I Don’t Believe in Ghosts, But I Make a Living by Exorcising Them! - Chapter 124

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

I Don’t Believe in Ghosts, But I Make a Living Through Exorcism! Episode 124

“….”

No, no.

‘They said the fireworks would start soon.’

If fireworks went off in the middle of my confession, my voice would be completely drowned out.

‘Should I confess when the fireworks end?’

Or on the way back? When? In the carriage?

“I also have something I’d like to ask you.”

“Yes, please go ahead!”

While I was hesitating, Harman beat me to it.

I had been staring at the mat covered with food, and awkwardly spun my body around.

Our eyes met.

‘Ah, maybe.’

We might have been thinking the exact same thing right now.

If he confessed, I was ready to answer ‘I like you too!’ immediately.

“About the places you went to perform exorcisms.”

…Of course.

The words that had risen to the tip of my throat dropped back down.

It wasn’t embarrassment about making a fuss by myself.

‘Both Harman and I are being too cautious.’

It was too similar to the way I changed topics when situations became awkward.

We both showed signs of liking each other, yet neither of us actually confessed.

Rather than testing the waters, it was more like we were worried about being rejected if we confessed.

But for that kind of thing, his expression was quite serious.

“By any chance, were there places that suffered damage before the exorcism?”

“What kind of damage do you mean?”

“Material damage, psychological damage. Any kind of damage at all.”

Hmm, I’m not sure why he’s suddenly asking this, but I also tend to blurt out random things when I feel awkward.

Since it was entirely possible, I answered sincerely.

“The material damage probably wasn’t that significant. Most of the clients did replace old items with new ones, but you can’t really call that damage.”

If I thought only in terms of ‘money’, wouldn’t the exorcism fees they paid me be the biggest damage?

But that was a legitimate service fee, so let’s move on. After all, the exorcisms really did work.

‘But psychological damage.’

I had never seriously thought about this.

While I claimed to be an exorcist despite absolutely believing ghosts didn’t exist for the sake of making money, that wasn’t the only reason.

In the original story, the owners of ‘haunted estates’ went through painful processes before putting their estates up for auction at rock-bottom prices.

‘There were people who cherished their estates tremendously, and people whose families all left because the estate was supposedly haunted.’

Most of them had their minds and bodies broken in such ways.

I started this work hoping those people would suffer a little less.

‘The owner of the estate I bought wasn’t really that type though.’

I bought what an anonymous wealthy person sold at a low price because they wanted to liquidate everything and move to the provinces. Thanks to that, I felt no guilt.

Anyway, that’s how it started.

But what about now?

As a result, there wasn’t a single cheap ‘haunted estate’ at the auction house.

So I thought I had prevented it well, but if the ghosts I saw weren’t hallucinations but all real, that would be different.

Just hearing the words ‘psychological damage’ already brought several people to mind.

“There was a client who was wasting away, unable to do anything all day because a ghost kept clinging to them.”

Marquis Fainen.

They said a ghost had persistently followed him around until I came.

His appearance when I actually arrived was truly terrible.

“He was so happy when the exorcism worked the moment I pointed my finger that he sent me away immediately. But thinking about it now, this is strange – how did that happen?”

“….”

“Oh, there was also a place where the entire estate was collectively possessed by ghosts. The client’s wife was so mentally gone that she couldn’t even leave her room.”

That was Viscount Morgon’s estate.

That’s when I first suspected Harman and also suspected the existence of ghosts.

That day, people’s reactions kept bothering me especially.

‘That’s why I wanted to take on exorcism requests quickly.’

It was a time when I was ignorant and confident, believing that everything would be solved by just repairing the old parts.

I have no idea how I actually performed the exorcisms though…! I’d need to see something to understand!

“But Lady.”

I was about to answer carelessly when my eyes widened.

With so many people around us, calling me Lady.

“You should call me Ani-“

“Since when have you known?”

