I Don’t Believe in Ghosts, But I Make a Living by Exorcising Them! - Chapter 36

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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 036

 

The Former Countess slowly extended her hand.

 

Despite gripping my hand earnestly, I could barely feel any strength. Rather, she was trembling.

 

“Did you… save us, Exorcist?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Thank you. Really… thank you.”

 

“Oh, I was just doing my job.”

 

She’s suddenly speaking formally. Did she develop some kind of faith that wasn’t there before?

 

Just moments ago, these were the people saying we shouldn’t erase the stag’s blood, and now they’ve completely changed their tune.

 

‘I did well to boast loudly about the exorcism.’

 

The sudden contact was bewildering, but I didn’t want to let go.

 

Her rough touch felt warm somehow.

 

Before I knew it, the Former Count, supported by his Guard Knight, had also quietly approached.

 

In the light of the bonfire, the two of them looked older than when I’d glimpsed them earlier.

 

Their hair was completely white and their faces were full of wrinkles.

 

Even so, the hand stroking mine was rough and weathered, hardly what you’d expect from a noble’s hand…

 

“Rudian, did you bring some food?”

 

“I loaded it in the carriage’s cargo compartment.”

 

At her mother’s question, Rudian gestured toward the carriage as if it were obvious.

 

“Go get it. We should offer the Exorcist dinner.”

 

I looked back and forth between the two of them in bewilderment.

 

Suddenly, the Former Countess’s red eyes flashed.

 

I felt a tiger-like spirit from the thin old woman.

 

“It’s late, but dinner would be fine, right? It would be too late to go back to the capital and eat now.”

 

“Ah… yes, haha.”

 

Rudian’s words had a power that was hard to refuse.

 

Looking at it now, that seems to be a power that emanates from House Helkene itself.

 

“You can speak casually. I may be an exorcist, but I’m a commoner.”

 

“Really? Then shall we?”

 

The Former Countess giggled and patted my shoulder.

 

Ugh! I swallowed my groan and rubbed my shoulder.

 

She’s just naturally strong…

 

* * *

 

“Siena dear, try this too.”

 

“Oh, thank you. But I’m getting pretty full now-”

 

“What are you talking about? We’re just getting started.”

 

“What? But.”

 

“Here, it tastes better when we eat together. Try eating it like this.”

 

“….”

 

I looked down at the spoon in my hand with a tearful expression.

 

My cheeks were still stuffed full with food I hadn’t finished chewing yet.

 

‘Is a spoon even allowed to be this heavy?’

 

The Former Countess looked at the tower of food she had piled on my spoon with sparkling eyes.

 

She had stuck right next to me and was watching me eat throughout the entire meal.

 

I’m full, grandmother….

 

Who would have thought I’d experience the ‘Why is our puppy so skinny? Eat more!’ grandmother that I never encountered even in my past life.

 

When they’re the ones who are actually thin!

 

Where does the strength come from in that stick-thin body?

 

The Former Countess had gone to the vegetable garden with a hoe and large basket, saying she was preparing a meal.

 

The basket that had been completely empty when she left was now full of vegetables.

 

‘I heard farming is really hard work.’

 

It must have all been practical, compressed muscle.

 

Looking back and forth between the spoon and the Former Countess, I hastily attempted conversation.

 

“But why do you farm directly yourself?”

 

“I’ve worked my whole life, so maybe that’s why resting is actually harder.”

 

Good. I diverted her attention.

 

“Wouldn’t it be easier to farm if you went further south rather than here? I heard the capital outskirts are awkwardly positioned in many ways.”

 

“If we want to see our children, being too far from the capital is problematic, but we didn’t want to live completely in the capital either.”

 

“Ah, I see.”

 

I watched the Former Countess’s expression and quietly set down my spoon.

 

…Done! If I ate any more than this, I really would have had to roll around on the floor.

 

Honestly, since this was family matters, I wasn’t particularly curious about more.

 

However, Rudian seemed somewhat displeased.

 

“How about hiring some servants now? This time Miss Siena was here, but what will you do next time if something happens that you two can’t handle?”

 

It was a calm voice.

 

Earlier the situation was urgent, so she must have spoken freely to her parents regardless of whether I was beside her or not, right?

