I Don’t Believe in Ghosts, But I Make a Living by Exorcising Them! - Chapter 101

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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I Don’t Believe in Ghosts, But I Make a Living Through Exorcism! Episode 101

“Then how about inviting the Duke over soon and practicing dancing here?”

“…Huh?”

Rather than skipping a day of dance practice?

But inviting Harman to my estate.

‘Harman has been here before though.’

He had purchased a haunted estate and was curious why I was living well there, so he came to the estate – that was our first meeting.

Next, he visited because of Grace’s necklace and almost got into a bidding war with me.

He didn’t enter the estate, but he also came to pick me up.

Come to think of it.

‘I’ve never actually invited Harman over.’

People from Count Helkene’s house had come to my estate so many times, even staying for several nights.

Though if you think about it, I didn’t invite the people from Count Helkene’s house either – they all just came on their own.

“But… is there really a need to practice dancing here?”

“Of course. If you only practice in one place, you might panic when dancing somewhere else.”

“That’s right, Miss! You just decorated the estate too, it’s perfect for inviting someone over!”

Bella suddenly chimed in, sneakily placing her hand on top of our clasped hands.

“…That’s true.”

Honestly, I decorated the estate simply because it felt empty, but if I were to show it to someone, I’d like Harman to be the first guest.

‘Right, it’s fifty-fifty odds.’

If it works out, great, and if not, then it doesn’t!

My deliberation wasn’t long. I quickly wrote down the letter.

“Miss, you must add this content! It’s okay if you decline. At the estate…”

Emily and Bella actively helped from the side.

“Like this?”

“Yes, perfect.”

After having the two check the content one last time, I sent the letter with a determined expression.

We sat huddled together on the sofa, waiting only for a letter to arrive.

Tap tap.

“It’s here!”

And as soon as the messenger bird knocked on the window, we all rushed out without exception.

As soon as I urgently opened the window, the bird fluttered with a startled look.

Chirp!

It dropped the letter it was holding in its beak inside and flew away.

Regardless of that.

“Miss, what does the Duke say?”

Bella and Emily stuck close to both my shoulders, anxiously waiting for the result.

I moistened my parched lips for a moment.

[I’m truly delighted that the Lady is formally inviting me.

Then this week, on the day we were scheduled to practice at my estate, I’ll visit the Lady’s estate instead.]

“…He said yes!”

“Kyaaa!”

The two hugged each other as if they’d been waiting for this.

I also pursed my lips and continued reading.

[However, I don’t recommend practicing dance separately with your guard knight.

Practicing with someone who isn’t your partner might disrupt the harmony with your actual partner. Moreover, isn’t that guard knight Count Helkene’s guard knight?]

Hmm…

‘True. The book I saw earlier kept emphasizing harmony with your partner too.’

But how does he know that Sir Zeros is Rudian’s guard knight?

‘Did I mention it before?’

He must have seen them at the Imperial Court Ball. He has good observation skills.

Just before this happened.

Harman was, as usual, scribbling on documents in his quiet office.

A butler holding a pink envelope came to the office.

“Duke, Lady Siena has sent you a letter.”

…A letter? From Siena?

Harman opened Siena’s unexpectedly arrived letter in a state full of questions.

Surprisingly, it was about inviting him to her estate.

[I think we need to practice dancing a bit more for the Imperial Court Ball!

But if we only practice in the same place, we might panic when dancing elsewhere, so I want to practice at my estate too…

…

If the Duke is alright with it, I’d like to invite you to my estate to practice dancing as well.]

So it was asking if he could come help practice at her estate once.

But to Harman’s eyes, it only looked like she was formally inviting him.

[I recently decorated the estate too!]

…Did she decorate it to invite me?

The corners of his mouth began to twitch slightly.

[I’ll also show you the puppy Bokdeungi I mentioned before.]

‘Ah, so that’s why she brought up Bokdeungi’s story beforehand.’

Now the corners of his mouth curved into a gentle arc.

