Chapter 456
Chapter 456
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 456
Chapter Title: Kim Katt and the Ghost's House
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What the fuck kind of mansion is this?
"I-Is this the lord's house?"
Lina, who was stuck right behind me, said that. Kobson and Meria stood there with their mouths agape, unable to say a word.
It's so damn grandiose.
A mansion. No, calling it a grand mansion might be more fitting.
Even "grand mansion" feels a bit off. It's on the scale of a small palace or castle... Anyway, it was an enormously impressive, massive building.
I'd been picturing just a villa or something, but this thing is huge?
"What kind of lunatic lord lived in a place like this?"
"But a house like that..."
Even though the mansion had completely blended into the surrounding forest, it still looked utterly out of place.
The dark green ivy wrapping around the outer walls showed signs of repeated blooming and withering, layered with decay. The parts not covered by vines bore straight-up scars from years of weathering.
The building's a total fucking wreck.
They built this shit in the middle of nowhere and let it rot. No wonder a nice house turned to crap. Anyway, it looks ancient.
If I were some isekai architecture expert, I might've guessed the build date from the style, but sadly, that's not my expertise. All I can think is that it must've been one hell of a house when it was new.
"I-It really is a massive mansion... It might actually have been where a lord lived."
Kobson rubbed his chin, trying for a cool analysis.
"...A place this big wasn't discovered until now? Doesn't that seem off?"
"Fucking weird, right? What the hell is this?"
Meria looked on guard.
Just like she said, a building this size shouldn't be making headlines now. A small one slipping under the radar? Sure. But this massive? No way it'd go unnoticed.
"...Did it just pop up out of nowhere?"
For something that suddenly appeared, it sure bears all the marks of age. Suspicious as hell.
Magic at work or something?
"Anyway, let's check it out. It's way bigger than expected. And it looks promising... Smells like money. High chance of antiques."
Kobson drew his sword and stepped forward.
"Hey, hold up."
This feels like walking in blind could get us fucked.
"Wait a sec."
It's a seriously big house.
Other adventurers probably found it first. Could be traps inside, or some gang holding it down.
Something's definitely lurking in there, huh?
"Let's scout the perimeter before going in. That sounds best."
"Hm, sound judgment. Let's do that."
"Lina. Stick right behind me. Stay sharp—shit could happen."
"Got it. I'll keep that in mind."
We decided to check around the mansion first.
It was so huge it felt like we'd arrived at some tourist spot. Old as it was, you couldn't hide the lingering luxury.
Did nobles live here?
Back in the day—decades or centuries ago—maybe there was a city here, and some noble or lord built and lived in it.
Obviously, they'd use top materials, so that explains why it's still standing. But fuck, that doesn't add up either—the forest around here's overgrown as hell.
Unless the trees shot up right after it was abandoned, scrap that theory. And it standing alone like this? Sketchy... Cursed mansion or some shit?
Grrr.
I swear I heard gloomy monster growls from nearby.
"Kobson. Any signs of people?"
"Hard to say... No clear tracks. Did we really find it first?"
Just circling it took a good while. That's how big it is. Built in the mountains, too, so scouting was a pain.
Bandits hiding inside? If they were, they'd know we're here by now.
We chewed on hardtack and jerky while patrolling the perimeter.
Nothing suspicious besides the mansion itself.
"...So we going in? For real?"
"Kinda scary, but... Ugh, let's just do it!"
"If anything pops up, we bolt immediately. Got it? But run protecting each other—that boosts survival odds."
Reminding everyone of the plan, we stepped into the mansion's inner courtyard.
Weeds everywhere, a fountain reduced to rubble.
And some busted-up statue.
"O-Oppa. This is too creepy..."
"The shit we've been through lately was scarier."
Scary, yeah, but picking the worst recent one? Facing that cultist giant in the Yongsaeng building's basement takes the cake.
Or was it the alraune?
Either way, I really thought we were goners.
"True, but... Oppa, you'll protect me if something happens, right?"
"Depends on the situation, but I brought you, so I'll take responsibility. That said, don't just stand there expecting a save— that'll get us both killed."
I suggested coming here first, so I'll make sure Lina survives whatever.
"I wouldn't dream of it."
"Good. You gotta move on your own two feet. Leaning on others is how you die."
"D-Does that mean you won't protect me...?"
"Fuck. I'll protect you, so relax."
"Yes!"
Lina glued herself to me.
Thud.
Soon, we reached the mansion's massive front door. Fitting for such a huge place, the entrance was enormous.
"Signs it was opened before?"
Meria said, gripping her shield.
"No clue."
"Me neither."
