Chapter 10

A snort of laughter slipped out of me.

‘“Someone incredible” my ass.’

I’m just farming so I can survive. And even my “purification” ability is pretty weak, all things considered.

‘What matters right now isn’t that…’

It’s whether my story would actually work on Lysian.

I shot him a sidelong glance. He was—

“…?”

Huh? Wh-what?

Startled, I stumbled a step backward.

This guy’s eyes are weird…!

‘He was already crazy, but he looks even crazier now!’

“So that’s what it was… That’s how you’re able to purify the corruption….”

The way he murmured to himself, as if possessed, was anything but normal.

He looked like a fanatic who’d just witnessed a divine miracle….

“The sacred power I feel from you, Master—there’s no doubt about it. It’s divine energy. A blessing bestowed by the gods…. And one unprecedented in its strength….”

Did my excuse land because he’s a zealot?

A pervert who’s also a devout believer—those really don’t go together….

“Oh my! To be under the gods’ protection! As expected, Master, you really are someone special~!”

The spirit suddenly cut in, spinning in circles and making a huge fuss.

Ugh, it’s loud. I reflexively grabbed the dewdrop rice cake and tucked it under my arm.

Meanwhile, Lycian’s gaze fixed on me, growing more and more feverish.

He stared so intently it was almost frightening… then spoke in a voice that sounded like it was boiling up from deep within him.

“Master, you are….”

“…?”

“Just as I thought—you truly are the one I’ve been searching for all this time. I’m so glad I risked my life to come here… I’m truly… so moved.”

Hey. You said you lost your memory, didn’t you?

Wasn’t that just now a little too specific?

“It’s just as the spirit said. You’re a special person, Master. Someone who can overturn the very balance of this world… someone truly extraordinary.”

’…What is he even saying?’

I’m just Farmer #1, okay?

I’m doing this just to make a living…?

‘Me—who only wanted to farm—being this world’s sole purifier?’

I have zero interest in a grand destiny like that. My goal is simply to live happily on my own farm.

I scratched my cheek awkwardly and laughed it off.

“Well, my ability isn’t that amazing. I can only purify twice a day, and—”

“…No. It’s not about the number of times.”

“Huh…?”

“What matters is that someone with the power of purification has appeared. And that person is you, my Master.”

Lycian’s demeanor had turned solemn, like he was a completely different person. I’d thought he was just Suspicious Pervert #1….

So what is he, really…?

The strange pressure he radiated made me tense without realizing it, and I swallowed hard.

“Master, please keep your ability secret if you can.”

“Uh…?”

“Don’t tell anyone. I’ll keep it to myself as well.”

That caught me off guard.

…This wasn’t the reaction I’d expected.

More than just being shocked by my ability, Lycian was worried about me. Worried I’d be taken advantage of because of it.

It wasn’t exactly moving—more bewildering than anything. And at this point, I was sure of one thing.

This bastard definitely did not lose his memory!

“…You can trust me, Master.”

“Mm….”

“I belong to you… and you’re the only one I have.”

Even when he said that with such a desperate expression, it only made me more suspicious?!

His absolute submission didn’t sit right with me no matter how I looked at it. There was an uncomfortable aftertaste to the whole thing.

It looked sincere—but if all of it was just the result of the husbandry skill taking effect….

‘Ugh, whatever. What’s the point of overthinking it?’

In the end, it was all my own doing. Intentional or not, I was the one who’d tamed him with supernatural power.

I let out a deep sigh.

“Alright. Let’s say that’s how it is, for now.”

When I gave that answer, Lycian beamed at me.

That smile—like a sunflower just beginning to bloom—felt oddly overwhelming, so I looked away for no reason.

“I’ll keep my ability secret, like you said. Though I doubt it’ll stay hidden for long.”

The servants from Winterberg Ducal Castle might come snooping around, after all. And then Raul would find out too.

That was why I needed to buy the ‘Fate Distortion’ item before that happened.

I didn’t want to use my purification power for Raul’s sake.

Muriel would have gladly done it, but I wasn’t Muriel.

“By the way—what did you mean about me being the one you were searching for?”

Partly to change the subject, partly to probe something suspicious, I threw the question at him. Lycian hesitated, then smiled awkwardly.

“If I said it’s difficult to explain right now… would you understand?”

