Chapter 158
Chapter 158
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 158
Chapter Title: The Golden Evil Spirit
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“What? Sir Bonmer? What was that just now…….”
“Eek!”
As Lorein recoiled in fright, Bonmer swiftly positioned himself in front of her and scanned their surroundings.
Even though a chilling voice had clearly rung in his ears enough to raise goosebumps on his arms, no one else besides him and Lorein reacted at all.
And as if by magic, the voice didn’t return.
‘N-No way?’
Remembering the rumors that had been secretly circulating among people lately, Bonmer shuddered.
“For now, please head inside, Lady Lorein. I’ll explain everything properly to Count Krollmarin.”
“O-Okay.”
Lorein, who was utterly terrified of ghosts, scurried inside with a frightened look on her face.
Bonmer glanced around uneasily several more times before quickly heading toward a specific spot.
“Sir Bonmer.”
“Good day, sir!”
Several well-dressed young men greeted Bonmer politely upon seeing him.
They were all direct descendants of nobles under Duke Bartla’s household, sent as hostages to Eugene’s army because their parents hadn’t attended the coronation.
“My lords, might I have a word with you?”
“Of course!”
“Certainly.”
The direct descendants nodded eagerly, thrilled on the inside.
Even as fellow hostages, Lorein and Bonmer were in a vastly different situation from them.
They all feared the Duke equally, but while they hesitated even to approach Count Krollmarin, Lorein stayed by his side without a care.
And the noble youths all knew exactly what that signified.
“Is there something you wish to discuss, sir?”
The noble youths showed proper respect to Bonmer, the knight who served as aide to the Fronsil family’s direct descendant.
With a tense expression, Bonmer glanced around once more before leaning in close and whispering.
“I heard it too.”
“Pardon?”
“W-What did you hear?”
“The Golden Evil Spirit.”
“Gasp!”
The youths paled in shock.
The Golden Evil Spirit.
Lately, a bizarre rumor had been spreading quietly through Eugene’s army.
At some point, a sinister, wicked voice would suddenly whisper from thin air.
It sounded just like someone murmuring right beside you, instructing you to leave valuables in a specific place.
Gold coins, silver coins, jewels, ornaments of all kinds. It even accepted house deeds or land documents.
A sinister spirit that lusted after gold.
Thus, it was called the Golden Evil Spirit.
And those who heard the voice were all nobles or people of some standing.
The brave ignored it, but the timid were gripped by fear and offered gold or silver coins at the designated spot.
Even nobles, especially young ones, rarely carried around house or land deeds.
The astonishing part was that, a few hours later, when they checked the spot, the offerings had vanished without a trace.
Only then did the Golden Evil Spirit’s cursed voice fall silent.
“W-What did the Golden Evil Spirit demand from you?”
“I was too startled to remember clearly, but just like what you lords heard, it mentioned gold and silver coins. And something else…….”
It had said something about the Count, but Bonmer trailed off, unsure.
“W-What will you do?”
“Hmm. For now, I plan to ignore it.”
“Y-You might incur its curse. Wouldn’t it be better to just give it what it wants?”
“Hmm.”
Bonmer pondered briefly before shaking his head.
He was a knight of Fronsil.
Yielding to an evil spirit that threatened people was neither honorable nor dignified!
“No one has suffered a curse yet, have they? Let’s watch and see for now. If it comes to it…….”
“Sir Bonmer! Sir Bonmer!”
“Hm?”
Someone came running up in a panic, causing Bonmer to turn midway through his sentence.
A servant rushed over with a startled, flustered face, bowed politely to Bonmer, and said.
“Sir, you need to come quickly.”
“What’s going on?”
“Lady Fronsil is asking for you. I don’t know what happened, but she seems terribly frightened—probably crying.”
“What!? Who dares!”
“Eek!”
As Bonmer bristled with anger, the servant frantically waved his hands.
“No, sir! We haven’t done anything! Th-the lady is alone in her room right now!”
“Let’s hurry!”
Bonmer quickened his pace.
* * *
“Lady Lorein! I’m coming in!”
Bonmer flung open the bedroom door and entered.
Lorein, who had been trembling under the covers on the bed, leaped toward him in a frenzy.
“Sir Bonmer, Sir Bonmer! Y-You’re here! You came!”
Seeing the tear stains all over her face made Bonmer’s heart sink.
