Rin decided not to dwell on his next "accidental" departure. He now knew the trigger, and that was enough. With the revelation that one week in this world equated to roughly one night in his own, a new plan formed in his mind. This wasn't just a brief, chaotic stopover anymore; this was a vacation. A chance to experience something genuinely new.
He sought out Rimuru later that day, finding him overseeing the town's expansion plans. "Rimuru-san," Rin began, "I know I'm a guest here, but... I was wondering if it would be possible for me to build a small house of my own here? I'd like to stay for a while, if I wouldn't be a bother."
Rimuru looked up from his scrolls, surprised. "A house? You want to live here?" A wide, welcoming smile broke out on his face. "Of course! We'd be happy to have you! No bother at all! In fact, I'll have some of my best people build it for you. Where would you like it?"
Rin, having already scouted a location, pointed towards a quiet, scenic spot. "If it's possible, I'd like a small place near the river, just a little ways downstream from the town."
"Consider it done!"
It didn't take a day. A team of Dwarfs, led by the master craftsman Kaijin, arrived at the designated spot. With a skill that bordered on magical, they felled trees, shaped timber, and erected a sturdy, handsome wooden house with breathtaking speed and precision. When they were finished, they wiped the sweat from their brows and gave Rin a hearty clap on the back.
"There you go, lad!" Kaijin boomed. "A fine house for a friend of Tempest! You must join us for a drink tonight to celebrate!"
Rin smiled. "Thank you all, it's incredible. But I must decline the drink. In my homeland, it's against the law for someone my age to drink alcohol."
The Dwarfs laughed. "Nonsense!" one of them roared. "You're not in your homeland anymore, are you? You're in the Great Forest of Jura! Here, if you can build a house, you can hold a drink! Come on, lad!"
Rin, feigning reluctance, eventually "succumbed" to their boisterous insistence. This was part of his plan. He wanted to genuinely befriend these legendary craftsmen. He used his Mind Reader to understand them, to find common ground, to know when to laugh at a joke or offer a compliment. He wanted their friendship. After all, having friends who could forge legendary weapons was always a good idea.
Later, he entered his new home and was genuinely impressed. He jumped onto the bed, surprised by how comfortable the mattress was, stuffed with some kind of soft, springy wool. The single-room house had a small, partitioned-off kitchen area, a table with a few chairs, and even a separate door leading to a simple but functional bathroom – a luxury he was certain was a special request from Rimuru. The layout, a simple living space for one, brought a fleeting memory of his spartan room from his old life as a dropout. He pushed the thought away. That life was over. This one was for enjoying.
His new home was just a short walk from the main town. He went back and asked around if anyone had a fishing pole he could borrow. A friendly Hobgoblin, hearing his request, eagerly offered up his old one. The easygoing friendliness of Tempest's citizens was refreshing.
Returning to his riverside house, which included a small wooden dock, Rin set out a chair and cast his line, the gentle gurgle of the river a soothing soundtrack. He fished for hours, watching the sun begin to dip towards the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. As a cool evening breeze began to pick up, he decided to head inside. He'd caught a few decent-sized, silvery fish.
Inside his new kitchen, he found another surprise. The small wooden cabinets were stocked with jars of salt, dried herbs, and other basic spices. Beside a stone hearth, there was a metal grill and a few simple cooking pots – clearly the work of the Dwarfs, likely from designs provided by Rimuru.
It was easy to fetch fresh water from the river. He cleaned the fish, seasoned them with the spices he'd found, skewered them on some branches he'd collected, and set them to cook over a fire he built in the hearth.
A few minutes later, the smell of roasted fish filled the cozy house. Rin sat at his new table, eating directly from the skewer as he gazed out the window at the brilliant canopy of stars beginning to emerge in the clear night sky. No internet, no phone, no television. Just the crackle of the fire and the quiet peace of the night. He didn't feel bored. In fact, he felt more relaxed, more at ease, than he had in a long time.
After finishing his meal, he figured he'd turn in for an early night. Just as he was about to douse the fire, a soft knock came from his door.
He wasn't expecting anyone. Curious, he walked over and opened it.
Standing on his porch, her silhouette framed by the moonlight, was a visitor that made his eyes widen in surprise.
"Shion," he said, a slow smile spreading across his face.