We left the penthouse with the sound of Isak's stomach growling louder than the door closing behind us. The seven-star luxury of the place had us living in comfort, but none of us had bothered to figure out the breakfast situation until now. Abel, being the practical one—if you could call him that—had already scoped out the layout when he hit the gym yesterday, so he led the way as we piled into the elevator.

The descent to the dining hall was a quiet one at first, the soft hum of the elevator doing little to mask the tension still lingering after last night's events. I glanced at my brothers, all lost in their own thoughts. Isak, though, was practically bouncing on his feet, impatient for food as he checked his reflection in the metallic elevator walls. Jiho, on the other hand, was calmer, his gaze fixed on the floor like he was trying to piece together everything we’d been through. Abel? Well, he was Abel, standing at the front of the elevator, arms crossed, as stoic as ever, though I knew his brain was probably ticking like a machine.

When the elevator doors finally slid open, revealing the hotel’s breakfast hall, we all stopped in our tracks for a moment. The dining hall was something straight out of a palace—a sprawling space filled with long, polished wooden tables, chandeliers hanging from the ceiling that looked like they were made of crystal, casting soft light over everything. Large windows lined the walls, allowing streams of natural light to pour in and reflect off the marble floors. There were sleek counters filled with trays of food, from local delicacies to international breakfast staples, and the aroma of fresh coffee, baked goods, and sizzling bacon filled the air. The entire room felt like it was designed for royalty, yet somehow it still had a cozy, inviting atmosphere.

People—humans, demi-humans, and elves—milled about, gathering plates of food, while others were already seated, chatting and enjoying their meals. The variety of species was still something we weren’t fully used to, but at this point, it was becoming the new normal. No one seemed out of place here, despite the odd mix of folks.

"Wow," Isak breathed out as he glanced around. "Okay, maybe this isn’t so bad after all."

Abel turned his head slightly, smirking. "Told you."

We headed straight for the buffet, grabbing plates and piling them high with food—eggs, bacon, toast, pancakes, you name it. Isak went overboard as usual, loading up his plate like it was a survival situation. Jiho was more selective, grabbing a few local dishes we hadn’t seen before. Abel, of course, kept it balanced—protein-heavy, low carbs. Me? I grabbed whatever looked good and filled my plate halfway, not wanting to be too greedy, but definitely needing a solid meal after everything we’d been through.

We found an empty table near one of the big windows, the sunlight casting a warm glow over our spot as we settled in with our food. For a while, we ate in silence, just enjoying the taste of something familiar, something grounding.

Eventually, Jiho broke the silence, his mouth half full of food as he muttered, “So... last night.”

"Yeah," I said, putting my fork down. "That was... something."

Isak, mid-bite into a pancake, nodded. "If by ‘something’ you mean absolutely bonkers, then yeah. Yohei, Azrael, pocket universes, missions from a divine trio... normal Friday night, right?"

Abel wiped his mouth with a napkin, his expression serious but calm. "We’ve got a lot to figure out. This isn’t just about wealth or living in a new world. There’s... a bigger picture here."

Jiho leaned back in his chair, his gaze thoughtful. "Yeah, but it’s still pretty cool, right? I mean, how many people get to meet an actual angel? And that pocket universe thing was... insane."

"Cool until we have to do some divine mission that involves us getting killed," I muttered, stabbing a piece of bacon with my fork. "I’d rather not test the limits of how ‘human’ we still are."

Isak shrugged, clearly unfazed. "Hey, maybe we’ll get some crazy powers or something. I wouldn’t mind that."

Abel rolled his eyes, but a small smirk tugged at his lips. "You and your powers. You’d probably just want something to boost your game skills."

"Hey, don’t knock it till you try it," Isak shot back, grinning.

I leaned back in my chair, watching them banter, but my mind was still racing. What were we supposed to do now? We were in a world that wasn’t ours, tied to some divine being with god-like power, and there was no manual for how to navigate this. The only thing that was certain was that things were going to get even weirder from here on out.

"One step at a time," I said quietly, more to myself than anyone else. "We’ll figure it out."

Abel, who had been quietly observing, nodded in agreement. "Yeah. We’ve got time to learn. But we should be smart about it. No rushing into anything."

The conversation drifted into lighter topics after that as we continued eating, enjoying the rare moment of peace. We knew things would get complicated soon enough, but for now, breakfast was a good enough distraction.

Once we were done, we pushed our plates aside, the reality of the day settling back in as we sat there, each of us thinking about what came next.

Isak leaned back in his chair, a sly grin spreading across his face as he pulled out his phone. “Alright, fellas,” he said, tapping the screen a few times. “I know we’ve been talking about finding a place to settle down in, and guess what? I did some research last night.”

The rest of us paused mid-bite, surprised. Isak was hardly the type to spend his time planning anything, let alone researching potential homes. Jiho raised an eyebrow, and Abel turned his head slightly, intrigued but skeptical.

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Isak didn’t let the silence faze him as he turned his phone toward us, displaying the image of a stunning mansion that looked like it belonged in some ancient yet futuristic dynasty. “Behold,” he said, like he was unveiling some grand prize on a game show, “our potential new crib.”

The mansion on his screen was nothing short of breathtaking. It looked freshly constructed but maintained a traditional design—Japanese architectural influence, but with a modern twist. The multi-tiered structure had a pagoda-like roof with intricate woodwork, sleek glass windows, and beautiful wooden balconies. Cherry blossom trees surrounded the property, their pink petals scattered across the manicured gardens, which also included a small, pristine pond, a hot spring, and a stone path leading to the main entrance. A small arched bridge crossed over a gentle stream, and everything was enclosed by a low fence, giving the place a serene, private feel despite the bustling city around it.

