Mastore 160 - Dumpster

Magic Realm Convenience Store – Ch. 160

I came to look for a house (2)

After arriving at the station and getting off, I stepped outside and entered the nearest café. It was the same place where my sister had been sipping on an Americano when I took my license exam.

Maybe because schools were in session, or perhaps because the school closure measures due to the gate hadn't ended yet, there weren't many customers.

Still, I prefer corners. I ordered a coffee and sat in a secluded spot, explaining the basis for my judgment to Manager as logically as possible.

"Let's assume there are two studio apartments in front of me right now, Manager-nim. Both are the same size at 8 pyeong, but one is single-level and one is duplex, with a monthly rent difference of 30,000 won including maintenance fees."

[Chan make it sound like some kind of social experiment.]

“I don’t think it’s even that difficult of a social experiment. You get 1.5 times the usable space.”

Of course, I'm also aware of the disadvantages of a duplex structure. Compared to a single-level studio, the space above and below is wider, and there's that much more internal air to heat or cool. That means heating and cooling costs go up.

Besides that, there's the hassle of going up and down stairs, the fact that the duplex is closer to the upper floor so it's inevitably more exposed to noise between floors, and the perplexity of how to actually use the space, and so on.

But all of those negatives are outweighed by one major merit: my home is a duplex. You can actually go up and down stairs inside your own home. You can enjoy feeling like a bourgeois, I tell you!

[I understand that feeling well. I do, but there's another reason.]

"What do you mean? Is there a separate reason why duplexes aren't good?"

[Well, it’s a bit embarrassing for me to say it myself...]

"Oh my! Don't live in a duplex, student! You’ll be in big trouble.”

voice suddenly cut in from behind me. I turned around and saw a guinea pig kobold holding a tray with ginger tea, standing right behind me.

Our eye levels match perfectly as I'm sitting. But who on earth is this guinea pig?

"The duplexes in this neighborhood, you see, many of them are places where orcs used to live that have been converted to duplexes. Orcs are, what, three times my height? Right, student?"

“?”

"But orc kids live so~, so~ filthily! Peel back one layer of wallpaper, and you’ll find stains everywhere. Open the bathroom ceiling, and liquor bottles come tumbling out. Got it?"

After hearing that, I realized it made a certain amount of sense. Orcs have an average height of about 2.3m, which is quite tall, so they would need homes with higher internal spaces. Like duplex homes.

Which means most duplex studios here were probably former orc housing. And with so many schools nearby, this area has a lot of young orcs.

And what are young orcs like? I know this very well, because I have experienced it myself in the store. ut seriously, who is this guinea pig lady? Is she a kobold I know?

"Looking at you reminds me of my son, so I was worried and wanted to say something."

"Um... thank you."

"No need for thanks. Enjoy your coffee, student."

With that, she moved on and went up the stairs heading to the second floor of the café. I looked at her back then spoke into my phone.

"Apparently, duplexes here are mostly refurbished orc housing, so they come with a lot of issues."

[Huh? Who told Chan that?]

“That’s what a passing auntie said....”

If even a passing guinea pig went out of her way to warn me like that, it’s probably a really dumb idea to look for duplexes in this area.

I also understand that it would be equally ignorant to try to find a place using only the standards I had in my world. I asked Manager once more.

"Is there anything else I should know? Manager-nim?"

[There are many things that would be good to know, but if Chan’s just looking for a place... wouldn't someone who has lived there know better than me? Like Yoonha.]

"Huh? Did Noona live around here?"

[Yes, she did. Yoonha graduated from high school there.]

"Ah. Then I'll ask Noona directly, and I'll contact Manager-nim again once I find a suitable place."

After hanging up, I immediately sent a message to Noona via chat asking her to recommend a place. While I waited for a reply, something else came to mind.

I haven't told my regular customers yet that I'm moving. After thinking about it for a while, I just sent a text message to each of my regulars. 'Our store is moving to the Academy District.'

After that, when I was about halfway through my coffee, the first reply came. It was from Elder Wolf.

[Is that so?]

[It's not too far]

[Thank you for letting me know, Boss]

I asked right away.

[Are you on break right now?]

[Yes. At this hour, I usually spend time tending flowers with my companion.]

[Though I often get scolded for my lack of manual dexterity]

For someone who claims to lack skill, his reply speed is impressive. After thinking briefly, I sent another message. Since we went through that hardship together, it should be okay to ask this much.

[Do you by any chance also take calls in the Academy District area?]

[Of course. I frequently get calls from faculty members and young friends]

I understood right away. I had only thought that I would have fewer opportunities to see him since it's a place with many students, but I hadn't considered this point.

[Aren’t you on break too, Boss?]

[I’m not busy, but I’m over in the Academy District for a bit to check some things out.]

[What sort of things, if I may ask?]

[I came to look for a studio apartment nearby]

I sent and received a reply within seconds.

[I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but I’d recommend avoiding duplex studios.]

What? I didn't say a single word about duplexes.

[Also, it would be better to stay away from places that claim to have good water facilities]

[Why though?]

[They’re usually built for marine-type kobolds. If they’re not regularly maintained, mold starts growing easily.]

[When my son was looking for a studio apartment, he moved into such a place and complained to me bitterly about the terrible experience he had]

After reading this, I briefly imagined studios where snail, pufferfish, or toad kobolds had lived. Even setting aside the mold issue, it probably reeks of saltwater.

