Chapter 141 – Domestic Coordination of Two Women
Chapter 141
Domestic Coordination of Two Women
Date : Day 29 of Grimleaf 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.
Hyoren, Elise, Ina, and Jackey spent the next few hours arranging their own separate rooms. The process was simpler than it might have been—most of their belongings were already stored in their Storage Bags, waiting to be distributed to their proper places.
But there was something satisfying about the act itself, the way each item found its designated spot and transformed an empty space into something personal.
Hyoren took the master bedroom in the middle of the second floor. Jackey claimed the left-most room almost immediately. His announcement was characteristically loud. Ina chose the room to Hyoren's left, while Elise picked the one to his right.
The last room at the far end remained empty for now. The space waited in silence—its bare walls and unmade bed suggesting potential rather than absence. Perhaps another party member would join them someday. Perhaps it would serve a different purpose entirely. For the moment, it simply existed as a possibility.
Hyoren stood alone inside the vast master bedroom and slowly looked around again. His gaze moved from the oversized bed to the matching wardrobes to the windows that let in the pale morning light.
"No matter how I look at this... this room is huge..."
His mind immediately drifted back toward the teasing from earlier. Harem King. The words echoed in his memory with an insistence that seemed almost mocking.
He shook his head vigorously, embarrassed by the thought.
"It really wouldn't feel empty if they were here indeed..."
Then he groaned quietly.
"But damn it. Stop thinking about it."
Unfortunately, the image of Elise and Ina together inside this room had already rooted itself firmly in his imagination.
The picture formed with uncomfortable clarity—silver hair and brown hair spread across the oversized pillows, two pairs of eyes looking up at him with expressions that needed no interpretation. And honestly, it was hard not to grin. The corner of his mouth twitched upward despite his best efforts to suppress it.
He coughed and forced himself to focus on practicality instead.
One by one, he began arranging his meager belongings throughout the luxurious room. The process was methodical—each item removed from his Storage Bag and placed in its designated spot with a care that seemed disproportionate to its value.
He placed his journal carefully on the desk first. The leather-bound book settled against the polished wood with a soft sound. The diary he had started writing. A written record of his journey. Of the Freedom Party's growth. Of the people he met. The battles they survived. The memories they created.
Beside it, he arranged his writing utensils neatly—paper, fountain pen, clips, and spare ink. Each item found its place on the desk.
Then he moved toward the wardrobe. He opened his Storage Bag and started pulling clothes out one by one. Tunic. Another tunic. More tunics. And trousers. The items emerged from the void with practiced ease.
Hyoren stared at the pile silently.
"...When I look at it again, all my clothes are basically the same."
He smiled wryly.
The only things that stood out were his tuxedo and the dark leather jacket he had recently bought for winter. The formal suit looked almost out of place among the practical garments. The jacket, at least, served a purpose beyond mere appearance. Everything else was practical adventurer clothing. Nothing fancy. Nothing noble-like. Just durable clothes for surviving.
Afterward he entered the bathroom and arranged his personal items there as well. Soap. Shampoo. Toothbrush. Shaver. Simple things. The items found their places on the shelf beside the washbasin—each one occupying a small portion of the space that had been designed for exactly this kind of use.
Honestly, they looked almost pathetic compared to the sheer luxury of the room itself. The contrast was stark—the modest belongings of an adventurer set against the backdrop of a merchant's former home. Yet somehow, the moment those belongings were placed there, the room immediately started feeling less empty. Less like a manor. And more like his room.
Hyoren stepped back and looked around with quiet satisfaction.
"Slowly... one step at a time."
This room would eventually fill with more traces of him. More clothes in the wardrobe. Books stacked across shelves and tables. Decorations. Maybe trophies from dungeon raids someday.
Little by little, this enormous unfamiliar room would become home too.
***
After they had finished, they drifted toward the communal room on the second floor. The afternoon had settled into that lazy, comfortable quiet after a long day. Nobody felt like moving much.
Jackey sprawled across the sofa like a corpse, one arm hanging over the edge while soft snores escaped his mouth. His position was almost artistic in its lack of grace—limbs splayed at angles that suggested complete surrender to the furniture beneath him. His tabby tail hung limp over the cushion, occasionally twitching in response to whatever dreams were playing out behind his closed eyes.
