I Don't Want To Work! - Chapter 110
CHAPTER 110
“Is this okay?”
Ringo, who had tagged along unintentionally, looked at the collapsing mansion once, then at me as I casually shrugged.
“Is it really okay like this?”
“It is.”
I nodded lightly.
What could go wrong?
But Ringo’s expression turned even more peculiar.
“Is exorcism like this? Just reciting spells or listening to ghost stories and offering forgiveness?”
“Why should I listen to a murderer’s story or offer forgiveness?”
Even if I earnestly listened to the story, it would probably end with ‘Please spare me for killing fewer people….’
“But still….”
I glanced lightly at Ringo, whose eyes were still spinning.
“Then what do you think exorcism is?”
“Huh?”
Ringo blinked a few times at my question.
“Uh, well. Guiding souls who cannot go to the underworld back to the underworld…?”
“That’s right.”
That’s what exorcism is.
I pointed at the cleanly demolished mansion.
“So I sent it away.”
Physically.
Very neatly.
Did they get involved because of the firepower used to demolish the mansion?
“….”
Ringo’s expression became subtle.
“It doesn’t feel right though….”
But unable to find any rebuttal, he just narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Oh, by the way.”
Ringo, who had stopped thinking deeply, looked at me.
“Is the Fruit of the World Tree okay? We came here for that, but shouldn’t we avoid destroying mansions like this?”
“It’s fine.”
I brushed my hair back.
“I roughly checked before breaking it. I know a bit about the architecture of that era.”
How would I know?
It was simple. I’ve lived through it too.
“Back then, they used to make secret storages underground to store valuables.”
The period when that mansion style was popular was a time of many robberies and looting.
So people chose the safety of the underground, making secret storages and passages.
“The Fruit of the World Tree must surely be there.”
So, while controlling the strength to avoid spreading fire, didn’t I just neatly push the upper part of the mansion?
‘Anyway, I’m glad to see the results of my training.’
I smiled satisfactorily, looking at the traces of the demolished mansion, just as I wanted.
For the past five years,
I’ve invested my time and effort in something other than my health.
That is, enhancing my strength.
‘Lionel would rush to me at the slightest sign of trouble.’
Wherever I seemed to stumble, he would appear out of nowhere to catch me.
Is he hiding somewhere, watching me with those eyes that seem to say, ‘Is she in danger?’
“If I look at it that way, this disciple is scary…….”
As I said that, my eyes reddened with tears, but I missed the time to scold him.
After that, he suddenly appeared as if it were natural.
‘But still, I want to protect my body on my own.’
I’ve lived too much of my life without borrowing others’ hands.
Moreover, honestly, how many beings in the human world could challenge a divine?
Would it be Pendrade or Ringo?
Even if they did, I should be the one to handle it.
So I focused on enhancing my abilities.
Of course, there was only one choice.
That’s right, Shu.
<Baaaa!>
Shu, who pushed the mansion with a massive stream of water, floated happily as if enjoying the air. Two black ears, much larger than before, flopped around.
“Well done, Shu.”
<Baaaa!>
As I reached out, Shu, who had been floating in the air like a jellyfish, landed in my hand.
“You’ve grown a lot.”
“Really?”
“Before, it was only half the size of a fist, but now it’s almost the same size as a fist.”
Ringo’s words were correct.
When Shu first came to me, it was only half the size of a fist, but now it has grown so much in just five years!
If it grew only half the size of a fist over 500 years, it’s a remarkable improvement in just five years.
I gently tapped Shu’s cheek, and Shu went <Whew.> and let out a soft cry.
Our Shu, still cold as ever?
“But listen.”
Ringo, who had been watching Shu and the demolished mansion for a while, spoke up.
“Is it okay to use this much power? Your body is weak, and Shu’s ability is limited too, isn’t it?”
He was right.
Not only my stamina but also Shu’s, who wasn’t a proper spirit yet, had limitations in using power.
“It’s fine for now.”
I nodded.
“I need to use more. I have to keep increasing the total amount of power I can use at once.”
Right now, I have to keep using and using to increase the total amount of power.
And also my stamina.
‘But it’s already starting to feel dizzy.’
In the past, even if I blew up this entire area, I would have been fine.
I rubbed my head and reached out sideways.
