My Possession Became a Ghost Story - Chapter 145

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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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I too was in the position of imitating Evangeline, so I had nothing to say out of embarrassment. When I remained silent, Kanna added more words.

“I would be able to recognize you even if you were in a different body, Miss.”

Kanna’s deep affection, confident that she could recognize the real me, was suffocating.

Rico’s whereabouts couldn’t be found all night. I ended up staying awake all night worrying about how to handle this situation.

Strangely, Evangeline’s body had good stamina, and Pudding had excellent basic physical strength, probably because he was a beastman, so they were fine even after staying up all night. Gabriel probably has good stamina too. He’s the Male Lead and the Captain of the Knight Order.

But Kanna was still a growing teenager, so she collapsed before dawn. Her dying words were asking to be laid down on my bed too.

“Please tuck me in and pat me saying sleep well.”

Her words were exactly like a six-year-old’s. She must have been very envious of Mabuka sleeping. Since it was Kanna’s request and not a difficult task, I didn’t refuse and did as she wanted.

Pudding was jealous and envious, saying it was special treatment with utmost care, even though Kanna was sleeping and wouldn’t even know. Then he pestered me.

“Evangeline, I want to receive it too.”

His words were missing the object of what he wanted to receive, but it was easy to understand. It was probably an appeal that he wanted to sleep well.

‘Did I work him too hard?’

But unlike others, Pudding had to stay with me longer. Since I hadn’t called Jelly, there was no one to replace Pudding. Fortunately, Pudding said he didn’t need it right now and would be fine with me doing it later when I went to sleep, postponing the timing.

Rather, he seemed happy to monopolize my time now, saying he was the final winner among those awake.

“Alright. I promise.”

At my words, Pudding unconsciously extended his front paw. He must have developed the habit of making pinky promises from getting along well with Mabuka lately. It was cute, so I readily responded.

Since he was in cat form, I caught a soft jelly pad instead of a pinky finger. Pudding looked at his paw with dissatisfaction, then transformed into human form in the blink of an eye when no one was looking.

No matter how many times I saw it, his beautiful appearance felt unreal. Unlike the past few days of overexertion, he remained in perfect condition without dark circles or blemishes. His blonde hair and blue eyes were exactly like an angel in a holy painting or a precious work of art. If I hadn’t recognized him as Pudding, his appearance would have made me extremely shy. But he’s my cat.

Pudding extended his ring finger to me. The hand waiting for me trembled. I thought it was from nervousness, but seeing Pudding’s face so calm, I wondered if he had hand tremors. I hooked my finger with Pudding’s hand. Long, curved fingers intertwined with mine. Perhaps because he was a cat, Pudding’s hand was warm as if fevered.

“It’s a promise.”

Like Kanna and Mabuka, it seems physical contact with others has been happening frequently lately. It feels like just yesterday I was disgusted when Gabriel kissed my hand, but I’ve become too accustomed to the warmth others give, which frightens me a little.

It also felt uncomfortable. Getting used to novel characters made me feel like I too had fallen from being a living being to becoming a character in a book. Perhaps sensing my discomfort, Pudding reluctantly untangled our joined hands.

“I want to cut off your finger and keep it.”

Pudding said shyly with reddened eyes. Though it was probably an exaggerated expression, it seemed similar to the psychology of a fan who shook hands with their favorite celebrity saying they wouldn’t wash their hand. Like Kanna, our kids seem to be becoming more like fanatics. Did I build the salvation narrative too well? Now even if Bishop Marik called us a cult, I’d have no words to defend ourselves.

Though he probably wouldn’t actually do it, seeing Pudding’s eyes light up while looking at my hand made me a bit anxious, so I urged him to quickly return to cat form. Since cats have 4 toes, compared to human finger count, one was already missing, so I thought he wouldn’t try to cut more.

Pudding quickly transformed back into an adorable cat with a satisfied expression.

But while fiddling with Pudding’s paws on my lap, I discovered the shocking fact that unlike the back paws, the front paws had 5 toes. I thought both front and back paws had 4 each.

This exposed how lacking my knowledge about companion cats was. Unaware that I was an owner lacking common sense, Pudding didn’t complain to me despite having his sleep time stolen.

While I was briefly distracted, feeling doubtful about my qualifications as an owner, Pudding had returned to human form again.

‘Did I touch a grown kid too carelessly without consideration?’

Thinking he might be protesting to subtly show he was grown up, I withdrew my hand, but Pudding brought my hand back to his head. So I just continued petting his head. Pudding seemed satisfied. I really don’t understand the psychology of adolescent cats.

Pudding, who had been acting spoiled to his heart’s content, didn’t care even when Hazel woke up and made sounds.

“Huh…? When did I fall asleep?”

Hazel rubbed her eyes and questioned herself. Fortunately, she didn’t complain about being the only one lying on the sofa. She didn’t even find it strange that she woke up on the sofa, which made me feel a bit sorry instead.