Elise sat on the carpet with her back leaning against the sofa. Her silver hair fanned out across the burgundy fibers, catching the pale light that filtered through the windows. Ina sat nearby, cross-legged, tail curling around herself. The Cat-clan beastkin had settled into a comfortable position—her small frame seeming almost to fold into the plush carpet as if it had been designed specifically for her.
Hyoren occupied the single sofa near them, one arm resting along the armrest. His posture was relaxed but not quite as abandoned as Jackey's.
For a while, only idle chatter filled the room. The conversation drifted from topic to topic without urgency—comments about the rooms they had chosen, observations about the manor's features, speculation about what they might need to buy in the coming days.
Then Hyoren looked toward Ina. His gaze shifted from the window to the small Cat-clan beastkin.
"Ina, when is the caretaker going to come?"
Ina lifted her head. Her cat ears twitched upright.
"Hmm... She promised to come in the afternoon. After she got enough time to pack up."
She glanced toward the tall window.
Luna's silver light had already begun to slant through the glass, painting pale streaks across the wooden floor. Afternoon already creeping toward evening.
Ina nodded lightly.
"It should be soon."
Almost immediately after she said that, a bell chimed from downstairs.
CLING. CLING.
The sound was soft. Refined. Somehow clear enough to reach the second floor without becoming harsh. The bell was definitely inscribed with runes. Amplifying the sound without actually becoming bothersome to the occupants—magical sound.
Jackey stirred slightly but did not wake. A mumbled sound escaped his lips before he settled back into his sprawled position.
Hyoren smiled faintly.
"Is that them?"
Ina giggled.
"Yeah... definitely."
She hopped to her feet immediately, tail swaying behind her.
"Let me fetch her!"
Hyoren also stood.
"Bring them to the reception room, Ina. It would be appropriate."
Ina turned around to answer before she hurried downstairs with quick light steps.
"Okay!"
The sound of her footsteps faded rapidly.
Hyoren walked toward the sofa and nudged Jackey's shoulder.
"Jackey… Wake up."
Jackey groaned.
"Five more minutes..."
Hyoren chuckled.
"We have guests..."
That made one of Jackey's eyes crack open. He mumbled.
"...Ah. Right… guest."
The three of them quickly went downstairs, not wanting to keep Ina and the caretaker waiting for too long. Their footsteps echoed against the wooden stairs.
***
A few minutes later, the three of them made their way into the reception room.
The room still carried the scent of polished wood. Warm afternoon light spilled across the carpet. The pale silver illumination from Luna created patterns on rooms.
Hyoren and Elise sat on the long sofa.
Jackey remained standing near the window instead, staring outside toward the empty garden. His large frame was silhouetted against the pale light—his orange hair catching what little illumination came through the glass. Maybe appreciating the scenery. Or maybe simply daydreaming again. Knowing him, probably the second. Because what could he see from the empty garden?
Not long after, footsteps approached from the hallway. Ina returned. And she was not alone. Hyoren blinked. Elise straightened slightly.
They had expected one person. But there were two.
The first was a plain-looking woman. Beautiful, though not in a flashy way. Her features were balanced and harmonious.
She appeared to be in her mid-thirties. Though Hyoren had learned enough about this world to know that appearances could be deceiving when it came to age. Blonde hair tied neatly behind her head in a practical bun. Calm eyes. Experienced eyes.
She carried herself with quiet confidence. Her posture was straight without being rigid.
She was Fox-clan Beastkin. Her yellow fox ears matched her blonde hair, and bushy fox tails swayed slowly behind her. Controlled. Calm. Completely different from Ina's constantly swished cat tail.
The second person was much younger. Maybe just came of age.
Another Fox-clan Beastkin. The resemblance to the older woman was unmistakable—the same blonde hair, the same fox ears, the same bushy tails. But where the first one was composed and measured, the younger one radiated an energy that seemed almost impossible to contain.
Long blonde hair tied into cheerful twin tails bounced lightly as she walked. She was taller than the older woman, and notably far more blessed around the chest. Her figure was fuller in ways that drew the eye.
Her face radiated energy. A bright smile that seemed to be her default expression. Sparkling eyes that moved constantly, taking in every detail of the room and the people within it. Her very presence seemed to add warmth to the room.