The mansion’s warm wooden tones contrasted sharply with the sleek, modern skyline visible in the distance, making it a perfect blend of old and new. It was the kind of place you’d expect to see in some high-end magazine, showcasing luxury homes.

Abel leaned in, inspecting the details on the screen. “This is... nice.”

Isak grinned proudly. “It’s more than nice, bro. It’s prime real estate, just near the shops and right smack in the middle of the route between the Arcane Institute and the Ironclad Martial School. Look,” he said, swiping over to the map, showing the distance between the three locations. “It’s like the perfect triangle—everything we need within easy reach.”

I peered closer at the map. He wasn’t wrong. The mansion was on the northeastern side of the city, a perfect midpoint between the two universities. Convenient and practical.

Jiho tilted his head, surprised. “You actually... did all this research?”

Isak crossed his arms, feigning offense. “What, you thought I was just gonna sit back and let you guys handle everything? I may joke around, but I’ve got brains too. Besides, I couldn’t sleep, so I figured I’d get ahead of the curve.”

Jiho gave a slow nod of approval. “Alright, I’m impressed. What’s the catch?”

Isak scrolled to the next part of the listing, his grin faltering a bit. “Well... it’s a bit pricey. The place just went up for sale, and it’s gonna set us back a lot of UW—millions, in fact.”

Abel leaned forward, studying the listing. “Yeah, that’s not exactly pocket change.”

Isak shrugged, still confident. “But hey, it’s worth it. Look at the size of the place. And did you see the hot spring? We could live like kings here. Plus, we’ve got more than enough money thanks to Narkul, right? This is a long-term investment.”

I had to admit, Isak had done a surprisingly good job. The place looked perfect, and the location was ideal for everything we’d need in this new world. It was a far cry from the small apartment we’d shared back home, and it felt surreal to even consider living in a place like this.

Abel glanced around at the rest of us. “Well, what do you guys think? Are we seriously considering this?”

I nodded slowly. “I mean, it’s not like we’re hurting for cash, and this place is... incredible.”

Jiho grinned, clearly sold. “Yeah, I’m in. I can already picture myself in that hot spring.”

Isak, still playing the part of a sales agent, leaned back with a satisfied smile. “See? I knew you’d come around. You guys really need to start giving me more credit.”

Abel shook his head, amused. “Alright, let’s get in touch with the real estate agent and make this happen.”

Before Abel could continue with the plan to contact the real estate agent, something caught my eye. On the property listing, in fine print, was a familiar logo and name—Nark Industries. My mind clicked instantly. Of course, this had to be Narkul's. Everything in this city seemed to have his fingerprints on it, and I figured this mansion would be no different.

"Hold up," I said, pointing it out to the others. "This place is owned by Narkul."

Abel raised an eyebrow, clearly catching on. “Well, that changes things. Maybe we don’t need to go through the whole buying process if it’s his.”

I nodded. “Exactly. Let’s just call him, see if we can work something out. It'll save us a lot of hassle."

Abel and I stepped out into the hallway, away from the breakfast area for some privacy. I pulled out my phone, scrolled through the contacts, and found Narkul's number. After a few rings, he picked up.

"Haru," Narkul’s voice came through, sounding as laid-back as ever. "What can I do for you? How’s the hotel treating you?"

I got straight to the point. "Narkul, we were looking at this house on the property listings, and it turns out it’s one of yours—big place, east side of the city, near the universities."

"Ah, yes," Narkul said, clearly recognizing the property. "I was planning to sell it. Why, you interested?"

"Actually, yeah. We were thinking it could be our base here in Sanzu. It’s perfect for what we need."

There was a pause on the other end, and I could practically hear him weighing his options. After a few moments, Narkul spoke again, his tone casual but decisive. "Tell you what, Haru, I was looking to offload that place anyway. If you guys really want it, it's yours. I'll take it off the market. Consider it part of the arrangement."

Abel and I exchanged a quick glance, a silent agreement passing between us. This was a no-brainer.

"That sounds perfect," I said into the phone. "Thanks, Narkul. We’ll take it."

"Done deal," Narkul replied. "I’ll have the paperwork handled on my end. You boys are all set. Anything else you need?"

“No, that covers it. Appreciate it.”

We ended the call and stepped back into the breakfast hall, where Jiho and Isak were already heading over, looking expectant.

“Well?” Jiho asked, his eyes darting between us. “Did we get the place or what?”

I couldn’t help but smile. “It’s ours. Narkul took it off the market.”

Isak let out a triumphant whoop, throwing his fist in the air. “I knew it! This is gonna be insane!”

Jiho clapped his hands together, his grin wide. “We’ve got ourselves a mansion, boys.”

Abel, ever the practical one, nodded approvingly. “Alright then. Let’s pack up our stuff from the hotel. We’re moving in.”

It was surreal. Just days ago, we were living in a cramped apartment back home, struggling to make ends meet. Now, we had a sprawling mansion in the heart of Sanzu. I could see it in my brothers’ faces—the same awe and disbelief that I felt. This was a dream come true.

But beneath the excitement, I couldn’t help but feel the weight of responsibility settling in. This was a new life, a new world, and with it came challenges we weren’t fully prepared for yet. But for now, we’d enjoy this victory. We deserved that much.

“Alright,” I said, snapping myself out of my thoughts. “Let’s go get our stuff.”