Chapter 112: The System’s Horny Architecture Directive

The sun caught on the river’s surface like scattered diamonds as Liam waved goodbye to Rogue, Mirra, and Jace. Midnight’s tiny claws dug into his scalp as she balanced on his head, her miniature dragon form vibrating with excitement at their new destination.

"Finally," Liam said, his deep voice rumbling through his chest. "Our own place."

Elizabeth maintained her grip on his arm, her pink cat ears twitching with irritation despite her firm hold. She hadn’t let go since they’d left the letting agency, her slender fingers wrapped around his bicep like a claim.

"You’re still pouting," Liam observed, glancing down at her with those striking red eyes that seemed to see straight through her.

"I’m not pouting," she hissed, her green eyes flashing.

"I’m being vigilant, I’m your bouncer after all."

"Mm, okay if you say so." Liam hummed.

Midnight chirped in what sounded suspiciously like laughter from her perch.

The path curved alongside the river, leading them around a bend where the cottage came into view. Liam stopped walking, momentarily stunned.

"That’s... ours?" he asked, his voice softening with genuine wonder.

The thatched round house rose from the riverbank like something from a fairy tale. Vines with tiny blue flowers climbed up the stone walls, their leaves shimmering with an otherworldly glow that pulsed gently in rhythm with the flowing water. A cobblestone walkway wound through a lawn of four-leaf clovers that rustled in the breeze, each one catching light like emeralds.

"It’s... magical," Elizabeth whispered, her grip on his arm loosening as her defensive posture melted away.

Midnight launched herself from Liam’s head, transforming mid-air into her beast woman form. She ran circles around the property with excited squeaks.

"Looks like she approves," Liam said, a rare smile spreading across his pale features. "Let’s check inside."

The front door swung open at his touch, revealing a circular main room with a towering hearth at its centre. The level 3 Hearth wasn’t just for cooking; it dominated the space with its gleaming copper surface and three separate cooking stations.

"Holy shit," Liam breathed, running his hand along the polished surface. "This is professional grade. I could cook anything here."

"Don’t drool on the fancy equipment," Elizabeth teased, though her eyes were wide as she took in the rest of the room. "It’s... actually beautiful, I could get used to this."

The walls curved gracefully, adorned with shelves and hooks for storage. Windows let in streams of natural light that danced across the wooden floors. Through an arched doorway, Liam spotted what appeared to be the bathroom.

He moved toward it, Elizabeth trailing behind him. When he pushed the door open, he whistled low.

The tub was massive, a sunken pool of polished stone that could easily accommodate eight people. Steam rose from the naturally heated water, scented with something floral and inviting. Crystal bottles lined the edges, filled with oils and bath salts.

Liam glanced over at Elizabeth, catching her staring at the tub with undisguised longing. He winked at her, and her face flushed so deeply he thought he might actually see steam rise from her pink hair.

"Bath time later?" he asked, his voice dropping to a suggestive rumble.

"I-i-i we should check the bedrooms first," she stammered, backing out of the bathroom so quickly she nearly tripped.

Midnight, now returned to her smaller form, zipped ahead of them, disappearing down a corridor.

The first bedroom they found had been completely converted into a massive pantry. Shelves lined every wall, organised by food type: spices, grains, dried meats, and produce. A large icebox hummed in the corner, and hanging racks held various cooking utensils.

"Look at this," Liam said, running his fingers over the neatly labelled jars. "This is better than any kitchen I’ve ever seen. All these rare ingredients..."

"You’re practically vibrating," Elizabeth observed, but there was affection in her voice.

The second bedroom had been similarly transformed into storage racks for weapons, armour stands, and chests for equipment. But it was the third room that made them both pause.

The bed dominated the space, a massive circular platform piled high with pillows and blankets in shades of deep blue and silver. It was easily large enough for ten people, with a canopy of sheer fabric that drifted gently in the breeze from the open windows.

Liam approached it slowly, then dropped onto it with a sigh that seemed to come from the depths of his soul. The mattress cradled him perfectly, soft but supportive.

"This is so nice," he murmured, closing his eyes.

Midnight launched herself onto the bed, transforming mid-leap back into her beast-human before landing with a bounce. She immediately began rolling around.

Elizabeth stood in the doorway, arms crossed, but her expression softened.

"Not what I expected," she said finally, moving to sit on the edge of the bed. "The description said three bedrooms."

Liam cracked open one red eye to look at her. "Disappointed?"

She looked away, but not before he caught the slight curve of her lips. "False advertising. That’s all I’m saying."

Midnight crawled between them, nudging Elizabeth’s hand with her head until the pink-haired woman relented and scratched behind her ears.

"So," Liam said, propping himself up on one elbow. "One bed. One massive bed. What do you think that means?"

Elizabeth’s ears flattened against her head. "That the system has a weird sense of humour?"

"Or maybe, this bed has amazing stats!" he said, reaching out to tuck a strand of pink hair behind her ear.

[TOOL TIP]:

Status: Bedrooms Found: 1

The Single Platform Paradox: The system converting a advertised three-bedroom cottage into a massive pantry, a weapons armory, and a singular, circular [10-Person Bed Matrix] has officially exposed the system team’s true intentions.

The Bouncer’s Retreat: Elizabeth attempting to maintain a strict "vigilant bouncer" posture while being baited by an 8-person sunken stone bath and an elite canopy mattress has triggered a [Blush Fluster Error].

The Real Estate Trap: Liam analyzing a massive, polygamous circular platform purely by its potential [Stamina Regen Stats] proves his dense tank cognitive routing remains completely undefeated by active harem geography.