These Dangerous Girls Placed Me Into Jeopardy-Chapter 9Vol 3. : I Got Caught Up in a Supernatural Incident Again

"Big Brother~"

Someone was calling me in my sleep...

The only ones who would call me "Big Brother" were my two sisters.

"Big Brother, if you don’t get up now, I’m going to kiss you, okay?"

Instantly, I reflexively covered my mouth. A second later, something soft pressed against the back of my hand.

I opened my eyes—and through Cora’s dark pupils, I saw my own cheek reflected.

After failing to sneak a kiss on my lips, Cora slightly tilted her head but still stared into my eyes from an absurdly close distance. Her cheeks puffed out as she complained.

"Mmmph, how can you still dodge my kisses even when you're half-asleep..."

Normally, I’d make some snarky remark and push her off right away, but today...

My head felt like mush. I had no idea where I even was.

Was I at home?

Why was I here... I thought I was supposed to be...

"This isn’t the main estate..."

Those words slipped out of my mouth on their own.

"What estate? Big Brother, you’re totally out of it, huh?"

No, wait—I could’ve sworn I was on my way to—

A strange, creeping feeling rose in my chest. I reached out, grabbed my phone, and checked the date.

May 7th. 6:36 a.m.

Ahhh, right. Today’s Sunday. That’s it—I was planning to go job hunting today.

Must’ve dreamt that I already went and applied... Damn, I’m seriously out of it.

"Get up, Cora. Your big brother’s got things to do this morning—gotta head out."

Now fully awake, I patted Cora’s little head to get her off me.

"Ehh~ Big Brother, you’re going out? But I wanted to play games with you today..."

"Like yesterday, when you went out with your friends..."

Cora pouted, burying her head into my chest and wriggling it from side to side in a whiny voice.

"But I really just want to stay with Big Brother most of all!"

Here she goes again, getting all clingy.

"Alright, alright... but I’m not going out to have fun, okay? I’m going job hunting."

I patted her head again, then planted a light kiss on her cheek and said gently:

"Come on, Cora, you’re a good girl, right? You wouldn’t get in your brother’s way."

"Heehee~"

Once I said that, Cora—no # Nоvеlight # matter how reluctant—would always listen. And if I kissed her cheek? Even more effective.

Back then, the moment Cora started acting spoiled, I’d have no way to resist and always gave in. But lately, I’d figured out a bit of a trick: how to coax her properly.

Just give her a little “reward,” and she’d behave like a sweet little kitten.

"Since Big Brother kissed me, I’m gonna kiss Big Brother too~ muah~"

This time I didn’t react fast enough. Cora’s cherry-like lips pressed against my cheek, sucking hard enough to leave behind saliva and a visible kiss mark.

Yeah... this little kitten really pushes her luck the moment you drop your guard...

I quickly pried her off and said, "Quit it, Cora! I’m gonna get mad, you hear me?"

Of course, I was only pretending to be mad. Me actually getting angry at Cora... probably impossible in this lifetime.

Cora knew I was just faking it, too. She giggled as she wrapped her arms around my neck and straddled my lap.

There’s just no dealing with her. I lifted her up off the bed and said,

"You know I only let you hug me three times a day, right? So every time, I gotta recharge on Big Brother Energy to the max~!"

That rule was something I made after the “sofa incident”—telling both my sisters that I’d only allow three hugs a day, to avoid too much physical contact.

But if every hug lasted this long, what’s even the point of the rule...? Ugh...

Cora wouldn’t get down. She locked her legs around my waist, pressing herself against me like a tree sloth clinging to a branch.

I figured holding that position would be tiring, so I supported her butt with my hands.

"Mnn~"

Cora let out a moan, breathing hot air against my ear and clinging even tighter...

But strangely enough, even though we were pressed together like this, I didn’t feel a single dirty thought...

Not a single bit of lust.

It just felt like something soft was stuck to me... I only felt this odd sense of peace. Nothing perverted at all. Didn’t even have to chant the multiplication table or anything.

Which, of course, is a good thing. I just found it a little weird, is all.

Maybe... I never actually saw Cora as a woman?

Because she’s my sister?

But then again, I was totally captivated by Serena’s feet yesterday...

Cora’s voice snapped me out of it.

"Big Brother, did you drink the potion I gave you yesterday?"

"Huh? Oh, that potion... no, I haven’t."

When I came home yesterday, Cora freaked out and tackled me like a human missile straight to the gut.

Apparently Mom and Serena hadn’t told her I was discharged from the hospital, so when she saw me walk through the door, she was over the moon.

She clung to me nonstop and gave me a small green potion, saying it was a miracle drug from a friend that could heal me fast.

Of course, I never thought Cora would try to hurt me or anything—I just didn’t drink it because my wounds were already healed. Rainie Bai had even applied some weird ointment that erased the scars, so I didn’t really need it.

"Just remember, okay? If you ever get hurt again, drink that potion right away. Pfft—what am I saying? As if Big Brother would get hurt again!"

"Yeah, yeah. Got it. Thanks for the thought."

Must be some kind of high-grade potion. Might as well carry it with me. After all, she did go out of her way to get it for me.

After that, the whole family sat down for a rare breakfast together. Then I put on my shoes and headed out to the job interview.

