I’m Trying to End This Possession Chapter 246

* * *

It was his grandfather. This was the doing of his grandfather, Rodrigo.

 

Just how had he done it? There were far too many possible methods to even guess. Perhaps he had arranged it so that Dana’s madness would begin the moment she stayed away from the sanctuary for a certain period of time. Or perhaps he had planted a deadly poison inside her body, designed to spread whenever he wished.

 

One thing was certain. Dana had become like this after leaving the sanctuary. His grandfather had made her this way. That alone was undeniable.

 

* * *

Dana quickly descended into madness.

 

“Mi-Miss Iva! Why are you doing this, Aaack!”

 

After Dana bit and attacked a villager who had visited the ranch, rumors spread that she was possessed by a demon. Now, even the sheep feared Dana more than they feared Viego. And because she harmed herself at random moments, Viego was eventually forced to tie her up.

 

“Viego, what’s happening to me?”

 

Only occasionally did she return to her senses. Whenever that happened, she became deeply sorrowful, realizing her own madness.

 

“I’ve finally gone insane, haven’t I? Right?”

 

“No.”

 

“But my memory blanks out several times a day. I’m scared. What on earth is happening to me?”

 

“Nothing.”

 

“And what happened to your body, Viego? Who keeps biting you like this?”

 

“It’s fine.”

 

But Dana was not a fool. She noticed everything and began to cry. “I’m sorry, Viego. I’m really sorry for becoming strange.”

 

He couldn’t leave things like this. In the end, Viego secretly decided to meet a spy he had planted in the sanctuary, hoping to learn a way to cure Dana.

 

“I’ll be back within half a day.”

 

To prevent her from harming herself during her fits of madness, Viego gently wrapped her body in soft cloth. Then he set barrier stones around the house, forming a protective ward so that no one could enter or leave.

 

“I’ll be back soon. Wait for me.”

 

* * *

But when Viego returned, the village was burning. The imperial army had attacked.

 

“No survivors needed. Kill them all!”

 

Screams that seemed to tear the ears apart, and the stench of blood filled the air. The smell of gunpowder and burning spread everywhere. After that, it felt as though reason itself disappeared.

 

Viego ran toward the ranch with all his strength. As he ran, piercing regret flooded him. He shouldn’t have left her alone. Or at least he should have given her a gun so she could protect herself. He should have taught her how to shoot. Though she wouldn’t have been able to resist anyway, he had tied her up before leaving. Though she wouldn’t have been in her right mind anyway. Even so. Even so. Even so… In the end, it was because he failed to protect her. Overwhelming remorse poured over him.

 

When Viego finally arrived, the ranch was quiet. Even the sheep slept in the deep dawn. The horrors consuming the burning lower village had not reached this place at all. But the barrier stones were shattered.

 

There were only a few people in the world capable of breaking them. Viego already knew who it must be. He had sensed it the moment he saw the imperial army. He had come. The worst possible opponent.

 

* * *

Huh? Dana blinked. Why am I like this? She lay sprawled across the wooden floor, tightly bound in cloth. A sigh escaped her. Her memories had been cut apart again.

 

“Viego…” Dana whispered his name. Whenever she called, he always came. “Viego?”

 

But he didn’t come. Did he step out somewhere?

 

Lying with her cheek against the floor, Dana blinked blankly. Then, if Viego wasn’t here… Who is that?

 

Within her tilted field of vision, she saw a man’s legs. Someone had pulled a chair in front of her and was sitting there. Black military boots. Long, sturdy legs wrapped in a pitch-black uniform. Her gaze slowly traveled upward, then she stopped breathing.

 

“…”

 

It was an imperial soldier. With a long coat loosely draped over his shoulders, the man smoked a cigar. Beneath the shadow of his low-pulled military cap, his dark eyes were calm.

 

When their eyes met, Dana instinctively held her breath, overwhelmed. The man stared at her silently, then set the cigar into the ashtray beside him. Dana glanced at it and flinched. Since when has he been here? Five cigars already lay there.

 

“Hello.”

 

The man broke the long silence first. His voice was clear, like transparent air. Yet Dana could not relax, and she answered while gasping for breath.

 

“H-Hello.”

 

The man stroked his chin thoughtfully while studying her. “You look quite unwell.”

 

“Y-Yes? Ah, I’m fine.” Even as she said it, she knew it was a lie. Fine? She was tightly bound… Huh? Wait. Looking again, the cloth had been cut cleanly in a straight line, as if sliced by a knife. Had this soldier freed her?

 

Watching him cautiously, Dana slowly raised her upper body. “Well, there were circumstances—”

 

“No.” The man quietly interrupted her. “No explanation is necessary.” His voice and presence were gentle, yet impossible to oppose. He looked like a kindly grim reaper, and Dana’s heart pounded loudly.

 

Dangerous. That person is extremely dangerous. And her intuition was correct.

 

“I already know your situation.”

 

Click. The man pressed the muzzle of a gun against her forehead. The cold sensation snapped her fully awake.

 

What? What is this? The instant their eyes met, realization struck her. He’s going to kill me. Now. Yes, right now.

