I was reincarnated as bait for the summoned hero
The city of Anheim lies on the southwestern edge of the continent.
Originally, it was nothing more than a small settlement near the Great Forest. However, with the emergence of a dungeon, people gathered in search of its resources, and the settlement grew into a large city.
The city’s population is around a thousand, with more than half being adventurers or individuals related to them.
Anheim Dungeon is classified as mid-level, and novice or rookie adventurers are prohibited from entering alone.
After checking the requirements for challenging the dungeon at the Anheim Adventurers’ Guild, I couldn’t help but reflect:
“I’m really glad I took on those requests seriously back in Olivet.”
“Me too! And they even counted our ocean gathering request as an herb collection task.”
For rookie adventurers to rank up, they need a track record.
This includes gathering medicinal herbs, a common task for novices, as well as overall contributions to the guild’s city.
Before meeting me, Sheera, who had struggled to survive due to her low level, was at least skilled in herb collection, which allowed her to barely attain Iron Rank.
(I never took on city-based requests myself. I wasn’t exactly hurting for money…)
City-based requests typically involve jobs that most people avoid—cleaning sewers, picking up trash, weeding, and helping out on farms for small pay.
I heard that children under 15, who are not yet considered adults, can become adventurers through special exceptions if their contributions to the city are significant.
For rookie adventurers aiming for quick rank-ups, these nearly volunteer-like city tasks seem to be a must.
Since I had joined the Adventurers’ Guild primarily to obtain an identification card, I hadn’t paid much attention to it.
“It seems they considered all the effort we put into collecting seafood, delivering water magic stones, making ice, and defeating Sahagins in Olivet as significant contributions.”
Thanks to our honest work in the seaside town known for its olives and oranges, Sheera had unknowingly ranked up to Copper Rank, and I had also advanced to Iron Rank.
“Now that we’re no longer rookies, we can take on the dungeon without any issues!”
Sheera clenched her fists enthusiastically.
Our team consists of a mystical beast girl over level 50, a high elf surpassing level 200, and a cat fairy (Cait Sith) over level 150.
To be honest, a mid-level dungeon might not be challenging enough, but since it’s Sheera’s first dungeon experience, I just smiled and nodded.
Having already checked the guild’s request board, we decided to rest at an inn for the night.
As soon as we arrived in the city, Sheera had excitedly dragged me straight to the Adventurers’ Guild.
“Alright, let’s find an inn. Preferably one with good food, cleanliness, and, if possible, a bath.”
“I know a good one! It’s called Tiny House.”
“Nya!”
Sheera smiled brightly, and Ketsue nodded enthusiastically. The two were clearly working together on this.
“We’d stand out too much in the city, so we can’t do that. Are you planning to live hidden outside the city?”
“No way! It’d be too much trouble commuting to the dungeon from outside the city. Can’t we rent a good plot of land somewhere, like in Olivet?”
“Not a house, but renting land…?”
That might not be a bad idea.
In Anheim, where adventurers gather in large numbers, inns are always in short supply—I overheard complaints about it at the guild.
Securing a long-term lodging contract is considered lucky, and low-rank adventurers often struggle to find cheap places to stay.
“The cheap inns have people sleeping directly on the floor, right? No way. At this point, only high-class inns will have vacancies…”
“Even those high-class inns probably won’t meet your standards of comfort or service, Tohma .”
“Yeah, I figured…”
According to my summoned cousins in the neighboring country, even temples and royal palaces have questionable hospitality, so I’m not expecting much.
“Guess we have no choice. Let’s check with the Commerce Guild and look for land. We still have ten days before meeting up with Rei, so we might as well stay somewhere comfortable.”
“Yay! Tetchan, we get to live in a comfy house!”
“Fumyaaan!”
Sheera lifted Ketsue and spun around in excitement.
At some point, she had started calling him “Tetchan.”
Ketsue, in turn, seemed to adore Sheera like a little sister, and they had become very close.
I felt a little left out.
“…Let’s go.”
Among adventurers seeking quick riches, many are rough and unscrupulous.
With my often-mistaken-for-a-girl appearance, Sheera’s small and delicate frame, and an adorable little cat, we’re easy targets for troublemakers.
A safe base is a priority.
“Let’s settle this before nightfall.”
Fortunately, we have enough money.
If the savings from my merchant and adventurer activities aren’t enough, I can always dip into the earnings from the summoned magic online store I sold to my cousins.
(Gold coins are usable across different countries. Silver and lower denominations require exchange, but gold retains its metal value.)
I don’t intend to purchase land outright, but renting an empty plot shouldn’t be too expensive.
With a general idea of where to look, the three of us made our way to Anheim’s Commerce Guild.
One gold coin per week—about 100,000 yen in Japanese currency.
It was quite expensive just for renting land, but the two of them and their feline companion were more than satisfied.
The plot introduced by the Commerce Guild had an excellent location, just a fifteen-minute walk from the dungeon.
At first glance, they all liked the spot the real estate agent had shown them, so they immediately paid the gold coin and secured the lease.
The land was enclosed by a two-meter-high wooden fence and had once been the villa of a noble family.
After the noble family fell into ruin, their abandoned mansion deteriorated and was eventually demolished, leaving the area as a vacant lot.
Because of this, there had been no tenants, and even the guild had been struggling to find a use for it.
(For an unused lot, isn’t a gold coin per week a bit of a rip-off?)
That thought crossed his mind, but lodging for the three of them would have cost about the same anyway.
Most importantly, the spacious land was highly appealing.
“There are a lot of trees in the yard. It’ll be good for hiding the house.”
“There’s a well in the corner, too! And the water is clean!”
Since the land had been left unattended for so long, the overgrown weeds were a serious problem.
But Ketsue confidently puffed out his chest and said, “Leave it to me!”
“Alright, I’m counting on you.”
“Nya!”
As expected of a cat spirit.
With a single meow from the adorable feline beloved by the spirits, the green spirits quickly arrived.
In no time, the bothersome weeds vanished, and the trees were neatly arranged.
“About 60 tsubo… roughly 200 square meters. If we put a tiny house here, it would feel too small and waste the space.”
Since they had such a large area, it only made sense to set up a more spacious home.
“A container house might work…? No, it would be hard to explain if someone saw it.”
A two-story container house with an additional unit for the golden dragon, Rei, would be the perfect size for the lot.
But if anyone noticed its modern materials, it could become a problem.
“Even with a fence, if someone peeks over, it’s pointless…”
For an adventurer, a two-meter-high fence was nothing.
They could easily jump up and take a look.
Even if they used concealment magic or magical barriers, a high-level adventurer might still see through them.
“In that case… I have no choice but to buy one.”
Opening the Summon Magic Net Shopping for high-end goods, he navigated to the Otherworldly Real Estate shop.
There, he found something enticing—a product he had previously given up on purchasing.
“A two-story cottage… 30 million points…”
His remaining summon points were just enough.
If he bought this, he wouldn’t be able to shop for a while, but—
“A spacious 5LDK, bathrooms and toilets on both floors. A fireplace, a kitchen fully equipped with magical appliances. Of course, each room has an air-conditioning magic tool… It sounds ridiculously comfortable.”
This was the obvious choice.
His fingertips trembled slightly at the most expensive purchase he’d ever made, but—
“Two-story cottage, purchase!”