Ina stepped forward proudly and gestured toward the older woman.
"Allow me to introduce you. This is Lena. She's a 41 year-old Fox-clan beastkin and a retired Copper-rank adventurer. Her husband, also an adventurer, passed away three years ago."
Lena gave a small respectful bow.
"It's a pleasure to meet you."
Her voice was calm and mature.
Then Ina gestured toward the younger woman. The motion was similar to the first—confident and pleased.
"And this is her daughter, Vina. She's twenty."
Vina immediately bounced forward half a step before Lena lightly caught her sleeve.
Still, the girl grinned brightly.
"Hiya! It's so cool to meet you!"
Hyoren noticed Lena's expression tighten slightly in embarrassment at her daughter's enthusiasm.
Ina gestured toward the two sitting on the sofa, then toward the one currently daydreaming near the window.
“This is Hyoren and Elise.”
Then her tail swished mischievously behind her.
“And that stupid-looking one was my little brother, Jackey.”
Ina clasped her hands together happily.
"Hyoren, Elise… They will work together as a team. They will live in our house in the servant quarters."
She continued while gesturing around the mansion. Her small hand swept across the space.
"They will take care of our house. Cleaning, laundry, cooking, everything."
Vina raised her hand proudly.
"Yes… Yes! I can cook!"
Lena immediately added. Her voice carried a note of genuine surprise.
"She can. Surprisingly."
Vina pouted.
"Hey, Mother!"
Even Elise let out a small laugh at that.
Ina continued smoothly.
"They'll also tend the garden. Or maintain it as a training ground if that's what you want."
Then her expression softened slightly.
"They are good people. Honest people. They are just looking for steady work."
For a brief moment, the room quieted.
Hyoren studied the two fox beastkin carefully. His gaze moved from Lena's composed expression to Vina's bright smile—taking in the details of each woman.
Lena met his gaze steadily. Her yellow eyes showed no fear or uncertainty—just the calm acceptance of someone who was accustomed to being evaluated. Vina smiled back without hesitation. Her expression was open and honest.
Then Hyoren leaned back slightly against the sofa and nodded once.
"I see."
His tone relaxed. The words were simple but carried a weight of acceptance.
"I'm not going to ask you two too much question."
He looked at Ina briefly. She smiled at him.
"I trust Ina's judgement for your character and work."
He smiled and gestured his arms wide.
"Then welcome to Freedom Party house."
Ina then sat beside Hyoren. Her small frame settled into the cushion with practiced ease—her tail swished slowly behind her, finding a comfortable rhythm that matched her relaxed posture.
Hyoren nodded slightly and locked his eyes into Lena's yellow one.
“Okay then. Now that your employment was decided, Lena, Vina. Let’s talk about your salary.”
Lena nodded calmly. Beside her, Vina was clearly trying to stay quiet and let her mother handle the conversation. But her excitement was still obvious from the way her fox tails moved lightly behind her.
Lena started talking.
“Thank you for employing us. About our salary… considering we are going to live here, we won’t need to rent a house ourselves. I think 5K Kres per day for both of us should be appropriate. Around 150K per month…”
Elise's brow furrowed immediately.
Ina meanwhile looked completely unsurprised. Before, she had already warned them Lena was the type who kept refusing financial help no matter how difficult things became. So she was not surprised Lena was going to sell herself so cheaply. The Fox-clan woman's pride and sense of propriety were clearly working against her own interests.
Hyoren rejected it flatly.
"No. That was too cheap. We are hiring caretakers. Not enslaving people."
Lena looked slightly startled by the immediate rejection. Her composed expression flickered.
Elise nodded lightly. Her pointed ears twitched.
"5K Kres per day for two people is way too low."
She gestured around the manor. The motion took in the spacious room, the quality furnishings, the sheer scale of the building they were sitting in.
"Day laborers already earn around 10K per day alone. And your work is going to be harder than most day laborers. You'll be maintaining the entire manor. Laundry, cleaning, cooking for all of us."
She leaned back into the sofa.
"That's a lot of work."
Lena opened her mouth again, probably preparing another refusal, but Hyoren raised one hand gently. The older Fox-clan Beastkin stopped immediately.
"Elise is right. If day laborers earn around 10K individually, then underpaying you would be unreasonable. We will pay both of you 15K each per day. That should total around 900K per month."
