Sister, I Hit You Because There Was a Ghost Behind You - Chapter 25

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 25. Who’s Going to Pay for the Garden Maintenance?
I kicked off from the cold marble railing with bare feet and leaped down. The night breeze wrapped around my dress. The height was considerable, but my landing was graceful.
Thud.
The moment my feet touched the garden, the corpse lying there convulsed with an eerie sound.
[Kieeeek….]
A man in a black robe rose up, his joints bending at grotesque angles.
His eyes had already rolled back white, and his skin was rotting and decomposing. An undead—a corpse that had found no peace in death, now moving as a puppet under someone’s control.
I adjusted my grip on the hammer and clicked my tongue.
“Ugh, seriously. What are you doing destroying all my grass?”
Then, a desolate wind blew from the darkness. Behind the topiary, beside the fountain, and atop the walls—dozens of black shadows appeared soundlessly. They were all assassins wielding daggers marked with an eagle emblem. Or rather, dead assassins.
Kairik von Herzen landed beside me with a growl.
“Quite a few of them. The stench is revolting.”
Demian Lyart leaped down lightly and drew his sword. Holy light blazed forth from his blade, illuminating the darkness.
“I’ve heard rumors that the Imperial assassination unit, the Black Eagle, was completely annihilated… It seems they’ve all become sacrifices for dark magic.”
I rested the hammer on my shoulder and spoke.
“Poor souls. Not even allowed to clock out—forced into overtime.”
The undead rushed at us in unison. Their speed was terrifying—more agile than when alive, monsters that knew no pain.
“Violetta, stay behind me!”
Kairik von Herzen blocked the front and swung his fist.
Crack!
The undead’s head burst like a watermelon under his punch. But they didn’t stop. Even with their heads gone, even with their arms severed, they kept coming.
“Persistent bastards!”
Kairik von Herzen snarled in irritation, tearing them apart. Meanwhile, Demian Lyart raised his sword high and chanted an incantation.
“Light that drives back darkness, grant these souls their rest. Purification!”
Whoooosh!
A blinding wave of light erupted from Demian Lyart’s sword. The undead touched by it screamed and burned away.
[Kieeeeeek!]
Watching them vanish as black smoke, I couldn’t help but admire.
“Oh, impressive performance. The Holy Knights Order Commander really is something else.”
But there was no time to admire. The unpurified stragglers rushed at me, their daggers coated with deadly poison.
“How dare you attack your master!”
I spun the hammer like a windmill.
Crack!
My hammer struck the creature’s solar plexus with devastating force. With the sound of ribs shattering, it flew backward. Without pause, I hooked the ankle of another approaching from behind, sent it tumbling, and brought the hammer down on its skull.
“Do you know how much this grass costs?!”
Smack! Smack! Smack!
With each blow, I vented my fury. My garden. My precious landscaping. How much is this going to cost me to restore?
“Argh! Pay for the repairs!”
My wrathful hammer strikes seemed to frighten the undead, making them hesitate. Seeing this, Kairik von Herzen let out a dry laugh and spoke.
“…I can’t tell who the real monster is. She’s definitely my woman.”
The battle ended anticlimactically. When the Empire’s mightiest military force, divine power, and capitalist fury converged, even the undead legion couldn’t withstand ten minutes.
As the last undead dissolved beneath Demian’s blade, silence returned to the Garden. Only acrid smoke and trampled grass remained as testament to the battle.
I collapsed, breathing heavily. My dress hem was caked with dirt, and my bare feet were a complete mess.
“Phew… it’s over.”
Demian approached and knelt on one knee before me. His eyes filled with concern as he examined my feet.
“Are you injured anywhere? Your feet are in terrible condition.”
“I’m fine. They’re just scraped.”
“That won’t do. Toxins can seep through the wounds.”
Demian withdrew his handkerchief and carefully wiped the dirt from my feet. The Knight Commander of the Holy Knights Order kneeling to tend to my feet—I could hear the nobles watching from the Banquet Hall Terrace gasping in shock.
“My goodness.”
“Such a romantic scene…!”
Then Kairik von Herzen interjected with a displeased expression.
“Move aside. We can treat her later—we need to get inside first.”
Kairik von Herzen pushed Demian aside and opened his arms toward me.
“Let me carry you. Or rather, let me hold you.”
“What? No, I can walk… Eek!”
Before I could protest, Kairik von Herzen lifted me effortlessly. A classic princess carry. I felt his firm forearms and broad chest.
“Hey! Put me down! Everyone’s watching!”
I struggled in his embrace, but Kairik von Herzen didn’t budge. Instead, he held me tighter and chuckled.
