Chapter 39

In a corner of Shelland town,

known as the Secret Lane.

This place used to be a battleground for eateries. About twenty years ago, Conrad brought various cuisines, sparking a dining boom in Shelland. Numerous restaurants and cafes opened and closed, with a constant flow of people. There were even rumors that high-ranking nobles and lords would visit incognito to taste the renowned dishes, making it a place where anyone's presence wouldn't be surprising.

Thus, it was also an ideal spot for secret meetings and clandestine gatherings. Young couples would use it as a dating spot, merchants would hold confidential discussions they didn't want to leak, and even those with partners would use it for forbidden rendezvous.

However, that was its former glory. Eventually, the cafe and restaurant booms faded, and to avoid the suspicious image of "secrecy," some shops moved or went out of business. Apart from a few remaining diners and cafes that continued to operate on a small scale, it is now just an ordinary residential area.

Jill stood in front of a dilapidated building that stood out in this part of Secret Lane.

"…This looks more like a ruin than a haunted house, doesn't it?"

Jill muttered, exasperated, upon seeing the building.

The walls were dirty, the windows boarded up, and the entrance was sealed with multiple locks and padlocks.

"S-Sorry. The exterior repairs haven't been up to par… But the interior and the pillars are in good condition, so I hope you can judge for yourself after looking inside…"

The landlord, who had been waiting in front of the building, apologized while wiping cold sweat. She looked young, even in her late teens, more like a girl than a woman. She was about the same height as Jill, with curly blonde hair and a slightly childish face. She exuded a nervous and timid aura.

"Jill, this is Carol, the landlord of this building," Matthew introduced the girl to Jill.

"Ah, s-s-sorry for not introducing myself! I'm Carol. I used to work at a notary's office!"

Carol introduced herself with a high-pitched voice.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Jill. I'm planning to start a general store."

"A general store…? Not a hardware store, right?"

"Yes. I'm thinking of focusing on clothing and accessories, so it won't be as broad as a hardware store."

"Wow, that sounds great! So you're looking for a property!"

Carol's face brightened up.

"Thank you. By the way, are you… the owner? Not a real estate agent or something?"

"Well, the management company… ran away."

"Ran away?"

At Jill's words, Carol looked uncomfortable and lowered her gaze.

"They said they wouldn't deal with a haunted property… We were supposed to meet today, but they canceled at the last minute… hehe…"

Jill, feeling uneasy, tried to comfort Carol.

"Thank you. That must be tough…"

"Anyway, would you like to hear the explanation first? The exterior is terrible, but the walls and pillars are solid. While some surface renovations are needed, considering the low rent, the maintenance costs should be lower."

Matthew interjected with a wry smile. Carol looked relieved and looked up at Matthew.

"Of course, there's also the issue of the 'ghost' rumors, and we can't proceed with the negotiations without a detailed explanation."

Matthew added pointedly.

"Um… the previous owner died and is said to haunt the place, right?"

When Jill asked, Carol nodded honestly.

"Yes. The ghost causes trouble, so everyone is afraid, and no one has rented it out so far…"

"You mean it actually causes trouble, not just rumored to do so?"

"There are rumors, but there have also been actual incidents. There are records with the Knights' Guild…"

Carol answered with a weary voice. However, Jill seemed pleased.

"Oh, that's good. I wanted to confirm that. I was worried it might be something truly unknown if it were just a haunted house."

"Eh?"

Carol and Matthew looked stunned.

"Aren't you afraid of ghosts…?"

"No, not at all. If a ghost is causing trouble, it means there's a reason. It probably won't be a big deal."

Jill answered nonchalantly. Carol nodded with a mix of admiration and exasperation.

"Actually, I'm more worried about rats or termites. Given the exterior…"

"That's not a problem. Apart from the ghost issue, there are no other problems. If you're not bothered by that, it's worth a look."

"Wow, it's rare for Matthew to say that."

Jill trusted Matthew's judgment and expertise. He wasn't the type to deceive people in such situations.

"Then, I'll open the locks! Um, there are five locks, so please wait a moment…"

The landlord happily tried to unlock the door, but the excessive security made it difficult.

"…Are you sure it's okay?"

"Prob-ably…"

While trusting Matthew, Jill often wondered, "Is this person really okay?"

◆

"Wow…!"

Jill finally understood why Matthew had recommended a tour of the interior.

The pillars and floorboards were in good condition, completely different from the exterior. There was a slight dustiness in the air, but that was to be expected in a building with no human traffic.

Jill quickly noticed the remnants of a former cafe.

There were probably several table seats from the center of the room to the windows. The floor had spots where the tables had been, and now the space was open and somewhat lonely.

But there was one thing that strongly asserted, "This used to be a cafe."

"How about this counter, Jill?"

"This is excellent…!"

A magnificent solid wood counter table stood there.

Its light brown surface was adorned with beautiful black wood grain, forming a deep, rich brown. It had a sophisticated and mysterious aura that cheaper woods couldn't match.

"Is this walnut…?"

"Correct."

Walnut is a tree from the walnut family. As a high-quality wood for furniture, it has been beloved by the nobles and high-end merchants of Algenes Island. It's not just visually and texturally appealing but also durable, resistant to temporary impacts like dropping or scratching, and less prone to deformation due to seasonal and temperature changes.

A solid wood counter made from the best part of walnut would be quite valuable.

"Amazing… But this is an empty house, right? I'm surprised it wasn't stolen…"

"The strict locking of the doors was for this. And the 'ghost' issue, of course."

"I see…"

"To be honest, I was hesitant about introducing this to you, Jill. It's a notorious place, but I thought it would be a shame not to show you this."

Matthew folded his arms thoughtfully, but Jill was beaming.

"No, no! You shouldn't have kept this from me! I trusted you, Matthew!"

"But you did doubt me a bit, didn't you?"

"New tables are nice, but I love the character of a well-used one… Ah, I want to find chairs to match this. Maybe I'll make them myself."

Jill's imagination and vision ran wild as she spoke. Carol, feeling apologetic, interjected.

"Um… May I explain?"

"Of course, please go ahead."

Jill prompted, and Carol cleared her throat and began.

"The building is about 20 years old, but the foundation and pillars are solid. The first floor is a tenant space, as you can see, with the counter table. The back is a kitchen with a good stove. Oh, the stove is also in excellent condition. You can see it later."

"Okay."

"The second floor is a private space. The previous owner used it as a sleeping area with a bed. It's spacious enough for someone living alone. I apologize for the exterior, but I've been neglecting it due to various circumstances."

"Ah, right… the haunted house thing."

"Indeed, I need to explain that. Including the reason why the counter is still here…"

Carol's tone became less fluent and more hesitant.

"Circumstances…?"

"Anyone who tries to move this counter or steal it… is attacked by the ghost."