The Kingdom of
In one corner of this city populated by so many students, there was a house with a problem.
100 years old. The
The problem this house harbored was…
"Haunted House"
Its weathered exterior might resemble a western-style mansion, but covered in moss, entwined with dead ivy — "creepy" was the only word for it.
The person who intended to live here was the client, Rudeus Greyrat.
Former A-rank adventurer, now a student at the Magic University.
He'd bought the house upon hearing he was getting married, but apparently, his satisfaction with its appearance quickly soured.
What kind of problems did this house have?
Step one foot onto the grounds and you'd find: an unkempt garden, a broken entrance, stained walls and ceilings here and there, a leaky roof, and a fireplace of questionable usability…
The word "ruins" came to mind.
"Magically, it seems to have held up well enough, but there's no denying the aged feel.
A bit too… full of character for newlyweds, wouldn't you say?"
The client's wish: make it a beautiful house fit for newlyweds.
Accepting that request, one man rose to the occasion.
The master of renovation.
"Balda of the Great Chasm."
A first-rate architect belonging to the Magic Guild of the Asuran Duchy.
A thirty-year veteran who could handle everything from architectural design to construction.
Boasting numerous achievements including building the annex campus of the Magic University, based on construction techniques learned in the Millis Holy Land.
A bit stubborn, but a good-natured fellow with unshakable skill.
Always carrying a hammer at his hip, with a craftsman's instinct to pound and fix anything he didn't like — even in other people's houses.
He'd fix buildings and disciples alike with nothing but a hammer.
People called him "Hammer Balda."
"Oh, I'm here. So you're Mud沼! Heard you're getting married!"
Greeting the master was this chapter's client.
Known in the streets as "Mud沼 Rudeus," the client was casually called Mud沼 by the master as well.
"Yes. Balda-sir, I'll be in your care."
Balda knew the name Rudeus.
His old friend Talhand, and Talhand's companion
"I bought a house for the wedding, but as you can see…"
"Mind if I do a quick walkthrough first?"
"Please, go ahead."
Upon entering, the master's brow furrowed immediately.
"Hey, what the hell is this? The entrance is a disaster. Looks like it got torn apart."
"It wouldn't close properly, so I had no choice but to break it down."
"Honestly, these days young people just smash everything without a second thought. No respect for materials, I swear."
"Truly, no respect whatsoever."
The client deflected the master's indignation with an airy nonchalance.
As though he hadn't been the one who destroyed it.
The master didn't care for that attitude.
But he held himself back here.
He'd heard that "Mud沼 Rudeus" was a dangerous man to anger.
"What about the door?"
"What do you mean?"
"Material, design. If you've got no particular request, I'll decide on my own."
"No preference on material, but make it sturdy. And please add a door knocker while you're at it."
"Being the entrance, that goes without saying."
The master stepped inside and made a troubled face.
"This place has quite a bit of wear."
"R-Really?"
"The flooring is actually crafted with remarkable care, but compared to that, the walls and ceiling were done haphazardly.
It's almost like the basement was the only thing that mattered, and everything else was just an afterthought."
"Can you really tell that sort of thing?"
"Child's play."
In the master's eyes, it was immediately clear what was good and what wasn't.
The floor, the staircase, the second floor, the dining room, the kitchen, the fireplace — all of these were exceptionally well-made.
It was evident that a genius carpenter had employed the construction and magical techniques of a hundred years prior.
But certain parts — the walls, the ceiling — had been tampered with, and that was where things went wrong.
"Well, this can be fixed in no time."
The master's reassuring words.
Relieved, the client headed toward the large dining hall.
"Big room. The lighting isn't bad."
"How about the fireplace?"
"Let me see."
The fireplace of questionable usability.
The master's eyes gleamed.
"This is a fine fireplace. A bit old, but best not to tamper with it."
"Really?"
"Look here — see this signature engraved on it?"
Where the master pointed was a crest that looked vaguely familiar.
"This is the mark of a genius magical artisan who lived about a hundred years ago.
The name's long been lost. But in the Kingdom of
Though mind you, they're mostly small trinkets.
I can't believe he even made a fireplace for a house like this…"
"…………"
What surfaced in the client's mind was the pattern he'd found written in a diary in this house the other day.
It bore a striking resemblance to the pattern engraved on this fireplace.
It seemed the original owner had crafted it himself.
"So, what are we doing with this big room?"
