I Don’t Believe in Ghosts, But I Make a Living by Exorcising Them! - Chapter 136

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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 136

It was fortunate I was sitting down, because if I had been standing, I would have definitely fallen backward and fainted.

This time I was roughly expecting it, yet I still got startled. It was Harman’s voice coming from the object.

I pressed my chest firmly to calm my pounding heart. Meanwhile, Harman poured out questions rapidly.

【Is there nothing wrong with your body? Any pain somewhere or mental suffering?】

“Yes. Not at all.”

Whether physical pain or mental pain.

I felt nothing at all.

But could he hear what I was saying? I stared at the round object.

【Then that’s truly fortunate.】

…So he can hear me speaking?

Well, he heard the Emperor chanting spells too, so of course he can hear me speak. I straightened my posture.

What’s important now is explaining what happened there as thoroughly as possible.

Since I don’t know when I’ll be able to meet Harman again.

“His Majesty seemed to plan on brainwashing me with magic to threaten the Duke.”

【…Do you remember what the Emperor said?】

“Yes. I remember it too clearly. Every single word, crystal clear.”

So clearly that I remember.

“He said ‘Like father, like son, making the same mistake.'”

I even remembered him saying that.

‘He must have been talking about Harman.’

Does this mean the previous Duke Monteville also betrayed the Emperor? I’d better not mention this right now.

【May I ask what magic the Emperor was trying to cast on you, Lady?】

“He told me to tell you that since I’ve been brainwashed by His Majesty’s magic, if you want to save me, you should follow His Majesty.”

Instead, I spoke about this without hiding it.

After all, I wasn’t affected by the Emperor’s magic.

Moreover, since the Emperor firmly believes I’ve been brainwashed, Harman will eventually have to go see the Emperor anyway.

Pretending it’s ‘because he wants to save me.’

“It’s thanks to the item the Duke gave me that I wasn’t affected by the magic.”

【No.】

“Pardon?”

【It was something you did yourself, Lady. I’m truly relieved nothing happened.】

“…”

Hmm, he’s so modest as always.

He doesn’t need to be modest about something like this.

When I fell silent, at a loss for words, an awkward atmosphere lingered for a moment.

I’m never awkward when it’s just Harman and me anymore, but for some reason it felt awkward now.

Just as I was scratching the back of my neck for no reason, Harman spoke.

【May I visit the estate today?】

“Today?”

【Yes.】

It was a brief answer, but the emotion behind it was strong.

It seemed like he would depart immediately as soon as I gave permission.

‘Is he coming quickly because he needs to meet soon to make it look like he’s following the Emperor’s words?’

The Emperor couldn’t even dream that I’m exchanging communications with Harman like this right now.

So it would be good for Harman to meet me right away.

It would look like I went to threaten Harman immediately because the brainwashing worked so well.

But I kept remembering how noticeably pale Harman’s face was when we met in the alley.

‘No matter how much he says he doesn’t have a fever, how is that the face of someone who’s not sick.’

He was someone who didn’t take care of himself because he was too busy worrying about me.

“Are you feeling alright, Duke? His Majesty didn’t say to tell you immediately, so it’s fine if we meet tomorrow. It’s almost evening anyway.”

As expected, the response was slow, confirming he was indeed sick.

It was quite a while later when he, after hesitating, spoke again.

【I want to see you.】

“…Ah.”

My face turned bright red.

I dropped my head with a thud.

‘When he says he wants to see me, wouldn’t it be too cruel to flatly refuse?’

I also wanted to see Harman right away.

I wanted to complain that today was so scary—even though nothing happened—and act spoiled.

But I still hesitated.

Thinking rationally, I couldn’t bring myself to say ‘Then let’s meet right now.’

Harman’s physical condition looked like he needed to rest for several days no matter how I looked at it.

Moreover, I remembered that I couldn’t check on Bokdeungi because I was urgently summoned to the Imperial Palace by the Emperor’s command.

For Harman’s sake. And for Bokdeungi’s sake, it would be better to postpone our meeting until tomorrow.

“I want to see you too, Duke.”

【Then I’ll come.】

No, if you answer so readily like that, it makes it harder to persuade you.

After agonizing for a moment, I barely managed to move my reluctant lips.

“I want to see you, but I hope you won’t overexert yourself.”

