39: Carol of Misfortune / Spilled Water Returns to the Basin, Broken Cup Restores / Devil’s Gateau Magic 2

One corner of the town of Shelland.

Commonly known as Whisper Alley.

In the past, it was a fierce battleground for restaurants. Nearly twenty years ago, Conrad brought various dishes to Shelland, resulting in an eating-out boom. Countless restaurants and cafés were born, closed down, and then born again, with people constantly coming and going. Rumor had it that even high-ranking nobles and lords came in secret to seek out the famed flavors, making it a place where no one’s presence seemed out of place.

As a result, it became a prime spot for secret meetings and rendezvous. Sometimes young lovers would use it for dates, while merchants would gather for confidential business talks, or even married individuals would meet for forbidden trysts.

However, that was a sight of days gone by. Eventually, the café and restaurant boom faded. To avoid the shady image of “whispering,” shops either relocated or closed down along with the fad. Now, apart from the few remaining diners and cafés that continue in modest business, it’s just an ordinary residential area.

Jill stood in front of a shabby building that stood out in one corner of Whisper Alley.

“…Isn’t this more of a ruin than a haunted house?”

Jill muttered in disbelief at the sight of the building.

The walls were dirty, the windows were boarded up, and the entrance was sealed with multiple chains and padlocks.

“S-sorry! The exterior repairs haven’t been kept up… But the interior and the columns are still fine, so I’d appreciate it if you could judge based on those…”

The landlord, who had been waiting in front of the building, apologized profusely with a nervous smile.

She looked young.

She seemed like she was in her late teens, more of a girl than a woman.

She was about the same height as Jill.

With curly blonde hair and a slightly youthful face, she exuded a somewhat timid aura.

“Jill, this is Carol, the landlord of the building.”

Matthew introduced the girl to Jill.

“Ah, I-I’m so sorry for not introducing myself earlier! I’m Carol. I used to work at a scrivener’s office!”

Carol introduced herself in an oddly high-pitched voice.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Jill. I’m planning to start a general store.”

“A general store…? Not a tool shop?”

“Yes. I was thinking of focusing more on clothes and accessories, so I wouldn’t say it’s broad enough to be called a tool shop.”

“Wow, that sounds lovely! So you’re looking for a place for your shop?”

Carol’s face brightened up.

“Thank you. By the way, are you… the owner, Carol? You’re not a real estate agent or anything?”

“Um, the agency managing the place… ran away.”

“Ran away.”

At Jill’s words, Carol averted her eyes awkwardly.

“He said he’s done with haunted properties… He promised to come again today, but canceled at the last minute… haha…”

“I-I see… That sounds tough…”

Jill murmured sympathetically, though she was feeling uneasy.

“Well, why don’t you listen to the explanation first? As you can see, the exterior is terrible, but the walls and pillars are sturdy. While surface renovations are necessary, considering the rent is dirt cheap, the maintenance costs should be low.”

Matthew followed up with a wry smile.

Carol looked up at Matthew, her face as if she’d been saved.

“Of course, there are the rumors about the ‘ghost’ as well, and unless we get a detailed explanation, we can’t move forward with the deal.”

“Y-yes.”

Matthew firmly pressed the point.

“Um… Wasn’t there a story about the previous owner passing away and haunting the place?”

When Jill asked, Carol nodded sincerely.

“Yes. The ghost causes trouble, and everyone is scared, so no one has been willing to rent it so far…”

“So it’s not just ‘rumors of causing trouble,’ but it ‘actually causes trouble,’ right?”

“There are rumors, but there have also been actual incidents. Even the knights have records of it…”

Carol answered in a weak voice.

However, for some reason, Jill’s face lit up with joy.

“Oh, good. That’s what I wanted to confirm. When I heard it was a haunted house, I was worried about dealing with something truly unknown.”

“Huh?”

Carol and Matthew both looked blankly at her.

“You’re… not scared of ghosts?”

“Oh, I don’t mind at all. If the ghost causes trouble, that just means there’s some trick to it. If that’s the case, it’s nothing serious.”