“Ringo, can you hold me for a bit? I feel dizzy.”
“Of course, Master.”
Huh?
A voice different from what I expected.
When I quickly looked to the side, Lionel, who had grabbed my hand and was smiling brightly, appeared.
“How did you come here?”
With wide eyes, I asked, then immediately shook my head.
Anyway, he probably came on his own, as usual.
“But what about Ringo?”
Turning around with Lionel holding my hand, the spot where Ringo should have been was empty.
“He said he had urgent business and left first.”
What urgent business?
He probably fled to avoid this guy.
“Should’ve called me from the beginning.”
Lionel laughed with a twinkle in his eyes.
“Am I better than a red lizard running away because it’s scared of ghosts, or an elf who leaves because he has something in the middle?”
…When did he start watching?
I grabbed Lionel’s cheeks tightly.
A tear formed on the corner of his eye.
“Ouch, Master, that hurts.”
With a disgusting sound, Lionel stretched out his words.
Hurts? What a joke.
He doesn’t even care about the scale of the wound.
I brushed my hair back again and furrowed my brow.
This guy keeps getting on my nerves.
I didn’t even bring a string to tie my hair.
I grabbed my hair and glanced for a moment before turning my head.
“Lionel, do you happen to have a hair tie….”
There’s no way he has it.
With such short hair.
“Yes?”
“It’s nothing, let’s go.”
I grabbed Lionel and approached where the mansion used to be.
I carefully examined the spot where the roof and walls had been swept away.
Could it be around here?
I rolled my foot and tapped the ground, hearing a solid thud.
No, not here.
Then where? Maybe around here?
Another solid thud echoed. Not here either.
I tapped a few more times.
There, a lighter sound!
“Lionel.”
I turned around and blinked in surprise.
What’s this?
While my attention was diverted, a resting area had magically appeared behind me.
There were sheets laid on the ground, plush cushions scattered about, and even a large parasol-like umbrella with drinks on offer.
“Master, since you’re not feeling well.”
“Hmm…”
I sipped the icy drink Lionel handed me with a smile.
Delicious.
“What’s here?”
Lionel, standing where I had been, tapped the floor and asked.
“The Fruit of the World Tree.”
“Hmm.”
Lionel tapped his chin.
“Then strength might be better than magic.”
“Strength? This place is like a treasure trove, incredibly sturdy….”
Wood creaked.
Before I could finish my sentence, the door to the underground storage was torn open.
“Huh?”
Lionel held the door, looking at me with innocent eyes.
“Sorry, I didn’t hear you. What did you say?”
“…Never mind.”
I stood up, feeling a bit embarrassed.
I had boasted to Pendrade and Ringo about it earlier.
To have that door torn apart like that.
‘A bit envious.’
Bending down, I peered into the underground storage that Lionel had forcibly opened.
“Kuukk!”
Dust billowed out, making me cough involuntarily.
“Stay here.”
Lionel stirred up a breeze to clear the dust and said.
“There’s a ladder inside, but it looks dirty for you to go in.”
Saying so, Lionel took off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders.
“Wait here a moment, Master.”
“Sure, take your time.”
I nodded casually.
I didn’t want to go in anyway, with all that dust.
“Yes, please wait a moment.”
Lionel flashed a smile and jumped lightly into the underground storage.
Alright, in the meantime, I’ll rest.
Sitting on the cushions Lionel had arranged for me, I leaned back.
It’s good, especially since I’m feeling dizzy.
As I lazily blinked my eyes…
Thud. I heard footsteps.
‘What’s that?’
I looked around, but there was no one in sight.
Then, I heard the footsteps again, getting closer.
Thud.
“Hey, be careful. The grudges of murderers run deep.”
Ringo’s warning from earlier suddenly came back to me as if predicting something ominous.
Very vividly.
“Ten or more murderers roaming around the mansion? No matter who you are, you must be extremely cautious, very cautious indeed.”
Thud, thud, thud, thud.
Amidst Ringo’s fading voice, which was becoming increasingly distant, there was unmistakably one set of footsteps that seemed to multiply.
Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud!!
In an instant, it’s beside me.
And then…
“……!!”
About a dozen dark figures suddenly emerged from behind the partially collapsed wall.