I Don’t Believe in Ghosts, But I Make a Living by Exorcising Them! - Chapter 15
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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 015
【H-Harman…】
Harman’s head snapped up.
That Thing with blonde hair cascading down to its waist made eye contact with him, then hastily averted its gaze.
Dejected, That Thing hesitated as it tried to place a hand on Harman’s shoulder.
Ah, come to think of it, this is right above that flower garden from earlier.
The very spot where it had tried to deal with that damned woman, only to be turned against instead!
Startled, That Thing’s body shot upward. Its form, which had already been floating in the air, stuck to the glass ceiling.
Harman looked up at That Thing that had flown above his head and let out a sigh.
“I went through the trouble of bringing you to the greenhouse garden.”
【S-sorry!】
That Thing rubbed its hands together apologetically.
Though it was merely pretending, as its hands passed right through each other.
Moreover, Harman had already lowered his head and wasn’t even looking at That Thing anymore.
“You clearly said with such confidence that if I lured her here, you’d handle everything yourself.”
【I had no idea that woman would cut through it so casually! I feel wronged too!】
“Already making excuses. The plan is going so well.”
His voice was grinding with irritation.
That Thing shrank back and fidgeted nervously.
Harman frowned in displeasure without even looking at That Thing.
“Why don’t you do something about that hair of yours first.”
【But sister likes my hair.】
That Thing pouted as it ran its fingers through its hair. Slowly, its body descended.
The fluttering Thing sat across from Harman and cautiously observed his deeply furrowed brow.
【Um… Harman. That woman, could she possibly come again tomorrow?】
Harman’s hand, which had been pressing and circling his temple, paused.
“No.”
According to the plan, they should have dealt with that woman smoothly today.
Of course, they had failed spectacularly.
To cover up this incident, he’d need to summon her back to the estate as soon as tomorrow…
Harman recalled Siena’s troubled expression.
“What should I do? I have a prior engagement tomorrow.”
“…Is it an engagement you absolutely must keep?”
“Yes, it’s a prior arrangement with the person who obtained the Rundane Magic Stone for me, so it would be awkward to cancel.”
“…”
He had wondered where and how she had managed to obtain such junk, and it seemed there was someone else providing it for her.
“So you’re meeting with someone other than me.”
Though it’s an antique, paradoxically making it hard to obtain, anyone who could import Rundane Magic Stones would have to be quite high nobility.
Harman fell into serious contemplation, unaware that he had muttered aloud.
That Thing observed Harman’s expression as it changed moment by moment.
Its posture relaxed loosely, as if watching his reactions was a thing of the distant past.
Golden eyes, darker than hair, flashed briefly.
【Harman. You know.】
Harman slowly raised his head.
【One of us was annihilated today.】
“….”
【I think it’s extremely regrettable.】
That Thing smiled slyly.
【You think so too, don’t you, Harman?】
Harman’s pupils wavered, then lost focus for a moment.
【Because you care for us so much.】
That Thing’s voice was spoken very slowly. As if time itself was flowing slowly.
Harman’s hand also fell slowly onto the table.
“Yes.”
【You haven’t forgotten about destroying the Empire, have you?】
“Yeah.”
It was a voice completely drained of life.
That Thing smiled with eyes gently closed and rested its chin on its hand.
Its legs dangled beneath the chair. As if extremely pleased.
【Leave that woman to us.】
“…You were acting like you couldn’t even see her.”
【It’s fine since this isn’t the first or second time something like this has happened. Though it’s the first time we’ve seen a human who pretends not to see us at all.】
Harman nodded weakly.
That Thing’s eyes, which had been flashing throughout the conversation, had returned to normal.
* * *
‘Ah, right.’
The moment I saw the plain teacup with no pattern placed before me, it suddenly came to mind.
What had happened yesterday at the Greenhouse Garden of the Monteville Ducal Estate.
Because the teacup I received there was also a clean white teacup without any pattern!
