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Nozomanu Fushi no Boukensha (LN) - Volume 3 - Chapter SS5




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Of Ghosts and Pets 

“...seem a ghost has appeared...” Lorraine said, with an expression of utmost seriousness. 

I looked up from the book I was reading, scrutinizing her face carefully. 

“What...? I beg your pardon? Would you mind repeating yourself, Lorraine?” 

A joke, perhaps, or maybe a trick of the mind. Had I misheard her? 

Lorraine, however, repeated herself calmly. 

“It would seem a ghost has...” 

I held up a hand, stopping her mid-sentence. 

“All right, I understand. So I didn’t mishear you.” 

“Good that we have come to an understanding, Rentt. Well then. What do you think?” 

“What do I...think? Well, we could just defeat it when we feel like it, no? Some cleansing magic, maybe? If I recall, a normal ghost could be sent on its way even with normal spells...” 

There was no cause for alarm or fear. It was just a ghost, after all. Perhaps I would be afraid if I were a child, but I was an adult now. 

Given that ghost materialization was a natural phenomenon and ways of defeating them existed, there was no reason to panic. There was also Lorraine, who would provide magical backup in case physical attacks didn’t work. 

So...what was the problem? Why the serious face? 

“You would think that, yes... However, if you did defeat it with magic, they do give off that awful howl, do they not?” 

A good point... It wasn’t known if ghosts could feel pain. When struck by magic, however, they had a tendency to let out an ear-splitting wail. This was why exorcising ghosts of the dead at night were troublesome, to say the least. One’s neighbors would be inclined to agree. As such, these requests also came with the task of making the rounds, preemptively apologizing to all the people who lived around the haunted building in question. 

It was all quite troublesome. 

Despite all the trouble, most people would just quietly accept the apology, and calmly close their doors. Most would prefer not to have a ghost in the vicinity, after all. 

For instance, someone could come home to find their abode a mess, even though the windows were shut and the doors locked. Plates and bowls would be broken, strewn all over the place—a common phenomenon when it came to stray ghosts. Even if we assumed one would put up with broken plates, they could possibly wake up in the middle of the night to find a translucent, blood-spattered woman standing over their bed. Or maybe a disembodied voice during mealtimes saying, “I want to eat, too...” or something similar. While some individuals didn’t mind any of these strange happenings on account of their unbridled courage, they would at least be irritated, or slightly put off by these occurrences. 

In addition, ghosts had a tendency to become stronger if left alone, and the incidents would eventually escalate to the point where someone would be grievously hurt. Once or twice a year, possibly, one would hear of townsfolk murdered by...ghosts. It was more likely than one would expect, and an occasional exorcism was necessary. 

They were like...cockroaches, for the lack of a better word. Cockroaches that wailed when they were crushed. Terrifying. 

We had little choice, however. 

“What of it? There’s little we can do about these wails.” 

“Not quite, Rentt. Have you forgotten? If they are purified with divinity, they pass on peacefully and just vanish.” 

“Ahhh...yes. I suppose there is that. Would you like me to assist then?” 

“But of course. Your quick understanding is helpful as always, Rentt.” 

Such were the way of things. In fact, individuals affiliated with churches often carried out such duties for some pocket change. They had good business, all things considered, and some people would even call on them over adventurers. 

That said, these individuals weren’t exactly Priests or Priestess-Saints. They could just be men or women of faith armed with a bottle of holy water as that much was enough to exorcise lesser ghosts, spirits, and the like. 

Lorraine could have approached the issue in a similar way, but, instead, she chose to come to me. While I didn’t know of her reasons, it wasn’t an unreasonable task. 

I nodded at Lorraine before inquiring about our next destination. 

 

“Is this the place...?” 

“Yes. What is it with that face of yours? Surprised?” Lorraine questioned, turning to me as she did so. 


I took another look at the place, the location where this ghost had supposedly materialized. 

“If only because it’s such a mansion, Lorraine. Wouldn’t these people have the funds to hire a priest or two?” 

