Sixty-three: There’s a limit to surprises, you know.

That day, I’d been summoned to the manor by Kyle. Ryuuko, the maid, was summoned too.

I get called all the time, but that day Kyle’s vibe was off.

Since his illness had cleared up, Kyle had been smiling more, but today he was practically radiating joy.

Something good must’ve happened.

Did the third harvest of wheat go well?

I was the only one called, but Leifan was already in the room.

That wasn’t unusual, but Leifan was grinning even more than usual. Odd.

I sat down, offered tea, as usual. Maina hopped right onto my lap, just like always.

Even Maina seemed unusually cheerful, kicking her legs up and down.

Ladylike, now. Not proper.

But since she looked so happy, whatever.

Persia and Alphard stand behind Kyle.

Alphard serves as both military commander and guard, but apparently Degard Vismack is capable enough that he’s left to his own devices most of the time. If work can be divided, just do it.

They both wear their usual serious expressions, but still—something about the corners of their mouths seems loosened.

Honestly, what even is this.

Sipping tea, Kyle finally can’t hold it in anymore and stands up.

“Craft brother! I actually have something I want you to see!”

“Ah.”

Looks like we’ve finally reached the point.

“Then come with me!”

Kyle steps out of the manor building first.

I’m thinking he’s going to show me something in the garden, but instead he barrels straight through it and slips past the main gate into the open air.

So we’re going far then? Not even a carriage’s been prepared.

Kyle moves without hesitation along the wall surrounding the garden and the manor. Right beside him, another wall stretches out—identical in design to the one encircling Kyle’s own estate.

Same size as the wall around Kyle’s house.

Of course, he’d known the construction had started months ago, that this wall was being built.

Inside the wall, it was covered in massive cloth. He didn’t know what they were building, but he assumed it was an extension of the manor or perhaps a guest house.

The cloth barrier was clearly meant to keep dust and debris from the construction site from flying toward Kyle.

Seemed like today was the unveiling of the new house—or the secondary one.

But something nagged at him.

Everyone else seemed to know about it already.

Kyle didn’t think Kyle would keep secrets from him, so the only thing he felt was unease.

The main gate of the new mansion looked just like Kyle’s estate. Only, no crest marking Kyle was carved into it.

Just to clarify, the crest here means a family emblem, a marker, a symbol—nothing to do with the one floating at my left hand.

They’re probably going to engrave it after the unveiling.

For nobles, a family crest marking their home is essential. It’d be unthinkable not to carve it into a banner or gatepost.

I was tilting my head when I noticed a whole crowd of craftsmen behind the wall.

Each stood right in front of the ropes holding down the cloth covering the manor. No doubt about it—they were about to unveil it.

A few of them were familiar faces. I waved, and they waved back cheerfully.

They’re thrilled to be working for Kyle. Their good mood makes perfect sense.

“Now then, brother, please stand right there.”

“What?”

The spot I was shown was right in the center—exactly where the gate had opened. No doubt about it. That’s where Kyle should be standing.

“Here…?”

“It’s fine. Please stand right here.”

“O-oh.”

His voice was unusually firm. I snapped to attention without thinking.

Kyle stood to the right. Maina to the left.

Maina, quit yanking that cloak like a damn metronome. You’ll rip it off.

“Alright, everyone! Let’s do it!”

“““Ooooh!”””

The craftsmen responded to Kyle’s signal and yanked the ropes all at once.

Then.

“…Huh?”

It was definitely a mansion.

Same style as Kyle’s estate—fashionable, imposing, built with the same careful craftsmanship common in the capital.

Same three stories. Similar rooflines, same window details.

Nothing shocking about that.

But this building was different.

There were several key differences from Kyle’s estate—distinct, undeniable.

The most striking thing was the semi-circular structures attached to either side of the manor. This design, with two alchemical chambers built in, should’ve been exactly what Professor Jabir had suggested.

You could say it’s like slicing the tower vertically and pasting the halves onto the sides of the estate.

The semi-circular parts rose up to the second floor, and from their peaks, long chimneys sprouted like weeds.

And with no windows in sight, I immediately understood what kind of rooms lay inside.

"Wait... alchemical chambers?"

"Amazing, Craft brother!"

"No, no, no! This is practically a direct copy of the 'Ideal Alchemical Manor' section from Professor Jabir’s book! The base is Kyle’s estate, but the added parts—those alchemical chambers—are lifted straight from the professor’s own designs! You can’t miss it!"

"Yes! We asked Leifan to design it!"

And there, Leifan puffed out his chest.

