My Possession Became a Ghost Story - Chapter 137
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Duke turned his eyes away from Kanna. It was a tacit expression allowing her to stay and keep her position without leaving the office.
Good, I’ve introduced Kanna too. What should we talk about today? Is it time to directly dig into matters about Amaranth? Seeing that Agera used sorcery, the sorcery circle tucked in Amaranth’s diary must surely have originated from here.
As I kept my mouth shut, pondering how to bring up the topic, only the sound of the Duke’s pen filled the room as he edited documents. Then a page turned, and the Duke was the first to break the ice.
“So. You’re going to distribute holy water?”
How did the Duke know that? I was planning to tell him today.
Come to think of it, I had mentioned it to Rico, so he must have heard it from that direction. Rico! I thought you had become my ally, but you were still playing spy? Of course, since I’m mature, I decided to generously overlook it without taking sides.
“Yes. If we make them drink holy water, we can distinguish the people who ate the rats.”
Pretty awesome idea, right?
It was a method Pudding had taught me. Our baby is so smart. Isn’t she a complete genius?
Using holy water would be a very good method since it wouldn’t harm ordinary people. Drinking it would allow 100% probability of identification and disposal. If people refuse to drink holy water out of fear of being caught, there’s a high probability they’re hosts.
“Seeing how confident you are, it seems you’ve already tested it.”
The Duke said, furrowing his brow. Is he upset because I tested it on manor people without his permission first? But the subject was Nigella, who was definitely a host!
“I used Nigella. You can hear the detailed story from Rico.”
Oops! I ended up being sarcastic without realizing it. I felt betrayed that Rico reports my every move to the Duke, so I couldn’t help it…
As soon as the idea of making them drink holy water occurred to me, I had Nigella brought through Rico. I heard that after trying various methods, it only worked when ingested, not when sprinkled on the skin.
Of course, I didn’t confirm it directly myself. I wanted to participate and help directly, but Kanna was overprotective, saying how could she let me be present when no one knew what sudden phenomena might occur, so I stayed put obediently.
She warned me so much not to even go near the holy water. What, would I melt if I touched holy water? Does Kanna think I’m cotton candy? I’ve already touched holy water more than twenty times while cleaning up the rats’ corpses.
But since the usually gentle Kanna coldly turned serious while asking, I ended up promising not to get involved at all. It’s true that when normally kind people get angry, they’re scarier.
Instead of me, Rico decided to help and assist Kanna.
“Since I’ve proven its effectiveness, you’ll understand, right?”
Even though I didn’t see it, Rico did, so he’ll explain it to the Duke. Or maybe he’s already heard about it.
“…Next time, absolutely do not lay a hand on my household before getting my permission. I’m only letting the Nigella matter slide.”
Yes, yes. A maid is more important than an estranged granddaughter, is that it? I felt like drawing out my words and being sarcastic, so I just smiled instead of answering. The Duke was about to say something but seemed to know it wouldn’t work, so he just sighed. He really had become incredibly lenient with me. Finally, the family regret story was approaching.
The Nigella matter seemed to have passed. I wondered if there was more to say, but the Duke hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth in a very tense tone.
“That holy water… Are you planning to make Agera drink it too?”
Suddenly bringing up holy water seemed to be a buildup to talk about Agera, as he was very serious.
“Lady Agera?”
Is there really a need for that?
Combining the stories I heard from Rico, what the ‘rats’ represent is ultimately Amaranth. Originally, that thing was created to fill the position of Agera’s daughter. Then since they need Agera, they wouldn’t have infected Agera. If there’s someone in the manor who least needs to drink holy water, it would be Agera. Conversely, the most dangerous one is me.
“Lady Agera doesn’t need to drink it.”
When I answered that way, the Duke visibly relaxed with great relief. This is the first time I’ve seen the Duke soften like this in front of me.
But why was he specifically worried?
“Is there a reason Lady Agera shouldn’t drink holy water?”
“…As you know, isn’t Agera possessed by a specter?”
The Duke said, rubbing his face as if lamenting. Even while speaking, he seemed embarrassed about his wife. He loves Agera enough to catch rats and oppose the Temple, even bringing me, whom he hated so much, to be her conversation partner, yet he’s ashamed of that? What a filthy, petty old man.
That’s why he abandoned and cut ties with his daughter Amaranth too.
I felt a sense of mission to immediately correct that rotten thinking.
“I don’t know what Grandfather is thinking, but Lady Agera would have no problems drinking holy water.”
“Nonsense. Agera is possessed by a specter and even used sorcery. It’s natural that she incurred the Sun God’s wrath.”
I got a bit heated. This absolutely wasn’t because I had grown fond of Agera and was angry.
But think about it. Even while suffering from dementia, Agera accurately recognizes exactly two people. That’s Amaranth and the Duke. The time Agera remembers is decades ago, yet even though he’s much older than her memory and unrecognizable, she recognizes the Duke.
