I’m Trying to End This Possession – Chapter 190

Author: alyalia

* * *

A few days later, Noah had recovered.

“You must know that the Holy Land’s barriers have been broken.”

As they climbed toward the summit, one of the pilgrimage sites required to become a priest or priestess, Noah explained diligently.

“Most of the shrines’ barriers have been restored, but other areas remain unprotected. This mountain is no exception.”

“Yes.”

“The barrier that kept the rotten land at bay is gone too. And this mountain is particularly notorious for its high level of contamination, so be careful.”

“Yes.” Dana responded indifferently.

Just as Noah said, the mountain was crawling with countless patches of rotten land. Originally, ancient barriers had prevented it from spreading, or so the story went. But then months ago, the ‘dissident’ destroyed them all. Now, warning signs and chains were set up everywhere, temporary measures to keep people out of the rotten land.

That’s when Noah, climbing ahead, suddenly stopped and glared at her. “You. What’s with that attitude?”

“What do you mean?”

“You really don’t know?”

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”

In truth, Dana knew. She had been cold to Noah all day. Didn’t make eye contact even once, didn’t initiate conversation, and when he spoke to her, she answered with curt, disinterested replies. Even now, she was looking at the ground instead of at him.

Unable to hold back any longer, Noah snapped. “Do you have a problem with me?”

“No.”

“No?”

“Nope.”

“Then why—” Noah grabbed her chin and sharply turned her face toward him. At last, their eyes met for the first time that day. “Why are you acting like this?”

“Regardless of my attitude, don’t touch me without permission.” Dana slapped his hand away.

Maybe he hadn’t expected that. Noah looked flustered for a moment, but soon demanded with a twisted face in anger. “What gives you the right to act this way?”

“What do you mean?”

“Did you think I wouldn’t notice you disappeared with a man after the ceremony? If anyone was acting disrespectfully—”

“We’re not going to get engaged anyway, so why do you care who I met?”

“…”

There was no response.

Dana stared at him. Noah wore a bitter, irritated expression. So transparent. Noah was visibly unsettled, and Dana couldn’t understand why. Why is he so mean to me when he clearly likes me?

According to Lethe, Noah had even attempted to assassinate Viego to get revenge for her sake. All because of Dana, just for her. He even committed murder to avenge those who insulted me. Even his best friend, Justin Lancaster, was killed by him. Doesn’t that mean he likes me?

Viego had told the whole story about ‘Yeon Dana’ and the clones to Noah, or so Lethe said. Then Noah must know that she’s Danae Windsor.

If a woman you thought was dead came back to life, shouldn’t you treat her better? But he was prickly as ever. On top of that, he refused their engagement, making Dana doubt whether he actually liked her at all.

But truthfully, whether Noah liked her or not didn’t matter. Dana didn’t care anymore. The days when his words made her anxious were long gone. All she wanted now was clarity. Only then could she figure out how to act around him.

“Lord Noah!”

Just then, several footsteps approached from behind. It was the church’s paladins.

“It was hard catching up.”

“Sir Sestra.” Noah greeted one of them with a nod, seemingly someone he recognized. “What brings you here?”

“The church leader has sent us to escort Lady Danaena.”

“My brother did?”

“Yes. Here is the document.”

Noah frowned and snatched the paper. It stated that Danaena Rolland was an important person who needed a special escort. The signature and seal were Viego’s, the real deal, not forgery.

Then Dana spoke coldly. “In that case, you can return now, Lord Noah.”

“What?”

“I’ll go with the paladins.” Dana avoided his piercing gaze as she spoke. “You’re uncomfortable around me too, aren’t you? Thank you for accompanying me this far.”

“Do I really seem that irresponsible? I finish what I start.”

To that, Dana let out a deep, very deep sigh. “You still don’t get it? You really are clueless.”

Noah’s eyes wavered at her icy tone.

My goodness, he looks scared.

Noah was holding his breath, anxious about every word she said.

Dana realized once again that he was just a big child and delivered her intended blow. “I don’t like you.” At that, Noah’s face turned red. Regardless, Dana continued coldly. “To be honest, I was initially interested because of your looks.”

“But…?”

“But after getting to know you up close, you’re just not my type. Our personalities don’t match either. I’ve regretted inviting you along the whole way here.”

“…”

Noah’s lips trembled in danger.

Dana felt a little taken aback. Sure, she meant to hurt his pride, but… Was that really so hurtful?

“Please go back. I don’t want to be with you anymore.”

After a moment, Noah clenched his fists tightly and turned his back. He walked down the mountain briskly without hesitation.

Yeah, just go away already. Leave this mountain as soon as you can, Noah Windsor. Because—

“Shall we go then, Lady Danaena Rolland?”

This mountain was about to become hell.

* * *

They passed another warning sign. Dana followed the paladins, recalling that day. The day Lethe revealed the truth. That day, she had many conversations with him. So, she also knew what was going to happen today.

“The paladins sent to guard Milady are actually part of the anti-church leader faction.”

As expected, Lethe was right.

“They’ll guide Milady to where Miona Kruz is. The holy magicians and more paladins are waiting there. They’ll bring Milady to the anti-church leader faction’s headquarters.”

Just how many places is Lethe working as a double agent? Lethe was a spy Viego had recently planted in the anti-church leader faction. And now, he was also working under Dana as well. Thanks to him, Dana wasn’t particularly surprised when the paladins led her off the main path.

