"And now," he said, his voice hollow, "I will face the consequences of my actions."
He reached for the upload button, his finger hovering over it for a moment. Then, with a final click, the video was sent out into the world.
Thud! Mateo fell back onto his bed, instantly succumbing to a deep sleep.
"Done..." I whispered, a sense of accomplishment washing over me.
"We should take the money now," Yolan said, her voice barely above a whisper. "So tomorrow, when he wakes up, he won't be able to use his money to hire a fancy lawyer to get him out of trouble."
IM nodded. "I'll locate the safe."
He phased through the wall, his form disappearing into the study's depths. A few moments later, he reappeared, a triumphant grin on his masked face.
The three of us spread out through the house, searching for valuables. I stayed in the bedroom, looking through the wardrobe and drawers. Of course, I had already taken his wallet from his pants pocket.
Looking at a wedding picture on the nightstand, I saw him smiling with his wife, who looked... surprisingly young?
"Probably that girl married him for his money," I mumbled to myself, a hint of disgust in my voice.
I continued my search, finding a few more stacks of cash hidden in a drawer and a collection of expensive watches tucked away in a velvet-lined box. I carefully placed them into the invisible bag Yolan had provided, making sure not to leave any trace of our presence.
Meanwhile, IM had successfully located the safe in the study. He used his phasing ability to bypass the lock and retrieve its contents, which included stacks of cash, jewelry, and several important-looking documents.
Yolan, on the other hand, had been exploring the rest of the house, gathering any valuables she could find.
Lili was wandering around the living room, admiring the large TV and the elegant furnishings. Suddenly, she felt a chill, a sense of being watched.
She looked around, but no one was there.
This feeling... I can sense a ghost in this house... she thought, a shiver running down her spine. She cautiously made her way towards the hallway leading to the kitchen.
As Lili entered the hallway, the feeling of being watched intensified. The air grew colder, and a faint whisper seemed to echo through the silence. She stopped, her senses on high alert, trying to pinpoint the source of the ghostly presence.
Suddenly, a shadowy figure materialized in front of her, its form flickering in and out of existence. It was a woman, her face pale and gaunt, her eyes filled with a deep sadness. She wore a tattered white dress that flowed around her like a shroud, and her long, black hair hung limply around her shoulders.
Lili gasped, taking a step back. "Who... who are you?" she stammered, her voice trembling slightly.
The ghostly figure floated closer, her eyes fixed on Lili. "I am the one they call... the Weeping Woman," she said, her voice a mournful whisper. "And I have been trapped in this house for many years."
Lili's heart pounded in her chest. She had never encountered a ghost before, let alone one as powerful and unsettling as this. "W-What do you want?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
The Weeping Woman's eyes filled with tears, and a sob escaped her lips. "I want to be free," she cried. "I want to find peace."
Lili hesitated, unsure of how to respond. She had been raised by the Seers, taught to fear and distrust spirits. But something about the Weeping Woman's sorrow touched her heart.
"How can I help you?" she asked, her voice soft and gentle.
The Weeping Woman looked at her, a flicker of hope in her eyes. "My remains... they are hidden somewhere in this house. If you can find them and give them a proper burial, I can finally move on."
Lili nodded, a sense of determination filling her. "I'll help you," she promised. "I'll find your remains and set you free."
"Thank you," the Weeping Woman said, her voice filled with gratitude. "You are a kind soul... most people run away from me..."
"I've seen many ghosts in this world," Lili replied with a gentle smile. "I just want to help you find peace."
Lili's heart ached for the Weeping Woman. She couldn't imagine being trapped in a place of suffering for so long.
"My remains... they were hidden in a secret room within this house," the Weeping Woman explained, her voice laced with sorrow before disappearing. "It's a place of darkness and despair, where my tormentor kept me captive for so long."
Lili's determination grew stronger. "I'll find it," she vowed. "I'll search every corner of this house until I find your remains."
