It took Noah some time to process what he'd just witnessed—it was almost a miracle he hadn't passed out on the spot.
"Ugh, are you done yet, mortal?"
And now... not just him, but also the phase-walking woman—both were in the apartment's living room, with the latter sitting on the lumpy sofa, clear irritation written across her face.
"Okay, okay... so let me get this straight..."
Noah started, trying to suppress not only his growing headache, but also the dreadful fear gnawing at the back of his mind...
"...You're... a ghost... right?"
The 'ghost' woman huffed once more, visibly offended.
"Hmph! I'm no mere ghost," she stood up from the sofa, pride radiating in every gesture. "I... am the Great Spirit Evangeline!!!"
Her grand proclamation, brimming with pride... was met only with a deadpan stare from Noah.
"Uhuh... basically the same thing anyway. But..."
His eyes trailed over her figure again, from top to bottom... scrutinizing...
"W-what are you looking at...?"
...Which the 'ghost' woman found somewhat unsettling.
"Sorry, uh, Evangeline, right? But... are you really a ghost?" he inquired with, his doubt was still present. "Not gonna lie, you don't exactly look... well, ghost-like."
"How rude!" Evangeline shot back with a pout. "I'll have you know that I'm a genuine, powerful spirit who governs this plot of land!"
"I mean, can you blame me? You look pretty 'alive' for a ghost."
The so-called ghost folded her arms in annoyance, "it seems you're doubting my words. Shall I give you another demonstration of my greatness?"
"Sure, I guess..."
"Alright then... observe!!!"
Evangeline threw her arms wide... before falling backward into the sofa—!
But—!
Instead of sinking into the cushions behind her... she slowly phased straight through it!
"Holy shit—!?"
If Noah hadn't been convinced before, he sure as hell was now.
But the self-dubbed 'Great Spirit' Evangeline wasn't done yet—
Not stopping at the sofa, she went even further—!
Her whole body phased through the apartment floor—vanishing completely from sight...!
"...No fucking way..." he muttered in shock, disbelief and awe mixing together. "...She IS a genuine ghost—"
"Now do you believe me, mortal?"
"Whoah—!?!"
Evangeline had suddenly reappeared behind him, making him jump out of his skin—!
When he turned around, he also saw how she was floating in midair, feet dangling inches above the apartment floor...!
Another undeniable proof of her existence as a 'ghost'...
"Hehe~, see~? See~?"
She drifted gracefully through the air—not a single thread holding her—as she glided through objects and walls as though they weren't even there.
And as she passed them... 'paranormal activities' began to stir within the apartment!
Lights flickered faintly, the old TV turned on and off, and countless objects jittered at her presence...!
Not only that—she even turned invisible mid-flight, before fading back into view again like a flickering light...!
Noah just stood there, still baffled by the sight...
But then...
A realization struck him.
"Wait a minute..." his eyes narrowed in suspicion, "...were all the weird stuff happening because of your doing?"
Evangeline stopped mid-spin before turning to face Noah, a grin spreading across her face.
"That's right~!" she declared proudly, chest puffing boastfully. "I've been trying to scare you off from my domain—"
"You little—!"
"H-huh—Ow!!!"
Noah pulled both of her cheeks—! Earning a yelp of pain from the ghost woman!
"Don't you know how much of a pain in the ass it's been trying to fix this whole damn apartment?!"
"Oww! Oww! L-Lhet mhe ghoo...!"
Eventually, Noah let go of her cheeks, and she quickly flew back away from him with another pout and a slightly swollen pair of cheeks.
"W-what was that for...?" she whimpered with teary eyes, rubbing her sore cheeks.
"...Sorry about that. I was letting out some pent-up stress from the past few days," he admitted, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. "...Anyway, you've been haunting this... domain? Did you die here or something?"
"Huh?"
His question surprised her; she blinked, taken aback.
"W-well..." Evangeline pondered for a moment, trying to jog her memory,"...More or less, I guess?"
"You're not even sure yourself?"
"H-hey! It's hard to remember it, okay?! 'Cause it's been like, a long time and all!"
"Okay, okay, sorry. Didn't mean to sound insensitive or anything. Still... is there a reason why you don't want... uh, us mortals? In your domain?"
"Hmph! It's because you mortals are quite loud, messy, and always disturbing my peace!" She huffed, folding her arms. "All of you stomp around, make noise at witching hours, and never let me rest in peace!"
"...When you put it that way, I guess I can see why you're not very fond of us."
Noah somewhat sympathized with the irritated ghost, already imagining the many past tenants before him, such as your typical rowdy college students and the like.
