Chapter 140: Chapter 139: A Spacious New Home

The next morning, Colin and Kase were having breakfast at the Black Heart Tavern, as was their routine.

"I’ve heard some of the neighbors talking about the Yule Festival recently. What’s that?" Kase asked, his voice low and rumbling.

"The Yule Festival? I’d say it’s one of the more important holidays of the year." Colin took a bite of roasted meat. "On that day, most people in the city get time off. Friends get together, everyone brings a dish, and they just eat and chat."

"Then we should go haul cargo at the docks. I bet no one else will be there trying to get work."

"Of course you would..."

Halfway through their conversation, the tavern door suddenly burst open. Before either of them could turn to look, Bob rushed in and plopped down at their table.

"There you are, Colin!" Bob said, panting. "Take a guess what happened with the house!"

"Old Black Heart, two cold beers, and a hot plate of fried sausage, meat, and bread!" Colin shouted over to the tavern owner, then turned to Bob with a smile. "So? How’d it go?"

"You’re a sharp one. Otherwise, I would have dragged this out for ages," Bob said. "It’s a place in the Dock District, just two streets away from the Trade District and the Southern District. The location is perfect—not too loud, but not too far from the shops. And the rent is only three Gold Coins a month."

"What’s it like, specifically?"

"It’s in an apartment building, and the living conditions are more than worth the price. I’d even say with rent going up everywhere, a place like this is impossible to find unless you have an in!"

’The cheapest places in the Dock District go for two Gold Coins a month,’ Colin thought. ’But those are basically no different from the slums outside the city. If you want to live like a decent human being, you can’t get away with anything less than four Gold Coins a month.’

It wasn’t exactly cheap, but it was still a bit less expensive than living at the tavern.

Still, judging by how excited Bob was, the place couldn’t be too shabby.

"With you two not coming around, this old guy hasn’t been by in ages either," Old Black Heart grumbled as he set the food on their table. "Don’t forget to come by for the Yule Festival in a couple of days. You too, Colin and Kase—you’re having dinner here that night."

Colin and Kase both nodded in acknowledgment.

"Well, your place isn’t exactly safe. I need to bring a couple of heavy-hitters with me for courage."

With that, Bob took a swig of beer. "Speaking of which, the owner of the place is a Gemstone merchant from the Trade District. He has a lot of respect for powerful Adventurers. If I hadn’t spun him some colorful tales about your legendary exploits, you never would have gotten into such a nice place so easily!"

"What, uh, did you tell him?" Colin suddenly had a bad feeling.

"I told them that when the Wolf Pack attacked, the moment that Winter Wolf bigger than a horse bared its fangs, younger brother Kase here SLAMMED its snout right into the mud! Then, older brother Colin here just rubbed his fingers together, and WHOOSH! A ball of flame shot out and roasted that beast on the spot, smoke billowing and fat sizzling everywhere..."

"Hold on, what is all this nonsense? We got completely thrashed the first time we fought a Winter Wolf!"

"Why am I the ’younger brother’ and he’s the ’older brother’?" Kase protested.

"How else were we supposed to get such a nice place?" Bob took a swig of beer, conveniently ignoring the Half-Orc’s complaint.

Colin, for his part, had mixed feelings.

He finally understood where all those outrageous rumors were coming from. It was one of his own people spouting all this nonsense!

"None of that matters! Just relax and come with me to see the place!" Bob finished and immediately began to wolf down the breakfast Colin had bought him, looking utterly impatient.

Kase grumbled unhappily, "I’m going to train. Just tell me where it is later."

Colin nodded.

Ever since Colin had made him that promise the other night, the Half-Orc had been training much more diligently. He no longer wasted half his free time in the tavern like he used to.

Once they finished eating, Bob hurriedly led Colin away.

The pair walked through the city, following the main road all the way to the edge of the Dock District, and stopped before an apartment building on a clean backstreet.

