it moves.

Since it can't normally move, it might be like a magic tool with a magic circle carved in it.

"Hey, you guys, give me a break!"

And, he was angry suddenly.

Cliff still remains clenching his staff, while glaring.

"This isn't the time or place to talk about such a thing!"

"What do you mean [such a thing]!"

Zan.o.ba grabbed Cliff's face, and lifted him into the air.

"Agaaaa!!"

Cliff grabbed Zan.o.ba's arm while remaining suspended, but it won't budge.

It's been a while since I last saw this spectacle.

"A doll moved! Why don't you understand its importance!"

"Owowow! There are demons that create moving armors too you know!"

A demon.

Hearing that term, I remembered our objective.

We did not come here to catch a moving doll.

I came to obtain this house.

However, securing the house, and clearing up the mystery of the moving doll...

It's not like I can't do both.

"Zan.o.ba, please release your hand."

"Mu, but s.h.i.+shō."

"Cliff-senpai's words are reasonable."

Zan.o.ba released his grip.

Cliff is let down instantly, I cast healing magic immediately.

What a crybaby.

"Perhaps, this doll is the ident.i.ty of the demon."

"Um."

"There may not be just one. Lets find and capture the rest. Maybe we'll find blueprints for the doll."

"Oh, I see, for sure!"

Zan.o.ba with a face convinced nodded and said.

"We won't sleep tonight.
Let's thoroughly search for where this doll was hiding."

Thus, the third house search began.

There is nowhere to hide such a large doll.

The consensus was, after looking around the house twice, there wasn't such a place.

I thought there might be something in the garden we haven't accounted for, but there was nothing.

There were the doll's footprints in the snow, but that was it.

Therefore, an idea comes to mind, that there is a room hidden somewhere.

The house was made to be symmetrical.

If we go looking for a part that's not symmetrical, we might find something.

I thought so, and tried looking for a dubious place while checking the floor plan on both floors, but I couldn't find anything.

I mean, the inside of the house is too dark.

Even if there was something unusual, it may go unnoticed.

"It might be better to reexamine it at noon tomorrow."

We agree with Cliff's idea and decided to search again the next day.

Before the search, I brought the doll back to the Magic University.

If you look at the bright side, the doll that has been found is quite old.

What looked pale is originally a white paint that had started to peel off due to mold.

"Are you master's new doll?"

I thought Julie would be frightened, but there was nothing to worry about.

She is looking at it curiously.

"Do you want me to clean it?"

I heard that.

It seems she was sometimes tasked with cleaning Zan.o.ba's newly purchased dolls.

Zan.o.ba says [It's to deepen the appreciation of dolls] it seems the best way to clean and polish a doll is by wiping it down with compa.s.sion.

She received a good education.

"How can we get it to move again?"

"After searching the mansion, we'll examine it."

It looked like Zan.o.ba couldn't wait to start researching this doll.

I understand that feeling.

I understand it, but I want you to calm down.

For now, the doll had been sealed in a box which I made with earth magic.

It would be bad if Julie got attacked while we are not here.

I came back to the house.

I purchased a large number of lamps to light all of the rooms.

I crushed all the possibilities that I hadn't considered when I first came.

I also examined the fireplace.

I stuck my head inside to have a thorough look.

"Hmm, did it change..."

I finished searching the fireplace while knocking down some soot and spiders' webs.

Then, I noticed the cause of my discomfort yesterday.

The floor wasn't stained with soot.

As if something had done the cleaning, everything was neatly wiped clean.

When I think back, the cloth that had been sown to the doll's feet was black.

Each and every night it might have been cleaning the house with that cloth.

No, the house would be stained by using such cloth. Black is rather...

Oh, by any chance, that cloth, was it a magic tool?

No, let's put that on hold.

Now then, upper floor, ground floor, bas.e.m.e.nt.

...The bas.e.m.e.nt is still suspicious.

I brought a few lamps into the bas.e.m.e.nt.

Since they could use up the oxygen, I left the door open.

I considered the possibility of something being hidden in the middle of the stairs, so I examined that as well.

In the deserted s.p.a.ce of the bas.e.m.e.nt, I arranged the lamps.

[Look! It's amazing, it's bright like the afternoon] is what a person from a fairy-tale might say.

"When it's this bright, I can tell just by looking."

The edge of the bas.e.m.e.nt.

The wall which was made with a wooden board.

