Chapter 182 - Chapter 181: The Third [Blessing] and Fee's Specialty
First Month of Earth, Week 5, Day of the Sun.
Mika was at the house that had given him a commissioned request.
It seemed this house's painting was harboring a curse, and that was the content of the request to dispel it.
A study with a calm atmosphere.
But there was one thing that exuded an abnormal atmosphere.
It was a somewhat eerie painting decorated in a large frame about as tall as Mika's height.
Was it an abstract painting?
A painting that looked like a toddler randomly drew it, covered in squiggly lines that were hard to understand.
The color scheme was also splashed with red, black, and brown all over, with various colors splattered like droplets giving a strong accent.
Mika couldn't tell if this painting was worth one Rats or one hundred million Rats.
Emotionally, he wouldn't even want to pay one Rat for it.
"......Um, is it still difficult...?"
As Mika looked up at the painting with a strange face, the client male approached him timidly.
"Yes, no, the curse is still... nothing much... Can you take down the painting? If possible, with the frame removed, please place it on that table over there."
Mika pointed to the sofa and table in a corner of the room, and the man nodded, saying "Understood."
Then, the man gave instructions to two servants to remove the painting from the wall.
Sitting on the sofa, Mika watched the work.
This painting.
It harbored such a strong curse that the Adventurer's Guild refused to take custody of it.
The original owner of the painting was the client's father.
He seemed to be a wealthy asset holder and a person deeply knowledgeable in art.
However, he passed away last year, and the client inherited it.
The client inherited various things from his father, but unfortunately, it seems he did not inherit the aesthetic sense.
Thinking the painting in question was "an eerie painting," he considered disposing of it.
However, when this eerie painting was taken off the wall, an envelope was attached to the back of the frame.
The envelope was advice from the client's father regarding how to handle this painting after inheriting it.
Leave it as is. Do not move it under any circumstances.
He left a warning very concisely.
Of course, he didn't take that seriously, so he put it together with other artworks planned for sale and stored them in another room.
From there, various paranormal phenomena began to occur.
The artworks stored together somehow began to break.
They had grouped together more than ten artworks, but nearly half of them were damaged.
Unpleasant sounds also began to come from the storage room, and to top it off, stains like paint started appearing on the floors and walls all over the mansion.
The client, who didn't know what was what, still requested the removal of the artworks and asked for an appraisal.
Due to the appraisal results, it was revealed that this painting was cursed.
All other artworks except those that were broken and ruined were taken away, but this painting alone was refused.
The appraiser told him there must be a reason why the curse hadn't appeared until now, and he remembered.
The warning from his father, ---Do not move it.
So, by putting it back in its original place, the paranormal phenomena seemed to have stopped for the time being.
While watching the work of removing the frame, Mika thought vaguely.
(Why did Father hang such a cursed painting?)
Did he really hang it because it had artistic value?
I, an amateur, don't know, but maybe there was something excellent about it.
However, Mika had only one thing in mind.
It was the necklace that harbored the Lust Crest curse.
While estimating its value as a product lowly, Father still purchased that necklace.
Heminikki, who became strongly interested in the necklace even before seeing the actual item.
Certain curses strongly influence the human mind.
To the point of guiding actions.
While Mika was lost in thought, the servants placed the painting with the frame removed on the table.
"Thank you. Then, leave the rest to me."
When Mika said that, the client's expression relaxed, and he left the room with the servants.
Actually, the client even disliked entering this room.
But when Mika heard the story, the painting was hanging on the wall.
Moreover, it was at a fairly high position.
Thinking it would be difficult for Mika to remove it, he decided to have the client do the work.
"Well then, let's see what we have here."
Mika gathered mana in his left hand and touched the painting.
A strong fluctuation transmitted to his left hand, but he could suppress it without problems.
But...
"Hmm... at this level, automatic might be impossible."
Too much mana is consumed.
He could use it if he could summon "Absorb Wing," but with "Absorb," there was a lack of mana.
(What should I do...? Should I just do it?)