"Well, what's the usual approach for a room like this?"
"It's a great hall. You put in a big table for parties.
The other one is a backup. For when this room can't be used for some reason, you use the other."
"So it's not used normally?"
"Normally, no. But for folks like us, having even one great hall is more than enough for everyday life."
"Indeed… Then the other one could be a space for relaxing?"
"Sure thing."
A space for relaxing.
With that request accepted, the master and client moved to the next room.
"Two kitchens, right.
And one of them didn't have a kiln."
"No kiln means it wasn't being used, then?"
"A drain means they probably used it for laundry and bathing."
"Oh… bathing?!"
The master inspected the kitchen and laundry area.
After checking for clogged drains and deterioration, he nodded.
"No major fixes needed here either."
"Master, actually, there's something I'd like to discuss with you…"
The proposal that emerged from the client's lips made the master's eyes light up.
"Now that's an interesting idea.
But we might not have the materials, so it could be expensive?"
"I'll conjure the materials with magic."
"So you can just magic them up… Well, that'd be something.
Alright, let's make it happen."
The client's vision was entrusted to the master.
--- The next day.
Ten of Balda's subordinates gathered, and the renovation began.
--- Chapter One: "The Door"
In the early morning, a large door was delivered.
Carved from premium lumber.
On the sturdy planks' exterior, a lion-shaped door knocker was affixed, and a small magic circle was embedded in the edge as a security measure.
"Nothing fancy. Try to force it open, and a loud alarm echoes through the whole mansion."
"Could double as an alarm clock, too."
The client grinned fearlessly at the master's idea.
--- Chapter Two: "The Laundry Room"
This room was about to undergo a dramatic transformation under the master's hands.
A threshold was built, dividing the room in two.
On the other side of the threshold, tiles were laid over what had been a bare stone floor, and a sloped channel was carved into the corner of the room.
In the corner sat a large rectangular stone box.
Big enough for three people to lie down in.
It was set into a slightly sunken section of the floor.
Near the ceiling, a small window was installed.
What would this become?
--- Chapter Three: "The Basement"
The dark basement was occupied by the master and the client.
"Good basement. With this, rats won't get in easily."
"Yes. And about this hidden door… I'd like you to build something like this behind it."
"What the…? Ah — no, never mind. I'm a follower of Millis, but I hear you're different, Mud沼."
At the client's request, equipment was carried into the basement, and the stains in the corner by the hidden door were washed clean away.
--- Two weeks later.
Renovation reveal day.
The client arrived with his wife.
"I wonder what he wants to show us — I'm so excited~"
"You're so deadpan, Sylph. Could it be you've been secretly gathering intel and already know?"
"Huh? What do you mean? I have no idea~"
Flirting with the hilariously monotone girl, the client walked through the snow.
"Without my knowledge, the once honest and obedient Sylph has learned to lie. In a way, perhaps that's something to celebrate. But when she lies so brazenly to my face, I can't help worrying she'll do it again."
"Hmph… But it's partly your fault, Rudi. You brought up Ariel-sama's name, and you didn't tell me anything until the very end."
"That was rude of me."
The client and his wife's flirting knew no bounds.
"You didn't tell me anything, so I got anxious. You know, Rudi is so handsome and…"
"You thought I was cheating? How unfair."
"Well, you see, it's just that I'm, you know, not very… you know… small…"
The moment he saw his wife's worried expression, a slimy grin plastered itself across the client's face.
"What, worried about your chest? Don't be. Uncle here is an equalist, see — I'm not like those prejudiced jerks. Heh heh heh."
"Uncle…? Ah, wait — don't just grab them out of nowhere! No! People are watching!"
"Right. Sorry."
By the time they arrived in front of the house, the client had been scolded into the dejected posture of a dog with its tail tucked between its legs.
The wife fixed her askew sunglasses and huffed, "Honestly…"
"Think about time and place. That sort of thing is for nighttime, in bed! Understood?"
"Yes,
"Oh, b-but if you absolutely can't hold it back… then, mumble mumble…"
"What? Can't hear you… Uncle's ears aren't what they used to be."
The couple looked upon the house.
--Before Side-- Moss clung to the stones, ivy crept along the walls, windows were shattered here and there, and a broken door leaned against the entrance.
The Rudeus residence had exuded the eerie air of a witch's dwelling.
--- --After Side-- The moss-covered stones had been polished clean, the walls freshly painted a pristine white.
