I Don’t Believe in Ghosts, But I Make a Living by Exorcising Them! - Chapter 135

—————
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 135

【Yes, everything will be fine.】

“…!”

I dropped the object I was holding from my hand.

If I had taken it out of my pocket and then dropped it, it would have been shattered.

‘Am I hearing things?’

Yes, it must be auditory hallucinations.

Right now in front of me, the Emperor was muttering incantations with his eyes closed.

‘If I really heard Harman’s voice, there’s no way the Emperor wouldn’t notice.’

Probably, I was thinking it would be nice if Harman were by my side and unconsciously created it myself.

【My voice can only be heard by you right now, Lady, so please be at ease.】

…But I heard it again.

This isn’t a hallucination but real?

‘And only I can hear it?’

Come to think of it, Harman’s voice felt more like it was echoing in my head rather than coming from right next to me.

Something like telepathy perhaps.

I bit my lower lip tightly. Not only did I feel reassured as if Harman was really by my side, but I even felt a bit choked up.

【As expected, it seems the Emperor intends to cast magic on you, Lady.】

Now he’s not even adding “His Majesty” anymore.

【Did he perhaps touch on your guilt or evoke sympathy by bringing up my story? If so, please nod your head.】

“….”

How did he know that.

My tears dried up instantly.

【Lady?】

I slowly nodded my head.

【…You mustn’t fall for that.】

Well, I already fell for it.

But I pretended not to know and nodded once more.

The Emperor forcibly pushed me onto the magic circle, so it’s not like I fell for it, right?

Of course, I probably would have gotten on even without being pushed.

However, now wasn’t the time to feel joy at Harman’s voice.

【Probably, once the Emperor’s incantation ends, you will be bound to the Emperor’s will, Lady.】

What?

I felt a chill of fear.

The magic circle beneath my feet was so complex it would be difficult to draw even if told to copy it.

Just what kind of incredible magic was he trying to cast? The Emperor was still frantically chanting incantations.

His already wrinkled face became even more creased as he frowned, and sweat starting from his forehead streamed down.

The situation was clearly not normal.

‘Am I really going to be bound to the Emperor by magic?’

But the problem was….

I, standing on the magic circle, couldn’t feel anything at all.

‘Is this how it normally is?’

What I see before my eyes is clearly an urgent situation, a moment of crisis.

But why can’t I feel anything at all?

【Of course, the fact that you can hear my voice right now means the Emperor’s magic isn’t working on you at all, Lady.】

‘Excuse me?’

I almost asked out loud.

The magic isn’t working on me at all?

【Normally, by now you’d be unable to move and suffering as you accept the magic.】

I fumblingly felt around my body. Far from pain, there was nothing wrong at all.

Then the reason must be one of two things.

‘The Emperor must have made some mistake.’

No wonder the magic circle looked so incredibly complex. I heard that with things like this, even one wrong formula ruins everything.

He kept talking about how old he was, so it’s possible he made a mistake because of that.

‘If not that, then this object Harman gave me is protecting me.’

Surely, it must be one of these two reasons.

Meanwhile, the Emperor’s incantation reached its climax.

His voice rose higher and metallic sounds continuously burst out, while the floor was soaked with his sweat.

“….”

This is really strange….

Now I was starting to feel sorry for him.

Harman’s voice hadn’t been heard for a while. I gripped the round object tightly, worried he might have left.

Regardless of nothing happening to me right now, I needed peace of mind.

No matter what, with the Emperor chanting incantations so passionately in front of me, I couldn’t just think calmly.

But as it turned out, there was one problem caused by the magic not working on me.

A truly enormous problem.

【Lady, after the Emperor’s incantation ends, you must act as if you’re completely entranced.】

‘A-acting?’

My joy at hearing Harman’s voice again was brief.

I, who had been looking at the Emperor with indifferent eyes no matter what he did in front of me, flinched for the first time.

Dancing also required tremendous practice, and now suddenly I have to act.

And in front of the Emperor at that!

【If it becomes obvious that nothing happened, the Emperor will suspect you, Lady.】

What choice do I have.

If he says to do it, I have to do it….

【And when you return, would you call for me just once more in the carriage?】

This time I reflexively started to nod but stopped and hesitated.

‘How do I call you?’

You need to tell me the method.

Considering he asked me to nod, it seemed like telepathy could only be sent from Harman’s side.

There was no way to ask. I was staring blankly at empty air when.

The Emperor opened his eyes while breathing heavily.

At the same time, Harman’s voice in my head stopped abruptly.

…But I still haven’t heard how to call him?

“It’s done.”

What’s done?

When I looked at him with puzzled eyes, the Emperor looked down at my feet with a satisfied face.

An enormous amount of light was rippling beneath me.

But nothing was directly affecting me.

‘Don’t tell me the incantation is really finished?’

I didn’t expect absolutely nothing would happen until the very end.

For now, I had to act like something happened as Harman said.

I stared blankly at the Emperor without saying anything.

Fortunately, this seemed to be the right thing to do, as the Emperor slumped into his chair. He stroked his chin with satisfaction and fell into reminiscence.

“In the past, I killed everything that annoyed me. But just once, I spared one thing.”

“….”

“I raised it very carefully, cherishing it. But the ungrateful thing tried to betray me. So I was wondering whether to kill it.”

Don’t tell me he was wondering whether to kill Harman?

Or me?

I put tremendous force into my eyes to avoid rolling my eyeballs.

“I’ve thought of a good alternative method. How amusing. Like father, like son, making the same mistake.”

The Emperor slowly approached me.

“Exorcist Siena. Go back and tell Duke Harman Monteville… this.”

He whispered, then covered my eyes.

“And forget everything I said from when you stepped onto the magic circle. All of it.”

I took advantage of having my eyes covered to glance down. The magic circle glowed brightly, then lost its light.

Soon the Emperor removed his hand.

His wicked expression was gone, and he was looking at me with the same benevolent face as when I first arrived.

“I hope you continue to maintain a good relationship with Harman.”

Having achieved his goal, the Emperor sent me away immediately.

He probably thought I couldn’t remember anything after stepping onto the magic circle, so he acted kind.

But sorry to say.

‘I remember it clearly.’

Contrary to the Emperor’s confident words, I remember everything without missing a single detail.

‘What was that, exactly?’

The Emperor thought his magic had worked perfectly.

Seeing how he didn’t have the slightest doubt, there probably wasn’t anything wrong with the Emperor’s magic.

I climbed into the glittering imperial carriage. The guards still treated me as an honored guest.

When the Imperial Palace began to slowly fade into the distance, I drew the window curtains tightly.

I took out the item Harman had given me from my pocket and rolled it around.

‘Did Harman really protect me?’

It looks just like a magic stone on the outside, honestly something that doesn’t seem very useful.

‘What on earth is this thing.’

I suddenly remembered.

【And when you return, could you call for me just once more in the carriage.】

I stared at the round object as if glaring at it, then placed it on the seat across from me.

I realized once again how nice the imperial carriage was.

It was so stable that the round thing maintained its position proudly on the cushion.

So now…

“Duke, I’m on my way back.”

I crossed my arms and stared intensely at the object.

But nothing happened.

“…”

There was no one watching, but honestly it was a bit embarrassing.

‘How exactly am I supposed to call you!’

If you don’t tell me the method and just tell me to call—

Oh, wait. I unconsciously blurted out what came to mind as if possessed.

“If I just sleep one night, it’ll be like nothing happened.”

【Lady, I’m relieved you’re safe.】

“Kyaaah!”

I flipped over in surprise at the voice I heard.

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