That ominous word made Charlotte freeze in place, her whole body going stiff.
Allen, however, did not notice this and continued his story in a low voice while watching Luu enjoying a dip in the water.
Thirty years ago, an eccentric elf lived in this mansion.
She never went near the town or socialized with other people. She was busy researching something, spending her days at her desk, with only paper and pen as her companions.
Then, one day, she simply vanished without a trace.
Some say she was devoured by a magical creature she created.
Others claim she invented a spell to travel between worlds and left this one behind.
Still others whisper she fell into a forbidden love with a human man… and chose to die with him.
"Thanks to that rumor, this mansion is much cheaper than the market price... hm hey, what's wrong?"
Finally, he noticed that Charlotte's face was pale.
She gulped and opened her mouth in a shaky voice.
“I-I read about this the other day… in a book…”
“A book about what?”
"Of course... it's a haunted mansion!"
"Huh...?"
Allen could only tilt his head.
But Charlotte, still pale, began to speak rapidly.
“When someone dies with lingering regrets, they become a ghost and haunt the mansion! And then they curse anyone who visits! It was so scary…!”
"...Come to think of it, you've been reading popular novels lately."
She’d started branching out from just academic texts to novels and general literature.
Allen had encouraged her to expand her world, but... he didn't know what kind of books she was reading.
"I'm that elf turned into a ghost and is still haunting this place…! Uuuh… I’m scared…”
"No way. I've been living here for about three years, but I've never encountered a ghost."
Allen could only chuckle bitterly at Charlotte, who was shaking.
If there was a noise in the middle of the night, it was usually the wind or a wild animal. He had never encountered any strange supernatural phenomena.
"And don't worry. If a ghost does appear, I'll get rid of it."
"Eh!? Allen-san, you can get rid of ghosts too!"
“Of course. They're just lingering thoughts of the dead. No match for the living.”
There were rare cases where a ghost had such intense hatred it could curse the living to death, but he sensed no such presence here.
Even if one did exist, it was probably harmless just wandering around.
“If you ever see one, just let me know. I’ll make it disappear in an instant.”
“That… that would be kind of sad though…”
Charlotte was a little hesitant.
Feeling sympathy for a ghost, that was so very her.
Allen couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Besides, there’s no proof she died. Elves live for a long time. Long-lived species like elves often just disappear. They're probably tired of living here."
"Is that so... That's more peaceful."
"Right? So..."
“Wafu?”
Just then, Luu made a strange sound.
Looking over, they saw her in the pool holding something in her mouth, a troubled expression wrinkling her brow.
“What’s wrong, Luu-chan?”
“Gao~”
“Wait… what’s this?”
Allen caught what Luu tossed to him and blinked.
It was a white mushroom. Palm-sized, with a round, puffball-like cap.
Looking more closely, he saw other similar mushrooms floating on the surface of the water, which was a rather strange sight.
"Did you draw it up from a cluster underground...? Ah, Luu. Don't mistakenly――”
He was about to say not to eat it... when it happened.
Whack!!
"Youーーー!"
"Huh...!?"
A woman's angry voice suddenly echoed through the garden.
Allen instinctively stepped in front of Charlotte to protect her, then froze in shock.
After all, a woman's head was popping out from the ground.
He thought it was buried, but it seemed there was a hidden door leading to the basement.
Dark skin, silvery hair.
She has beautiful features that could be called the most beautiful woman in the world, but she wears thick glasses and only wears a loose shirt. Her hair is messy, and she didn’t seem to care about her appearance at all.
And for some reason… she was glaring at them like they’d just murdered her family.
She points her index finger in their direction.
“You’re the ones who stole my precious food supply, aren’t you!?”
“F-food supply…?”
Allen could only parrot what she said, still clutching the mushroom in his hand.