Yuigahama Misaki couldn't help but feel a secret sense of relief. It seemed the owner of this apartment was a woman; if so, the situations she feared most probably wouldn't come to pass.
"Oh, right. I forgot to mention," Himeko said as they rode the elevator. She seemed to have read Misaki's mind, her face still wearing that gentle smile as she spoke in a light, airy tone. "The true master of this apartment isn't me~"
As she spoke, she reached out a slender finger and pressed a button for the top floor—one that hadn't been on the panel a moment ago.
"Then... who is it?"
Misaki's heart skipped a beat. Her newly relaxed nerves pulled taut again as she asked the question with extreme caution. Beside her, Yuigahama Yui instinctively clutched her mother's sleeve, a flicker of unease passing through her eyes.
"Naturally... it's our husband~"
Himeko turned her head, her smile so tender it practically radiated warmth.
"Oh, so it's your husband..." Misaki breathed a sigh of relief. Her heart was halfway back in its place when she suddenly caught the phrasing. She looked instinctively at Yui, then back to Himeko. "Wait... did you just say... our?"
"That's right. Ours." Himeko's smile remained gentle, but her tone carried a hint of subtle mischief. "I am just one of his wives."
"That... you don't mind?"
Misaki was utterly stunned. Her mouth hung open, and for a moment, she didn't know how to respond. In her world, no woman would be willing to share her husband, let alone speak of it so calmly. Beside her, Yui was equally shocked, her reddish-pink eyes wide with confusion.
"Of course I mind." Himeko blinked playfully before her tone shifted into one of serious contemplation. "After all, there are only three of us right now. I doubt that's enough to keep him fully satisfied."
"...Eh?"
Misaki was completely floored. She stood there like a statue, taking a long while to process the meaning behind Himeko's words. She opened her mouth to speak, but her throat was so dry no sound came out, and a blush crept unbidden onto her cheeks. Yui lowered her head in embarrassment, her small hand tightening its grip on her mother's sleeve.
Himeko didn't pursue the topic further. She merely gave the mother and daughter a meaningful look before turning back to watch the elevator doors. The atmosphere inside became somewhat subtle, filled only with the faint hum of the elevator's ascent.
The elevator was fast. In barely ten seconds, a soft ding announced their arrival, and the doors slid open.
"We're here. This is the top floor," Himeko said, stepping out first. She beckoned the pair to follow as she explained, "The top floor is usually off-limits to tenants. But my husband is kind-hearted. Seeing how tired and hungry you are, he worried you might faint if we just sent you straight to your rooms. So, he asked me to bring you up here to eat and rest a bit before we arrange your stay."
"...Th-thank you. And please thank your husband for us..."
Misaki hurried to keep up, holding Yui's hand. As they walked, she couldn't help but steal glances at her surroundings. Yui also looked up curiously, her eyes darting around the unfamiliar corridor as her tension began to thaw.
The moment they stepped into the top-floor living room, the mother and daughter were completely overwhelmed. The space was staggeringly vast—several times larger than their previous home. Exquisite European-style sofas, high-quality solid wood furniture, artistic paintings on the walls, and the plush, soft carpet beneath their feet... every detail whispered of a luxury beyond words.
Comparing this to the last three days of sleeping rough and facing constant death threats, Misaki felt as though she had stumbled out of hell and into heaven. Yui's eyes were wide with wonder, yet she remained huddled close to her mother, not daring to wander.
"Welcome."
A warm male voice drifted from the sofa ahead. Su Mu was sitting in the center of the room. Seeing them enter, he gave a slight nod of greeting. "It happens to be my birthday today, and there's quite a bit of cake left in the fridge. I hope it suits your palate."
Following the principle of not letting food go to waste, Su Mu flicked his finger, activating his Administrator permissions.
In the next second, the cake from the refrigerator manifested out of thin air in front of the Yuigahamas, along with a small square dining table. It was a massive, eighteen-tier cake. Though the top layer had been eaten, the remaining portions were still exquisite and inviting. The sweet aroma of cream filled the air, instantly triggering the mother and daughter's empty stomachs.
Yui instinctively swallowed her saliva, but she still looked at her mother with restraint, waiting for a signal.
"This... are we really allowed to eat this?"
Misaki also swallowed hard, her eyes filled with disbelief. She could feel her daughter's longing, but she maintained her basic manners and caution.
"Eat," Su Mu said with a gentle smile and a tone of concern. "However, you've been hungry for a long time, so your stomachs are likely weak. Start with the sponge cake parts without the cream, and don't eat too fast."
He paused, then added, "Actually, let me get you some hot porridge. That will be better for your digestion."
With a thought, he opened the Apartment Store, purchased a few bowls of steaming vegetable porridge, and used his permissions again. The bowls appeared steadily on the small table.
The scent of warm porridge mixed with the sweetness of the cake, making the entire living room feel cozy. Misaki's eyes grew misty. She carefully watched Su Mu and Himeko's expressions; once she was certain they truly meant for them to eat, she picked up a bowl of porridge. She handed another to Yui, whispering a reminder: "Yui, eat slowly. Don't burn yourself."
Yui nodded obediently. She took a small spoonful, blew on it to cool it down, and slowly tasted it. As the warm porridge slid into her empty stomach, a wave of heat followed, causing her rigid body to finally relax.
Watching her daughter eat in peace, Misaki finally picked up her own spoon and began to sip the porridge. The exhaustion and despair of the past few days were slowly being smoothed away by the warmth.
Seeing this scene, a trace of warmth rose in Su Mu's heart. Is this the bond of family? Selfless sacrifice and unreserved protection, never giving up on each other even in the depths of despair.
"Husband, we are your family too~"
Himeko walked over to Su Mu's side and gently took his arm, pulling him against her. Her embrace was warm and soft, carrying a faint, pleasant fragrance that brought a strange sense of peace.
"Yeah..."
Su Mu replied softly, closing his eyes and leaning against Himeko for a moment. Once he sensed that Misaki and Yui had eaten enough to regain some color in their faces and a bit of spirit, he sat up straight and looked at them.
"Alright, now let's talk about the apartment."
"Yes! Please, give us your instructions!"
Misaki quickly put down her bowl and sat up straight. She instinctively shifted into a formal seiza position, her eyes full of reverence. Yui followed suit, sitting properly like her mother with her head bowed, occasionally stealing glances at Su Mu.
"No need to be so formal," Su Mu said, waving a hand dismissively. He kept his explanation simple. "I am the Administrator of this apartment. This place is a bit special—only those who meet specific criteria can live here. You two happen to qualify. Like any apartment, staying here requires rent. The currency for the rent is something called Gold Coins..."
"Um... excuse me, I'm sorry to interrupt..." Hearing the words "Gold Coins," Misaki suddenly raised her hand, looking apologetic as she carefully cut him off. "These Gold Coins you mentioned... are they the ones that Heroes get after killing monsters?"
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