He usually uses it freely thinking no one would see in a usual abandoned ruin, but surely, inside a mansion where people live, he doesn't know when someone will come.
(If they get close, they'll get caught in the curse's backlash, or something like that. Maybe I should threaten them.)
If he did that, no one would bother coming specifically.
Mika used the table bell to call the mansion's people and threatened the client, "No one must approach this room under any circumstances."
Then, it seems the threat worked too well, and the client evacuated everyone, including the servants, to the garden.
Sorry about that.
I threatened too much.
But now, he can use "Absorb Wing" without hesitation.
He can also run "Auto-Dispel" at full capacity.
"Alright, let's clean this up quickly."
While closing the study curtains, Mika manifested "Lighting Ball."
It's bad to keep the mansion's people outside forever.
He should dispel the curse as soon as possible.
Mika sat on the sofa, reached out, touched the painting, and concentrated his consciousness.
"Absorb Wing, Auto-Dispel."
Muttering that, light wings manifested on Mika's back, and the curse dispelling began rapidly.
It wasn't as visible as a "Curse," but it was a level of curse he hadn't seen in a while recently.
(Even so, if I dispel it at this speed, it'll be over soon.)
At that moment.
"Aa'Aa'Aa'Aa'Aa'Aa'Aa'Aa'Aa'Aa'Aa'AaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaA......!"
"!!?"
Suddenly, a piercing scream was heard.
A scream that shook the window glass with tingling vibrations, transmitting the vibration to the skin.
"Something" spurted out from the painting.
Mika also felt that "something" was spouting out, but he didn't know what it was.
It was invisible to the eye.
Still, "something" was definitely spouting out.
"What is this!?"
Mika stood up from the sofa and created some distance from the painting.
He manifested "Big Ear," but it was too late.
He cut off the scream belatedly, but now his ears are ringing.
"Aa'Aa'Aa'Aa'Aa'Aa'Aa'Aa'Aa'Aa'Aa'AaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaAaA......!"
The screaming continued.
Mika was alert to the surroundings, but nothing happened other than the screaming.
The "something" spouting from the painting, he could vaguely feel it, but he didn't know anything concretely.
However, as the force of the spouting weakened, the screaming also gradually subsided.
And so, staring blankly at the painting, eventually both the screaming and the "something" stopped.
What had happened was a first-time pattern, and he couldn't even guess.
Mika, wary of the painting, went near the window.
Then he checked the outside situation, but there was nothing particularly strange.
The client and servants were startled and panicked by the sudden scream, but that was all.
It didn't seem like a situation where evil spirits had come out.
"......Well, I should check around the mansion just in case."
If "Unclean Ones" had jumped out, he should have noticed, but it's for precaution.
There was also the example of the "Legion" during Nerisfeene's time.
There is a possibility that something was hiding within the curse.
Mika switched "Absorb Wing" to "Absorb," expanded his mana range, and checked every room in the mansion.
If he wanted to be on guard against a surprise attack, he should wrap it around his body, but now the purpose is reconnaissance.
He confirmed with mana in every corner of all rooms to see if any "something" was hiding.
"There doesn't seem to be anything specific."
If they had jumped out of the mansion with the initial force, he would be helpless, but at least it seems they aren't hiding inside the mansion.
Well, no matter how surprised he was, Mika had seen it right in front of his eyes.
If monsters had come out, he probably would have noticed. ...Probably.
"For now, let's finish the request."
As long as the request isn't finished, the mansion's people will remain outside forever.
Mika returned to the study, summoned "Absorb Wing," and started continuing the dispelling.
"Wow, I was surprised by that voice. But, as expected of the one called 'Dispeller.' For safety, you evacuated everyone in advance, right?"
"Ah... no, well. Ah, hahaha..."
Yes.
That's how it turned out.
The "Dispeller," who noticed an unpredictable situation might occur, evacuated the client and others in advance for their safety.
That's what it seems.
Since the opportunity arose, I decided to go along with it.
"I don't know what would happen. It's good that nothing particularly dangerous occurred."
So, he smiled brightly.
