Volume 3 Chapter 6 A New Home
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Ever since the Haritz Rebellion, Captain Aslan, the Chief of the Arsenal Bureau, had been on my case nonstop. Just a moment ago, he had finally finished delivering a fierce and thoroughly deserved lecture over my unauthorized use of a fixed-wing drone and the latest Shishi-odoshi1 prototype.
”Understood. Carry it out immediately.”
That was the kind of short, no-nonsense response he had given throughout the formal reprimand, never once breaking from his strict military manner.
Then, while keeping that same overwhelming pace, he somehow talked me into buying a house. No, “talked” wasn’t quite right. He had practically used my students’ future prospects as leverage to force me into it. Refusing him outright would only create endless trouble later, so I figured I should at least take a look at the property.
”Be back by three.”
That was his order.
On top of everything else, he had imposed the ridiculous condition that I finish the purchase and move in within six hours. It was such an aggressive sales tactic that it felt less like dealing with a government official and more like being cornered by a shady property broker.
At that point, I honestly felt like returning to Strock Village and spending the rest of my life as a farmer.
When I stepped out of the Arsenal Bureau’s reception room, I found Kenze and Pamela waiting on benches in the hallway. Pamela was currently being made to perform an Amber charging assignment.
”We’re getting overtime pay for this, right?” Kenze muttered.
”How should I know?” I replied.
After gathering the two of them, I quickly hired a chartered carriage and headed back toward the Royal Capital.
By the time we arrived at the Joint Government Building, the place was overflowing with people. There wasn’t even room to leave the carriage nearby, so I ended the charter, paid the driver, and sent him away.
Inside the building, I immediately discovered the source of the congestion. A massive line stretched out from the cashier windows.
Fortunately, I spotted Assistant Professor Eida among the crowd.
”That’s quite the line,” I said as I approached.
Dressed in ordinary civilian clothing, Eida met my gaze and let out a weary sigh.
She explained that the start of every month was always like this. Then, without any prompting from me, she launched into a lengthy complaint about having to stand in line just to send money to her husband’s family. She spent several minutes grumbling about why her husband couldn’t simply do it himself through his workplace.
I listened quietly until she finally exhausted herself.
”That’s very admirable of you, Professor. Oh, by the way, I just came from the Arsenal Bureau.”
She nodded with obvious disinterest.
”And since maintaining a good relationship with them is important for our students’ future opportunities…”
At that point, Eida suddenly realized where the conversation was headed.
Her eyes widened.
Unfortunately for her, she realized it a second too late.
”The Chief is extremely busy this week, so he asked me to assist the Arsenal Bureau. I’m terribly sorry, but I won’t be able to come to the Academy until next week. I’ll leave everything in your capable hands.”
I delivered the entire explanation in one breath, turned around, and immediately walked away.
Behind me, Eida shouted, “I never agreed to that!”
Ignoring her protests, I escaped upstairs.
I’d have to buy her some sweets later.
Compared to the chaos below, the second floor was almost completely empty. The peaceful atmosphere alone was enough to make me relax.
I searched for the Belladonna Trading Company, the business Captain Aslan had mentioned.
It was located all the way at the end of the corridor.
To be honest, if it weren’t for the company sign hanging outside, I would have mistaken the door for the entrance to a restroom.
After knocking politely, I heard a rough voice from within.
”Come in.”
As soon as I entered, the owner looked me over.
”Well, well. That’s a surprisingly young customer.”
A bald, heavily built man sat deep inside a cramped office.
”What can I help you with?”
As he spoke, he pushed himself up from his chair. His stomach practically slid across the desk as he squeezed his way around it.
I handed him Captain Aslan’s letter.
He put on a pair of glasses and read it while standing.
”I see. So you’re the one purchasing the Riemenschneider estate.”
Once he finished, he folded the letter and tucked it into his inner pocket.
”Could I inspect the property first?” I asked.
Seventy million yen wasn’t the sort of purchase one should make blindly.
”But according to the letter, the transaction has already been completed…”
”I would still like to see it.”
The merchant wiped sweat from his forehead.
”…Very well.”
A short time later, we boarded a carriage belonging to the trading company.
It looked rather extravagant from the outside.
As the carriage moved through the city, however, the route began to feel strangely familiar.
Then the merchant announced our destination.
”We’ve arrived. This is the Riemenschneider estate.”
Just as I had feared.
The house stood directly across the alley from Professor Lizabel’s residence.
That alley.
The very same one I had walked through barefoot that night.
”This is one of the finest locations in the district,” the merchant explained, apparently assuming I was comparing it to Professor Lizabel’s stone mansion.
Compared to her residence, however, the Riemenschneider estate looked much older. It was largely wooden in construction, yet the price remained absurdly high.
”Land values increase the closer you get to the inner wall. In addition, this southeastern district has long been home to noble villas.”
”But the building itself looks rather old.”
The merchant laughed softly.
According to him, the structure had originally been a farmhouse. Later, when the capital expanded and the royal palace was constructed nearby, noble estates began appearing throughout the area.
Those noble households suffered from a shortage of resident servants. As a result, this property had been renovated into a boarding house that housed specialized domestic workers available for hire.
