I Don’t Believe in Ghosts, But I Make a Living by Exorcising Them! - Chapter 16

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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 016

‘I did my best though.’

I had even given a thumbs up with sparkling eyes, and bowed my head in apology.

But if she still read my mind completely, then there’s really nothing I can do.

Rudian’s eyebrows twitched as she picked up her teacup.

I could clearly see the tea going gulp, gulp down her throat.

Bang! She slammed down the teacup loudly after draining it completely without leaving a single drop.

My body instinctively flinched.

Rudian… looks like a Knight Commander looking down at enemies from the front lines of a battlefield.

She always overflowed with spirit.

For someone like this, ‘the villain who mentally torments the Female Lead’ was too trivial a title.

‘Wasn’t there some reason for it?’

The moment I glanced at her, I met those beast-like bright red eyes.

I lowered my gaze.

‘Maybe not…’

Grateful that there was at least a table between us, I hid my now completely docile hands below.

“You exorcised a ghost in the greenhouse garden at the Monteville Ducal Estate yesterday?”

Huh? I slowly raised my head.

‘Didn’t she say earlier that she wasn’t tailing or surveilling me?’

Why does she know about yesterday’s events, especially something that only someone who was in the greenhouse garden could know?

When I stared at her in puzzlement, Rudian added irritably.

“That maid has been spreading rumors about it.”

“Ah.”

It hasn’t even been a day and she’s quite capable. Or should I say she has a loose tongue?

She didn’t look like someone who would go around spreading rumors everywhere.

‘This is how she repays my help.’

And it wasn’t a ghost, it was flower vines!

Maybe it’s because she couldn’t even look back and fainted completely.

The maid really seemed to think a ghost had grabbed her ankle.

“She submitted her resignation letter saying she could no longer work at the Monteville Ducal Estate and left.”

Her expression, which had been dripping with annoyance, turned irritated.

I immediately clasped my hands together politely.

Why is she suddenly making an expression like a displeased cat?

“You’re the subject of those rumors. I made sure no one knows that ‘Siena’ is involved. It would be troublesome if you got caught up in it for no reason. Ha, but.”

Yes, but?

“Letters from young ladies have piled up at my estate.”

…Huh?

At this sudden boast, I almost forgot that I was talking to Rudian and nearly asked what she was talking about.

Is this the same person who was complaining that time was precious?

For some reason, as soon as I entered the greenhouse garden, I was reminded of Harman who had immediately shown off his wealth.

“They’re making a fuss asking me to come to tea time. Young ladies who have never sent me a single letter before.”

Her tone was bitter.

I couldn’t help but tilt my head in confusion.

‘Why is someone who said tea time was a waste of time speaking in such a voice?’

In the original story, she had dismissed the Female Lead’s tea time proposal, saying ‘I have no intention of wasting time on such things.’

But I didn’t have the courage to ask about it.

She looked down wistfully at the cleanly emptied teacup, then clenched her teeth until her jaw went rigid.

Rudian irritably pulled out a thick bundle of papers from her bosom and threw it onto the table.

They were all letter envelopes.

“You must have heard the rumors too, about how there are incredibly many haunted estates now.”

“….”

“They heard somewhere that I silenced you and sent these letters. Isn’t their intention completely transparent?”

“….”

“They want me to arrange a meeting with the rumored young lady. Because they want to get rid of the ghosts in their own estates.”

“….”

“Do you understand? Stop blinking stupidly and give me an answer.”

“Yes. I understand.”

Please calm down.

She seems to lose control of her emotions the angrier she gets.

But I chose to respond calmly without getting angry along with her.

I thought it was strange from the moment she called me here directly.

‘When she came to find me, she only talked about her parents’ estate, so I thought that was what she was desperate about.’

But she called me to Count Helkene’s Estate.

In other words, she needed someone to listen to her complaints-

“Honestly, I still can’t believe that you got rid of ghosts. You haven’t talked about ghosts at all since coming here.”

…Or not?

Did I let my imagination run too wild?

