I’m Trying to End This Possession Chapter 225

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Dana was dreaming.

 

“Yeon Dana.”

 

“On behalf of your relatives, I bid you farewell.”

 

“Goodbye.”

 

A rooftop; a relative; hands pushing from behind; endless falling, falling, and falling… It’s been a while since she had that dream. Realizing she was in a nightmare, Dana grew annoyed. This was the moment Yeon Dana was murdered. Truly, it was a terrible nightmare.

 

Let’s just wake up. Dana opened her eyes in an instant. At that moment, she caught sight of a boy hurriedly closing his eyes. Dana stared blankly at the boy. It was a young Ignis. The boy was lying at an angle with his eyes closed.

 

It felt like he’d been peeking at me until just a moment ago… Maybe Ignis didn’t want to get caught. His tightly shut eyelids trembled. Seeing his effort, Dana almost laughed. At least he didn’t run away.

 

I must have fallen asleep watching Ignis last night.

 

Dana carefully reached out and smoothed down his messy red hair. At her touch, the boy’s eyes shot open as if startled. Their eyes met. She looked straight into his tense red eyes and then smiled brightly. “Did you sleep well?”

 

“…!” As if struck by lightning, Ignis jerked violently, throwing his upper body upright. Awkwardly backing away, he rolled off the bed. Thud!

 

My goodness. What is he doing by himself? Dana quickly peered under the bed. “Are you okay?”

 

The boy seemed not to feel any pain, hurriedly getting up and pressing his back against the wall. With a flushed face, he stammered, “W-What are you?”

 

“What do you mean?” Dana smiled and pointed at the door. “I kept my promise not to call anyone.”

 

“…”

 

“I’ll hide you, Lord Ignis. Stay in my room for now.”

 

At those words, the boy’s face twisted, relaxed, and then stiffened again, repeating several times. He looked utterly confused. Of course, he would be. A complete stranger was politely offering to hide him.

 

After a moment, Ignis asked in a tense voice, “Do you know me?”

 

“I know you’re being experimented on.”

 

“…”

 

“And I think that’s cruel. I want to help you somehow.”

 

“What?”

 

“I’ll get you out of here, out of the sanctuary,” Dana spoke freely the thoughts she’d kept in her heart. That later, Demian decided to take her to the empire. “I’ll be leaving soon for the Empire. Let’s go together then.”

 

“…”

 

“I’ll hide you and take you with me, no matter what. Let’s escape this place.”

 

“Escape?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“You want to save me from here?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Why me?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“I-I, I…” The stammering boy soon glared at her warily. “Aren’t you misunderstanding something?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Are you sure you’re not confusing me with someone else? I-I’m not the sort of person you should be treating this kindly…”

 

It was at that moment.

 

“Are you inside?” Knock, knock. There was a knock at the door. “Lady Danawin, are you awake?”

 

Ignis looked at her with stiff, anxious eyes.

 

Did he think she would turn him in this time? He seemed to believe that hiding him last night must have been some misunderstanding. It’s not like that at all. But Ignis really doesn’t trust her.

 

Dana pointed to the wardrobe. She mouthed the words, ‘Hide quickly.’

 

Apparently not wanting to get caught, Ignis squeezed himself into the wardrobe. Only after he was inside did Dana approach the door.

 

“What is it?”

 

They were paladins of the Order. Bowing politely, they spoke. “We apologize for disturbing you so early. We’re looking for a criminal who escaped from the Grand Cathedral’s prison.”

 

“A criminal?”

 

“Yes. Have you seen a red-haired boy by any chance?”

 

“No, I haven’t.”

 

“Is that so? There was a witness who said he escaped to this area.” The paladin deliberately spoke harshly. “He’s a slave who’s been a gladiator in illegal arenas since childhood. Even though he’s just a boy, he’s a vicious murderer who has killed hundreds.” Perhaps because Dana looked so gentle, they seemed worried she might pity Ignis. “He’s not the sort of boy you should be merciful to, Lady Danawin. So if you see him, please let us know.”

 

“Yes, I will.”

 

Click. After finishing the conversation, Dana closed the door. Then she approached the wardrobe where Ignis was hiding and opened it. Ignis was curled up inside, like a fetus refusing to be born.

 

“Lord Ignis, you can come out now.”

 

“…” Ignis didn’t come out. With his face buried in his sharply raised knees, he remained stiff as a shell.

 

Dana noticed his earlobes and the nape of his neck were flushed red. “So, where were we?” But she continued the conversation as if nothing had happened. “I don’t think you’ve answered me yet. Will you leave with me?”

 

“…It’s all true.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“What that paladin said. It’s all true.”

 

“I see. So, will you leave with me?”

 

Ignis lifted his head, glaring at her with sharpened eyes. “Don’t you understand what I’m saying?”

 

“Are you the one not understanding me, Lord Ignis? Why do you keep avoiding my question? Do you dislike me, perhaps?”

 

“What?”

 

“I asked if you dislike me.”

 

At that, Ignis’s cheeks flushed. Avoiding her gaze, he muttered. “…There isn’t a man who would dislike you.”

 

Dana almost burst out laughing at that. He’s just a young boy, yet he’s trying to act like a man toward a much older woman.

 

“Let’s run away together. I’m sick of the sanctuary, too. How about leaving and starting a new life somewhere together?”

 

“Together?”

 

“Yes, together.”

 

Dana thought it might be too much to promise, but she didn’t regret it. It didn’t even feel like a mistake. Rather, she realized she was finally saying what she truly wanted.

 

Yes. Let’s stay here until I can give Ignis a new life. Whether it takes months or even years. It doesn’t matter how long it takes. Let’s live here, in the past, for now. Let’s stay until Ignis finds a new life and settles down, until I can change his future.

 

For that, her memory would have to remain intact, so she’d need Yustio’s cooperation. After giving Yustio the information he wanted, about what was happening at the Ice Lake, she would return to this time right away. And then kill Rodrigo, rescue Ignis, and give him a new life.

 

Even if staying in the past for a long time harmed her real self, it didn’t matter. Because Ignis also risked his life to help her open the dimensional gate and leave… So this time, I’ll be the one to help him escape. She would change Ignis’s future. That resolve was so strong that just thinking about it made her feel good.

 

Ignis hesitantly asked, “Really?”

 

“Yes, really.”

 

“Truly? You’re not tricking me?”

 

“I mean it. I promise.”

 

Since he was a child, maybe he needed some kind of proof. Dana extended her pinky. Ignis stared blankly at her hand, then hesitantly held out his own. He slowly hooked his pinky around hers.

 

“You’re the one who promised first.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“You’re leaving this place to live with me.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Keep your promise.”

 

“Yes, I promise.”

 

The next moment, Dana let out a small groan. It was because his pinky suddenly tightened around hers, gripping as if to bind her. It was a grip she could no longer escape.

 

“You can’t take it back now.” The boy murmured, staring at her like a brand. It was an ominous look she’d seen before.