I Don’t Believe in Ghosts, But I Make a Living by Exorcising Them! - Chapter 77

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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 077

 

Meanwhile, I pointed to the dress I was wearing and continued speaking.

 

“Come to think of it, when you sent me this dress. A puppy suddenly charged at the carriage like crazy and completely wore me out!”

 

“….”

 

“….”

 

Ah, I shouldn’t have brought this up.

 

Harman’s complexion visibly hardened.

 

‘My mouth runs too much.’

 

But if I stopped abruptly here, it seemed like I’d never be able to revive the atmosphere again.

 

I pretended to be completely oblivious and tried my best to salvage the mood.

 

“D-Duke. Do you happen to like dogs?”

 

“…I wouldn’t say I like them, but I don’t dislike them either.”

 

“Then next time you visit my estate, I’ll show you Bokdeungi! Ah, Bokdeungi is my dog’s name.”

 

“Pokpyeongi?”

 

“Pfft!”

 

I belatedly covered my mouth and met eyes with Harman, who was tilting his head as if completely puzzled.

 

‘What should I really do.’

 

The refined pronunciation and the not-so-refined rustic name.

 

I was about to say the same thing I had told Bella and Sir Zeros about the meaning of ‘Bokdeungi’ when I hesitated.

 

‘Harman might be completely fluent in ancient languages.’

 

I had told those two it was ‘an ancient word meaning to live long.’

 

But what if Harman wondered about it, saying there was no such word?

 

I hadn’t thought that far ahead.

 

There must have been a reason for the mention that Harman had touched forbidden books in the future.

 

‘Usually in romance novels, things like forbidden books can only be handled by people who perfectly understand ancient languages.’

 

The fact that this suddenly came to mind was nothing short of an unconscious warning that something was wrong.

 

Since my intuition had never been wrong at times like these, I glossed over it as much as possible.

 

“The exact name is ‘Bokdeungi.’ I tried combining various words meaning to live long.”

 

“Ah, I see. I wondered if you had named it in ancient language, but it was an unfamiliar word so I was puzzled.”

 

…I knew it!

 

I almost got into a situation that would be hard to explain.

 

Instead of sighing in relief, I deliberately smiled silently.

 

“Bokdeungi. It’s a good name.”

 

Harman smiled gently, following my lead.

 

* * *

 

When we finished eating and stood up, a hand wearing pristine white gloves was extended to me.

 

“Lady Siena.”

 

“Ah, yes!”

 

But as soon as I placed my hand on his, Harman pulled me close. Whispering very quietly so only I could hear.

 

“Lady. I’d like to ask you to look at items for my estate right away, but it won’t be possible today.”

 

“Ah, I wanted to stay together a bit longer too, so that’s disappointing.”

 

He must have other plans. Then it can’t be helped.

 

Harman’s eyes, which had somehow looked resolute, gradually drooped downward.

 

Subsequently, Harman’s guard knights approached efficiently and positioned themselves in front, behind, and to the sides at precise distances.

 

Sir Zeros was also right beside me, though I had no idea when he had arrived.

 

We left the restaurant fully prepared—though I had no idea why.

 

I soon learned why Harman had given me such stern instructions just before leaving the restaurant.

 

The street was bustling with people.

 

That is, not just people passing by, but people gathered in droves in front of the restaurant.

 

As if they had been waiting for someone to come out of the restaurant.

 

And that someone was definitely us….

 

Then, I felt a warm touch gripping my left hand firmly.

 

“Lady, this way.”

 

“Ah, yes!”

 

Unlike me, who was confused, Harman very calmly led me to the carriage.

 

Without paying any attention to our surroundings.

 

‘So this is why he said today wouldn’t work.’

 

Wherever we went, everyone would stare at us like we were a spectacle anyway.

 

Even in my confusion, I looked at Harman’s back as he silently held my hand and led me.

 

The white uniform that seemed to match mine. Golden hair sparkling in the sunlight.

 

I suddenly felt worried.

 

Because he looked so brilliant, incomparably more than me.

 

Absurdly, what came to mind in this situation was the question about lovers that I ultimately didn’t get to hear in the restaurant.

 

“We look like lovers.”

 

“Would that be wrong?”

 

“….”

 

So that was just something he said casually?

 

It passed without any answer.

 

‘Right, I was the only one getting excited, that’s what happened.’

 

I brushed down my arm.

 

Now I had to admit it.

 

That my feelings for Harman had definitely gone beyond mere fondness.

 

* * *

 

‘Haah….’

 

I was troubled all day.

 

It wasn’t just because exorcism request letters that had been piling up since dawn were greeting me as soon as I returned to the estate.

