[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-diary-of-a-dead-wizard":3,"chapter-diary-of-a-dead-wizard-diary-of-a-dead-wizard-chapter-323":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Diary of a Dead Wizard",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1380720,1828,"Chapter 323: The Haunted House","diary-of-a-dead-wizard-chapter-323",323,"\u003Cp>Saul didn’t answer the man right away. His gaze swept across the first-floor hall and found that many people were coming and going—some were being guided by individuals dressed in matching uniforms, while most moved about on their own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During Saul’s brief observation, the man beside him—who seemed to be a hotel attendant—waited patiently in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man was slightly taller than Saul, and so when he spoke, he hunched over, tucking in his neck as he bowed slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul didn’t mean to ignore him on purpose. After quickly surveying the surroundings, he followed the attendant’s lead into the main hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m looking for a quiet, secluded house. Ideally on the outskirts, but no more than half a day’s journey from Outpost Town.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first-floor hall resembled a luxurious tavern in its décor, but a wide aisle had been cleared through the center for people to pass through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A short-pile black carpet lay down the middle of this aisle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Saul stepped in, he was the only one walking on the carpet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the man guiding him stuck close to the edge of it, not daring to step even half a centimeter onto it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although he didn’t care much for others’ stares, he also disliked being treated like some kind of rare treasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attendant leaned slightly toward Saul, speaking in a low voice just loud enough for him to hear. “We have several options that match your request. Please, take a seat in one of our private rooms, and we’ll bring you the details shortly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He led Saul to a private booth at the very back of the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once Saul was seated, the man was about to call for refreshments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need,” Saul stopped him. “I came here because I heard you could meet my request the fastest. How long until I see the listings?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The smile on the attendant’s face faded. He bowed and replied, “Within three minutes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gave another respectful bow and quickly stepped to the doorway, passing along Saul’s request to someone waiting outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, raised voices drifted in through the half-open door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I told you, my luggage is still in that haunted house! You have to get it back for me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m sorry, Mr. Sander. We’ve already sent people into the property you vacated. There was no sign of your belongings.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Impossible! I was just moving in when I saw the ghost—I hadn’t even unpacked yet! You sold me that place, so you have to take responsibility!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But Mr. Sander, we’ve already sent three teams into that house. You were present for the last inspection. You know there were no ghosts, and no luggage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then the ghost must’ve hidden it! I don’t care—you have to find my luggage! There’s something very important in there! If you’ve lost it, I’ll tell everyone you rent out haunted houses to out-of-towners!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We sympathize with your unfortunate experience, truly. But we also can’t rule out the possibility that someone took your belongings when you left the door open in a panic.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Someone else? Ha! The house you gave me is in the middle of the woods! There’s a lake nearby, and not a single neighbor’s rooftop in sight! And you think someone stole it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, another voice, tinged with irritation, cut in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mr. Sander, you specifically asked for a remote location no more than half a day from town, preferably near a lake for moonlit strolls! The house we gave you matched all your criteria perfectly!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I didn’t ask for a haunted house!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, the two voices were kept low, but a wizard’s senses are far sharper than an ordinary person’s, so Saul had no trouble catching every word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, though, the shouting grew louder—enough that everyone in the hall could probably hear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, the attendant returned with a stack of documents, but Saul raised his hand before he could present them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, I’ll have them quieted immediately. If you wish, I can also bring them here to offer an apology—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I want the house that Mr. Sander returned. If the paperwork isn’t finalized, bring him in too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attendant blinked but quickly adjusted his expression and bowed. “Of course, my lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, within two minutes, Sander—looking nervous and uncomfortable—sat across from Saul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had also brought with him the unsigned termination agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord,” Sander cautiously raised his head, only to immediately drop his gaze when he met Saul’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul didn’t shy away. His eyes swept over Sander’s entire appearance. This man, who seemed like a troublemaker at first glance, was actually a pretty boy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And “pretty boy” was the perfect term.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because whatever Sander had put on his face, it was just barely more natural than smearing it with flour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, he’d dabbed some blush onto his cheeks to give himself a more human tone—otherwise, even ghosts wouldn’t know which one of them should be scared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had shoulder-length, softly curled hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by the lack of reaction from the attendants, Saul guessed this must be a regional fashion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You said the house you rented was haunted?” Saul asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Lord Wizard,” Sander replied, eyes locked on Saul’s shoes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What kind of ghost?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sander wrung his fingers anxiously. “I—I didn’t see it directly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fearing Saul would think he was lying, he hurried to add, “Even though I didn’t see it clearly, there was definitely a ghost in that house. The moment I walked in, the front door slammed shut behind me—I swear, my clothes weren’t caught on the knob, and there wasn’t a breeze!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was clear he’d been doubted many times already. He spoke quickly and added explanations along the way, afraid Saul would also take him for a liar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And while I was going upstairs, something grabbed my pant leg. I swear I didn’t trip! I saw a gray-white hand—its nails were pitch black! It even tore a hole in my pants!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then described his experience in one of the guest rooms on the first floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talk of “watchful eyes,” “strange laughter,” and “windows that wouldn’t close no matter what.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul noticed that one of the attendants by the door rolled his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Saul knew this man—Sander—wasn’t lying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Saul narrowed his eyes and looked closely, he saw a decayed, maggot-infested gray arm hooked around Sander’s neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the shape of the bones and flesh, it likely belonged to a girl or a slender boy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the arm’s elbow and wrist were buried deep in Sander’s curls, making it unclear whether a full body was hanging off his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One maggot, disturbed by Sander’s animated gestures, tumbled down into his collar—just as Sander raised his hand a few seconds later and casually scratched at his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord, I swear it’s all true. Please, believe me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing his story, Sander finally looked up, his wide, sincere eyes fixed on the powerful wizard before him, desperate to be believed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(Chapter End)\u003C\u002Fp>",1160,"2026-06-05T22:22:08.873Z",1,"novelbin.me","ad02556804a8ee33ea71f8997851290ab31b259c98f526b8517afa33d1abea56","diary-of-a-dead-wizard-chapter-77","diary-of-a-dead-wizard-chapter-76",1037,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdiary-of-a-dead-wizard-cover.jpg"]