I’m Trying to End This Possession Chapter 67

Natty also helped Dana get dressed.

 

“Except for your ankle, everything seems fine, so I think you’ll be able to attend the ritual.”

 

What on earth is that ritual that everyone is so strongly urging us to attend? Just as Dana was about to ask that…

 

“Oh my, look at her.”

 

“What is she doing?”

 

A girl burst out from the path and came running, out of breath.

 

What’s with her? She looked dirty, as if she had rolled in the mud. Dana first thought she must be running like that because she wanted to wash up quickly. But then,

 

“Where are you going, child!” A middle-aged woman who had followed after her grabbed the girl’s arm firmly. Now, now, let’s go home, okay?” Then she dragged her away in movements that were shockingly violent.

 

“Oh gosh, she’s at it again.”

 

“She still hasn’t come to her senses.”

 

Yet the village women merely laughed and chatted as though it were nothing serious.

 

The disconnect stirred an intense unease within Dana. Is that funny? That woman is dragging the girl away like a dog being taken to the slaughterhouse. And that wasn’t all.

 

“Help me!” The girl shouted while looking straight at Dana. “Help me, please help me!”

 

What? Without realizing it, Dana shot to her feet. Save her? What on earth…

 

“Aah, it’s okay.” Natty gently pressed down on Dana’s shoulder as she hurriedly stood. “It’s nothing. She does that all the time.” Then she whispered, as if she felt sorry. “That girl isn’t quite right in the head. I wonder when she’ll get better. Poor thing.”

 

The other women clicked their tongues in agreement.

 

“Oh dear, it’s her parents who are pitiful.”

 

“Once a week, she runs wild around the whole village like that.”

 

“Tsk, tsk, she’s so pitiful.”

 

Not right in the head? Dana stared stiffly at the girl being dragged away. Now the girl’s mouth had been covered as she was being dragged away.

 

“You know, those kids who are a bit slow.”

 

“She once wandered into that forest and went missing. The whole village couldn’t sleep and worked so hard to find her.”

 

“Lady, you don’t have to worry.”

 

“Oh my goodness, really, don’t worry.”

 

Dana silently watched them. They were utterly ordinary women, the kind you might see anywhere on the street. They repeatedly waved their hands, saying it was no big deal.

 

“I see…” Dana replied quietly. She wasn’t naive enough to blindly trust their words. However… “I understand.” She merely nodded. It wasn’t like she was foolish enough to openly reveal her suspicions. More importantly, Dana didn’t have the luxury to concern herself with something else right now. “That’s really unfortunate.”

 

* * *

It was on the way back after finishing bathing.

 

“Dana!” Carl’s voice called from afar. “There you are. I’ve been looking for you.”

 

“Un—” Dana almost called him uncle, but managed to swallow the words.

 

“Did you just take a bath?”

 

“Yes.”

 

As Carl approached, the women who had been chattering just a moment ago suddenly became shy.

 

“I-I helped her out. She seemed like she wanted to take a bath.”

 

“Thank you, Miss Natty,” Carl said as he lifted Dana effortlessly. It seemed he had really been searching for her for a while. His breathing was slightly uneven. His chest pressed against her rose and fell quickly. “Let’s go back, Dana.”

 

“Wait a minute…” Dana tugged at his collar.

 

It wouldn’t do to return like this. She needed to lure Carl to ‘that place.’ By coincidence, this was near the very location she had been trying to find. Just a bit further, and they would reach it. There wasn’t much to do. All she needed to do was show Carl that sight.

 

“Can’t we take a little walk before heading back? I feel so stifled…”

 

Dana thought he would naturally accept. However,

 

“Bear with it a little.” Carl refused gently but firmly. “Sometimes, feeling stifled isn’t a bad thing.”

 

What is that supposed to mean? Dumbfounded, Dana tried again. “Ah, but I—”

 

“Let’s go back and rest. Okay?”

 

“Huh? But—”

 

“Please.”

 

“…”

 

He was cutting her off so she couldn’t even speak. It wasn’t like Carl.

 

Why is he acting like this? Could something be happening?

 

“Hey, Carl!”

 

As they passed the open clearing, some men called out.

 

“Carl, there you are.”

 

“Come have a cup of grain liquor with us!”

 

When did they become so friendly?

 

Carl just gave them a smile of refusal and walked quickly without answering. Moreover, perhaps it was just her imagination, but he seemed to angle his body so she wouldn’t be seen. As if…

 

Is he hiding me?

 

It was as if he were trying to hide me from the villagers.

 

* * *

There was definitely something going on. Dana sensed it but didn’t say anything afterward. He’ll tell me something once we reach the mill. That’s what she thought. But then…

 

“Is it tasty?” Instead of saying something, Carl fed her more bread. “Here, have some milk with it.”

 

Gulp gulp. As Dana drank the milk he gave her, she glared at him. Like a mother bird, Carl was focused on feeding her.

 

“Uncle.”

 

“Eat more, eat more.”

 

“…”

 

Dana was convinced. That Carl was deliberately avoiding conversation.

 

“I saw a carriage in the stable.” Pretending not to notice her gaze, Carl wiped the milk from her mouth. “If we take that carriage, we can leave… Dana?”

 

Dana finally grabbed his hand tightly. “Uncle, what’s going on?”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“Why won’t you say anything? There must be a reason.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Uncle, could it be…” Dana whispered very softly. “Are the villagers forcing us to attend the ritual?”

 

Carl’s expression vanished. He was silent for a moment and then asked back. “How did you know?”

 

“I’m not an idiot. How could I not notice?”

 

This village was very strange. Even setting aside the girl who had been dragged away earlier. They’re excessively kind. They made her crutches, gave her soap, lent her clothes, helped her bathe, and even applied fragrant oil to her body. This isn’t some generous countryside village. They’re people who live in a ghost town. There was no way they lacked stories of hardship, nor could they be wealthy. Yet they were providing soap, oil, clothes, and kindness at their own expense.

 

“…Yeah. They kept insisting that both of us should attend the ritual today.” Carl finally admitted with a sigh. “That’s why they’re treating us so well.”

 

Now that the conversation had come this far, she couldn’t help but ask. “What exactly is this ritual?”

 

“You don’t need to know.”

 

“…”

 

It was an immediate answer without hesitation.

 

Dana narrowed her eyes. After things have come this far, he still won’t tell me?