“You’re awake.”

“Evangeline…? Ah, this must be a dream.”

Hazel looked back and forth between me and Pudding, then lay back down on the sofa. As I watched in bewilderment, Hazel kept her eyes tightly shut for several seconds before bolting upright. Then, seeing the unchanged scenery even after waking up again, she seemed to realize it was reality and looked around with wide eyes. Well, she saw a demon right in front of her yesterday, so it’s understandable she can’t distinguish between dreams and reality.

Since Hazel was looking at human-form Pudding very suspiciously, I hurriedly explained, fearing rumors would spread that Evangeline Rohanson had brought an incredibly handsome lover into the ducal family behind Gabriel’s back.

“Pudding is my guard.”

“The same name as the cat…? No, that’s quite a sweet pet name.”

Hazel’s expression was very subtle. If I had to describe it, she looked like someone who accidentally learned that their strict, sharp-tongued boss was actually devoted to their spouse. In that shock, she didn’t delve deeply into the fact that a cat and person were called by the same name.

Originally, office workers don’t pry deeply into their boss’s private life. Truly befitting a professional maid of K romance fantasy.

I realized for the first time that ‘Pudding’ sounds like a name for a cat, but only like a pet name for a person. Everyone in our manor first encountered Pudding as a cat, so no one criticized the name.

Let’s set aside why no one pointed out that Jelly’s default form is human. Even in human form, Jelly had beastly aspects, or to put it crudely, dog-like qualities, so it was his own karma.

“I’m sorry. I had a very strange dream yesterday, so I thought I was still dreaming.”

Hazel scratched her cheek while making excuses.

“…”

“Don’t tell me…?”

Hazel had just woken up and was denying with her cleared mind that what she experienced yesterday couldn’t be real. However, seeing my lack of response, she soon despaired and gasped.

“It wasn’t a dream?”

It would have been nice if it were a dream, but unfortunately, it was an unfulfillable wish. You know, Hazel, I wish it were a dream too. I know well because I made the same wish for about two months after possessing Evangeline’s body.

“Then… Butler Rico being a demon, me almost dying, and there being another me – all of that is real?”

Hazel’s complexion grew paler and paler. I shook my head and answered.

“There isn’t another you.”

“What?”

Contrary to expectations that a fake Hazel disguised as a ‘rat’ would roam around the manor, the doppelganger-like situation of two Hazels existing in the manor didn’t occur. The fake had vanished.

While staying up all night trying to capture the fake Hazel, when I went to find Hazel’s room, it was already empty inside. However, the bedding was disheveled, so I could only guess that someone had stayed there.

“Hazel, what you saw was probably Rico. It seems Rico can imitate other people.”

The ‘rat’ seemed to use hallucinations to cause mental confusion in people. Making them appear to be someone else by imitating that person.

The voice searching for Mabuka had also imitated various people. It also disguised perfectly enough that you couldn’t tell if they were infected hosts. A rat imitating humans – did it eat fingernails? It’s something that would only appear in fairy tales I’ve heard before.

Pudding, who had knowledge of sorcery, nodded and agreed after hearing my speculation. Since demon summoning is also lumped together and called sorcery here, it’s not strange that Pudding has more extensive knowledge than me.

“That trash was originally created to replace people anyway.”

As Pudding said, it was originally a demon summoned by Agera’s wish to imitate Amaranth. Just as naturally as ice being cold and fire being hot, it was natural for the ‘rat’ summoned by consuming wishes to be good at imitation. According to Hazel’s testimony, there was also the possibility that the ‘rat’ chased Hazel but pretended to be Hazel because of other people who suddenly appeared.

Pudding glanced at me while bringing up Amaranth’s story. Then, seeing I showed no signs of displeasure, he visibly relaxed. I don’t understand why he bothers to be considerate when he knows I’m not the real Evangeline.

When I told her there was no second Hazel, Hazel declared she would return to work instead of hiding.

“You’re a witness, so you’ll definitely be in danger.”

Just last night, didn’t the rat try to eliminate Hazel? Hazel’s choice was incomprehensible to me. How can someone who’s timid and afraid of the ‘rat’ calmly say they’ll continue working? Especially when Butler Rico is currently a demon’s host.

“Is it because you can’t rest due to financial problems?”

Hazel shook her head. She added that while she had family to support, a few days of rest wouldn’t make them go hungry.

“But if I’m absent, the other friends will have to do my share of work too.”

Hazel’s reason for continuing to work was simple. She said that if she was absent, it would create a hole in the already well-distributed work schedule. She said there was a labor shortage because the number of maids had decreased significantly since Agera’s condition began, and there had been a large-scale exodus a few days ago.

Yes, Hazel. That’s admirable character, rare in this harsh world. But your life is hanging by a thread, yet you’re worried about others’ overwork…?

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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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