CHAPTER 56: CHAPTER 55: PLANS BEYOND THE SHELF

Inside the House

Back indoors, Eli described the renovations in detail.

"We started with pest control—fumigated the basement, patched up the worst leaks. Junk removal took two days, and we had to reframe a few sections where the floorboards were buckling. The good news is, there’s no major rot in the structure. Some cosmetic issues, yes. Foundation’s holding steady. Plumbing’s still ancient, but at least the main line works. That means we can move to Phase One early. You’ll have a working bathroom and kitchen soon."

Kael exhaled in relief. That was more than he expected.

"Electrical’s next. We already ran preliminary cable routing through the living room and kitchen. Should have functioning outlets and lighting by the end of the week. I also had Yuna redesign the entryway—cutting off that second stair landing you don’t need. It’s gonna open up the space."

Kael let out a long breath. "You really got a lot done."

Eli gave a satisfied nod. "We don’t waste time. We treat it like any other job site—we’ll keep working through the week."

Kael hesitated, then said, "Uncle Eli... I might have to head back to the capital for a bit."

"I know," Kael admitted with a sheepish shrug. "But something urgent came up. I won’t be gone long. Just a couple of days."

Eli grunted, clearly skeptical. "You sure you’re not just trying to escape the dust and raccoons?"

Kael grinned. "Tempting, but no. I’ve got other responsibilities I can’t ignore."

"Well," Eli sighed, scratching his chin, "at least you’re consistent. Always moving." He tapped the blueprint with a knuckle. "Lucky timing, though. We’re just shifting to interior work—wiring, insulation, all that."

"Good," Kael said, nodding. "Oh, and one thing—please make sure no one goes into the basement."

Eli raised an eyebrow. "Still? What’s down there, anyway? Secret stash? Haunted jukebox?"

Kael gave the same tight smile he always used when this came up. "Just some old family stuff. Better left undisturbed."

Kael offered the same careful smile he always gave when the subject came up. "Old things that shouldn’t be disturbed. Think of it like a sealed tomb."

Eli didn’t press further, just gave a grunt. "Fair enough. I’ll keep ’em out."

They shook hands, and Eli returned to work, barking orders at his crew.

Kael waited.

Not long. Just until everyone was busy again—cutting boards, loading drywall, rolling up extension cords. Once he was sure no one was watching, he quietly circled around the back of the house, past the cleared-out yard and the recently repaired porch, and slipped through the basement entrance.

The heavy door creaked shut behind him, sealing him in the cool, musty dark.

He locked it from the inside.

He then entered the mirror. No matter how many times he passed through, it always gave him a strange, electric thrill.

Fantasy Realm

The moment he arrived, he felt the difference.

The air was colder—mountain winds brushing through the cracks in the wooden walls. Somewhere in the city beyond, bells were ringing the final hour of the day. It was nearly midnight.

The portal behind him fizzled out.

Kael exhaled, pulling off his jacket. He was too tired to think, let alone work, and fell asleep as soon as he lay down on his bed.

...

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Kael? Are you awake?"

Seris’s voice was muffled through the door. There was a pause, then a light tap again.

Kael rolled over, groggy. Morning sunlight painted long slashes across the wooden walls.

"I’m up," he mumbled, sitting up and rubbing his eyes.

He washed quickly using the water basin near the corner and opened the door.

Seris stood with a tray in her hands—two slices of roasted flatbread and a small bowl of citrus. Her eyes watched him with quiet expectation.

"I made breakfast," she said.

Kael blinked once, then gave a faint, grateful smile. "Thanks."

He stepped aside.

Seris hesitated just a second longer before entering. She set the tray down on the bedside table.

Kael sat down on the bed, eyeing the breakfast with an amused sort of appreciation. "You didn’t have to bring me food, you know."

"I did," she said. "It’s my job."

Her words were simple, but her tone wasn’t flat—it carried a quiet warmth, a trace of dry humor. She met his gaze, unflinching.

"You take care of me," she added after a pause. "Letting you starve wouldn’t reflect well on me."

Kael raised an eyebrow, smiling despite himself. "You’ve got a reputation to maintain?"

"A noblewoman always upholds her standards," she replied smoothly, arching an elegant brow. "Even in servitude."

There was no bitterness in her voice—just a wry confidence that belonged wholly to her.

He looked at her, studying her face for a moment.

"I’m glad you’re here," he said quietly.

Seris blinked, just once. Then she looked away, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear with practiced grace. "Eat before it gets cold."

Kael chuckled and picked up the flatbread, tearing off a piece. Warm, crisp, and just the right amount of salt. He took a bite and sighed through his nose. "This is delicious."

"You’re easy to please," she said, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "But I’ll take the compliment."

An hour later, they were downstairs, arranging stock.

Kael pulled more goods from his dimensional storage, refilling shelves that had been emptied over the past days. Seris handled the front section, reorganizing shelves and dusting off the display jars.

The bell over the door gave a sharp chime as Seris unlocked it.

And just like that, business resumed.

It was chaos—but profitable chaos.

Adventurers of every kind, from lightly armored scouts to blood-spattered mercenaries, crowded inside. Some knew what they wanted—others just gawked.

Kael moved quickly, managing both the till and customer flow, while Seris handled pricing and crowd control with a mix of politeness and hard glares.

By noon, the shop finally quieted.

"We sold a lot."

Kael sat down behind the register, fingers moving quickly as he sorted the till into neat stacks.

"Let’s see..." he muttered, tallying. "About 3,200 bronze, 980 silver, and six gold."

Then Seris came to him, her face serious as if she was very angry, "Kael, I want to talk to you about something important."