Chapter 44…………………………………………….
“What did you do?”
“I drove out whatever was possessing it. It’ll probably take some time for the soul to settle back in.”
Every time something like this happened, I was reminded of just how strong the housekeeper’s spirit was.
Of course, that was only natural.
After all, she was a spirit who had maintained her sense of self for such a long time.
Naturally, she would be stronger than a spirit that had to inhabit someone else’s body to exist.
“By the way, where did that kid who was beside you go? Don’t tell me they’re dead?”
“Huh?”
If they said “that kid beside you,” it was probably Irene.
But I didn’t expect her to jump straight to asking if she was dead.
“She’s alive. She went up to the capital, though.”
“See? I thought the others had dealt with her! She’s way too overprotected!”
“…?”
It was probably better to pretend I hadn’t heard that last remark.
With that conclusion, Laseil quietly turned her body.
“Leaving already?”
“I need to check the forest.”
“Oh, the forest. Its condition has been weird lately.”
“That’s fine—I already know about it.”
It was slightly annoying that someone had left a cursed mark there.
If I could have identified who it was, I might have thrown my gloves down right then and there.
“No, it’s gotten a bit stranger than the last time I saw it. Is it… black magic?”
“Black magic?”
Laseil stopped in her tracks. That sounded like something worth listening to.
“Anyway, be careful. I don’t know the details either.”
That was the end of the warning from the housekeeper.
Laseil moved forward still unsettled.
‘At least, it still looks fine for now.’
Gloomy and dark?
It looked just like any other forest.
Unable to see far inside?
Same as usual.
Crying and screams carried on the wind?
It would’ve been stranger if it didn’t.
‘I guess I just have to go in.’
Laseil stepped forward without hesitation.
Soon, she could feel the cool, dark air wrapping around her face.
‘Has it gotten more humid?’
That was her first impression.
Nothing felt particularly dangerous or unsettling.
- Mom… mom… mom…
After walking a bit further, she heard the voice of a child somewhere.
Even this didn’t strike her as particularly serious.
‘A real child wouldn’t stop crying so quickly.’
Besides, a real child wouldn’t make such a stereotypical crying sound either.
Crying quietly without wailing, left alone in the forest like this?
No way.
‘The language keeps changing too.’
At first, it was in the Kingdom’s tongue; now it was in the Empire’s.
And mixed in were various regional dialects, making it completely chaotic.
Listening to it was so absurd it almost made her laugh.
‘That just now…’
A chill brushed the back of her neck and vanished.
Laseil didn’t take it very seriously.
Naturally.
‘No sun, so it should be fine.’
No one had tried to kill her directly.
Even if it had some strange influence, the housekeeper would deal with it once she returned.
So there was no reason to be afraid.
‘Are we there yet?’
After that came five auditory hallucinations, three visual hallucinations, and four tactile ones.
During all this, the forest grew darker.
Laseil didn’t care at all.
There was no reason to pay attention to a being that hadn’t revealed itself.
“Are you in there?”
Finally, when she found the fairies’ hut, she heard overlapping voices.
It was the same manner of conversation as before.
“I’m here.”
“Visiting?”
“Want me to invite you in?”
“I came to ask something.”
Laseil spoke as she handed over a small leather pouch.
Inside were various sparkling objects.
These fairies would provide good information in exchange for payment.
They could be whimsical with their kindness, but that whimsy didn’t come often.
“Hasn’t the forest been acting weird lately?”
“That’s right!”
“Strange!”
“I was about to say something.”
“It ruined the flowers completely.”
“Even people sometimes.”
“The traces are strong.”
“Where?”
That last question seemed to be the key.
As soon as Laseil asked urgently, the answer came.
“Go out here, and further inside.”
“Deep into the forest.”
“Towards the tombstone.”
“Find it and get rid of it.”
“It’s unpleasant that it’s there.”
“Thanks… by the way, flowers?”
“Petals at the entrance.”
“The place where they sometimes take tea leaves.”
‘There are still people like that?’
This forest was often used as a picnic spot.
But even if edible, the forest’s plants weren’t for people to eat.
Everyone considered that common sense.
‘Someone must have properly cursed them.’
Laseil sighed and stepped outside.
Following the fairies’ directions, it didn’t take long to reach the tombstone.
The strong traces of black magic were also easy to find.
‘Should I tell the princess?’
The traces were unusually thick this time.
‘Or…’
Laseil pondered while circling the tombstone.
She couldn’t think of a clean way to get rid of it.
Then, suddenly, she felt her foot catch.
Thud!
After a loud fall, embarrassment outweighed pain.
A Sword Master unable to control her own body—how humiliating.
Laseil hastily brushed off the dust and stopped moving.
‘Did it break just now?’
The tombstone she tripped over was completely shattered.
The heavy traces of black magic had vanished as well.
‘Was that the conduit?’
Come to think of it, objects imbued with black magic could often be cut with aura.
If successful, great; if failed, it wouldn’t get worse.
Concluding this, Laseil quickly drew her sword.
In an instant, the tombstone turned to gray dust.
With a ringing sound, the planchette in her pouch broke as well.
“Why this?”
Laseil inspected the planchette.
It had been used in necromancy, so a spirit had likely possessed it.
The breaking of the planchette meant…
‘The spirit was driven away.’
It was likely forced into salvation.
Laseil shifted her gaze back to the tombstone.
‘That tombstone must have been the problem.’
She wandered a bit more in the forest.
Looking for any other traces, she heard some faint screams but no signs of black magic.
‘Completely dealt with.’
Laseil stood up with confidence.
Even though the method was simple, she had no doubts.
‘Aura isn’t that easy to manipulate.’
Even those around her, including Laseil herself, often forgot that fact.
It was probably because two Sword Masters had become too familiar.
At this point, there were only two aura users in the kingdom.
And at one time, Sword Masters were the ultimate fear for black magicians.
‘Above all… I saw it with my own eyes.’
The traces of black magic vanished instantly.
Laseil was always sensitive to traces or signs.
Had there been any remaining, she would’ve noticed immediately.
‘No reason to suspect myself.’
Her faith in herself had strengthened over the years.
Naturally, so had her belief in her abilities.
So, with the problem solved, there was no need to entertain unlikely possibilities.
‘If any issue remains… I’ll take responsibility then.’
At least she had the capability.
After brushing off the last dirt from her pants, Laseil pondered again.
‘Now I just need to deal with the restaurant, right?’
To be precise, she needed to handle the meat brought by the crazy owner because of black magic.
For some reason, dealing with that felt even more annoying.
‘There’ll be a lot related to it.’
For now, she probably wouldn’t even look at meat dishes at the restaurant.
The owner had also lost all their money buying meat.
‘I should at least keep some herbs in the restaurant.’
There were so many herbs that could ward off spirits—why hadn’t she stocked them?
Muttering to herself, Laseil suddenly stopped moving.
‘Herbs?’
Now that she thought about it, she had used herbs while cooking as well.
