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The first floor of the commoner dormitory where we were moving in was mainly a shared space. The second floor was for first-year students, the third for second-years, and the fourth for third-years.

Alfe’s room, Room 201, was located right by the stairs, while our Room 206 was at the far corner. Beyond our corner room, the hallway continued with around 20 more rooms on the opposite side.

Looking at the floor plan posted next to the stairs, it seemed that our Room 206 was slightly larger than the others. They must have assumed Hom would have a large build and need more space since she’s a homunculus.

“Alright, let’s go introduce ourselves.”
“Yeah.”

We stood in front of Room 201’s door and noticed that it was unlocked. As Aunt Ur had mentioned, it seemed Farah was inside.

I knocked, but there was no response from within.

“Maybe she’s out…?”
“Leaving the door unlocked is a bit careless. Then again, it’s a dorm, so I guess it’s not a big deal,” I replied as we exchanged glances. I reached for the doorknob and slowly opened the door, immediately hit by the scent of steam and soap.

As I stepped inside, thinking there might be a bathroom attached to the room, I noticed a tail peeking out from behind an open door.

“Huh…?” I tilted my head, watching as the tail swayed side to side. Sensing my presence, its owner quickly peeked out from behind the door.

“Nyaaahhhhh!!!” Farah, completely naked, let out a piercing scream, her tail bristling in shock.

“Nyaaaargh!!” she yelled, her face turning bright red, clearly mortified.

Panicked by her reaction, I scrambled back toward the entrance.

“What’s happening, Master?!”
“Wait, don’t come in!” I quickly pushed her back outside and shut the door behind me.

“Huff… Huff…”

I could hear Farah’s heavy breathing from behind the door, likely still reeling from the earlier shock. I had to apologize immediately.

“Sorry about the bad timing. We’ll come back later.”
“No, wait right there! I’ll get dressed quickly!” Farah called out, still sounding a bit flustered, but determined to keep us from leaving.

＊　＊　＊

“Sorry about earlier…”

A little while later, Farah opened the door, fully dressed. As a cat beastkin, she had the distinctive cat ears on the top of her head. Her short black hair, which just reached her shoulders, matched the color of her ears, and thanks to her recent bath, both her hair and ears had a glossy, slightly damp appearance.

“I’m Farah Irminsul,” she introduced herself in a calm voice, now wearing an outfit that resembled a servant’s uniform, similar to what Hom was wearing. She then fixed her gaze on me, scrutinizing me carefully.

“…But, wait… You’re smaller than I expected. I heard you were a half-elf. Are you already done growing?”

It appeared that she had mistaken me for Alfe since I had entered first.

“Uh, no, I’m Leafa, and she’s Alfe,” I corrected hastily. “We’re the ones who should apologize.”

“I’m really sorry for interrupting while you were changing,” Alfe added after I introduced her, bowing her head apologetically, though she still looked a bit tense.

“No, it’s my fault. I forgot to lock the door, and I ended up startling you both. I’m really sorry.”

She seemed to have sensed Alfe’s unease and apologized with a regretful look. The way her cat ears and tail drooped conveyed her genuine regret.

“No, it’s my fault. I should have checked more carefully.”

Since first impressions are important when living together, I wanted to make sure my apology was sincere. Farah blinked in surprise at my thoroughness, then quickly changed her expression.

“Alright! Then let’s just call this settled! Let’s call it water under the bridge, or well, in the bath¹!” she said, clapping her hands with a sharp sound, her face lighting up with a smile.

“Hehe, you’re pretty funny, Farah,” Alfe giggled.

“…Haha, looks like that joke landed,” Farah said, pleased. Her bright smile seemed to ease Alfe’s tension, and the atmosphere lightened considerably.

“So, once again… You’re Alfe, right?”
“Yep! Nice to meet you, Farah.”
“Nice to meet you too. And as for this one…”

Farah’s gaze shifted toward Hom, who bowed her head respectfully before introducing herself.

“My name is Hom.”
“Hom, huh? That’s a unique name,” Farah remarked, blinking in curiosity. It seemed like this was her first time encountering a homunculus, and she hadn’t yet realized what Hom was.

“It’s a precious name bestowed upon me by my master,” Hom explained, her voice calm but respectful.

“Oh, sorry! I didn’t mean anything bad by it,” Farah apologized quickly, misunderstanding Hom’s serious tone for displeasure. She pressed her hands together in front of her face and repeatedly bowed, looking genuinely remorseful.

