015 – Nymph Inoi #15
Weapons were important for Awakened ones who were actively exploring the field.
A good weapon tends to draw out good results.
Moreover, it was also useful for protecting one’s own life, so there was no shortage of emphasis on what constitutes a “good weapon.”
Of course, Awakened equipment was expensive, and weapons were even more so.
There was the high-temperature superconductor blade, which could only be used from S Rank onwards.
How much was that again…?
Anyway.
I was saving money to customize a good weapon in preparation for achieving C Rank someday.
Ten million won.
For someone, it might be called “just?” but to me, it was a lot of money.
However, when I thought about using this money to find a house, I felt regret over all the time I had spent saving and not eating, making it feel like a waste.
“Muhuhu, Inoi is saying that moving means a house with a pond…! It reminds me of the time I used to move caves with my sisters depending on the season… I am looking forward to it…!”
━Zzi zzi.
━Kkungkkung…!
Everyone seemed to be looking forward to this “new house.”
Well, we’re all just trying to make a living.
Aren’t we trying to find good weapons to live in good houses and eat good food?
If we were to prioritize, wouldn’t house take precedence over weapon?
“But can I really find a house with ten million won?”
I didn’t know much about the real estate market.
Just the basic knowledge that you needed several hundred million won to find a house in the metropolitan area—nothing more than that.
Should I go and visit a real estate agency?
The next day, with that feeling in mind, I took Inoi to the local real estate agency with the highest ratings.
“This Inoi is curious about what this place does…!”
Inoi seemed to wonder what a certified real estate agency was. Soon, a middle-aged woman, who appeared to be the owner of the agency, came out with a glass of juice and handed it to Inoi.
“So, you’re looking for a house in the area?”
“Ahhh…! This orange juice… is very delicious…! Indeed, this place is Nymph-friendly…!”
To Inoi, the real estate agency was like a vending machine that dispensed orange juice. I lightly explained it to Inoi.
“This is a place where you buy and sell land.”
“What does buying and selling land mean…? If you buy and sell land… the owner of the land is only the great mother of the earth…!”
With Inoi chattering beside me, I asked the agency owner.
“Is it possible to find a house with a yard? If possible, one that has a pond nearby and a wide open space would be great. It doesn’t have to be in the city center; even a little outskirt would be fine.”
“I do know a few properties like that. Just how much are you looking to spend?”
The owner’s kind question prompted me to honestly answer, “Ten million won.” At that, a hint of bewilderment appeared on the owner’s previously calm face.
“You’re looking for a house with a pond and open space for ten million won? Hmmm….”
The atmosphere became quite delicate.
At that moment, Inoi rummaged through her pocket.
She pulled out a 500-won coin that seemed to be something she had found under my bed or on the floor somewhere.
“This Inoi also has money…! I am curious about how much land can be bought with this big, shiny coin…!”
Is there even land that can be bought with 500 won?
As I pondered that thought, Inoi chuckled.
“If this Inoi buys this land… I will gather many Nymph sisters and build a very Nymph-friendly tent and sing…!”
Anyway.
While Inoi was chattering various things, the kind-looking lady asked Inoi.
“Who is this friend? Your younger sister?”
“This is Inoi. She is a Nymph. You know about Elves, right? She is a similar race….”
“This Inoi is a much more fundamental, ancient, and authentic race than the fairy-like long-eared Elves…! Unlike the foreign species like Elves…!”
I quickly explained from how Inoi and I met to the story of trying to find a new house. The owner seemed quite touched by the story.
“My, such a diligent young man exists! I wish my sons would learn from you. Young man, did you apply for the castaway support funds?”
“What’s that?”
“It’s a fund you can apply for if you’re under the care of a host family…. In terms of housing, you can get support for about ten million won. You can also take out a loan. Young man, if you don’t look for these benefits yourself, it’s a loss.”
Was there something like that?
These days laws change so swiftly that I hadn’t known.
The lady then added.
“Well then, if you set an approximate budget of around twenty million won, there would be more houses I can show you. Let’s also check for above that, assuming you’re taking out a loan.”
