Lumian felt both fear and alertness at the same time.
He activated his mystic eyes and saw her glow faintly blue.
He knew wandering spirits could sometimes be neutral.
With that thought, he deactivated his mystic hands and cautiously took her hand, feeling it for a moment.
The girl immediately stiffened, her face flushing red. She didn't pull away at first—but after a brief pause, she realized what was happening.
Her right hand lifted sharply.
Slap!
Lumian was completely caught off guard. He blinked for a few seconds, then slowly released her hand. His fingers moved to his cheek.
Only then did he realize what he had just done—and how it must have looked to her.
He exhaled, regaining his composure, then chuckled lightly.
"I'm very sorry, lady. We at the Moonlight Watchers Faculty never harbor ill intentions toward our clients. I was simply checking for injuries or signs of spiritual contamination."
Inwardly, he added:
But who uses incense as perfume? Or maybe it's for a spirit she's trying to exorcise… since she came here for an exorcism.
He straightened slightly, pulling out a note as if to appear professional.
Hehe… let me look more serious.
Then he spoke aloud again.
"Please, I sincerely apologize. Could you describe your recent experiences?"
...
The woman frowned. If not for her family's anxious pleas, she would have already left.
She shot Lumian an irritated glance. Lumian, on the other hand, wasn't quite sure how to respond.
After a few moments of silence, she finally sat down across from him.
"Alright, sir… I can't stay hostile toward you. That's not what my teacher taught me. Anyway, regarding the experiences…"
She paused, thinking carefully. "It started about a month ago. At first, our light bulbs would turn on and off by themselves every day. Then, at night, we began hearing the cries of my dead grandfather."
Lumian's pen moved steadily as he took notes. He looked up and gave a small nod, encouraging her to continue.
She hesitated again, then suddenly blushed.
What now?
Lumian stopped writing for a moment.
She let out an awkward laugh.
"You know… I'd rather talk about this with a girl."
For a brief moment, Lumian froze. His thoughts briefly spiraled.
What does that even mean? Why does this matter in a haunted house case?
He quickly regained composure and cleared his throat.
"Please, without proper information, I can't help you." His tone carried a mix of professionalism and restrained curiosity.
...
She blushed even more and nodded. Slowly, she raised her hands to her ears and spoke softly,
"At first… it just kept saying 'yes… yes… yes…' over and over again."
She hesitated, then continued,
"Then it started singing… a strange poem. Something about unprotected exchange."
"And after that, it kept saying something about how you can see… but not touch." She said with a quiet voice.
Hearing that, Lumian froze. His mouth was wide open, as he looked at her, completely at a loss of words.
...Oh Skywalker, what kind of ghost is this?
The lady slowly lowered her hands and let out an awkward chuckle.
"Do you think this needs an exorcism?"
No… this doesn't need an exorcism. It needs purification… Lumian thought inwardly.
But outwardly, he straightened and kept a professional expression. "Yes, this does seem like a wandering spirit. Perhaps someone in your household had… unresolved desires before passing."
The lady adjusted her hair and frowned. "I don't know anyone like that… but I think we should visit the house first."
"Absolutely," Lumian replied, standing up.
The two of them headed out together. On his way, Lumian informed Lury to record his name before leaving, since Hargreaves and Vincent were both out.
...
Soon, they took a taxi and headed toward the streets of Peryss, beyond Everise Street.
Along the way, the taxi passed rows of tall houses and towering skyscrapers. At one point, they drove past the Betyl Clock, its structure glowing faintly under the crimson sun as its hands ticked steadily.
The driver moved sharply through the roads—turning, weaving, and cutting through traffic with practiced ease—yet inside the car, there was a heavy silence.
After some time, they finally arrived around four in the evening, having left close to noon.
Under the dim glow of the crimson sky and the street lamps beginning to flicker on, they stepped out of the taxi. The girl paid the driver and walked ahead without hesitation.
Lumian followed.
In front of him stood a massive estate, surrounded by a lavish garden and an air of quiet wealth.
To be honest, he hadn't realized she was this rich.
But he didn't dwell on it. He was already thinking about the payment.
With that in mind, he followed her inside.
...
The inside looked even more luxurious than the exterior. The space was wide, with clean white walls and a grand golden staircase leading upward.
Lumian almost clicked his tongue inwardly at the sight.
How do people even acquire this kind of wealth… But instead of dwelling on it, he activated his mystic eyes and scanned the room carefully.
After observing for a moment, he frowned slightly, because there were no signs of any ghost in the building.
Hmm… strange. Nothing. Maybe it only appears at night… If that's the case, then it's not an ordinary spirit. Most ghosts don't follow strict time patterns.
