Published at 19th of July 2026 7:35 am

Chapter 1856: New Home

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The townhouse at 7 Dutton Street was a building typical of North Borough.

The ground floor had been leased to a small coffee shop, its exotic aroma drifting into the street from dawn until dusk. The first and second floors served as Locke Stafford’s private residence, containing her living room, kitchen, and bedchambers.

A secondary staircase led to the third floor from the side of the house. This was the space Adam rented as his living quarters. Above it lay a modest attic beneath the sloping roof, providing additional space.

Behind the townhouse sat a small fenced backyard enclosed by a weathered wooden fence. It was large enough for a few chairs and a patch of garden. Nevertheless, it offered a rare bit of privacy amid the crowded city.

Seated on the sofa in the living room, Adam sipped on the black tea made by Mistress Stafford. Beside him, Dorothy sat obediently, wagging her tail as she stared at Adam.

"Have it slowly, Adam." Locke’s voice came from the kitchen. "I’m bringing over some pastry I baked the other day."

"Yes, Mistress." Adam smiled.

In front of him, Timothy Stafford, Locke’s son, stared between the parchments spread across the table and Adam with a dumbfounded look on his face.

Shortly after Adam’s arrival, Locke had sent word to her son to verify the advertisement in the newspaper, check Adam’s background, and determine whether he was a suitable tenant.

Timothy, who served in the Watch and lived with his family elsewhere in North Borough, had arrived promptly.

After speaking with Adam, he had learned something that left him thoroughly stunned.

The "young man" sitting before him was actually more than twice his age.

Hell, he was older than his mother!

"This is all a bit..." Timothy was at a loss for words.

"Strange?" Adam chuckled. "Well, like I mentioned earlier, I’m an otherworlder. I rapidly advanced through the Apprentice ranks, but stayed at the Mana Core Rank for many years due to the restrictions in my homeworld. Hence, my appearance."

"I see." Timothy nodded awkwardly.

The man himself was a Templar Paladin — just one rank above Adam’s — yet he looked older than the raven-haired youth. He understood the reason. Still, he found it very strange.

"In our world, seniority is not determined by age, sir," Adam said with a polite smile. "So please don’t feel awkward."

Timothy intently studied Adam, his lips slowly curling into a smile of approval.

"You’re all right, Magus Constantine."

He looked at the documents again and verified Adam’s citizenship, Magic Practitioner’s License, and Magical Creature Handling Permit.

"What kind of familiar do you have?" He asked.

A gray light flashed.

"Myu!"

Timothy’s gaze landed on the cat that suddenly appeared in Adam’s lap, and his heart melted. "So adorable."

Meanwhile, Dorothy stopped wagging her tail and slowly lowered her head, silently shuddering.

"If it’s a cat, then it’s alright." Timothy nodded.

He looked over the other papers, then asked, "It says you worked at the Rabbit Hole for the last few months. If I were to ask Hannibal, would he confirm that?"

"Of course." Adam nodded.

Inwardly, he thought: Huh. Everyone really does know Boss.

"Very well then." Timothy smiled and rose to his feet. "Let me show you to your floor."

He looked toward the kitchen and said in a louder voice, "Maa, we’ll be back in a few minutes. We’re heading upstairs."

As the two headed upstairs, Valerian stayed behind in the living room.

His topaz eyes gleamed as he turned toward the dog.

"Hello, doggie." Valerian revealed a threatening smirk. "I suppose we’ll be flatmates."

Dorothy covered her eyes with her paws and whimpered.

***

"As you’ve already guessed by now," Timothy began.

"The other reason I wanted a tenant is so someone can keep an eye on my mother. You don’t have to do much. Just check in on her from time to time and make sure everything’s fine. That’s all. She’s still quite healthy despite her age and manages well on her own."

They climbed the stairs and arrived at the third floor. The entire floor was basically the bedroom with an attached private bathroom. In the corner was a small ladder that led to the attic.

"She’s very stubborn, you see," Timothy said with a helpless smile. "She refuses to leave this house. It’s where I was born and raised, and where she and my late father spent almost all their lives."

"He gestured around them, then continued: "So we rented out the ground floor and this one. She has no need for all that space. Two floors are more than enough for her."

"I understand." Adam nodded.

Timothy gestured at the room and said, "As you can see, the entire third floor belongs to you, so it’s quite spacious."

The bedroom occupied the whole level. On one side stood a sturdy wooden bed frame, though Adam would still need to provide his own mattress. Opposite it was a large wardrobe built into the wall, stretching from nearly one end of the room to the other.

Beneath one of the windows sat a simple wooden table and chair, providing a comfortable place to read, write, or study. Directly across from it was the second window. Beyond it lay a narrow platform attached to the outside of the building, where an emergency staircase descended toward the backyard below.

Timothy pointed toward it. "That staircase will be your second way in and out. If my mother locks the front door after you’ve gone out in the evening, you can use it to get back to your room without waking her."

"Understood."

Timothy then walked to the corner of the room and pulled on a chain hanging from the ceiling. With a series of clicks and creaks, a wooden ladder unfolded and descended from above.

"This leads to the attic," he said. "The layout is roughly the same as this floor, though the sloped roof cuts into the space a bit. Since it’s included with the rental, you’re free to use it as you wish."

He paused and gave Adam a solemn look. "Oh, and this part is non-negotiable. No arcane experiments."

Adam arched his brows, then nodded. "Yes, that is understandable."

He thought for a moment, then asked, "What about potion brewing? That isn’t as dangerous as most of the other experiments."

Timothy was greatly surprised. "You’re a Herbalist?!"

Adam chuckle. "Though I may not look the part, I’m quite decent at this profession. If we were to judge by the standards of this world, then... I’m Grade 1 Herbalist."

Timothy’s eyes went wide. He was probably wondering why a Herbalist like Adam was living in such conditions.

Herbalists, after all, were quite affluent.

After a few moments, he asked, "Do you have a Potion Brewing License?"

Adam’s lips twitched. "Not yet."

"Well, once you obtain that license, then yes." Timothy nodded. "You’re free to brew potions in the attic."

The license could be obtained at the Herbalists’ Guild. However, it only allowed one to sell potions. It did not grant them entry into the guild.

Timothy stepped closer as he cleared his throat. "Once you’ve passed the examination for the license, do you think you could... you know, help me out with potions?"

His words gradually turned into a whisper near the end.

Adam forced a smile. Is he asking for freebies?

"I can give you a good discount," he said.

"That is wonderful!" Timothy beamed. He wasn’t expecting free stuff, anyway.

Everyone knew how expensive potions were. To get one at a discounted rate, that too by a tenant, was indeed wonderful.

After chatting some more, Timothy finally got down to the main part.

"The rent is fifteen gold pieces, and there’s a security deposit of another fifteen gold pieces," he said. "The deposit will cover any damage or unpaid rent."

Adam resisted the urge to ask for a discount. He counted the money and handed it over to the man.

"Great!" Timothy put away the money, then fished out a pair of keys.

As he handed the keys to Adam, he said with a warm smile, "Welcome to your new home, Magus Constantine."

As Adam held the keys in his hands, a surreal feeling settled in his heart.

He looked around at the empty, spacious room and smiled.

Home...

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