Chapter 33 titled “A Dangerous Being”:
Chapter 33. A Dangerous Being
After finishing preparations to go out, Chei straightened the collar of his shirt one last time and picked up his travel bag.
Meanwhile, Bella had begged him countless times to leave, even screaming almost in desperation. But Chei hadn’t answered her even once.
Eventually, when Bella, exhausted, began to sob quietly, Chei finally stepped out of the room and spoke to her in a relaxed tone.
“I can’t do that right now.”
“What… what do you mean?”
Chei’s voice was low and calm, while Bella’s was full of confusion.
“Exactly what I said, Bella. Stay there and rest. Unless you want to be consumed by my soul.”
“Are you saying… I could disappear?”
“Yes. You’ve been wearing that bracelet constantly. The one given by that person with such a twisted mind.”
“…What?”
Chei chose his words carefully. He had no intention of telling her the full truth about the bracelet.
After all, wearing an accessory that sealed a soul meant prolonged exposure to that soul. And anyone who remained in contact with a soul for too long would inevitably weaken.
In other words, Bella’s soul had become thoroughly worn out from constant contact with Chei’s. Not only was she too weak to push Chei out of her body, but she was also on the verge of being completely devoured by his soul.
At this point, the only way to protect Bella’s soul was to let it rest thoroughly, allowing it to slowly reclaim its place within her body.
“Everything’s been taken care of, so just rest now.”
“Taken care of? Oh right, the ledger! I remember falling off the hill, but what happened after that?”
Bella fired off questions in rapid succession, not even pausing for breath—though she didn’t need to breathe as a spirit.
“The bracelet broke, and the seal was lifted. That’s how I woke up inside you.”
“How did you escape?”
“Escape?”
“…?”
“That’s a funny question, Bella.”
Chei tilted his head slowly and then smiled, stretching his lips. Bella, unable to comprehend, could only stare at Chei’s face as he smiled seductively.
He had already left the inn and was walking as if he knew the village like the back of his hand.
When he reached the main street, remnants of the previous day’s festival were scattered everywhere—drunken people passed out, shattered beer mugs, and mounds of trash.
The scene was eerily quiet and desolate.
Chei approached the carriage station, exchanged a few words with a coachman, and then climbed up into a carriage.
“W-where are you going?”
“Back home.”
“Ah…”
“What? Feeling guilty about your father?”
“No, not at all.”
Once those involved with the ledger were arrested, this small and beautiful village would no longer host illegal gambling dens.
That was enough.
Her father would regain his peace in time, and maybe even recover his health.
“But Chei.”
“Hm?”
“Why are there so many festivals these days? Sure, the general population has become wealthier, but nobles usually don’t like sharing their wealth with commoners.”
“Bread and circuses.”
“Circuses?”
“That’s how they refer to theatrical performances with acrobatics.”
Chei sat comfortably with his legs crossed and gazed out the window.
Seeing the world through the eyes of a living body—it was indescribably beautiful. No wonder humans were so greedy.
When Chei extended his hand, the wind brushed against it.
He could feel everything.
Not through energy detection,
but with his skin.
“There’s no better way to quiet complaints about excessive taxation. Even if there’s no bread at home, people forget their hardships while enjoying a festival.”
“So that’s why so many arenas were built recently…”
“People are deluded into thinking the state has become generous and is providing benefits to commoners.”
“…Then could the royal family be involved?”
“Up to the arenas and festivals, yes. That much is likely their doing. It’s the perfect way to placate the people. But Count Treshi’s actions were on a different level.”
“Because gambling dens don’t help the royal family. Unlike arenas or festivals, they’re blatant and predatory. I think I get it now… But wait, Chei—didn’t you already know all of this?”
“Probably.”
“Wow. And you were just feeding me little hints the whole time?”
Bella asked in disbelief.
All the mental turmoil she had gone through, when it turns out Chei had already organized it all in his head from the beginning.