The Weeping Woman's voice echoed softly, "Thank you, child. I have waited so long for someone to hear my plea."
Lili began her search. She moved through the mansion, her invisibility allowing her to access every room and corner without being detected. She searched closets, peered under beds, and even checked behind paintings, but there was no sign of the secret room.
Yolan entered one of the guest rooms. It was quiet and impeccably clean.
As she stepped inside, she felt a presence, not a living one but a deceased one - a ghost or perhaps a demon.
...sighs She sighed and picked up a nearby steel object. With a focused effort, she used her power to manipulate the steel, transforming it into a gleaming sword.
The air in the room grew heavy, a chill creeping up her spine. Yolan gripped the newly formed sword tightly, her senses alert.
"Come out," she challenged, her voice echoing in the empty room. "I know you're here."
A low growl answered her, followed by a rustling sound from the far corner of the room. Yolan turned, her eyes narrowing as she spotted a dark shape emerging from the shadows.
It was a hulking figure, its form shrouded in darkness. It moved with an unnatural fluidity, its presence sending shivers down Yolan's spine.
The creature lunged at her, its claws outstretched. Yolan raised her sword, deflecting the attack with a clang of metal. The force of the blow sent a shockwave through the room, knocking over a vase and shattering it on the floor.
The creature snarled, its eyes glowing with an eerie light. It circled Yolan, its movements quick and unpredictable. Yolan held her ground, her muscles coiled, ready to strike.
"What are you?" she demanded, her voice unwavering.
"Heh, an intruder in my master's house?" the creature laughed, its voice deep and guttural.
A master... Did that guy summon a demon somehow? she thought, her grip on the sword tightening.
"Your master is a thief and a liar," Yolan retorted, her voice filled with righteous anger. "He deserves to be punished for his crimes."
The creature roared, its fury echoing through the room. "You dare insult my master! You will pay for your insolence!"
It lunged again, its claws tearing through the air. Yolan parried the attack, the clash of metal ringing through the room. She countered with a swift thrust, but the creature dodged effortlessly, its movements almost inhumanly fast.
Yolan gritted her teeth, realizing she was facing a formidable opponent. She couldn't rely on brute strength alone; she needed to be smarter, more strategic.
She feinted a strike, then ducked under the creature's counterattack. With a swift movement, she slashed at its legs, drawing a line of blood. The creature roared in pain, its movements momentarily faltering.
Yolan pressed her advantage, her attacks becoming more relentless. She danced around the creature, her sword a blur of motion as she landed blow after blow.
But the creature was not easily defeated. It lashed out with its claws, aiming for Yolan's head.
Swoosh! She jumped back, narrowly dodging the attack.
The creature snarled, its frustration growing. It lunged again, its claws tearing through the air where Yolan had been just a moment before. She rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding another attack.
Yolan knew she couldn't keep dodging forever. She needed to find a way to end this fight quickly. She glanced around the room, searching for something she could use to her advantage. Her eyes landed on a heavy crystal vase standing on a nearby table.
Perfect, she thought, a smirk playing on her lips.
With a swift movement, she used her power to levitate the vase, lifting it into the air. The creature, distracted by her sudden action, paused for a moment, its eyes fixed on the hovering object.
Yolan seized the opportunity. With a powerful kick, she sent the vase hurtling towards the creature. It crashed into its chest with a resounding crack, shattering into a thousand pieces. The creature stumbled backward, stunned by the impact.
Yolan didn't hesitate. She charged forward, her sword raised high. With a final, decisive strike, she plunged the blade deep into the creature's chest.
A piercing shriek filled the room as the creature's form dissolved into a cloud of black smoke, leaving behind only a faint, acrid smell.
"Watch it, I'm not gone..." were the last words it uttered before disappearing completely.
"Geez... why do people keep using rituals to summon demons..." Yolan mumbled, shaking her head in disapproval.
< Chapter 133 > Fin.