 

“Do we really need to hire servants when it’s just the two of us living here?”

 

“Ah, Mother!”

 

I guess not.

 

“Yes, yes. We should hire some now.”

 

The Former Countess calmly stroked Rudian’s back to soothe her.

 

Rudian, who had been like a cat with bristled fur, slowly calmed down.

 

Now then.

 

It seems like she doesn’t even care that I’m sitting right here.

 

Rudian, who had been contentedly raising the corners of her mouth like a purring cat under her mother’s touch, opened her mouth with an “Ah.”

 

“Has Elder Brother visited recently?”

 

“Mm-hmm, he came by.”

 

The Former Countess subtly avoided eye contact.

 

Rudian’s eyes sharpened as she noticed something strange.

 

“When? He didn’t come? I can’t stand it, really!”

 

“He thinks you stole the title from him, you know.”

 

“It was a fair competition from the beginning, so it’s strange that he thinks that way.”

 

“What can you do. He grew up thinking he’d become the Count, so his disappointment must be great.”

 

“Even so, when his parents can’t sleep, how can that child not come even once!”

 

“What’s the age difference that you’re calling him ‘that guy’? Don’t tell me you still talk like that in front of other Young Ladies?”

 

Rudian continued fuming while the Former Countess calmly countered, as if accustomed to such situations.

 

As I watched the two of them, I felt a gentle gaze from somewhere.

 

The Former Count, who had been eating quietly, was moving his lips toward me.

 

As I stared intently at the shape of his mouth, the sentence he was trying to say slowly came together.

 

‘Don’t worry too much about it. They’re always like this.’

 

‘Yes.’

 

I smiled back and looked away.

 

For some reason, a bitter smile came out.

 

* * *

 

When the Former Countess told me to stay the night, I firmly refused, saying I had appointments.

 

I was able to arrive at my estate around the dim dawn.

 

‘Thank goodness. I almost got into big trouble.’

 

Behind her disappointed figure.

 

In the kitchen was a giant meat tower.

 

‘She must have been preparing tomorrow morning’s meal…’

 

Phew, I quickly erased the terrible imagination and got off the carriage.

 

But Rudian, who I thought would leave immediately, jumped down after me.

 

“Count?”

 

“…”

 

Uncharacteristically, she hesitated for a long time. Even though I had already seen her acting spoiled in front of her parents.

 

“Miss Siena, thank you so much for saving my parents.”

 

“Huh? As I said before, I really just did what I had to do.”

 

“To be honest, I didn’t know you would step into such a dangerous situation yourself.”

 

Dangerous… situation?

 

Does she think it was dangerous that I climbed on top of the rotten deer blood?

 

What dangerous situation. It was more of a gloomy situation if anything.

 

I looked down at my shoes with a bitter expression.

 

The pink boots covered with flower patterns.

 

The shoes I originally wore couldn’t be brought back soaked in blood, so I burned them along with the curtains.

 

Fortunately, the Former Countess lent me some farming boots she had extra, otherwise I would have almost returned barefoot.

 

‘When am I going to return these.’

 

Let me think about it later.

 

I shook off my thoughts and raised my head to see Rudian’s cheeks gradually turning red.

 

Why, why are you acting like this?

 

“…I acknowledge it. You’re truly an amazing person.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

Under the brightening dawn sky, Rudian’s red eyes shone vividly.

 

“What happened today wasn’t something you could do just to impress me.”

 

Huh, wait a minute.

 

“So now…”

 

The atmosphere feels somehow unusual.

 

The dawn hours when emotions run high, the sky that somehow seems like daybreak is rising, the blush coloring her cheeks and words she can’t easily say…

 

‘I think I know what this is.’

 

Now, let me organize this.

 

Count Rudian Helkene, who has good business acumen but absolutely cannot speak empty words, so she doesn’t have a single close friend.

 

But a few days ago, she had tea time with me, shared sincere secrets, and even greeted my parents.

 

What would such a person want to say to me now?

 

‘I hope you’ll become my true friend.’

 

Yes, that’s it!

 

I calmly waited for Rudian’s words.

 

Finally, Rudian’s hesitating lips parted.

 

“I’d like you to sometimes eat meals with me at my parents’ manor.”

 

“Of course! …Wait, what?”

 

Pardon?

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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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