“Hom isn’t upset. It’s just that I suppressed her emotions when I performed the alchemy during her creation, so it might seem that way.”
“…Alchemy? Suppressed emotions?”
“Yes. The name ‘Hom’ comes from ‘homunculus.’ She’s my attendant and an important part of my family. I hope you’ll get along with her and Alfe, Farah.”
“Ahh, I get it now…” Farah finally seemed to understand as she looked between me and Hom with a curious expression.

“For someone so small, you’ve really got things together. You’re like a little mom.”
“Leafa is super mature, cool, and dependable! I love Leafa so much!” Alfe chimed in, her face glowing with a smile. Her cheeks turned rosy, and her eyes sparkled even brighter, just as they always did whenever the conversation turned to me.

“…Yeah, I can totally see that just from that look in your eyes. Guess I’ll rely on her too, then,” she said with a sharp grin, flashing her fangs.

Alfe seemed to have warmed up to her new roommate, so my initial worries were fading away. It looked like they’d get along just fine.

“Feel free to count on me if you ever need help. I’ll count on you too,” I said.
“You bet!” Farah replied, puffing out her chest confidently and giving herself a firm pat.
“By the way, Farah, your outfit is really stylish!”
“Oh, this? It’s called a dirndl, the traditional clothing from my homeland. Back in my home, Alda Milone, all the servers wear this,” Farah explained.

So that’s why her outfit resembled Hom’s—a server uniform with a touch of cultural flair.

“Well, it’s comfy and easy to move in. For us, it’s basically like work clothes,” Farah added.
“Stylish and practical? That’s the best combination²!”
“Right? Alda Milone is famous for its beer and gourmet food. You’ll find tons of people dressed like this. The whole town is packed with pubs and restaurants known for their food and drink.”

Given her tone, it was clear that Farah took great pride in her hometown. Given the cultural significance of their attire and the abundance of eateries, I imagined each establishment had its own unique style. While I wasn’t much of a drinker, the idea of a town full of renowned restaurants was intriguing. I’d love to visit one day with Alfe and Hom.

“Farah, I think your dirndl would look great on Hom too! I’d love to try wearing one as well.”
“Oh! Then maybe we can swap outfits from time to time?”
“Yeah!”
“Thank you very much.”

Farah, always quick to go along with the flow, smiled warmly at Alfe’s suggestion and even directed a friendly smile toward Hom. Hom, having grown more comfortable with Farah, responded with a subtle nod and a faint smile that only I could catch.

“…Anyway, we shouldn’t keep standing around. I’ve left the bed by the window free for you, so feel free to take that one.”
“Are you sure?”

Just as Farah had indicated, the bed on the far side of the room, next to the window, was neatly made with folded sheets and pillows, untouched and ready.

“I’m not much of a morning person. This room faces east, so the sunlight is super bright in the morning… Wait, now I feel bad for pushing it onto you,” Farah said, her ears lowering in guilt.

“Not at all!” Alfe quickly shook her head, smiling brightly. “I love the sun, so I’m really happy to be near the window. Thank you, Farah.”
“Looks like we’re going to get along just fine,” Farah said, offering her hand with a smile.
“Yeah, I’m so glad you’re my roommate,” Alfe replied, returning the smile as she shook Farah’s hand warmly.

“Well then, since we’ve made our greetings, let’s head to our room too, Hom.”
“My apologies for overstaying, Lady Farah.”
“No, no! It’s totally fine! You weren’t bothering me at all!” Farah replied, slightly flustered by Hom’s overly formal tone, shrugging her shoulders. “Oh, by the way, dinner’s at six in the dining hall. I’ll save us a spot, so how about we all eat together?”
“Yes, count me in!” Alfe raised her hand eagerly, her usual cheerful self returning. “Leafa, Hom, let’s all eat together,” she added with a bright smile.
“Sounds good. See you then,” I agreed, and Hom nodded beside me.

With that, we left Room 201 and made our way toward our own room.

³

1. It’s a dumb pun in Japanese, lol. “Forgive and forget” in japanese is 水に流す (literally ‘wash it away with water’).
2. Robinxen: Nobody in this novel talks like a real person.
3. Robinxen: As soon as I saw the chapter title I knew we’d have an image! Even though inserting images is such a pain to do!

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