Failed Possession Chapter-29

## Chapter 29 *Master and Disciple*

—

“Then, see you next time.”

The words Chuk Shin-do left behind were not directed at Yuri.

With a crooked grin, he waved at Orca, Harabel, Namgung Ju-won, and the others, then climbed into the Ascad family’s carriage.

The Ascad family—practically the true rulers of the great city of Lutran—had a carriage that was anything but ordinary.
Even its appearance was impressive. The horses let out short cries, and though they had no wings, they naturally leapt into the sky and pulled the carriage through the air.

“‘Next time,’ my ass… crazy bastard…”

Harabel glared at the departing carriage and openly muttered a curse.

Yuri had never exchanged a single word with her, but it was obvious that her temper was as fiery as her bright red hair.

“Hey, kid.”

He had thought they would part ways, but suddenly Harabel raised a finger and pointed at Yuri.

She hesitated for a moment, then turned her gaze toward Orca.

“You’re… not affiliated with… the Dercia Mage Tower… right?”

This was the same Harabel who had freely cursed even at Full-Moon Play Chuk Shin-do—yet now she stumbled over her words and spoke politely.

Looking closely, she wasn’t even meeting Orca’s eyes.
Her gaze was slightly lowered—fixed somewhere around Orca’s philtrum and lips instead of her eyes.

‘Just what the hell happened when she was subdued?’

Orca had once mentioned capturing Harabel and dragging her to the Ascad family, but never explained the details.
Seeing this foul-tempered woman shrink and avoid eye contact, it seemed the subjugation process must have involved considerable violence.

“He’s not affiliated with the Dercia Mage Tower.”

Orca answered flatly, as if Harabel’s inability to meet her gaze were the most natural thing in the world.

“Why are you asking that?”

“…”

Harabel bit her lip and couldn’t answer immediately.

This proud archmage felt ashamed of herself—unable to even look Orca in the eye because of past trauma.

Gathering her courage, she raised her gaze slightly—

“Hm.”

The moment she met Orca’s golden eyes staring directly at her, she immediately lowered her head again.

Memories resurfaced—her entire body being scorched by Orca’s lightning years ago.

“He’s… not Fist Wolf’s disciple either, right? Just something like… master and disciple… you said…?”

“That’s right.”

“Th-then… this kid isn’t with the Dercia Mage Tower… and not Fist Wolf’s disciple… so that means… he doesn’t belong anywhere… right?”

“That’s also correct.”

What exactly was she trying to say?

Yuri still couldn’t understand why Harabel had suddenly latched onto him.

“Then I can take him with me… right?”

The sudden statement made Yuri flinch.

Elena was even more startled. Her blue eyes widened as she stared at Harabel.

“You’re taking him? Why?”

“Full-Moon Play’s… a lunatic, but not blind. He wouldn’t give praise he doesn’t mean…”

Stammering, Harabel turned to Yuri.

The only person whose eyes she couldn’t meet was Heaven-Thunder Orca.

When she looked at Yuri, her eyes were sharp and wild again, her trembling body straightened.

“He’s talent recognized by a Martial Zenith. Good eyes and learning ability aren’t the same thing, but… he seems worth raising for fun.”

“If he had talent for magic, I would’ve taken him myself.”

Orca snorted.

“He clearly has talent in martial arts. But his biggest obstacle is mediocre mana affinity. I opened his dantian with a spirit elixir, but his internal energy growth was average.”

“If his natural affinity sucks… he can just train it later…”

“That’s not easy.”

Orca said that and stared straight at Harabel’s face.

Harabel refused to look back and instead forced herself to stare only at Yuri.

“I’m surprised you’re interested. You must like him quite a bit.”

“If he serves someone who isn’t even his real master like that… imagine how loyal he’d be to a real one…”

Seeing Yuri cough blood for Fist Wolf, then boldly support him in front of Full-Moon Play—

Harabel clicked her tongue.

“He doesn’t look like the type to stab you in the back. If he doesn’t work out, I could at least use him for errands.”

“If you really want him, don’t talk to me—ask Yuri directly.”

“I’ve been doing that… He’s just being cheeky and not answering.”

Her intimidated attitude vanished.

She straightened her back, crossed her arms, and stared at Yuri with wild eyes.

“Well? Your answer?”

“Huh?”

“What are you asking back for? You heard everything. Come with me. I’ll take care of you properly. If you do well, I’ll even feed you good stuff.”

Was she serious?

The proposal was so sudden Yuri could only blink.

Harabel Usia, the Flame Vermilion Bird.
Yuri didn’t know her well, but she didn’t seem like someone who would lie just to recruit him.

‘What do I do…’

This world was very friendly to talented people.

Since both magic and martial arts required talent and ranks were clearly defined, it wasn’t strange that people wanted to claim promising youths.

Moreover—

this world wasn’t peaceful.