Because of that history, it contained an unusually large number of private rooms. It also had a huge dining hall and even its own bathhouse.
Eventually, the property was purchased by the Master of Horse, the younger brother of Count Riemenschneider.
During the Haritz Rebellion, however, he sided with the noble faction.
As punishment, the Master of Horse, his eldest son, and the other male relatives were executed for treason. The women were sentenced to slavery. The Kingdom Office confiscated the entire estate.
Now the land, the residence, the carriage, and the remaining servants were all being sold together as a single package.
Viewed from outside, the estate occupied the entire lot in a long rectangular ring formation surrounding an interior space.
It stood on the northwestern corner of the block.
Despite its size, the aged exterior left a poor first impression.
Neighboring estates featured elegant gardens and circular carriage drives. This house had none of those refinements.
I found myself wondering why a nobleman of such status had chosen to live somewhere so old-fashioned.
”By the way, where is the carriage house?” I asked.
”The carriage is stored over there.”
The merchant pointed toward a huge set of doors facing the main road rather than the alley.
Then he stepped out.
His large body swayed as he crossed to the central entrance.
A different servant emerged from inside and opened the gates.
The coachman urged the horses forward.
The carriage rolled directly into the building through a covered passage before finally stopping.
Rather than ending in a dead end, the passage allowed passengers to disembark entirely indoors.
It was a thoughtful design.
Even on a rainy day, nobody would get wet.
Following the coachman’s prompt, we stepped down from the carriage.
Beyond the passage lay a surprisingly spacious central courtyard.
At the far end stood a stable.
An arcade walkway connected the courtyard to the stable, while living quarters had been built above it.
Just as the merchant had claimed, the property contained a remarkable number of rooms.
While I was taking everything in, a sliding door opened.
”Welcome home.”
An older woman wearing a maid uniform emerged alongside the merchant.
Together, they guided us into the dining hall.
A gigantic dining table dominated the room.
Lined up neatly beyond it stood the household staff.
They were clearly assembled to greet their new master.
There were two male servants.
The first was a quiet-looking man in his late forties named Helf. He appeared serious and dependable.
I was informed that he was married to Ardia, the head maid who had welcomed us.
The second man was named Loukai.
The moment I saw him, I immediately disliked him.
He glared at me from beneath his brow as though trying to establish dominance. His upper body was covered only by a leather vest, left completely open to expose his chest.
Though already well into adulthood, he carried himself like a common street thug.
Just looking at him made me want to abandon the purchase.
Afterward, Ardia introduced the remaining staff.
Aside from the final girl, a young woman named Lahedda, every one of them looked like trouble.
A headache was already beginning to form.
Were these really servants belonging to the younger brother of a count?
They looked more like a gang of delinquents.
”Hey. Are you some rich noble kid or something?”
The moment the introductions ended, Loukai stepped forward and challenged me.
”No, I’m—”
”Mind your manners!”
Before I could answer, the merchant’s booming voice interrupted.
”You are speaking to your future master!”
The force behind his words was surprisingly intimidating.
That said, I still hadn’t decided whether I was buying the property.
”Loukai, that habit of yours is unacceptable,” Ardia added.
Faced with criticism from both of them, Loukai reluctantly fell silent.
”But seriously, desu. Is this kid really the buyer? The actual owner has to be somebody else, na.”
The woman named Kacha immediately backed him up.
The rest of the servants looked toward the merchant and Ardia, waiting for confirmation.
”Have you all forgotten the rumors surrounding the duel trial?” the merchant asked. “This is Lord Larry Fee Getys-sama. He was recently appointed Associate Professor at the Magic Academy.”
I couldn’t help wincing.
The reputation from that duel still followed me everywhere.
The servants, however, immediately recognized the name.
The atmosphere changed at once.
”Now then, let us continue the tour,” the merchant said.
He had barely taken a few steps when Kacha suddenly spoke again.
”Wait. Is that woman a slave?”
The mood instantly turned cold.
”Lord Larry, is that true?” Ardia asked.
I realized then that I had never properly introduced Kenze and Pamela.
Perhaps they had assumed the two were wives or household attendants.
”Would that be a problem?” I asked.
”If she is a slave, she should begin working immediately,” Ardia replied.
So that was their concern.
”These two are my partners. I trust them completely. Legally they may be slaves, but within this household they are to be treated with the same respect you would give my wives.”
The word “wives” was simply the easiest way to explain their position.
The servants reacted immediately.
”That’s ridiculous! You expect us to take orders from a slave?!”
”Oi! Does that mean we’re beneath slaves now?!”
”Lord Larry-sama, surely you understand how unreasonable that sounds!”
Complaints erupted from every direction.
The merchant tried to calm them.
”Now, now. If Lord Larry-dono wishes it…”
Even so, the hostility directed toward Kenze and Pamela remained.
”Allow me to introduce them properly,” I said, raising my voice.
”What is that supposed to mean?” Loukai shot back.
I ignored him completely.