“Pardon?”

At his assertive tone, I thought ‘oh no’ for a moment.

“The fact that ghosts exist.”

Wind swept between us.

It was such a light breeze that it barely made our hair flutter, but my whole body felt cold.

However, I didn’t avoid his gaze. It was a fact that would be revealed someday, and there was no need to hide it.

“I found out just before leaving the Imperial Banquet Hall. Though I didn’t see them directly.”

As soon as I finished speaking, his blue eyes lost focus and darkened deeply.

It had been a while.

Not feeling any emotion from him and not knowing what he was thinking.

Harman let out a low sigh, and pale breath escaped.

He was slowly about to say something.

Plop!

“Ah, it’s cold!”

Suddenly, a cool sensation touched the top of my head like a stab.

I clutched my head and trembled.

Plop. Plop plop.

Starting with this, small somethings began falling one after another before my eyes, settling on Harman’s hat and shoulders.

‘That’s….’

I looked up at the sky and held out my hand.

Snowflakes.

It was this year’s first snow.

“You’re cold.”

A worried voice brushed past my ears.

The moment I turned my head, Harman gently cupped my cheek.

‘Wait, isn’t this too close?’

My eyes naturally widened. If we got just a little closer, our noses would touch.

Unable to do this or that, just rolling my eyes around, Harman said glumly.

“I should have brought a shawl if I knew this would happen.”

But you look much colder than me for saying such things…?

His cheeks and nose tip had long since turned red from the cold.

Being such a pale person made the change even more noticeable.

‘Come to think of it, it got really cold in just a short time.’

When did it get this cold?

Indeed, weather-related information can’t be trusted in any world.

The date was so enjoyable that I didn’t even notice it was getting cold.

Though Harman still doesn’t seem to know.

He gently caressed my cheek.

“It’s unfortunate, but we should give up on the fireworks and head back.”

Harman’s touch was as regretful as his voice. Even so, his face continued to turn redder and redder.

I unconsciously placed my hand over the back of his.

“Lady?”

Startled, he tried to pull back, but I held on tightly and wouldn’t let go.

‘How can you worry only about me when your hands are this cold?’

In his slowly blinking blue eyes, I could see my mischievously smiling reflection.

Perhaps because the weather had gotten colder, the surroundings suddenly became much darker, so there wasn’t much I could see properly.

At most, just Harman’s eyes and the snowflakes piling up softly.

But that’s enough.

“But I really want to see the fireworks. What should we do?”

“Then… we could wait… but if Lady collapses again…”

I could feel his tremendous internal conflict.

As if this situation was confusing in many ways, he kept trying to look at me then looking away, never keeping his eyes still for even a moment.

‘Cute.’

He’s really so cute, what should I do?

The snow piled up in round mounds on his shoulders, his face flushed red from embarrassment, and his hand that wouldn’t leave my cheek.

Everything is so cute.

Without realizing it, I closed the distance. Our faces kept getting closer.

And when our noses touched.

“…!”

The conflicted person from before was nowhere to be found as Harman tilted his head slightly to the side.

His eyes began to slowly close.

I felt my heart pounding as I closed my eyes—

‘Wait a minute.’

I opened my eyes wide.

‘Aren’t the ancestors behind Harman right now?’

Is this okay? When everyone is watching?

Even though I couldn’t see anything, I unnecessarily rolled my eyes around to look behind him. I couldn’t help but worry more because it was such an important moment.

Perhaps sensing my hesitation, Harman pulled his face back slightly.

“They’re not here right now. I wanted to meet with Lady alone.”

“Ah…”

So he knew that I had realized ghosts were attached to him.

When I showed my flustered state, Harman let out a sigh.

“I suppose this is just my selfishness after all. I’m sorry.”

What?

I grabbed his arm as he tried to move away. I pulled him close and pressed our lips together.

I looked at his wide, startled eyes, then slowly closed mine.

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