I’m Trying to End This Possession Chapter 69

“That’s the grain storage.” Norton swaggeringly pointed to the largest building in the village with a red roof. “Only a few people can enter there, and I’m one of them. Want to take a look?”

 

“Not really…”

 

Seeing Dana’s indifferent reaction, he pointed to a black-roofed building this time. “That’s the armory. That place is even harder to get into. What do you think? Want to see some weapons? Ever seen gunpowder?”

 

“Not there.” Dana pointed with her finger to a distant mountain, rising far away. “I want to go to that mountain.”

 

“Huh? The mountain?”

 

“Yes. Is it far to walk?”

 

“No, it’s not that far. But it’s not exactly close either.” A sly smile spread across Norton’s face. “The mountain at night. Sounds good.”

 

“…”

 

It was clear that Norton’s mind was filled with impure thoughts. However, Dana wasn’t particularly worried. After all, Carl Windsor would surely show up at the right moment.

 

Well, I’ve got a gun under my skirt anyway. If something happened, she’d just shoot.

 

* * *

Just as I expected. It’s really here. Dana saw the enormous cave in the mountain. As I thought, it’s here. Standing before the cave, she trembled. This was the first time she had seen it in person. Last time, all she had done was read the memory of this cave while purifying the rotten land of Kaltusa. And this cave…

 

“What are you doing? Aren’t you taking it off?”

 

“…” Dana slowly turned around, then froze.

 

“Hurry up and take it off. We don’t have time.”

 

There stood a naked man. The white cloth fallen at his feet looked like shed skin.

 

“What are you doing right now?” Stepping back into the cave, Dana frowned. She had thought he might try something bad, but she didn’t expect him to strip this quickly!

 

“You want to do it in a cave? Quite bold of you.”

 

“When did I ever say that?”

 

“Why? Isn’t that what you meant by asking to go to the mountain? What else would a man and woman do on a mountain at night?”

 

“…”

 

What kind of upbringing leads to such a terrible mindset? That unwanted question surfaced in her mind. Good thing I brought the gun. Dana fidgeted with her hands. Where should she shoot him? His toes first? Or the vital spot?

 

“Hurry up and undress,” Norton ordered, breathing heavily. “Don’t think about backing out now. Or should I take it off for you?”

 

I’ll just shoot the vital spot first. Just when she made that decision…

 

“Dana!”

 

Perfect timing.

 

Dana smiled brightly. As expected, Carl Windsor had arrived right on time.

 

“Dana, what are you doing in the—?” Carl’s voice stopped abruptly. On the unusually bright moonlit night, he had seen the completely naked man.

 

Norton murmured in a troubled voice. “Damn it, your husband is here.”

 

Carl Windsor froze in place like someone struck by lightning. It seemed he couldn’t understand the situation. But soon he creaked into motion and walked toward them.

 

“Le-Let’s have fun next time, Lady.”

 

Norton quickly dressed and tried to leave, but…

 

“Uargh!”

 

“Carl suddenly grabbed Norton’s shoulder tightly as he passed by. Then, with a calm face, he asked. “Dana?”

 

“Ack! Ack! Will you let go?!”

 

“Is this situation happening with your consent, or is it because this fellow forced you?”

 

“Aaargh! Let go! It hurttttts!”

 

Carl seemed to naturally assume it was the latter. However…

 

“Let go,” Dana said indifferently. “Let him go.”

 

“…What?”

 

“That man, let him go.” She didn’t have time to deal with that idiot right now. There was something far more urgent inside this cave. “Hurry up.”

 

Carl’s face looked stunned, as if he had been slapped. Was his grip loosening? Norton quickly slipped away like a fish.

 

“What kind of crazy b*stard are you!” Tears welled up in Norton’s eyes. “Hey! Your wife brought me here! Why are you freaking out over nothing!”

 

“…”

 

“Ugh, damn it, what bad luck!” Norton spat on the ground and quickly left the scene. Even after he disappeared, Carl was still in a daze.

 

A moment later, Carl extended his hand. “…Let’s go back. Dana, come here.”

 

But instead of approaching him, Dana leaned her back against the cave wall. “I don’t want to.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“I said I don’t want to. What if you lock me in the mill again?”

 

Ah. Only then did Carl realize why Dana was being so cold.

 

“That… sorry. I was worried you’d leave without listening to me. Just like now.”

 

“…”

 

“Oh dear, I should have put a lock on it.”

 

Unbelievable. Is that really something someone who’s apologizing should say? That’s what she thought, but instead of arguing, she waited for him. Like luring him in, Dana stepped deeper into the cave.

 

Did he think she was avoiding him? Carl pleaded anxiously. “Dana, at least listen to me first, okay? I was wrong about everything.” Step by step, he came closer. And finally. “Dana?” He finally entered the cave.

 

Dana waited with a pounding heart for his reaction. Now look, Carl Windsor. See what’s in this cave! However,

 

“Dana? What’s going on?” Carl looked baffled. No, he seemed confused. There was no amazement on his face.

 

Why isn’t he surprised? Can’t he see the starlight filling this cave?

 

A mineral more precious than gold and rarer than diamonds, Retillan. Retillan was sparkling in this cave like the Milky Way! There’s a deposit of Retillan here. In other words, just seeing this sight was akin to discovering a mountain of gold. Carl had just stumbled upon the kind of money windfall he had obsessed over!

 

“Dana, let’s go outside first. We’ll talk outside.”

 

Why isn’t he looking?! Carl bizarrely only focused on her face, ignoring everything else.

 

“W-Wait a minute!”

 

Carl grabbed her hand.

 

“Just a moment!”

 

“I’m scared a snake might come out. Let’s hurry and go outside, okay?”

 

For a moment, Dana wanted to grab his hair and twist his head toward the cave wall. Look at that, you fool! Look at the cave wall over there. It’s sparkling!

 

“I’m really scared of snakes. Do you know how vicious mountain snakes can be?”

 

In the end, Dana decided she would have to put on a performance for this hopeless fool. “What’s this, Uncle?”

 

“Huh? Did a snake come out? Where, where?”

 

“No, this!” Dana knocked on the cave wall. “Something is sparkling here!”

 

“…?”

 

Only then did Carl look into the cave. A few seconds passed like that.

 

“T-This is…” His lips trembled. “This looks like Retillan, doesn’t it?”

 

Exactly! You finally noticed!

 

Carl’s eyes sparkled as he examined Retillan. “My goodness. Retillan. A Retillan mine in the empire. This is an incredible discovery.”

 

Yes, you fool.

 

Dana almost let out a sigh of relief. At last, this slow-witted man had discovered the Retillan. Great. Now he’ll probably get excited and start exploring the cave properly. That’s what she thought. But…

 

“Well then, shall we go?”

 

“…”

 

Huh?

 

Dana was flabbergasted.