”This is Kenze. She belongs to an Amazoness warrior clan. She fought the Grandmaster of the Old Order to a complete standstill. There are very few people in the Royal Capital capable of defeating her one-on-one. During the recent rebellion, she personally killed six rebel nobles who attacked the Academy. If you believe you can defeat her, Loukai, feel free to try.”
Kenze remained motionless.
Her expression never changed.
The performance was flawless.
Thanks to that, nobody dared challenge my claim.
”And this young lady in Gothic Lolita clothing is Pamela. She is an Elven Mage.”
At my introduction, Pamela removed her lace bonnet.
Her pointed ears became visible.
A collective gasp spread through the room.
”Does that answer your concerns, Ardia?” I asked.
”…Yes. I believe it does.”
The head maid immediately lowered her head, all traces of resistance gone.
I introduced the two newcomers—both of whom were beings that completely shattered common sense—and as she listened, the head maid gradually seemed to accept the explanation. By the end, she was simply nodding along.
”Why would an Amazoness that strong be serving as the slave of a mere child like him?” Loukai muttered, unable to hide the disbelief in his voice.
(Because I accidentally won the bid for her at an auction.)
There was absolutely no way I could say that.
”I was defeated by this man. That is why I became his slave.”
Kenze’s deep voice cut through the room.
The maids immediately broke into whispers again. Loukai repeatedly shifted his gaze between me and Kenze, clearly struggling to process what he was hearing. Strictly speaking, it wasn’t a lie. Still, my victory over her had been nothing more than a lucky accident. Besides, the only reason she had remained by my side was because she wanted a peaceful place to lay her eggs and raise her children.
”And the elf mage?” the head maid asked, turning toward the next impossible case.
”I simply felt like it.”
Pamela adjusted the brim of her hat and shrugged carelessly.
To be honest, I didn’t know the exact circumstances behind how Henrietta-san had acquired her in the first place. Since she had ultimately been transferred to me as part of an inheritance, saying she was here because she felt like it wasn’t entirely inaccurate.
More importantly, the atmosphere among the household bondservants had changed dramatically. With two overwhelmingly powerful women standing beside me, it felt unlikely that any troublesome servants would cause problems.
”Well then, could you show us around the estate?”
When I addressed Ardia-san, she quickly regained her composure.
”Of course. This way, please.”
She guided us toward the staircase in the corner of the room.
At first glance, the manor appeared to be an ordinary two-story structure. However, the steeply angled roof concealed a surprisingly large attic space that effectively functioned as a third floor.
”In the past, the temporary maids hired by the day slept here together,” Ardia-san explained as we reached the top.
Just as she said, the attic was enormous.
Several bunk beds had been pushed against the walls, likely remnants from those days, while the center remained completely open. Since the building itself had been constructed in a hollow-square layout2 surrounding a central courtyard, the attic formed a continuous ring. It was spacious enough that someone could probably jog laps around the perimeter.
The second floor below served as the main living quarters. It contained the master bedroom, guest rooms, and several moderately sized rooms that appeared intended for family members.
The ground floor beneath that housed livestock facilities for horses, pigs, and chickens. Since the smell would have been unbearable directly beneath the living spaces, the areas below those rooms had instead been converted into storage for feed, firewood, and charcoal. Meanwhile, the narrow rooms lining the arcade above the horse path served as sleeping quarters for the bondservants.
Finally, we toured the first floor itself.
It contained the dining hall we had started from, along with the kitchen, workshops, stables, and a surprisingly large bathhouse.
There was just one problem.
The well was absurdly deep.
Because this region had originally been swampy terrain, most nearby properties could reach groundwater after digging only a meter or two. This estate’s well, however, extended roughly five meters underground. It even penetrated a fifty-centimeter layer of limestone before reaching the water source beneath.
Apparently, the estate had once included the southern neighboring plot. Back then, water had been drawn from a much shallower well located at the edge of that land.
”Because of the depth, the water quality is exceptionally good,” Ardia-san explained. “However, drawing water is extremely difficult. The previous master was very fond of bathing, but simply filling and heating the bath would take nearly an entire day.”
(That’s wonderful. A giant bathhouse that’s practically impossible to use.)
The well itself was located indoors and measured roughly one fathom3 across.
There was no sophisticated pulley system. The rope simply ran over a wooden beam polished smooth by years of friction.
(If I could build a proper pulley with bearings, it might make things easier.)
Even so, when I looked at the bathtub—which was large enough for a grown man to float in comfortably—I couldn’t imagine how many trips to a five-meter-deep well would be required to fill it.
Afterward, we stepped into the central courtyard.
White sheets swayed gently from a clothesline.
At first, I assumed it was a fairly ordinary workspace, similar to the courtyard at my parents’ house. Then I noticed several strange structures.
”Um… what are those wooden benches and iron pillars for?”
They looked completely out of place.
The bench was too large to be a normal seat, while the iron pillars had been sunk deeply into the ground with remarkably sturdy foundations. I pushed one experimentally.
It didn’t move at all.
”The previous master… rather enjoyed spending time outdoors,” Ardia-san replied while avoiding eye contact.
”You mean things like sunbathing?”
”Not exactly. More… interactions with women.”
”Ah.”
I nodded.
