My Possession Became a Ghost Story - Chapter 202
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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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Bishop Marik tilted his head slightly and rested his chin on his hand. The hand that was raised revealed burn scars covering it entirely.
“How could Count Gabriel’s sins become Bishop Javanya’s sins? Bishop Javanya is one who has proven his faith.”
The woman gritted her teeth. So did that mean she and her children were taken away because they lacked faith? That couldn’t be. The woman had never abandoned her faith in the Sun God even when death approached at the hands of the Holy Knights.
“Ah, right. You asked about Count Gabriel’s sins.”
Perhaps thinking that was sufficient answer, Bishop Marik leisurely moved on to the next question.
“Count Gabriel summoned a demon.”
The reaction those words caused was tremendous. Because they had come from Bishop Marik’s own mouth. Someone gasped, while another let out an exclamation that could have been either a sigh or shock. The woman’s mouth also closed. If she had taken one more step forward, her barely saved life would have been thrown back into the flames.
“The demon that snuck among us entered a corpse and acted as if it had come back to life, defiling the life of the deceased who should have been embraced by the Sun God, and even deceived the deceased’s father. It burned down my sanctuary, and blinded Princess Tenebray’s eyes to drive her father, the Crown Prince, to his death.”
When the Crown Prince’s story came up, the sound of someone retching could be heard from somewhere. The scene of the corpse hanging from the ceiling, dripping blood, was not easily forgotten, so just mentioning it vividly brought back that situation. And the nauseating emotions stirred up by recalling the corpse were transferred directly to the person who came to mind next.
“It’s Rohanson.”
“Evangeline Rohanson.”
Bishop Marik fell silent as if the correct answer had been given.
Unfortunately, no one came forward to defend Evangeline. Duke Hosaquin remained silent as promised, Duke Baal had convinced his son, and Baroness Toten had a child in her arms.
Rohanson Viscount was… Rohanson Viscount was sitting hidden in a corner, head bowed to avoid people’s eyes. Right next to him, the portly Viscount Hükel was blocking Rohanson Viscount from view.
When Viscount Hükel made an “oops” sound and moved his body aside, Rohanson Viscount was fully exposed.
So this is why they demanded my attendance. With sparks suddenly flying his way, the Viscount cursed inwardly and stood up from his seat. He remembered Muzeta’s threats. To survive, he had to give whatever testimony was needed.
“The Bishop’s words are correct. A demon has entered my daughter’s body. Even though I personally held her funeral, the corpse that had stopped breathing came back to life. Everyone in the manor knew this fact. That demon tried to deceive me, her father, and when its identity was discovered, it tried to burn down the manor to kill everyone who knew its secret. Bishop Marik protected them, but they tragically died at the hands of that filthy demon anyway.”
Rohanson Viscount spoke with deep emotion. His tongue was quite eloquent, perhaps his experience of seducing a Duke’s daughter hadn’t disappeared.
People who had seen knights watching the Rohanson manor while coming and going on the streets now nodded, finally understanding the reason.
“I too was silenced by the demon and barely managed to save my life thanks to the Bishop.”
“That bastard…!”
An old man’s voice could be heard from the front, but Rohanson Viscount decided to ignore it as just wind. The matter of receiving Duke Hosaquin’s inheritance was already over, so he had no regrets. The most important thing was his own safety right now.
“Rohanson Viscount. It must have been difficult to choose faith, but thank you for revealing the truth.”
Bishop Marik praised the Viscount with satisfaction.
Rohanson Viscount finished his assigned role and sat back down. His heart was pounding. Viscount Hükel beside him patted Rohanson Viscount’s shoulder, saying he did very well. The Viscount overlooked Hükel’s rudeness since they were in front of Bishop Marik.
Meanwhile, in the front, Duke Hosaquin was on the verge of collapse, clutching the back of his neck, while Duke Baal was beside him, fanning and trying to calm him down. The two men got along quite well since they disliked similar things.
