One of the spirits floated down from the carriage and poked Noki's cheek repeatedly, but the man remained utterly unconscious.
"Wow, he really fainted fast," the ghost mused, tilting its translucent head. "You're gonna have a hard time carrying him, huh?"
Then, it turned to Edrew with a mischievous grin.
"At least you're not bored anymore doing this job alone, Twin of Heroes~"
Edrew sighed, rubbing his temples. "Quit joking around. Your time in this world is almost up—cherish what's left of it."
The spirit pouted, its form flickering like candlelight. "Aww, so cruel! You still haven't even found my corpse yet. So let's stick together a little longer, okay?"
Edrew ignored the spirit's words, but it kept pestering him—floating in circles around his head while pulling exaggerated cute faces.
"Pleaaaase? Just a little longer? Can I? Can I? Can I?"
A vein pulsed on Edrew's temple. "Why aren't you haunting my twin brother instead? Wasn't he your fiancé? Why stick to me?"
The spirit giggled, twirling in the air. "Heeeeee~ I don't know either! But why didn't you join the Heroes' Team? You're the only one who ever defeated your brother, right?"
Edrew's expression darkened. Silence stretched between them, heavy with something unspoken—a grief or guilt he refused to name.
The spirit paused, finally sensing the shift.
"...Oh."
With a flick of his hand, Edrew summoned a gust of wind magic, lifting the unconscious Noki onto the carriage roof.
"We're moving out," he declared, climbing back into the driver's seat.
"Yupp~!" The spirit giggled, clinging to Edrew's arm as she floated up beside him.
A sharp whistle from Edrew set the horses in motion. The carriage lurched forward, wheels creaking against the dirt road.
Some time later, Noki awoke with a start. His vision swam as he blinked up at the sky—only to realize it was moving.
"Wha—?!" He bolted upright, heart pounding as memories of the headless specters came flooding back. Wild-eyed, he scanned his surroundings.
From below, Edrew's voice drifted up, laced with amusement:
"Finally awake, Sleeping Beauty? Enjoy your nap? You've been out for five hours."
With a flick of his wrist, Edrew's wind magic hoisted Noki high into the air above the carriage.
Noki's face paled as he looked down at the ground far below. "Hey, you brat!! Put me down right now!"
Edrew then snapped his fingers.
The magic vanished.
"Wha—?!" Noki plummeted, the wind roaring in his ears. "FUUUCKER!! I don't wanna die—!" He squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for impact...
...Only for the wind to catch him again just an inch from the ground.
"You can open your eyes now," Edrew called, grinning. "Consider this your punishment—you're pushing the carriage the rest of the way."
Damn this brat... I'll knock him out later, Noki seethed internally.
But as he dusted himself off, his blood ran cold. "Boss... who's that girl behind you? I thought it was just the two of us here."
The spectral girl cheerfully waved at Noki.
Noki blinked—then whipped his head forward, his face suddenly drenched in cold sweat.
Something's beside me...
A whisper tickled his ear: "Why so nervous? You look like you've seen a ghost~"
Noki turned his head slowly—only to come face-to-face with the very same girl who'd been behind Edrew. Her grinning features were now inches from his nose.
"ARGHHHHH!"
He toppled backward, landing hard on the dirt. "BOSS! GHOST! HELP! SHE—SHE CAN FLY!"
Edrew massaged his temples as Tia clutched her stomach, laughing so hard her translucent form flickered.
"Tia, stop scaring the newbie. Noki, this is the spirit I've been traveling with. And get used to it—you'll be seeing more of them."
Tia wiped imaginary tears, still giggling. "Ohhh, his face! Priceless!"
Tia floated back to Edrew's side, clinging to his arm with a mischievous grin aimed at Noki.
Noki scrambled to his feet, dusting dirt off his pants—though his legs still trembled too much to meet her gaze.
The journey resumed, and soon, the imposing silhouette of **Rox V Town** emerged. Encircled by towering stone walls, its grandeur was undeniable. Two massive gates—North and South—stood as the only entrances.
From afar, the town glittered: a majestic castle loomed over clusters of homes and bustling shops, their lanterns painting the streets in warm hues.
But there was a catch.
"Quit pulling, Noki," Edrew called over his shoulder. "That was a joke—I didn't actually expect you to drag the carriage. The horses did the work." He smirked. "Though your stamina's impressive."
Noki collapsed onto the ground, heaving. "Argh... finally."
Wiping sweat, he squinted at the North Gate's crowded queue. Merchants, travelers, and dozens of carriages waited for inspection.
"Boss... why Rox V? Are all the corpses destined for this town?"
Edrew nodded. "Our clients are here. Rest while we wait for clearance."
After a grueling wait, their turn finally arrived.
Edrew handed over the documents—proof they weren't criminals—but the lead guard motioned for his partner to inspect the carriage.
"I'd advise against looking inside," Edrew said smoothly. "The paperwork covers everything."
The guard remained stubborn. "Procedure requires checks for every entering carriage."
He yanked back the tarp—
A frigid gust blasted out, carrying a stench so vile the guard immediately retched, vomiting onto the dirt.
Noki sauntered over, grinning. "Don't worry, my first time was just like that." His tone dripped with pride—conveniently omitting how he'd fainted.
The guard waved them through with a shaky hand.
The city was magnificent: cobbled streets, towering spires, and bustling markets. Yet as they advanced, every eye tracked them—not with admiration, but fear.
Noki frowned. Why are they staring like we're monsters?
Tia, floating beside him, giggled. "Oh, don't mind them~ Your boss is... popular."
Noki shot Edrew a skeptical look. "What'd you do? I'll admit he's handsome, but this isn't 'admiration'—it's terror."
Tia's grin turned sharp. "Well, he's the only solo corpse collector who always returns alive."
A beat of silence.
Then—
"...Hah?!"