”I see. Since the manor is enclosed on all sides, nobody outside could see.”
Maintaining a straight face took considerable effort.
I sincerely hoped this place wouldn’t turn into another Getys House situation where I was somehow expected to entertain the maids.
”Don’t tell me you participated as well, Ardia-san?”
The old merchant’s rough voice carried a distinctly inappropriate curiosity.
”Oh yes. The master, another woman, and I often spent time together. He was very affectionate.”
That was information I absolutely did not need.
To make matters worse, she briefly glanced toward me after saying it.
Look, mentally I might have been an old man, but even by my standards Ardia-san wasn’t remotely my type. That foxlike face of hers simply wasn’t doing anything for me.
On the other hand, when I looked around at the rest of the maids…
Setting their faces aside, every one of them possessed remarkably voluptuous figures.
”My, my. It sounds as though you and the previous owner might have gotten along quite well.”
Pamela sidled closer with a mischievous smile.
”Don’t be ridiculous.”
I bent down and whispered sharply into her ear.
”I’m planning to bring the children here eventually so they can receive a proper education in the royal capital. I can’t have nonsense like this openly displayed around the estate.”
”Then perhaps those pillars should be removed immediately,” Pamela replied teasingly. “They’re obviously meant for tying someone up and suspending them. Leaving them standing can hardly be good for a child’s upbringing.”
(As expected of Henrietta-san’s elf mage. Her thoughts immediately go there.)
”There’s no rush. I’ll deal with them eventually.”
”Oh? Hohoho…”
”I also prefer mating beneath the open sky.”
Kenze joined the conversation without the slightest hesitation.
”That’s enough.”
I cut the discussion off immediately.
Both the old merchant and the head maid were already watching us with knowing smiles. Apparently, they had overheard at least part of the exchange.
”Now then, Ardia-san. Could we examine the documents?”
We gathered around the large dining table.
There, I began reviewing the estate’s ledgers, copies of the bondservant registries, and various administrative records.
”Expenses have risen significantly since the rebellion.”
The old merchant flipped through the ledgers from previous years while comparing them against recent receipts.
He looked toward Ardia-san.
”Well… prices have gone up because of the war,” she answered somewhat defensively.
(More likely the master disappeared and everyone’s discipline got a little lax.)
Then reality struck me.
(Wait. Am I actually expected to manage the finances for an entire estate?)
That sounded completely beyond my abilities.
”It appears they’ve been purchasing goods on credit from the merchants who regularly visit the property.”
The old merchant sighed.
”They’ve been rather extravagant.”
In other words, they had taken advantage of their master’s absence and indulged themselves. It was the sort of thing that would inevitably be discovered. Predatory merchants had likely encouraged it as well.
”Furthermore, where is the fertilizer revenue? I don’t see it recorded anywhere.”
”Fertilizer revenue?”
Ardia-san blinked.
The old merchant turned toward me.
”You may not know this since you’ve only lived in student housing, but manure and night soil from private estates are valuable commodities. Merchants—or more often orphanage children—come to purchase and collect it. The income from those collections should be listed here.”
He explained that representatives from the orphanage typically visited once every three months and paid roughly one thousand yen for the waste. The visits also served as opportunities to monitor the children’s labor conditions.
The system had originally been administered by the Universal Church before eventually being handed over to local community leaders.
”But I’ve never seen anyone like that come here.”
Ardia-san looked genuinely puzzled.
The old merchant explained that collections took place very early in the morning, long before most household staff were awake.
The waste was transported to large composting facilities, where it was processed and later sold to farmers. The resulting income helped support the orphanage’s operations. Without such a system, maintaining sanitation within the city would have been impossible.
The real issue was that last month’s payment receipt was nowhere to be found.
”That’s strange. We should definitely have received it.”
For the first time, genuine panic appeared on the head maid’s face.
The truth emerged later.
Loukai had been pocketing the money.
A single silver coin every three months—roughly a thousand yen—wasn’t a catastrophic loss. However, allowing obvious theft to go unpunished would only encourage more of it.
In the end, we decided to deduct the missing amount from the tiny allowances paid to the bondservants.
”As for the debts owed to your regular suppliers through the end of last month, the Belladonna Trading Company will cover them.”
The old merchant spoke smoothly.
”We’ll simply add the amount to the final purchase price of the property. Beginning next month, however, responsibility will fall entirely upon you, Lord Larry.”
He said it so casually.
Inside, I was panicking.
(No chance. Absolutely no chance I can handle estate accounting.)
”Could I hire someone to manage the paperwork?”
”Our company provides precisely such a service. The fee is one silver coin per month.”
Ten thousand yen.
If one silver coin could free me from administrative hell, it was money well spent.
Besides, the Belladonna Trading Company had been recommended by the Chief of the Arsenal Bureau. They wouldn’t risk their reputation on an obvious scam.
”Excellent. Then please sign here.”
After that, the paperwork began.
One contract after another was placed before me.
Naturally, I listened carefully to every explanation before signing anything. I had no intention of trusting the old merchant blindly.
Fortunately, because I possessed an official bankbook, various bureaucratic requirements involving registry copies and proof of Academy employment could be postponed.