The faded roof — once so weathered its original color was unguessable — was now a vibrant green.
The entrance bore heavy, dark brown double doors.
A golden lion on the hinges gleamed like a guard dog.
--- The wife covered her mouth when she saw it.
"Well?"
"Um, so…"
"I chose a roof color close to what Sylph's hair used to be.
She might not like it, but I was rather fond of that color."
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Wow…"
It must have exceeded her expectations.
Still covering her mouth, the wife gazed up at the house in awe.
"Come, come — let me show you the inside."
Urged by the client, the two stepped inside.
A doormat was placed in the entryway.
It reflected the client's quiet lament for this shoe-wearing culture's existence.
"Dining room on the right, living room on the left. Which do you want to see first?"
"Um, then… the dining room?"
"You like the dining room! Wonderful. Your taste only improves — come, this way."
The client's tension leaked through in his salesman-like tone.
They entered the room to the left of the entrance.
The great hall had been completely transformed.
A long table dominated the space.
Undecorated, but large enough to seat ten.
The walls were covered in white wallpaper, and a small vase with fresh flowers sat in the corner.
The great fireplace had been restored, its new red bricks serving as the room's accent.
"Wow, this is amazing."
"You'll eat here, or in the living room."
"What are you going to do with a table this long?"
"For when we have guests over, I imagine."
"Ah, right. Guests will come, won't they."
The client lovingly stroked the head of his wife as she removed her sunglasses and scratched behind her ears.
"Now then — the living room is next."
Led by the client, they moved into the living room.
A warm, domestic space spread before them.
Sofas arranged around the fireplace.
A small table nearby held a water pitcher and glasses.
Throughout the room, one could catch glimpses of the master's thoughtful touches — all inspired by the client's desire for a home where one could truly relax.
"This room is lovely. Can I sit down?"
"By all means. Ah — don't sink in too fast, the cushion's still a bit firm. But they say it softens with use."
"I haven't even sat down yet… Also, Rudi, your tone's been weird for a while."
"Just a little nervous."
The wife gingerly settled onto the sofa.
"It's not that hard, though."
"Good, I'm glad."
The client sat down beside his wife.
Then he draped an arm over her shoulder.
Faces turned toward each other. Gazes intertwined.
The wife gently closed her eyes…
And the client had her stand up.
"L-Let's move on. The kitchen is next.
Allow me to show you the pride of the Rudeus residence — our culinary facilities."
"O-Okay!"
The kitchen.
There, in addition to the stone kiln from before, the latest cooking equipment was all in place.
A massive work surface large enough to butcher a giant boar.
A stove bearing a large pot, the kind you'd find anywhere.
And the usual barrels, jars, and bottles for storage.
"This part is normal."
"Normal indeed."
The client suddenly adopted a serious expression, and the wife nodded seriously in return.
Now then — the laundry room.
They walked down the hallway and entered through the door.
The wife tilted her head.
"Huh, it's small."
Large tubs, a washboard, and several baskets big enough to carry in one's arms filled the room.
For doing laundry, this was perfectly fine — but something felt off.
Especially the door leading to the back.
"Please, take a look."
The client opened the door to the back.
And there…
What an extraordinary sight.
A massive bathtub.
A grand bath had been built.
--Before Side-- A bare room with no stone kiln.
A second kitchen, somewhat too spacious for laundry, devoid of any charm.
--- --After Side-- Tiles lined the floor, and at one end of the room sat an enormous bathtub brimming with hot water.
Steam rose gently from the sloped channel as the water flowed steadily.
A plain stone room had been reborn as an elegant bath.
--- "Wait… Is that… a bathtub?"
"As expected of Sylph. You know about baths?"
"Oh, yes. When I was at the palace, I saw one a little… but I've never seen one this big.
Is it called a hot spring?"
"Not quite a hot spring, but close enough."
The wife couldn't conceal her surprise.
The client gazed at her expression with tender eyes.
From his look, one might almost hear the pitch-black inner voice saying, "Can't wait for a communal bath — what a perv."
"I filled it with water for the demonstration, but normally I'll keep it drained."
"Mhm. Um… teach me how to get in later. Whoa!"
The client embraced his wife.
It seemed her sudden words had overwhelmed him with emotion.
"Oh my, what's gotten into you…?"
"Well, I'd been agonizing over how to get you to bathe with me, and it just slipped out."
"What do you mean, 'how'? You bathe together, don't you?