He deactivated his mystic eyes.
At that moment, the pink-haired lady came down the stairs, accompanied by a man. He had a rigid build, white hair, and wore a suit that practically screamed wealth.
As they approached, the man looked at Lumian, then turned to his daughter with a slightly concerned expression.
"Marvis… this isn't the person you're planning to marry, is it?"
Lumian felt as if he had just taken a direct hit.
Marvis quickly smiled. "No, no. Remember the ghost situation?"
The man paused, then nodded.
"I couldn't stand it anymore," she continued. "So I asked around for an exorcist. They directed me to a faculty, and that's where I met him."
The man let out a sigh of relief. "So… he's not your boyfriend?"
Marvis nodded. But inwardly, she glanced at Lumian.
He wore a black coat, his dark hair falling slightly over his face, with a faint and little beard outlining his jaw.
…He's not even that bad-looking, she thought with a small, hidden smile.
...
The man looked at Lumian and smiled, extending his hand.
"Good evening, young man. Apologies for the… ahem, misunderstanding. Allow me to introduce myself—Chamberlain Clement."
Chamberlain Clement… what a coincidence running into him… Lumian thought inwardly as he shook his hand.
At the same time, another thought crossed his mind.
I'm definitely getting paid well today.
He tried his best not to mention that this was his first official exorcism.
"Mr. Chamberlain Clement, the honor is mine."
Clement smiled, but as soon as their hands parted, his expression shifted slightly.
He glanced at his hand, frowned faintly, and his lips twitched.
He stared angrily at Lumian, then immediately concealed it.
"And about this ghost matter," he said calmly, "how exactly do you intend to exorcise it?"
Lumian smiled. "It's quite simple. I'll begin the exorcism late at night." He paused, then added, "However, Mr. Clement, I would recommend that your family relocate temporarily."
You little punk… are you trying to drain my money? Where exactly are we supposed to go… Clement thought inwardly. …Good thing my brother's place is still available.
Outwardly, he maintained a pleasant smile. "That's manageable. But before that, what is your fee?"
At that question, Lumian panicked slightly, unsure of what to say. "Thirty pounds," he replied instinctively.
The man nodded. "Good. If you do a good job, I'll make it sixty."
What… Lumian thought, momentarily stunned. At this point, no matter how the man felt about him, he was practically a god in Lumian's eyes. He quickly smiled. "Thank you, sir. Thank you very much."
...
The street lamps softly illuminated the garden as night fell over the quiet street. The family had already left, leaving Lumian alone as he stepped back into the garden.
With a little time before it reached eight, Lumian had gone back earlier to retrieve his candles from the faculty. Thankfully, Mr. Clement hadn't noticed that he came unprepared.
After waiting for a few moments, Lumian didn't enter immediately. Instead, he remained outside. He dropped his bag and took out his seeking charm. The reason was simple—when he used his mystic eyes earlier, he hadn't seen any spirit at all.
Holding the charm, he activated it and sprayed its contents into the surrounding air.
Whoosh!
The particles lingered in the air, refusing to fall, as Lumian's eyes turned ghostly white. "What I seek… the details of those within… their mood."
The particles suddenly dropped to the ground.
Lumian placed the charm back into his coat. Hmm… there's definitely something inside now… and it feels… urged.
He suppressed the urge to think further about it and stepped into the house.
The interior was now dark and silent.
Lumian placed his bag on the floor, then carefully arranged the candles before lighting them.
...
Tak! Tak! Tak!
With the candles now forming a square around him, and a horizontal line set before him, Lumian began to walk in measured steps as he recited an incantation.
"I call the night, not wild, not weak,
But tempered dark where shadows speak.
Come, measured dusk, with steady hand,
And draw a circle through this house."
"By night's calm law, by temperance sworn,
No rage shall stand, no lie be born.
You that claw and twist and bite—
Be still before this balanced night."
"The moon does not run. The stars do not haste.
So too this soul shall not be chased.
I pour your fury back in cup,
And seal the brim. Now, drink it up."
"Temperance binds what fury tears.
Night restores what panic wears.
By even breath and quiet flame,
Depart, depart. You have no name."
"Let silence fall. Let cold take hold.
Let measured dark replace your bold.
By night's own weight, by tempered light,
Begone from flesh. Return to night."
...
He finished the incantation and paused for a moment. The ghost did not appear.
A frown crept onto his face as he slowly looked around, confusion settling in.
Then—
From the wall beside him, an elegant figure with red hair emerged without warning. She looked at him with clear annoyance.
"Why are you so noisy? Can't someone have a little peace in here?"
Lumian's eyes widened. He immediately turned and threw the charm at the ghost.