The property transfer itself was completed on the spot.
Next came the servant contracts.
The servants and laborers were called into the dining hall one by one, where new master-servant agreements were established.
I half expected Loukai to run away while he still could.
Instead, he chose to remain.
Personally, I wouldn’t have minded if he disappeared.
By the time everything was finished, the afternoon was nearly over.
”Very well. The final invoice will be delivered within a few days. Including agency fees, outstanding debts, and immediate maintenance expenses, the total should be approximately seventy-one million yen. We appreciate your prompt payment.”
I shook hands with the old merchant while desperately trying to remember how much money was actually in my account.
If I came up short, I’d have no choice but to beg the Chief of the Arsenal Bureau for help.
After discussing future arrangements with Ardia-san, I had the taciturn Helf prepare the carriage.
We briefly stopped by the Academy before heading straight to the Arsenal Bureau.
The carriage was incredibly cheap, and the ride quality was awful.
(Are noble estates really this strapped for money?)
I rubbed my sore back.
Despite having just purchased an entire estate, the moment I returned to the Arsenal Bureau I was thrown straight back into work.
The main frames for the fixed-wing drones had already been completed.
Unfortunately, production of the signal amplifiers had stalled completely due to an abysmal success rate.
After investigating the problem, I discovered the cause.
The manufacturing process for the magic capacitors was fundamentally flawed.
Had Marie been present, the issue would have been identified immediately.
Unfortunately, she was currently on maternity leave.
I made a mental note to assign an apprentice to train under her the moment she returned.
By the time work finally ended, we had only achieved around eighty percent of our planned progress.
The clock showed nine o’clock at night.
(Exactly how hard are they planning to work me?)
Dragging my exhausted body to the dining hall, I found that operating hours had been extended for the overtime crews.
I skipped dinner entirely.
Instead, I ordered alcohol and began exchanging complaints with the other bureaucrats and engineers.
”Listen to this. The estate has an enormous bathhouse, but the well is so deep it’s practically unusable.”
I emptied my glass and continued venting.
”How deep?”
”Five meters.”
The table erupted with laughter.
”Five meters? That’s not a well, that’s a mine shaft.”
”You’d be better off borrowing water from your neighbors.”
”Just fill the bath with hot sand and call it a sauna.”
There truly was no joy quite like watching coworkers enjoy someone else’s suffering.
”Couldn’t you build some kind of pump?”
The alcohol loosened my tongue.
Before I realized it, I had used a term from my previous life.
”A pump? What’s that supposed to be?”
”You know. A machine for lifting water. Something that uses a propeller or an Archimedes screw to move fluid upward.”
”Huh. That sounds interesting.”
As expected of a room full of engineers, the idea immediately caught their attention.
Unfortunately, there was one problem.
This world had no rubber.
Without a flexible material capable of creating an airtight seal, even something as simple as a hand-operated suction pump couldn’t be built. The moment I realized that, the idea stalled before it had even begun.
In the end, I’d probably have to travel to the New Continent under orders from the Fourth Sage and bring back materials suitable for cultivating rubber.
What else was on that list again?
Pumpkins. Corn. I think that was it.
”Setting that aside, what about using a propeller to create a current inside a pipe and push the water upward?”
I didn’t know the first thing about pump design. Half of what I said was pure bluff, but I threw the idea out anyway. Typical Arsenal Bureau behavior.
Before I knew it, everyone was seriously discussing it.
We dragged an outboard motor and a two-meter pipe into the bathhouse and started experimenting. We succeeded in creating a flow, but even with only two meters of height, the water wouldn’t rise all the way. We tried placing the motor underwater so it would blow upward from below. We narrowed the nozzle. We tested several variations. None of it gave us enough lift.
Besides, sinking a motor five meters underwater would make maintenance a nightmare.
”If you’re going to use a motor,” the chief engineer said in his usual precise tone, “you’ll have to make it multi-stage.”
”That’s probably the only realistic option,” another engineer agreed calmly. “With some clever adjustments, three meters might be possible. Five meters in a single stage would be difficult.”
That was the engineers’ conclusion.
Hard to argue with professionals.
Still, while watching the propeller spin beneath the water, my mind had already wandered elsewhere.
A generator.
More specifically, a mana-generator.4
Back when I built the fixed-wing drone, I’d experimented with the idea of using the motor as a generator by letting the wind spin the propeller. It hadn’t worked.
The problem was the bamboo magic-magnets.
They weren’t permanent magnets. Their power gradually weakened, making them unstable over time. Creating one required pumping more mana into the young bamboo than the finished device could ever produce. As a mana-generator, it defeated its own purpose.
Water, however, is much stronger than wind.
If I diverted river water into a reservoir and placed a propeller inside a nozzle opening at the bottom, I could rotate the shaft of an alternator like the ones used in automobiles. Since alternators don’t require permanent magnets, they could generate mana without the same limitations. I’d have to convert the output to direct current afterward, but that wasn’t impossible.
If it worked, non-mages could perform the equivalent of charging without collapsing from exhaustion.
It would be revolutionary.
For a while, I became slightly intoxicated by my own genius.
