NOVEL NEXT C35
C35: The Haunted Castle (9)
Mrs. Lott sighed and leaned her weight on the back of the bed. It might be difficult to listen to the old woman who was apparently weak. Shadow wanted to interrupt her, but Mrs. Lot shook her head.
“This may be the last time I do this. So please go to…….”
“……All right. I’ll let you finish.”
“Thank you…….”
Saria, who had married into the Marquis of Lott, seemed to have consciously avoided hearing about Sablona Castle and the Slayer Kingdom. As a result, she didn’t seem to know that Sablona Castle had become a den of undead.
She has been living in the Marquess Lott family with a lump in her heart, giving birth to children, raising them, seeing her grandchildren’s faces, and living quietly like this even after her husband had passed away. And now that Mrs. Lott herself is approaching the end of her life, she has finally decided to investigate her hometown.
“As the eldest daughter of the Count of Sablona, I couldn’t do anything, but I decided to be buried in the same place as my sister, so I checked out the current Sablona Castle. And…I found out about Luria.”
Sablona Castle has become a haunted place. The ghost of a young girl is said to have been seen there often. It was famous among adventurers and she soon realized that it was her sister, Saria.
“Because I made irresponsible promises that I could not keep, my sister is still stranded in the castle, unable to ascend to heaven. So I tried to get rid of my sister’s unfinished business…….”
“So you asked the guild to steal the treasure.”
“That’s right…….”
After she had said everything, Mrs. Lott sank into bed in a limp state. While watching her, Shadow spat harsh words from his mouth.
“If you knew about your sister, why didn’t you think to go see her? If you had gone to see her, the treasure wouldn’t have mattered. Luria-chan would have passed away without hesitation.”
“……I did something unforgivable to Luria. let her die because I couldn’t save her. I left her as a ghost for 50 years. How am I supposed to go and see her now?”
“You’re worrying about something so trivial.”
Shadow spat viciously. The eyes behind the silver mask have a hint of anger in them.
“I didn’t know what was right 50 years ago, but I think we all know what is right now. I can understand if you say you apologized but she didn’t forgive you, but it’s selfish not to apologize because she won’t forgive you.”
“……You’re right.”
Mrs. Lott did not deny Shadow harsh words. Then she smiled tiredly and put her hand under the pillow.
“……I really should have gone to see her. I beg you. I don’t know who you are, but could you please give this to my sister?”
“What’s this?”
Mrs. Lott handed me a necklace with a locket on it. It was made of silver and had an elaborate design engraved on the surface.
“If you give it to her, she’ll understand…….Please……”
“I think you’re mistaking me for a philanthropist, but……that’s okay. I’ve been a grandma’s boy for as long as I can remember.”
“Thank you, thank you…….”
Mrs. Lott closes her eyes. The old woman, exhausted and weak, passed away peacefully. After confirming Mrs. Lott’s last breath, Shadow activated the transference magic.
More than ten minutes later, when the housekeeper noticed that Mrs. Lott had passed away, there was no one in the room.