I Don’t Believe in Ghosts, But I Make a Living by Exorcising Them! - Chapter 91
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
I Don’t Believe in Ghosts, But I Make a Living Through Exorcism! Episode 091
Rumble crash-!
Thunder so loud it pierced the ears.
Rain pouring down in torrents.
“Lady Siena!”
Through the open door, the Previous Count Helkene couple called my name with bright smiles.
Their entire bodies were tightly wrapped in flower-patterned raincoats, with only their faces peeking out.
I was startled and quickly ushered them both inside the manor.
Fortunately, the raincoats’ waterproofing seemed excellent, as neither of them was soaked.
As soon as the door opened, Bella and Emily, who had quickly assessed the situation, brought out warm tea.
I watched the Former Count couple drying their faces with towels and unconsciously raised my voice.
“What if you had gotten hurt coming in this weather?”
It takes an incredibly long time to get here from the capital outskirts.
The sky had been terribly dark since morning due to the heavy clouds.
I had even sent a letter saying I would formally invite them later, so I couldn’t understand why they had forced themselves to come in such weather.
But seeing the elderly couple’s bright smiles gradually fade made me realize my mistake.
“…I’m sorry. I got too excited because I was worried you might have gotten hurt on the way.”
The Former Countess forced a smile and grasped my hand. Her hand was cold from being exposed to the chilly air for so long.
“Thank you for worrying about us, Lady Siena. But you said you were formally inviting us today.”
“That’s right. We came in a hurry. A little rain is nothing.”
“…Pardon?”
I formally invited you?
‘I said I was busy and would invite you soon, but I never said anything about inviting you now in my letter.’
I had even written that I had an exorcism request scheduled for today.
Since it was raining heavily, I had opened the door early, worried I might be late for my appointment.
The two of them just happened to be standing there, about to knock.
As I stood there bewildered, the Former Count asked in confusion.
“Lady Siena sent a letter yesterday, didn’t you?”
“Huh? I sent it the day before yesterday.”
“That explains it… The messenger bird came to us last night completely soaked in the rain. It must have gotten lost and arrived late.”
Realizing something was wrong, the Former Count rummaged through his clothes and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper.
The paper was twisted as if it had been thoroughly soaked and then dried.
I took it from him.
“The letter got wet too, so we had some trouble drying it.”
Though it looked very different from when I sent it, it was definitely my letter.
Naturally, the ink letters had gotten completely soaked and were terribly smudged.
‘At least the first two lines with the greeting are intact, thank goodness.’
But as I read the scattered legible content, I became flustered.
[Right away the day after tomorrow !
Formally invite you.]
“Huh?”
I exclaimed out loud.
‘How could only this part remain while everything else got erased?’
Is this even possible?
Of course, I really was planning to invite them soon, but I hadn’t intended to invite them so suddenly.
Moreover, today – no, right now – I had to go resolve a request.
The Former Countess approached cautiously, still holding my hand.
“Lady Siena, we misunderstood something, didn’t we?”
“Ah…”
I was about to say no out of habit, but hesitated for a moment.
The Countess had said something like this before.
In cases like this, they could go back and come again, so please tell them honestly.
‘But… I don’t want to ask them to leave.’
Regardless of the harsh weather, I didn’t want to coldly send away people who had come all this way.
Though it was flustering, I was actually happy to see their faces.
The reason I had gotten angry upon seeing them was because I was genuinely worried.
Let me be honest first.
“Actually, I have an exorcism request scheduled for today. So I need to go right now.”
“I see, we came at the wrong time again. I’m so sorry.”
The Countess stroked the back of my hand with her rough touch, then hurriedly tried to leave the manor.
I quickly grabbed her hand. It was still cold.
“No! I’ll be back soon, so please rest at my manor.”
“Huh?”
“It’s raining so much, how about staying the night? Count Helkene came to my manor recently and had several rooms built.”
“…Really?”
“Yes, of course.”
Both the Former Countess and the Former Count, who had been quietly listening, visibly brightened.
