Ghost
Even if I received recommendations, I wasn't planning on buying a house right away.
The reason was simple.
There was a possibility of my identity being exposed.
I don't know how many people are on the forum, but someone could be here to check my posts and track me down.
So, it was safer to get some information and find a house on my own.
I'm not stupid enough to expose my identity on the forum just to find a safe house.
Thinking that, I checked the comments on the post.
[Author: ReallyDirtPoor]
[Title: Thinking of buying a house in Baluk, any recommendations?]
[Content: What size would be good for a single guy?]
L: If you're living alone in Baruk, it shouldn't cost much.
ㄴ: Real talk
ㄴ: Especially in Baruk
ㄴ: How much money do these guys have? Even Baruk has pretty expensive housing.
ㄴ: Only rich bastards in the comments…
L: A decent house would probably cost at least one platinum coin.
ㄴ: Huh? That much?
ㄴ: Yeah, that's about right lol. Baruk is the next best thing after Lukphelton, so you'll need at least one platinum coin to get a decent place.
L: Dude, when are you gonna change your nickname? lol
ㄴ: Seriously, seeing "ReallyDirtPoor" trying to buy a house makes me wanna punch him lol
ㄴ: Don't be jealous, it's probably a lie anyway.
ㄴ: I checked the author's post history, and it doesn't seem like a lie? He seems to have progressed steadily.
"Hmm…"
It seemed like I would need a lot of money to get a decent house in Baruk.
One platinum coin, huh?
It's easier to think of one platinum coin as roughly 1 billion won.
And I didn't have that kind of money right now.
Of course, I haven't counted it yet, but the fact that I have less than one platinum coin remained unchanged.
So, I thought about it.
Should I live in this inn and save up diligently to buy a decent house, or should I just buy a cheap place and renovate it myself?
My deliberation didn't last long.
The choice was already made.
"I think I'll go with renovating a house."
Renovating a house seemed much easier.
It wouldn't cost much to renovate.
The price varies greatly depending on the location.
Thinking that, I gathered the important things in my room and headed to the Adventurers' Guild.
I won't be using teleportation.
I just paid the fine, and it was quite painful.
I had to pay almost half of what I earned from the spoils of the monster.
So, I thought to myself that I should refrain from teleporting in the future, and I used magic.
[Haste]
[Lightweight]
[Freeze]
Freeze wasn't a spell for movement speed, but something I was using because of the current weather.
I always had my robe on, so it would be very hot if I didn't use magic like this.
You might say, "Why don't you just take off your robe?" but I was a little uncomfortable showing my face.
My master told me so.
That's why I wasn't planning on revealing my face unless absolutely necessary.
'And this feels better too.'
Wearing a robe and using Freeze magic was like covering yourself with a blanket and turning on the air conditioner in summer.
It just feels right.
With that in mind, I quickly ran to the Adventurers' Guild.
"Ah, hello."
As I entered the Adventurers' Guild, Esily, with her golden curly hair, greeted me warmly.
I had seen her before, but it was somehow nice to see her again.
So I waved my hand in greeting and approached Esily.
I had something to ask.
"Is there something I can help you with?"
"I'm trying to find a house... Is there a decent one around here?"
I wasn't very knowledgeable in this area.
So, it was easier to get help.
I couldn't ask the forum, so I asked Esily, who seemed to know the area well.
I thought Esily would know the neighborhood well.
Thinking that, I asked, and Esily immediately answered.
"Hmm... What's your budget? The places you can live vary greatly depending on the price."
I don't need much money for my usual living expenses, so I was willing to pay almost the entire amount.
So I carefully told Esily the amount I had in mind. Then, Esily's face suddenly darkened.
"Umm... It'll be difficult to find a decent house at that price... One moment, please."
Esily said that and went to get a document from afar and began to check something.
I could have checked what it was if I wanted to, but I didn't bother.
I didn't want to do that to someone who was doing me a favor.
As I was thinking that, a short while later.
"Ah, I do know a decent place... It's just that people avoid it because it's said to be haunted. That's why people don't really go near it."
"Oh... That's perfect."
I meant it.
It didn't really matter that it was haunted.
There might actually be ghosts, but I wasn't weak enough to be defeated by something like that.
So I told Esily.
"I don't think I mind. So, how can I buy it? I'm curious if there's a separate place that handles it."
"Huh? I'm in charge of that. The Adventurers' Guild actually handles real estate matters as well."
Ah, that's why.
There was a reason why Esily always looked tired.
She must have been exhausted from dealing with adventurer-related matters and real estate matters all day long.
Thinking that, I felt a little sorry for her.
I also thought that I should do something nice for her.
"Then can I see the house? That's what I'm most curious about."
"Ah, one moment."
Esily excused herself and got up from her seat, brought a sign, placed it on the counter, and approached me.
[Away!]
Just like that, I was guided by Esily to the haunted house.
"Here it is."
"...It's nice?"
Although I would have to spend all the money I had to buy this house, it was a good enough house to buy considering that.
I didn't realize it would be this nice.
Thinking that it was amazing, I said to Esily.
"This is the price for this place? I can't believe it."
"Ah... It's because it's haunted. If it weren't for that, it would be a much more expensive house."
The location was quite good.
It wasn't amazing, but it was in a reasonably safe area.
Still, according to my conversation with Esily on the way here, it was unbelievable to find a house like this at this price.
Then I started to feel a little uneasy.
What kind of ghost could be living there that they would lower the price so much just to sell the house?
"Then why don't we go inside and have a look."
Esily was trying to sound relaxed, but she couldn't hide her tense and stiff expression.
Esily must be scared of ghosts too.
It couldn't be helped.
Ordinary people are afraid of mercenaries, but what they fear the most are ghosts.
It's hard to deal with them.
You can usually find a way to deal with mercenaries, but ghosts are much harder to handle.
Assuming there really is a ghost, of course.
Thinking that, I deployed my techniques.
[Barrier]
[Banshee's Veil]
And I poured mana into them.
A barrier and Banshee's Veil to protect Esily as well.
A double layer of protection, so to speak, that could protect us from both physical and magical influences.
Of course, Barrier also protects against magical attacks, but it's difficult to compare it to a barrier specifically designed to defend against magic.
"I've put up a protective barrier, so let's proceed slowly. Just in case."
"Ah... Thank you."
Esily seemed a little flustered. Was it because of the situation?
Thinking that, I cautiously entered the house.
And I was greeted by a very nice interior.
It was a little spacious for a single man, but considering that I'm a mage, it was just the right size.
I saw earlier that there was space in the basement as well.
"Hmm, I don't see any ghosts?"
"I know... That's strange..."
Esily tilted her head as if she really found it strange, but I couldn't feel anything.
I was even using detection magic just in case.
I could only feel some small insects.
So, I decided to finalize the contract with Esily right there and then.
"Then please sign here."
"Ah, okay."
[Purify]
I cleaned up the surroundings with magic, sat down at the table, and signed the contract. Then, I handed Esily the down payment.
"You can stay in the house for a day, and if you find anything strange, you can cancel the contract by paying half of the down payment."
"Ah, thank you."
With that, Esily took the down payment and left.
A moment later.
Rustle
A strange sound came from within the house.
It was a spine-chilling sound.
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