I didn't see it clearly when we were using only one or two lamps in the dark, but with this much light I could see clearly.

The corner of the wall, it had a dark square.

It is a hidden door.

I'm sure you wouldn't be able to tell it was there in just a bit of light when it was first made, but thanks to the pa.s.sage of time, the part which opens and closes got dirty, and it rose to the surface.

On the ground as well, the portion where it opens and shuts is clearly carved out.

"All right, let's enter at once!"

Cliff was excitedly moving to open the door.

In preparation for an attack, I looked ahead to the door with foresight eye.

But, Cliff stopped moving immediately.

"What is it?"

"I don't know how to open it."

Since he said so, I also took a look.

There isn't a dent that is common among things such as sliding doors, nor is there a doork.n.o.b.

Even though that's the case, it's not like we can push it open either.

"s.h.i.+shō, shall I break it?"

Zan.o.ba's proposal, but I shake my head.

Although I could repair it, I don't really want to break it.

"Hmm ......"

I look at the ground.

The trace of the door opening and closing is left there.

It is certain that it opens. The door opens on this side.

"Nothing."

And, I noticed that one trace was slightly different.

The trace which opened the door begins with the third piece of board of the left.

A piece of the dark wood door slips off.

And there a little storage drawer opened.

The ninja village that I visited on a field trip during my elementary school days.

There was a hidden door there.

I remember the feeling and try to push the left edge.

A [Giii], sound let out.

However, it does not open. Heavy.

"Zan.o.ba, try pressing here."

"Um."

I let Zan.o.ba push it.

And then, the door made a [kiririkiki] sort of creaking sound as it rose and opened.

The sound in the middle of the night, was this sound?

On the interior side of the hidden door there was a doork.n.o.b. Probably to make closing it from the inside easy.

"I do not think there's a trap.... but there might be something, so please be careful."

I went inside while saying so and lighted up the inside with a lamp.

The possibility of a trap or a surprise attack ended as imaginary fears.

There was a small room.

One desk, a single wooden pedestal.

That's all.

On the desk, several books and ink pots were placed.

As for the pot, the cover is broken, and the contents have evaporated.

On the pedestal side I'm not sure what words would be good to describe it.

It might be similar to a coffin.

It's like a lump of wood the size of that.

I have the feeling that the surface is dented in the form of the doll.

After looking closely, in the place where the head goes... in the part where the eyes would set there are transparent stones embedded.

I felt intuitively that the doll in question had slept here. Most likely, that doll lays down here and recharges... no, it probably supplies magic power. [11]

"Cliff, do you know what this pedestal is?"

"No, this is the first time I've seen it."

Cliff shook his head.

I touch the pedestal timidly.

I don't think it will suddenly shut on me but...

I stretch out a hand to a certain book disregarded on a desk.

I understood that it was left unattended for a considerably long time, but, fortunately, there was no trace of being worm-eaten.

Would the doll in question do the insect extermination?

The cover had a t.i.tle and a crest.

The t.i.tle isn't readable.

When I open it, the text is also not readable.

If it's in letters that I can't read then that means it's either Heavenly G.o.d language, or Sea G.o.d language.

Or else it might be written in some other minor language.

But I have a feeling that I have read both the crest and the letter somewhere.

Where was it?

Was it at the Magic University Library?

I turn the page.

Then there were some figures.

The figure of a human body, it's a figure of the magic formation.

Furthermore, the human figure where there are four hands and feet appeared when I turned up a page.

"...Zan.o.ba."

"Yes."

Zan.o.ba who was waiting at the entrance, came towards me.

"I think, this is what was written in the doll, but what do you think?"

"I can't read it. However, perhaps this is it without doubt."

"How, show me."

After hearing such an exchange, Cliff had also stuck his head in.

While turning the pages lightly we looked through the book as a group.

The string binding together the pages is considerably old and, despite the paper, seemed like it would come loose at any moment.

A figure, an arrow, and a letter.

Even if a commentary or an explanatory note is written, I wouldn't understand it at all.

Ill.u.s.trations of the parts of the arms, magic circles, indicators, and some kind of notes.

These sorts of notes are written in the margins in various ways.

"If you're simply looking at the figure, it resembles the magic formation of a magic tool."

Cliff said it alone.

"Is that so?"

"Oh, I understand it because I studied it recently, I have seen similar magic formations. Perhaps, that doll would be a magic tool."

