Chapter 83: 10. Ghosts Live in the Ghost Mansion
"Looks like we're on the fourth-floor corridor, Boss."
Rozalin, who had gauged the height by peering out the window, pressed her hunting cap down firmly as she spoke.
The fourth-floor corridor. And toward the right end, at that.
"Fourth floor, huh. That means we should assume they've split off in pairs."
"No chance we're the only ones together, right?"
"Not impossible, but it'd be inefficient."
The Ghost Mansion was enormous and imposing.
An eight-story building, no less. But with only six people, the odds of running into each other quickly weren't negligible. That is, if they were navigating without tearing the place apart, aiming for escape and regrouping. Pairs made it safer, allowing for more caution.
"Still, scattering us the moment we stepped inside... No rumors about that."
"It's probably more assimilated into the mansion than before. Good thing we came now. If we'd delayed, the problem would've grown way bigger."
Rozalin was spot on.
Everyone had dismissed it as a haunt with just some trash mob-level ghosts popping up occasionally. But given how deeply it had merged with the mansion, these weren't spirits to take lightly. It could even be a banshee or something stronger—an undead powerhouse.
Had they ignored it, the ghost would've quietly built its power until it posed a massive threat to the Palania Kingdom. Right in the capital, no less.
"What now, Boss?"
Rozalin turned, fixing her gaze on Siu.
The question came out of nowhere, but he didn't hesitate.
"We hunt the ghost."
"Without linking up with the others?"
"Mansion's too big. Could even feel larger than it looks, depending."
The ghost had whisked them from the entrance to elsewhere in a blink. Expanding the perceived space or twisting it slightly? Child's play for it.
Rozalin nodded, getting it.
"Fair point."
"Better to pick one goal and push toward it than wander searching for each other. Problem is figuring out where."
"Leave that to me."
"Huh?"
As Siu blinked, Rozalin lifted the brim of her hunting cap, flashing a confident grin.
"You recruited a top scout, didn't you? If I can't track a ghost holed up in here, I don't deserve the title."
Siu grinned back.
Trustworthy words. His first-round knowledge had never failed on talent or skill. And as he recalled, Rozalin had been one of the elite scouts even in the final war.
"You got it. Lead on."
"Heehee. Thanks. Let's get tracking."
Rozalin's eyes sharpened.
The innocent country girl vanished in an instant, replaced by a born hunter.
And her pupils.
Glowing a fierce green, they evoked a beast more than a human. But what they locked on wasn't prey—it was the path to the target. Rozalin scanned the surroundings with piercing eyes, then darted forward.
"This way."
"Got it."
Rozalin tore down the corridor without a second's pause.
Siu followed, sword in hand, eyes vigilant. He couldn't help but admire her.
She's the real deal.
Rozalin's innate Blessing of the Tracker.
One of the top blessings for any scout. Add her natural talent on top, and she was a prodigy destined to excel.
Seasoned with battlefield experience, her member rank sat at B-grade. Seemed modest, but sky-high for an early-20s scout—especially one who hadn't awakened mana yet.
Got some elixirs and gear lined up for her...
"Duck!"
"...!"
Siu's shout made Rozalin flinch, then drop low instantly.
A razor-sharp blade whistled overhead, slicing a flying piece of furniture in two.
Thud!
"...Whoa, that startled me."
Rozalin wiped cold sweat, eyeing the wooden debris that had crashed to either side.
"Hard to spot stuff with the blessing active, right?"
"Ah, you knew."
The Blessing of the Tracker was killer for pursuits.
But while active, vision warped oddly. Incoming monsters or debris? Good luck seeing them. Had to rely on other senses, instincts, or a partner's backup.
"Course I know."
"...?"
"You're my team member. And a candidate."
As he spoke, Siu diced the wooden chunk just in case, voice low. Rozalin, blessing off now, eyed his back with an awkward smile. Both "team member" and "candidate" still felt new.
"I know you better than you think."
"..."
Siu said it plainly, but it hit Rozalin with mixed feelings.
"Boss... That includes my past, doesn't it?"
"...Yeah."
Siu paused, then came clean.
When Hildear recruited her, she'd researched him thoroughly and accepted without hesitation—on the condition he'd grant exactly three requests later.
"Then you know my first request."
"The trap in the Naraka heading to Legried. Right?"
"...Yes."
Revenge for comrades slaughtered by demons.