My second slave had plenty of secrets. But I was hiding a lot from him too, so let’s call it even.

“Fine. I guess you’ve got your reasons. Tell me when you feel like it.”

“Yes. I promise I will.”

Lycian smiled brightly, his eyes crinkling prettily. I cleared my throat for no reason and avoided his gaze.

“Shall we start by checking out the new house?”

I strode forward confidently, intending to lead the way past Lycian—only to freeze before I could even take a step, my eyes snagged by the hamster-patterned roof.

“…….”

Right. The roof looked like that.

Hamsters might be my favorite animal, but that doesn’t mean I want to live under a hamster-patterned roof!

‘Hey, system! Can’t you change the roof pattern? Just make it a simple red roof!’

The system gave no response. It only ever goes quiet at times like this…!

“Um…. Is the roof pattern to your taste, Master?”

“No…!”

“Master~! Nini likes the hamster pattern!”

Of course you do!

“Master, look here. The stable and the storage shed got bigger too.”

“Oh. You’re right.”

In any case, the renovated house was completely different from the shabby old cabin.

It was still a wooden house, but it looked solid and well-built, with a clean, elegant exterior.

The layout was still a simple straight-line shape, but the floor space had increased, and the stable and storage shed on the right were larger too.

There was even an outdoor bathroom now. I had no idea how they’d done it, but the tiled floor even had proper drainage.

‘Having a bathroom is amazing.’

Life here would be so much more comfortable now. To be honest, I’d been living almost like a caveman until recently, and it was a bit tough.

After carefully inspecting the bathroom, I checked the stable.

Aside from being a little startled, the rabbits were doing just fine, hopping around as usual.

I added more hay to their hutch.

‘With this much space, I could raise more animals.’

What should I get? Chickens? Sheep? Goats? A satisfied smile spread across my face.

After looking around the much larger storage shed, I stopped in front of the house’s front door. Finally, it was time to see the inside.

“I’m excited to see what it’s like in there, aren’t you?”

“Yeah.”

I nodded in agreement and grasped the doorknob. My heart thudded rapidly.

‘To think I’d fulfill my dream of owning a home…by possessing someone.’

I slowly opened the door, and at last, the long-awaited interior came into view.

“…!”

“Oh….”

Lycian, following behind me, let out a soft gasp of admiration. Naturally so—the inside of the newly renovated house was truly….

‘They even did the interior design…?!’

It was stunning.

Wood-toned walls and ceiling, a checkered carpet spread across the floor.

There was even a lighting fixture mounted at the center of the living room ceiling, designed to hold multiple lamps.

Sadly, there were no lamps yet—but I could always buy some in town or from the coin shop, so it wasn’t a big issue.

And the windows—nicely sized—were in an arched shape I loved.

‘Did they even account for my tastes? This is seriously touching….’

System… do you like me or something?

You’re telling me to stop talking nonsense? Fine.

I stepped closer to the window and looked up—there was even a rail installed for hanging curtains.

Once I added curtains, it would feel much cozier. Heh.

Next, I passed through the arched doorway on the left side of the living room. This was the kitchen.

A reasonably sized counter and wall-mounted cabinets immediately caught my eye. In the center sat a small table with two chairs.

‘You told me to buy furniture—then you just hand it out for free?’

I was starting to think the system might be a bit tsundere.

Leaving the kitchen, I opened the door on the opposite wall and stepped inside. It looked like it would serve as a bedroom.

“Hmm, just one room….”

And there wasn’t a single piece of furniture inside. Guess it was telling me to furnish it myself.

Needless to say, I had no intention of sharing a bed with Lycian.

‘One of us is probably going to have to sleep in the living room….’

I went back out and checked whether the living room had enough space. It seemed big enough to fit a sofa suitable for sleeping.

For now… maybe I should check what kind of furniture the shop sells?

In my mind, I made a request to the system.

‘Let me enter the 〈House of Tomorrow〉 shop.’

A shopping mall appeared instantly.

The layout was similar to, yet distinct from, the ‘Everything Under the Sun’ shop.

There was something a little questionable mixed in, but it was the 〈House of Tomorrow〉 shop—a place where you could buy a wide variety of furniture and interior items at shockingly discounted prices!

‘Alright. Time to go on a shopping spree.’

Just thinking about shopping to my heart’s content made my heart thrum with pleasant excitement.