This three-story apartment building was one of several in the area. Like the others, it was built from rough stone bricks and thick timber, its outer walls covered with a crust of dried sea salt and a few tenacious vines.

Bob led Colin to the building’s main door and knocked. Upon getting a response, he opened it and went inside.

Inside was a narrow hallway that connected to a staircase. There was a window off to the side of the hall, and behind it sat a listless old man.

"I brought the person we discussed. You said he could move in after you confirm his identity," Bob said, tapping on the windowsill.

Colin, standing to the side, immediately held out his hand to show his ring.

"I recognize that ring. Mr. Big showed it to me. There’s hot water provided every evening and a monthly washroom cleaning service."

The old man took out a key and handed it over. "If you decide to take the apartment, come back here to pay a deposit of ten Gold Coins plus the first month’s rent. The room is 301."

Colin took the key, and together he and Bob climbed the somewhat steep stairs all the way to the third floor.

He used the key to open the fairly sturdy door.

Swinging the door open revealed a room of about one hundred thirty square feet. It was an attic-style room with a slanted ceiling. The cracks between the wooden planks on the walls and floor were sealed with waterproof tar. The room contained a wardrobe, a bed, a table, and a chair. By the head of the bed, a small storage nook was built into the wall.

Colin walked over to the washroom inside the apartment.

It had a bathtub, a washstand, a Bronze toilet, and a metal hook on the wall.

’This is a thousand times better than that little hovel in the slums!’

"So, what do you think?" Bob asked smugly, leaning against the doorframe.

"Thank you so much, Bob," Colin said, turning back with a smile. "I appreciate you taking the time to help me find a place. And come to think of it, Kase and I owe our current jobs to you as well."

"Like I said, a favor for a favor, remember?" Bob laughed. "If I get into trouble down the line, I’ll be coming to you for help. You’d better not pretend you don’t know me then."

"You’re not foolish enough to invest in an ungrateful person, are you?" Colin replied. "If you’re ever in trouble, I’ll help."

"Then what are you waiting for? Go pay the deposit and buy some household supplies," Bob said with a grin, patting him on the shoulder.

Colin immediately went downstairs and paid the deposit.

After that, he went back to his old hovel and did a quick clear-out. He didn’t have much luggage, after all. Finally, he went to a general store in the Trade District to buy sundries like soap, a towel, sheets, and a pillow, which only cost him a few Silver Coins.

He spent half the day bustling about, finally getting the room organized by evening.

When evening finally arrived, Colin filled the tub with warm water and took a comfortable bath. While it wasn’t as full-service as a proper bathhouse, it was still remarkably nice.

He washed away the day’s fatigue and blew out the kerosene lamp.

Colin lay down on the bed.

Beneath him was no longer a pile of messy straw, but clean sheets and a soft, warm, woolen mattress.

The faint glow from the nearby Trade District filtered through the window, spilling across the decorative, fishing net-like ropework on the ceiling. Muffled by the distance and the window, the noise from outside was reduced to a nearly imperceptible hum.

’Isn’t this what all that life-or-death adventuring is for?’

’It’s a far cry from modern life, but at least I’m living like a proper person now. I wonder where the rich people in this world live? Maybe one day I’ll get to experience that for myself.’

’The moment you move into a nicer place, you start dreaming of somewhere even better. I guess that’s just human nature.’

Colin thought to himself, listening to the sound of his own breathing.

In the faint light, he turned his head to look at the trinkets he had arranged in the storage nook—the Hand Half Sword from the old veteran, the Wooden Carved Small Treasure Sword and handkerchief from Silverpine Village, and the Furnace Stone the Halfling had given him.

Memories from the past few months flashed before his eyes, one after another.

He chuckled occasionally while sorting through these memories, and at the same time, he pondered how he should train while waiting for news about Kais Village.

Gradually, Colin felt his whole body grow light and airy, and before long, he was drifting off into the clouds...