Camelot Villa.
This was the apartment where Artoria and the others currently lived, and also the apartment where Rin would live in the future.
And now, in the living room of this apartment.
"I'm so sorry! I mismanaged my time and arrived late!"
Facing Merry, the apartment's owner, Rin, sitting across from her, bowed her head sincerely in apology.
Merry waved her hand with a relaxed expression: "It's fine, it's fine. You're only a few minutes late. For someone like me with plenty of time, it's no big deal. Don't worry about it, Miss Tohsaka."
"Besides, I kind of expected you might be late, so since I was prepared, there's no dissatisfaction here. Just relax."
(Seems like a very understanding landlord.)
Though she had already felt this way when she last visited the room, seeing Merry completely unbothered by her tardiness now put Rin's anxious heart at ease. Although she had lived alone in London for a few years, she still felt a bit out of place here. Plus, foreigners often faced various issues in this city… Meeting such an understanding landlord was truly a blessing.
"Oh, by the way… Miss Okita and Miss Pendragon."
Rin glanced at the two sitting not far from her: "Thank you both so much for today. If it weren't for your help showing me the way, I would've arrived very late. Thank you."
"No need to be so formal, Miss Tohsaka. If you're going to live here, that makes us family. There's no need for awkwardness among family—helping each other is only natural."
"Right, mm-hmm-hmm…"
"Lia, finish your food before talking," Merry laughed. "So, want to see your room, Miss Tohsaka? Your belongings were delivered this morning, but since we didn't know your preferences for arranging them, they're still in the room. There's time before dinner—want to tidy up now?"
"Sure, I'll go now."
Rin stood up promptly, and Merry followed suit: "I'll help, and while we're at it, I'll tell you a few things about our apartment. Of course, they're not rules. This place isn't like a student dorm with tons of regulations, but there are some important things I should explain."
"I understand."
Rin completely got it. Honestly, she was a guest here, so she had to follow their rules to some extent.
When she last visited, Rin had already chosen a room—the second one on the left side of the second floor from the staircase.
As Merry had said, her belongings, moved from the Department of General Fundamentals dorm, were still in the room. They mostly consisted of clothes, blankets, bedsheets, and some magical tools in her suitcase. That was all she owned.
"By the way, Miss Merry, last time I came, you didn't mention there were other tenants here."
While making the bed, Rin casually asked: "Besides Miss Pendragon, Miss Okita, and me, are there any other tenants?"
"Oh, they're not tenants—they're the original residents here," Merry said while helping Rin hang clothes in the wardrobe. "Renting it out as a student apartment is just a side thing. This villa is our home. As for tenants, you're the only one, Miss Tohsaka."
"Besides Lia and Souji, there are actually four of us living here, including me. You'll probably meet the other three soon, and I think… you might know them, Miss Tohsaka."
"I know them?"
Rin frowned: "Uh… Could they be from the Clock Tower?"
"You could say that. One of them is a teacher at the Clock Tower, and the other two are his assistants and followers."
A teacher?
(I hope it's not a teacher I know. Wait, [him]? So it's a guy…)
(A man in an apartment with so many women… Why do I have a bad feeling about this?)
After making the bed and unpacking some magical tools from her suitcase to place on the desk, Rin let out a small sigh: "This should do for now. The rest is just some daily necessities… There's no class tomorrow, so it's perfect for shopping—Oh, Miss Merry, what's the bath schedule here?"
"Anytime's fine. There aren't many rules here, as long as you don't clash with someone else. If I had to say, only breakfast and dinner times are somewhat fixed—usually at seven-thirty in the morning and six-thirty in the evening."
As Merry finished speaking—
"Hey! Merry! Come down, dinner's ready!"
A man's voice suddenly called from downstairs.
Merry gave a faint smile: "Looks like they're back. Let's head down for dinner, and I'll introduce you to the other three you haven't met."