Sister, I Hit You Because There Was a Ghost Behind You - Chapter 61
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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 61. The Shadow of Greed That Dwells in the Ancient Castle
When I descended from the Magical Engineering Train, the place we arrived at was no modern resort.
Atop the highest cliff of Solea Island, standing majestically as if to swallow the roar of rough waves, was an ancient castle—the Emerald Hall.
The moss-covered massive stone walls and spires that pierced the sky emanated an overwhelming atmosphere as if time itself had frozen.
I stood before the castle’s heavy main gate, unfurling my fan with a languid smile.
“Far more to my taste than some gaudy villa, I must say. This cool air is perfect for soothing the fatigue of spiritual sight.”
At my words, Demian, standing beside me with our luggage, wordlessly removed his coat and draped it across my shoulders.
“The sea breeze is biting. If you catch a chill in such thin clothing, it will be troublesome. Please fasten your collar properly.”
His tone was as blunt and dry as always, yet his hands as he adjusted the coat were extraordinarily careful and tender, as if afraid my warmth might touch him.
I laughed softly, gripping the coat’s hem.
“Demian, worry about your own chill. If you fall ill and take to bed, who will guard me?”
At my jest, Demian responded with an deliberately stern expression.
“My body has been tempered by the mission and pride of a Holy Knight. Should you so much as sniffle, it would be an indelible stain upon my knighthood. I implore you, do not push away my coat.”
He added quietly, his gaze fixed sharply on the castle gate.
“The building is old and emanates a most unpleasant aura. I shall enter first to examine for any dangers. Stay close behind me.”
At that moment, Kairik, who had been watching from the side, let out a scoff and fluttered his thick cloak.
He draped his heavy black cloak over the coat Demian had given me with a decisive gesture.
“Ridiculous. Posturing with that skeletal frame. Violetta, such thin scraps of cloth are useless. Warm yourself with my body heat instead. The fur of a Northern beast is a hundred times warmer.”
Suddenly wrapped in two layers of outerwear, I sighed and pushed the cloak back slightly.
“Are you both trying to suffocate me? If you strip off all your clothes like this, the mosquitoes on this island will have quite the feast on your blood.”
Despite my reproach, the two men only growled at each other, showing no intention of reclaiming their garments.
Then, a loud commotion erupted from within the castle gate, and a throng of people spilled out.
A large family of roughly ten people, adorned in the finest silks and jewels, yet emanating something irritable and sharp.
Kairik clicked his tongue in annoyance and pulled my waist firmly toward him.
“What are these noisy people doing here? Weren’t we supposed to come here for quiet rest? Violetta, should I throw them all off the cliff outside the castle if they become bothersome?”
I lightly tapped the back of Kairik’s hand to calm him and chided him.
“Please restrain yourself, Your Majesty. I have no desire to stain my hands with blood at a vacation we’ve only just arrived at.”
Kairik added subtle force to the hand encircling my waist and grumbled.
“I was only offering to clean up these parasites so you wouldn’t be bothered. These pathetic weaklings—a flick of my finger and they’re done.”
Demian was not one to stand idle watching such a display.
Demian struck Kairik’s wrist away with a cold touch and warned coolly.
“Perhaps it would be far more beneficial to Violetta’s peace if you first corrected that barbaric habit of yours, Your Majesty. To embrace Violetta’s waist so carelessly in a place with so many watching eyes—how disrespectful.”
Kairik’s crimson eyes flashed as he glared at Demian.
“Disrespectful? She’s my woman, so I’ll hold her as I please. What business is it of yours, you rigid Knight Commander? Go over there and drive out those peddlers.”
I pressed my forehead and stepped between the two of them.
“Both of you, remove your hands from my waist. The air in this castle is already heavy enough without adding your nonsense on top of it.”
At my stern rebuke, both men reluctantly stepped back, though they continued their sharp vigilance toward each other.
I narrowed my spiritual eyes once more and fixed my gaze upon the large family blocking our path.
In that instant, a bizarre sight entered my vision.
