A small, stone-built structure.

In a wide room dotted with expensive furnishings, I sat across a large table from the muscle-bound Alex.

“To put it simply, Dietrich, my clan wants to keep you.”

“Talk to Abby about that.”

“That can't be. Don’t think I’ll let you pretend you forgot what you said to Annette this morning.”

That stung.

I still didn’t fully understand my rank as a priest, but I knew this much: the words of a powerful priest carried weight—like a curse.

Abby and Annette’s frightened faces hadn’t been my imagination.

“…I’m sorry. What I said then was a mistake. I take back my words.”

Alex smiled with satisfaction.

“Good. Now, take back the part about never showing my face in front of you ever again."

“Fine. I take it back.”

I tossed a piece of incense into my mouth, rolling it between my teeth.

“Then we’re done here.”

“Of course we’re not. We haven’t even started.”

“I don’t care. Talk to Abby.”

I had taken a vow of poverty. Abby provided the little I needed. Aside from food, clothes, and a roof, I had no desires.

“Haha. You’re thorough, I’ll give you that.”

I rose from my seat in front of the silent, twitching Alex.

She frowned, her brows quivering.

“You’ll still do the work we give you!”

“Don’t make me repeat myself. Talk to Abby.”

With that, I left Alex’s room.

◇◆

Outside, Abby and Oni-girl were waiting, wringing their hands on the verge of tears.

“It’s done,” I said, my voice flat.

Abby blinked in shock.

“D-done? What did you decide?”

I spat out the incense.

“What’s there to decide? You said it yourself—you’re the only one above me. The one making decisions is you.”

Silence. I heard Abby suck in a breath.

My head still felt hazy because of the lack of sleep.

I beckoned Zoë closer and leaned against her shoulder.

“Got any incense? Two, three pieces.”

“Ah, well…”

She looked up at me in surprise, fumbling at her clothes. Then, Oni-girl shoved a pouch full of incense into my hands.

“Why do you have this?”

I pulled a few pieces from the pouch, stuffed them into my pocket, and shoved the rest at Zoë.

“Keep hold of it. I get irritable without this stuff. Don’t run out. And tell me before you go off anywhere. You’re supposed to be in charge of me. I woke up, and you weren’t there. I was startled.”

Zoë nodded, distressed.

“S-sorry. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. I don’t mean to force you. If you can’t tell me, talk to Abby instead.”

The new incense cleared my head a little, its sharp scent cutting through the haze.

“Abby. I’m still tired after all that happened. I need more rest. Is that alright?”

“Y-yeah, of course. You don’t look well. Should I have Ashita carry you?”

“No.”

I cut her off. Oni-girl’s shoulders trembled faintly.

Still leaning on Zoë, I let her guide me as we left Alex’s house.

◇◆

Later, Abby explained the outcome of the negotiation.

“There are ten adventurers in Alex’s clan now. Di, you’ll be taking care of all ten.”

“…”

“In return, Alex rented out a whole Palma lodging for us. Seven rooms. That’ll be our new home.”

“Not bad, but… what's Palma’s longing?”

“Slum houses. Rows of them, all the same; filthy and poor. One of them’s ours now. But, Di, you’re different,” Oni-girl replied instead.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’re special. Alex said you can come and go from her clan whenever you like. Stay the night… even drop by for fun.”

A transparent attempt to recruit me alone.

It was clear Alex only valued me and thought of everyone else as scraps. No wonder Abby and Oni-girl looked uneasy.

Zoë, watching me from a distance, carried the same look—like she was already left behind. I reached out and patted her head.

Abby continued, eyes flicking to us.

“You’ll have to put clan work first.”

“So if they call, I have to answer right away?”

“That’s right. And the payment is the lodgings, plus five silver coins a day.”

She pulled the coins from her pocket.

“That’s nowhere near enough. Don’t undersell me. Abby, that’s when you haggle.”

At my words, Abby and the kids flinched.

“W-what are you saying, Di? Even if it’s a slum, it's a whole lodging! Plus five silvers!”

I didn’t know the value of their currency. But I knew Alex was trying to keep me on a leash for cheap.

“Then tell me, Abby. Can that feed the kids until they’re full?”

“Th-that much, it's probably…”

Her voice crumbled in her throat. Pathetic.

“Not just food. Look at them. Worm-eaten rags, filthy. They need clothes. Otherwise, it’s just a lie.”

“Th-that’s true, but—”

“But what? Speak plainly. You’re irritating me.”

Abby wilted instantly.

“Listen, Abby. To Alex, a house in the slums and five silver coins are pocket change. Did you really sell me for scraps like that?”

My words hit hard.

“No! No, no!!!”

“Then don’t act pathetic.”

Alex’s offer was generous—for sewer brats. But for us, it was a swindle.

I exhaled, shrugging it off. Trash belongs in a trash bin.

Now I had a new one.

◇◆

By the time we reached the houses on Palma Street, Abby was seething.

“Damn it! That muscle-head! Making a fool of me!!”

The so-called “Palma’s slum lodgings” were rows of single-story shacks. Abby inspected the seven rooms.

I picked one at random and stepped inside with Zoë, but Abby stopped me.

“Di, you get the room at the very back. And besides Zoë, I’m assigning two more to you. No complaints.”

“…Fine.”

“Ashita! Sui! You two belong to Di now. You understand!?”

Ashita was Oni-girl. Sui was the pale-skinned girl—Lizard-girl.

Sui smiled brightly, almost cheerfully.

Ashita glanced at me once and snorted.

The room chosen for me had a bath, thanks to a drainage channel behind it.

Meanwhile, Abby had already claimed Eva—Cat-girl—as her attendant.

Eva complained while Abby barked orders until she shut her up with a blow.

“Hurry up and get the food ready! Di gets the best meal! The rest go fetch water!”

Naturally, the slum had no plumbing. Abby’s orders were sensible.

Still, the place was bare. Four walls against wind and rain. No tables. No beds, not even blankets. Nothing.

For a moment, I caught myself missing Annette’s room. But for Abby’s peace of mind, I kept that thought to myself.