Apocalypse Landlord: My Tenants Are All Beautiful Heroines.-Chapter 4: Banished

[Three tenants have been registered!]

[Current Tenants: 3/5]

"Three? Alisha’s family members are considered individual tenants?"

Aiden was confused for a moment, but it made sense. Since he could give them tasks to complete, it would make more sense for them to get registered individually.

"It would also make it easier for me to get that useless bum to do some actual work." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

[New Skill unlocked: Landlord’s Supervision.]

[1x Skill Points gained!]

More notifications appeared before Aiden, but he ignored them. He was more concerned with the first notification he saw.

"Let’s leave this place first."

He eagerly reached for the doorknob and twisted it. This time, he didn’t get zapped, but another notification greeted him.

[Where to?]

[> Apartment 1503 (Host’s Residence)]

[> Apartment 1501 (Tenant: Alisha Irwin)]

Aiden clicked his tongue. He thought he would be given free rein to roam, but as he suspected, the system would only let him travel to places under the barrier.

"It’s more like a fast travel mechanism."

Just like that, all the excitement vanished. Instead, he decided to focus on other notifications, primarily his new skill.

+++

Skill: Landlord’s Supervision (lvl 1)

Type: Active Skill

Duration: 120 seconds

Description: Keeping an eye on rowdy tenants is a must for a landlord. This skill helps you with it.

Effect: Allows monitoring any tenant at any time. Can be used 3 times a day for a $20 fee per usage.

+++

"Seriously? Charging money to use skills?" Aiden sighed, shaking his head. "In the previous world, it was mana, and in this one, it’s money."

Suddenly, it made sense how he had twelve million dollars. It was the exact mana limit he had as a demon lord.

As for his treasures from the precious life, they had been replaced by modern tools and things he desired, such as consoles, a high-rise apartment, and whatnot.

"Interesting, let’s use the skill first."

His eyes turned blurry as the focus shifted from first person to third. Before Aiden knew it, he was once again back in Alisha’s apartment. However, it seemed no one could see or hear him.

"Back so soon?" James asked, looking at her empty hands. "Why...?"

"Don’t start now, James," Alisha cut him off. "Can you please fix the room? Someone is coming to—"

Before she knew it, James rushed at her like a crazed animal and shoved her into the wall.

"Oh? Did I send you out to get water or to make friends? Tell me? Is it a guy? It is, isn’t it?"

Alisha was stunned. It was the first time James had put her hands on her, that too, in front of Lily. Alisha didn’t respond, she just looked at Lily and saw herself in her.

Years ago, she had been in the same situation. Her father had a history of domestic abuse, and her mother and brothers often ended up suffering.

James knew it very well, as their families had been neighbors. He knew how deep those scars ran and still...

"Tell me!" James yelled again, pushing her further back.

"I don’t know—"

"Like hell you don’t—argh!"

In his insecure rage, James was about to grab Alisha by the throat when another arm shot out of the dark, grabbing his wrist and twisting it behind James’s back.

"How about you leave the lady alone and take a seat?" Aiden suggested.

Seeing a strange man in his house, James wanted to lash out, but the slight increase in pressure around his wrist persuaded him otherwise.

"F-Fine! Just let me go!"

"Attaboy!" Aiden smiled and let him be.

Moments ago, he had seen James about to go berserk and immediately teleported over.

It wasn’t out of goodwill, but Alisha was his first tenant and also someone who might prove to be an asset in the future, unlike her husband. So how could he let some doofus ruin something he needed?

"Now then, you’re probably waiting—"

"Aiden, you’re the landlord!?" Alisha’s shriek silenced him.

[Tenant: Alisha Irwin’s affection rose to 59%]

[Tenant: Alisha Irwin’s loyalty rose to 15%]

Aiden tilted his head in confusion. Only then did he remember he didn’t include his name in the contract and just went with the default one the system had offered.

Wait, she accepted the contract not knowing I’m the landlord?

According to the system, a tenant’s loyalty and affection affected the contract acceptance. The fact that Alisha accepted the contract without his name to influence her meant one thing.

Either she was too desperate, or the contract terms were too good to refuse. Most likely, it is the combination of both.

Aiden made a mental note to experiment more with the contract later. First, he had to deal with Alisha.

"Hey—" Aiden said, only for James to interrupt him.

"How dare you set foot in my house!"

Aiden sighed, slowly turning towards him, only to see the ’man of the house’ hiding behind his toddler.

"Quite the man of the house you are," Aiden scoffed, rolling his eyes.

Previously, he thought James had to have some use, but the more he learned about him, the sooner he wanted to get rid of him. Even as a former demon lord, he would never stoop so low as to use a child as a shield.

"Y-You!" James stammered.

He already couldn’t handle Alisha’s disappointment, and the stranger’s disapproval drove him to the edge. However, the moment the thought of harming the man crossed his mind, he collapsed on his knees as if something was forcing him to do that.

[You have been demoted from <Tenant> to <Drifter>]

"Ugh... what did you do to me!?" He yelled, only to have his lips sealed shut the next second.

Absolute authority within the safe zone. I didn’t think it would work this well.

Unlike the tenants who had the right to residence, the treatment of dwellers depended on the landlord’s whims. Since James didn’t learn his lesson, Aiden decided to teach him a thing or two.

[Expel the dweller: James Irwin from residence?]

"Yes."

A moment later, James got up and walked outside on his own. Once the door shut behind him, Aiden lifted the restrictions, only for the fool to start pounding on the door.

"You bastard! What did you do to me?" he yelled.

"Is the floor down below safe?" Aiden asked Alisha.

"I think so—"

"Good."

[Banish the dweller: James Irwin to the 14th floor?]

Yes.

The frantic pounding ceased, plunging the room into silence.

"Finally some quiet," Aiden sighed. "You don’t mind, do you?"

"Aiden... why are you talking to me like that? We might not be family anymore, but I was your step-aunt once..."

"Eh?"