Possession into the World's-End Witch
Hard to believe, but I really had possessed the villain from the novel. It wasn't a dream.
The chubby cheeks felt just like rice cakes—springy and plump. Along with that came a faint, tingling pain. No trace remained of the dry, leathery skin from my old body, devoid of any elasticity.
I finally stopped tugging at my cheeks after a good while.
Now I was certain.
"Possession...? For real...?"
A blonde girl in the mirror sighed deeply and muttered to herself.
She wasn't a complete stranger. In situations like this, she was all too familiar.
"Ellicia Lawrence...."
That was the girl in the mirror's identity.
Her defining traits...
First, she was cute and pretty. Second, she was a character from the orthodox hero web novel I'd devoured for three years. And third, she was the crazy bitch who utterly wrecked the ending.
Though her current appearance differed from the illustrations in my memory.
Ellicia's first illustration appeared around when the protagonist was attending the academy. Back then, unlike her current harmless, pint-sized self, she was a mature beauty closer to a lady. Her eyes were far sharper and more venomous than these round, innocent ones.
In other words, this was before the main story timeline—back in the past.
"Anyway."
Why the hell? Why of all people did I possess this woman?
"Couldn't they at least make me a side-character ally or something?"
I grumbled, rolling my clear green eyes.
The first thing in view was the frilly nightgown befitting a noble lady. Next came the bed plopped squarely in the middle of an excessively spacious room.
Why was the room so empty? Did this world have some minimalist philosophy too?
A small sigh escaped me, but the distraction helped calm my nerves a bit. Regaining my composure brought the most fundamental question to mind.
"Why did I become Ellicia?"
Why me as Ellicia? Why I as Ellicia? Why me as Ellicia?
All three were mysteries. But even sifting through my memories carefully yielded no answers.
The only suspect...
Maybe cursing the author after that final chapter?
"No, that's just unfair...!"
I hadn't spewed anything vulgar or wished harm on their family. I'd just exercised my rights as a dedicated reader with some justified criticism. And not even in comments—just in my head!
If anyone deserved possession, it was those comment-section clowns, not me...
"Ughhh!"
The deeper I thought, the more my blood boiled again.
Calm down, calm down. Whoever's behind this, they're probably enjoying my freakout.
Psssh. A deflating balloon sound leaked from my lips. I stopped rubbing my dry face and started to flop down... but the cold floor hit my bare thighs, so I awkwardly squatted instead.
For now, shelve this mystery.
The brain has a max capacity for processing at once. Better invest in productive thoughts than endless unanswerable worries.
I looked up, locking eyes with Ellicia in the mirror. Squatting in the barren room, she looked less like a girl and more like a little kid.
"...!"
An idea flashed through my mind.
Right, a child! Baby fat still intact, stubby limbs, round eyes—adorable kid! Not the witch who'd later wreak havoc, but an innocent, clueless child!
"The past, huh... Hmm, hmmm."
Ellicia ruins the novel's ending. Ellicia constantly obstructs the hero protagonist.
At the academy. In battles against demon king lieutenants. In big and small events, she's always the obstacle.
Flip that around, though.
"If Ellicia just behaves herself, the protagonist's future is bright, right?"
A lightbulb flickered above my head! I felt like shouting Eureka!
"Heh."
A smug snort escaped me.
Live righteously, yeah? As a count's daughter, enjoy good food, travel, wield some power on the side.
If I get bored, maybe help the protagonist snag those lucky encounters.
I might not know how to leave this world yet, but until then, I can chill with a healing life.
Smack— I patted my cheeks with both palms and stood up. This fresh, energetic body had no creaky knee sounds like usual.
One more satisfying perk.
Knock knock knock."Eep?!"
I was musing about stretches I'd never dared before when a sudden knock jolted me.
I reflexively sucked in a breath, shoulders jumping. Turning to the door, another monotonous knock echoed.
Butler? Maid? Or... Ellicia's family?
"Hmm... First trial comes quick..."
How to react? Botch the act and raise suspicions—that's cliché for possession stories.
I pondered briefly, then shook my head.
My biggest flaw. Sometimes you gotta charge in instead of overthinking, but I always dwell uselessly. Otherwise, I'd miss chances dithering.
New wine needs new wineskins. Like it or not, new body means new mindset.
"Ahem!"
I cleared my throat, mustering a dignified lady-of-the-county vibe.
Anyway, who'd suspect a kid acting off? At worst, "Our young lady's in a good mood today~" and laugh it off.
I checked the mirror, smoothing my expression. No panic or awkwardness—just natural.
Then I toddled on short legs to the door. Small deep breath, grabbed the sturdy knob, and pulled.
"Yes. What is it—"
I nailed the natural opener, but couldn't finish. The figure at the door was unexpected.
A girl. Maybe two or three years older than this body—small and frail.
