CHAPTER 57: ENJOYING THE OLD WAY BRIEFLY

Deklan knew the leader would be a pain in the ass in the future.

His glaring gaze made it as clear as the day.

No matter what Deklan says or does, even if there were no hidden intentions, the leader would always be actively against them. So, why keep someone like that around? It’s better that he was not here at all, to make things easier.

But is he really doing this because I’m a stranger?

Deklan looked over his shoulder and met the leader’s eyes, burning with passionate anger.

One that was too intense to be directed to a stranger.

I don’t think that was entirely the case.

Even the other two Exorcists behind the leader were more accepting of this situation, as no matter what Deklan’s intentions were, he saved their lives. It should be more than enough to have them not be hostile towards him.

"I want to take you up on your offer, but..." the young lady’s voice pulled Deklan’s attention again. "I don’t see any benefit in this arrangement for you. We’ve only met, and as Zayne said, you don’t look like someone who helps out of kindness."

Deklan’s face twitched.

Just one warning from the leader, Zayne, and the young lady already categorized him as a bad guy.

"I owned a small settlement in the forest, but there are no Exorcists other than me, and the forest is full of Ghosts," Deklan answered smoothly, like he already thought of the answer before being asked. "I’m simply trying to make good relations with you."

It wasn’t entirely a lie.

Deklan might’ve come because of a different reason entirely, but seeing the situation, it’s not a bad deal for him or the people of Slosa Hamlet. I’m worried that little brother of mine, Callen, is going to realize soon that I haven’t died. Next time he comes, he’s not going to send only a few Exorcists.

He will survive no matter what, even if he needs to do it alone, but help will be greatly appreciated.

And the young lady’s group is certainly going to be helpful.

"In that case, we’ll be relying on you," the young lady said as she sheathed her katana.

"But, young lady!" Zayne protested—unwilling to accept this decision. "We don’t even know him! And I can’t really tell why, but he felt different compared to other Exorcists. He’s not someone who should be getting our trust!"

"That’s enough," the young lady shot Zayne a sharp, warning look. "He saved your life, Zayne—and I do value your life. So, if I damn him for doing something good, what would that say about me? Would that not mean your life means nothing to me/"

Zayne’s tongue was tied.

It was rare for the young lady to reprimand him like this, so this came as a shock.

And he can only blame this on Deklan.

"I don’t want to hear anything more about this," the young lady stated firmly—and approached Deklan. She then stretched her hand for a handshake, posing a small smile that made her look more stunning than before, "I hope you can forgive—Zayne. He’s a bit short-tempered and also tired from our journey, but deep down, he’s a good person. My name is Kaelyn, Kaelyn Airi."

"Deklan," Deklan shook her hand firmly. "I’m looking forward to our cooperation. But first, before we entered the inner area, I had to claim my hunt. I gravely wounded another Ghost nearby. It won’t take long."

Just then, Zayne’s voice rang from behind, "Young lady, I’ve gotten the skull."

Hearing this, Kaelyn shifted her gaze, seemingly excited.

Deklan could tell that she was anticipating the news, though he didn’t know why she needed it for.

"I got it right he—where?" Zayne looked behind, but he couldn’t find—the skull. It was supposed to be near the other two Exorcists, but there was nothing near them. "What? Where is the skull? Hey, where is the skull?!"

Zayne asked the two Exorcists, but those two averted their gazes instead.

Almost like they were reluctant to answer.

"I think you hit your head harder than you realize, Zayne." Deklan’s voice rolled through the air, making Zayne stiffen as realization dawned upon him. "I distinctly heard you tell those two that you lost that very skull while you were being chased by the Ghost earlier."

"What nonsense are you spouting?!" Zayne roared, clenching his fists hard.

But Deklan didn’t react.

He only shifted his gaze to look at the other two Exorcists, "Am I wrong?"

Both Exorcists were put in an uncomfortable position.

On one hand, they owed Deklan their lives as they wouldn’t have survived the Ghost’s pursuit, and on the other hand, they knew Zayne and had been respecting him as their leader. Now, however, they needed to choose which one was more important.

And the answer was already clear.

"Yes, you did say that earlier."

"Hahaha... You’re a lifesaver earlier, but you did hit your head hard. Let’s get it checked out."

Deklan smirked in triumph.

Of course, it was he who took the skull earlier.

Using his Breeze Affinity, he touched the pouch and slipped it into his inventory.

It happened in full view of the two Exorcists—but because it was behind Zayne, he was oblivious to it.

Or at least, he was oblivious to it until now.

He knew Deklan had taken the skull, but without concrete proof—and with Kaelyn’s sharp reprimand still hanging in the air, accusing Deklan would only drag him into deeper trouble. All he could do at this moment was bite down hard and swallow his fury.