“Your revenge had to be yours, Bella. That’s the only way you’d truly be satisfied.”
“…”
Just as a wave of resentment was beginning to rise, Chei’s next words made Bella’s ghostly eyes widen.
“Let it go. Everything will return in due time.”
Chei closed his eyes and searched inside his body for Bella’s lingering soul.
There was a faint trace of emotion in his eyes—similar to how Bella had looked at the bracelet on her wrist in the past.
“What if I really died?”
“Ha, Bella.”
“…”
He had found where her soul was hiding.
With a slow motion, Chei raised his right hand and smiled seductively.
“Didn’t I say… even in death, if you’re with me, it wouldn’t be so bad?”
“Chei, I…”
“I was a little nervous.”
“…”
Startled, Bella’s soul quickly buried itself deeper into his right hand. But Chei still pinpointed her exact location.
Then he gently kissed that hand—an action that carried a touch of affection, obsession, and desire.
“Enough to make me want to kill you and bind you to me forever.”
“Chei!”
“Didn’t you ever feel the same?”
For a hundred years, Chei had been trapped in that mansion, viewed only with fear and disgust. A ghost, yes—but not some transcendent being. Merely a lingering thought or remnant of a once-living human.
It was enough to drive anyone insane.
At times, Chei had considered harming those who entered the mansion, just to be heard.
But for a hundred years, no one had ever listened to his voice.
“C-Chei…”
Bella’s trembling soul quivered with fear.
“I’m sorry. As long as you live and I’m dead, I’ll never feel anything for you other than obsession.”
“…”
“So… we were never really friends or anything at all…”
Chei’s face looked unbearably lonely as he said this, and Bella couldn’t bring herself to reply.
A dangerous, beautiful, and fragile person. Or rather, ghost. Terrifying, pitiable, and lovely.
“Chei… I’m not in my right mind either. I think I really need to sleep, just like you said.”
Bella’s voice trailed off as if she were truly trying to fall asleep.
Chei remained there for a long time, lips pressed to his hand, gazing out the window.
“You don’t know how many times I wanted to do this.”
“…”
But Bella didn’t hear Chei’s murmur.
Her soul had already weakened too much.
* * *
“Ugh…”
Bella, having rested well, woke up and instinctively realized she had returned to the mansion.
And that she was still in spirit form. Chei had said she’d be back in a day.
“Chei, how long was I asleep?”
Chei had been up early, reading the newspaper with his coffee.
He folded it and placed it on the desk, smiling softly at her.
“A week.”
“…A week?”
Unbelievable.
Chei had lived in her body for a whole week. Who knows what he had done in that time?
“Yeah, a week.”
“Then give it back.”
“Bella. Do you know why souls are dangerous?”
Bella became anxious at Chei’s evasive response and raised her voice.
“Forget that—just give it back now!”
Feeling her agitation as she stomped around inside him, Chei smiled faintly.
“Souls are instinctual. Impulsive.”
“Please!”
“Bella. Do you really want your body back?”
Chei’s voice was overly seductive—like a rose dripping with dew.
“Please! Please, give it back! I’m going insane!”
“I already am insane, Bella. I spent a hundred years like that. And you don’t even realize… to a madman, your desperation is just more pleasure.”
“Chei!”
“Of course I’ll give it back.”
“…”
Chei’s calm and gentle voice finally helped Bella catch her breath.
“Thanks to your body, I got a good sense of things. That’s enough.”
“…Then hurry—”
“But in exchange, I want to make a deal.”
“A deal?”
Bella was dumbfounded. It was her body. And it had been Chei who took it without permission.
Now he wanted a deal?
That meant, if he wanted to, he could stay in her body longer.
“I want a body. But I have no intention of stealing yours.”
“Don’t tell me…”
“Help me find a way to move freely. Whether it’s another seal like last time, or someone else’s body.”
That day, Bella realized just how dangerous a ghost could be—
How relentless and intense the desires of the dead could be toward the living.
