"So, this is your childhood home, Goose."
The interior, illuminated by the magi-lamp Saki had borrowed from Jin, was relatively tidy.
"There isn't anything of value here, but it's the house my father left me. It brings back memories," Goose muttered, his expression unusually wistful.
"Can you show me around tomorrow when it's light out?"
"Sure, I don't mind, but I doubt you'll find anything interesting."
"That depends on me, doesn't it?"
"I suppose you're right."
Goose led the way up the stairs, the magi-lamp casting a steady glow.
"This is the guest room. It might be a little dusty, but the bedding is still here, so you should be able to make do."
"I appreciate the hospitality."
"Honestly, Saki, you certainly are a curious one."
With that, Goose headed off to his own room.
＊ ＊ ＊
The following day, the 19th, Saki woke up unusually early and set about cleaning her borrowed room. She found a broom leaning against the wall in the hallway outside.
"Heh, I wonder how many years it’s been since I’ve done something like this," she murmured to herself as she swept the dust into a pile.
A bit of dust lingering in the corners was just for flavor.
"Hey, Saki, are you awake? Wait, what are you doing?"
Goose arrived just then. He had opened the door without knocking, but since Saki was already up and dressed, it wasn't an issue.
"Good morning, Goose. I'm just doing a little cleaning."
"You didn't have to do that."
"He-heh, I couldn't help myself."
Goose reached out and took the broom from Saki's hand.
"It’s fine. Fadun said we should have breakfast at his place, so let's get going."
"Right, wouldn't want to keep them waiting."
And so, the two of them set off together toward the bailiff's house. As they walked down the street, voices called out from every side.
"Oh, Goose, it’s been a long time! When did you get back?"
"Goose, have you been off on another trip?"
"Is that lady your wife?"
Goose offered casual replies as he hurried along.
"It’s been a while, ma’am. No, she’s not my wife—at least, not yet."
"W-Wait, what do you mean 'yet'...?"
Saki was left flustered and stammering behind him.
"Good morning, Saki, Goose."
When they reached Bailiff Fadun’s house, Jin was there to greet them.
"Good morning, Jin."
"Jin, good morning."
"How was your stay at Goose's place?"
"Hmm, it was dark, so I didn't get a good look at much. I only stayed in the guest room, anyway."
"What, you didn't stay in Goose's room?"
"N-N-No way! As if I'd do something like that!"
Jin had only intended it as a light joke, but Saki turned beet red as she shouted her denial.
"W-Where's Elsa?" Saki asked, desperately trying to change the subject.
"Elsa is in the kitchen helping Frede. Reiko is with them, too."
"O-Oh, that's right, Jin. After breakfast, I'd like to stop by Goose's house for just a bit."
"Hm? That's fine, but what for?"
"I stayed there last night, but it was too dark to see anything. I want to help him clean up a bit... or something like that."
"Huh, Saki cleaning?"
Jin's expression clearly showed he found this news extraordinary.
"What! Is there some rule that says I can't clean?"
Saki pouted slightly at his reaction.
After breakfast and a few more domestic moments, the group returned to Goose’s house on the outskirts of town.
"Oh, I see..."
While the architecture was typical for Fusou Island, Jin noticed the building had certain flourishes that felt reminiscent of the Shouro Empire's style. He studied the structure for a moment before speaking.
"Goose, do you want me to just move the whole house to Hourai Island for you?"
"Jin, that's a very tempting proposal, but please don't. The town would be in an uproar if a house suddenly vanished into thin air."
It was a surprisingly sensible answer for someone like Goose.
"Hmm... Well, in that case, would you let me install a Warp Gate in the house instead?"
"Oh, that might be a good idea."
"Then I can have the Five-Colored Golem Maids come by on a rotation to maintain the place."
"Maybe once a week instead of every day would be better."
They decided to hammer out the finer details later, and Goose invited them inside.
"If we're going to install a Warp Gate, the basement might be the best spot."
There was apparently a storehouse in the basement used for food storage.
"Yeah, that looks perfect."
After heading down the stairs and inspecting the area, Jin decided on the spot where the Warp Gate would go.
"Reiko, contact Laojun and have the parts for a standard-model Warp Gate sent here."
"Yes, Father."
Fifteen seconds after the request was made, the components for the Warp Gate materialized before them.
"Alright, let's assemble it."
With Jin, Reiko, and Elsa working in tandem, the task was finished in a mere two minutes.
"T-That was fast," Saki remarked, watching with a look of surprise.
"We're used to it."
"...Now, Goose, you can return home whenever you like."
"Though, if I come back too often, people will start to get suspicious," Goose noted. He worried people would wonder how he was making such frequent trips.
"Heh, that is a bit of a dilemma."
It might be different once Warp Gates became common knowledge, but the time was not yet ripe for that.
"But honestly, I'm grateful just knowing I can come back whenever I need to."
"I'll have the Five-Colored Golem Maids handle the upkeep, so let me know if there are any rooms or items they shouldn't touch."
"Hmm, let's see... I'd like them to only dust my parents' room. It's the south-facing room on the second floor."
"Understood. I'll make it a strict rule that they aren't allowed to discard anything. That should give you peace of mind."
"That would be a huge help."
In this way, a Warp Gate was successfully installed on Fusou Island, and Goose no longer had to worry about the state of his childhood home. It would surely serve as a vital foothold for their future operations on the island.