For a long time, she doesn't utter a word.

Making a deal with the devil? This rain god is sly. It's clear that he wants something; however, he's making her dance around what he wants.

It can't simply be her house.

"I will become your landlord officially." Ari smiles at the rain god. The corners of her dark eyes narrow down.

Ryou lays down on his side like a cat, propping his head. He puts his arm on the raised knee and smirks at her, "We are talking, Landlord."

"How disrespectful!" Rilyah looks at him scornfully.

"Moon Goddess, I respect her a lot," Ryou replies to Rilyah calmly as Ame Onna enters the room with a tray full of various dishes. She places them one by one in front of the guests; and then, she leaves the room soundlessly.

"Why don't you sit up and talk then?" Cina grabs the cup of tea with the intention of throwing it on Rain God. "She's the Dark God's bride and the Renasir of Iravan. Her status is only second to the gods. All gods must treat her with respect."

The rain god sighs and sits up, leaning against the wall as tresses of his hair fall forward languidly. He stares at them with his upturned eyes. In a few seconds, the colour of his eyes turns vivid blue as his features turn soft. The colour of his turn pale pink. The rain god cocks his head and slowly blinks his eyes at Cina.

Cina opens his mouth to say something, but no words would come out. His heart is beating abnormally. What did this rain god do?

"Why are you affected by his glamour?" Rilyah smacks the back of his head. "Some gods of this world can change their genders. Don't tell me that you fell in love with him?"

"I was teasing him a bit." The rain god beams at his landlord. "You are going to stay with us from now on, Takayama Ari."

How ridiculous! It should be 'them' staying with her from now on. Ari gives him a pleasant smile. "Rain God, let's make a lease first."

"Lease?" Ryou furrows his brows. He has never done a lease before.

"To keep the relationship between a landlord" -- Ari points at herself -- "and you."

She gestures in his direction and adds, "We must have a lease."

"Do you think that you can take me to the court if something goes wrong?" The rain god looks at her questionably.

"Gods of this word are divided into three tiers." Ai interrupts his mother before she could say anything, "The first tier belongs to the primordial gods who have been present since the beginning of the world. Iravan has two primordial gods -- God Noras and God Adira -- light and darkness. This world has three primordial gods -- Time, Death, and Power. The other gods are either present in dormant forms or the elements take avatars. The second and lower tiers belong to those gods who are born from the need of this world. These gods can disappear when the need is gone or reappear if the need comes back."

"You are knowledgeable, Ai-kun." The rain god's smile doesn't meet his eyes.

"Regardless of the tier, the gods of this world also have laws." Ai glances at Rain God's fingers. "If they break those laws, they can't go back to heaven. You are one of the faces of the rain. A minor god, I think? Your power is dissipating. Your shrine is gone. Your situation is so bad that you have to rent a shrine. Rain God, we won't ask you what your true objective is. Everyone can keep secrets. However, a partnership can only happen if both parties benefit from the partnership. A lease will protect both partners. Use your seal. As long as you make a vow to follow the terms of the lease, it should be fine."

Surprised, Ari observes Ai. How did he find out about God's seals? He knows a lot about the gods of this world. Her son has truly grown up. But he's only thirteen.

"Fine." Rain God exhales and taps the table. "Sosuri!"

The dwarf opens the door and enters the room. "Yes, Master."

"Bring paper and my seal." He commands him, "The landlord wants to write down a lease."

"As you say, Master." Sosuri runs out of the room.

"Let's discuss the terms." Ai smiles widely. "There are five tenants. How many rooms are needed?"

"Sosuri will tell you," Ryou mutters. "I need this place for a year, I think."

"Do you have a previous address?" Ai takes out his small notebook and pen from his pockets.

"Someone built a shopping mall at that place." Ryou lets out a depressed sigh. "ZX Shopping Mall."

"Any criminal activity?" Ai continues questioning him nonchalantly.

"I tried to make it rain at the shopping mall." Ryou knits his brows, clenching his hands into fists. "They have special protection for rainy seasons."

"It's really hard to survive as a minor god these days." Ai comments sympathetically, "You have never hurt or killed anyone, have you? Even if it's for self-defence, you should tell us beforehand. Hiding it would be against the terms of the lease."

"Sosuri will recount them to you." Ryou crosses his arms.

"I will start with our terms then." Ai gives a nod to his mother. "First of all, both parties will take care of their own foods and expenses… that is, the landlord will never eat the food or drinks made by the tenant."

"..." Ryou narrows his eyes slightly.

"Secondly, monthly rent must be given to the landlord on the first of every month until the terms of the lease are over. The tenant must keep the place clean. If there is any damage due to the shrine activities, he must pay for the damage."

"That's not a problem." Ryou says to him, "This place is already attracting people. I will pay one-fourth part of the offerings to the landlord."

"The tenant must never ever," Ai states with an emphasizing tone, "ever harm the landlord or anyone who is important to the landlord. It includes Ai Takayama, Rilyah Takayama, Cina Takayama, and her daughters who aren't born yet."

The rain god gives him a solemn nod. "Accepted."

"The tenant must keep a respectful distance from the landlord. He must treat her with the utmost respect. He must guard the house and the landlord. In addition to that, the dark elemental artefact must be deposited as a security deposit."

"You are good." The rain god murmurs, "She can keep it. It's useless to me."

"That's the tenant's choice." Ai closes the notebook and turns his head toward his mother. "Mother, do you have anything to add?"

Didn't he get everything already? Ari pats Ai's head. "No, I trust you. You should do what you think best."

"I will prepare the draft and show it to you before I finalize it." Ai curls his fingers. He doesn't feel that it's good if his mother stays alone here. "Mother, can I stay here with you?"

"Yes!" Cina roars. "We must stay here with our mother."

"That means…" Rilyah's eyes become big and round. "We don't have to go to college and study anymore."

Ai shakes his head. Is that all they can think about?

"Mother, if you let me stay here, I will name my daughter after you." Cina holds Ari's hands. "Please! We don't have any place to stay."

"We are already eighteen officially." Rilyah puckers her lips, looking at her with misty eyes. If Mirinae and Sion could see their daughter acting like this, they would have thrown her in Qeshaya. "I really don't want to study anymore. Life in this world is too hard."

They can't do magic openly. Otherwise, crazy humans might capture them and start running tests on them. Humans are already looking for aliens.

Technically, they are aliens.

Why is this world like this? Iravan is so friendly to the outsiders.

"Of course." Ari ruffles Rilyah's head. "You are already my family. I will contact the orphanage and tell them all of you are my families. We might have to make some fake proofs. though"

"So many…" The rain god releases his breath. "I can't say much since this is not my place."

While Ari and her troupe are talking about the lease, Adira materializes at a distant land.