Chapter 4
‘What would happen if it were revealed that I was a possessor? Would I be dragged off somewhere? Would they subject me to strange torture or experiments?’
Terrifying thoughts chased one after another in an endless chain.
Rubiana hesitated, unsure how to answer Omar’s question.
He smiled faintly and spoke again.
“I never thought I’d meet a possessor in person! It’s an honor.”
Omar’s voice was filled with excitement.
His lighthearted reaction made all her earlier tension feel almost pointless.
Wait. In person? Rubiana’s eyes flashed.
“There are other possessors besides me?”
“Of course.”
Omar nodded vigorously, as though it were only natural.
“As I mentioned, this is my first time meeting one directly. But I’m certain. Possessors exist.”
“Heavens…!”
This couldn’t be… The words escaped her parted lips like a shocked cry.
Omar began explaining eagerly.
“It’s not so unbelievable. You’ve probably heard things like—‘Has that person’s time come? They’ve completely changed!’ In such cases, possession is worth suspecting.”
“…”
“As more cases appeared where someone’s personality suddenly changed and they died not long after, that saying took root.”
“Are you saying… possessors die quickly?”
A gentle smile tugged at Omar’s lips, only to fade almost immediately.
It was as if he smiled at her question, then quickly composed himself upon recalling her circumstances.
“That’s right. Most possessors suffer symptoms similar to yours, and eventually die.”
“My symptoms? What’s wrong with me? What’s happening to my body?”
Rubiana looked at him with tear-filled eyes, as if she might cry at any moment.
He continued calmly.
“There is a fine fracture between your body and the new soul. In other words, the possession isn’t complete. Not yet.”
“What? What do you mean…?”
The possession isn’t complete?
Perhaps sensing her confusion, Omar elaborated.
Clap! He brought his palms together.
“A human’s body and soul normally fit perfectly, like these palms. But in your case, there is a small gap between them. Like this.”
He separated his hands slightly, creating a narrow space.
“Through this small, unstable fracture, your mana is leaking out. That’s the current state of your body.”
“T-That’s…”
It was absurd.
She had been happy—ecstatic even—thinking she had been given a new life, a new body, and that too the body of the main character.
But now… to hear the possession wasn’t complete!
“Most possessors experience similar things.”
“…What?”
“A body and soul that have endured entirely different times and environments—how could they perfectly merge in an instant?”
“Then what should I do from now on? Am I just going to die like this?”
Her voice trembled, choked with sudden grief.
She clenched her teeth.
She refused to cry at such a crucial moment, forcing her eyes wide open as she stared at Omar.
“With time, the fracture between your body and soul will gradually close. You’ll adapt to each other.”
“…”
“But if your mana is completely depleted before that happens, you will die.”
“…Ha!”
A painful sigh slipped from her lips.
Her strength left her body, and a dull ache throbbed in her head.
Heat welled up from deep in her stomach, and the tears she had been holding back finally burst forth.
Omar handed her a handkerchief.
“Thank you.”
She wiped her tears, calming her chest.
Crying wasn’t going to solve anything.
She needed a solution.
“In that case… what if I absorbed as much mana as I was losing? Using magic tools or mana stones?”
She asked as if grasping at straws.
This was a world where spirits and magic existed—absorbing mana should be possible!
Omar’s brow furrowed slightly.
“Magic tools or mana stones can transform or amplify a human’s mana, but they cannot replenish what is lacking.”
He shook his head.
Rubiana grabbed his hand urgently.
“There must be a way. Please don’t give up. Save me! Please.”
Although half his face was hidden behind the cloth over his eyes, she could clearly see his troubled expression.
“The only beings who can transfer mana to a human… are other humans.”
“…Humans?”
Omar paused, as though pulling out an old memory.
“Every human body is naturally suited to hold the mana they were born with—neither lacking nor overflowing.”
“…”
“But there are rare exceptions. There are those like you, who lose mana and lack it… and conversely, those whose mana overflows for special reasons.”
“Mana… overflowing…?”
She was still processing his words when suddenly Omar grabbed her hand tightly—so tightly it hurt.
“If we could find such a person, and you could receive their excess mana, you could live. It would be mutual aid!”
“Mutual aid?”
“Yes. Lacking mana is dangerous, but overflowing mana is even more so. If it overflows… they’ll be unable to control it and—bang!—go on a rampage.”
A rampage…
At that moment, a certain character’s setting from the original story flashed in her mind.
“Losing control of one’s power suddenly—is that proof of overflowing mana?”
“Yes, in most cases.”
Most cases meant not always, but still, Rubiana thought it was worth trying.
She stood up abruptly.
“Y-You’re leaving?”
“Yes. To find someone whose mana overflows.”
She had to meet Duke Elion Klitzman—
The shadowy villain whose overflowing mana would eventually drive him to rampage.
Mounted on her horse, Rubiana rode toward the Klitzman Duke’s estate.
The wind against her forehead was cool, but her mind was burning with worries.
Will the duke even agree to meet me? And if he does, how will I explain my situation?
That wasn’t the only problem.
The heroine asking the villain for help… is this really okay?
A long, heavy sigh escaped her.
The days she had spent waiting for the original plot to begin now felt so distant.
Because everything had already been twisted before the story even started.
No… It’s too soon to give up. If I recover my health, if the possession becomes complete, then I can greet the true beginning of the original story! I’m sure of it!
She tried to cling to positive thoughts, but her efforts barely helped.
A voice of doubt echoed in her head.
Even if I explain my situation properly… will Elion be willing to help me?
After all, they didn’t even know each other’s names or faces.
Wait… no, that’s not right. We’ve met once before.
A week ago, they had crossed paths in the imperial palace garden.
He had even dealt with a suddenly charging monster for her.
Now that I think about it, I owe Elion my life.
The shock of collapsing and coughing blood without having contracted with a spirit had made her forget the earlier incident entirely.
Just like he saved me then, he might save me again. He didn’t seem like such a bad person if he was willing to help.
Yes, exactly.
She hammered away at her negative thoughts like in a whack-a-mole game.
Elion must be suffering right now from overflowing mana. So he might believe my words, he might grant my request.
After all, she’d be taking his excessive, dangerous mana—the kind that would eventually cause him to rampage—and putting it to use.
In the end, we’d be saving each other! A symbiosis!
Elion would surely take her hand.
Summoning all her courage, Rubiana spurred her horse forward.
The sky was heavy with clouds, but somewhere beyond them, the sun shone bright—and she was riding toward it.
And truthfully, Rubiana had a small bit of hope in her heart.
Maybe… that warmth I felt then… was because of mana.
Even as she lost consciousness in the palace that day, coughing blood, she had clearly felt it—
The touch of the shadowy duke’s hand at her waist had been warm and blissful beyond words.
Mana must have been seeping into my depleted body…
Her thoughts cut off abruptly.
“Neighhh!”
Her horse screamed and halted suddenly.
“Whoa, whoa… easy now. It’s okay, it’s okay…”
As she soothed the startled horse, a dangerous killing intent surrounded her.
Looking up, she saw massive monsters drooling as they approached.
“W-Why are monsters here again…?”
Then Omar’s words flashed through her mind.
‘Through this small, unstable fracture, your mana is leaking out.’
Meaning… perhaps right now, her body was like a deliciously fragrant feast to these monsters.
