THJDM 04

Chapter 4

“What if they find out I’m a possessor? Would I be dragged away somewhere? Subjected to strange tortures or experiments?”

Terrifying thoughts kept spiraling endlessly.

Luviana hesitated, unsure of how to answer Omar’s question.

Then he smiled faintly and spoke again.

“Who would’ve thought I’d meet a possessor in person! It’s an honor.”

Omar’s voice was bright with excitement.

The reaction was so lighthearted that it made her earlier tension seem pointless.

Wait—a possessor he’s only heard about? Luviana’s eyes widened.

“Does that mean there are other possessors besides me?”

“Of course.”

Omar nodded vigorously, as though it were obvious.

“As I said, this is the first time I’ve met one directly. But I’m certain—possessors exist.”

“Unbelievable…!”

Her mouth fell open in shock, and what escaped sounded almost like a scream.

Omar, looking delighted, patiently explained.

“It’s not unbelievable at all. Haven’t you heard things like, ‘That person’s acting strange—maybe they’re close to death?’ When someone suddenly changes completely, it’s enough to suspect possession.”

“…”

“When a person’s personality changes out of nowhere, it often isn’t long before they die. That’s how such sayings came about.”

“Wait… does that mean… possessors die quickly?”

At Luviana’s question, Omar smiled faintly, then quickly wiped the expression away.

It was as though he smiled because he liked her sharp observation, but then remembered the gravity of her situation.

“That’s right. Most possessors eventually die after suffering the same symptoms you have.”

“My symptoms? What’s wrong with me? Why is my body like this?”

Her eyes shimmered with tears as she looked at him.

He spoke calmly, as though teaching a lesson.

“There’s a tiny crack between your body and your new soul. The possession isn’t complete… not yet.”

“Huh? What do you mean… not complete?”

The possession isn’t complete?

Perhaps sensing her confusion, Omar elaborated.

Clap—he pressed his palms together.

“Normally, the body and soul of a human are fused tightly—like these palms. But in your case, there’s a minute gap.”

He separated his palms slightly, leaving a small space between them.

“Through this small and unstable crack, your mana is leaking out. That’s the condition you’re in.”

“Th-that’s…”

Luviana was dumbfounded.

She had been thrilled to live again, to have a new body—the heroine’s body, no less.

But now she was being told the possession wasn’t even complete.

“Most possessors experience the same thing.”

“…What?”

“Your body and soul endured completely different times and circumstances. How could they merge perfectly all at once?”

“Then… what am I supposed to do? Am I just going to die like this?”

Her voice trembled as grief surged inside her.

Clenching her teeth, she glared at Omar, determined not to shed tears at such a crucial moment.

“With time, the crack between body and soul will gradually shrink. They’ll adapt to one another.”

“….”

“But if all your mana runs out before then, you’ll die.”

“…Ha!”

A painful laugh slipped from her lips.

Her body went limp, her head pounding.

From deep inside, heat boiled up, and at last the tears she had been holding back spilled over.

Omar quietly handed her a handkerchief.

“…Thank you.”

She dabbed her eyes and tried to steady her heart.

Crying wouldn’t solve anything.

She needed a solution.

“In that case… what if I just replenish the mana that’s leaking? Using magical tools or mana stones?”

She asked desperately, grasping at straws.

This was a world of spirits and magic—absorbing mana had to be possible.

But Omar furrowed his brows.

“Magical tools and mana stones can transform or amplify a person’s mana, but they can’t replace what is lacking.”

He shook his head.

Luviana grabbed his hand tightly.

“There has to be a way. Please don’t give up. Save me. I beg you!”

Even with half his face covered by cloth, she could see his troubled expression.

“The only beings who can transfer mana to humans… are other humans.”

“…Humans?”

Omar paused, as if dragging up old memories.

“Every human body is naturally suited to hold exactly the mana it was born with—neither too little nor too much.”

“….”

“But there are exceptions. Some, like you, lose mana and are left deficient. Others, for certain reasons, overflow with mana, unable to contain it.”

“Overflowing… with mana?”

She was still mulling over his words when Omar suddenly gripped her hand hard—so hard it hurt.

His voice rose in excitement.

“If you can find someone like that—someone with excess mana—you could survive by receiving what overflows! It would be mutual aid.”

“Mutual… aid?”

“Yes. Lacking mana is dangerous, but having too much is even worse. If mana exceeds control… boom—it spirals into a rampage.”

Rampage…

At that moment, a character from the original story flashed through her mind.

“So… suddenly losing control and rampaging means the person has excess mana?”

“Yes, in most cases.”

In most cases—so not always.

But still, Luviana thought it worth the gamble.

She sprang to her feet.

“Y-you’re leaving?”

“Yes. To find someone whose mana is overflowing.”

She had to meet Grand Duke Elion Klitzman.

The dark figure destined to rampage from excess mana.

Mounted on a horse, Luviana rode hard toward the Grand Duke’s estate.

The wind against her forehead was cool, but her mind burned with worry.

Will the Grand Duke even agree to see me? And if he does, how can I explain my situation?

And that wasn’t the only problem.

The heroine having to beg the villain for help… is that really okay?

A heavy sigh escaped her.

The days she’d once spent waiting eagerly for the original plot to begin now felt like a lifetime ago.

Everything had already gone awry 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 still face the story properly. I’m sure of it.

She tried to hold on to that hope, but doubt soon crept back in.

Even if I explain everything… will Elion agree to help me?

They didn’t even know each other.

Wait… that’s not true. We did meet once.

A week ago, in the Imperial Palace gardens.

He had saved her from a sudden monster attack.

That’s right… I owe Elion my life.

The trauma of collapsing while failing to contract a spirit had overshadowed her memory of the monster attack.

If he saved me then… maybe he’ll save me again. If he helped me once, he can’t be all bad.

Yes—that was it.

Whenever doubt crept up, she smashed it down with determination, like a game of whack-a-mole.

Elion must be suffering from his overflowing mana right now. He might believe me—and grant my request.

After all, she wasn’t just asking for herself.

If he gave her his excess mana, it would stop him from rampaging.

In the end, we’d be saving each other’s lives. A true symbiosis.

Elion would surely take her hand.

Spurred by that courage, Luviana urged her horse faster.

Though the sky was heavy with storm clouds, she raced toward the sun shining somewhere beyond.

And truthfully, she had one more small reason for hope.

That warmth I felt back then… maybe it was his mana.

Even as she bled out and lost consciousness that day in the palace, she had felt it vividly.

The touch of the Grand Duke’s hand at her waist had been so warm, so blissful.

Mana must have seeped naturally into my lacking body…

Her thoughts ended abruptly.

“Neighhh!”

Her horse screamed and halted in place.

“Whoa, whoa… what’s wrong? It’s okay, easy…”

As she soothed the panicked animal, a chilling killing intent surrounded her.

She looked up—monsters, drooling and snarling, were closing in.

“Wh-why are there monsters again…?”

Then Omar’s words echoed in her mind.

‘Through this small and unstable crack, your mana is leaking.’

If that was true…

Then right now, my body must smell like the tastiest prey imaginable to monsters…