I Don’t Believe in Ghosts, But I Make a Living by Exorcising Them! - Chapter 3

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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 003

“She’s trying to put her hand on Miss’s shoulder! Her, her fingernails are so long. Blood is dripping from her mouth-”

“Bella, stop. I understand enough.”

If I left her alone, she seemed like she’d recite every form of ghost in her head, so I firmly cut her off.

‘Fine, whatever. Let me play along once.’

Bella had followed me out of the Baron’s Estate without any conditions.

If Bella really believed in ghosts, then going along with it once would be the proper attitude of an employer.

For a smooth working environment, it was time for me to step up.

I brushed off the old dust from both hands. Then I spread my legs slightly and clenched my fists tight.

“Bella, watch carefully.”

And then.

Whoosh whoosh!

I swung my fists rapidly at the air several times.

To calm Bella down right now, it seemed like I needed to at least pretend to hit something.

Hoping that in Bella’s hallucination, I was beating up the ghost…

Crash-!

…Huh?

When I turned around at the loud noise, Bella had fainted with foam at her mouth.

I hadn’t thought this far ahead at all?

“Bella!”

I hurriedly turned around to check on Bella’s condition, but my body swayed.

“Ugh!”

Unable to maintain balance from the sudden change in direction, my body just-

Crash-!

I fell to the floor, taking the glass vase as my companion.

“…”

I stared at the shattered glass vase with vacant eyes.

Ah, it looked expensive.

My precious asset that came free when I purchased the manor.

Looking at the broken pieces, if I sold it, it would have been at least a week’s worth of food expenses.

It was completely smashed beyond any possibility of recovery.

So regrettable…

My clenched fist loosened weakly. I became rapidly dejected.

‘Glass vase, farewell…’

I held a moment of silence for the lost funds, then checked on Bella’s condition.

Fortunately, she didn’t seem to be hurt from falling backward. She was breathing evenly.

* * *

“Mmm…”

“Bella, are you okay?”

“Miss? What about the, the ghost?”

“It’s gone. You’re fine now, so just lie down.”

Even if she was scared, this was too much.

She had been unconscious for a whole day, and the moment she woke up, she was going on about ghosts.

After forcibly soothing her and making her lie down, she clutched the blanket tightly while frantically scanning the room.

She still looked anxious.

“Calm down, Bella.”

“There was definitely a ghost… Oh, wait!”

Bella suddenly sat up.

Her eyes, which had been filled with fear just moments ago, now sparkled as if expecting something.

What? She’s calming down so suddenly?

Even her cheeks turned reddish—

“Miss, you beat up the ghost!”

What is she talking about?

“I feel so refreshed! When we first entered the manor, the air felt chilly, but now it doesn’t at all! You got rid of all the ghosts, didn’t you?”

Bella rolled her shoulders around as if stretching.

For someone who had been unconscious all day, her movements were remarkably healthy.

I suppose the hallucination she saw before fainting must have been quite shocking.

I gave her a pitying look, but Bella was so excited that she grabbed both my hands and shook them up and down.

“The ghost looked so flustered when you started hitting it! I was so surprised to see the ghost becoming more transparent that I fainted.”

“…”

“Right, Miss?”

“Huh? Oh, yes. That’s right. Haha.”

She was practically forcing me to answer while pushing her face close to mine, so instead of explaining, I just awkwardly went along with it.

Yes, Bella.

As long as you’re happy.

If you feel peace of mind, that’s enough…

Fortunately, after that, Bella didn’t bring up ghosts anymore.

“Miss, I’ll start cleaning from this side!”

“Mm-hmm, go ahead.”

Bella, who had suddenly regained her energy, rolled up her sleeves and started cleaning.

It was all rather chaotic, but anyway, it ended well.

Or so I thought…

* * *

“Hello, Lady Siena.”

Why is this man here?

His honey-like lustrous golden hair swayed gently in the breeze.

I stared blankly at the perfectly sculpted face of the man, then belatedly bowed my head upon seeing the insignia on his chest.

“I-I greet Your Grace, Duke Monteville.”

The carriage that had suddenly appeared was suspiciously luxurious.

As I clutched my dress and glanced around nervously, the Duke removed his hat and showed proper courtesy.

Even though I was a baron’s daughter, there was no need for such formality, especially now that I’m a commoner.

It was strange that the Duke had come to my estate, and even stranger that he was being so polite to me.