They started taking a detour, not toward the mountain peak. Since it would be suspicious if she followed them too easily, some acting was required.

“T-That doesn’t seem like a proper path.” Dana stammered in a scared tone. “S-Sir Knights?”

There were six paladins in total. But none of them answered. They were deliberately ignoring her to intimidate Dana.

“No need to worry.” At that moment, one paladin laughed ominously. “All paths lead to the same place. No need for more questi—Grab her!”

Dana pretended to run away before he even finished speaking. “Kyaa!” Of course, she was quickly caught. Several rough hands grabbed and pinned her down. “What are you doing?! Let go of me!” Dana screamed and struggled, playing her role well. Then, she turned her head sideways.

Beyond the sign and chains, the land was black and decayed. Looking at that tainted, swamp-like decay, Dana hoped Noah had gone far, far away. Because she was about to do something terrible—

“Uh.”

Just then, the pressure on her neck eased.

“Gah?!”

One man let out a strange groan. When she looked up in confusion, she saw the man coughing up blood. As she followed the trail of blood downward—

“W-What is this…”

Something was stabbed into the man’s abdomen. It was thick and sharp.

A tree branch?

Thud, the man’s body slumped. He collapsed to the ground, just because a branch had pierced through his body.

The paladins, stunned by the surreal sight, drew their weapons. “Who’s there?!”

Among the dense and lush trees, someone was hiding.

“Come out now!”

Hiding there, that person had thrown a branch from the trees.

“Show yourself, cowa—!”

Before the paladin could finish, a branch shot like an arrow and pierced his head. He died instantly, unable to even scream. Thud.

“…”

Silence fell. A chilling stillness born of fear. Everyone held their breath, afraid that any movement might make them the next target.

“Aack!”

Branches rained down again. Heads, chests, limbs with no mercy, not even for the paladin fleeing in panic.

“Aaaagh!”

It didn’t stop there. One paladin stepped backward in terror and accidentally stepped past the warning sign onto the rotten land.

“I-It’s rotting! My body is rotting!” His body turned pitch black.

The other paladins, terrified by the sight, scrambled to avoid the rot. If they touched it, the rot would spread to them.

“Move!”

“G-Get away! Stay away from me!”

The chaos continued. It wasn’t until a branch pierced the head of the last fleeing paladin that silence finally descended, except for the corrupted paladins. They crawled toward Dana, begging.

“D-Do you know how to purify?”

“Y-You can do it! Please, please purify us!”

“Please, purify us, Saintess, please!”

Did she know how to purify? Of course she did. But Dana shook her head with a terrified expression. “I don’t know how to do that.”

“J-Just try, please!”

“I’m scared. Whoa, I don’t know anything!”

“Please, purify, purify!”

Their screams and cries slowly faded. As their tongues rotted, their breath slowly ceased. In the end, they had all rotted to death.

Only after that did Dana exhale and release the tension in her shoulders. Watching people die was always gruesome. Not that they didn’t deserve it.

Dana approached the rotten land and began the purification process. She closed her eyes, and for the first time in a while, she awakened the holy light and let it pour out from her fingertips. Huh? Then she immediately realized it. My purification is stronger?

It was certain. The power pouring out was richer and more intense.

Danaena Rolland’s purification power was stronger than Danae Windsor’s. And that wasn’t all. It’s not even exhausting. Even her stamina was better than Danae’s. Was ‘Danaena’ a clone designed to be slightly superior from ‘Danae’?

With a bitter chuckle, Dana stood and looked around the forest. Someone had saved her. And that person was still in hiding.

“Who saved me?”

Even after Dana shouted loudly, there was no response.

“Please come out. I’m scared.”

…

“Please…”

…

“Are you really not going to come out?”

…

Whoever it was, they clearly didn’t intend to reveal themselves.

Fine, stay hidden then. Dana gave up at that point and focused her mind. This wasn’t the time to be distracted. Because something would appear soon. Something that was meant to lure her in. Lethe had warned her about it.

“If the paladins fail to lure Milady, a hypnotic spell will be used instead.”

Sure enough, a pale white mist began to roll in from afar, like dawn fog.

It’s coming.

It was a spell to attack the mind.

“But Milady should be able to defend against it with your purification power.”

From Lethe’s words, Dana realized something. That she could purify the magics of the demon worshippers, which meant—The Daiana Church’s magic is the same as that of the demon worshippers.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. The white light softly wrapped around her body. This would be enough. Let’s go.

As she walked—Splat. She stepped on something. What was that? Dana lifted her foot, frowning. It was a piece of flesh soaked in blood. A part of a human body, and it seemed to be a man’s…

“Eek!”

Disgusting!

“Kyaaa!”

Gross, horrifying, what is this?! Feeling like her foot was rotting, Dana furiously scraped her shoe on the ground and fell backward. No, she almost fell backward.

“Dana!”

But someone caught her. They quickly pulled her up and cupped her cheek.

“What’s going on? Are you okay?”

Ah.

“Snake? Was it a snake? Did a snake bite you?”

Huh? Dana stared at the person in shock. It was a man she knew. Messy blond hair, full of leaves. A handsome man, yet panicking in an almost comical way. The man who had rushed to check her face, touching her frantically.

Carl?