Then he paused for another second.
"...No. I guess round it up for easy payment."
He grinned.
"Make it 1 Mil per month instead."
Vina's eyes widened instantly.
Even Lena's composed expression visibly shook for a moment. The crack in her professional demeanor was brief but noticeable.
"My lord... that is too generous... we haven't even proven ourselves to be trustworthy and how good our works are."
Elise waved one hand dismissively and crossed one leg over another.
"Nonsense, Lena... That's standard payment. And about trust, I trust Ina's judgement. That's enough."
She looked toward the mother and daughter for a moment before continuing. Her emerald eyes moved from one to the other.
"And if you're going to live with us long-term, then we'd rather have you feel like part of family instead of hired help. And we won't be stingy toward our family."
Hyoren nodded once.
“Elise is right. You two will work for us with salary of 1 Mil Kres per month. We nearly earned that amount from only one dungeon diving recently, so your salary will not burden us.”
A soft smile appeared on his face.
“And also, please don’t call us with Lord, Lady, or Master. Please address us casually. We are adventurers. We are family. We are not nobles.”
Jackey, who had been staring blankly outside the window this whole time, suddenly snapped out from his daydream. The transition was almost comical. He clearly didn't follow the whole conversation. Only the last part was entered into his muscle brain.
"That's right! Big Bro is strong!"
Hyoren only smiled wryly at that.
Ina watched the exchange with warm eyes. Her tail swished happily behind her. It was obvious she was genuinely happy for Lena and Vina.
"Lena is quite experienced as a scout herself. Even after retirement, her skills are still good. She can handle normal burglars or thugs without much problem. So the house security should be fine."
Vina nodded proudly.
"Yes! Ina is right, my mother is really strong."
Lena sighed quietly
"...Please stop exaggerating, Vina..."
Elise clapped her hands once.
"Then it's settled. Two maids who could cook, doing laundry, cleaning this huge house. Plus one of them could even became bodyguard. 1 Mil Kres for Lena and Vina."
She leaned back into the sofa with relaxed posture.
"And honestly, now I feel that's too cheap."
She then looked toward Ina and Hyoren. A mischievous smile slowly appeared on her face.
"How about we raise it more?"
Her emerald eyes shifted toward Lena again. The gaze was calculating but not unkind.
"Security duty should worth another 500K Kres, I guess?"
Lena looked genuinely startled by that.
She quickly bowed slightly. The motion was hasty but respectful.
"No please! We will accept 1 Million… this is truly more than we deserve."
A small satisfied smile appeared on Elise's face. Clearly, that reaction was exactly what she had aimed for. She intentionally pushed higher by praising their value first, cornering Lena into accepting the current amount instead.
Even Hyoren looked slightly impressed by Elise's negotiation tactic.
Elise finally nodded. Her silver hair swayed lightly across her shoulder. A wide smile spread across her lips.
"Good. 1 Mil Kres per month salary then."
She then looked toward Ina.
"Ina, like we discussed before, you'll handle the domestic matters and manage the house funds, alright?"
Ina smiled cheerfully.
"Okay! Leave it to me, Elise!"
Elise relaxed deeper into the sofa.
"And could you give them a tour of the house afterward? Then buy groceries for the next few days too. The storage cabinets can preserve food for a long time anyway, so we might as well stock them properly."
Ina stood up from beside Hyoren.
"Okay, Lena, Vina. Let's tour the house first, then we're going to the market."
Her tail swished energetically behind her.
"The pantry is still empty. We need to populate it."
Jackey immediately threw his fist into the air.
"YEAH! BUY LOTS OF SNACKS!"
Then even louder.
"AND MEAT! WOHOO!"
Vina burst into laughter. The sound was bright and genuine. Lena already looked slightly exhausted just watching him. Her expression had shifted from composed to something closer to resigned.
Hyoren simply observed the lively atmosphere quietly from the sofa.
His gaze moved from face to face—taking in the energy and warmth that seemed to fill the room despite its size.
He genuinely did not realize Elise and Ina had already arranged the household matters between themselves beforehand. Who would handle domestic affairs. Who would manage the finances. How the household would operate day-to-day. The realization came slowly.
The two women had coordinated naturally without even needing his involvement.