I’m Trying to End This Possession Chapter 258

* * *

At last, the moment came for Dana to return to Danaena’s body. Before that, Yustio cast a holy magic for her. He said it was meant to prevent insanity and split personalities.

 

“Since the spell is still in the research stage, it is not perfect. I’ll try it, but don’t expect too much.”

 

Yet surprisingly, it worked.

 

My head feels clear. Her mind felt clearer than at any point since returning to reality.

 

“It worked!” Dana burst into a bright smile like a child’s. “I think I’m finally sane!”

 

Watching that smile, Yustio soon delivered a result that could not possibly be denied. “No. It failed.”

 

“What?”

 

Failed? But I truly feel sane right now…

 

“This state will not continue perfectly.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“When the time comes that the sun’s power grows weakest during the day, the holy magic may weaken as well.”

 

In other words, once deep night arrived, there was a chance she would once again descend into madness.

 

“From midnight until three in the morning. That will be the most dangerous time, so take special care.”

 

“Yes. I understand.” Dana made up her mind. From midnight until three in the morning, she would absolutely sleep through it, even if she had to take sleeping pills.

 

“Now I will return you to Danaena Rolland’s body.” A golden magic circle suddenly flared to life beneath Yustio’s feet. “You will feel as though a string attached to your soul is being pulled. When that happens, follow it.”

 

“Yes.”

 

The light intensified, and the air twisted. His white robes fluttered, and his golden hair streamed wildly. And then, in that instant…

 

“…!”

 

Golden rays of light coiled around Yustio’s body like serpents.

 

“Y-Your Holliness?”

 

Golden light, his divine power, wrapped tightly around his body like a rope. No, not rope. It looked more like something binding a criminal… Chains? They had the shape of chains.

 

Chains of light wrapped around Yustio’s body again and again with crushing force. As though condemning him, judging his actions, and punishing him.

 

“Concentrate.”

 

This was clearly an unexpected situation. Yet Yustio remained terrifyingly calm.

 

“Focus only on the sensation of your soul’s string. Soon, you will feel yourself being pulle—”

 

It was at that moment. Thunk. A golden chair pierced into Yustio’s abdomen. He didn’t scream, but blood streamed from his mouth.

 

“Your Holiness!”

 

Thunk. Thunk. Thunk. One after another, the golden chains pierced through Yustio’s body. At this point, there was no way not to understand. His divine power was attacking him. It was rejecting his attempt to return her soul to her body.

 

“E-Enough! You’ll die!”

 

“I told you to concentrate!”

 

At his harsh shout, Dana shut her mouth. Yustio showed no sign of stopping. How long did she watch him being attacked with mounting anxiety?

 

Yustio suddenly lifted his eyes. “Go, now!”

 

At that instant, Dana felt her soul’s string yank her with overwhelming force. She was dragged away just like that. And… No! The last thing she saw before vanishing was dozens of golden chains piercing through Yustio all at once.

 

* * *

“Danaena?”

 

No.

 

“Danaena!”

 

No, no, no!

 

“Dana, get a hold of yourself!”

 

Don’t die!

 

Dana flailed as she stretched both hands forward, trying to catch him, to hold up the man collapsing before her.

 

“Dana!”

 

Then something grasped her hand tightly. It was a large hand, warm body heat, and strong.

 

“Dana, calm down. Okay?”

 

That strength gently patted her trembling shoulders as she writhed and groaned.

 

“It’s okay, Dana. Everything is okay now. There, there…”

 

At that warm touch and gentle voice, Dana’s breathing slowly began to settle. Her tangled thoughts, her fear, and her confusion gradually calmed.

 

“Dana.”

 

After a while, Dana lifted her head. Her damp eyelashes fluttered.

 

Ruby‑colored eyes. Kind and gentle.

 

“Rumie?”

 

The moment she whispered his name, Rumie’s eyes widened in surprise. Soon, he smiled and answered. “Yeah, it’s me.”

 

In her dazed state, Dana thought. Rumie. It’s Rumie. The person who always stood on my side through every timeline. And I… Who am I right now? Where am I? What am I doing? Just moments ago, it felt as though she had been in an extremely urgent situation. She had felt anxious… Yet she couldn’t remember anything.

 

Dana slowly shifted her gaze. Outside the window stretched darkness. It was a pitch-black night. The hour of darkness. And the very time of madness Yustio had warned her about. Yet even after awakening in the middle of it, she failed to regain her reason. So she simply… “Rumie.” Called the name of the man before her.

 

In that instant, memories from another timeline came flooding in. Memories of nights like this, in a bed like this, when she used to call Rumie’s name over and over. Right. There had been such a time. The time when she had been about to marry Rumie, when she believed they would be together forever. So this is that time.

 

“Rumie.” Dana reached out and pulled him toward her. He obediently allowed himself to be dragged down, collapsing over her body. Though solid and heavy, he wasn’t frightening in the slightest. Rather, he made her feel unbelievably comforting. His warmth belonged to the safest, most reassuring man in the world. This person always protected me, no matter where or when.

 

Dana rubbed her face against the man’s cheek. His skin was astonishingly soft and smooth, and the sensation against her own felt pleasant. She softly pressed her lips against his trembling eyelashes. Against the stiff corner of his eyes, his cheek, and then his lips.

 

“Stop.”

 

But just before their lips met, a firm hand pressed down on her shoulder.

 

“Don’t do this, Danaena.”

 

What? Danaena? Ah. Dana’s eyes flew wide open. As though struck by lightning, her mind abruptly cleared.

 

“Could you let go of me.”

 

At that moment, Dana finally understood completely. Danaena Rolland. The timeline where she was Rumie’s younger sister. She had returned to her present timeline.

 

The instant she realized it, Dana relaxed her arms. Rumie, who had been holding against her, straightened himself up. She stared up at him blankly. Under the moonlight, he wore an awkward expression.

 

“Are you back to your senses now?”

 

“…”

 

“I’m glad you woke up. For now, just rest. I’ll call a doctor.” Without even waiting for her response, Rumie left the door. Dana watched his retreating figure in a daze.

 

Rumie had pretended to be kind. Pretended to be gentle. But… Disgust. He had failed to hide the look of disgust in his eyes. Well, it was natural. His younger sister had just awakened after hovering near death and immediately tried to kiss him. Of course he’d find it revolting.

 

Dana let out a sigh. The darkness outside the window was unbearably deep. Why had she awakened at night? She was sure Yustio sent her back during the daytime. Had it simply taken her a long time to regain consciousness in this body…?

 

…Is Yustio okay? He’s alive, right? He should be alive. Probably. Though faint, the holy magic he had cast still glimmered inside her body, near her soul. If he had died, this holy magic would likely have vanished as well. Please be safe. There’s still so much we promised to do together.

 

Tightly, Dana hugged Danaena Rolland’s body. It was truly a body she had returned to after far too long, with far too much difficulty. A body in reality, in her present timeline. Though it possessed many flaws… No, ‘flaws’ doesn’t even begin to cover it.

 

A dry laugh escaped her. What else could she do? She would simply go as far as she could. Right. I’m no longer afraid of death. That was Danawin Windsor’s influence. She no longer feared death. Living as Danawin for 10 years has deeply affected her…

 

“Dana.”

 

Her thoughts cut off instantly. That voice…

 

“You’re awake.”

 

Dana snapped her head up. When did he come in?

 

A man stood in the doorway.

 

“…Why are you here?”

 

It was Viego Windsor.