"Hey!"
Amber's voice was laced with anger.
"Then let's just not rent this house! We'll find another one!"
Kael looked a little troubled.
This house—its location, its layout—everything about it was perfect for what he needed.
Seeing his hesitation, Amber stomped her foot.
"Hmph! Do whatever you want!"
"Wait, Amber—"
Kael took a few steps to follow her, but before he could go far, Mona raised a hand to stop him.
"There's no need to chase her."
Her tone was calm, even aloof.
"Her star chart has long since become intertwined with yours.
She won't be able to stay away for long.
She'll come looking for you again—give it a few days."
Mona added coolly,
"If something like this is enough to upset her… she's going to be mad a lot in the future."
Kael couldn't help but ask,
"Then what about you?
You said you saw your own fate entangled with mine.
Doesn't that bother you?"
"What's there to be upset about?"
Mona's gaze was distant, unreadable.
"As long as one possesses enough computational power, even the most complex fate can be deciphered.
The stars have already written it all—
No one can defy destiny."
——
Back at the Adventurers' Guild, Kael informed Katheryne that he was satisfied with the house and asked her to proceed with the rental paperwork with Mr. Goth.
"My best property," Goth declared proudly as soon as he arrived.
"Excellent location—perfect access to both the city gates and Commercial Street.
And the layout! You've seen it—ideal for both living and business.
Three spacious rooms on the upper floor, each with a large window. Great ventilation and a stunning view of Mondstadt."
Then he revealed the price.
"One hundred and fifty thousand Mora per month. A real bargain!"
"150k!?"
Mona sucked in a sharp breath.
That was months' worth of meals for her!
Kael calmly responded,
"Fifty thousand."
"What?!"
Goth was fuming.
"This house is top-tier! And you want to slash the price by two-thirds?!
Didn't you just bring back a Great Snowboar King yesterday? That haul alone should've made you rich!
You're the famous traveler—why haggle over pocket change?"
By now, Kael was already used to the fact that his name had spread across the entire continent.
He simply responded coolly,
"If this house is so perfect, why hasn't it been rented out?
You know the reason as well as I do.
I'm not just renting it—I'll take care of its… problem, too.
You won't lose anything from this deal."
Goth's expression twisted as his little secret was exposed.
At last, he gritted his teeth.
"Fine. 50k it is. But you must deal with the issue."
"No worries. I happen to have a great astrologist right here who'll cleanse it for you."
Hearing herself praised, Mona tilted her chin proudly and gave a smug, tsundere smile.
——
Once the lease was signed, Kael and Mona returned to the house.
"You wait here," Mona said, stepping inside.
"I'll let you know once it's done."
Through the glass window, Kael saw the interior bathed in flickering blue light.
Moments later, Mona emerged.
"All done. The evil spirit's been exorcised.
By the way, I've already picked my room—I'm taking the one facing south."
"That's the best room in the house. You get a full view of the Knights of Favonius headquarters and Favonius Cathedral."
"Exactly! I knew I liked it the moment I saw it!"
Kael, completely unmoved, replied mercilessly:
"Dream on. That room's mine. Pick another."
"Whaaat!? How could you treat the great astrologist Mona Megistus like this?!"