Chapter 159

The two woke up hours later.

“Ugh, ugh…”

“Where are we…?”

They showed the most cliché reactions upon regaining consciousness.

“Kyaaa!”

“A ghost!”

The two, clutching their heads, couldn’t help but be startled by the Mistress staring at them silently.

It was still dawn, and the surroundings were dim.

The only light source was the moonlight streaming through the window.

Seeing the Mistress’s expressionless, pale face in such a situation, it was impossible not to be shocked.

But the Mistress, seemingly uninterested in their screams, spoke her piece.

“Why?”

“Kyaa… Huh?”

“Why did you try to leave my mansion?”

At her words, Karina and Serena stopped screaming and listened.

“That’s because you forced us to stay in this mansion, right? A mansion alone in the woods, and your suspicious behavior of trying to keep us here—what exactly were you planning to do to us?”

“I didn’t think of anything else. I was just lonely living here alone…”

The Mistress’s expression and voice were flat, as if devoid of any emotion, but the two weren’t so oblivious as to believe she truly felt nothing.

“…”

“…”

“I worked hard to make you feel comfortable. Was there something lacking during your stay?”

The Mistress’s demeanor wasn’t eerie or sinister, as Karina had exaggerated. It was just a lonely woman living alone in the woods.

“Was she really just lonely?”

“She doesn’t seem to be lying. If she had ulterior motives, she would have acted by now.”

“If there’s anything lacking, please tell me. I’ll do whatever I can…”

Her pale, lifeless appearance remained, but her aura was no longer chilling—it was fragile, as if she might crumble at any moment.

Seeing this, Karina stopped screaming and spoke calmly.

“No, your hospitality was more than satisfactory.”

“…Then why?”

“Your hospitality was excellent, and we were physically comfortable during our stay.”

“But we are guests. Guests must eventually leave. We have places to return to and people waiting for us.”

The two had planned to escape the mansion without being noticed or, if confronted, to defeat the Mistress and escape.

But the Mistress they met wasn’t as sinister as they had imagined—she was pitiful.

Unable to muster hostility, they spoke to her in a pleading tone.

“The time we spent in the mansion… It wasn’t bad. But now it’s time to leave.”

“So, won’t you let us go?”

“…”

Perhaps moved by their plea, the Mistress silently bowed her head.

The only light in the room was the dim moonlight through the window.

Even Karina, who could manipulate mana, couldn’t see the Mistress’s expression.

The Mistress, deep in thought, remained silent, and the two watched her nervously.

Though the Mistress seemed pitiful and willing to talk, the two weren’t entirely optimistic.

Even if the Mistress was just lonely, she had hypnotized them and possessed mysterious powers.

For now, they were on the edge of a conversation, but only because the Mistress was willing to talk.

If she decided to forcefully keep them, they would have to resort to violence.

As Karina glanced at the Battle Axe and Hand Axe in the corner…

“…Understood.”

A small, weak voice, barely audible.

But to the two, who had been tense, it was clear.

“Alright. I’ll let you go. Thank you for indulging my stubbornness.”

“You understand?”

“More like we were forced to indulge your stubbornness.”

“…Serena!”

“It’s fine. It’s the truth. I’ll return your clothes and equipment. I’m truly sorry for forcing you to stay. And though it was short, I really enjoyed it.”

“…Mistress.”

“Mistress…”

Though Serena couldn’t help but add a comment, the conversation seemed to end amicably.

“But there’s one condition.”

“…A condition?”

“What is it?”

But the Mistress’s next words made them cautiously wait.

If it was something unacceptable, they would have to use force.

But her request was unexpected.

“Won’t you have breakfast before you leave? I want to treat you one last time before we part.”

Her request was a simple wish to share a final meal.

…

…

…

But the two cautiously declined.

It wasn’t because they didn’t want to share a meal with their captor or because they distrusted her food.

During their stay, despite being hypnotized, they had been treated well—better than ordinary travelers—and hadn’t suffered physically. They couldn’t hate her, though they resented the hypnosis.

…Though they did worry she might do something desperate with the food.

But the real reason they declined was different.

“…You want to treat me to a meal?”

“Yes. To repay the kindness you showed us during our stay.”

“And there’s a saying that lingering spirits can move on if treated well.”

“…Move on?”

“Ah, never mind. Don’t worry about it. Haha.”

“Then we’ll use the kitchen.”

They intended to cook for the Mistress.

They genuinely wanted to repay her kindness.

But there was another intention hidden within.

They wanted to help the Mistress, who was lingering in the woods, move on.

In Kurt’s past life, it was said that spirits could move on if their regrets were resolved. This world had similar tales.

The cause of a spirit’s lingering was often regret or attachment.

It anchored their soul to the mortal world.

Such stories were common in this world.

Though the Mistress had agreed to let them go, they couldn’t just leave her alone in the woods.

If they left, she might remain lonely forever.

Perhaps she might even lure other travelers.

And they worried they might not truly escape the mansion unless she moved on.

So, with a mix of gratitude and pity, they decided to cook for her.

Entering the kitchen, the two laughed.

“Hahaha. Trying to help a ghost move on with cooking. We suggested it, but it’s still absurd.”

“Yeah. It’s something Kurt would do.”

Before meeting Kurt, they wouldn’t have offered to cook.

They wouldn’t have easily considered resolving things through dialogue with the Mistress.

But after spending time with Kurt, they had been influenced by his calm, peaceful demeanor.

Surely, it was the influence of that ridiculously strong yet gentle Lizardman.

“…True. Kurt would have done this.”

“We should eat Kurt’s cooking when we get back.”

They laughed as if their time away from Astram felt like ages ago.

And so, they began to cook.