Jill answered casually.

Carol, with an expression that was both impressed and bewildered, nodded with a “huh.”

“To be honest, I’m more worried about rats or termites than ghosts. Given the condition of the exterior…”

“There’s no problem with that. Aside from the ghost issue, I can assure you there’s nothing else to worry about. If you don’t mind that, it’s definitely worth checking out.”

“Oh my, it’s rare to hear you speak so highly, Matthew.”

Jill trusted Matthew’s eye for appraisals and his judgment.

He wasn’t the kind of merchant who would deceive people in situations like this.

“W-Well, I’ll open the lock now! Um, I ended up putting five locks on it, so please bear with me for a moment…”

The landlord eagerly tried to open the locks.

However, it seemed that the overly strict security made it difficult for her.

“… Are you sure everything’s okay?”

“I-I think so.”

Although Jill trusted Matthew, there were still plenty of moments where she wondered, “Is this person really okay?”

◆

“Wow…!”

The moment Jill stepped inside, she finally understood why Matthew had recommended this viewing.

There was no damage to the pillars or the floorboards.

The interior was completely different from the impression given by the exterior; it was solidly built.

There was a slight mustiness in the air, but that was to be expected in a building that hadn’t been frequented by people.

Jill quickly noticed traces that indicated this place had once been a café.

Most likely, there had been several tables between the center of the room and the windows. Faint sun-faded marks dotted the floor. While the tables had since been removed, leaving the space open and somewhat lonely, the traces remained.

And more than the table marks, there was one thing that strongly asserted, “This used to be a café.”

“What do you think of this counter, Jill?”

“This is wonderful…!”

A magnificent countertop made of a single slab of wood stood there.

The light brown surface was adorned with beautiful, swirling black wood grains, creating a deep, rich brown overall. It had an air of calm elegance, with a touch of mystery that only high-quality wood could provide.

“Could this possibly be walnut…?”

“Correct.”

Walnut is a tree from the Juglandaceae family.

As a high-quality wood used for furniture, it has long been loved by the nobles and wealthy merchants of Argenes Island.

Not only is it aesthetically pleasing and has a great texture, but it is also highly durable.

It resists temporary impacts like dropped objects or scratches, and it is less likely to warp due to seasonal or temperature changes.

If a single slab of walnut is cut from the best part of the tree, it would carry significant value.

“Incredible… but this place is abandoned, right? How did it not get stolen?”

“That’s why the door was heavily secured. The ‘ghost’ issue also played a part.”

“I see…”

“To be honest, I was hesitant about showing this place to you. It’s a notorious location, but I thought it would be a shame not to show you this.”

Matthew crossed his arms, looking conflicted.

However, Jill was beaming with joy.

“No way! Not showing me this would’ve been unacceptable! As expected of you, Matthew—I knew I could trust you!”

“But you were a bit suspicious, weren’t you?”

“New tables are nice, but there’s nothing quite like the charm of one that’s been used for years… Ah, now I want matching chairs! Maybe I could even make some myself.”

As Jill’s imagination and plans grew, she eagerly discussed various ideas.

Carol hesitantly interrupted them, looking apologetic.

“Um… may I proceed with the explanation?”

“Oh, sorry about that. Please, go ahead.”

Prompted by Jill, Carol cleared her throat and began speaking.

“This place is about 20 years old, but the foundation and beams are still solid. The first floor is meant for a tenant, and as you can see, there’s a counter table here. In the back is a kitchen, and it even has a stove. Oh, the stove is also in great condition. You should take a look later.”

“Alright.”

“The second floor is a private space. The previous owner used it as a nap area, with a bed. It’s spacious enough for someone living alone. As for the exterior repairs… I apologize, but those have been neglected for some time. There were… various reasons.”

“Oh, that reminds me… something about this being a haunted house.”

“Ah, yes… I suppose I need to explain everything, including why the counter is still here…”

Carol’s tone grew hesitant and uncertain, losing its earlier fluency.

“Reasons, huh…”

“Anyone who tries to move this counter or break in to steal it… is attacked by the ghost.”