[Ah, Boss. My companion is calling. I'll contact you again later]

[Yes. Thank you for your advice, Elder]

After closing the chat window, I deleted the listings in the app’s favorites that promoted ‘good water facilities’ as a selling point. I had wondered why they emphasized this, but now I understand the reason...

Right after deleting the entire wish list, the next reply notification came in. It was Miss Elena.

[Um....]

[Whe- Where to?]

[Which part of the Academy District?]

Did she really need to stammer in text?

So I thought, but immediately understood. We had been working together making potions, and from her perspective I had basically just declared mid-collaboration that I was moving away. Of course she would be taken aback.

[Right by the subway station. Shouldn’t be too far?]

When I sent that, her reply basically played a sigh of relief directly into my brain. Immediately followed by three more lines.

[Phew....]

[That's a relief, it's a place I can get to quickly even on foot.]

[But, why did Boss suddenly...?]

[Business is bad, business]

I ended up confessing the shop’s internal situation, but whatever. Anyone who stands in front of the convenience store for just 5 minutes would immediately know that it's not in a state to do proper business.

[Ahh... Then are Chan resting right now?]

[I'm not working. I'm on night shift]

[Am looking for a house now]

Miss Elena was still a university student up until two or three years ago, and she likely went to school nearby, so I wonder if she could give me some tips on room hunting.

I was ready to listen seriously, but the first thing she wrote was.

[First of all, absolutely no duplexes!]

No, everyone's telling me things I didn't even ask about first. Is a duplex studio some kind of forbidden territory that other species in this world shouldn't live in?

[Also, high-rise buildings are a no-go. I would recommend one-room places on the 2nd or 3rd floor of buildings that are four stories or lower.]

[Harpies and avian kobolds prefer high-rise studios.]

[They’re allowed to fly unrestricted near the Academy District, so they skip doors and commute through windows…]

[It’s noisy, and feathers everywhere. Especially during molting season in June and December!]

The reason she specifically recommended the 2nd and 3rd floors is that if there happens to be a harpy residing in the building, there's a high possibility that the 1st floor residents will be stuck with the chore of cleaning up the feathers scattered in front of the building.

I had originally considered room view as part of my housing criteria, but after hearing this, all interest vanished. What kind of world is this, where finding a place to live comes with this many variables?

[I will refer to it later, thanks]

[Yes! Chan, when you find a place, can I come for a housewarming party?]

[Um....]

This was a bit hard to answer right away. I mean, I haven't thought about chairs or tables or anything for the home, what kind of housewarming party are we talking about?

[ㅠㅠ]

[...Let's talk about it later]

Still, since we had had plenty of conversations before I left some room for it. Just then, a reply from another chat came in. Finally, a response from Noona.

[What. Are you moving too, Lee Chan?]

[What do you mean 'too'? Did you already know our store is moving?]

[Could I not? I have to carry the supplies]

[Aha]

Turns out Manager-nim told her first. Since I don't directly receive supplies myself, I occasionally find myself thinking that Noona is just a regular A-class hunter, not someone with multiple jobs.

[Anyway, Noona. Do you have any recommendations regarding studio apartments?]

I was just trying to get some advice from Noona, but after a moment, she came out with something completely unexpected.

[I don’t know about one-rooms, but there’s this two-room that just went on the market.]

[Want me to send the location?]

* * *

At first, I was skeptical. If there are two rooms, then wouldn’t the deposit and monthly rent also be double? After going all-in with my entire savings, what money would I have left for food?

[You don't need to pay a deposit there]

[Monthly rent 25k won]

[What kind of 2-bedroom is that? Did they just glue together cardboard boxes or something?]

Even as I replied like this, my body was honest, and when I came to my senses, I had already cleared away my empty coffee cup and was leaving the café. Noona wouldn't be the type to tell me about a fake listing, would she?

Still, I couldn't help but be suspicious, so I asked everything that came to mind as I headed to the address Noona send.

[Is it a duplex?]

[It's a single-level two-bedroom. Why, do you want to live in a duplex?]

[No. Then what floor is it on?]

[2nd floor]

[The water facilities aren't excessively good or anything like that?]

[Just enough for everything to run as it should. Hey, Lee Chan. I might’ve said stuff that made you suspicious, but the location’s good and the area’s quiet.]

[Then why is such a nice place suddenly in the market?]

The location was indeed good as Noona said. It was just a 6-minute walk from the café near the station. To my question, Noona didn't answer for a moment.

[Dunno]

She abruptly sent this reply, making me stop in my tracks. She knows it's on the market but doesn't know why it's on the market?

[That's because the landlord didn't say]

[No, why?]

[You'll know when you see it, or something like that. I just mentioned it because you're nearby, so if you go and think it's strange, just back out]

[I'll contact the landlord. Said you would come soon since you're close]

[Uh... okay]

It already smells fishy, ​​but I was nearby anyway...

I said ‘okay’ for now, and kept walking until I arrived at the building Noona had marked. The exterior walls are clean, and it's also away from roads where cars honk. It's quiet.

"Hey there, are you the young man who's come to look for a place this time?"

After I had circled the entire building and returned, a monkey kobold who wasn't there before was standing in front of the entrance. From appearance and speech alone, you could tell he was quite up there in age.

“Yes. I was recommended here by a human named Seo Yoonha…”

"Ah. So you're from the hunter's office, I see."

“What?”

"Let's go inside and take a look first. I'll explain everything properly later."



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