Duke Hosaquin inwardly searched for Evangeline. He didn’t know he would find himself looking for that thing again, but he wished it would quickly appear and smash that damned Rohanson bastard’s face.
Where the hell was she and what was she doing? It must certainly be the work of that fox wearing a veil.
If the Duke’s inner thoughts had been heard, Bishop Marik would surely have felt wronged. Because Bishop Marik wanted to see Evangeline just as much as Rafaela or Duke Hosaquin.
He had even used ‘Saraka’ to directly invite Evangeline, but Evangeline wasn’t appearing at the venue. Was she looking for some lost cat? The captured cat was locked away in a place that couldn’t be easily found, so it would be difficult for Evangeline to find it.
Demons were terribly weak to holy water. This was a fact learned through Azazel. Just touching it would melt them, and they couldn’t properly use their abilities near holy water.
Especially in the Grand Temple where holy water flowed. In the temple, it would be difficult to find where the cat was using a cat, so perhaps she was late because she was opening every door in the temple.
Bishop Marik decided to wait a little longer for Evangeline. Though he wasn’t sure how much value this sacrifice laid before his eyes held for Evangeline.
“However, there may be those who cannot believe Count Gabriel’s corruption. So let us continue the sacrifice for now. The truth can be determined in the courtroom.”
In fact, all the statements so far were content that should have been handled in a courtroom rather than on the altar, but the location wasn’t important. Because Bishop Marik’s words didn’t require a trial.
“Princess Jeremias.”
Bishop Marik called Tenebray. Tenebray came down from the high seat and headed to the altar.
Though they had rehearsed earlier, the tension of the real thing was somewhat different. She hadn’t noticed while sitting, but once she climbed onto the altar, the light shining down from the sky was almost blinding. It felt like the sun was watching directly from above. She felt elated.
“Please receive the cup.”
Tenebray knelt and received the cup the priest handed her. As she held up the empty cup, it was filled to the brim with holy water.
She brought the cup and slowly drank it all. The completely emptied cup was returned to the priest’s hands. The reason for drinking holy water was similar to the baptism ceremony that knights underwent. It was a measure to confirm that there was nothing wrong with the one playing the role of king.
Next was the turn to receive the sword.
Following the record of the king executing Lea, in the sacrifice they brought the sword to the shoulders and head as if conferring knighthood on the sacrifice.
After Tenebray received the sword from the priest, Bishop Marik whispered to Tenebray.
“I’ve sprinkled holy water on the sword. If it touches the skin, the flesh will melt away.”
Bishop Marik stepped back, and Tenebray gripped the sword and approached Gabriel. Then she raised the sword and aimed it at his neck.
How many times was this, raising a blade against blood relatives? Seeing how the Emperor had killed blood relatives both before ascending to the throne and after, perhaps like markings carved into the body, the imperial family repeatedly engaged in acts of devouring their own flesh.
Tenebray took a deep breath and aimed the sword. The blue blade trembled as if it would immediately strike Gabriel’s neck.
Thinking that mere contact wasn’t enough, Tenebray applied slight pressure. The flesh was cut and blood stained the fabric, but Gabriel didn’t even frown as if it didn’t hurt.
Rather, it was Tenebray who was confused. Contrary to the Bishop’s words, nothing happened.
“Princess Jeremias?”
When Tenebray didn’t continue the ritual and just froze, the priest called her. Tenebray glanced once at Bishop Marik.
Since Bishop Marik’s expression couldn’t be read through the veil, Tenebray had no choice but to imagine on her own.
‘He’s disappointed in me. What should I do?’
Her hands trembled finely. The trembling extended to the sword she was holding, making it shake wildly.
‘No. At this rate, the Bishop will abandon me too.’
Tenebray became anxious.
Her head seemed broken, creaking. Tinnitus rang in her ears. Hallucinations spoke.
“Tenebray, you’re useless.”
Was that something the Emperor had said? Or Father? Or perhaps Bishop Marik had just spoken those words? Bishop Marik looked at Tenebray as if she were pathetic.
