***
I already knew the location of the old castle, so there was no problem getting there.
However, I deliberately chose a slightly roundabout path, and whenever we passed by our town's food stalls, I would hand one to her to try.
“I need to find the creator of the black armor quickly! I don't have time to waste on snacks like this!”
“But it’s delicious, right?”
“…Please pack one more to go.”
I was pleased, as it reminded me of the greedy hamster that had monopolized all the cuteness in the lab in my past life, taking food.
After dragging our feet for a reasonable amount of time, we arrived at the old castle just as the sun was beginning to set.
“The sun is setting.”
“The days have been getting shorter lately.”
[You deliberately dragged it out until a spooky time to stop the search of the old castle, didn't you? Master's cunning is so cool!]
Shut up.
“Oh dear, it's getting too dark, so I think it will be difficult to search the old castle. If it’s alright with you, how about we do it tomorrow?”
“No. It’s fine. I brought a lantern, so there's no need to worry about the night. Now, let's go! Is the old castle far?”
But when we actually arrived in front of the old castle, El's complexion turned pale.
“Th-this is the old castle.”
After our family moved to the current mansion, this place had not only been uninhabited but also poorly managed.
On top of that, since it was an old castle to begin with, as night fell, it became the very picture of a ruin without a single light.
“Why? Are you scared to go in now that you see it?”
“What are you talking about! Isn't it better this way? A castle at night feels like it holds a secret.”
“This is a castle that has been neglected for a long time, with no proper repairs. Especially late at night, an accident could happen inside…”
“If it's an accident due to poor construction, it’s the same whether we come during the day or at night.”
Still, it seemed she wasn't completely terrified, as she faced the old castle confidently with her arms crossed, even though her voice was trembling.
It seemed she had no intention of turning back at all.
I need to put this naive kid's stubbornness in its place.
I quietly and calmly laid out the dangers of the night.
The danger of a girl, even with me there, wandering around an old castle at night.
At my words, the girl's eyes widened, and she stared blankly at me.
“Was this town that dangerous? As far as I know, it's not just safe, it's so quiet that it's boring…”
“Who spread such slander! It’s a town with its own unique characteristics!”
“What are those characteristics?”
“…”
What are our town's characteristics? My loud father? The mountains and water are nice, and the air is clean?
As I was at a loss for words, the kid covered her mouth and looked at me with crescent-shaped eyes.
This damn kid, does she look down on me because I’m worried about her?
[Master's blood pressure and heart rate are…]
‘You shut up.’
This one and that one, there’s a limit to how much they can look down on people.
I had done my part.
From now on, whatever happened was her own responsibility.
“Then let's go in. I just want you to know that whatever happens inside, it's not my responsibility.”
“That sounds like you’re saying it's dangerous enough for something to happen inside.”
“Who knows.”
I hinted that she could give up the search of the old castle at any time and stepped inside.
<><><>
The inside of the old castle was just as dark as it looked from the outside, looking like the perfect place for something to pop out.
“Lantern. I brought two, so I'll give one to you.”
“I won't refuse.”
However, when I actually received the lantern, it was more like a lantern-shaped ornament than a lantern.
It was powered by magic, yet its design was that of a kerosene lamp, and its brightness was only slightly less than a torch!
“Fufufu, I chose this with the castle exploration in mind. The atmosphere is quite nice, isn't it?”
“…It's not nice at all! It's a horribly inefficient object!”
[Aren't design and the atmosphere that matches it a form of efficiency?]
‘Design is not efficiency!’
[But exploring an old castle with a lightsaber-shaped lantern would look strange and funny, wouldn't it?]
An image of myself entering the old castle with a lightsaber-shaped lantern popped into my head.
That's pretty cool. Isn't a lightsaber-shaped lantern a man's dream?
“Now, let's go. What have you been hesitating about?”
“Who's hesitating? I'll take the lead, so follow me.”
I stood in front of the kid who kept acting cheeky and took a step forward.
We passed through the entrance together and went straight in.
Having someone behind me was a little reassuring, but the corridors of this damn castle were truly extremely dark.
The moonlight and starlight shining through the dusty window cracks were the only natural light, and without the lantern, shabby as it was, it would have been really difficult to see even an inch ahead.
What on earth am I doing here?
What is at the end of this path?
Agonizing thoughts about life and numerous questions went through my head, and the urge to get out of this place right away arose.
[You received money.]
“…”
[You received a lot.]
That's right. I received money. And a lot of it.
Having received money, it was only natural to fulfill the client's request.
In fact, it wouldn't matter if I were the one to backstab her, but there was no need to get on the bad side of a client who so readily handed over money pouches.
That's right. It's all because of the money.
It didn't matter what I was doing here, where I had to go, or what I was doing.
What was important was the money.
Rattle!
“Hwaaaaaaak!!”
But at the sudden loud noise, I had no choice but to dash out at once.
It was not out of fear, but a temporary retreat due to an evasive action caused by human instinct.
Money or not, this was in the realm of unavoidable instinct.
“Y-you there! Where are you going, leaving me alone!!”
