Rika didn't slow down.
Not even once.
She walked ahead with a strange confidence, weaving through the crowd like she had done this a thousand times before. Her steps were light, almost playful—but there was something very intentional about the direction she was taking.
Renji noticed.
"…She's way too confident."
Mizuki walked beside him, her gaze steady.
"She knows where she is going."
"That's exactly what worries me."
Ahead of them, Rika suddenly turned her head.
"Are you two coming, or should I just buy the house myself?"
Renji frowned.
"…That sounded like a threat."
"It wasn't."
"It definitely was."
They eventually stopped near the edge of the main street.
The lively noise of the town had faded slightly here. Fewer people. Fewer shops. The buildings looked older… quieter.
Rika pointed forward.
"There."
Renji followed her finger.
A small office stood at the corner—simple, wooden, with a slightly faded sign hanging above the entrance.
"…This place?"
"Yes."
"It looks shady."
"It's not."
"It feels shady."
"You feel shady."
"…That didn't even make sense."
Mizuki stepped forward without hesitation.
"Let us go inside."
Renji sighed.
"…Yeah, this is definitely a bad idea."
The moment they stepped in—
The smell hit them.
Old paper.
Dust.
Wood.
Stacks of documents were piled on shelves that looked like they hadn't been cleaned in years. Sunlight filtered through a small window, cutting through the dim room in thin beams.
Behind a desk sat a man.
Tall.
Broad shoulders.
A neatly trimmed beard.
His eyes were sharp—too sharp for someone running a quiet little office.
He looked up.
Then paused.
"…Rika?"
Rika smiled casually.
"Long time no see."
Renji's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You know him."
"Of course I do."
"That's worse."
The man stood up slowly, brushing dust off his sleeves.
"I didn't expect to see you here."
"I need a favor."
He chuckled lightly.
"You always do."
Rika leaned closer, whispering something into his ear.
Renji tried to listen.
Failed.
"…I don't like this."
Mizuki remained silent—but her gaze sharpened.
The man nodded slowly after hearing Rika.
Then looked at Renji and Mizuki.
"…I see."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"That won't be a problem at all."
Renji immediately stepped back.
"Why did he agree so fast?"
"No idea," Rika replied cheerfully.
"That's not reassuring!"
"Follow me," the dealer said.
And without another word—
He walked out.
The path changed quickly.
They moved further away from the center of town.
The streets became quieter… then emptier.
The houses around them grew larger—but more spaced out.
And then—
They stopped.
Renji looked up.
And froze.
"…What."
In front of them stood a massive house.
No—
A mansion.
Tall walls of brick and wood stretched upward, casting long shadows across the ground. Large windows reflected the sunlight faintly, though some were slightly clouded with dust.
The gate creaked softly in the wind.
The garden—
Overgrown.
Wild grass.
Untrimmed bushes.
Nature had clearly started reclaiming it.
"…This is a joke, right?" Renji muttered.
Rika clasped her hands behind her back, smiling.
"Do you like it?"
"Like it?! It looks like something out of a horror story!"
"It's not that bad."
"It's definitely that bad."
Mizuki stepped forward slowly.
Her eyes scanned everything.
The walls.
The structure.
The spacing.
"…It is large," she said quietly.
"That's your first observation?" Renji snapped.
"More importantly," she continued, ignoring him, "it has not been maintained for a long time."
The dealer nodded.
"Correct."
Renji pointed at the house.
"Then why are we even here?!"
Rika turned toward him, her eyes shining.
"Because it's perfect."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
Mizuki spoke.
"How much?"
Renji turned to her slowly.
"…You're actually considering this?"
The dealer answered calmly.
"One hundred and twenty gold coins."
Silence.
A long silence.
"…That's it?" Renji said.
"Yes."
"That's suspicious."
"It is cheap," Mizuki added.
"Exactly!" Renji said. "Too cheap!"
The dealer folded his arms.
"It has been unsold for years."
"Why?"
"No buyers."
"WHY?!"
"…Various reasons."
"That's not an answer!"
Renji stepped closer to Mizuki.
"…This is a bad idea."
"It is efficient."
"It's haunted."
"It is not."
"You don't know that."
"I do."
"You don't!"
Rika suddenly leaned in.
"You have enough money, right?"
Renji froze.
"…That's not the point."
"It is the point."
"No, the point is we don't need a castle!"
"It's not a castle."
"It's basically a castle!"
Mizuki placed a hand gently on Renji's arm.
"Calm down."
"I am calm!"
"You are not."
"…Okay, I'm not."
She turned to the dealer.
"We will take it."
Silence.
Renji's soul left his body.
"…You WHAT."
The dealer didn't hesitate.
He immediately pulled out a document.
"Sign here."
"WAIT!" Renji shouted.
"No waiting," Rika said.
"Yes waiting!"
Mizuki placed a pouch on the table.
Gold coins.
Heavy.
Real.
"Payment."
Renji looked like he was about to collapse.
"…This is happening way too fast…"
The dealer pushed the paper closer.
"Sign."
Renji stared at it.
Then at Mizuki.
Then at Rika.
"…I'm being scammed."
"No, you're not," Rika said.
"Yes, I am."
"No."
"Yes."
Mizuki looked at him calmly.
"Trust me."
A pause.
Renji exhaled slowly.
"…If this turns out to be cursed, I'm blaming both of you."
"Understood."
He picked up the quill.
Hesitated.
"…This feels like signing my life away."
"Technically, it is property ownership."
"That doesn't help."
He signed.
The moment the ink dried—
The dealer grabbed the paper.
Smiled.
Too happily.
"Congratulations."
He handed over a large brass key.
And the documents.
Then—
He turned.
And walked away.
Fast.
Very fast.
"…Why is he leaving like that?" Renji asked.
Rika laughed.
"You just made his year."
"…I knew it."
Renji pointed dramatically.
"YOU SET US UP!"
Rika stepped back.
"I did not."
"You absolutely did!"
"I helped you."
"You tricked me!"
"I guided you."
"You scammed me!"
"I improved your life."
Renji looked like he was about to explode.
Rika waved casually.
"Anyway, I'm late!"
"…Wait—what?"
"Bye!"
And before he could react—
She jumped.
From the ground—
To a tree branch.
Then another.
Then—
Gone.
"…Did she just—"
"Yes," Mizuki said calmly.
"…I hate this."
Silence returned.
Renji turned slowly.
And looked at the mansion again.
"…So…"
A pause.
"…This is ours?"
"Yes."
"…We're actually living here?"
"Yes."
Renji stared at the door.
Then at the key in his hand.
"…This better not be a mistake."
Mizuki walked forward.
"It will not be."
She opened the door.
Creeeeak—
Dust shifted.
Air moved.
The inside was dark.
Quiet.
Still.
Renji swallowed.
"…Yeah… definitely haunted."
"Come inside."
"…If I die, I'm blaming you."
"You will not die."
"…That's not reassuring."
He stepped in anyway.