"I thought it might be rude, but just in case, I checked inside the mansion. However, there might be a possibility of something happening. If anything suspicious occurs, please contact the Adventurer's Guild. If we judge it to be related to this incident, we will respond with priority."
"Understood. And, what about the painting?"
When the client said that, he turned his gaze to the appraiser he had prepared himself.
The appraiser asked, and he nodded silently.
"The curse harbored in this painting was quite strong. I rarely see curses of this level. Did you hear any rumors or stories about it?"
"No, nothing like that at all..."
Before he knew it, Father had purchased it and started decorating it in his study.
It seems he told him to take it down because his taste was bad, but he wouldn't listen at all.
"What about its artistic value?"
When Mika asked the appraiser, he shook his head with an indescribable expression.
Probably, if one thinks normally, it's not something of great value.
(Well, you know. Once you find out the author is a famous painter, the price suddenly skyrockets.)
That world is completely unrelated to Mika.
Even if there was a painting by a great painter right in front of his eyes, sold at an outrageous price, he wouldn't think of buying it at all.
Because he can't even tell if it's genuine or fake.
If it's too cheap, he suspects it's a forgery, and if it's too high, he fears it's a forgery and can't reach out.
If he thought, "Maybe I'll hang a painting as interior decor," it would be safest to go to a small exhibition and buy a landscape painting.
Simply put, he just needs to weigh the life of gazing at this painting at this price.
Putting aside complicated art theories, having a painting that makes you want to look at it vaguely by your side.
Seeking more value than that feels a bit beyond his means.
After finishing about two more requests for dispelling ornaments and decorations following the painting, he went to the Adventurer's Guild.
He reported the completion of the request and mentioned the first incident as a precaution.
He told them to contact him immediately if anything happened.
"I'm home."
And so, at a time before evening.
When he returned home and opened the entrance, the moment he thought Fee would charge in... he instantly reversed direction.
Fee ran away with a pewww sound and hid behind Kistil, trembling and shaking.
"Hmm?"
Mika tilted his head.
"Welcome back, Mika-kun."
"Welcome home, Mika-sa---!?"
Kistil and Nerisfeene, relaxing at the table, returned the greeting, but Nerisfeene's face was frozen in surprise.
"M-Mika-sama!? What... what happened!?"
And she widened her eyes, turning pale and panicking.
"Hmm? What?"
Not understanding well, Mika entered the house as is.
But---.
"It's no good! Mika-sama!"
Nerisfeene said, straining her voice desperately.
"Wait, wait. What's wrong, Nerisfeene?"
Kistil didn't understand the reason for Nerisfeene's attitude and was acting timidly.
And Mika was the same.
"What? What's wrong, Nerisfeene?"
"Outside! Please go outside, Mika-sama!"
An unexpected order to get out!?
Mika was slightly shocked.
"Nerisfeene, what really is wrong..."
"Just get outside quickly! Kistil must not approach Mika-sama!"
He didn't understand much, but Nerisfeene was desperate in an impossible way.
There must be some reason.
While receiving a slight shock, Mika silently followed Nerisfeene.
And so, Mika was chased out of the garden and stood on the road.
This is terrible...
Mika, standing a step back from the property.
Nerisfeene, keeping a distance of about three meters from there.
And behind Nerisfeene, Kistil.
Behind Kistil, Fee was still trembling.
What?
What is really happening?
"Um... Nerisfeene."
Mika approached timidly.
Nerisfeene just stared at Mika.
However, from Mika's perspective, it felt like she was looking at a slightly shifted part.
"Mika-sama... you know my [Blessing], right?"
"Eh? Ah, yeah."
At Nerisfeene's sudden question, he was startled for a moment.
"[Heal] and [Purification], right. And then, there's that thing you can't understand well, you can see it---."
Saying that, he realized.
He didn't understand well, Nerisfeene's third [Blessing].
Nerisfeene harbored a mysterious [Blessing] that said she could see something.
"......You can see it, right. To Nerisfeene."
Finally, Mika began to understand the seriousness of the situation a little.
