My Possession Became a Ghost Story - Chapter 24

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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 earnestly pleaded my innocence. It wasn’t just water but expensive holy water I poured, so there was no way he could be hurt! If anything, any existing wounds would heal completely! Anyway, him fainting wasn’t my fault!

Only after Michel fainted did the priests belatedly notice the commotion and rush over. The priests examined the completely burned painting once, the unconscious Michel soaked in water once, and me once, assessing the situation. Only after Rafaela finished her supplementary explanation did they bow their heads in gratitude.

Among them, the most dignified and benevolent-looking elder began organizing the situation. Then he approached me.

“Lady Rohanson, we truly thank you for saving our temple’s knight. We will compensate you for the holy water you used to extinguish the flames.”

“I gratefully accept.”

What a relief! I thought I’d thrown away the money I spent on holy water. Of course, since I saved someone from burning, it wasn’t really thrown away… Anyway, I’m glad they’re refilling it. People really should live virtuously, shouldn’t they?

“The other parishioners seem to be in shock, so we’re planning to escort them to a resting place.”

Shock, my foot. These were people who just stood there gawking whether someone burned or not. I swallowed my complaints and nodded.

Having finished his business with me, the kind gentleman now approached Rafaela. They whispered something, but spoke so quietly I couldn’t hear. Somehow it seemed like they were glancing at me? They weren’t talking behind my back, were they?

Surely not… With an uneasy heart, I stared intently at the two of them. They wouldn’t gossip about me when I’m right here!

Whether my staring had an effect, Rafaela cleared her throat with a “Ahem” and changed the subject.

“Bishop, would it be alright if we excuse ourselves first? I think it would be better to get Sir Michel lying down quickly. Sir Uriel must be tired too.”

I just thought he was a kind elder, but he was a bishop! A very high-ranking person! No wonder he casually offered to compensate for the holy water. That stuff costs a fortune!

“Oh my. I hadn’t thought of that. Leave the cleanup to me and go ahead. Lady Rohanson should receive her holy water, so she can come with me…”

“Ah. The young lady should come with us too. The Captain has something to discuss with her. I’ll prepare the holy water before she leaves. There’s no need for you to trouble yourself, Bishop, so if you could just give advance notice, we’d be grateful.”

Rafaela rapidly fired off her refusal. Right, I also needed to go see Hena and Kanna, so I nodded. My girls have been waiting long enough already, I should hurry.

But wouldn’t it be better to get the holy water now? If I try to take holy water when the kind gentleman isn’t around, won’t I be accused of being a thief? The Bishop might forget to mention it. Hmm… After pondering, I looked at Jelly.

“Me?”

“Go receive the holy water and take it to the carriage first.”

“Ah, you really did bring me along just to torment me, didn’t you?”

What? Who do you take me for, some thug? Why do you think we ran out of holy water at home in the first place! It happened because I used it all treating your wounds!

“Listen before I really start tormenting you.”

“Yes…”

Jelly grumbled and tucked his tail.

“I’ll send my escort Iza.”

The Bishop nodded with a very reluctant expression.

“Then that settles it? We’ll be going now.”

When Rafaela spoke, Uriel lifted the collapsed Michel onto his back. Despite looking delicate, I was impressed by how easily he carried Michel. While I was watching this, Rafaela quietly approached. After looking at me like I was trash earlier, why is she acting friendly now!

“…I apologize for the late greeting. Thank you for saving Michel. He lost consciousness, but thanks to the holy water, he has no injuries. We’re truly grateful.”

Rafaela, who had been watching my reaction, hesitated before offering her thanks. Her words were so careful that I felt bad for being grumpy just moments before. What’s this, I’m actually a bit moved.

“Thank you, Lady.”

Uriel also followed with words of gratitude. Even while carrying a man much larger than himself on his back and bowing, he showed no signs of strain. However, holy water dripping from Michel’s long hair soaked his back. Isn’t that clammy…? Uriel himself seemed fine, but I found myself unnecessarily concerned.

“But is it alright to send only Sir Jelly alone?”

Why? Worried it might be too heavy? Is he concerned about Jelly carrying holy water while he himself has a person on his back?

“Jelly is fine.”

He’s not an ordinary person anyway, he’s definitely a werewolf who’s a sub male lead.