Only inside cities like Lutran could one pretend otherwise.

Outside?

There were places that could only be called hell.

The Evil God of Chaos was actively accelerating turmoil.

Monsters rampaged. Disasters occurred constantly.

Martial artists solved things with fists.
Demonic Cultists killed casually.
Even mages discarded morals when necessary.

Worst of all—

the real gods barely intervened.

Harabel, a free mage unaffiliated with the Tower, wandered outside cities.

To her, Yuri was simply a seed worth cultivating.

“Thank you for the offer… but I can’t go with you, Lady Harabel.”

That was her situation.

Yuri had his own.

If he weren’t a possessor, it would be a golden opportunity—

but he had no desire to travel with a Rank 7 archmage.

Who knew whether she was friendly to possessors?

If she found out later, things could get troublesome.

“Yeah?”

Her brows twisted.

Orca chuckled beside her, which only made Harabel more annoyed.

“Don’t regret it later.”

She didn’t push further.

Flames spread into wings, and she flew into the sky without even saying goodbye.

“Phew…”

Elena, who had been nervously biting her lip, sighed in relief.

“If you rejected the Flame Vermilion Bird’s offer, the Namgung clan probably won’t even bother now.”

Namgung Juwon muttered with a smile.

“I was interested since you supposedly have more talent in martial arts than magic.”

“You wanted to recruit him?”

“I grew interested today as well. If Full-Moon Play guarantees the talent, it’s certain. And he’s not Fist Wolf’s disciple either.”

He stroked his chin while examining Yuri.

“I thought about taking you in as a clan warrior… and eventually making you a proper member. What do you think?”

“Eh?”

“No need to answer now. I doubt I’d get anything but a refusal anyway.”

He pulled out a small pill wrapped in paper.

“You seem to have internal injuries from overexertion. Take this.”

“Th-thank you.”

Yuri accepted it with both hands.

“If you ever change your mind, come find the Namgung clan.”

Then Namgung Ju-won boarded his carriage.

Among those climbing in was a familiar face—

Namgung Jin.

He stared at Yuri with shock and confusion, clearly never imagining his father would show him this much interest.

‘Damn it.’

Yuri didn’t appreciate any of this attention.

Because Full-Moon Play had openly acknowledged his talent, eyes were now on him from everywhere.

“Elena. Going back together?”

“Huh? Ah—yes. I’ll go with Yuri.”

“As expected.”

Orca didn’t press further and beckoned Lacy.

“We’re returning to the Tower.”

“Yes.”

Orca rested an arm on Lacy’s shoulder and looked at Yuri for a moment. Lacy did too.

“You should close your eyes.”

Lacy smiled faintly.

It was good advice.

Yuri shut his eyes tightly and turned away.

—Bzzzt!

Lightning crackled.

Light flashed behind his closed eyelids.

When he opened them again—

Orca and Lacy were gone.

Only a violet bolt of lightning streaking across the distant sky remained.

“As expected of the man worth 3.5 billion…”

After everyone who was leaving had left, Haryeong nodded to herself.

“With so many places calling for you, Yuri-nim, it seems you’ll never have to worry about starving to death wherever you go.”

“Don’t tease me.”

“Tease? What do you mean? I’m being completely sincere. Yuri-nim, even if you become very successful later, please don’t forget me. I, Haryeong of the Salho Gate, was the very first person to teach you hand-to-hand combat.”

Saying that, she held out her hand toward Yuri.

He looked at it, wondering what she meant. Her palm was wide open in front of him.

“…What, are you asking for money?”

“Do you think I’m some money-crazed miser?”

“Every time you ask for something, you talk about fees and contracts.”

“That’s not because I want to. Those are the rules of the Salho Gate—what am I supposed to do? Stop saying weird things and hand me that pill.”

“Why? If it’s a spirit medicine, are you trying to steal it?”

Haryeong shut her lips for a moment.

“…I really want to hit you.”

Even with her mouth closed, the muttering slipped out.

Yuri’s eyes widened.

“What did you just say?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t say anything. You saw my lips were closed, didn’t you?”

“Do assassins have to be good at ventriloquism too?”

“I can’t do ventriloquism, but a skilled assassin must be proficient in many tricks.”

She spoke with the same expressionless face and beckoned with her fingers.

“Please, Yuri-nim. Stop being cheeky and give me the medicine. I’m doing this for your sake.”

“…Fine.”

“I’ll give you valuable advice. Don’t just swallow whatever someone gives you. What if you think it’s medicine but it’s poison?”

“Why would the head of the Namgung clan give me poison?”

“Maybe some young master who lost face and three billion because of you swapped it out for revenge.”

“Now that you mention it, that bastard was glaring at me like crazy at the end.”