Even though he looked like a fool right now, he had to endure it.

"Well then," Deklan turned to Kaelyn, smiling politely. "I’ll be quick."

Not even waiting for Kaelyn to answer, he turned around and walked away.

Deklan stopped when he was shoulder to shoulder with Zayne.

"Oh, Kaelyn," Deklan turned around again—gesturing towards Zayne. "I don’t like being tense like this with someone you trusted like him, and I want to settle things. Can you ask him to settle this right now, so that there won’t be any trouble in the future?"

"Zayne..." Kaelyn exhaled lightly. "Apologize to Deklan. You’ve wronged him earlier."

"But young lady...?" Zayne was at a loss for words.

He wanted to protest, to scream, to punch Deklan beside him, but he couldn’t.

Under Kaelyn’s firm gaze, he couldn’t find the strength to do any of that.

Eventually, he tilted his head down, face darkening with sheer unwillingness, "I’m sorry..."

"What are you saying?" Deklan patted his shoulder cheerfully—like they were buddies. "I’m not asking you to apologize. I only wanted us to push aside our differences. But since you apologized already, then I’ll accept it."

Seeing that the matter was resolved, Kaelyn breathed easily and turned around to tend to the others.

As she looked away, Deklan leaned closer to Zayne’s ear.

"In case you haven’t noticed, I saved you because I wanted an excuse to meet—with your young lady," He whispered, smiling teasingly. "I got to score points with her, and managed to get away with stealing your precious skull. And somehow, you’re the one apologizing."

Hearing this, Zayne’s eyes bulged, and his body trembled in raging anger.

Bulging veins climbed his neck, and even his mana was riled.

Even so, Deklan didn’t look worried at all.

He, instead, gave Zayne’s shoulder another patronizing pat before walking away, "Funny, isn’t it?"

Moments later.

[Wow... Absolutely, wow, host...]

Deklan sat on the carcass of the Ghost he speared earlier after he killed it and harvested its heart.

He was covering his face with his clean hand, massaging his forehead.

[Is that how you were before turning a new page? The big bad bully inside you?]

"Fuck me..." Deklan clicked his tongue in displeasure, annoyed that he was starting to enjoy acting like he used to be again. It hadn’t been that long since he arrived in this world—and now he’s already going back to his old self. "I can’t be enjoying this. I’ll be betraying Paul if I do."

[Come on, host. It’s not that bad. You’re only bullying him a little bit.]

"Hmm, wait a minute," Deklan looked up at the notification. "You’re enjoying this too, aren’t you?"

[No, I did not! It must’ve been your imagination.]

"Nah, you’re definitely enjoying this—way too much even. Back in my world, entertainment isn’t free. It has—subscriptions. If you want to see something like that, pay up. You’re cheerful, so don’t even try to deny it, and that means you owe me money. Come on, cough it up!"

[...]

"Now, you’re silent? Tch! Useless system!"

Deklan rolled his eyes and then checked his inventory.

He checked the skull he got from Zayne.

...

[Skull of Anka]

Rank: S

Description: A century-old skull of an S-grade Ghost, Anka the Slayer—that still retained its corrosive property. It can be used as a material to add corrosive property to any equipment.

...

"An S-grade Ghost?!" Deklan sucked in a cold breath, surprised that he stumbled across—this precious skull when he needed it the most. "I don’t know what kind of Ghost it was, or how it looked, but I can use this for the Awakening Ritual..."

A grin crossed Deklan’s lips.

He decided to postpone the Awakening Ritual until he slayed the Alpha Ghost in the inner area.

Its carcass should contain enough mana to make the ritual worth it.

Naturally, he wanted to do it right now, but he couldn’t, at least not at this moment.

Someone is watching me. Is it Kaelyn? Must be. I should act normal—until she leaves on her own, or maybe loses her somehow.

Deciding to think about it later, Deklan averted his attention back to the inventory.

He finally got the last trait—the Sight Trait.

As expected, the Ghost he was sitting on right now has the last trait he needed.

Now that it was completed, he could break through to the bronze-rank and have an overpowered Minor Presence. From the bronze-rank Ghosts he killed in this forest, he noticed that their Paranormal Heart only has either one trait or at most two.

But now he was in possession of all of them.

All five senses plus the sixth sense.

"I can now reach the bronze rank—and also become an Exorcist," Deklan mused happily, excited to see how much stronger he would become after finishing those things. "I wanted to start, but this girl... she is relentless. How long will she stay there?"

Deklan, with his high perception, could sense Kaelyn hiding in the shadows.

She still hadn’t trusted him fully, and that’s understandable.

"But still, Imma need you to move away, young lady..." Deklan looked around—and then smiled. "And what better way to lose her other than another Ghost? I doubt she would be able to keep up with me then."