CHAPTER 48: DOUBLE MISUNDERSTANDING

Moonlight illuminated the bloodbath where Deklan stood among several carcasses.

Each one was mangled, torn, but not from the sharpness of the blade.

Judging by the scattered chunks of flesh—and the brutal, messy wounds carved into the carcasses, these wolves hadn’t been killed by weapons. Instead, whoever struck them down had done so—with nothing but raw strength.

Bare hands tearing through fur and bones alike.

And it was obvious who it was.

Deklan was looking down at another wolf, hands gripping its lower and upper jaw tightly.

He forced it to keep its maw open while his leg stepped on its chest, pinning the wolf to the ground.

And with its back against a tree, it couldn’t break free at all.

"I’m sure you don’t understand a single word I’m saying, but it wasn’t you who killed her, so I’ll make this one swift." Deklan pulled the wolf closer by its jaws as it relentlessly struggled—but it was helpless, it couldn’t muster enough strength to break free. "But I won’t promise that this is not going to hurt."

Deklan gripped harder as he brutally split the wolf in half.

A loud crack thundered as its jaw bones snapped.

Not even stopping at that, Deklan kept stretching its mouth wide open until it ripped.

Blood and saliva squirted everywhere, but Deklan kept going until it was cleanly torn in half.

[Drifting Skeletal Beta killed: 10 Spooky Dollars obtained!]

Once the notice appeared, Deklan loosened his grip and tossed the wolf’s remains aside like discarded waste. He stared down at his blood-soaked hands, lost in deep thought, but he was interrupted when he caught something moving in his periphery.

He turned to the right and saw another Drifting Skeletal Beta, the leader, and it was limping away.

Deklan only crushed its hind legs, deciding to keep it for the last.

It was the one who killed Marsha, so he got to make it hurt.

Just the sight of the last wolf alone, his face contorted into a hideous anger.

Swoosh!

Deklan moved.

His speed, though lacking in terms of mana, was fast enough to cover the distance in an instant.

A kick landed onto the wolf’s ribcage.

Something cracked from that kick as the wolf crashed away until it slammed into the tree.

It whimpered in pain, knowing that death was already nearby.

"Don’t act like you’re the victim now," Deklan approached with slow and steady steps, while cracking his knuckles. "You don’t get to play the victim after eating her. You know... Back in where I came from, we also eat dogs. Of course, we don’t eat the cute ones, but those who barked, bit, and ugly—are all on the menu."

Deklan squatted right in front of the wolf’s eyes.

He wasn’t smiling.

And that made him look even more menacing.

"Since you ate her, it’s only fair that you get eaten too," Deklan said, his voice cold enough to bite. But he stopped, reconsidering his decision. "No... that’s too easy. Instead, I’ll capture you, evolve your own potential, and increase your strength until you can speak and understand me. Then, and only then, when you grasp what’s happening clearly... I’ll cook you ali—"

"Young master..."

Deklan blinked when he heard a familiar voice.

His eyes widened, and with a quick turn, he looked over his shoulder to find Marsha standing there.

Initially, he thought she had become a Ghost, but she’s not.

She’s still alive, and there’s not a scratch on her.

"Marsha?"

"That Ghost didn’t eat me, young master. I’m fine..."

Hearing this, Deklan stared at the Drifting Skeletal Beta that was looking at him as if he were a demon.

And then, a thin, wry smile crept across his face as he patted the wolf’s back as if he and the wolf had been best friends. "So—you were innocent all along, hahaha... Why didn’t you say so earlier? Look at you now. Come on, get up—you’re going to make me feel guilty."

For a good moment there, he thought the wolf had killed Marsha.

But it didn’t.

Had the wolf been able to communicate properly, it would’ve cleared the misunderstanding sooner.

Deklan misunderstood the situation greatly.

"Where were you, young master? I was really worried," Marsha clasped her hands together.

And one could see the worry etched clearly on her face.

"I only meant to scout the inner area for a bit, but I ran into a powerful Alpha Ghost and passed out in there. But don’t worry—I’m fine. I even found out more than I wanted," Deklan said, offering Marsha an apologetic smile—while turning repeatedly to the Drifting Skeletal Beta, pulling on its fur. "Get up. You’re making me look bad."

"You’re too careless, young master. Please don’t go to dangerous places without me..." She mused.

Her voice was light, almost inaudible, but Deklan heard what she said.

"Alright, alright. I’m sorry," He approached her and pinched her cheeks again, stretching them. "Did I make my cute Marsha worry? It’s my fault. I’ll try not to do it again. Look at you. You’re so stressed that you look uglier than normal."

"Don’t be mean, young master," Marsha cried. "And your hands are still bloody."

"Oh, right..."

"Give them to me, I brought a cloth."

Marsha cleaned up his hands from the blood gently with a cloth.

