If You're Being Held Hostage, Wiggle the Carrot! - Chapter 91
“What?”
Ruby’s short reply snapped him back to reality. Blinking rapidly, he jerked back in surprise.
“Louis?”
‘…I’m sorry.’
Ruby looked up at him, unable to compose herself, then stood up from where she was sitting.
“Are you okay?”
He was agitated, and it showed in his ghostly body. Ruby watched in amazement as he shifted in and out of transparency.
Just then, someone appeared and put a hand on Louis’s shoulder.
“A turtlefolk…?”
This was the first time Ruby had encountered this spirit here, and she squinted her eyes in surprise.
The spirit, with long, flowing light green hair and yellow-tinted eyes, gazed sadly at Louis.
‘It seems like this cursed soul has been mutilated—perhaps that’s why he’s like this, having lost his memory.’
“…Huh?”
Ruby’s mouth dropped open in surprise at the turtle’s unexpected words.
‘Am I….Am I cursed?’
‘I didn’t think you’d forget even that fact. If not, why else would they have planted the curse dolls?’
Ruby suddenly regained her composure upon hearing the turtle’s words.
“Do you know who buried the curse dolls?”
In response to her question, the turtlefolk, who had been gazing at Louis all along, turned his head. His deep eyes seemed to indicate how long he had been in this world.
‘You must be the rabbit I’ve heard so much about.’
“Oh, hello.”
‘You all made such a fuss that I couldn’t ignore it and had to wake up from my long sleep.’
“Thank you for going through the trouble.”
She greeted him politely, unlike the other spirits. Though not as much as the guardian spirit of the ash tree, she showed proper courtesy, considering the turtle spirit had spent quite a long time here.
‘Hehe, your manners are surprisingly proper, unlike what I heard.’
“…Maybe what you heard is true. I don’t usually greet spirits first—it wouldn’t be my place to do so.”
As Ruby spoke with a hint of innocence, she shrugged, and the turtle, Paul, looked at her cutely.
‘Yes, that seems to be the case.’
“Now, can you answer my question? Did the serpents really bury the curse dolls here?”
‘You already know, so why ask?’
“As expected…”
Her shoulders lifted in a mixture of anticipation and confirmation. The answer had been so predictable—they were right.
She smirked at Louis and lifted her chin.
“See, I got it right the first time, didn’t I?”
It was a gesture that might have come across as arrogant at first glance, but Louis didn’t see it that way. Instead, she reminded him so much like someone he’d grown to love that he couldn’t help but reach out.
Suddenly, Ruby’s body tensed as she looked at his hand in hers.
“Huh?”
Without the awkwardness from before, Louis effortlessly held her hand and lifted her into the air.
‘This was how it felt.’
Seeing Ivan from Louis’s satisfied smile, Ruby blushed without realizing it. They looked so much like each other.
‘Seems like you enjoy this kind of thing.’
Paul, who had moved to her side, took her hand as well—the one Louis wasn’t holding.
“Oh wait…”
Before she could say no, Paul tugged on her braceleted hand. Unlike Louis, he didn’t hesitate and naturally drew the living Ruby towards him.
Ruby stared at Paul with a stony face.The bracelet her ancestor had used a long time ago might look like a piece of jewelry to the living, but in reality, it was as good as a weapon. It possessed the power to repel the dead.
But here was Paul, casually pressing on the bracelet into his hand.
‘Hmm? Is this really so surprising?’
Paul continued, turning to Ruby, who looked at him blankly.
‘Why? Did you think you would never encounter a spirit who was stronger than you? If I were a malevolent spirit, you would have lost your life by now, my dear.’
“I suppose you’re not …physically gifted?”
‘Hohoo.’
Paul exclaimed in interest at her answer.
Ruby glanced down, realizing that she needed to find out more about the turtle’s abilities.
‘Who are you exactly?’
Louis asked, also looking quite surprised.
‘Well, why don’t you try to guess who I am? Oh, but considering there are too many gaps in your head right now, it might be impossible.’
While the two spirits faced off, Ruby sighed, feeling like they had ascended higher than she expected. She thought it was time to go back down if they didn’t want to attract too much attention.
“Ruby!”
“Huh?”
But she’d already been spotted. Startled by the voice calling her name, she floundered, accidentally letting go of the hands of the two spirits.