 

“S-Scary…”

 

At that moment, the man’s finger, just about to pull the trigger, paused. Her survival instinct sensed it instantly. He stopped. He had been about to shoot without hesitation, but he stopped. Why?

 

“I’m scared.”

 

Ah, that’s why. Something about that word seemed to affect him.

 

“I’m scared…”

 

The man slowly tilted his head, as if caught by something in that word.

 

Dana pressed on desperately. “I-I’m scared. Very scared…” Thick tears streamed down her face as she repeated it again and again, like a spell, like an incantation to drive away an evil spirit.

 

Perhaps the spell worked. The man seemed caught in a brief conflict. And then, bang! A deafening gunshot exploded, and blood splattered before her eyes.

 

Dana gasped and collapsed backward. The bullet had not been meant for her. Someone had fired from outside the cabin. The bullet that shattered through the window struck the back of the man’s hand. But that was only the beginning.

 

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Furious gunfire followed. Every bullet narrowly avoided Dana and struck the man instead. She watched blood burst violently from his shoulder, elbow, and abdomen, bullets embedding themselves endlessly.

 

It was then. Suddenly, the man clenched his fist above his own forehead. Slowly, he opened his palm again. Clink. A small piece of metal fell from his hand, rolling to a stop before Dana.

 

No way. It was a bullet. He had caught the bullet flying toward his forehead with his hand. The impossible sight twisted Dana’s breathing into chaos.

 

Impossible. This can’t be. No human could ever do that. That man is— “Monster…” Without realizing it, she muttered.

 

“What did you say?”

 

“Monster! I hate you! Go away! I’m scared!”

 

“…”

 

At that moment, strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind. At that scent, that embrace, Dana immediately turned and clung tightly to the man’s neck without even checking his face.

 

“Viego!” Relief flooded her. I’m alive. I’m safe now!

 

It was then.

 

“Well now…” The man in the chair slowly stood. “It seems I’ve become the villain here.” The uniform draped over his shoulder, the black leather coat, hung heavily like the black wings of a demon. The pressure from him was suffocating.

 

“Run, Viego!” Dana screamed in terror. “Viego, that man’s a monster! He’s not human! Hurry and run!”

 

“…”

 

But Viego did not run. Instead, he asked calmly, “What brings you here, Uncle?”

 

Uncle? That monster? Dana looked at the man through tearful eyes. Now that she noticed, he had platinum-blond hair and green eyes.

 

“I asked what you are doing here.”

 

“I came to find Major Krevel’s murderer.”

 

“You came personally just to catch a single killer?”

 

“Aah.” The man rubbed his neck lazily. “While investigating, I discovered this village is a den of barbarian criminals. So I handled both matters at once.”

 

“…”

 

A criminal den? The lower village? Shocked, Dana looked up at Viego, but he didn’t appear surprised.

 

“Is that the only reason?”

 

“It was.” The man gestured lightly toward Dana. “Until I saw that.” As his gaze landed on her, Dana burrowed into Viego’s arms. The man murmured flatly, “She’s in terribly poor condition.”

 

“That doesn’t matter.”

 

“It may not matter to you. But does it not matter to Dana?”

 

“…”

 

“Shall I tell you what happens when that madness spreads?” He recited emotionlessly. “In the end, she’ll cleanly strip and eat all the flesh from her own bones. After that, she’ll tear out and consume her own organs.”

 

Dana gripped Viego’s clothes tightly. Her heart felt as though it dropped. I’ll become a monster like that? Lose my mind like that?

 

“So spare yourself the unpleasant spectacle. Kill her now and transfer her into a new body.”

 

Yet again, Viego did not look shocked. “Dana is a living human being. Do not speak as if she’s just a shell that can be replaced.”

 

At Viego’s words, the man seemed to lose interest. Expressionless, he sat back down and took out a cigar from his uniform pocket, a pitch-black cigar. “Viego. Shall I give you some advice?” He placed the cigar slowly between his lips. “I know how adorable Dana is. And quite pitiful as well.”

 

“…”

 

“How pitiful.” He looked at her with apparent sympathy, yet his eyes were unbearably cold, sending chills down Dana’s spine. “But Dana is a wraith that burrows into men of the Windsor family. Having grown up watching your grandfather and father, you should already understand, Viego.”

 

“…”

 

“Are you truly going to stake your life on something like that?”

 

Viego did not answer. His expression suggested the question was not even worth answering.

 

As if expecting that, the man gave a tired smile and gestured casually. “If that’s your decision, you’d better run. Your father is already on his way here, leading the paladins of the Daiana Church.”

 

Dana felt her breath stop. Demian…?

 

“Thirty minutes. He’ll likely arrive within that time.” He took out a silver lighter and lit the cigar in his mouth, smiling faintly. “And once I finish smoking this, I’ll come after you.” As he inhaled deeply, the cigar’s tip burned bright red. Through the hazy smoke, he spoke calmly. “When I catch you, I’ll kill that one.”

 

At that moment, Viego’s arms tightened around Dana. She felt intense anger radiating from him. “Uncle Carl.” But his voice was cold. “One day, you will regret today.”

 

“How amusing. Why would I regret it?” The man snorted dismissively. “You should get going.”