Level 1 Strongest Sage 1

Vol. 14 - Chapter 16 - Clan House Design and Halt’s Secret Plan

Author’s note: Halt and the others succeeded in raising their rank to C. We are now returning to the time when Halt informed Tina about this. (It’d be great if you were to reread Volume 14 Chapter 2 onwards~)

“ – and that’s how I purchased the land where Notorius stood in exchange of delivering handmade meals that I personally cooked to His Majesty.”

“Goodness, that’s cheap… and you didn’t even pay with a single spina for it.”

Tina told Halt that she bought Notorius’s land because it was cheap, but the compensation was according to Gil’s proposal.

“Well, I’d also do my best if it meant I’ll be eating Tina’s dishes, so I get where he is coming.”

Halt had been eating Tina’s dishes since childhood, but even so, her cooking was still an irreplaceable treasure for him.

“Halt-sama, once again, congratulations for successfully rising to rank C. Please accept this gift.”

“Thanks. If His Majesty agrees to bestow it to us, then why not. The handmade dishes, I’ll be counting on you for them.”

“Please leave it to me. By the way, Youko-san and Kikyou-san also worked a bit because of this matter. It would be nice if Halt-sama also praised them.”

“Yup, got it.”

“Thank you very much. Then, please have this.”

Tina handed the land deed to Halt, who then teleported it to his personal safe in his own room.

“Wait a sec, Notorius just collapsed the day before yesterday, right? That piece of land in front of the Adventurer’s Clan had already been cleared when I passed by today.”

“That filthy building was constructed and sustained by funds that had been extorted from others. As part of the compensation to the victims of that clan, everything marketable were collected and sold, then with earth magic, I –”

Tina stopped in the middle of her explanation, apparently recalling that the destruction of Notorius was just coincidental.

“Y-You demolished it with earth magic, huh…”

“It’s alright, it’s just a coincidence.”

Tina also noticed that Halt realized everything. However, she also knew that Halt would still agree to her words even if she tried to weasel out of this situation.

“...Whatever, it’s okay. But Tina, don’t be too reckless, keep in mind that you’re no longer alone.”

Halt embraced Tina from behind her and gently caressed her belly.

“Y-Yes. I’ll be more careful.”

Tina blushed as she placed her hand on top of Halt’s. The two remained in that position for a moment.

Tina glanced at Halt while still encircled in his arms.

“We have obtained the land, so the next step is the construction of the clan house.”

“You’re right. That lot is currently vacant after all.”

“We can summon the top-tier architects exclusively working for H&T Trading Company and leave everything to them. Would you like to proceed like that?”

“Well, it’s a nice opportunity, so why not gather everyone and let them pitch in their ideas? Let’s invite Sally and Lilia, as well as Keith and Aria. Let’s decide the building design as a group.”

Keith and Aria, who were both Automatas, were staying in an inn in the Royal City awaiting further orders from Halt. He invited both of them to join his clan, [Familia], and both of them agreed.

“I understand. Well then, I will inform everyone to gather in the living room after dinner.”

???????? “That’s it. So, from hereon, we will create the design proposal for our clan house.”

Halt addressed everyone gathered in this place.

There were a total of twenty-four people and seven entities present.

Halt’s wives sat right beside him – Tina, Leaffa, Luna, Youko, Mai, Mei, Merdie, Ryuka, Hakua, Seira, Elmia, Kikyou, Sitri, Akari and Sylph.

Luke, Lielle, Ryuushin and Hinata sat on a separate couch beside Halt’s. They were currently freeloading at Halt’s place, but they also plan to join Familia right after graduating from Ifrus Academy of Magic.

Beastkin Sally and Lilia, who were already set to join Familia even before, sat with Keith and Aria on another sofa. They all listened attentively to Halt.

The five slime girls were also present just because everybody else were here. They could stay in the Ernol home, so they could do whatever they wanted regarding joining the clan. Divine Beast Shiro was also the same, so he was leisurely sleeping on the slime girl’s lap.

The other four slime girls played with Akari’s pet Tet.

Everyone expressed their opinions regarding the design of the clan house.

“Halt-sama is the head of the clan, so let’s make his bedroom extremely extravagant.”

“Let’s have it in the center of the house so it’s easy for everyone to access it.”

“We agree with Leaffa’s suggestion!”

“Okay! So, my room will be in the center of the clan house, got it.”

Halt can render mana visible and even add color to it, so he conjured a cube made out of mana and had it float in the air. The design seemed to vaguely resemble the exterior of the clan house.

The words [Halt’s Room] appeared right in the heart of the cube.

“I want to grow flowers, so I hope we’ll have a garden.”

“Luna, I wanna grow flowers too!” (Sylph) “Me too, let’s do it together, meow!” (Merdie)

“That plot of land is pretty wide, so I’m pretty sure we can make a relatively huge one. At any rate – “

A sheet-like mana unfolded beneath the cube. This sheet replicated the layout of Notorious’s ruins. A portion of the sheet was marked with a circle, and the words "Garden Site" appeared on top of it. “Like this, I think.”

“We have to put restrictions on who and what can enter the clan house premises. We don’t want Halt-sama getting bitten by some weird bug.”

“This concubine’s spell can render the clan site to be unbreachable except for those permitted entry by Halt-sama.”

“Ah, I think that's doable, especially if we consider it from a security perspective. We can put a reception counter and reception office; is it possible to make it so that outsiders can’t go beyond those?”

“It is but a simple matter. Please leave it to this concubine.”

“Thanks, Kikyou. Then I’m counting on you.”

The cube was further modified, and it was now depicting the reception desk and the entrance to the clan house. Four rectangles with words “Reception Room” were added.

“Ahm… Don’t take me wrong, I love this mansion, but I just want to ask if we’re going to move into the clan house once it’s finished?”

“I’m also thinking the same thing as Ryuka. I really love this mansion because it’s really comfortable!”

“Halt-sama and all the students here will be graduating in a few months. Of course, I will also stop teaching by then. In that case, we will no longer be allowed to stay in this mansion.”

“Ah, do you want me to ask Grandpa if we can still stay here after grad?”

“Thanks, Luke. But it’s fine, you guys don’t have to worry about that.”

Halt smirked. He probably had a secret plan in mind.

He frequently had this expression whenever he was planning to surprise his family.

All the people present in this gathering had already spent a long time together with Halt, so they already knew it would be futile to ask him about it.

“Then, let’s have it like this in the meantime.”

The cube representing the clan house’s design sat on top of the sheet, with the addition of a 3-D model mirroring the mansion they were currently living in.