“Let them watch. I won’t have my woman walking barefoot.”
Demian rose sharply, his voice cold.
“Your Highness, do not disregard Violetta’s wishes. Did she not ask to be put down?”
Kairik von Herzen looked down at Demian with a sneer.
“Would you prefer to carry her? In those white robes? You’d cry if they got dirty.”
“…Clothing is irrelevant.”
As Demian reached out, Kairik von Herzen turned and evaded him.
“Too late. Once a beast has caught its prey, it doesn’t let go.”
Kairik von Herzen strode into the Mansion. Cradled in his arms, I watched Demian’s bitter expression recede. And I had to endure the cheering gazes of the nobles from the Terrace.
‘Ah… tomorrow’s newspaper headline is guaranteed.’
I gave up and buried my face in Kairik von Herzen’s shoulder.
In the Mansion’s Reception Room, I sat on the sofa receiving a foot soak. As I submerged my feet in the warm water, the fatigue melted away.
Kairik von Herzen and Demian sat across from me, their expressions grave as they stared at the object on the table before them. It was the dagger left behind by the undead assassin. An eagle emblem, and a black jewel embedded in the hilt.
Demian spoke heavily.
“I’m certain. This is a dagger used by the Imperial Guard commander. However… this jewel is a dark magic stone.”
Kairik von Herzen crossed his arms and spoke.
“The Crown Prince went to prison. So who was controlling them? The Emperor?”
“No. It wouldn’t be the Emperor.”
The Terrace window opened and someone suddenly entered. A man in a black hood—Shadow. He brazenly perched on the sofa’s armrest and poured himself a glass of wine.
“That was a fine party. Especially that final fireworks display—quite impressive.”
I shot him a look and asked.
“Well, since you’ve enjoyed the show, you should pay for the meal, shouldn’t you? Do you happen to know anything?”
Shadow whispered low, glancing around cautiously.
“The Emperor is nothing but a puppet right now. Thanks to Miss Violetta removing that vicious creature, he survived, but after having his vitality drained for so long, he’s completely exhausted. There are widespread rumors that someone is exploiting this window to inject forbidden drugs into the Emperor’s weakened body and control him.”
I furrowed my brow and asked him.
“So we removed parasites, and now it’s poison? That old man’s life is truly miserable. Did you manage to discover who’s behind injecting these drugs?”
“The only confidant at the Emperor’s side. The Imperial physician and… a man of Grand Mage origins.”
Demian’s eyes widened.
“Surely you don’t mean… Rasputin?”
“Bingo.”
Shadow snapped his fingers sharply.
“He’s been feeding the Emperor drugs to control his mind. The Black Eagle was resurrected as undead by him as well. He’s the one who sent the assassins today.”
All the puzzle pieces fell into place. Crown Prince Oscar was merely a figurehead—the true mastermind trying to devour the Empire was someone else. Rasputin. It was obvious why he’d targeted me.
My possession of the Abyssal Core, the magic stone I’d obtained after killing the Lord of the Abyss, my vast wealth, and my power base in the Northern Region—these were all obstacles to him.
I dried my feet with a towel and stood up.
“How troublesome. I defeat the first-round boss, and now a hidden boss appears.”
Kairik laughed menacingly.
“Perfect. Should we just tear down the entire Imperial Palace this time?”
Demian shook his head.
“We cannot simply storm in. The Imperial Palace has powerful barriers, and he’s holding the Emperor hostage. We must be cautious.”
“Cautious? What if this woman gets hurt again?”
Kairik growled.
I stepped between the two men and spoke.
“Don’t fight. There’s a way.”
I picked up a golden invitation resting on the table—one the Imperial Chief Attendant had secretly handed me during the party.
「Request for an Audience with His Imperial Majesty」
“He’s summoned me. He probably intends to either persuade or threaten me.”
“It’s a trap.”
Demian said firmly.
“I know. But to catch a tiger, you must enter its den.”
I smiled wickedly.
“And this time… I won’t be going empty-handed.”
I gestured toward my Dressing Room.
“Gather those clothes I bought while shopping. Tomorrow morning, I’m reporting for duty at the Imperial Palace.”
“Reporting for duty?”
“Yes. As Count Eberhardt, and as… the Empire’s savior, I’m going to present my invoice.”
I clenched my fist tightly.
“How dare he ruin my party and damage the lawn? Whether it’s Rasputin or whoever, I’ll shake him down thoroughly.”
At the gleam in my eyes, both men burst into involuntary laughter.
“Unstoppable.”
“Truly, you’re yourself.”
A new battlefield awaited us.
This stage was the Imperial Palace.
And my weapons were… a club and a calculator.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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