The next morning, I mentioned the idea to the Chief during breakfast.
He immediately shot it down and told me to save troublesome discussions like that for after the world settled down.
”So,” the Chief said instead, “did you buy the house?”
”Yes. Thanks to your introduction.” I kept my tone neutral. “It’s pretty old, so I hesitated a little, but…”
”Hmm. How much of a discount did you get?”
What are you talking about?
You’re the one who told me it was seventy million yen.
As if I could negotiate.
”…Wait. I could have gotten a discount?”
”Probably five million,” he replied casually. “It’s an old building. Looks terrible, too. If you’d pushed harder, maybe even seven million.”
Seven million yen.
An associate professor’s yearly salary.
I sat there clutching my head in despair when the Chief glanced over at me.
”I’m kidding.”
He grinned.
That man.
Someday, I’m going to kill him.
Later that day, while producing magic capacitors, I found myself thinking about the well again.
A pulley.
If I added one equipped with bearings, drawing water might become easier.
Around noon I headed to the section responsible for bearing production, only to be rejected immediately. They said they couldn’t spare resources for side projects right now.
Such is life.
As I worked, my thoughts drifted back to the previous night’s experiment.
”It’s a maintenance nightmare if there are moving parts.”
If moving parts were the problem, then the solution was obvious.
Use something without moving parts.
The first possibility was the technique the Fourth Sage had mentioned before—moving water through mana-electromagnetic induction.
Impossible.
I doubted it could even raise water one meter.
That left only one answer.
Ion craft.
The idea came from something I’d seen at a university festival back when I was in junior high.
A bundle of tubes had been flying in circles while tethered to wires.
I couldn’t remember the official name.
If two electrodes were placed extremely close together without actually discharging, the surrounding air would ionize. The ions would move between the electrodes, dragging nearby air with them and creating thrust. That airflow was enough to keep the structure circling through the air like a control-line aircraft.
Mana didn’t short-circuit underwater.
Which meant the same principle might work on water.
Work finally ended at nine.
After eating and drinking in the dining hall, I skipped the usual conversations, ran several laps around the building, and returned to my room.
Pamela had spent the entire day charging Amber and was already asleep, snoring loudly.
Kenze was still awake.
She only turned her face toward me.
I slipped into her bed.
”What d’you want?” she asked bluntly.
”Every now and then is fine, isn’t it?”
”Yeah. Guess that’s fine.”
Permission granted.
Lying beside her, I wriggled across the mattress like a caterpillar, wrapped my arms around her waist, and pulled her closer.
Our eyes met.
Even when I brought my face near hers, she didn’t close her eyes.
”Something wrong?” I whispered.
”Nah. Nothin’.”
Her breath brushed my lips.
Before the last word had fully left her mouth, she pressed her lips against mine.
We spent the night together, holding one another close, confirming our feelings through touch and affection until exhaustion finally overtook us.
The next day—
”We doin’ this again tonight?” Kenze asked.
”You don’t want to?”
”Ain’t sayin’ that.”
”Then…”
I embraced her from behind and teased the ear peeking through her long hair.
Her body stiffened slightly.
That night, too, we sought comfort in one another and shared the same warmth until the end.
The day after that—
”What’s gotten into you? Third day in a row.”
”I want to.”
I leaned over her, trapping her lightly between my knees.
When I lowered my face toward hers, she accepted me without complaint.
That night we needed fewer words than before.
The day after that—
”You’ve got dark circles. Should’ve rested tonight.”
”It’s the last night. Just a little.”
”…Fine. Just a little.”
Tomorrow, I’d begin living in the house I had purchased.
This was my final night at the Arsenal Bureau.
Kenze’s appetite was stronger than it first appeared.
By the fourth day, we barely bothered with preliminaries before reaching for one another.
Still, lust wasn’t the only reason I’d spent those four days with her.
I was trying to reach Larry in the original world.
Over those four days, I had Kenze help me search the internet for information despite her dislike of it. I needed data on the Cockcroft-Walton circuit required for ion craft, circuits capable of converting direct current into alternating current, and technical information regarding alternators.
Naturally, I also met Henrietta-san, who continued parasitizing her only daughter.
She was delighted to see me and kept asking when I would return.
Larry, on the other hand, clearly hated the arrangement.
In the end, we parted without making any promises.
The Chief may have dragged me here against my will, but looking back, the Arsenal Bureau provided everything necessary to visit Larry in the original world.
Alcohol.
Exercise.
Sexual activity.
All three conditions had been fulfilled.
On top of that, I had managed to manufacture a large number of magic capacitors under the pretense of producing components for the fixed-wing drone’s amplifier. Many of the other required parts were only obtainable because I was stationed here.
My conscience wasn’t entirely clear about it.
Still, the results spoke for themselves.
On the very first night after moving into my new home, I completed the world’s first mana-ion craft pump.
The detailed testing had already been performed secretly in the Arsenal Bureau bathhouse.
The device could only raise water about two meters per stage, so I connected four stages together for safety.
There were no moving parts.
As far as I was concerned, it was a success.
The following Sunday evening, I used it to fill my bathtub and enjoyed a proper bath.
