The favorability setting was actually quite logical, Su Mu mused to himself.
Yuigahama Misaki's 32 points likely stemmed from her gratitude for being rescued from a desperate situation. Before this, they were homeless and struggling to even find food; the hot porridge and the shelter he provided were undoubtedly a beacon of light in their darkness.
As for Yuigahama Yui's 25 points, it carried a young girl's typical bashfulness and wariness. Though she was being treated gently, she hadn't entirely let her guard down. This level of favorability was pure and direct—and exceptionally real.
"Now that you're tenants, you can use some of the apartment's basic functions. The specific details are on your panels; you can look through them at your leisure." Su Mu looked at the mother and daughter, who were whispering to each other while occasionally casting curious glances at their translucent screens. He continued, "Regarding room selection: as the first tenants of the apartment, you can choose any room on any floor except for this top floor. If you want to live separately, you can choose up to two rooms, but rent is charged per room. If you stay together, one room will suffice."
"No need to separate!" Yuigahama Misaki waved her hands frantically, her tone urgent and a bit constrained. She tightly gripped Yui's hand and added, "We'll stay in one room. As long as it can fit the two of us, it's fine. There's no need to trouble you with extra arrangements, and it saves us a bit on rent."
As she spoke, she had already skimmed the residency rules through her panel. A flash of understanding appeared in her gentle eyes, mixed with a hint of complexity.
Such magical apartment functions, such unique residency requirements... and to think this youth, who looked to be around Yui's age, possessed such an incredible place.
Misaki couldn't help but look at Su Mu again. This time she was more subtle, catching only a quick glimpse, yet she was struck by the boy's clean, handsome appearance. Su Mu wasn't "handsome" in the traditional, striking sense; rather, he had a soft, youthful aura. His skin was fair, and his features were clean—like a gentle spring breeze that made people feel warm and more comfortable the longer they looked.
"Mrs. Yuigahama?"
Su Mu noticed Misaki's gaze lingering on him and spoke up with a hint of confusion.
"...Ah! S-sorry!" Misaki snapped back to reality, a faint blush instantly dusting her cheeks. she quickly lowered her head, her hands twisting nervously in front of her. Her voice was thick with apology. "I... I didn't mean to. I just spaced out for a moment..."
Internally, her mind was a mess. Oh no, oh no, how could I stare like that? I know it's rude, but I just couldn't help but look... Perhaps it was the boy's gentleness and kindness that inspired an inexplicable sense of trust in her during their darkest hour.
"It's fine." Su Mu couldn't help but chuckle. His tone was mild, showing he didn't mind her lapse in etiquette. "Have you chosen a room?"
"Um... we'll take the floor directly below this one."
Misaki looked up, her expression having regained its composure as she made a quick decision. The functions listed on the apartment panel were powerful enough that even a room on the middle floors would be perfectly safe. However, as a mother, she wanted to stay close to Su Mu. Not only would it make communication easier, but it would also give Yui a greater sense of security. After all, he was their only lifeline now.
"Alright." Su Mu nodded. He glanced at the window where the sky had turned completely black. "Since you've decided, you should head to your room. It's getting late. Get some rest after you've washed up. The apartment is fully stocked with daily necessities; feel free to use them."
"Understood. Thank you very much." Misaki nodded respectfully. Just as she was about to stand up with Yui, she paused. She hesitated for a moment before asking, "Um... regarding the rent, what is the exact amount?"
"300 Gold Coins per month, per room," Su Mu answered directly. He added, "Also, the first month is free. By 'first month,' I mean the first calendar month of your stay. If there's only one day left in the current month, only that day is free. If you move in at the start of a month, the entire month is free."
"I-Is that really okay? Only 300 Gold Coins?"
Misaki's eyes widened, her voice rising instinctively in disbelief. Beside her, Yui was also startled by her mother's reaction and looked up at her.
It wasn't that Misaki thought the rent was too high—it was far too low. Based on her knowledge of the Hero industry, even the lowest F-rank monster dropped several hundred Gold Coins upon death. Furthermore, the Gold Coins traded among Heroes were worth twenty times the value of ordinary currency.
Translated into practical terms, 300 Gold Coins was barely more than a single day's wage for a regular worker. Even if it had to be paid in Gold Coins, they could make enough by killing just two of the weakest F-rank monsters. Such a low rent was far beyond her expectations.
"No need to doubt it." Su Mu saw her shocked expression, and a flicker of amusement crossed his eyes. He said seriously, "300 Gold Coins is correct. I didn't open this place to make money. If I did, I wouldn't have set such specific residency rules."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the two of them with genuine sincerity. "To put it another way, from the moment you met the residency requirements, you had already given me what I wanted—to see beautiful and cute things every day. That sentiment is more precious than any amount of Gold Coins."
"Ah... Y-yes..."
Misaki's cheeks flushed again. Her heart began to race for some reason, and her voice softened. Was he... complimenting me and Yui? In all her years, she had never heard such a blunt and sincere compliment. For a moment, she was at a loss.
Beside her, Yuigahama Yui instinctively lowered her head, the tips of her ears turning pink. She had been taught since childhood to be sensible and considerate of her mother. This was the first time someone had described her as "beautiful and cute" so directly. A strange sense of shyness surged in her heart, yet it brought an inexplicable joy.
"Th-then... we'll head back to our room to rest now..."
Misaki took a deep breath, trying to calm the flutter in her chest. She took Yui's hand to leave. Just then, Yui, who had been standing obediently by her mother's side, found her eyes glued to the remaining piece of cake on the table.
She had noticed it while drinking her porridge; the cream looked exceptionally dense, and the sweet aroma lingering in the air made her long for a taste, though her politeness kept her from speaking up.
Misaki noticed her daughter's distraction. Following Yui's gaze, she immediately understood. An apologetic look crossed her face as she said softly to Su Mu, "I'm sorry, this child..."
"It's okay." Su Mu interrupted her with a smile. He reached out and handed the piece of cake over, his tone gentle. "Take it if you like it. It's just leftovers anyway; don't be shy."
Yui looked at her mother. Seeing Misaki give a small nod, she carefully took the cake. Her fingertips were slightly flushed as she whispered, "Th-thank you, Mr. Su Mu."
With that, she quickly lowered her head and followed close behind her mother, her steps light as they headed toward the elevator.
Watching their silhouettes disappear as the elevator doors closed, Himeko walked over to Su Mu's side. She teased him with a smile, "You certainly know how to dote on people, Husband. A mother-daughter pair like that is a very popular 'type,' you know."
Su Mu shook his head helplessly. His gaze fell on the favorability scores on his panel—Yuigahama Misaki's favorability had quietly risen to 38, while Yuigahama Yui's had climbed to 30.
"I'm just helping out. They haven't had it easy."
Inside the elevator, Yui held the cake, the sweet scent filling her nose. She looked up at Misaki. "Mom, Mr. Su Mu is a really good person."
Misaki gently patted her daughter's head, her eyes full of warmth. "He is. We have to live well here from now on and not let his kindness go to waste."
The elevator descended slowly, carrying the hope of the mother and daughter toward their new home.
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