That was why Rozalin had left the front lines for Hero Academy.
Over a decade on the battlefield, she'd seen too many fall. Wishing for zero casualties was futile. If possible, humanity would've won ages ago.
Rozalin got that. She didn't hate all demons, left most grudges behind. But one demon's grudge clung tight, even off the field.
"Help me kill Legried, Boss. Then I'll serve you forever..."
"Hold up."
"Huh?"
"We'll talk later. Recruiting you wasn't a deal—it was a request. Leader and member, sure, but we're comrades too."
"...Yes."
The bob-haired scout smiled faintly.
"Back to it. No stopping for flying junk this time."
"Got it."
Comrades.
Rozalin mulled the word as they resumed the ghost hunt.
Felt good on the battlefield, even better now.
"Right at this corner."
"Roger."
Their advance was relentless.
Rozalin tracked the ghost's traces using blessing, knowledge, and experience—impossible as it seemed in this mansion. Ghosts here weren't pure mysteries; they were monster kin, detectable via mana and special powers.
Even deeply fused with the mansion, that worked in her favor. All the yin energy and mana flowed to one spot.
"Boss. Not sure if coincidence, but it's definitely on the fourth floor."
As Siu pried at a jammed door, Rozalin scanned from afar.
"The ghost?"
"Yeah."
"Hm."
"Flows got tricky for a sec, but solid on fourth. Fifth floor's probably a trap."
"Makes sense. That's why you hesitated at the stairs. Resistance dropped right after."
"It's trying to lure us upstairs."
Siu chuckled. Clever ghost.
Had anomalies piled up there, she'd have known instantly. Even without, she hadn't fallen for it. Not there yet, but Siu's trust in her swelled.
"Wonder if the others are okay?"
"Hm? Why?"
"Ghost's resistance has been light since we entered. Weaker than the rumors."
"They'll be fine, Rozalin. Know why Palania left this place alone?"
"Uh? Well... ah."
"Right. Tons of rumors, zero deaths."
Why the Ghost Mansion had stood in the capital for a decade.
One fatality, and heroes or regulars would've razed it. Worst case, magic from afar. But the previous owner hadn't wanted that.
"Twisted by grudge maybe, but good at heart. There—open."
Creeeak.
The rusty door groaned open bit by bit.
Siu and Rozalin stepped back, alert for the interior. Doors opening and corners turning were prime ambush spots—vision blocked, anything could leap out.
Quiet so far, but the ghost was getting wary now. This time, eerie energy and chill air seeped from the dim space.
"Here it comes."
"That's..."
"Haha. Finally getting serious."
Emerging from within: steel armors.
Living Armors.
Animated by souls or mana, empty inside for quicker moves—but weaker hits. Varied by case, but these didn't look tough to Siu.
"Seven of 'em."
"I'll take five..."
"Nah. Just the two in back."
"But Boss..."
Before she finished, Siu lunged.
His mana-infused blade halved one Living Armor in a flash.
"Whoa..."
Rozalin gaped at the lightning strike, nocking an arrow and firing at the rearmost's arm. Not to pierce—
Clang!
"One down."
Arrow with a hook, pinning it to the wall. Plenty for low-grade Living Armors. A couple more, and it'd drop.
Whish—clang!
Two. Now...
As Siu said, she'd neutralized the pair fast. Time to help him—but his area was littered with armor scraps. Five down in seconds, sword not even a blunt weapon.
"Boss, you're seriously strong."
"Huh? Outta nowhere?"
"Saw you spar, but didn't expect this in real combat."
Low-grade or not, steel armor. Even with Elaine's lingering holy buff, not easy prey. All five in under a minute?
"This ain't much. Party's still small. Gotta pull my weight awhile."
"Haha. Feels like a female hero party."
"Yeah? Aim for SS-grade with brute force then?"
"Hahaha."
In the easy vibe, they pressed on.
Rozalin dismantled her pinned Living Armors too.
Deeper in, they finally arrived.
"There it is."
"Yup."
"Even without the blessing, I can tell. The aura's different."
Likely the ghost's old room in the mansion.
From the ornate door's crack oozed thick, sticky dark mana. The death mana common to undead or demons—far denser than anywhere else.
"Buff's got... maybe ten minutes left, judging by the feel."
"What now, Boss?"
"Ten's plenty."
Siu's foot slammed the door.
Bang!
"Come get some!"