 

Now that I had clearly realized my feelings, I wondered if I could dare to like Harman.

 

Some might think it’s such a trivial thought, but it was a serious concern for me.

 

‘Would it have been better if I hadn’t given up my status as a baron’s daughter.’

 

When I abandoned the Alderton name, I couldn’t have felt more relieved.

 

Back then, I had no regrets at all. But now I was slightly regretting becoming a commoner.

 

‘To think the day would come when I, who didn’t even care about class, would have such ridiculous thoughts.’

 

Actually, even now my thoughts about class weren’t much different.

 

However, if.

 

If I really, really became lovers with Harman!

 

Wouldn’t I be criticized for why someone as high as a duke would date a commoner? That’s where this thought came from.

 

“….”

 

‘No, no.’

 

Just how far am I thinking by myself?

 

I shook my head vigorously.

 

At this rate, I’ll be imagining dating and marriage by myself.

 

‘How am I any different from Sir Zeros?’

 

Didn’t Sir Zeros already think about marrying Rudian while saying he didn’t want her to discover his feelings?

 

It was just amusing when I watched from the side, but to think I was in the same situation.

 

I felt like I absolutely couldn’t tell anyone about this.

 

‘And anyway, even if I were Baron Alderton’s daughter, it wouldn’t make much difference from now.’

 

Baron Alderton wasn’t even invited to the capital’s common banquets to begin with.

 

Around the time I stormed out of the baron’s estate, he was practically penniless.

 

Though from what I saw when he came looking for me recently with a butler and guard knight, he seems to be doing well enough to live again.

 

‘Even so, I don’t want to be involved with Baron Alderton anymore.’

 

The Baron had never laid a hand on me before I left the Baron’s Estate.

 

But seeing how he came to find me unreasonably, yelled at me, and even tried to lay hands on me, he was someone who would have done so eventually.

 

Rather, I should have been worried about whether he might try to harm me when he got out of prison.

 

Even while agonizing over this, I couldn’t rest, so I couldn’t keep my hands idle.

 

I was writing replies one by one to the exorcism requests that had snowballed in just a few hours.

 

How can you do other things while thinking?

 

There are ways to do everything.

 

[Hello, this is Exorcist Siena.

 

First, I would like to express my deep condolences for how difficult it must have been for you due to the ghost.

 

However, due to many prior requests, I cannot proceed with the exorcism immediately, so please understand.

 

I will contact you again when exorcism becomes possible.]

 

It was thanks to creating kind and polite content that could adequately respond to any request.

 

What you might call a macro response.

 

‘…But isn’t there a way to re-enter high society?’

 

Rather than needing noble status, hmm.

 

It would be enough if my presence among the capital’s nobles didn’t feel out of place.

 

Still, I was once a noble, and after building more reputation as an exorcist, wouldn’t it work out somehow…?

 

“Miss, more letters have arrived!”

 

“What?”

 

Again?! All my thoughts scattered at Bella’s voice.

 

‘The last letter arrived just 30 minutes ago, really?’

 

Bella grumbled as she carefully pushed the newly arrived letters onto the table.

 

“At this point, wouldn’t it be better to ask them to stop the promotion?”

 

“Hmm, you’re right.”

 

With letters coming every hour, there’s no time to think about anything.

 

As Bella said, maybe I should stop the promotion right away.

 

I definitely started this work to make money, but I don’t know why it’s already this difficult.

 

This time there were three letters total.

 

But this one?

 

I saw a familiar letter envelope and kept my gaze on it for a moment. Just then, Bella pointed to it and said,

 

“Oh, right. That one was sent by Miss Grace.”

 

“Really?”

 

I should check this one.

 

I set aside the reply I was writing and opened Grace’s letter.

 

[Miss Siena, I’m so glad you liked the weekly magazine promotion!]

 

‘Yes, it was really a promotion I liked.’

 

Even if the promotional text was a bit excessive, it was successful in the end. The problem is it was too successful.

 

[But about the tea time I mentioned before.

 

I’m planning to invite young ladies this week to promote Miss Siena’s exorcism business. Do you have any thoughts about coming to the tea party yourself?]

 

‘Oh, wait a minute.’

 

…This is it.

 

Yes, this is it!

 

Grace must be receiving attention in high society as the lost daughter of Marquis Fainen.

 

‘With Grace’s introduction, couldn’t I re-enter high society?’

 

Thinking about it that way, this was a good opportunity.

 

‘She wants me to talk about ghosts or exorcism-related stories.’

 

Well then, shall I reschedule my plans?

 

My shoulders, which had been drooping since yesterday, gained a little strength.

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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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