But the Duke himself is acting like this, so how can I not be angry and frustrated?
“Your Grace.”
I called the Duke with a distant title. Since I always deliberately called him Grandfather to irritate him, it felt somewhat unfamiliar when it came out of my mouth.
“What does Your Grace know? You knew nothing and cut down what Lady Agera summoned, making the situation reach this point. Can you confidently say you know more about sorcery than I do?”
Acting superior in front of me, who started calming the situation within less than a week of visiting the Duke’s mansion, is like a pupa trying to boss around. The Duke knew this well and kept his mouth shut.
“Lady Agera is not possessed by a specter. She’s just… ill.”
“It’s a disease that can’t be cured with holy water.”
“Such diseases exist in this world too.”
What a truly filthy and petty world. Just because holy water doesn’t work, they say she’s cursed or possessed by a specter… She’s already suffering from illness, yet they completely branded her as a sinner. It made me even more bitter because there are many such people around me. Just thinking of Rider made it so.
I don’t know what that child could have done to be cursed, yet they cursed and insulted him. After Rider died and Melek possessed his body and moved around fine, all talk of being cursed completely disappeared, which was just ridiculous. What’s inside that body is Melek, so now is actually when he’s possessed by a specter.
“Using sorcery doesn’t make one a demon. So drinking holy water won’t kill her.”
Actually, I have a history of using sorcery to implant Jeremiah’s soul in Azazel’s body, but I didn’t die from drinking holy water. When Hena poured holy water on my hand to treat the wound from Azazel’s sword, even if it had no effect, I didn’t die. The reason holy water doesn’t work is because Evangeline originally had that constitution, not because she was cursed.
But the Duke denied my words.
“…That’s different from the common knowledge I know.”
Of course it is. The Temple was bluffing. The Temple Authority definitely lied to maintain their authority. With Bishop Marik being a villain, how could the Temple be clean? And generally, religions in creative works are all bad guys.
“Didn’t I tell you? Your Grace’s common knowledge is shallow.”
“…Then. According to you, Agera is neither abandoned by God nor possessed by a specter…?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
“Ridiculous!”
The Duke shouted and jumped up, overturning the desk. That temper of throwing wine glasses at me initially hasn’t gone anywhere. Yeah, now he finally seemed like the Duke. He was suddenly treating me like a granddaughter, so I thought he was a different person. I thought he had been quite lenient until now.
Kanna urgently blocked in front of me, protecting me.
Papers flew everywhere, scattered on the floor. Even the inkwell flew along, splashing black ink on the Duke. The inkwell rolled on the floor, drawing black traces on the papers before rolling to my feet.
The Duke looked ready to grab me by the collar right away. I tapped Kanna and gestured for her to step aside. When Kanna hesitated, I spoke aloud this time.
“Move aside, Kanna.”
“But Miss…”
“It’s fine, so hurry.”
I didn’t want to speak to Kanna in a commanding tone, but I was worried Kanna might get hurt by the Duke while protecting me, so I had no choice. Though trembling, Kanna couldn’t disobey my order and stepped aside.
However, the Duke didn’t approach me. He looked ready to grab my collar any moment but seemed to be restraining himself. He definitely had become a bit softer toward me after our previous confrontation. Instead, I approached the Duke.
And I firmly grasped the Duke’s hands. I was preventing him from throwing anything else. The Duke tried to shake off my hands, but I was quite strong, and recalling past experiences, my strength seemed to surpass that of adult men. This must be the villainess buff or something. As expected. The Duke couldn’t budge with his hands caught by me.
“Why are you angry? Because I told the truth? Are you going to say you’ll cut out my tongue again?”
“Shut up! Do you think I can’t keep that promise? This time I’ll really cut your tongue so you can never say such things again!”
Honestly, I don’t even understand why the Duke is so angry. Didn’t he admit it was all his fault before? It’s right to blame himself rather than Agera. He previously babbled things like ‘I am a sinner.’
“You know it. Your Grace is just taking out your anger on me.”
“Be quiet!”
Shout ‘be quiet’ with your mouth all you want, will I stop? The Duke’s hands were held by me, so he had no means to cover my mouth.
“Your Grace loves Lady Agera.”
“…”
Ah, it was interesting that he didn’t bother to add any words to this. Still, his love for Agera is real. What kind of messed-up romanticist is this?
“If you love her, then trust her. Lady Agera is fine. She’s just a little ill, and the reason holy water can’t cure her isn’t because Lady Agera is cursed.”
“…”
“I can swear on my mother’s name.”
I habitually swore on my mother. This is all because of those bad people who always ask ‘swear on your mother?’
But mentioning Amaranth seemed to have an effect, as the strength left the Duke’s hands. Now he didn’t seem like he would strangle me, so I let go of his hands. As expected, the Duke didn’t lay hands on me. Instead, he backed away as if avoiding and rejecting my words.
“…Such.”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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