"But still... could you please let me live here for a while?"
"No! You mortals are all the same as the rest!" she snapped, pointing an accusatory finger at him in anger. "And you, especially, have been quite rude to me...!!"
"Look, I'm sorry about earlier, but I really need this place," he pleaded earnestly, "everywhere else is either expensive as hell or already full, and I really don't want to end up sleeping outside...!"
"Hmph! As if I care—"
"Please!"
"Wha—?!"
Before she could finish, Noah suddenly stepped forward—closing the distance between them—and grasped the ghost's cold, ethereal hands in his own!
"Please, just hear me out!" he pleaded once more, holding her hands tighter. "I promise I'll move out once I find somewhere else I can afford! So In the meantime, I'll keep this place clean and spotless, and of course I swear that I won't be another rowdy mortal! So please...!"
Evangeline's scarlet eyes widened in shock; mouth agape—! Her once-pale face turning almost as red as a tomato as she struggled to form a proper response.
"W-w-w-what...?! Y-you...! I-I... u-uhm... w-well—"
Her composure crumbled completely under the sudden, somewhat intimate gesture... and his strange warmth...!
For a ghost long unbothered by mortals, this kind of physical and emotional proximity was far too much to handle for her...
His desperate plea also caught her completely off guard, leaving her flustered and confused as she tried to decide whether his words were truly genuine...
But then—
Ding~! Ding~! Ding~!
"—!"
The apartment's doorbell rang loudly!
Both Noah and Evangeline turned toward the entrance, their expressions mixed with curiosity and unease.
"...Who the hell is visiting in the middle of the night?" Noah muttered cautiously.
"Is it your other mortal friends, perhaps...?"
"Uh... no, I'm still relatively new here..."
"Then... who?"
"...I'll check."
Noah approached the entrance with careful steps, his hand hesitating on the lock before slowly turning it. The door creaked open just enough for him to peek through the gap—
"What the...?"
Through that narrow opening, he was met by a group of black-robed figures wearing white porcelain masks...!
Then... one of them stepped forward.
"Forgive our intrusion," the masked man spoke in a calm yet imposing tone, "but have you, by any chance... encountered strange paranormal activity within this residence?"
"H-huh? Wait, w-who the hell are you guys...?"
"Ah, where are my manners."
The leader of the group unmasked himself, revealing the face of a man with neatly combed brunette hair... and a calm smile etched across his lips.
"My apologies, but allow me to introduce ourselves—we are from the Sanctum of the Radiant Cross, and I am the head priest of the local chapel," the man gracefully introduced himself, lowering his head in polite respect.
The other masked figures followed suit, bowing before Noah.
"...You guys are from Radiant Cross?"
"Indeed~."
"..."
Noah was... skeptical, to say the least.
He remembered them as one of the few large religious groups in the world, with their churches and branches scattered almost everywhere across the globe...
But... he also remembered—
'...They look... different...'
The mysterious group standing before his apartment did not match the usual priests and nuns of the Radiant Cross...!
"...What do you guys want?"
"We have heard for quite a while that this apartment you have recently taken residence in... is being haunted by a powerful evil spirit," the so-called head priest explained firmly, "and so... we wish to offer our assistance in cleansing the spirit."
"So... your typical exorcism stuff, huh?"
"Hahaha~, indeed so, my brother."
"...Why so late at night?" Noah inquired with a raised eyebrow. "Couldn't you at least contact me first?"
"We are truly sorry for the sudden visit, but until now... we had been trying to gain entry into the apartment."
"...What do you mean by that...?"
"It seems that the evil spirit residing within this apartment complex has placed some form of barrier that prevents people—especially those of us from the Holy Sanctum—from entering..." the head priest continued with a grave tone, "and the few rare cases of those who managed to step into the vicinity... were met by a powerful malevolent force that drove away anyone who dared to enter...!"
Noah raised an eyebrow yet again at the priest's statement.
Because... When he looked back...
He saw 'her.'
"W-what is it, mortal...?" The 'evil spirit' herself whispered nervously.
"..."
To his eyes... she felt more like a lonely, stubborn soul rather than the horrifying, malicious entity that those priests—and perhaps even others—had been claiming her to be.
And this... made him hesitate, not knowing which was the real truth.
"My brother? Is there something the matter?" the head priest inquired, wondering why Noah had fallen silent.
"...No, it's nothing." Noah turned back to the priest. "So... you're saying you want to get rid of the supposed 'ghost' haunting this place, right?"
"Indeed, my brother! Which is why we would gladly help ease your burden by—"
"Nope. Not interested."
"...What?"