However, as soon as he read the next sentence, it dropped.

[Am I asking too difficult a favor?

It’s okay if you decline. Actually, I can practice with my guard knight at the estate, so please don’t feel burdened at all…]

He didn’t read any further. Harman scribbled a reply and sent it off with the messenger bird.

He was about to focus on his documents again.

Harman stopped mid-reach for his quill pen as Siena’s voice suddenly came to mind.

“Something was strange. A young lady I met at the tea party said there was a foul smell and she saw ghosts from her estate vault, but when I went there, there was only rotten fruit in the vault.”

“Rotten fruit…”

He even remembered how Siena had earnestly curled her thumb and index finger when trying to describe the appearance of the rotten fruit.

Everywhere Siena had gone, there were always ‘those things’ and Siena exorcised them.

‘Either those things’ medium was destroyed or their existence itself was annihilated.’

Harman had vividly witnessed one of those things disappear after being punched by Siena.

Surprisingly, Siena really seemed to think those things didn’t exist and couldn’t even see them.

‘Rotten fruit found in a noble residence’s vault.’

That wasn’t rotten fruit or anything like that, but most likely another scheme by the spirits.

“Before, Bokdeungi once sorted letters to match exorcism requests perfectly. Sir Zeros wondered if Bokdeungi could see ghosts…”

Harman looked at Siena’s letter again.

[I’ll also show you the puppy Bokdeungi I mentioned before.]

He had previously sent a letter to Siena, having his messenger bird circle around the estate once.

However, he couldn’t find even a hair of the puppy.

Brown fur that looks golden when hit by light.

Clearly, there’s something there.

‘Right, I need to confirm it.’

Harman looked around the office that was not just quiet but cold.

Two years ago, the day he manifested his ability.

The spirits of Aldimos came to find him, letting down their blonde hair that looked exactly like his.

“Hello, Harman. We’ve been waiting for you to awaken.”

At first, they were definitely crowded together in the office.

But at some point, they left the office one by one, and now no one stayed in the office except Calidis.

They only visit when there’s an injustice or when they have something to say.

And now….

Even Calidis was no longer left.

The office had become Harman’s solitary space again, just like two years ago.

“….”

Harman’s face subtly contorted.

Heading toward the greenhouse garden, he opened the door as if nothing was wrong.

Then the voices coming from inside instantly grew quieter.

Harman suppressed a bitter laugh inwardly. It was something he had grown accustomed to by now.

“Are you plotting something behind my back?”

【What plotting?】

Calidis, who had been facing away, turned around feigning innocence.

However, he didn’t know that the other spirits behind him were rolling their eyes around frantically.

“I heard that places where ghosts appear lately have been giving off foul odors. Like rotting fruit, for example. But I never left anything like that around.”

【….】

“What could be going on?”

Harman leaned casually against the door of the greenhouse garden. Because Calidis, who always laughed things off cheekily, wasn’t smiling.

“We’re family, aren’t we? Right, Calidis?”

So those were words he spoke wanting to hear his true intentions.

Suddenly, Calidis grinned wickedly.

Then he approached Harman swiftly.

【That’s right, exactly. We’re family, Harman.】

Golden eyes that had come right up to his face stared at him without even blinking.

【Harman, we only trust you. Surely you wouldn’t betray us, would you?】

“….”

【You know we shed tears of blood because of the Emperor, right? And your mother too-】

“Stop.”

Harman hurriedly covered Calidis’s mouth.

His breathing became labored. Harman staggered, finding it difficult even to stand still, and barely managed to support himself on one knee.

Looking down at him like that, Calidis smirked. Calidis whispered again.

We’re the only ones you can rely on, Harman. We’re family, aren’t we? You have to get revenge for us, don’t you?

You’re nothing more than a hostage right now. We’re the only ones who care about you. Think carefully about who’s really on your side.

The whispers continued to cling to Harman’s ears.

No matter how much he covered his ears, screamed, and tried to run away, it was useless.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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