Nerisfeene nodded firmly at Mika's words.
There are still many things he doesn't understand, but at least he can judge that some kind of situation is occurring.
Then, he was asked what happened to Nerisfeene today.
"......I think that painting was suspicious."
After listening to the story, Nerisfeene muttered softly.
But, from the tense expression until then, she seemed to relax a little, letting go of some strength.
"It seems it wasn't Mika-sama's own thing, but just something that stuck to you like usual."
"...Stuck to you? Like usual?"
According to Nerisfeene, it seems when Mika goes to do dispelling work, something sticks to him to some extent.
But it was a very small amount, and Nerisfeene seemed to not worry about it.
It didn't have any particular harm, and if left alone, it would disappear eventually.
However, today he came back with "that" attached in such a surprising amount that Nerisfeene also got a bit panicked.
"...So, what exactly is that?"
Mika asked that, but Nerisfeene shook her head.
"I don't know. But, if it's not Mika-sama's own thing, it shouldn't be a serious problem. I don't know how to make it disappear, though..."
Nerisfeene also said she can only see it and can't do anything about it.
"Like, my thing? Or cases like that?"
"Yes. It can happen to anyone to some extent. If you go shopping, you might see a few people like that. But..."
"...But?"
Saying that, Nerisfeene's expression became a bit pained.
"People who have a lot of 'that' usually have something bad happen afterwards. It could be that person, or those around them... I think the cause is often that person themselves."
There are few examples, but it seems she has seen that kind of thing several times.
"There are also things different from what's attached to Mika-sama. Even if there are a lot of those, it's not much of a problem."
Listening to the story, Mika fell into thought.
He couldn't think of any countermeasures.
Well, naturally, with just this story.
"For now, if it says it will disappear eventually, should I sleep outside for a while? ...Sorry to the inn people."
Since he can't see it anyway.
If he doesn't worry about it, there's no problem. ...Right?
Probably...
"Oh, Fee-chan."
Kistil's voice came, and Mika and Nerisfeene looked towards Kistil.
Fee, who was trembling behind Kistil, floated over... and flew onto Nerisfeene's shoulder.
Then, Fee shone a thin light towards Mika.
A light about ten centimeters in diameter appeared on Mika's body.
But, that light was appearing at a position floating about five centimeters away from Mika's body.
"Huh...? What is this?"
Fee's shining light was hitting "something" that was bumpy.
"I see. Fee could see this."
That's why she ran away in a panic upon seeing Mika's figure.
"But, does this light have any meaning?"
"Fee-chan?"
Kistil came to Nerisfeene's side and spoke to Fee.
But, Fee continued shining the light as is.
"Amazing! As expected of Fee-sama!"
Nerisfeene raised a voice of joy.
However, Mika had no idea at all.
What is Fee doing?
Why is Nerisfeene happy?
"The 'that' where Fee-sama is shining the light is disappearing. Even though it's slowly, it's disappearing clearly enough to see with the naked eye."
"Eh, seriously!?"
Fee, you had such a specialty?
He didn't know what was attached and what was disappearing, but it seems the situation was heading towards resolution.
I wish someone would explain it to me...
And so, after more than ten minutes, Fee removed the "something" attached to Mika's body.
However, Fee also seemed to run out of mana halfway through and started sucking Mika's mana.
In response, Mika turned "Absorb" to full power and generously told Fee, "Suck as much as you like."
But, now he is regretting that a little.
Because, even now that the removal of "something" is finished, Fee is still sucking mana.
How long does she intend to suck?
Well, it's fine.
"It's okay now, Mika-sama."
Nerisfeene said with a smile, but in the end, Mika had no idea what it was all about.
However, from this day on...
"Please remove everything cleanly for me from now on, Fee-sama."
By Nerisfeene's order, Mika now needs Fee's check before entering the house.
(This is my house, after all...)
No, he shouldn't say that.
It's everyone's house.
If it's a rule for everyone, he will follow it.
However, he managed to get the condition relaxed so that the check is only after dispelling work.