【But…】

“Just as the Duke worries when I’m sick, I feel exactly the same way. I’ll come to the Duke’s estate tomorrow, so let’s meet tomorrow.”

【…I understand. Tomorrow, I’ll be waiting.】

A faint laugh could be heard, and I buried my face in both hands.

‘I’ve always heard him say he’ll wait, but why is it so embarrassing this time.’

It might be because now I clearly know both Harman’s and my own feelings.

I was grateful that Harman couldn’t see me right now.

“Miss, you’ve returned safely!”

“Thank goodness really…”

As soon as I returned, I was greeted by Bella and Emily, who were patting their chests in relief.

I’m grateful they worried, but.

“Anyone would think I went somewhere to die and came back alive.”

Isn’t it a bit much for your eyes to be this red?

It had the opposite effect. Bella and Emily grabbed my sleeves from both sides.

Um, it’s a bit cold, so can’t we go inside and talk first?

“It’s similar! Not allowing you to bring guard knights, and suddenly showing up to notify you to have an audience with His Majesty.”

“You weren’t threatened by His Majesty, were you?”

…Is it okay to talk about such things so casually?

‘You could be summoned and executed if you’re not careful.’

I glanced at Count Reymon, who was quietly watching us from inside. Fortunately, he didn’t pay much attention to what the two were saying.

Rather, he seemed worried about me, quietly sighing.

‘It would be better not to say anything.’

The truth is, it’s only because the Emperor’s magic didn’t work on me at all.

When I recall the words the Emperor said while trying to brainwash me, these people’s thoughts were roughly correct.

It was fair to say I had returned alive.

“Nothing happened. His Majesty only called me because I’m close with Duke Monteville.”

“H-His Majesty knows about that?”

“Yes. So he asked me to take good care of the Duke.”

The faces of the two people—no, three people including Count Reymon—brightened.

Only then was I able to enter the warm estate from the chilly outside.

“But where’s Bokdeungi?”

As I was about to take off my outer clothes, I suddenly realized that Bokdeungi was nowhere to be seen.

Whenever I opened the door, Bokdeungi would always dart out like lightning and wait in front of me. But why wasn’t he visible now?

As soon as I thought that, I heard the sound of something running from far away.

“Woof woof!”

And a lively sound that was definitely different from yesterday.

Not long after, Bokdeungi came bouncing around the corner.

Despite his large body, he was trying to jump into my arms like a baby without thinking.

“Woof!”

“Bokdeungi!”

I spread both arms and prepared myself. Then Bokdeungi, who leaped up as if floating in the air, jumped into my arms.

“Ugh, heavy…”

Sorry, but when you stand up, you’re taller than me, you know?

At first, I wasn’t used to it and fell over a few times because of Bokdeungi charging at me.

“Bokdeungi, are you not sick anymore?”

“Woof woof!”

His voice was loud and clear, and his tail was spinning around vigorously like a propeller.

From the looks of it, there didn’t seem to be any problems.

“Bella, how was Bokdeungi’s condition while I was away? He wasn’t sick, was he?”

“Of course! You wouldn’t believe how well he played and ate today.”

Jingle, Bella picked up something nearby. It was the sound of a bell from Bokdeungi’s toy that we’d bought just a few days ago.

‘So he spent today chewing and playing with that…’

Looking at the toy that had become tattered beyond repair and was meeting its end in just a few days, I stretched out both of Bokdeungi’s cheeks.

“But there was something a bit strange.”

“Something strange?”

I asked back, but honestly, I wasn’t too concerned about it.

The day before yesterday, I thought Bokdeungi was sick because his whole body was so cold that it wouldn’t have been strange if he stopped breathing right then and there.

Now he was more than lively, his fur was fluffy and soft. He was no different from usual.

“Yes. He was playing and eating well, but when I tried to pet him, his body was cold as ice.”

“…His body was cold?”

I paused and looked up. It was the exact same symptom as the day before yesterday.

“Yes. He was breaking out in cold sweats too, so I gave him a warm bath and he got better.”

“His condition is similar to the Duke’s.”

“Huh?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

I was surprised at myself for blurting out such words.

A body cold as ice, breaking out in inexplicable cold sweats.

But really…

It’s similar to Harman’s symptoms.

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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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