Anyway, as I recalled the memory, questions suddenly arose.
Questions I hadn’t thought of even once from that time until now.
‘When the maid screamed….’
What did Harman say?
What expression did he make?
There was nothing to think about. Harman at that time had simply remained still.
“Here’s some warm black tea.”
A teacup with hot steam rising from it was placed in front of me.
I thanked the maid and reflected more deeply on yesterday’s events.
‘Still, she’s a servant employed at his estate. To just stand there and watch.’
It was a situation where someone was screaming for help right in front of us.
Since it happened at the Duke’s Estate of all places, Harman should have investigated what was going on and taken action.
There were servants waiting outside.
If he had just called for a guard knight or even a butler, the problem would have been solved.
It was even more puzzling since he had personally told me about the ominous rumors circulating around the greenhouse garden.
‘He called me saying there seemed to be ghosts appearing in the estate.’
But when a maid was talking about ghosts right in front of him, why…
‘…!’
Something suddenly flashed through my mind.
It was a quite credible hypothesis.
‘Could it be that he was scared?’
Come to think of it, the only time Harman acted quickly in the greenhouse garden was when he was responding to my words.
Moreover, his voice had trembled slightly.
Given the situation, it had stuck clearly in my ears.
‘Though he later said it was a joke, he was also conscious of the ghosts.’
After bringing me to the greenhouse garden for tea time.
There was no reason to tell me, his guest, such terrifying rumors.
The Empire’s only duke, mysticism, courteous gentleman.
If you strip away all those things, what remains is the human Harman.
Right, Harman was also human!
‘He was trembling with fear.’
It wasn’t just him and the maid alone, and since he had brought me as a guest, it would have been awkward to act scared!
‘But I solved it for him.’
Casually.
Ripping the flower vines apart with both hands.
‘That’s why he thanked me.’
He deliberately crouched down in front of me even though his clothes would get dirty.
He wiped my hands with his pure white handkerchief until it became soiled.
I had thought his behavior was somewhat excessive.
No matter how much he valued courtesy and was naturally considerate.
It was definitely excessive behavior toward someone he had only met twice.
‘Now I finally understand clearly why he came looking for me in the first place.’
I became a little triumphant.
‘The estate is too precious, and ghosts are scary too!’
All the puzzle pieces fit together perfectly.
“Siena.”
“…”
“Siena!”
“Ah, yes! Count, did you call for me?”
I was lost in thought and hurriedly raised my head.
Rudian set down her teacup with a displeased expression. The clattering sound rang out loudly.
‘Like a cat protesting for attention.’
A light thought crossed my mind.
But it was definitely my fault for spacing out after making an appointment to visit.
“You seemed to want to visit my estate, so I called you here.”
For some reason, she told me to come to Count Helkene’s Estate instead of the previous count couple’s manor.
Honestly, my suggestion to look around this place was purely because I wanted to build a friendship with Rudian. That was all.
I wasn’t actually curious about the estate itself.
But I couldn’t reveal my true intentions, so I nodded.
Rudian studied my expression and then crossed her arms crookedly.
“I clearly told you I’m not a person with free time. You made a busy person come all the way to the reception room, so why are you thinking about other things?”
“Ah, I’m sorry. I suddenly remembered what happened yesterday.”
“You mean what happened at the Monteville Ducal Estate?”
How did she know this time too?
Could she possibly be following or monitoring what I’m doing?
“I didn’t follow or monitor you. As I said, I’m not that free of a person.”
I pressed my lips tightly shut.
This person seems to know mind reading.
“When you do business for a long time, your observation skills naturally improve.”
Rudian leaned back loosely against the backrest.
Her arrogantly raised index finger pointed at me.
“It’s really easy. Especially with someone like you who shows everything on their face.”
“You’re really amazing.”
“Miss Siena, don’t you know how to speak with soul?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Ha.”
Rudian’s face crumpled with frustration.
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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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