He even carefully observed my expression before speaking cautiously.

“Lady Siena, I would be quite pleased if you could help me.”

“What kind of help… are you referring to, Your Grace?”

“This estate.”

The Duke raised his head and quickly surveyed the exterior of the estate.

The walls that hadn’t finished being repaired were shabby here and there, making me feel embarrassed.

“I understand it’s definitely haunted by ghosts.”

No way, if even the Duke knows about it, just how far have the rumors spread?

No wonder it was hard to find workers. As I was thinking this, the Duke met my gaze again.

“Would you permit me to enter your estate, Lady?”

The Duke’s eyes curved into crescent shapes as he tilted his head slightly.

For a moment I was about to nod as if enchanted, but suddenly came to my senses at an inexplicable chill.

‘So, why are you here?’

I was so flustered that I covered my mouth and avoided his gaze.

The man before me, ‘Harman Monteville’…

In the original story, he was the person who nearly destroyed the Empire!

Duke Harman Monteville.

A man who never attended anything except Imperial banquets, earning him the nickname of a mystic.

In the original story, he was also the man who suddenly went mad and nearly destroyed the Empire by tampering with a hidden Forbidden Book.

‘He looks perfectly fine right now though.’

He’s polite, and there’s even a halo radiating from his face.

The original story didn’t separately describe why Harman went mad.

Since it said he ‘suddenly’ went mad, there might have been some trigger.

Anyway, what’s important here is that he’s the mystic Duke.

He’s absolutely not someone who should appear at a time like this.

And not even in front of the Female Lead, but in front of me!

“I’d like to check if similar phenomena to those at my estate are occurring at your estate, Lady. Would you permit me to enter?”

Even though I, a mere commoner, hadn’t dared to answer, Harman’s voice was gentle and his behavior calm.

Though if you thought about it, it was actually urging.

But he called what’s happening at the estate a ‘phenomenon.’

‘Were there rumors that the Monteville Ducal Estate was also haunted?’

No matter how quickly I tried to recall the original story, I couldn’t remember anything.

I gripped my dress even tighter and forcibly looked away from his persistent gaze.

Even if there’s still a long time before he goes mad, I don’t want to get involved…

Ah, right!

I had a suitable excuse.

I let my gaze drop weakly downward, looking truly regretful.

“Your Grace. I’m truly sorry, but even though I’d like to help, the manor is too dirty right now.”

“It’s fine. I just want to check if there are any traces of ghosts remaining here.”

“But-”

There’s no such thing as ghosts. I was about to say that when.

“Miss!”

Huh?

My view changed instantly.

What happened was, Bella suddenly grabbed and pulled me inside the house!

Bella glanced outside once, then pulled my arm even more.

“Miss. This is an opportunity!”

“What opportunity?”

I asked in bewilderment. Then Bella’s eyes lit up as she whispered.

“If we can show him the manor once and make an impression on His Grace, we should definitely do it! It’s Duke Monteville himself!”

“Bella. So, I shouldn’t make an impression-”

Wait, make an impression?

‘If I refuse His Grace’s request now… wouldn’t that make a bad impression on me?’

Goosebumps rose on my forearms.

I almost ended my life due to a wrong choice.

It was because his unrealistic appearance made me think of him only as a character from a novel.

‘I absolutely can’t make a bad impression. Yes, absolutely not.’

I quickly racked my brain.

Actually, if he was someone who would leave after being refused, wouldn’t he have left while I was pondering?

When I glanced back, I could see Harman still standing at the door with a polite attitude.

…Right.

If it’s unavoidable, it’s better to comply with what he wants, treat him as warmly as possible, and at least plant a good image.

Despite my long deliberation, the answer came instantly.

‘It’s just showing him around the manor briefly. That shouldn’t cause any problems.’

“Right, Bella. Now that I think about it, you seem to be right.”

“You did well to run away from home. Rather than the Count, His Grace is definitely…!”

Bella said something, but I couldn’t hear it properly. All my attention was focused on the man at the door.

Protecting my life right now was more important than the distant future.

I opened the door with a bright smile, as if I had never worn a regretful expression.

“I’m sorry for keeping you waiting, Your Grace. Would you like to come inside?”

“Thank you, Lady.”

Harman looked at me and smiled.

It was such a beautiful smile that for a moment I had the illusion that sunlight was shining. My heart softened along with it.

Right, it’s just letting him into the manor once.

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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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