However—
Filling the tub even once consumed the equivalent of two medium-sized Ambers.
The pump was also hopelessly inconvenient for ordinary tasks like cooking and laundry.
As a result, it was removed almost immediately.
The world’s first mana-ion craft pump was relegated to gathering dust in the attic on the third floor.
”Goodness. You look exhausted. I haven’t seen you in a while.”
The speaker was Professor Lizabel, whom I happened to meet on the Academy staircase.
Her refined voice carried genuine concern.
The reason I looked so worn out wasn’t Kenze.
It was because I’d taken an unexpected week off and then endured a lengthy scolding from Assistant Professor Eida that mixed complaints, criticism, and sarcasm in equal measure.
”So? Were you able to take your bath?”
She had become interested after I mentioned the pump while greeting her.
When I explained that I’d already dismantled it because it consumed too much Amber and occupied too much space, she responded with an entirely unfunny joke about simply bathing at her house instead.
Incidentally, even after paying for the house, the balance in my bank account had exceeded one hundred million.
The blueprint royalties had been surprisingly generous.
Apparently, it was what people called wartime demand.
In any case, I now had a home.
A stable life was finally beginning.
…Probably.
—
Summary:
Larry navigates a high-pressure property purchase forced upon him by Captain Aslan following unauthorized drone deployment. Upon inspecting the Riemenschneider estate near Professor Lizabel’s residence, he faces open insubordination from the house’s lingering domestic staff. The tense introduction of his slave partners Kenze and Pamela sparks immediate class friction, forcing Larry to deploy intimidation tactics using their military track records to establish dominance over an unstable household variable.
Larry conducts a thorough inspection of his newly acquired manor alongside his unconventional slaves, Kenze and Pamela, establishing an intimidating presence that dampens any potential insubordination from the existing servants. After discovering hidden structural challenges and financial irregularities within the household accounts, he unhappily executes a mountain of property paperwork with the Belladonna Trading Company. Returning to his engineering duties at the Arsenal Bureau, Larry undergoes a grueling late-night shift working on drone amplification bottlenecks before accidentally introducing modern plumbing concepts to his fascinated colleagues at a local pub, leaving him to ponder the structural absence of rubber in this fantasy world.
The protagonist successfully designs and installs a mana-ion craft pump in his new home after extensive testing and resource gathering at the Arsenal Bureau. Despite his pride in the invention, he finds it cumbersome and ultimately puts it into storage. He transitions into his new, albeit complicated, life while dealing with the repercussions of his recent absences.
—
Trivia:
The Riemenschneider estate was seized because its previous owner supported the noble faction during the Haritz Rebellion.
The house features a courtyard arcade layout specifically modified from its history as an on-call maid boarding residence.
Larry previously walked barefoot down the specific alley separating this property from Professor Lizabel’s residence.
The purchase price of the rustic wooden estate stands at seventy million yen due to its elevated location near the inner wall.
The mansion features a distinctive hollow-square architecture enclosing a secure courtyard hidden from exterior street eyes.
The local groundwater is accessible at one to two meters throughout the neighborhood because the land was previously a marshy swamp.
The estate’s specific well goes through a half-meter thick limestone layer down to five meters, ensuring high water purity but high physical retrieval labor.
Orphanages in this capital city operate under a structural system funded by collecting and processing urban animal and human waste into compost for agricultural sale.
Loukai was systematically embezzling the quarterly silver coin payment rendered by the orphanage for the estate’s manure collection.
The Belladonna Trading Company handles property transactions and provides outsourced administrative estate accounting for a baseline fee of one silver coin per month.
Marie, a critical asset for ensuring quality control of magic capacitors at the laboratory, is currently absent on maternity leave.
The local engineering field lacks vulcanized rubber alternatives, preventing the creation of basic mechanical suction pumps or gasket seals.
The protagonist’s obsession with sexual activity and exercise was a calculated maneuver to maintain access to his original world.
The protagonist used the guise of building components for a drone to stockpile capacitors for his own projects.
The protagonist’s bank account was bolstered significantly by war-time demand for his engineering blueprints.
—
Translation Notes:
Notes:
• Aslan – Aslan Gar is a captain, Director, and Arsenal Bureau Chief with an authoritative, high-pressure bureaucratic presence. He manages military equipment, logistics, and personnel. Working directly alongside the Fourth Sage, he leverages his position to oversee the training, development, and strategic deployment of new recruits, blending martial command with strict administrative control.
• Pamela – An arrogant, long-lived Elven Mage of unknown age who wears white Gothic Lolita fashion. Formerly Henrietta’s slave, she is now Larry’s loyal, protective companion, assistant, and mentor on his military expedition. A sharp-tongued, stubborn academy student and Arsenal Bureau resident, she handles logistical equipment, confirms payments, and fiercely defends the protagonist, who must bring her home safely.
• Kenze – An exceptionally powerful, muscular Amazoness slave from Tashkurgan and former deputy general under Earnest, she is a short-haired companion to the protagonist and Larry. Blunt, stoic, and foul-mouthed, she uses a dagger and bow. She shares a bed with Pamela, protects Larry—whom she once tried to kill—on his expedition to raise her offspring, and deeply dislikes Southern Continent Amazonesses.