Cora and Serena tried to follow me. I had to explain over and over that this wasn’t some fun outing—it was a real job interview, and if it didn’t work out, I’d be coming right back. Only after some serious bargaining did they finally stay behind.

Man, my two sisters are getting more and more of a handful...

"Lord Ethan, are you truly intent on attempting this job?"

Just a few steps after leaving the house, Rainie Bai appeared ghost-like behind me.

"Yeah. I still want to check it out."

I mean, it’s a job Kan Tsukiyo recommended. It’d be rude not to follow up.

"I’ll go to the interview. If anything seems off..."

"How about this—I'll let you be the judge. If you think it’s unsafe, I’ll walk away immediately. That work?"

"Understood. Then I shall be the one to assess it."

"Yep. I trust you the most."

I was perfectly at ease letting Rainie handle things. So we headed for the address on the flyer.

This time, she didn’t bother hiding and just walked behind me openly.

"Figures there’d be a crowd... They’re only hiring one person, but more people came than I expected."

Even when I saw the mansion from a distance, I had a bad feeling.

There were fourteen of us in total, I think. Mixed ages, guys and girls. The titles people had were all over the place, but nothing too weird.

If the job was to clean the entire mansion in one day... how many people would it take?

Even with fourteen, it might not be enough if the yard’s included...

No wonder the pay was so high—it’s clearly a tough job.

"Hey Rainie, look at all these people. Seems like it’s not some shady gig after all, huh?"

"Still too early to tell. We need to observe further. I’ll stay by your side."

"Thanks. Appreciate it."

I walked over to join the group of applicants.

That’s when I spotted a familiar title: [Pure-Hearted Succubus].

“Huh? Miss Lillian?”

I flinched instinctively.

She let out a cute squeak like she’d just been zapped.

Because I hadn’t seen Lillian Ji in a while, I reflexively used my usual nickname for her—guess she’s gonna be mad again?

Sure enough, Lillian turned with a terrifying aura and marched over.

"ETHAN! I told you—"

"Yes yes yes, I’m sorry! It just slipped out—"

She let out a helpless sigh, then scolded me like an older sister.

"Boys like you won’t be popular with girls, you know! You need to pay more attention! First impressions matter! And also—look at your collar! You’re here for a job interview! At least fix your damn clothes!"

She straightened my collar while nagging nonstop.

She’s even more naggy than Mom... Guess we’ve fallen right back into that teacher-student rhythm.

It’s been a while, so I guess the awkward tension between us smoothed out?

Actually, calling it teacher-student might be off. She's treated me more like...

"Nnngh~ I told you not to call me 'Miss Lillian'!"

"But if I keep saying it, you’ll get used to it."

"...Do whatever you want."

Whoa? She gave in?

Miss Lillian looked way meeker than usual today... Did she do something to feel guilty about?

Why’s she looking at me with those puppy-dog eyes...?

"Ah, and this must be... Rainie Bai, right? Ethan’s friend?"

Miss Lillian had apparently already spoken with Rainie before. Since Rainie was a regular at the library, they knew each other.

I wonder if Rainie can see Lillian’s true form? If she’s familiar with magic, maybe she’ll expose her...

Now I’m imagining Rainie pointing a wooden sword and yelling, "Reveal your true form, witch!"

Haha... that’d be kinda badass.

"Yup. We’re here to apply together. Miss Lillian, are you—"

Before she could answer, an old man in a butler uniform with white hair stepped out of the mansion.

[Ageless Gentleman]

Steve Nash

Ooh, a proper butler... even his title sounds cool.

“We’re ready to begin discussing the details of today’s cleaning job. Please follow me inside.”

Everyone exchanged glances and followed the butler through the gates.

“Let’s go.”

I followed too.

“Ethan, wait for me!”

Just as I was crossing the threshold, I heard Miss Lillian call out from behind.

She placed her right hand on my left shoulder, and as I turned—

Suddenly, my arms and legs lost all strength.

Everything went black—like I’d fainted or been drugged.

I felt myself falling. I couldn’t stay upright. The ground rushed up.

Wh-what the hell...

I actually passed out just like that.

When I came to, I was sitting at the far end of a long Western-style dining table.

There was no food on the table—only a faintly glowing candelabra flickering in the dark.

The place was completely deserted. Not a single soul in sight.

The silence felt like death.

"What the hell is this again..."

I patted my pockets—my phone was gone.

My head was still pounding. I rubbed my temples and shouted.

"Rainie? You there?"

I tried calling out to Rainie Bai.

If she had been nearby, she would've appeared immediately upon hearing my voice.

But there was no reply.

My gut twisted with a sense of unease. I stood up abruptly, and the chair beneath me creaked ominously.

I rushed over to the window and looked outside.

The garden that should've been visible was shrouded in pitch black. Nothing could be seen.

And it wasn’t just because it was night.

It looked like someone had slathered black paint over everything outside. It was a pure, total darkness.

I tried to open the window, but it was locked tight.

Like something out of a horror novel.

Then, without hesitation, I grabbed a chair and smashed it against the window—

The chair legs broke.

The window didn’t even crack.

It was like the window was fused into the very space itself. Absolutely unmovable.

"Goddammit... this is why I fucking hate ghost stories... This kind of creepy shit..."

I should’ve just listened to Rainie. I never should’ve come to this interview...

Dammit, I’ve walked right into a fucking haunting—again!