I Don’t Believe in Ghosts, But I Make a Living by Exorcising Them! - Chapter 32

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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 032

 

Clatter!

 

The carriage hit a stone and my body swayed greatly, but I held it in to avoid making any noise.

 

Outside the window, it had already been dark for quite some time.

 

I sat quietly, pressed flat against the wall. I didn’t want to meet the cold gaze from across me.

 

However, I couldn’t avoid the scoffing sound that came down from above my head.

 

“Really now, I asked you to see me within this week.”

 

“….”

 

“And you send a letter in a rush on the last day? What would you have done if I hadn’t set aside time separately?”

 

“I’m sorry….”

 

“What time is it right now? I’m sure the road is clearly visible.”

 

‘Well, even if I had ten mouths, I’d have nothing to say.’

 

I had so much work to do.

 

But still!

 

Honestly, it’s unfair!

 

Do you know how busy I’ve been going around repairing estates that aren’t even my fate, all in the name of exorcism!

 

Out of frustration, I wanted to throw punches at the air like I do at the manor.

 

But these inner thoughts of mine couldn’t possibly reach Rudian.

 

I lifted my head and flinched when I met her sharp gaze.

 

But as I quietly observed Rudian’s mood.

 

Rather than being angry at me, she seemed somehow anxious.

 

“I asked you before to examine my parents’ manor.”

 

“Yes? Yes, you did.”

 

“…I’ve changed my mind. Instead of the manor, I’d like you to carefully observe my parents’ behavior.”

 

“Your parents… you mean?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

What is she talking about? She asked me to see if there were ghosts in the manor, didn’t she?

 

She knows I’m an exorcist in the first place.

 

However, right now I was in no position to speak carelessly.

 

Meanwhile, Rudian pulled out a letter from her chest.

 

“My parents know about you too. They said to find the Strong Young Lady of the capital and bring her no matter what.”

 

“Oh my, that worked out really well then!”

 

“But you see.”

 

I clapped my hands thinking this was an opportunity, but when I saw Rudian’s eyebrows furrow, I quietly lowered my hands.

 

Why does her expression change like that while reading her parents’ letter?

 

“Mother’s tone is subtly different from what I knew. Look at this.”

 

She tapped the letter with her finger and moved closer to me.

 

[My daughter. Are you doing well?]

 

This… why?

 

It’s just a common greeting to give to your daughter.

 

I only looked at her with confusion, but Rudian’s face scrunched up dramatically.

 

“She called me ‘my daughter.’ She used to call me ‘Didi♡’.”

 

“Huh? Didi?”

 

“Yes, no! ‘Didi♡’. The ending is important. She always added a heart, you know? She’s not the type to write so stiffly.”

 

“Ah, I see. You must have a really good relationship with your mother.”

 

Well, glancing at the contents…

 

She was saying that lately she can’t sleep properly because of ghosts and can’t live a normal life.

 

Wouldn’t it be stranger to add Didi♡ in that situation?

 

Of course, it’s probably not ghosts but issues with the old, creaking manor.

 

“That’s not all. The handwriting is definitely Mother’s, but it feels like someone else was imitating Mother when they wrote it.”

 

“Ah, so you’re saying a ghost wrote the letter-”

 

“Kyaaah!”

 

Oh, she just sounded like a hissing cat.

 

Rudian jumped in shock and pressed her back against the wall. The letter fluttered down to the floor.

 

“Of, of course that’s absolutely not it! But something strange might have attached itself to Mother’s body!”

 

Even in this situation, she seems determined to maintain her ‘I’m not scared of ghosts’ position.

 

Really consistent.

 

Anyway, I roughly understand why she suddenly asked me to check on her parents.

 

This time it’s gone beyond the manor being haunted by ghosts.

 

She’s even speculating that a ghost has possessed someone’s body?

 

‘Sigh…’

 

I picked up the letter that had fallen pitifully to the floor.