The lady opened a tablet PC and showed me some photos.
“Still, young man, even with a loan, you’ll have to compromise a bit on the desired options. First, these are the properties that have come from rural areas nearby.”
Most of the houses shown in the pictures were old and abandoned.
An under-populated countryside due to declining birth rates and urbanization focusing on the metropolitan area.
It seemed most of the properties came from places where the previous owners had aged and passed away, resulting in continued decline in value.
Each one was an exceedingly old house and did not seem suitable for living.
“Would you like to visit them in person? I can give you a lift. It’s much better to check it out in person than just looking at photos, right?”
Truly a kind owner.
There was a reason why the agency had a high rating and why Inoi wasn’t on guard.
With that feeling, I spent the entire day riding in the owner’s car, driving around backcountry areas. The conclusion I reached was that the ten million won I had saved diligently was very little.
Despite being money I had saved with great effort, I couldn’t even buy a house with it!
“This Inoi…! In fact, I don’t need a place with a pond…! As long as cold water flows well from the bathroom faucet, it would be fine…!”
Even Inoi, who didn’t have much of a concept of money, seemed to vaguely realize that the money I had was extremely little.
“Ahhh…! In fact, I wouldn’t mind if the bathroom faucet didn’t flow with cold water…! Even if warm water comes out, this Inoi prefers that to rummaging through trash cans in alleys…!”
Comparing it to living on the street, anything would be acceptable, but…
Anyway, it seemed right to wrap up looking for houses here.
Perhaps I should stay a few more months in my cramped studio, earn some money by dealing with C Rank cracks, and then challenge this again?
But taking care of two animals in such a cramped place and also looking after Inoi definitely seemed like something that would not be viewed positively by others.
━How can you keep the new race, Nymph, in such a narrow and confined space! It is Nymph-phobic! Strip away the host’s qualification!
People might criticize and take Inoi to a wider and more luxurious house like Seo Ye-rim’s. Of course, that might be better for Inoi…
Anyway, it was a time of deep contemplation.
“Young man, there’s one last house left. Would you like to check it out? But I wouldn’t recommend it much…. There’s no pond, but there is a well in the yard….”
The patient owner who was guiding us spoke in a tone that was subtle yet slightly awkward, mentioning something.
One last house left.
#
Despite the awkward tone the lady used, the house was quite decent.
The yard was spacious, and it wasn’t too far from the city center.
The abandoned well in the yard was a bit eerie, but Inoi seemed to like it.
“A well…! This is a Nymph-friendly place…! This Inoi has seen many places, but this is the best place among all the places I’ve seen today…!”
The well seemed dry, but Inoi was bouncing with excitement.
I looked at the greenery in the yard.
It was well-maintained, but it was certain that it had been long abandoned, as there were cobwebs here and there and weeds growing wildly.
The interior, with two rooms and a bathroom, was at a level that needed some work.
However, it was the best among the properties I had seen today.
“This place used to be listed for 120 million won, but it hasn’t sold in ten years, so the price keeps going down. Even if it does sell, people come back quickly. They say it’s haunted. Everyone has had bad experiences….”
Haunted?
Is there really such a thing?
Well, in a world where Nymphs and Elves exist, who says there can’t be ghosts?
It was quite scary.
A haunted house!
“Honestly, I didn’t want to introduce you to this house. Several people have already been injured… The shaman who performed a ritual even fainted… Honestly, it’s best not to buy this house….”
I could feel the sincerity in the real estate lady’s words.
She could be considered a professional when it came to houses and land.
If she said no, it was probably best to not pursue it.
However, Inoi seemed to be very joyful.
“I want to show Kkungkkungi and Ahn Ahn this house…! There’s plenty of dirt, many trees, and the bushes are growing thrivingly…! It’s a place friendly to Squirrel Beasts and Emperor Ants…!”
Was it the intuition of the agency lady?
Or was it Inoi’s instinct?
Which should I believe?
Of course, the contemplation did not last long.
“Ma’am, if it’s not too much trouble, would it be alright if we stayed here for a night today?”
I decided to trust my experience.
Let’s spend a night in this haunted house!
