Ch 287: So What If I’m Scared Of Ghosts? Everyone’s Afraid Of Something!

Since Bal returned from the Kingdom, he has taken three consecutive days off. Selena, during this time, has been preparing reports, writing documents, and working overtime to process files; she is nearly exhausted. So Selena sought out Bal, intending to end his week-long vacation early.

“No way, I’ve only been back for three days.”

Bal, lying on the sofa, frowned, and Selena couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Yes, you’ve only rested for three days since you returned. But is there a possibility that you were gone for five days before your vacation?”

“Seems like it.”

“Don’t just say ‘seems like it.’ Get up! Please, come back and help me with these files today. Ken and I are about to collapse.”

“Alright.”

Bal sat up, stretched, then went upstairs to change out of his casual clothes and followed Selena to the Guild.

“Oh? Guildmaster Buck is back.”

Anda sensed a powerful malevolent aura before Selena entered; she looked up and saw Bal.

“Yes, I’m back. Hearing that Selena was busy, I returned to work early.”

“That’s good. By the way, take a look at this.”

Anda handed Bal a Commission Slip.

“No one wants to take this commission; it feels like it’s expired. If you have time in the next couple of days, please take a look at it.”

“Oh, okay.”

Bal took the Commission Slip, glanced at it, and almost tore it up.

“Anda, I haven’t mistreated you, have I?”

“No, what’s wrong?”

“Then why did you give me this commission to investigate the Goblin Cave? You’re trying to trick me, aren’t you?”

Anda quickly retrieved the Commission Slip from Bal’s hand. After searching for a while, she produced another Commission Slip for Bal.

“Sorry, I grabbed the wrong one. This is the right one.”

“That’s more like it.”

Bal took the Commission Slip and looked closely; his face turned pale.

“Anda, I haven’t mistreated you, have I?”

“Yes, what’s wrong now?”

“Why did you give me the Haunted House investigation commission?”

“Because no one else would take it.”

“Can I not do it?”

“No way. A Guild Master’s job is to take the blame, endure pressure, and complete commissions no one else wants to take. You wouldn’t be scared, would you, Guildmaster Buck?”

“Who…who said I…I’m scared.”

“Your voice is trembling, and you’re stuttering.”

“It’s…it’s an illusion. I…I just…have…indigestion.”

“That’s good. Since you’re not afraid, take this commission if you have time in the next two days.”

“…Fine.”

Bal folded the Commission Slip and put it in his shirt pocket. Then he followed Selena into his office. As soon as Bal opened the door, he saw Ken slumped over the desk with messy hair.

“Ken? Ken! What’s wrong with you? Snap out of it, Ken!”

Bal rushed to Ken’s side and began shaking him. Ken raised his hand and grabbed Bal’s sleeve.

“Buck…I’m…fine…”

“Eeeeek! [Ultimate Technique ━ Weapon… ] Ugh!”

Seeing Bal about to unleash his Ultimate Technique, Selena quickly tackled him to the ground.

“Snap out of it! Are you going to destroy this place?!”

“Ghost…Ghost!”

“What ghost? That’s Ken, your good friend Ken.”

Bal looked at Ken again. Although his complexion was pale, his hair was messy, and his eyes were bloodshot, he could still recognize Ken.

“Holy crap, that scared me.”

At that moment, Nirvana, leaning on a cane, and Anda, holding a short sword, burst through the door.

“What happened, Guild Master?”

“Buck, are you alright!”

Seeing Selena holding Bal down, Selena reacted first; she quickly left the office.

“You guys are busy; I have work to do. Don’t worry, I won’t tell Miss Fei’er.”

“Hey! Come back, Anda!”

Seeing Anda’s misunderstanding, Bal quickly broke free from Selena’s hold, stood up, and prepared to explain to Anda. However, he was stopped by Nirvana at the door.

“Wait a minute, what just happened? Aren’t you the Guild Master here? Why are you holding someone down?”

“Look at that.”

Bal pointed to Ken at the desk.

“Holy crap, there’s a ghost!”

Nirvana raised his cane, preparing to cast magic, but Bal quickly stopped him.

“No! That’s my brother!”

“Your brother looks that scary?!”

“He worked overtime too much.”

“…I kind of regret following you here.”

“Don’t worry, because I’m even more worried now.”

Nirvana listened to Bal, lowered his cane, and pulled out a test tube containing a potion.

“What’s that?”

“My secret recipe, Six Wolves Soup. Give him a little bit; don’t give him the whole thing.”

“Oh, oh.”

Bal took the Six Wolves Soup. Under Nirvana’s watchful gaze, he poured it into a teacup, diluted it with hot water, and gave it to Ken.

“Ken, drink this.”

Ken reached out a trembling hand, took the Six Wolves Soup, took a sip, then placed the teacup on the table and collapsed, convulsing.

“Holy crap, what’s going on?!”

Bal looked at Nirvana, who looked relaxed. Bal immediately asked Nirvana.

“What’s the deal with this medicine? Why did he collapse?!”

“Don’t worry, that’s a normal reaction. It will be like that when you first drink it, but it will be fine after a while.”

“Really? You’re not lying to me?”

“Why would I lie to you? Look, he’s already getting up.”

Bal looked back at Ken, who had gotten up from the floor. This time, he looked much more energetic, if you could ignore the bloodshot eyes.

“Ken, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, I feel much lighter.”

Hearing this, Nirvana immediately leaned on his cane and came over. He put his hand on Ken’s neck, and the room instantly fell silent.

“Whew, he’s fine. Remember to take better care of yourself when you go back.”

Bal was puzzled by Nirvana’s actions.

“What did you just do?”

“I was checking his condition. He’s the first person who didn’t have a major problem after drinking my Six Wolves Soup.”

“Huh?”

“This Six Wolves Soup is very potent. It can make people excited and increase their fighting strength, but at the cost of temporarily losing their sanity or sense of pain. Luckily, your friend is fine.”

“Nirvana, next time, use some normal medicine.”

“Um… I’ll try. By the way, weren’t you going to explain the misunderstanding to Miss Anda?”

“Right! I need to go explain immediately.”

Bal slapped his forehead and prepared to go find Anda, but Phia was at the corridor entrance.

“Explain what? Let me hear it.”

“How did you get here?”

“I came to ask if you were coming home for lunch, but as soon as I entered, I saw Anda coming out of the corridor, and she told me to go home first.”

“Did you go home then?”

As soon as Bal said that, he realized he was being an idiot. He looked at the others; Nirvana and Phia were looking at him like he was a fool.

“Forget I said that. Let me ask again, did Anda say anything to you?”

“She told me that you and Selena were doing something inappropriate in the office.”

“Tsk, that Anda!”

Bal’s fists clenched. He was going to have a physical conversation with Anda, but Phia stopped him.

“Explain it to me first, honey~”

Phia showed a kind expression, but the killing intent in her eyes was very strong.

“Eek! Calm down! Let me explain!”

“Alright, I’ll give you a chance.”

Bal quickly recounted his earlier experiences. Afterward, he swore that if he was even slightly unfaithful to Phia, he would be struck by lightning.

Phia burst out laughing. After she finished laughing, she patted Bal on the shoulder.

“I didn’t expect you to be afraid of this, hahahahaha.”

Bal blushed. A man’s blush speaks volumes; he was beet red.

“Don’t laugh!”

“Okay, okay, I won’t laugh…pfft.”

After cheering Bal up, Phia took Bal and Selena to explain to Anda, as it concerned their reputations. After the explanation, Phia stayed to help Bal with the files.