But her aura was anything but light. Eyes that should sparkle like starlit seas sank dark as lightless abysses. Chilling to meet her gaze.
"Ellicia."
Mechanical stare, emotionless voice. The girl fixed on me, hand to her waist.
Shing— Sword drawn from its scabbard.
"...Huh?"
That eerie sound dropped my heart.
I knew who she was. Of course. Slightly younger, but her look matched the original illustrations just like mine.
This world's protagonist. And later, the one who'd lose all companions to Ellicia and meet a bad end herself—
"V-Veronica...?"
My voice trembled unwittingly as I said her name.
"..."
Her movement halted. For a split second, a faint ripple in her eyes?
"...Hm."
Veronica eyed me coolly, as if appraising. Taller by a head—half a head?—her presence overwhelmed.
I ignored my goosebumps, brain racing desperately.
Why was Veronica here...?
Something was wrong. In the original, protagonist Veronica first meets Ellicia during academy sparring after enrollment—way later.
Ellicia, at fifteen, entered the academy three years early with overwhelming talent. Freshly awakened hero Veronica, ex-commoner, got crushed by much younger Ellicia's magic, bottoming out her first practical.
That loss sparked Veronica's competitive fire, kicking off her growth—a key event.
But this? Why's the protagonist in front of me!? She should be playing house locally, not wielding a sword already!
"Hng..."
Then, Veronica's sealed lips curled faintly upward.
An inexplicable chill hit me. Uneasy, I backed away instinctively.
But before two steps—
Veronica's lips parted lightly.
"I thought there'd be no more surprises."
Thud—!
A dull impact sounded, and my vision went black.
Dragging the fainted Ellicia to the parlor, the tense-faced Lawrence Count shot to his feet. Realizing he'd lost composure, he coughed awkwardly and spoke.
"...It's done. Don't worry—the cleanup's for the tight-lipped."
"No need. She's alive."
I dropped her with a thud; she groaned ungh in pain.
The count's gaze, fixed on me till now, finally shifted to his daughter. No fatherly worry or anger in those eyes.
Some backstory, probably. Didn't pique my curiosity.
"Why?"
"The Goddess spoke."
"Then what will you do?"
"I'll take her. That's the oracle."
"...Hmm."
Ellicia twitched, starting to wake, brow furrowed.
Thud. A light scabbard tap to the nape quieted her again. The count looked away from his daughter to me.
"Do as you please. But the promise..."
The promise. He'd cling to deals over his daughter no matter her fate. Every regression, always.
"...The Goddess fears only the calamity this witch brings. She won't hold the faithful Lawrence house accountable for one fallen soul."
"Grateful. See her off well."
His tone screamed get out.
Same here. No desire to bandy words with subhuman trash.
I nodded curtly instead and left the parlor.
Hauling Ellicia by the ankle out of the estate, the coachman leaning on the carriage gaped wide-eyed. Probably at her limp, dragged form.
He stubbed out his pipe and hurried over.
"M-Miss. The witch's corpse—"
"Just fainted. Bind her so she can't flee even awake, load in the luggage compartment."
"Understood."
I boarded as he rummaged for rope without complaint.
"...What could it be."
Sitting, my mind replayed the incident.
I have unbreakable routines each regression: snag opportunities, befriend future allies... And topmost: eliminate Ellicia Lawrence.
I didn't always plan to kill her. Excluding her twisted personality, she was prime recruitment material.
Unparalleled magical talent. Entering academy three years early and dominating—irresistible prowess.
I tried everything to use her: sweet-talked, threatened, even wiped out House Lawrence, sold her into slavery, broke her mind to depend solely on me.
But no matter the choice, timeline, she always became my throat-slitting saboteur. Started as trusted ally, ended deranged, dooming the world.
Variables against the demon king overflowed. Bearing Ellicia's time bomb? Impossible for me.
After concluding I couldn't control her, I cut her out. Killed her in childhood before magic awakened—no loose ends. Regressor's memory and hero title made offing a border count's youngest easy.
This loop too. Her fate: swift beheading, then burned as the Goddess's prophesied future witch.
Except...
'V-Veronica...?'
Ellicia's voice echoed relentlessly.
"She recognized me..."
For opportunities and fame, I'd acted the hero since childhood this loop.
But only name and title spread—face unknown. No stranger spots the hero from looks alone. In countless regressions, Ellicia died without ever recognizing me.
Yet this one's Ellicia clearly knew me, even seemed flustered.
Two hypotheses from this.
A mistake-born variable on my end. Or.
"She regressed like me."
If former, fix next loop. If latter...
Tap—tap— Fingering my sword hilt, the coachman's voice came through the window.
—Loaded in the compartment as ordered. Heading to the estate now.
No answers while she's out.
I shook off Ellicia thoughts. Closed my eyes, leaned into the plush backrest. Urgent events and gear to acquire filled my mind.