I’m Trying to End This Possession Chapter 198

* * *

Dana demanded three things from Viego. First, to return Yeon Dana’s body to her and send her back to her original world. Second, to assign Lethe as her secretary during that time. And third, to release Carl. Viego agreed to everything.

 

“But on one condition. Get Uncle Carl to promise he will stop attacking the Grand Cathedral. Then he can leave whenever he wants.” With that condition attached.

 

Dana immediately headed to the underground prison. “I’m here to see Lord Carl.”

 

The paladins and mages, who were all on edge, quickly stood up. They were the ones guarding Carl.

 

“Are you Lady Danaena Rolland?”

 

“At last, you’ve finally come for a visit.”

 

“I’ll guide you.”

 

“…?”

 

Everyone seemed suspiciously eager, so Dana asked carefully. “Did Lord Carl attempt to escape?”

 

As if they’d been waiting, they all replied in turn.

 

“No. Nothing so blasphemous has happened.”

 

“Carl Windsor has been spending his time in prison reflecting and repenting.”

 

“He’s bound by 666 spells we cast, quietly repenting! Cough, cough!”

 

“…”

 

How suspicious. Well, it didn’t really matter. She was planning to break Carl out of prison anyway. Right. I need Carl.

 

Dana thought as she followed the guards. She had to find a way to save Ignis. This time, it was said that because Ignis died from being contaminated by rotten land, it would be difficult to revive him in a new body. But they didn’t say it was impossible.

 

Would using a holy relic help?

 

In the end, things circled right back to the starting point. Carl Windsor’s ring. What she desperately needed was always something he had. I feel like a fish circling the bait, about to bite. She needed it again this time.

 

* * *

“This is the place.”

 

Beyond thick iron bars was Carl. His tangled golden hair hung low, and he was chained to the wall, head bowed.

 

“You may go in.”

 

Creak. The bars opened. Perhaps he heard the sound, Carl slowly lifted his face. Their eyes finally met.

 

“…”

 

What now? She should start with an emotional reunion, right?

 

Having decided, Dana ran toward him and threw her arms around Carl. Immediately, she heard snapping and cracking as something broke, and he pulled her into a powerful embrace.

 

For a moment, a chill ran down her spine. Did this man just break the chains? No, focus. An emotional reunion. An emotional reunion.

 

“I missed you.”

 

It sounded almost sincere.

 

“I missed you so much.”

 

Dana allowed herself to be immersed in that emotion, as if it were really real.

 

“If you promise not to attack the Grand Cathedral, the church leader said you’d be released.” She had to persuade Carl. “Please do it. Then you can come with me right now.”

 

“…”

 

“Right? Come with me. Please?”

 

After hesitating for a long time, Carl finally asked, “You don’t hate me?”

 

“If I did, why would I come here?”

 

Tears welled up in Dana’s eyes. Carl’s eyes also began to fill with tears, looking like a puppy caught in the rain—it was almost ridiculous. Was he really that happy to hear she didn’t hate him?

 

“Alright.”

 

“Really? I’m glad you agreed.” Dana turned to the mage standing guard behind her. “You heard him, right? Please release the binding spells.”

 

“…”

 

“Sir Mage?”

 

The mage’s face had gone pale. He stared at Carl with eyes as if he were seeing a terrifying monster, then let out a groan-like voice. “The spells were placed on those iron chains on his wrists. All 666 binding spells have been…” But then his words cut off.

 

Dana felt a threatening energy behind her and turned. She saw Carl, looking dejected like a sorrowful puppy.

 

“…Yes, of course.” Soon, the mage forced a smile and said, “I’ll release the remaining spells.”

 

* * *

Dana took Carl to her bedroom. While he was bathing in the bathroom, she quickly opened the window to air out the room. It was full of Noah’s scent.

 

He didn’t notice, did he? Dana felt oddly guilty, though there was no reason to.

 

After a while, Carl came out with wet hair, looking quite calm. It seemed he really hadn’t noticed.

 

“Please sit here.” Dana tapped the seat next to her on the sofa.

 

Carl quietly came over and sat beside her.

 

“You’ve had a hard time, haven’t you? You look so thin.”

 

Carl covered his mouth and coughed. “Cough cough, I’m fine, cough cough.”

 

He really must have suffered. Dana looked at him with pity. The prison was cold, after all… Or maybe—Could he really be sick? Not just because of prison life?

 

“He probably only has about a year left to live at most.”

 

“I remember everything.” Looking Carl straight in the eye, Dana spoke. “I remember how you deceived me, Uncle. I remember it all.”

 

For a moment, tension flickered in Carl’s eyes. But that was all. As if he already knew, he didn’t look surprised. He just looked anxious, as if awaiting the inevitable.

 

“Are you very angry?”

 

“…”

 

“Do you hate me?”

 

His eyes reddened. He lowered his head gloomily, as if he had already imagined the answer he would hear.

 

“I’m really sorry.”

 

“…”

 

“From now on, I’ll try hard not to live like a bug…”

 

“…”

 

Dana felt genuinely puzzled. Did Carl have… some kind of paranoia?

 

“I’m not angry anymore. But whether I’ll hate you or not depends on your answer.”

 

Carl swallowed dryly, looking nervous.

 

“Are you sick, Uncle?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“I heard you tried to make a pact with a demon but failed and got cursed instead.”

 

“What?”

 

“That’s why you don’t have much time left to live… That you planned to heal yourself with the holy water of the Ice Lake.”

 

“…”

 

A brief silence passed. After a moment, Carl tilted his head. “Who told you that?”

 

“What?”

 

“Who told you such strange things?”

 

“…”

 

Is he planning to find out and take revenge?

 

Dana deliberately ignored the question. “Please just tell me the truth.”

 

“Well. I—”

 

“If you lie to me again,” Dana said, putting a firm end to it, “Our relationship ends here.”

 

“…” Carl’s lips shut tight, as if glued.

 

How long did that silence last?

 

“That,” He let out a deep sigh. “Some of it is true, and some is false.”

 

Dana clenched her fist. This was probably the first time such a sensitive truth had come from his mouth. They had always deceived each other with sweet words.

 

“First of all, the rumor about me trying to make a pact with a demon is nonsense,” he complained bitterly. “How could I do something so horrible? Just thinking about it is terrifying. The people from the Grand Cathedral hate me and spread all sorts of terrible rumors. But—” Carl paused, then carefully continued, “It’s true that my life expectancy is shorter than others.”

 

“…”

 

So that was true. For some reason, it felt like her heart was slowly being squeezed, like the air growing thin.

 

Carl continued. “When I was young, I had an accident and fell into the Ice Lake.”