I could hear the silver-haired kid's voice, so it seemed she was following well, so I didn't have to worry.
But why was there a sudden noise?
Was there anything in this castle that could make such a loud noise?
I quickly looked around, but I couldn't see anything other than the kid.
Come to think of it, even if there was nothing, there were windows, and the wind could blow, so things could bump into each other or fall.
If I thought about it a little more calmly, it wasn't something to be so surprised about.
As my thoughts reached that point, my frantically moving feet came to a halt.
‘Phew, that was a scare.’
[So you were surprised after all?]
‘Yes! I was scared stiff! Happy now?!’
[How cute.]
‘Shut up! Or I’ll dismantle you!’
In the first place, things that go against the laws of nature are the problem.
Unilaterally cursing, showing themselves, or physically interfering with only themselves!!
Why on earth are such beings created?!
Things that shouldn't even exist!
[In short, you're scared of ghosts?]
‘I just don't understand them as they are unknown beings that defy the laws of nature!’
[Isn't it a bit strange for someone who has been reincarnated to say that?]
‘And it's okay for an AI to mention spiritual beings?’
[I'm a believer.]
Hmm, I have nothing to say.
I had nothing to say to an AI that believed in spiritual beings, but having been reincarnated, it was hard to deny the existence of souls.
“Hah, hah, hah, t-to just leave me alone like that, hah, isn't that, hah, too much? You.”
The silver-haired kid, who had arrived late, said with her eyes full of tears, trying her best to compose her expression.
And her body was even trembling.
‘This one is scared too!’ I could tell at a glance.
The image she had shown before was all a bluff.
I wasn't the only one who was scared.
This one was all bluff too!
She was scared stiff on the inside but was trying hard to put on a brave face on the outside!
Although the AI had found out that I was scared stiff, a competitive spirit to not lose to this kid welled up inside me.
First, I quickly checked my condition.
Breathing was normal, body was not trembling.
Perfect.
I calmly opened my mouth to the kid who had followed me and was panting for breath.
“I heard a noise where there should have been nothing, so I created some distance for safety.”
Perfect. It’s a perfectly normal tone of voice, just like my usual condition.
“Wh-wh-what are you talking about? Weren't you running for your life because you heard a noise and got scared!”
“How could that be? And it seems to me that you're the one who's scared stiff, not me.”
“H-h-h-nonsense! M-me, scared stiff!”
Her body was trembling, and her eyes were full of tears, looking like she would have a seizure and wet herself if she got any more surprised, but she was stubborn.
“I see. Let's just say that.”
I shrugged and chuckled.
She was the one who gave me money, so I should let it slide at this point.
“I-I said I'm not!”
I lightly ignored the flailing kid and looked around.
Hmm, it's still spooky.
“If you're scared, shall we leave soon?”
“I'm not scared!”
“Then let's keep going.”
“Of course!”
The kid ignored my reasonable suggestion and acted stubbornly.
It can't be helped.
I guess we have to go a little further.
I took the lead and stepped forward.
El moved, sticking so close to my side that it was almost like she was attached.
I thought the sense of personal space was a bit lacking, but to be honest, I was also a little scared, so having someone next to me was a little reassuring.
And so, we advanced through the dark corridor.
-Kwahahaha!!
“Hwaaaaaaak!!!”
“Hieeeeeeeek!!!”
Then, at the sudden sound of laughter, El and I screamed and hugged each other.
Damn it! That's not the sound of the wind. There's something here! There really is!!
“Th-th-there's something here!!”
“I-I know!”
We looked around in all directions while clinging to each other, but there wasn't anything in particular…
[I see a light over there.]
“Hwaaaak!”
“Hieek! Wh-why did you suddenly scream?! You scared me!”
“Th-there!! A light!”
“Hieeeeeeeek!!”
El and I took turns screaming as we faced the faintly glowing light.
Why on earth is there a light in this old castle?
My mind went blank, and I couldn't think of anything.
-…kill….
-Kuhh….
I think I can hear some sounds too?!
Just when I had no idea what was going on, a thought flashed through my mind.
‘Hey, you can detect what that light is, right?’
[Tsk.]
Th-this bastard?! Why did you click your tongue?!
You knew what was there all along!
‘Spill it!!’
[Multiple life forms detected. All human.]
…What?
Why are multiple humans in this old castle?!
This is a rural area with a small population, so why are there people in a place like this!?
To be honest, apart from the castle walls, this place was no different from a rural village, even though it was called a barony, and my father was no different from a village chief!
Anyway, since they were people, there was nothing to be afraid of.
I pushed away the kid I was hugging.
“H-heek! Wh-where are you going alone?!”
I pushed away the kid who was desperately clinging to me and strode towards the light.
“Wh-where are you going?!”
The kid, still not over her fear, trembled but held onto my clothes and trotted after me.
-Kuhh! A night spent without worrying about the wife's nagging is killer.
-If this isn't heaven, what is?
As the light got closer, the sounds also became clearer.
Now, rather than fear, I was just curious what kind of group this was.
I threw open the door of the room from which the light was leaking.
And the sight that unfolded before my eyes was.