"Man, it was rough. I looked at Professor Javir’s book—'Shelves for experimental tools go here,' 'Raw materials along the daily path, split by type between underground and above,' 'The alchemy furnace here, with exhaust system meticulously detailed.' Just reading it, I felt it in my bones. Craft’s teacher really is a genius."

Leifan’s smug grin said it all. He’d been through hell and back, that much was obvious.

I’d lent the book to him right after I got it—back when I was browsing it in the Production Guild hall. He’d peered over my shoulder with genuine interest and never gave it back. I didn’t know much about architecture, just the basic floor plan.

And now, right in front of me, was the house—complete with the alchemy chamber Javir had dreamed of.

What the hell?

"Hey… Kyle. I don’t even want to ask, but…"

My voice trembled. I already knew the answer. I just didn’t want to hear it.

"Yeah! It's definitely a present for Craft-sama!!"

"“““Wahhhhhhhhh!””"

"Congratulations, Craft!"

"Good for you! Craft-kun!"

"Congrat—uh…"

Even the craftsmen who’d finished clearing the cloth and rope gathered around, each offering their congratulations.

I stood frozen for a moment, completely stiff—then, the moment the paralysis broke, I yelled.

"No way, no way, no way! I can't take this! How much did this even cost?!"

It wasn't just about the money.

Who the hell even *is* this guy who gets to live in a mansion bigger than the noble’s estate, right next to it?!

"Please, don't worry!"

Kyle clapped his hands, buzzing with excitement.

"W-what?"

"Look over there!"

I followed where Kyle pointed. The fence of Kyle’s house and the fence of this new house were lined up side by side, overlapping at one corner.

Closer inspection showed a door was built into it.

I’ve installed a door connecting my mansion directly to my brother’s, so there’s no need to go out the main gate and take the long way around!

Wait, no! Where’s the sense of security in that!? Think about safety for once!

That’s not what I meant!

But the words came out before I could stop them.

Huh? It’s Craft’s mansion, isn’t it? What’s wrong with a direct connection?

No! There’s a ton of problems with that!?

I turn quickly to Persia and Alphard, but they just smile wryly.

No! Stop it! Two bodyguards!

No, no! That’s not it! You can’t just get something this fancy for free! The townspeople wouldn’t accept that kind of favoritism!

I shift my gaze to the craftsmen now.

These are the skilled artisans who moved here from elsewhere. They wouldn’t stand for such blatant favoritism, would they?

"Man, when I heard Kyle-sama secretly told Craft to build it without telling me? I was stunned! Of course I jumped in!"

"Me too! The craftsmen who missed out on this project last time were downright furious!"

"Three times more craftsmen showed up than we planned for at the planning stage."

"Even though they said the pay’s split evenly among workshops, cutting into each one’s take, not a single workshop said no!"

"What’s up with that! It’s for Craft’s sake! Sure, it’s not free—but charging less than usual? No problem at all!"

"Damn right! Got to do a real honor project!"

Wait—what?!

What the hell is going on?!

This is bad. If this keeps up, I’ll end up having to take it!

Anything! Just give me a reason to say no!

"Th-That’s right! I can’t handle a mansion this big! Cleaning it? Impossible!"

"Possible."

"Wha—?"

The voice came from just behind me—Ryuko’s.

A maid built for one, infused with homunculus, golem, familiar, and dragon tooth warrior tech.

Her green hair bounced light like a mirror.

What… now?

“It’s fine. Leave it to me.”

“…Huh? This size? I’m not cleaning this. Not even Ryuko alone…”

“Problem solved.”

“Huh?! Look at the garden! It’s huge! A proper garden, even a rose garden! You can’t maintain this!”

“I can. No problem.”

No way…

Kyle’s manor, including its grounds, was spacious enough to match the new Golden Dune.

It looked small behind the first city wall, but in reality, it was enormous.

Wait… Ryuko alone can’t keep this up, can she?

It was like I heard her voice—Ryuko repeated it again.

“Everything’s fine. Master.”

“S-so… is that right?”

“Yes.”

Is that right…? Is she really okay…? Damn, that maid’s something else…

“Moving your belongings from your room in the Production Guild.”

“Ah… yeah.”

Ryuko walking away.

Kyle looking up at me with a wide grin.

All I could manage was a stiff, twitchy smile.

“Thanks, Kyle.”

“Yes!!”

And just like that, I went from a guest in the Production Guild to having a mansion and an alchemy facility equal in size to the lord’s own.

What the hell am I gonna do with this?