Coiled atop the heads of several members of this family, gathered like black smoke, were Greed Demons.
At the forefront of the group stood a Middle-aged Nobleman with an irritable expression, his arm gripped tightly by an Elegant Lady, and behind them a Sharp-eyed Woman with arms crossed, her lips curled in cold disdain.
Beyond them were arrogant youths and cunning relatives, their heads writhing with serpentine threads of sticky demonic energy born from greed and entanglement.
These were clearly twisted vengeful spirits spawned by humanity’s ugly avarice over inheritance.
They remained blind to their own mutual distrust and greed, utterly unaware that monsters breathed above their heads.
The Middle-aged Nobleman at the front raked his eyes over us with an imperious tone.
“Who are you to brazenly set foot in another’s castle at such a delicate time? We are in an extremely sensitive state awaiting the reading of our father’s will.”
I watched the Greed Demons dancing above their heads with fascination, responding with leisurely ease.
“We are merely travelers who came to rent a portion of the castle for a quiet respite. However, the air here is far more humid and intriguing than expected, so I find myself altering my plans somewhat.”
I snapped my fingers lightly while keeping my mana hammer secured in my subspace pocket.
Demian, reading my gaze, placed his hand on the hilt of his holy sword and stepped forward with purpose.
He looked down upon them with palpable disgust, his voice cutting like ice.
“Stand back. The Countess has come here to rest. Do not dare approach with those repugnant auras clinging to you.”
Kairik von Herzen laughed with boiling blood, radiating the aura of a predator.
He draped his arm across my shoulders, adding with arrogant flair.
“You heard him? Since our Violetta fancies this place, you lot should cower in the corners. If you don’t want your heads flying off while you’re distracted with your inheritance games, that is.”
The entire extended family inhaled sharply and retreated in unison before the overwhelming pressure of the two men.
Especially those bearing Greed Demons on their heads began trembling like aspen leaves, seized by primal terror.
With the predatory gaze of a beast and the purifying killing intent of a Holy Knight bearing down simultaneously, those shallow demons stood no chance of enduring.
I decided to leave detailed introductions of that clamorous lot to the Butler who would give us a tour later, and I walked past them with unhurried grace toward the Castle Lobby.
As I opened the enormous oak doors, a grand chandelier—ancient and weathered, seemingly centuries old—greeted us.
Noticing the marble floor pitted and uneven, Demian quickly extended his sturdy arm, offering his escort.
“The floor is treacherous and uneven. Please rely upon my arm.”
However, before Demian’s arm could reach me, Kairik von Herzen lightly lifted me by the waist, effortlessly carrying me over the jagged stones in a single stride.
“If you stumbled over such rubble, it would damage my reputation. Watch where you’re going, Violetta.”
As Kairik von Herzen laughed triumphantly, provoking Demian, deep furrows carved themselves across Demian’s brow.
He gripped the hilt of his holy sword tightly, his voice dropping low.
“To treat Violetta like cargo—truly a vulgar approach. I find not a shred of knightly dignity in your methods.”
“Dignity can go to the dogs. All that matters is keeping her from falling, doesn’t it?”
I burst into quiet laughter at their endless snarling, murmuring softly to myself.
“I never imagined I’d be exorcising demons even at a resort. Well, observing humans steeped in greed does make for rather entertaining diversion.”
At my words, Demian gazed at me once more with gentle eyes, speaking as though swearing an oath.
“Should anyone disturb your peaceful slumber, whether demon or human, I shall pursue them to the depths of hell itself and reduce them to ash without trace.”
Kairik von Herzen refused to yield, lightly touching my cheek with arrogant confidence.
“Before that happens, they’ll be shredded by my claws first, so don’t you worry. Just stay by my side and pick out pretty dresses—leave those worms to me.”
The classical beauty overlooking the azure sea, and beneath it the whispered malice of hideous Greed Demons lurking in shadow.
Having concluded our fierce battle, we had arrived at this place of respite only to raise the curtain on yet another grotesque theater born of human desire.
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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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