My Possession Became a Ghost Story - Chapter 260

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The being that borrowed Bishop Marik’s body—alien for a human, not of this world—gazed at me quietly. Bishop Marik’s eyes were unfocused, yet this being was clearly seeing through me.

“I have prepared rest for you, so why do you struggle in vain?”

A strange voice filled the prayer room. That sound was not a simple voice. Though it resonated from Bishop Marik’s body, the voice was not the bishop’s.

Its voice echoed in all languages, resonating with countless voices. It was sacred like singing hymns, yet also grotesque. It seemed like the holy ringing of bell towers echoing in the temple, and also like a siren’s voice that tickled ears and bewitched people. Low whispers stimulated my eardrums and tickled inside my brain.

“You shall not escape from your shackles.”

It whispered like a seeker full of mercy. The bishop’s words continued as if mocking the boundary between dream and reality.

“Please sleep peacefully. Welcome rest.”

A ringing sound seemed to echo in my ears. The floor swayed and shook. The bishop’s room distorted as walls and ceiling twisted, and sky and ground flipped. I swallowed my saliva. Somehow the air became too heavy, making breathing difficult as my throat tightened. My breathing was blocked as if my lungs were filled with water. For a moment, my breath seemed to stop completely.

When I blinked again, the prayer room had returned to its normal appearance. I hastily covered my mouth, coughed, and drew in breath. Bishop Marik, who had been kneeling in prayer, hurriedly supported me.

“Oh my. I seem to have kept the young lady who just rose from her sickbed here too long.”

As if that scene from just before was merely an illusion, Bishop Marik appeared calm while wearing his veil. His gloved hands cupping my cheeks looked only benevolent. I carefully removed the bishop’s hands and stood up.

“Bishop. My body still seems unwell, so I should return home today.”

I nearly swayed and hurriedly regained my balance. I spoke as calmly as possible. My appearance of being unable to control my body due to lingering shock must have looked sincere, as Bishop Marik nodded.

“Of course you should. It would be best not to overexert yourself.”

Bishop Marik’s voice was calm, but the strange scene from just before wouldn’t leave my mind.

I brushed off Bishop Marik’s attempt to support me and stood up. Bishop Marik said he needed to finish his prayers and entrusted Azazel with escorting me.

“May sunlight always shine upon you, young lady.”

Bishop Marik bowed his head slightly in greeting. Though it was a greeting I heard often, it sounded particularly bitter.

“Count Azael. Please escort Evangeline safely.”

“Yes, Bishop.”

Azazel bowed his head like a faithful knight, showing respect. I followed Azazel, walking slowly. Only after we had distanced ourselves from Bishop Marik did Azazel glance back at me and speak.

“Evangeline. Why do you look so serious?”

Azazel looked puzzled as he saw my pale face. I was the one who wanted to ask.

“Azazel. Didn’t you feel that just now?”

“Feel what?”

Azazel was calm, completely unaware of the scene I had witnessed.

“Just now Bishop Marik was…”

What was that thing that borrowed Bishop Marik’s mouth…? I was about to explain in a small voice when a red color unsuitable for the temple caught my eye. I turned my head as if entranced.

The temple corridors have delicate carvings on sacred pillars. Splendid religious paintings hung along the walls. I suddenly stopped walking in the middle of the corridor I was about to pass through mindlessly.

“Evangeline?”

Azazel tilted his head puzzledly at me for stopping suddenly.

“Why is that painting there?”

Didn’t Azazel sense anything strange? Even though there was a painting before my eyes that should never be hanging in a temple?

Colors filled with unpleasant hues. An ominous painting depicting a corpse with limbs burned away, leaving only the torso. The entire body was ablaze, and a sorcery circle floating behind the corpse’s head rose like a sacred halo, but the feeling it gave was far from holiness.

This is… a portrait of Donau.

Why is this here…? Unable to understand at all, I asked Azazel.

“Why is this hanging in the temple?”

“Why? It’s a painting that was originally hanging here. Saraka told us to hang it.”

Azazel explained as if it were obvious. I couldn’t understand what nonsense Azazel was spouting.

“Saraka?”

Why is Saraka’s story coming up again?

“Azazel. You said Saraka disappeared from this world. What…”

Azazel looked incredulous and replied as if I were grasping at clouds.

“Saraka disappeared? Why would she be gone?”

“…What?”

“Evangeline. What are you talking about? We just came from meeting Saraka.”

I felt dizzy. What nonsense was this bastard Azazel spouting?

***

As a result of questioning Azazel, the situations we each remembered were very different.

“Azazel. What do you think was the purpose of my visit to the temple today?”

“Huh? To prove that Saraka and I no longer have any intention of being hostile toward you. Saraka probably doesn’t remember anyway, so let’s get along well from now on.”

Azazel answered without hesitation. His appearance without a moment’s doubt seemed to truly believe his own words.

If I wasn’t crazy, then Azazel’s memory had been changed. The only reason I could guess was ‘that thing’ which spoke to me through Bishop Marik’s body.

As I kept my mouth shut, Azazel, sensing something strange, frowned.

“Don’t tell me you’ve changed your mind now?”

“…”

“Evangeline!”

I wasn’t in the mood to play word games with Azazel whose memory had been altered. I deliberately ignored Azazel’s nagging and pressed my brow firmly. Confusion swirled in my head, and my thoughts scattered like grains of sand. My head throbbed.

“I need to see Saraka.”

“What?”

“I need to check for myself.”

Leaving Azazel behind, I retraced the path we had taken and headed to the prayer room. The Holy Knight guarding the door looked puzzled at my return but bowed in greeting.

“Evangeline.”

I returned the greeting and asked.

“Is Bishop Marik still inside?”

“Yes. Do you have business with the bishop?”

The Holy Knight nodded.

“I think I left my handkerchief in the prayer room earlier. May I just retrieve my handkerchief briefly? I’ll be careful not to disturb the bishop’s prayers.”

“I’ll go in with Evangeline.”

Azazel also chimed in from beside me.

“In that case…”

The knight hesitated for a moment, then looked between me and Azazel before opening the door.

Inside the prayer room, the bishop was kneeling with hands clasped, offering devout prayers. Though the sound of the door opening and the presence of people must have been felt, he didn’t turn his gaze toward me.

I approached the bishop and reached out to remove the cloth covering his face.

“What are you doing?”

Azazel immediately grabbed my wrist. Azazel, who had seized my wrist tightly, gritted his teeth and glared at me.

“Let go.”

“I can’t do that.”

Azazel instead put more strength into the hand holding me. His grip tightened more and more.

What an attitude, trying to prevent even a fingertip from touching the bishop. It was absurd. This was completely different from when he had knocked out Bishop Marik himself to show me his bare face. Looking at this behavior, at least one thing was certain. Azazel’s current belief that the bishop was Saraka was genuine, not an act.

“Count Azael. It’s alright.”

At the bishop’s restraint, Azazel hesitated for a moment then released his grip on my arm. Then he stood in front as if protecting the bishop. Ha, how ridiculous. Look at him acting like he’s some great knight.

“So then, Evangeline? You have business with me?”

The bishop asked. His voice was only calm.

“I apologize for the rudeness. I have something I want to ask.”

“Please ask. I must answer anything with sincerity to one who has received divine blessing.”

“Before that, could you please remove your veil for a moment?”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————