"I see."

I try to hypothesize.

The previous former resident.

No, perhaps the first resident here, had probably studied the doll.

This magic circle might have touched upon some sort of taboo, so it was done secretly.

I think the doll was trying to protect this house, like the role of a security guard.

And the first resident half-completed it.

Going off the looks of that doll, it seems there were still a number of problems remaining, but they succeeded up to the point of making it able to move around inside of the estate and fight.

However, the first resident disappeared.

Whether he moved away with things left half finished or it was exposed and he was caught, I don't know.

It is very likely that he died of an unexpected accident, and the result of the research remains.

Probably... the doll at first might have been sleeping on this pedestal all the time.

However, it started up for some reason.

It moved around while cleaning in the house, and started to act to fight off the intruder.

Perhaps, it was programmed that if it finished cleaning, to return to this pedestal and charge.

Unfortunately I think the person who was murdered was recognized to be [an intruder] by the doll.

However, if it goes out to the garden then, it wouldn't have been surprising if someone had witnessed it, but...

No, the door of the entrance was broken like that wasn't it.

Come to think of it, in the building, only that door was broken.

The former resident might have changed it. For security or something.

Since the shape of the door is changed, it wasn't able to open it.

Originally it was programmed to patrol the garden, but it gave up because the door couldn't be opened.

However, the door was broken open when we entered.

Therefore, according to the program, it went around the garden.

And we pa.s.sed each other.

After we returned to the upper floor, it caught up.

It doesn't seem strange to think that.

"Anyway, there doesn't seem to be any more dolls."

I mean that, this case is closed.

As a precaution, I further search the house carefully,
and checked on its state for a few more days.

I also don't hear the sound in the middle of the night.

It is safe.

I went to the real estate agent and finished the formal agreement to buy the property.

As for the ident.i.ty of the evil spirit, we said it was an evil demon that was hiding in the bas.e.m.e.nt.

A supplier becomes available from the next day and will do the repair work and cleaning.

I was asked if I wanted to buy everything including furniture from them, but I decided to go with just the bare minimum of things.

As such, it would be better to look around together with Sylphy.

That is to say, is it a j.a.panese-like sense?

Since there were a few parts where I wanted to help out on myself, the time when we would actually be able to move in would be about half a month later.

From now on, the smiling face of Sylphy floats on my eyes.

["You see, this is our home!"

"Kyaa, Rudi it's lovely."

"There's a large number of rooms after all, no matter how many children we have it'll be alright!"

"Thinking about the future as well, amazing, embrace me!"

"Of course honey, the bed is already prepared."

"Rudi turn me into a mess!"]

But my face shouldn't be effeminate.

...It's not a suitable face.

[Huh, Rudi were you only able to prepare a house of this level?]

Sylphy wouldn't say that. Yup, she is not that kind of selfish person.

Still, it was the product of hard work.

The house was cleared and bought in just a few days, I also got to keep the doll that was haunting it.

That doll, it's definitely a magic tool.

Normally, it might not be good if you don't submit those kinds of things to the Magic Guild.

Oh well, I don't yet belong to the magic guild, so it doesn't matter.

Since it was a part of the house I bought I'll just take owners.h.i.+p of it, like that.

Around the time day ended, I decided to carry out the research materials that were in the bas.e.m.e.nt.

Zan.o.ba carries the pedestal, and I carry the books.

We'll use it for the study of the moving doll in question.

"s.h.i.+shō."

On the way back to the magic university.

Zan.o.ba addressed me with a serious look.

He carried the huge pedestal over his shoulder.

It clearly wasn't made with the consideration that it would ever be carried around given its weight, it's only possible because it's Zan.o.ba.

For the time being, it was wrapped in cloth, but when viewed from a distance, he may appear to be carrying a coffin.

"What is it?"

"The study of this moving doll. Will you entrust it to me?"

I noticed his eyes unintentionally.

Unprecedented determination was seen through the depths of his round gla.s.ses.

Zan.o.ba said。

"My total amount of magic is small, and my hands are also clumsy. Even the red dragon figure that I'm trying to do just hinders s.h.i.+sho and nothing is proceeding at all."

That's not it.

He said it easily, but I felt the weight of his troubles on his mind.

It was not something he said lightly.

"But with something like this in front of me, I think maybe I can do something. After looking at the book, I think I can understand what the writer wanted to do."