Sister, I Hit You Because There Was a Ghost Behind You - Chapter 26

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

Chapter 26. Your Majesty, This Invoice Requires Full Payment
The following morning, a magnificent carriage came to a halt before the Imperial Palace’s main gate—the Lion’s Gate.
The door opened, and I stepped onto the ground first.
Today, my dress code was “combat attire.” Not armor, of course. A black silk suit, killer heels, and gold-rimmed glasses—I looked like a ruthless CEO arriving to orchestrate a hostile corporate takeover.
“Let’s go. Time to collect payment.”
Two men descended behind me. Kairik von Herzen wore a crimson uniform with a wolf pelt draped across his shoulders—the symbol of his house. Demian was dressed in the pristine white regalia of the Holy Knights Order, adorned with golden epaulettes.
Black, red, white. The three of us possessed such overwhelming presence that the guards at the gate stood slack-jawed and motionless.
“H-halt! Please present your identification!”
The Guard Captain finally snapped to attention and stepped forward to block our path. Kairik von Herzen frowned with obvious irritation and moved ahead.
“My face is my identification. Move aside.”
“B-but the procedure….”
“The Grand Duke of the Northern Region has come for an audience with the Emperor. Do you presume to stop me?”
As Kairik von Herzen released a wave of killing intent, the Guard Captain let out a strangled cry and stumbled backward. Then, from within the gates, a thin, piercing voice rang out.
“How disrespectful. The Imperial Palace is not a marketplace.”
There appeared a gaunt elderly man—the Imperial Chief Attendant. His eyes gleamed with serpentine cunning. He was unmistakably Rasputin’s subordinate.
The Chief Attendant swept his scrutinizing gaze over us and spoke.
“His Majesty is currently indisposed. Those carrying weapons are forbidden entry.”
He gestured toward the sword at Kairik von Herzen’s waist and Demian’s longsword.
“Leave your weapons behind before entering.”
Kairik von Herzen let out a derisive snort.
“You want me to pull a mad dog’s teeth before walking in? If I refuse?”
“Then entry to the palace is denied.”
A tense silence descended upon us. Kairik von Herzen looked ready to slit the Chief Attendant’s throat on the spot. I grabbed his arm and stepped forward.
“Fine. When in Rome, one must follow Roman law.”
“Violetta?”
“Hand them over, please. Just temporarily.”
At my signal, both men grumbled but obediently surrendered their swords to the Chief Attendant. He gazed at my hands with an expression of triumphant satisfaction. In my grip was a heavy leather bag containing a disassembled hammer.
“That bag must be inspected as well.”
“This is my cosmetics bag.”
“It’s far too large and heavy for cosmetics. Open it.”
I sighed and placed the bag on the table, then unzipped it. Inside were… genuinely a cosmetics pouch, a stack of documents, and one enormous calculator. The hammer was hidden away in a magical storage pocket. A deception of this caliber was child’s play.
“See? Just invoices and a calculator.”
The Chief Attendant rummaged through the bag with visible confusion, but no weapons emerged.
“…You may pass.”
He stepped aside with an unsatisfied expression. We walked leisurely into the Imperial Palace corridors.
The hallways were unnaturally silent. No handmaidens, no attendants were visible. The air reeked of damp mold mingled with heavy perfume.
“They’ve masked the stench of decay with fragrance,” Kairik von Herzen whispered, covering his nose. Demian’s brow furrowed as well.
“A barrier has been erected. This space is completely sealed off from the outside world.”
We arrived before the Emperor’s bedchamber—the Chamber of the Sun. An enormous golden door stood firmly closed. As I reached to knock, a sinister voice emanated from within.
We arrived in front of the Chamber of the Sun, the Emperor’s bedchamber. A massive golden door was firmly shut. As I tried to knock on the door, a sinister voice came from inside.
“Come in.”
Creak—
The door swung open of its own accord. Despite the daylight outside, the room lay shrouded in darkness behind drawn curtains. On the bed lay the Emperor, gaunt and skeletal, while beside him stood a man in a black robe.
Pallid skin, sunken eyes, and a repugnant smile playing at his lips—it was Rasputin, the shadow manipulating the Empire from behind the scenes.
“Welcome, Count Eberhardt. And to our two uninvited guests.”
