There comes a time in everyone’s life.
A time when you’ve run so hard you can’t even catch your breath and just want to rest and do nothing.
“I’m retiring.”
I took off the Special Forces Commander’s ring and placed it down.
“I believe I’ve done enough of what I had to do.”
Five years trained as an imperial trainee.
Five years served as a member of the Astrape Special Forces.
Five years served as the commander of the Astrape Special Forces.
Fifteen years of loyalty to the empire, and now I wanted to rest.
“…Was there something you were dissatisfied with?”
Schneider, the Supreme Commander of the 1st Corps, asked.
He was once my direct superior and a former commander of the Special Forces.
“No, nothing like that. I just want to rest.”
“You’re only twenty-three. I thought you’d last at least ten more years.”
“I’m sorry. I know it’s not much of a replacement, but I’m thinking of recommending Ray Salessin as my successor.”
“Ray is too young. He’s only twenty-two, isn’t he?”
“I took command of the Special Forces at eighteen.”
“That was a special situation.”
Ten years ago, the Empire was at war on all fronts.
In the east, with the Eastern Principality.
In the west, with the barbarians of the plains.
In the north, with the monsters of winter.
In the south, with the shaman tribes.
I became a member of the Astrape Special Forces at the start of the war, and within five years, I was promoted to commander in a rapid ascent.
“I’ve served as commander for three years after the seven-year war ended. I think I’ve earned the right to an honorable discharge.”
“What do you plan to do after you retire?”
“Marry a good woman, have kids, and live a peaceful life. Or maybe I’ll start an orphanage.”
Schneider seemed to be in deep thought.
But in the end, he acknowledged me.
“Ern Astra, congratulations on your retirement.”
*****
The moment a member of the Astrape Special Forces retires, all records of their service are erased.
Everything we do is classified and cannot be known to the world.
Of course, I have no complaints about that.
The atrocities I’ve committed are so horrific that even I don’t want them to be known.
In the outer district of the capital.
I arrived at a fairly large mansion.
I checked the address on the paper.
Comparing the numbers on the paper with the sign, I confirmed that this was where I would be staying.
I heard it had been vacant for two years.
Considering that it hadn’t been maintained even a little during that time, it was naturally dirty.
But cleaning it up should be easy.
I opened the door.
*****
I spent most of the money I earned in the Special Forces on this mansion.
Five years of salary for a house that’s too big and hard to manage for one person, but with magic, it would be quick work.
“Scrolls….”
That doesn’t mean I use magic myself.
These days, magic scrolls are well-developed, so you don’t have to be able to perform magic.
I found a scroll and immediately activated it, manipulating the wind.
I gathered all the dust and trash in the mansion into one place.
In the process, I realized someone was in the mansion.
I followed the presence caught by the wind.
Then I saw a room that seemed to be a bedroom.
I opened the door to that room.
“…”
There she was.
A girl with platinum blonde hair and vivid golden eyes.
A child who shouldn’t be here, almost like a ghost.
Hah. Looks like I got scammed.
*****
Be careful with real estate contracts.
I reminded myself dozens of times, but still, I was just a socially awkward fool.
I hadn’t seen the house in person, but I trusted it because it was in the outer district of the capital, only to be deceived.
I looked at the girl with platinum blonde hair close to silver.
She had a pale face and was staring at me, barely clinging to life, all skin and bones.
I asked calmly.
“Who are you?”
The girl replied.
“The owner of this house.”
“I bought this house recently.”
“So?”
“If you’re not the owner, then leave.”
“I don’t want to.”
Oh.
I was a bit impressed.
I was planning to chase her out easily, but she was quite bold.
I approached the girl.
When I reached her, I sat down right there.
“Kid, who are you, and why are you here?”
“Because this is my house.”
“Was this where you lived with your parents?”
“I don’t have parents.”
“…”
I changed the subject.
“How old are you?”
“Fifteen.”
“Don’t lie. You look at most seven or eight, even if I’m being generous.”
“Then don’t believe me.”
The girl lay down on the bed and turned her head away.
“I’m going to sleep. Do whatever you want, whether you stay or leave.”
*****
The girl didn’t give me straight answers to any of my questions.
No matter what I asked, her final answer was always, “Because this is my house”.
Giving up on questioning her, I decided to focus on cleaning the house.
I summoned the furniture I had prepared using summoning scrolls and arranged it.