She expected him to be sweaty and tired, not bloodied, but it’s a good thing she brought a cloth.

On the other hand, Deklan stared at the Drifting Skeletal Beta that was still sprawled near the tree; no strength stood up once again. He shook his head, "I ran back to where you were and saw blood, then, these guys came out of nowhere, and this one has blood trickling from its fangs. I thought you died. I’m sure anyone in my position would think the same."

"I waited for you outside the inner area, but you didn’t come out until the sky was golden. I was afraid the night would be too dangerous for my condition, so I went back to the hamlet," Marsha explained.

It has been a long day.

"And you went inside the forest again? Are you stupid?"

"I was worried."

"Sigh... Whatever. Good thing that you’re okay."

Silence enveloped the two for a good moment, and then, Marsha recalled something.

"I think these Ghosts you killed had eaten a couple more people nearby. I checked earlier—after I saw you fighting them, and I think it’s the friends of the hunter who was eaten by the big wolf Ghost."

"Ah, is that so? Since that was the case..."

Deklan took out the Albino Spear from his inventory and threw it straight at the Drifting Skeletal Beta.

Its skull was impaled on the tree, killing it in an instant.

[Drifting Skeletal Beta killed: 10 Spooky Dollars obtained!]

He felt guilty for mauling the wolves over a misunderstanding—if he had attacked them purely to hunt, the guilt wouldn’t sting as much. For a moment, he even considered letting this one go. But now that he knew what it had done, there was no reason to spare it.

As he put away the Albino Spear again, his eyes widened as he turned to Marsha.

Maybe because of the exhaustion, but he forgot that Marsha was in front of him.

And he lightly took the Albino Spear in and out of his inventory.

Others would suspect him to be a powerful Exorcist to do that when in reality, he only has the system.

But Deklan needed no one to think about that as Marsha seemed to be in deep thought.

She dabbed the blood from his hands with slow, careful strokes, but it was clear that her mind was not here. Something shadowed her gaze—something she was hesitant to say. Call it a gut feeling, but Deklan could tell what was inside her mind.

"Marsha..." He called.

"Hmm?" Marsha snapped out of her trance and lifted her gaze. "Yes, young master?"

"Are you... afraid of me?"

Deklan didn’t need Marsha to answer.

The way she pulled back a little bit when she heard the question told him that he was spot-on.

Since she was watching from earlier, she must’ve seen what he was saying and doing.

And for someone as soft-hearted as Marsha, that kind of sight would easily scare her, and he was right.

Sigh... I got carried away again. But trying to find her made me recall some unpleasant past, and that made me act abnormally. It was easier to control whenever Paul was around, but now that he’s not here, it’s... hard.

Deklan accepted the possibility that he might’ve scared Marsha for good.

Nobody would trust someone who was capable of such violence.

"It’s alright," Deklan pivoted his body away. "It’s okay to be scared. I know my words wouldn’t mean much, but know that I would never hurt you."

"W-What...? I wasn’t thinking about that, young master." Marsha quickly waved her hands, denying what he was thinking entirely. "I already saw this side of you before, so I’m fine. Besides, you’re doing it because of a misunderstanding."

"Then what are you thinking so hard about?"

"I..."

Deklan’s brows narrowed when he noted a red blush on Marsha’s face.

An odd reaction.

Then he trailed down to study her posture.

Fidgeting with her fingers. Twisting her torso left and right. And even averting his gaze.

None of these subtle cues showed that she was uncomfortable around him; rather, it was the opposite.

"I was just thinking... I was thinking how cool you look earlier," Marsha tugged a curtain of hair over her face, feeling shy. But then, she quickly waved her hands, flustered. "N-Not the blood! Not that part at all—don’t misunderstand, young master. It’s just... seeing how far you’d go for me. That’s what tug me the most."

"Nani?!" Deklan recoiled, not expecting her to say that.

Heck, he wasn’t even expecting to be upfront like this!

"Hmm," Deklan folded his arms, contemplating. "They say the one who looks the kindest is the most kinky or messed up. Is she one of those?"

[Corrupted... Stay away from her, host. You’re such a degenerate.]

What does this have to do with me?! I’m innocent! I didn’t plan this!

[You knew that I could hear your mind, right? Don’t lie to me.]

No proof means it’s false! It’s innocent until proven guilty, not the other way around!

Just as he said that, a panel appeared right in front of him.

A video from his own perspective played, and it was when he met with Marsha for the first time.

Specifically, when he saw her status panel for the first time.

And on the lower left, there were notification logs of the thoughts he had in mind.

Deklan’s face froze as he read what he was thinking.

Fuck... Alright, alright! Shut this down and delete this shit! Do you always keep records like this?

[Nope. I had a feeling it’d come in handy at some point.]

Fuck you.