“The Rundane Magic Stone. I have no intention of getting that worthless thing back. However, I need evidence that can prove your abilities.”

“….”

“Right now.”

Weren’t we getting along well when we first arrived at the reception room?

You seem to have suddenly become too agitated.

Rudian’s expression was too resolute for me to tell her to calm down.

Her voice was sharp as if ready to stab something immediately, and her eyes flashed like a wild beast.

The reason I said Rudian’s aura was like a knight commander on the battlefield wasn’t because she was a count.

It was something she was born with. My body trembled instinctively.

Actually, I had been thinking about it since I made the appointment with Rudian.

Whether I could really see ghosts, and furthermore, whether I could deal with them.

I thought she might want to confirm such things from me.

As someone who had mastered the art of persuading people through achievements, I couldn’t feel at ease even after signing the contract.

‘That’s why I made sure to carefully observe my surroundings as soon as I entered the reception room.’

I had a pretty good eye for detail.

My observational skills had improved even more from spending weeks scrutinizing the manor I’d bought at a bargain price until my eyes nearly fell out.

‘Whew.’

I took a deep breath.

My inhale trembled uncontrollably, but I tried my best to steady my breathing.

And then.

Snap! I confidently pointed behind Rudian.

“That grandfather clock. Did you know it’s been rattling every 10 minutes since I arrived here?”

“…!”

Rudian’s posture rapidly stiffened. Her pupils were completely dilated.

“The grandfather clock?”

“Yes, look at that thing. Oh, it just rattled again.”

“…Really?”

Rudian asked back but didn’t even look at the grandfather clock, let alone turn her head.

Only my finger, which I had energetically pointed toward the grandfather clock, felt awkward.

What?

‘Didn’t you say you don’t believe in ghosts?’

Weren’t you supposed to not care about such things?

“Ahem, ahem!”

Rudian stubbornly cleared her throat while gauging my reaction.

She tried to glance over subtly, but when our eyes met, she averted her gaze as if nothing had happened.

The reception room suddenly became quiet.

It was too silent.

Honestly, the silence was scarier than any ghost.

‘What’s going on?’

Something was strange.

I mean, it looked like… Rudian was afraid of ghosts.

An awkward silence continued somehow.

I was reading Rudian’s mood, and Rudian was reading mine while stubbornly turning her gaze away.

‘What kind of situation is this supposed to be?’

It seemed I would have to make a decision.

As soon as I steeled my resolve, I stood up abruptly.

Clunk!

“Kyaaaah!!!”

The moment I accidentally kicked the table leg while standing up, Rudian jumped up and leaped toward me.

She threw herself into my arms while I was still in an awkward position.

“….”

“….”

Huh?

Belatedly understanding what had happened, I looked down at the black head of hair.

Rudian was clinging tightly to me.

Rudian Helkene, who had the makings of a Knight Commander.

“Um, Count.”

“Th… This is!”

Rudian was even slower than me at grasping the situation. Her face, as she hurriedly lifted her head, was red as a ripe tomato.

“Y-You suddenly startled me!”

I get it, so could you please move aside.

For someone shouting excuses at the top of her lungs, her body was quite honest.

You’re trembling and clinging tightly to my nape, you know.

‘Excuse me. This is clearly…’

When I continued to stare at her deeply without any reaction, she cleared her throat loudly once more.

Then she slowly backed away.

Not to the sofa where she had been sitting, but to the complete opposite side from the grandfather clock.

I watched her intently as she slid away without making a single footstep sound.

My head tilted involuntarily.

So, this reaction was definitely.

‘She’s afraid of ghosts, isn’t she?’

That Rudian Helkene? Of ghosts?

Based on the behavior she’d shown in front of me just now, I was almost certain.

But I still couldn’t believe it right away.

How could I believe that someone I’d considered Knight Commander material until just moments ago was afraid of ghosts!

‘First, let me deal with the grandfather clock and then ask her about it.’

It was when I finally stood up completely.

“Um, Miss Siena.”

“Ah, you startled me!”

I thought you were actually a ghost this time!

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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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