CHAPTER 30: ACCIDENTAL NEGLECT

From the Beginner Ghost Manual book, Deklan learned the path to reach the bronze rank.

Starting from the first-star—to the third-star of the iron rank, Ghosts will strengthen their bodies using mana. All Ghosts needed to do was to exist or devour Exorcists to obtain mana, and their bodies would grow stronger on their own.

But upon reaching the third star, the path to advance changed.

A Ghost would need to establish their Paranormal Heart.

Once the initial phase of the Paranormal Heart was formed, the Ghosts could then progress further.

Reaching the bronze rank would mean unlocking their Minor Presence.

It’s easier to understand than I thought.

Being sent to this world... all those nights spent marathoning horror movies weren’t a waste.

The Beginner Ghost Manual mainly explained how to form a proper Paranormal Heart, and only touches a small section of the Minor Presence. From what Deklan could deduce, a Minor Presence is the method a Ghost would use to announce their presence.

Or at least, that’s if he compared the Ghosts here to the stories of Ghosts in his home world.

Flickering lights, playing the piano, a cold breeze—all these things are examples.

In his home world, the stronger and more dramatic the methods are, the stronger the Ghost.

But in this world, those methods become a Minor Presence that Ghosts use to terrorize humans by tapping into their Paranormal Heart to inflict different negative effects. For instance, the Pale Night Lady used the Night Melody to inflict a unique confusion effect.

Deklan would need to settle on one method before he could continue progressing.

All that was stated in the book is that the Minor Presence targeted the senses, and I can only pick one.

Now, he knew the path to reach the bronze rank.

It was clear to him now, but there’s a minor problem.

Based on the book, to start forming the initial phase of the Paranormal Heart, a Ghost must need to use a trait of the chosen senses. And Deklan has no idea what a trait was, "Guess in the end—I’d still need to ask questions to her. I also haven’t checked on Pumple and the new fruit."

Deklan hadn’t gone home for the last couple of days.

He was meditating in his assigned lodging, but now, it’s time for him to return.

"Fuck!" Deklan abruptly stood up. "Fuck me!!"

Recalling how Pumple had made a habit of stealing dimensional fruits whenever his back was turned—Deklan hurried back to the hut. The Pale Night Lady was now a Ghost Resident, and there was no telling if she’d turn out to be just as troublesome.

In fact, he fully expected her to have already devoured the special dimensional fruit.

"My fruit!" Deklan screamed, sprinting out of the hamlet like a madman. "My precious fruit!!"

Utilizing his Breeze Affinity to the absolute limit, Deklan reached the hut in less than two minutes.

He looked at the hut and found no sign of the Pale Night Lady.

Not wasting a single second, he quickly slid down the slope—and headed to the backyard, checking to see if the dimensional fruits were still there. Deklan could let out a sigh of relief when he found all the fruits were still intact.

From the looks of it, there were three Lv. 2 Mana Apples and one black one.

Its skin was spiky, so Deklan assumed that it was a durian, a black durian.

"Hey, night lady, where are you?" He called, looking around in search of the new Ghost Resident.

Nothing.

"Hmph!" Deklan huffed roughly. "Still salty from being defeated by me, huh? It doesn’t matter."

Fearing that someone would snatch his precious fruits, Deklan placed the Lv. 2 Mana Apples into his inventory and grabbed the black durian. Since the Pale Night lady only has a D-grade potential, he was not expecting much from this black durian.

...

[Lethal Durian]

Rank: D

Description: Don’t drop it, or you’ll regret it! A black durian with sharp skin. Once it was crushed or thrown, a black smoke would explode, inflicting multiple negative status effects. The status duration will vary depending on how strong the target was.

...

"Another utility fruit like the Hot Blue Chilli? Actually, I’m not mad."

Deklan doesn’t mind getting a utility fruit like this.

Back then, when Adrian ambushed him, had it not been for the Hot Blue Chilli, his chances of dying would have significantly increased, so he didn’t mind this. Moreover, he was planning to find another Ghost that could give him an offensive skill.

Having the Lethal Durian, a bomb that could inflict negative effects in an area, is certainly a good thing.

Capturing Ghosts with the Ghost Conqueror skill would be easier if the Ghosts wee under a status effect.

That is what Deklan learned from fighting the Pale Night Lady.

Perhaps with this, he could try his luck at hunting down stronger Ghosts.

As he put the Lethal Durian away, Deklan’s attention was pulled to the single grave.

Even from a glance, he could already feel Pumple’s anger.

"Shit, I want to imprison the Pale Night Lady, but I’m afraid Pumple would attack me as soon as he’s out," Deklan smiled acutely, not expecting him to be this angry. "Is that why the person is inactive? Because he’s angry? Or maybe his fondness dropped."

"System, any help here?"

[Ghost Resident: A Ghost that was acknowledged as a Ghost Resident cannot leave the Ward premise, but it’ll be free to roam inside, and enjoy the elevated mana from the Ward. It will also produce Spooky Dollars for the host.]