Trying to be efficient in placing the furniture, the whole day passed quickly.
The next day.
Before heading out to buy more furniture and groceries, I opened the girl’s door.
“Kid.”
It was already bright daylight, but the girl was still asleep.
I called her a few more times, but she didn’t respond.
I tried saying anything.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“Will you give me food?”
Her eyes sparkled as she instantly woke up.
Surprised for a moment, I answered reflexively.
“…Of course.”
*****
Munch munch.
The kid ate well.
Munch munch.
The kid ate very well.
“Hey. You’ll get indigestion. Eat slowly.”
The kid was already on her seventh bowl of fried rice.
How does all that food fit into that small body?
“…”
I watched the girl, thinking.
Is she a ghost?
When I signed the contract for the mansion, no one mentioned ghosts. Judging by her appetite, she didn’t seem like a non-living entity.
But there were a few things that couldn’t be explained if she wasn’t a ghost.
This kid looked like she hadn’t eaten in weeks, yet she was fine.
You could tell by the state of her bones and flesh.
Her body was on the verge of starvation yesterday, but she was still holding a spoon, eating vigorously, which made it unsettling to think she was a living being.
I wasn’t sure, but this kid didn’t seem like an ordinary human.
“Kid, are you really a human?”
“Mhm.”
“I can understand your speech being muffled by food, but at least look at me when you answer, okay?”
“…”
The kid neatly ignored my words.
Sigh.
I sighed and continued.
“Kid. I won’t kick you out or anything.”
“…?”
“I’ll just let you stay. It’s not like you’ll listen to me anyway.”
I had enough money to take care of one kid.
I spent a lot on buying the house, but I still had plenty, and my retirement pension was steady.
Honestly, even if a few more people moved in, it wouldn’t be a problem.
As for why I decided to take the kid in, it was mainly to stave off loneliness and boredom.
That was my reasoning for keeping her around.
“I’m going to remodel the room, so step outside for a bit. I’ll start with your room.”
“…”
I dumped the rest of the fried rice into the kid’s bowl and stood up.
I needed to go grocery shopping again since we were running low on supplies.
At that moment, I felt a small hand grab my sleeve.
“I’m full. I want to go for a walk.”
*****
The kid and I left the house.
She walked about ten meters before saying,
“I can’t go any further than this.”
“What do you mean?”
She lifted her ankle, and at first, I couldn’t understand what she was doing.
But as I watched, I realized what she meant.
“Are you… sealed to this house?”
“I’ve been like this since I was born.”
Around her ankle was a magic sealing spell.
Just a glance told me it was a complex and advanced type of seal.
I moved closer to examine it in detail.
A transparent magical metal in the form of a shackle was wrapped around her ankle.
Magical metal is a substance created from magic energy, existing without mass.
“Can you break this, mister?”
“I can’t.”
From what I could see, this shackle wasn’t made by just one or two magicians.
It had a seven-layered magic code with restricted access.
It wasn’t designed to be broken.
“I can’t help it. At least enjoy the sunlight.”
I left the kid and went grocery shopping.
*****
Outer district of the capital.
Much-Sector.
Located outside the imperial palace, this area was bustling with people and buildings.
Famous restaurants, alleyways, entertainment districts, training academies, magic tool shops, and various other stores.
It was a place where both noisy and quiet zones coexisted, offering everything one might need.
This was the Much-Sector.
“Have a good day.”
I carried a basket full of vegetables in one hand and the meat I bought from the butcher in the other.
As I roamed the market, I kept an eye out for anything else I might need.
My gaze landed on a scroll shop.
“How much for this scroll, shopkeeper?”
*****
The girl basked in the sunlight she hadn’t enjoyed in a long time.
Usually, getting sunlight like this was impossible.
There was no food in the house, so she had to sleep to conserve energy.
To survive, she had to lie in the dark room.
But now, she cherished this moment.
“…Not bad.”
Even if she could only walk ten meters, she enjoyed the feel of her hair blowing in the gentle breeze.
It was a pleasant sensation she hadn’t felt in months.
And the one who allowed her to feel this way was the dark-haired, blue-eyed man who claimed to be the owner of the house.
He was returning now, having finished his shopping, with the setting sun behind him.
You’re still outside?”
“Yeah.”
It was dinner time.
She was excited to think about what might be on the menu, a feeling she hadn’t had in a long time.
The girl was filled with anticipation.
