Episode 15: Mizuha is Bad with Horror
Well then.
The former lord’s castle stood on a hill a little ways from the village.
It was probably built in such a high place to have a panoramic view of his domain.
Now, with no one to tend the garden, trees grew thick and wild, exposing its eerie form even from afar.
“The atmosphere changed the moment we passed through the gate, didn’t it?”
“That’s because we crossed the barrier. The curse isn’t leaking outside. It’s an excellent barrier. Conversely, the inside is a mess. I’m fine, but a normal person might die instantly. Are you okay, Mizuha?”
“I feel a little sluggish, but that’s all. I’m fine.”
“Really just a little? You look pale. Don’t push yourself.”
“The paleness isn’t… because of the curse, but because of this atmosphere, or rather… because of those things…”
Mizuha pointed at the things drifting around the castle.
Black and purple semi-transparent things were drifting around, changing shape.
The curse was so strong that it was visible to the naked eye.
They looked just like the evil spirits that appear in horror movies. And then I remembered that Mizuha was bad with horror.
“So, you’re scared.”
“I-I’m not scared! I’m the first Saintess, you know!? A brave hero who fought for a hundred years!? I’ve defeated many creepy monsters… I’ve even defeated an evil sorcerer who controlled zombies… I’m not scared of this… Pyaa!”
The moment a curse passed in front of her, Mizuha let out a loud scream and clung to my arm.
“So, you are scared?”
“Uuu… I’m scared… I’m fine with monsters, and I can tolerate zombies and skeletons, but curses and evil spirits are a no-go… They’re squirmy and semi-transparent… and they have face-like patterns… Hyaa! I made eye contact!”
“You can wait outside the gate, you know?”
“No way! I don’t want to be separated from Akito-kun!”
“But I’m going into the castle without holding back, okay? Can you endure being scared?”
“I’ll endure and follow you… Can I keep holding onto your arm tightly? I think I can endure if I do…”
“Well, I guess that’s fine.”
“Akito-kun, you’re grinning. You’re making fun of me, aren’t you?”
“No, it’s because Mizuha is cute that my cheeks are loosening.”
“Y-You’re so cheeky even though you’re younger! You haven’t changed at all since the old days, or rather, you’ve gotten worse!”
“Well, that’s because Mizuha has gotten cuter than before, so I have to match that.”
“Uuu… You’re too cheeky…”
Mizuha moved her mouth while her eyes darted around.
It’s quite effective.
I’m embarrassed for saying it, so it has to be this effective.
Mizuha’s embarrassed face is the cutest in the world. I want to continue to strive to embarrass Mizuha.
But for now, let’s focus on the Curse Purification.
I walked around, erasing the curses that came into my sight one after another.
“Even so, it’s quite a magnificent castle. A Baron was the lowest rank among the nobles, right? Did they have the leeway to build such a castle? It’s like a castle from Mousey Land.”
“The area around this village is rich in water, and the soil is fertile. It yields a lot of crops for its size. That’s why there was quite a bit of tax revenue, right? That’s why it wasn’t abandoned even after the family feud, and it’s being managed as a territory directly under the King.”
“Hee. You’re well-informed.”
“Of course, I am. The me in this world was born here. I grew up looking up at this eerie castle from the village. You have no idea how scared my younger self was…”
“You’re still scared now, though.”
“I can endure it because Akito-kun is with me!”
So, it was because it was profitable that they fought over the succession, huh?
The inside of the castle was also full of curses.
After all, the younger brother who couldn’t become the successor led his troops into the castle, involving even the servants, and more than a hundred people died.
After such a big commotion, both the older and younger brothers died, and the Baron family disappeared, so everyone died in vain. The curse would naturally become stronger.