“I suppose.” 

It was a large mansion. Nothing on the level of the Latuules, of course, but it was decidedly bigger than, say, Lorraine’s abode. 

Though, Lorraine’s home was the size it was because of her preferences, since she wasn’t exactly one for excess. If she really wished to purchase a mansion, it may actually be possible. I couldn’t even recall a time where Lorraine’s finances were ever in dire straits. 

“Even so, they are bound by certain...circumstances. We should be going, Rentt.” 

Lorraine stepped forward, and, after a brief exchange with the guard, we were invited through the mansion’s open doors. 

 

“Oh thank you, thank you so much for coming... Oh? And who might this be...?” 

“Ah, yes. This is the adventurer who will perform the purification.” 

The client, seemingly convinced at Lorraine’s explanation, took a step toward me. From her demeanor, it seemed like she was asking for...a handshake. The client looked like a lady who was particularly well-to-do, and was exactly that. 

“Oh, please, please kind sir! I implore you! Lay the soul of my Sweetpea to rest, that he may ascend to the heavens above!” 

“Sweetpea...?” 

Lorraine turned to me. “A monster, Rentt. One that Lady Emilstead here treats as her own family... A variant of Puchi Suri...” 

The meaning of “variant” in this case would refer to reduced aggressiveness, or perhaps a cute appearance, optimized to be attractive toward humans. 

I see. I understand now. 

I suppose priests and the like would find this request difficult as most ghosts appearing in town were human in origin, so the goal would be to peacefully put them to rest. Failing that, they would be blown away by a few well-placed spells. 

In this case, Lady Emilstead would probably be deeply unsatisfied with such a procedure, seeing as it would only cause the monster’s soul pain. 

This was why I was called here, I suppose...being another individual having a mouse for a pet. 

I understood the lady’s feelings well enough. This was why I turned to her and spoke, holding her hands in mine. 

“Leave it to me, madam... I will do everything in my power to put Sweetpea’s soul at ease.” 

With that, I did as I had promised, seeing the mouse’s soul off to the heavens. Lady Emilstead shook my hand vigorously, tears streaking her face, offering to once again seek out my services should she require anything. It seemed I had obtained a good client. 

Immediately after this, Lorraine presented the woman with a few Puchi Suri, a suggestion for her to adopt another to fill the hole in her heart. 

While some could argue that Lorraine’s actions were insensitive, her demeanor and manner of speech suggested that Lorraine truly cared for this grieving lady. Lady Emilstead, in turn, was deeply grateful, and ended up choosing a Puchi Suri from amongst Lorraine’s offerings. She then decided to name it...Sweetpea... 

I felt this was a little too simple of an affair... 

 

“Well, Rentt. With this, obtaining information from that household has become all too easy,” Lorraine stated after we had left the mansion behind. 

“What do you mean?” 

“What, did you not notice? The new Sweetpea is a subordinate of Edel’s. In other words, he would be our mouse on the inside. Edel had wanted to gain access to that mansion, so I offered some assistance. They are a well-to-do family, you see, and they have guests from all corners of the land. It just so happened there was a good excuse in place...at least for us to do what we did.” 

Was Lorraine referring to the ghost...? 

“Since when were you such fast friends with Edel...?” 

“No, it is not quite like that. The truth is a little more simple. That mansion has a barrier around it, you see, generated by a magical tool of sorts. I happened to pass by and witness a Puchi Suri body slamming the barrier repeatedly. Noting its interesting behavior, I stood and observed the mouse for a while, only for Edel to show up and begin issuing it instructions. I then approached him and asked if he would like entry into the mansion...so I offered my assistance, as I said.” 

“What, you can even understand him now?” 

“A few words, yes. Not the specifics, but that is an experiment I would gladly take part in. A little difficult, however, given how Edel is always so busy. In any case, it is good for your friend to owe me a favor, in case we ever need anything from him in the future.” 

And all this had been happening this whole time...? To think Edel had been working harder than me on a daily basis... 

For a while, I was at a loss for words... 



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