"That's right!"
March 7th immediately made a cheerful gesture, her face full of anticipation as if she had already mapped out all the places she wanted to explore.
"Native and derivative worlds... those terms are certainly more elegant than 'original' and 'pirated' versions," Fu Hua agreed, her tone peaceful. "When it comes to the same task, the mindset and experience differ greatly between a forced arrangement and a spontaneous endeavor. By letting things take their natural course, one often gains much more."
"Mm." Su Mu accepted their suggestions. He glanced out the window, estimating the time. "Misaki-san should have lunch ready soon, and Anna has likely finished settling in."
"Then let's head down quickly!"
March 7th took the lead, running toward the area that was still covered in grass.
Su Mu, Himeko, and Fu Hua followed close behind. As they reached the center of the lawn, Su Mu had a sudden thought and activated his custom permissions once more.
In the center of the once-level grass, a thick trunk suddenly burst through the soil. Branches unfurled rapidly, and in the blink of an eye, it grew into a massive, lush tree with a trunk wide enough for several people to walk abreast.
Then, the bark near the base slowly parted down the middle, revealing a sleek, polished metal space inside. This was the elevator he had specifically customized—the exterior blended perfectly with the natural style of the courtyard, while the interior remained a convenient mechanical lift.
"Whoa—!" March 7th's eyes went wide, her mouth forming an 'O' as she let out a cry of surprise. She tugged at Su Mu's sleeve, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Master, this is so cool! You actually turned the elevator into a giant tree!"
Fu Hua reached out to touch the trunk, feeling the fusion of the natural texture with the underlying metal. She nodded slightly. "A clever design. It balances aesthetics with practicality."
Himeko also nodded with a smile, her eyes full of approval.
Su Mu chuckled, stepping into the elevator first. "It's just a quick change of style. Let's get in; we shouldn't keep Misaki-san waiting."
The three followed him in, and the doors slid shut. There was no sensation of vibration or falling; after only a second, the lift came to a steady halt. The numbers on the display panel flickered to 49, indicating they had reached their destination.
As the doors slid open, Su Mu and the others stepped out onto the corridor of the apartment's 49th floor.
"Yui, we're here!"
The crisp shout cut through the silence of the hallway. March 7th had barely stepped out of the elevator before her eyes locked onto a figure pacing nearby. Yui was clutching the hem of her shirt, her toes aimlessly scuffing the floor. Her brow was knit with a trace of anxiety, making her look particularly conspicuous in the empty corridor.
Hearing the voice, Yui snapped her head up. When she saw the four of them approaching, her tense shoulders suddenly relaxed. The anxiety in her eyes vanished, replaced by a warm sense of relief.
She had been fretting over how to notify the Manager's family that it was time to eat. As a tenant, her permissions weren't high enough to take the elevator to the top floor, and she had been standing before the panel, agonizing over what to do. Their sudden appearance was a perfect solution to her dilemma.
"You're finally here." Yui walked forward quickly, her tone gentle yet slightly formal. "Mom has finished making lunch. I was just wondering how I was going to get up there to call you."
She bowed slightly to the four of them. "Brother Su Mu, Sister March, Sister Himeko, Sister Fu Hua—please, this way to the dining room."
"Alright, then we—"
Su Mu was about to respond when a timid yet firm call came from the other end of the hallway, interrupting him.
"My Lady!"
Everyone turned toward the sound. A brown-haired girl stood at the corner of the corridor. her long hair was tied into two simple pigtails resting on her shoulders, the tips still damp—she had clearly just finished bathing. After the steam of the shower, the weary, haggard look had faded from her face, revealing a more youthful and innocent appearance. Only her eyes still held the lingering stillness of someone who had survived a catastrophe.
She was still wearing her rough, homespun clothes—a faded white shirt under a red vest, paired with a long, dark skirt. The fabric was coarse enough that the weave was visible, and it looked somewhat ill-fitting on her frame.
Watching this, Su Mu felt a slight stir in his heart. He suddenly realized that when a new tenant arrived, they had no gold coins. Not only would they need initial food supplies, but basic necessities like clothing also needed to be addressed.
However, he then reasoned that with several tenants already in the apartment, he didn't necessarily have to handle everything himself. Misaki likely had spare clothes she could share.
Furthermore, after lunch, he could have Misaki and Yui team up with Anna to go hunting. This would allow Anna to familiarize herself with the environment and increase her strength while earning gold coins to support herself—killing two birds with one stone.
With this in mind, he realized that as more tenants joined in the future, the placement of newcomers would naturally foster an atmosphere of mutual aid, saving him from having to micromanage every detail.
"Anna, you've arrived," Himeko spoke first, giving the girl a gentle nod. "Perfect timing. Let's go together; I'll take the opportunity to introduce you to the others in the apartment."
"Y-yes!"
Anna nodded quickly, her body bowing slightly in a gesture of nervous respect.
Her gaze drifted instinctively toward Su Mu. She secretly speculated to herself—this must be the "husband" her Lady had mentioned earlier. He was so young and handsome, with such a gentle aura; he was quite different from what she had imagined.
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