“Came? What do you mean?”
“G-G-G-Ghost! A ghost followed me. It wants gold coins, silver coins, jewels, ornaments, land deeds, house deeds! T-T-Tonight, it said to show my devotion at the well behind this castle. And it said it’d make me and C-Count Krollmarin a pair. Sir Bonmer, what do we do? Should we do what the ghost says?”
“That’s…….”
Lorein didn’t seem in her right mind.
She had always been terrified of ghosts, and hearing the Golden Evil Spirit’s voice alone in her room—especially with it mentioning her crush—would shatter anyone’s composure.
“What if it’s a spirit trying to help me?”
“We can’t jump to conclusions. We don’t know if it’s a noble spirit or a sinister evil one yet.”
“But……. There are stories like that, right? Spirits of lakes or mountains bringing knights and their loves together.”
“Sigh. Lady Lorein, spirits can only be seen by elves. Though some exceptional knights have contracted with them, those spirits were all benevolent and helpful to people.”
Even if the Golden Evil Spirit was a spirit, one that extorted gold from people couldn’t be good. It had to be wicked and vile.
“B-But it said it could bring me and Count Krollmarin together. Doesn’t that mean it’s helping me?”
Bonmer suppressed a sigh and shook his head at Lorein, who couldn’t regain her senses amid fear and hope.
“We mustn’t fall for such a sinister spirit’s temptations. Besides, you’re a direct descendant of Fronsil. You must consider your family’s honor.”
“N-Nooo…….”
“Leave this matter to me.”
“How? You’re strong, Sir Bonmer, but how do you fight a spirit you can’t even see…….”
“I’ll report it to His Grace the Duke.”
“…….”
Lorein fell silent.
Ghosts were still scary, but Eugene was far scarier.
* * *
“What? A wicked spirit, you say?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Eugene furrowed his brow at Bonmer’s sudden request for an audience.
He was already swamped with work—now what nonsense was this?
But he couldn’t just brush it off. Lorein and Bonmer were valuable hostages.
Any harm to them would jeopardize the ransom from the Fronsil family.
“Go on.”
“Yes, Your Grace. It’s a long story, but lately, rumors have been circulating among certain people like this…….”
Bonmer continued with a rigid expression.
The more Eugene heard, the stranger his expression grew. Beside him, Lanslo—who had been watching with keen interest—clamped a hand over his mouth and whipped his head away.
‘Why is Sir Lanslo acting like that?’
Bonmer found it odd but finished recounting everything he knew before bowing his head.
“……It’s bizarre, Your Grace. If it truly is an evil spirit, we must resolve it swiftly—I implore you.”
“Pfft!”
“……?”
“Ah, sorry. Got something caught in my throat. Pffft!”
Under Bonmer’s gaze, Lanslo hurriedly pretended to drink water.
“Understood. I’ll handle this.”
“Ah! Are you planning to summon a druid or mage from under your command, Your Grace?”
Eugene’s prowess was unfathomable, but matters of spirits fell to the expertise of mages and druids, so Bonmer asked with a slightly brighter face.
But Eugene shook his head.
“No. I can handle it.”
“Pardon? But…….”
“Don’t worry. And Sir Bonmer, on your way out, pass this along.”
“What… should I say?”
“To nobles, knights, soldiers, merchants—anyone with money to spare. All of them. Tell them to come to me.”
“Pardon? Ah, yes. Then I’ll take my leave.”
It was hard to comprehend, but sensing the icy aura from the Duke, Bonmer replied and exited.
Click.
Puhahaha! Ahahaha!
The clear laughter bursting forth as the door closed left Bonmer feeling even stranger.
‘A wicked spirit coveting gold, huh. The Duke’s the same, and so are his knights……. This place is full of unfathomable people.’
Sighing deeply, Bonmer just wished to return to his Fronsil family soon.
* * *
“Puhahaha! Ahahaha!”
“…….”
Eugene quelled his rising anger as he watched Lanslo roaring with laughter.
‘No wonder I haven’t seen him much lately. That lunatic spirit’s spawn has been up to this crap?’
Eugene was dumbfounded.
For the past few days, Mirian had spent far less time by his side.
When he’d asked about it, the spirit claimed it was gathering intelligence, so he’d let it slide.
With the army growing and more hostages and prisoners, he’d even wondered if any harbored ill intentions.