For some reason, I felt an emotion I had never experienced in either my past or current life.
I felt a bit choked up and looked back.
Sir Zeros, who had been quietly watching us, smiled.
I grabbed the door handle again.
“Then I’ll be back.”
“Yes, Lady Siena. Take your time. I saw there was a new servant in the kitchen earlier, so we can exchange greetings.”
“Ah, right!”
The mention of the new servant reminded me.
I turned around just before closing the door to tell them about the new additions to the manor.
But the Former Count couple had already disappeared from my sight.
“…”
Did they already go to the kitchen?
I forgot to ask if they have animal fur allergies. They’re quite fast.
I wiped my nose.
Right, they must have been quite cold standing outside for so long.
“Lady Siena. We might be late at this rate.”
“…Ah!”
I, who had been blankly staring at the main gate, snapped to attention at Sir Zeros’ words.
I hurriedly climbed into the carriage.
* * *
It was when we were approaching the main gate of Rose Estate.
A man who had been pacing anxiously rushed toward the carriage.
He waited for me to get out and immediately held an umbrella over me.
Neat uniform and a cravat studded with jewels.
I could tell just from a quick glance.
This person was Lord Rose.
None other than the Baron himself was holding an umbrella for me.
“You’re the exorcist, right?”
“Yes. Are you Lord Rose?”
“That’s right! Please come this way!”
It’s only a few steps from the main gate to inside the manor, yet such exceptional treatment.
In the past, I would have been pleased, thinking my reputation had risen this much, but not anymore.
‘Right now, he really thinks of me as just an exorcist.’
Not as the human Siena, but only as an ‘exorcist.’ It felt quite strange.
Then, sensing a presence, I looked up and made eye contact with Rose Maiden who was looking down at me from a third-floor window.
‘Huh?’
Today she wasn’t wearing her flashy pink outfit.
Instead, she was looking this way wearing a dark gray dress with no color at all.
She had no expression, but as soon as our eyes met, she flinched and disappeared from sight.
‘…What’s that about?’
I was puzzled by not only her clothes but also why she had such a face.
But now I had to enter the manor, so I moved my steps.
Before we knew it, dozens of servants had followed behind us.
Lord Rose kept sighing deeply all the way to the vault.
“It’s been over a month since I’ve been able to enter the vault. Now I’m hearing that ghost’s crying as hallucinations!”
“You mean it hasn’t even been maintained for a month?”
“Yes, that’s right. Honestly, I don’t care what happens to the things inside, I just wish that ghost would disappear somehow.”
…After a month, the inside of the vault must be more than dirty, right?
The lord who had been lamenting so much about the vault ghost hesitated for quite a while after we arrived.
He took a deep breath. Finally, the vault lock…
“I absolutely, absolutely can’t do it!”
He couldn’t open it.
“Exorcist, I’m truly sorry, but could you please open the lock yourself and enter the vault? I’ll, I’ll watch from here…”
You’ve already placed the key in my hands.
And you’re already moving far away without even waiting for my answer.
All those servants were the same.
I looked at them in bewilderment.
Even if there really is a ghost, with this many people you’d win.
“Yes, then I’ll open it, so please watch from there—”
“Miss, I’ll open it!”
Huh? Sir Zeros snatched the key away. My hand was empty in an instant.
He skillfully unlocked it and threw the vault wide open.
“Aaaahhhhh!”
Then Lord Rose screamed and ran away.
That wasn’t all. The servants who had confidently followed, even the lord’s guard knights, all fled.
Of the dozens of people, only one remained.
Only the butler was barely watching while hiding behind a corner in the distance.
‘…No, do you really not care what happens to the things here?’
And the only lock mechanism on a vault this size is one old padlock?
If this is how it’s going to be, why not just get rid of the vault?
This is absolutely ridiculous.
But then.
‘Ugh, what is this smell?’
I, who had been scoffing, frowned and turned my head.
It was a stench I’d never smelled before in my life.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————