How to Rent an Apartment After Defeating the Demon King

The next morning, Aldric arrived outside Lucas’s building at ten twenty-seven. In one hand, he carried the storage bags he had brought the day before, and in the other, a second bag containing several cleaning products, sponges, cloths, and pairs of gloves. He had spent part of the evening thinking about the most efficient way to put the apartment back in order, but had ultimately decided not to prepare an actual schedule. Lucas had asked him not to turn the cleanup into a military operation, and Aldric considered it important to respect that request.

Patrick was already standing outside the entrance when he arrived. He was wearing an old pair of pants and a T-shirt, with a small bag containing several rolls of garbage bags hanging from his shoulder. When he saw Aldric’s two bags, he smiled.

“I thought you weren’t planning a military operation. You still brought enough supplies to clean an entire building.”

“I do not yet know what cleaning products Lucas owns.”

“He probably has dish soap.”

“That would be insufficient.”

Emma and Karim arrived almost at the same time. Emma had tied back her hair and was wearing clothes she wouldn’t regret getting dirty. Karim, meanwhile, had brought several plastic boxes.

“They will allow us to separate the different categories of objects,” Aldric said.

“That was the idea,” Karim replied.

Emma turned toward Aldric.

“I already have a feeling you’re going to enjoy this way too much.”

“Why would I be particularly happy?”

“Because we’re giving you a completely disorganized apartment and permission to put it in order.”

“I admit the situation does hold a certain appeal.”

They entered the building and went up to the third floor. When they reached the door, Patrick rang the bell. No sound came from inside.

“He’d better not make us wait after negotiating the time,” he muttered.

A muffled voice came from behind the door.

“I’m coming!”

The door opened, and Lucas appeared with his hair still messy and a cup of coffee in his hand.

“You actually came.”

Patrick crossed his arms.

“You doubted us?”

“I was hoping you’d come to your senses overnight.”

Emma smiled.

“Too late.”

Lucas then looked at Aldric’s bags.

“What’s in those?”

“The necessary supplies.”

“I already had sponges.”

“How many?”

“At least one.”

“Then I was right to bring more.”

Lucas looked up at the ceiling before stepping aside.

“Come in, but I have one rule. Nobody throws anything away without asking me first.”

“That is reasonable,” Aldric replied.

“And no pictures.”

Karim took out his phone.

“Too late.”

“Did you just take a picture?!”

“No.”

“Then why did you take out your phone?”

“To check the time.”

The pizza boxes had disappeared from the table, but they had simply been moved to the kitchen counter. The sofa was once again covered with clothes, and several glasses they had used the previous evening were waiting in the sink with the rest of the dishes. The only real improvement seemed to be the entrance, where Lucas had gathered several pairs of shoes against the wall.

“You started cleaning up.”

“Yes.”

“Why did you stop after the shoes?”

“I was tired.”

“It was still early when we left,” Patrick said.

“I got tired very quickly.”