The spirit’s appearance was unsettling, with a contorted visage resembling that of an elderly man, marked by deeply etched wrinkles.

It perched upon the ceiling, fixated on Eustace, and was emitting a ghastly gurgling sound.

Although it hadn’t yet employed its life-draining ability, its mere presence was undoubtedly enough to terrify the inhabitants of the house.

‘How did he last here for several weeks?’ Eustace couldn’t help but be impressed by Theodore’s resilience, having endured the presence of this malevolent spirit for such an extended period.

It was fortunate that Theodore’s third eye remained closed, preventing him from witnessing the abomination that this wraith truly was.

After some thought, Eustace refrained from immediately attacking the lingering wraith, choosing instead to explore the house and understand why the creature had chosen to remain within these walls rather than seek out more victims.

‘If you have the power to suck someone’s life, why would you stay here and not find other targets?’ Eustace mused as he felt curious about the creature’s decision to stay here instead of moving around.

After a thorough search, he silently identified an object that seemed to be tethered to the wraith’s presence. 𝘳.𝑐ℴ𝓂

It took him a few moments to locate the object due to the lingering traces of the wraith throughout the house.

Making his way to a nearby shelf adorned with an assortment of shoes, he spotted a pair of boots emitting a potent dark energy. If his intuition served him right, this wraith haunting the house was once the owner of these very boots… or connected to it when it was still alive.

After contemplating his options, Eustace considered simply vanquishing the wraith and disposing of the boots. That would end his mission and he could return to the Arcanist Guild to get his reward.

However, after careful consideration, he decided to consult Theodore before taking any further action. Exiting the house, Eustace was greeted by Theodore’s wide-eyed gaze.

“You’re back? Is it finished?” Theodore asked with anticipation.

“Not yet…” Eustace replied swiftly to Theodore’s inquiry. “However, I believe I have identified the source of the problem. It seems to be the pair of black boots on the second row of your shelf. Can you tell me where you acquired them?” Eustace inquired. He simply wants to satisfy his curiosity. After all, the things he learned in the Academy weren’t as detailed as he expected.

He truly needs some real experiences to really understand the intricacies of the Arcane World.

Eustace was also in no rush, as he decided to take his time to complete the mission.

“Those boots?!”

Theodore was surprised upon hearing Eustace’s words, indicating that he had reached a realization. Silence enveloped them for a moment before Theodore spoke again.

“That was my son’s favorite…” Theodore’s voice trailed off as his gaze shifted towards the house, now filled with a different emotion. The worry had dissipated, replaced by a nostalgic expression.

Eustace turned around, ready to take care of the wraith within the house.

“Alright, I will handle the wraith inside. As for the boots, I suggest burning them to prevent the attraction of any other spirits.” He advised as he made his way back inside.

“W-Wait! Is there a chance that the wraith you mentioned is my son?” Theodore’s voice quivered as he reached out and grasped Eustace’s hands.

Eustace furrowed his brow, taken aback by the sudden question.

Although there’s a chance for that, it was already a wraith.

“I don’t think so…” Eustace responded after shaking his head. 𝒊𝒃𝙖.𝙢

“But… wait!” Theodore interjected. “Let me deal with it. Perhaps I can speak to his spirit!” He added.

Eustace paused, considering Theodore’s request.

This was a dangerous request since Theodore was already weak.

However, before he could refuse, Theodore continued.

“Let me sign it. I will sign the mission I posted as completed. This way, whatever happens to me is no longer your fault.”

Theodore said as he reached out his hand.

‘I didn’t really come here to complete the mission though… I came here for the wraith.’ Eustace thought since he was simply planning to extract that spirit.

Anyway, he still gave the paper to Theodore to have it signed, confirming that the mission was completed.

With Eustace’s agreement, he allowed Theodore to enter the house, giving him a chance to communicate with his “departed son.”

“My son! Can you hear me?! I was wrong… I should’ve stayed with you at that time…”

Softly, Theodore spoke to the presence of his son, expressing regret and longing for the moments they had missed together.

Eustace felt a bit awkward listening to this since the wraith looked nothing like an adorable son to him. It seemed more like a deformed ancestor.

For more than 20 minutes, Theodore’s words filled the air, but Eustace keenly observed the situation.

Despite Theodore’s heartfelt pleas, the wraith remained indifferent, fixated on its eerie gurgling sounds.

Eustace realized that the spirit was not responding to Theodore’s presence, confirming his earlier suspicion.

Deciding that it was time to intervene, Eustace employed his Darkness Manipulation Spell, skillfully binding the wraith and bringing it under his control. Without hesitation, he activated his System’s Extraction Ability.

Spiritual Being has been discovered. Would you like to start the extraction?

Of course, Eustace extracted the Whispering Wraith, a malevolent entity that derived pleasure from slowly draining the life force of its victims.

Extraction Successful. Energy 30, Vitality 1 Malevolent Essence 40?

‘Oh? Did I get a whole vitality from a single wraith? Isn’t this a bit too generous?’ Eustace mused.

After appreciating the result of his extraction, he turned his gaze back to the cobbler.

“That is enough, Mr. Theodore. The wraith has departed…” Eustace informed Theodore, his tone firm yet reassuring.

“I recommend burning the boots, as they hold a dense dark energy.”

Eustace didn’t wait for Theodore’s response, knowing that the task was completed.

With a swift departure, he vanished from the house, leaving Theodore to process the events and find closure in his own time.

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