 

[My daughter. Are you doing well?

 

Lately we haven’t been able to sleep at all because of ghosts.

 

It’s torturous. Really torturous.

 

I heard that someone called the Strong Young Lady is exorcising ghosts in the capital, and I really want to see her face.

 

I hope I can meet the Strong Young Lady.]

 

‘…’

 

It seems like I’ll need to correct my title after revealing to the entire Empire that it’s me.

 

‘Exorcist Siena’ would be better, even though ‘Strong Young Lady’ is manageable.

 

I was about to place the letter next to Rudian, but seeing her recoil in horror, I set it down in the spot farthest from her.

 

‘Her first impression was of a dignified tiger, but how did she end up like this?’

 

Now Rudian looked like a black cat with spiky fur that I’d encountered on the street.

 

She even seems to think the letter she was holding so preciously in her arms just moments ago has become a ghost.

 

Rudian glanced around with fearful eyes and straightened her posture.

 

“That’s not the only strange thing. She told us absolutely not to turn on the electric lights in the manor, and the letters she used to send weekly have become infrequent.”

 

No matter how calmly I tried to explain, my disheveled hair wasn’t going to fix itself.

 

…The servants at the Count’s estate see this every time and pretend not to notice?

 

“It’s been a while since they said the manor was haunted by a ghost… but saying things like that is recent. I’m worried because they don’t seem to be eating properly either. It’s even more concerning since they haven’t even hired a butler since moving here.”

 

Now I was starting to understand.

 

‘If they’ve been living without bringing in a single servant to the manor, that would make sense.’

 

I had no idea what made Rudian think her parents were acting strange.

 

But I thought it might end up being the same reason as all the other ‘haunted manors.’

 

So, my guess was that the previous Count couple mistook phenomena caused by the manor’s deterioration for the work of ghosts.

 

But since there was no one else in the manor besides the two of them, they had to handle everything themselves, and there was no one to take care of them.

 

Two people under tremendous stress both started acting differently than before?

 

‘Maybe that’s only natural?’

 

I kept trying to control my gaze that kept drifting toward the hair sticking out at odd angles as I asked.

 

“The situation must be quite serious. By any chance, have you heard about ghosts frequently appearing in specific areas of the manor? Or did they bring in some object recently?”

 

“Oh, come to think of it, I did give them a gift when I returned from a trading trip.”

 

Rudian, who had been deep in thought with her gaze lowered, quietly murmured.

 

“What kind of gift was it?”

 

“It was a red brooch. Every time I visited, both of them were wearing it, so I thought they liked it… Could that be something wrong? Could it really be that?”

 

Suddenly Rudian started shaking my shoulders vigorously.

 

My, my brain is rattling…

 

As I clutched my empty chest and stared at her in dismay, Rudian turned her body completely away.

 

As if she would never give it back.

 

‘Wait, didn’t you just give it to me saying you found it on the way here?’

 

When did she even give it to me.

 

How petty to give it and then take it back.

 

* * *

 

The Previous Count Couple’s manor was more modest than I had expected.

 

There were quite a few nobles who lived simple lives after passing down their titles, so it made sense.

 

‘But it’s too dark.’

 

The only light around was the lantern attached to the carriage, and even that had been extinguished, making it even darker.

 

It was that time when evening sharply turned into night.

 

If there hadn’t been any moonlight, there really would have been nothing visible at all.

 

After stumbling along, we finally arrived in front of the door.

 

“Mother, Father. I’m here. Didi… It’s Rudian.”

 

Rudian naturally started to say her nickname but then corrected herself, conscious of me.

 

‘She already told them everything when talking about the letter.’

 

That question disappeared as the door opened as if they had been waiting all along.

 

“Exorcist?”

 

“…”

 

I should have greeted them, but my mouth wouldn’t open.

 

Because I had locked eyes with the gaunt and pale elderly couple. Two pairs of eyes gleamed in the darkness.

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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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