[Imprisoned Ghost: A Ghost that was placed in Prison will be stripped of their personalities, suffer fondness loss over time, but can be brought outside with absolute obedience to help the host. As long as the host is equal to or stronger than the imprisoned Ghost, the host can summon it.]

"Haa... I can already tell Pumple is going to make a scene." Deklan rubbed his forehead.

But there was no other choice.

He needed to talk to the Pale Night Lady.

"Maybe I should talk to him first...?" Deklan contemplated for a moment and then decided. "I should."

[Do you want to interrogate the Red Pumpkin Head, Pumple, for 500 Spooky Dollars?]

"Fuck that..." Deklan clicked his tongue. "Why is it so damn expensive?"

[Host, Pumple is a B-grade Ghost. It’s going to be expensive.]

"Nah, I’m not paying that many. Just switch Pumple’s position and the Pale Night Lady’s."

Scree!

Immediately after he said that, a banshee scream rang across the entire hut as the Pale Night Lady that was hiding inside the hut was pulled out by the Ward. Its leaves shook and hummed, overpowering the Pale Night Lady completely.

Even as it scratched the ground to hold on, it posed no chance.

And then, from the grave, a reddish hue surged out and formed Pumple a few meters beside it.

Deklan watched as the Pale Night Lady was dragged into the grave until its scream disappeared.

Now, there was only him and Pumple.

It was silent.

Deklan could feel the tension crackling like static in the air as he locked gaze with Pumple.

Recalling their exchanges in the past, he raised his arms, expecting Pumple to attack any second now.

But what Pumple did was beyond Deklan’s expectations.

Instead of attacking, Pumple glared at Deklan for several long seconds—before turning away in silence and bouncing off. The gesture was oddly human—like a child, or perhaps a sulking woman, throwing a quiet tantrum.

"Fuck kind of reaction is that? Did he become docile now that he knew I could imprison it?"

Deklan shrugged, as that’s not important.

It’s good that Pumple didn’t cause a commotion like he did.

But out of curiosity, Deklan checked its status panel.

...

[Pumple (Red Pumpkin Head)]

Rank: 3-star Iron

Potential: B

Rarity: ★★★★ (Unique)

Fondness: 20%

——

SKILL(S)

[Small Prankster] [Phasey-Daisy] [Eerie Smile]

——

TRAIT(S)

[Mini Ghost]

...

Deklan almost vomited blood when he saw that the fondness had dropped significantly to 20%.

He was expecting a small drop because of the imprisonment, but this was way too much.

[Host, you forgot about Pumple for days.]

"Stop lecturing me! I don’t want my mistakes to be pointed out!"

[Heh, as expected of a deadbeat.]

Even though his blood was boiling because of the system, he exhaled it all away and went over to the grave. He looked down at where the Pale Night Lady was imprisoned, and then said, "System, start the interrogation for the Pale Night Lady."

[It costs 10 Spooky Dollars. Continue?]

"Yep."

Swish!

In the blink of an eye, the Ward fired an energy beam straight at Deklan’s forehead.

He couldn’t even react as his head was thrown back from the impact, and his eyes were devoured by an unknown energy. Everything after that turned into a blur as if his life was a series—and someone had turned off the TV.

Deklan didn’t know how much time had passed.

But when he opened his eyes, he found himself inside a dark and spooky chamber.

Above, the ceiling was shaped like a dome made of glass that viewed the starry night sky above.

As for the chamber, it was circular and quite spacious—there were no paths leading anywhere, a pure chamber of isolation that was caged by old concrete walls. "Where am I?" Deklan questioned until his eyes locked onto a figure across him. "Hmm, is that you, night lady?"

"Heurggh!"

Deklan’s eyes widened.

His pupils dilated when he realized the Pale Night Lady pounced at him like a hungry tiger.

Her clawed hand was stretched forward, reaching for Deklan’s face.

Just when the hand was a few inches away from Deklan’s face, it stopped.

Clang!

Binding the Pale Night Lady’s limbs were invisible chains of energy that shimmered into view whenever she strained against their limit. No matter how she writhed or reached, she couldn’t cross the boundary to reach the human before her.

Deklan was so close yet so far at the same time; it was maddening for her.

Hmm... I already know that even after I capture a Ghost, it wouldn’t instantly trust me like Pumple.

But this is quite exciting. Do I need to discipline her or something? Isn’t that like a dream come true?

Seeing how helpless the Pale Night Lady was, Deklan’s lips curled into an excited smile.

His impulses to bully return again.

No, no, no... This again. I can’t return to my bad habit.

See? You see, Deklan? I shouldn’t have bullied Granny and Adrian. Now look at you.

Deklan rubbed his forehead and stared at the Pale Night Lady; his smile was nowhere to be seen as this was all business. He was only going to interrogate her for things he wanted to know, and then leave the chamber—nothing more.

"Listen, I’m going to ask a few questions, and you’re going to ans—"

"Pteuh!"

Deklan paused, his eyes twitched, "Did you just fucking spit on me?"