At that, Tenebray’s heart lurched as if she were cornered on a cliff’s edge. The obsession that had swollen without knowing limits now reached even unrealizable fantasies.
In her imagination, the Bishop locked Tenebray in a dark, gloomy prison. Beside her, Azazel just watched Tenebray quietly.
The reason it was specifically a prison was because that was a disciplinary method Tenebray knew well. The image of a whip being held by the same hands that had gently applied holy water to treat wounds was vivid.
After cruelly beating her, the Bishop abandoned Tenebray in the imperial palace and never came looking for her again. In Tenebray’s place, Jeremiah, Oratorio, Gabriel ascended to the throne.
Tenebray was hidden like a shadow behind the massive imperial throne.
That couldn’t happen. It couldn’t be like that.
Fortunately, Tenebray still had a chance to make amends. Right?
Bishop Marik’s words had to be realized. Tenebray approached the priest without letting go of the sword. Her body swayed. The sword dragged along the ground, scraping it.
The priest flinched. Tenebray snatched the holy water from the priest’s hands as if stealing it. Then she immediately splashed the holy water all over Gabriel.
“Princess Jeremiah!”
The priest called Tenebray in surprise at her sudden action, but it didn’t register properly in her ears. There was no way her sanity would return when called by a name that wasn’t even hers.
The reason she splashed holy water on Gabriel instead of stabbing him with the sword was because only Bishop Marik’s words remained echoing in her head.
“I’ve sprinkled holy water on the sword. If it touches the skin, the flesh will melt away.”
Tenebray repeated Bishop Marik’s words. The Bishop’s voice buzzed and overlapped with her own voice.
But this was really strange. This time she had actually splashed holy water, but nothing changed. Why, why wasn’t it melting?
Then she’d try once more. This time she’d actually stab with the sword. It was when Tenebray was about to sprinkle holy water on the sword.
“Princess Jeremias.”
Only after Bishop Marik called did Tenebray react. Bishop Marik embraced her shoulder with one hand and gently took away the sword with the other. The priest who had been restless nearby received the sword and quickly stepped back.
Bishop Marik breathed into her ear.
“It would be good to regain some reason.”
The chiding voice was cold. Tenebray came to her senses with a start, as if she herself had been the one splashed with water. What on earth had she done? Bishop Marik soothed the confused Tenebray.
Tenebray was suitable for manipulation, but she had this drawback. Having haphazardly pieced together the fragments to his liking, she broke apart so easily again with just a little shock.
However, Bishop Marik was equally perplexed.
‘Why isn’t the holy water reacting?’
Just a moment ago, when he had deliberately tested by putting the sword to Gabriel’s neck, the skin had melted away as soon as the blade touched. Gabriel had a cursed body, but since its foundation wasn’t demonic, it shouldn’t melt from holy water.
Therefore, seeing it react to holy water, he was certain the contents had been switched. It must be the work of that young lady whose heart burned with desperate feelings even in thought.
Evangeline had switched ‘Gabriel’ as Saraka desired. For Bishop Marik, this was welcome. Rather, it made it easier to prove that Gabriel was a demon.
Everything was as Bishop Marik wished. It had been worthwhile to confine him in the imperial palace rather than the temple to make it easy for Evangeline’s side to approach, and even to use Tenebray to show Gabriel to Azazel.
Since Evangeline had subordinates who could change bodies like Azazel, he thought she would use the same method to save Gabriel. And seeing the skin that reacted to holy water, he was certain. Gabriel had been replaced by Evangeline’s subordinate.
Bishop Marik was relieved that Evangeline had switched Gabriel with a fake as he wished.
But now the holy water wasn’t working? Had Evangeline, who hadn’t appeared until now, done something to the holy water?
Saraka felt the need to check the holy water. Moreover, it was time to deal with what had been taken by Evangeline.
Bishop Marik led Tenebray down from the altar and commanded.
“Princess Tenebray. Sprinkle holy water on Azazel as well.”
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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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