Ariel-sama always bathed with her attendants.
So I do have bath experience. I've even washed Ariel-sama before."
"…According to one tribe's custom, married couples wash each other's bodies. Did you know?"
"Really… That's a bit embarrassing. But I'll do my best."
After that exchange, they climbed the stairs to the second floor.
The ceiling — once a worry for leaks — had been beautifully restored, revealing the pale grain of fresh wood.
The client headed straight for the far door.
"For now, this is the only room I've set up on the second floor."
"…Ah, amazing."
The wife stepped inside and her eyes went wide.
What greeted her was a bed large enough for three people to lie on with room to spare.
On it sat a single pillow — the client's personal favorite.
"Why such a huge bed?"
"Well, obviously — so I can enjoy Sylph to my heart's content."
"…Ah, right. Of course. Hehehe."
A bashful smile blossomed on the faces of the client and his wife.
--- And so, in mock-documentary fashion, I showed Sylph the new house.
Sylph sat on the bed, leaning against me.
She was grinning from ear to ear, in high spirits.
I was glad she liked it.
I wanted to push her down right now and move on to married activities.
But before that, there was something I needed to discuss.
"Sylph — it's been about three weeks since we decided to get married. I know it's been short, but I wanted to take a little time."
"Y-Yes."
I used formal speech because this was a serious conversation.
Sylph seemed to sense that too, and straightened up.
"Being told we're getting married, honestly, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do.
I bought this house, but it feels like I've been rushing ahead."
"N-No, not at all — I'm happy! A magnificent mansion like this… if anything, it feels like more than someone like me deserves…"
"I see. If there's no problem, that's fine. But what I want to talk about is the future."
The future.
At those words, Sylph flushed red and began fidgeting.
"Well, if Rudi wants, I'm fine with as many children as you'd like?
But I have quite a bit of long-eared blood, so it might be difficult…"
"O-Oh."
Quite the stimulating statement.
This wasn't modern Japan — it would be awful to get married only to be told you'd have to put off children for financial reasons.
Mm. I am faithful to instinct.
The instinct of a living creature is none other than reproduction.
Reproduction is none other than making children.
"But what about your job guarding Princess Ariel?"
However.
I considered her work as well.
I wasn't sure what Ariel was thinking, but if she became pregnant and heavy with child, she wouldn't be able to continue as a bodyguard.
Well, if it came to that, I could cover for her however necessary.
My combat ability was reasonably high, after all.
But the bodyguard role wasn't just about fighting.
"What do you mean, 'what about it'…?"
"Wouldn't it be hard to balance both?"
"I've talked it over with Ariel-sama, actually."
So she'd discussed it.
Of course.
"We'll be in this country for at least two more years, and even after graduation, we won't be returning to Asura right away. We're thinking about five years total. So, um…"
Sylph apparently had no intention of giving up the bodyguard position.
The fact that "just quit" wasn't even offered as an easy option spoke to the strength of her bond with Ariel and Luke.
If it had been the old Sylph — the one who relied on me — what would she have said?
Would she have offered to abandon everything and stay by my side?
That would be nice in its own way, but…
"I'm sorry… When I think about it, it must seem rude to Rudi.
You bought me this beautiful house, but because of my duties as Ariel-sama's guard, I won't be around much…
I'm not qualified to be a wife, am I?"
Sylph hung her head, her face heavy with sorrow.
I didn't have a strong sense of men working and women keeping house.
Maybe it was because this was a world where men and women weren't so different in strength.
Still, the ideal was said to be a man earning a living while a woman guarded the home.
"So… am I not good enough?"
Sylph looked up at me, eyes brimming with tears, and asked that.
I felt a pang of guilt.
Two years of abstinence.
That had restored my libido and unleashed two — no, three — years' worth of white tides.
In my brain, Sylph was hardwired as "the person who lets me do lewd things."
In short, the vast majority of my affection for Sylph was really just lust.
This was practically imprinting.
But I didn't consider that inherently wrong.
To me, my libido was precious.
Sylph had given it back to me.
With her own body.
I was such a sexual deviant that beastfolk would be repulsed.
She'd given me an aphrodisiac and let me have my way with her.
It was Sylph's first time.
I was rough, and she must have been terrified.
Yet she showed not a hint of complaint.
When I woke in the morning, she smiled at me.
Thanks to that, I'd been able to regain my strength.
If Sylph wasn't good enough, then who was?