• Ho – Ho, a comrade of the protagonist. A member of the military unit that defended Garao Village and was slaughtered alongside Marx-san.
• Eida – A 28-year-old Assistant Professor from Ulm Village with short dark brown hair, she is a mother of two who wears civilian clothes off-duty. At the Magic Academy, she serves under the Associate Professor, manages the lab and finances, supports Larry, and handles administrative and academic scheduling. She oversees research and uses a tough-love approach, frequently scolding the protagonist.
• Belladonna – The bald, heavily built merchant representing the Belladonna Trading Company who handles high-value real estate transactions with a fast-talking commercial rhythm.
• Lizabel – A newly appointed Magic Academy professor in her late thirties, this dignified, flirtatious, and manipulative noblewoman boasts a striking, voluptuous physique and wears revealing silk dresses. Sharp-witted and confident, she lives next door to the protagonist, eager to investigate their inventions. Known for a scandalous private life, she has a fierce rivalry with Professor Elga Dean, connections to Larry and Katarina, and deep knowledge of the Academy’s inner workings. She recently left her Resonance Systems Laboratory in unrest following property sales of fallen nobles.
• Helf – A male servant in his late forties described as a quiet, stoic individual who is married to the head maid Ardia. A taciturn carriage driver employed at the estate. A taciturn coachman who serves the protagonist.
• Ardia – An older woman wearing a maid outfit who serves as the head maid of the estate and strictly follows traditional servant protocols. The head maid of the estate with a fox-like face and a voluptuous figure who previously served the former master. The head maid of the protagonist’s household who delivers urgent messages from the academy.
• Loukai – A household servant who displays a defiant attitude and was found to be misappropriating estate funds. A male servant in his early twenties who wears only an unbuttoned leather vest with no undershirt, exposing his bare skin, and exhibits an aggressive, confrontational delinquent demeanor.
• Lahedda – A young maiden employed as a maid at the estate who is described as quiet and lacks the aggressive quirks of the older staff. The youngest maid in the household, one year junior to the protagonist.
• Kacha – A fox-faced maid from Rukai who serves in the household. A sharp-featured, fox-faced maid in her thirties who demonstrates a protective attitude toward her fellow domestic staff.
• Larry Fee Getys – Larry Fee Getys is a Strock Village youth and military researcher dealing with mobilization and personal dilemmas. Born to a Bizan noble family of rugged warriors—including Hardy, Denis, and Teressa—he was raised by aunts Alisa and Monica. Court officials used his academy-recognized lineage to clear him of guilt. He inherits a rugged warrior appearance, holds forest lands, and leads his village.
• Getys – Larry Fee Getys is a Strock Village youth and military researcher dealing with mobilization and personal dilemmas. Born to the Bizan noble family Getys of rugged warriors—including father Hardy, brother Denis, and sister Teressa—he was raised by aunts Alisa and Monica. Court officials used his academy-recognized lineage to clear him of guilt. He inherits a rugged warrior appearance, holds forest lands, and leads his village.
• Larry – A 14-year-old Japanese reincarnated protagonist and cynical Royal Magic Academy associate professor who balances tactical engineering with intense administrative duties. Equally aged to Rosa, this debt-ridden, abrasive dueling champion designs advanced coilguns and drones. Currently recovering from injuries post-ambush, he is arrested while leading students to safety and interacting with the coven.
• Fee – Larry Fee Getys, of the court-recognized Fee lineage, heads the Getys household governing Strock Village alongside Hans and Iffens. Embodying traditional authority, his family—including Teressa, served by the maid Nico—manages regional finances. Connected to Adolf and local underworld power structures, the Getys family name, indicating Larry’s lineage, is also part of the protagonist’s full name.
• Al – Alberto (Al), a massive red‑haired man recently wed to Mary, lives near the Dish Basin. He’s a companion of Hans, helping intimidate and rally elders as a villager and leader.
• Henrietta – Late wife of Larry and deceased Royal Magic Academy research student whose displaced consciousness became a parasite inside her daughter’s body. Eager for Larry’s return, she was the former owner of the slave Pamela, who uses her distinct scent and traits to identify mana sensitivity. Known for her degenerate or perverted nature, she died post-rebellion but remains a central point of reference.
• Marie – Larry’s blunt, sharp-tongued wife is a Magic Academy student and lab employee from the protagonist’s hometown. Currently on maternity leave at the postpartum rest facility she manages, she is Ange’s mother and keeps her hair in an inner pocket as a talisman. Despite marriage, she shares a close, affectionate bond with the protagonist, who previously loved her and gave her a separate task.
• Mar – A battle‑hardened veteran, clad in worn armor, uses door panels as shields and captures enemy crossbows; Larry’s comrade who teases him about his sister‑in‑law’s pampering, known as Martin to his companion Edmond.
• Fourth – A mysterious and cunning sage who seeks advice from Larry.
• Sage – An elderly instructor and mentor who acts as a schemer behind the scenes. He is responsible for recommending Larry for various academic and safety-related positions.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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