“Lady, you did well to send your escort instead. It’s better not to get too close to that Bishop. Despite appearances, he’s quite a nasty person.”

Glancing back, Bishop Jabaniya was glaring at Rafaela with a very menacing expression. The kind demeanor from earlier was nowhere to be found. Why suddenly? Even reviewing our earlier conversation, there was nothing strange… Could it be? There is one thing that comes to mind.

It’s because Rafaela left before he did. People in high positions are usually obsessed with such formalities. I didn’t think the Bishop was like that, but he turned out to be a Confucian old fogey.

***

Only after the commotion died down did people rush over. It seemed one of the priests who witnessed the situation had run to fetch the Bishop. Along with priests carrying water buckets came Bishop Jabaniya.

Usually, whether people died or the temple collapsed, he wouldn’t even glance at such trivial matters, yet he came all the way here. Still a sharp old man, I see.

“Rafaela… what is this?”

Look at him pretending not to know when he must have heard the full situation. Bishop Jabaniya, behind that benevolent face, has quite a vicious nature. It’s easy to be misled by his good-natured exterior, but he’s quite selfish and ruthless.

Uriel said Jabaniya resembled Rafaela in many ways and that Rafaela had a hatred for her own kind, which wasn’t entirely wrong. Still, that fox would have come leisurely regardless of whether people were hurt or not, so comparing them feels unfair to Rafaela. That one has no conscience or guilt.

Unfortunately, Gabriel, the Captain of the Knight Order that Rafaela belonged to, had also fallen victim to Bishop Jabaniya’s clutches in childhood and was still being worked hard.

The Captain said he was merely repaying a debt of gratitude from the past to the Bishop… but from Rafaela’s perspective, the Bishop was simply using the Captain as a chess piece. And from what she’d heard from the Captain, the past favor he’d supposedly received wasn’t much.

“The painting caught fire. Lady Rohanson poured holy water to extinguish the flames. Sir Michel suffered burns but is safe without injury thanks to the holy water.”

“Oh, Rahel.”

“I was a step too late and nearly lost the life of a precious knight. I’m ashamed.”

“Not at all, Bishop. Didn’t it take time because you were drawing water?”

What a cunning old fox. At his benevolent words, the surrounding priests looked at the Bishop with admiration, as if he were an incarnation of the god Rahel himself.

‘What? Late because he was drawing water?’

Rafaela could bet both her wrists, and even the unconscious Michel, that the Bishop had deliberately come late. Since Rafaela had also hoped the painting would burn, Bishop Jabaniya must have had the same thought and deliberately appeared late, giving the painting more than enough time to burn completely.

If Bishop Jabaniya had truly been a merciful person, he would have drawn water from the nearest fountain flowing with holy water. He would have said he’d cover the cost later, just like Evangeline Rohanson had extinguished the fire with holy water… Rafaela was astounded at herself for momentarily thinking Evangeline was righteous.

Seeing that Bishop Jabaniya had specifically gone out to the garden to draw water from an ordinary fountain showed he had no intention of coming early. Seeing that no one around harbored any doubts showed how well-trained they were by his hypocritical behavior.

He would truly be tiresome to have as an enemy. Fortunately, they held the same opinion regarding Donau’s painting this time. The representative figure of those who viewed the painting with praise had always been in conflict with Bishop Jabaniya.

“Now, now, since we’re late, we should help organize the situation.”

“Yes, Bishop.”

At Bishop Jabaniya’s words, the priests set down their buckets and began cleaning up. Some swept and wiped the ash, cleaning the floor, while others dealt with the people.

“Parishioner, wouldn’t it be better if you returned home now?”

“That’s right. There was even a fire, isn’t it too dangerous?”

“You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”

Of course, no responses came back. Since most were of noble status and couldn’t be treated carelessly, only continued unanswered suggestions to leave.

“Let’s go! Are you planning to stay here forever?”

One priest with poor patience couldn’t contain his frustration and shouted. Realizing his mistake, he covered his mouth, but fortunately the other party paid no attention.

“The painting has burned and disappeared, so what are you trying to see by staying here?”

When the priest lamented, a response finally came. The noble lady he was dealing with pointed at Evangeline Rohanson with reddened cheeks.

“You’re looking at that young lady?”

The priest looked around. To a degree that made him wonder why he hadn’t noticed before, everyone’s gaze was directed toward that pale and beautiful young lady.

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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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