If I let her go now with some half-assed excuse not to marry her, and Sylph was taken by another man — I'd regret it for the rest of my life.
Taken by another…
That's right. Sylph already belonged to me.
"Sylph belongs to me."
"Wha—!? A-Yes. I belong to Rudi."
"So marry me."
Looking back, this might have been the first time I'd ever said something so direct to Sylph.
"…Yes."
Sylph nodded, her cheeks flushed red.
I let out a sigh of relief.
"Don't worry about the bodyguard work.
I'll do my part for the house too.
Sylph, you should do whatever it is you want to do."
"Mm."
"Of course, I'd like it if we could sleep together every few days or so, at minimum."
"Hm?"
Desire slipped out before I could stop it.
"…'Sleep together' — you mean that in the literal sense, right?"
"No, no, of course I won't force anything. On nights when it's not possible, just let me squeeze your flat chest for a little bit and I'll be fine."
"Well… I'll try my best? I don't plan on making Rudi hold back."
"Don't push yourself. You need to properly rest after a long day. Just let me feel you up a little before bed or when we wake up, and I'll take care of the rest myself."
Desires kept spilling out.
Well, there was no point in putting on airs in front of Sylph.
This was just who I was.
"Rudi, do you really like my chest that much?"
"I love it."
"Luke said there was nothing attractive about my chest…"
"You must never trust a single word out of that young fool's mouth."
The younger they were, the more obsessed they were with big or small.
But that wasn't what mattered.
It was the heart.
Right, Master of Breasts?
"But mine's almost the same size as yours?"
"No — my well-trained pectorals and Sylph's beautiful flat chest are entirely different things. Want to feel for yourself?"
"Oh, sure."
When I stuck out my chest, Sylph's hand reached over and touched it.
"They really are completely different… It's kind of hard…"
"Hmph!"
"…Whoa!"
Getting carried away, I flexed my pecs, and Sylph yanked her hand back in a fluster.
"These pecs belong to Sylph, so you can touch them anytime."
"…M-Mine belong to Rudi too, but know time and place!"
"Right now?"
"R-Right now, we're having an important conversation, aren't we?"
Oh, right.
The conversation had gotten sidetracked.
"What I'm trying to say is this.
To make our married life go smoothly, if either of us has requests or grievances, we should talk them through openly.
That's what I wanted to say."
Summarized so bluntly, Sylph nodded.
"Mm. You're right."
"Is there anything you'd like to tell me right off the bat?"
Sylph thought for a moment, then looked down.
And then, with a lonely smile, she spoke: "Don't suddenly disappear on me, okay?"
"…Yeah."
That's right.
Having someone suddenly vanish was a pain.
"I understand. I won't suddenly disappear."
I promised.
I understood how painful it was to lose someone you loved without warning.
"…"
"…"
Well, the important talk was done.
There were surely more things to discuss and sort out, but those could wait.
"…So, can I?"
"Y-Yes, go ahead."
Sylph thrust out her modest chest with a nervous expression.
I reached out to squeeze it…
And held back.
Last time, I'd been like a wild animal.
This time, I'd prioritize gentleness over desire.
I pulled Sylph into a soft embrace.
Then, slowly, I eased her down onto the bed.
"…A-Aren't you going to feel them up?"
"That's a morning and evening thing."
"R-Right."
We gazed at each other from up close.
My reflection shimmered in Sylph's glistening eyes.
She gently closed them.
I stroked her head and pressed an awkward kiss to her lips.
--- That night.
Dragging my lethargic body, I descended to the basement.
This underground storage, barely moved into, held nothing as yet.
A few shelves stood here and there — that was all.
I walked to the far end and placed my hand on the hidden door, restored by the master's handiwork.
--Before Side-- The door that had squeaked loudly whenever it was opened or closed.
Despite being a hidden door, its edges were grimy, and it stood out the moment you lit the area.
--- --After Side-- New metal had been used for the hinges, and a generous application of oil meant the door now opened without a sound.
The wall materials used in the basement had been entirely replaced as well — no one would ever know a door was there.
--- The space opened silently.
There, sitting squarely in the center, was a household shrine.
A miniature shrine built from plain white wood.
An altar of glistening black stone, and upon it, a sacred object enshrined.
The once dingy storeroom had been thoroughly cleaned and transformed into a sacred space.
In the dead of night, when all was still, I offered my prayers to God in this new sanctum.