Rasputin greeted us, leaning on his staff. At its tip gleamed a black jewel, identical to the one the assassin had wielded yesterday.
I strode forward and settled onto the sofa, crossing my legs without a shred of deference despite the Emperor’s presence.
“Uninvited? I received an invitation.”
“Heh heh. How fearless of you. Walking straight into the tiger’s jaws.”
Rasputin struck his staff against the floor with a resounding thud. The shadows in the room writhed and twisted. Crimson eyes flickered in the darkness. Dozens of shadow creatures clung to the walls and ceiling, their gaze fixed upon us.
“What could unarmed beasts possibly accomplish here?”
Rasputin laughed with contemptible glee. Kairik clenched his fists. Even without weapons, he was a man capable of shattering stone with his bare hands. But any reckless movement risked endangering the Emperor.
I leisurely withdrew a stack of documents from my bag.
“Why, I’m here on business.”
“Business?”
“Yes. As the head of the Eberhardt Family, I’ve come to file a compensation claim against the Imperial Court.”
I tapped the calculator with a decisive click.
“Yesterday, the Crown Prince caused a disturbance at my party venue, didn’t he? My premium marble flooring was damaged, and the emotional trauma I suffered is considerable.”
I recited each receipt in turn.
“Floor replacement costs: 1 billion gold.”
“Dress cleaning and dignity maintenance fees: 500 million gold.”
“Garden landscaping restoration: 2 billion gold.”
“And…”
I fixed Rasputin with a steady gaze and continued.
“Illegal dumping of ‘organic waste’ in my garden: 50 billion gold in fines.”
By organic waste, I meant undead corpses.
Rasputin’s expression went blank.
“Are you… joking right now?”
“Joking? I’m entirely serious.”
I thrust the calculator toward him.
“The total comes to 53.5 billion gold. Will you pay in full or installments? Ah, but given the Imperial Court’s credit rating is in ruins, installments are out of the question.”
“You… you insane woman!”
Rasputin roared in fury.
“Do you have a death wish? How dare you speak of money before me!”
“It’s not money-grubbing—it’s exercising my rights.”
I rose from my seat.
“And there’s one thing you’re mistaken about.”
“What?”
“Did you really think we came empty-handed?”
I smiled wickedly and upended my bag. Out tumbled dozens of glass bottles filled with holy water and pouches of concentrated purifying salt.
“I turned in my weapons, but ‘religious items’ weren’t listed as prohibited, were they?”
Demian Lyart caught on to my intention and smiled. He picked up a vial of holy water and recited a prayer.
“By the name of God, I command thee.”
Clang!
Demian Lyart hurled the vial of holy water to the ground. As it splattered, the shadow creatures writhed and shrieked, their forms burning away.
[Kieeeek!]
“Gah! What is the meaning of this!”
Rasputin flailed his staff in panic. But now it was Kairik von Herzen’s turn. He accepted the pouch of salt I handed him and tore it open, scattering the contents into the air.
“Taste some salt, you rotten things!”
Whoooosh!
Purifying salt cascaded down like snow. The barrier woven from dark magic crackled and fractured.
“No! My barrier!”
Rasputin shrieked. I seized the moment and rushed toward the Emperor’s bed. He lay there, eyes vacant, staring at nothing but the ceiling. Around his neck hung a black amulet—the conduit of mental domination.
‘That’s it.’
I reached out and snatched the amulet away.
“Don’t! Don’t touch it!”
Rasputin unleashed a torrent of dark magic. But Demian Lyart unfurled a sacred barrier to shield us, and Kairik von Herzen stepped in to block Rasputin’s path.
“You’re facing me now, old man.”
I gripped the amulet in my hand and squeezed with all my strength.
“Your Majesty, it’s time to wake up. You have a mountain of neglected duties waiting.”
Crack!
The amulet shattered. Black smoke poured out, and slowly, awareness returned to the Emperor’s eyes.
“Ugh….”
The Emperor groaned hoarsely. At the same moment, Rasputin coughed blood and collapsed. The backlash from the severed connection.
“Hack…! You wench… how dare you ruin my twenty-year plan…!”
I adjusted my glasses and looked down at the fallen Rasputin.
“Plans exist to be revised. And I’m adding one more line item to your bill.”
I tapped my calculator again.
“Imperial Medical Treatment: 100 billion gold.”
I declared with a radiant smile.
“This is a ‘rush fee,’ so it’s rather expensive.”

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