But.
“Golden Evil Spirit? You mad…….”
“Puhahat!”
Lanslo, who had barely stopped laughing, burst out again.
“Quit laughing already, will you?”
“Khup! But it’s too funny! Undine, symbol of purity and grace, as a gold-hoarding demon—pffhehe!”
“…….”
Why was embarrassment always his burden?
Why had he made a pact with such a deranged spirit, forcing him to endure this humiliation?
It was time for a decision.
“But why summon the rich folks?”
“You’ll see.”
“Oh! This I gotta see.”
Seeing Lanslo genuinely excited irked him again, but Eugene held it in.
After about thirty minutes, a group burst into the office.
“You summoned us, Your Grace?”
“We’ve come at Duke Eugene’s call.”
Led by Chief Merchant Odd and his cohorts, along with direct descendants like Lorein and two centurions.
‘Quite a crowd.’
Thinking most—if not all—of them might be victims of the Greed Spirit made Eugene’s head throb already.
“I called you to ask something.”
“Ah, yes.”
Eugene spoke lowly as he surveyed the baffled victims(?).
“Lately, any weird voices? That… Golden… Evil Spirit. The wicked spirit’s voice—anyone hear it?”
He side-eyed Lanslo, whose face was red from stifling laughter.
“Ah!”
Quite a few of the startled group shot up their hands.
Eight in total. Suppressing a sigh, Eugene asked again.
“I heard it took your money. How much each?”
“Five gold coins for me.”
“I gave a ring and 2,000 selling…….”
“Ten silver coins.”
“Mine was…….”
After hearing all the reports, Eugene tamped down his surging killing intent and said.
“For now, I’ll compensate—no, reimburse you. You’re all under me, after all. All damages are my responsibility.”
“Ooh!”
“Zuwenha!”
The innocent victims were deeply moved, clueless as they were.
“And that spirit… no, evil spirit. I’ll deal with it.”
“Ooh! Understood!”
“With Your Grace’s unparalleled valor, no evil spirit would dare raise its head!”
“If you do this, that scheming demon won’t be a sinister evil spirit, but a righteous and benevolent one staying by Your Grace’s side to bestow blessings!”
The victims bowed and praised Eugene profusely.
“Pfft! Khkh! Gk!”
Lanslo nearly choked holding back his laughter, drawing an irritated glance from Eugene.
‘Hm?’
Then something caught his eye.
“Hmm.”
Eugene rose and walked over, drawing everyone’s gazes.
He picked up a small box on his desk.
It was the wooden box where he’d told Mirian—the messenger—to deposit its “salary.”
Though plainly visible on the desk, this was his office, so no one dared touch it.
‘Except for that one pest.’
Eugene opened the box.
Instantly, a hoard of silver coins, gold coins, and jewels greeted him.
The greedy yet dim-witted spirit had stashed all its extorted loot here.
Just then, a crystalline voice like chirping birds drifted through the slightly open window.
“Kiee~ Kiee~ Nailed another one today~ This body’s rich now~ Golden Castle, wait for me~ If master won’t buy it, I’ll whip it up myself…….”
Mid-cheerful nonsense song, Mirian slipped through the window and locked eyes with Eugene.
Its eyeballs swiveled, scanning the scam victims in the office, then back to Eugene.
‘R-Run!’
Slam.
Eugene shut the window with a hand and turned to the victims.
“I can handle the wicked evil spirit. Everyone, you’re dismissed.”
“Oh! Understood!”
As the now-relieved group filed out, Eugene whispered to the frozen, failed-escapee spirit.
“You’re on water duty from now on. Purify the army’s drinking water. Spit, piss, shit—whatever. Ten oak barrels a day.”
“Kieeek!?”
Half punishment, half a plan he’d mulled lately.
Food and supplies were no issue thanks to the Chief Merchant Guild, but clean drinking water was trickier.
Eugene had a guy who could purify any filth into potable water.
“M-Master! This body’s sorry! F-Forgive me once, and eternal loyalty…….”
“Shut it. Fail the quota, and forget Golden Castle—monster assholes will be your eternal home. I’ll shove you up every one we catch.”
“Kiheek!”
The freeloading spirit cum Golden Evil Spirit—specialty: eating and sleeping—finally met its heavenly retribution.
Justice lives.
(To be continued in the next episode)