"Hm... I'll open the door. Once it's open, I'll lead with the shield."
While Meria watched our backs, Kobson and I shoved the front door. Rumble. It swung open easily. Not locked.
Step step.
Shield up, Meria crept inside. We followed.
"...Doesn't seem like anything special."
Meria said, tension easing.
Inside was just a corridor.
We'd been on high alert, checking sides, but nothing unusual. Not taken over by bandits, then. Still, with the size, monsters could've snuck in.
"Alright, Barbarian. In cases like this, we go right..."
"Hold on. Check floor and ceiling for traps first."
No thanks to some murder hole sucking us in.
Gotta grab valuables and get back to the wives. Ah, thinking of Cloudy almost gives me a boner—driving me nuts.
Maybe 'cause I haven't gotten any.
Last night, I nearly had a wet dream with her.
"Yeah, that worries me too. Let's confirm no traps."
"Exactly. Lina, stick to the door."
"Got it."
Shield-first with Meria leading, we scanned for traps. Nothing. Hallway abandoned for ages.
I poked floor and walls with my sword.
"...Nothing for now. Let's move slow."
Still daytime.
Plenty of time before dark. If short, continue tomorrow.
Creep creep.
Inside the mansion was dead quiet.
We agreed: clear first floor, then second. Headed right.
"This reminds me of dungeon dives back in the day. That was underground, though—this is aboveground. Better."
Meria said.
Add Elise, and it'd be a full dungeon party.
"Yeah. Scouting open space beats descending into the dark. Easier on the mind."
"Quite right, Barbarian. No need for lamps, either."
Truth: better than undead-infested basements.
The corridor stretched long.
Even the guild building's halls were big—this dwarfed them.
"O-Oppa. That over there..."
"Portrait?"
Further in, we spotted what looked like a portrait. Could be valuable—approached carefully.
"A beauty! A beauty, I say, Barbarian!"
"Snap out of it, man."
Huge portrait—hard to carry. Depicted a woman. So worn, hard to tell if beautiful.
The owner or lady of the house?
"For this to be intact... Maybe we really are the first."
Meria said, admiring it.
Suspicious points galore.
"Let's keep moving."
"Aye."
Left the portrait, pressed on. Perimeter scout gave us a rough layout. Methodically clear first floor.
We turned corners, ignored stairs to second, stuck to first. Vast and maze-like.
Junctions everywhere—easy to get lost despite sunlight.
Ended up sketching a simple map with Kobson.
"Whoever lived here had one hell of a memory."
"Who memorizes every nook? Probably stuck to main paths."
"Hm, true. At this rate, won't finish first floor today. No incidents, we'll continue tomorrow."
Wives'll be mad if late, but oh well.
While mapping with Kobson, Meria spoke.
"Yeah, structure's way too complex. Maybe other finders didn't vanish—they just got lost inside. Still wandering for the exit!"
"M-Meria! Why say creepy shit?"
"Yeah! Words become seeds!"
"Joking, joking. Scared of that?"
We chuckled, finished the map, moved on.
Mansion's complex and huge. Lots to see. Stairs to second everywhere, occasional basement paths.
By late afternoon, first floor half-done. No antiques.
Rooms held only dust-covered, cobwebbed furniture.
"No monsters, no adventurer corpses, no loot. Might be a bust."
Kobson said, checking under a bed.
This room empty too.
"But why the disappearances, then?"
"Hm... If mansion's empty, maybe external. Strong monster nearby, coincided with visitors—boom, rumors."
Meria's theory held water.
"Meria. Weren't there missing person rumors from nearby villages too?"
"Missings happen anytime. Probably lumped in with this."
"Ah, could be. Can't trust adventurer gossip."
Still, full of questions.
Even if true, doesn't explain the mansion.
"Hey. Let's call it and head out."
Resume at dawn tomorrow. No weirdness here. Not a single monster.
"Head out? We can sleep here."
"This guy's scared shitless but talks big."
"Heh, mansion's suspicious, but less scary than last night's chill."
Yeah, cold sleep yesterday.
"Nothing here, right? I'm fine with it."
"Bad idea... Lina. You okay sleeping here?"
"U-Uh... I'd rather outside."
Lina looked uneasy.
"I'm with her. Make camp away from the mansion. Just in case—bandits at night."
Agreed: camp outside per Meria. Don't wanna sleep here anyway. Adventurers prefer forests over ruins.
At sunset, back to front door.
Thought of breaking a window, but none faced outside. Weird design.
"Let's go."
Pushed with Kobson.
Thud.
"Hm?"
Door wouldn't budge.
"What? Why won't it open?"
Thud thud.