I'm Trying to End This Possession

* * *

Dana’s POV

After that day, I slept continuously for two days. Maybe it’s because I used my purification power after such a long time.  I fell asleep as if my power had been switched off, possibly due to the strain on my body.

 

When I woke up, fortunately, Allice had already left. And the chaotic situation in the territory had been somewhat settled.

 

Eighteen dead, thirty injured. Among the deceased was a boy of just nine years old. I remembered him. He was the boy who had clung to the hem of my dress, smiling broadly.

 

“Saintess, thank you for the chocolate! It’s my first time trying it! I’ll savor it!”

 

I attended the joint funeral for them. Their relatives clung to me, weeping.

 

“Sob, sob, Saintess, thank you. Thank you for being with my son on his final journey.”

 

What’s there to thank me for? I didn’t do anything. In fact, I feel embarrassed.

 

Allice came here because of me. It felt like she was following me out of necessity so that she could annoy me.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

I clasped the hands of the bereaved.

 

“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect them.”

 

Mark Kuruz was imprisoned. And Count Kuruz surprisingly showed a cold demeanor.

 

“That traitorous son is no longer my child. I will follow whatever punishment Duke Windsor decides.”

 

A few days later, a telegram from Viego Windsor arrived.

 

[Display Mark Kuruz’s head at the border]

 

[And capture the barbarian spy]

 

Count Kuruz was shocked by the telegram. “A barbarian spy? What does this mean?”

 

“It’s obvious.”

 

Apparently, Viego had figured it out with just a little information available. After all, I had noticed it too. It would be unlikely for him to miss it.

 

“Mark couldn’t have planned this alone.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“There must be someone who stirred trouble in the territory and facilitated the barbarians’ invasion.”

 

“T-That can’t be!”

 

“Yes, exactly that.”

 

There’s no end to these tasks, no end at all.

 

Is Viego planning to keep me rotting here? Why does he keep giving me tasks? Fortunately, I had already taken action on this before receiving the mission.

 

“Release me!”

 

Ah, they’ve caught him.

 

Priest Morius was being dragged in, held by the scruff of his neck by Rumie.

 

He’s dragging him like a dog.

 

Our eyes met, and Rumie grinned. “Dana. Here’s your catch.”

 

Don’t hand him over like a gift.

 

“I am a priest of the Protestant! I should not be treated like this!”

 

His face was swollen from being beaten several times.

 

“Aren’t you afraid of the Protestant!”

 

“Aren’t you the one who should be afraid of the Protestant?”

 

My words startled Priest Morius.

 

“W-What do you mean?”

 

“What do you think I mean?”

 

I calmly declared. “It means your act has been exposed.”

 

Over the past three months, during the time Mark Kuruz had taken as acting lord, he had been embezzling funds. He acted as the lord, committing outrageous acts. However, according to the merchants, he was a son who feared his father. As soon as his father collapsed, did this son suddenly run amok like a mad locomotive?

 

It’s hard for a person to change suddenly.  Unless someone close by is encouraging and inciting them, it’s not easy.

 

So I investigated Priest Morius, who was his close confidant.

 

I asked the merchant union, which is the quickest with information, to request an investigation from the Protestant. This morning, I received certification documents from the Protestant.

 

[Priest Morius died of illness six months ago.]

 

“And it means you’ll be taken to the Protestant for impersonating a priest. You barbarian who worships demons.”

 

[The Protestant will soon dispatch inquisitors, so please detain the demon worshiper at the Windsor Estate.]

 

“Poor thing. No one has ever come out alive from the torture chamber of the Protestant.”

 

I smiled brightly at the terrified face of the fake Morius. “Goodbye, fake priest.”

 

The man, who was looking up at her in astonishment, suddenly muttered. “I am.”

 

…What?

 

“I am the real one.”

 

What did he just say?

 

Then he just laughed and clutched his stomach, saying nothing more.

 

Has he gone mad?

 

“He must have gone mad thinking about the torture chamber. Ignore him.” Count Kuruz, thinking the same, blocked the way with an unpleasant face. “What are you doing! Throw this barbarian spy in prison immediately!”

 

I watched as he was dragged away and then shook my head. I guess there’s no need to worry.

 

It doesn’t matter what he meant by those words. I’ll leave after finishing this possession anyway.

 

Ah, finally.

 

Everything is done.

 

I should go back now.

 

To Windsor Mansion.

 

* * *

“It was quite enjoyable, Dana.”

 

Upon arriving in the capital, Rumie got off the carriage. He greeted me with a gentle smile.

 

“Thanks to you, I had a good time. Call me again if something fun comes up.”

 

“That won’t happen.”

 

Pretending not to hear my words, Rumie left. I knew where he was going. To the Rolland estate.

 

He alternated between the Windsor and Rolland estates. This was because his maternal grandfather, Duke Rolland, was very fond of him.

 

“Welcome, Dana.”

 

When I arrived at Windsor Mansion, the person who welcomed me most fervently was Carl Windsor.

 

“You’ve worked hard. Was it tough?”

 

“It’s fine. How about you, Uncle? Have you been well?”

 

“Haha, of course.”

 

Lies. He must have had a hard time. I could tell just by looking at him.

 

Carl seemed to have lost weight, his jawline sharper than before. Well, it’s understandable he’d be stressed.  It hadn’t been long since he was temporarily stripped of his position as the head of the family. And Allice, his daughter, had caused another huge incident. So, Viego decided.

 

“Let her reflect at the monastery.”

 

Allice was sent to a monastery.

 

She got off with just that?  People died because of her foolish whims. And yet, she was only sent to a monastery.

 

Allice would surely return soon enough. Her lover, the crown prince, would call for her when the time was right.

 

I wish people what Allice had done.  But Viego Windsor blocked that from happening.

 

This was a matter of the Windsor family’s honor. If it became known that a direct descendant of Windsor had withdrawn the border troops and aided the barbarian invasion, the Windsor name would be dragged through the mud. So Viego used every method to keep this matter secret.

 

It was regrettable, but I decided not to dwell on it. I just hoped I wouldn’t get entangled with Allice again.

 

“But Dana, did you know?”

 

“What?”

 

“Viego has set up an office for you.”

 

“…!”

 

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