“Of course, that’s just an example. That young master isn’t bold enough to do something like that. What I’m saying is you’re overly self-conscious. Most overly self-conscious people look annoying, lacking, and foolish. Be careful.”

She’d wrapped it around in circles, but in the end she was calling him annoying, lacking, and foolish.

Yuri glared at her silently, but she examined the pill with her usual blank face.

“Not poison. Unfortunately, not a spirit elixir either.”

“What a shame.”

“Well, even if the Namgung head is generous, he wouldn’t give a spirit elixir to someone he just met today. Still, it is good for internal injuries, so chew it thoroughly.”

Yuri chewed the pill as told.

It burned and stung like he’d been scorched by fire, then a refreshing coolness spread through his body.

“The Flame Vermilion Bird’s offer.”

Elena, who had been standing quietly, suddenly spoke.

“It was a great offer. Why did you refuse?”

It seemed she was still thinking about it.

“She’s a mage.”

“Not just a mage. A Rank 7 mage.”

“She’s amazing. Still, I don’t want to learn magic yet. I should at least do one thing well.”

“Then what about the Namgung clan?”

Her questions continued.

Elena stared at Yuri with dim, heavy eyes.

“They’re a prestigious martial family. Is that why you didn’t refuse immediately?”

“They left before I could.”

“You could’ve answered before that. Was it something you had to think about?”

“Namgung Yuri,” Haryeong muttered.

“Yuri Namgung.”

“…?”

“If you have to choose one, I think Namgung Yuri sounds better.”

Elena’s dull eyes turned toward her.

But Haryeong kept talking casually.

“They said they’d take you in as a clan warrior and observe you before officially making you part of the family… Hm, adoption is ridiculous. They probably mean to take you as a son-in-law.”

“A son-in-law?”

“Why are you surprised? It’s common among prestigious families, East or West. Right now the Namgung main house has Lady Namgung Yeonbi, called the Azure Sky Sword Flower.”

Yuri knew of her too.

The Namgung clan’s precious youngest daughter, the Azure Sky Sword Flower Namgung Yeonbi.
She had left Lutran to train as an outer disciple at the famous Righteous Heaven Sword Sect.

“Of course, she’s far too much for Yuri-nim. They’d probably match you with some branch-family Namgung lady.”

“What’s wrong with Yuri?”

Elena suddenly snapped.

“Miss, why are you reacting to that?”

“I— I didn’t!”

“Ah, how frustrating.”

Haryeong thumped her chest without looking frustrated at all.

“Anyway, I’m in the Namgung Yuri camp. Yuri’s name suits an Eastern surname.”

She glanced at Elena’s face.

Elena couldn’t speak and only chewed her lip.

Though her expression didn’t change, the mischievous assassin clearly enjoyed her employer’s reaction.

“Stop saying weird things. I’m not becoming either.”

Grumbling, Yuri supported Bakered’s body.

He was still unconscious.

“I’m still injured too. Can’t you help?”

“You’re planning to support that giant all the way back?”

“I can’t just drag him.”

“Yuri-nim, when your brain is bad, your body suffers. I, being clever, will borrow a carriage. Wait here.”

—

—

He ended up alone with Elena.

The air felt strangely cold and awkward.

It felt like he should say something, but what?

He glanced at Elena, who looked colder than when they’d first met in Aldor.

“What are you staring at?”

“Then should I not look?”

“Don’t talk annoyingly. Got something to say?”

“Don’t worry for nothing.”

“What worry? I’m not worried.”

“Then never mind.”

At that, her expression softened slightly.

A few seconds passed.

“How’s your body?”

“Much better after the medicine.”

“If you want to join the Namgung clan, it’s okay to go.”

“I said I’m not going.”

“Then where will you go?”

“Not decided yet.”

“So you are going somewhere.”

Was it really like that?

Instead of answering, Yuri shrugged.

“Don’t leave without saying anything.”

Elena muttered quietly.

“Yuri, if you’re going somewhere, I won’t stop you. But don’t just disappear. At least tell me where you’re going.”

“…Okay.”

“And… and, um, before you leave alone. Go somewhere with me.”

“Where?”

“Don’t know. Haven’t decided. But we should go together.”

“I don’t really get what you’re saying.”

“We’ll take a request from the Adventurers’ Guild.”

She puffed her lips.

“Rank 3 isn’t dangerous. I can cover it alone. So come with me.”

“Why?”

“It’s better to start with someone experienced.”

She didn’t know what Yuri would do after leaving the mansion, but when they were young, his dream had been to become an adventurer.

*If possible, I hope he becomes an adventurer.*

She didn’t say it out loud, but she thought so.

Not just because of that childhood dream.

Being an adventurer was tough.

But it was still better than Yuri becoming a member of a martial clan like Namgung, or traveling alone with a Rank 7 mage like the Flame Vermilion Bird.

Better to wander freely.

Without settling anywhere.

And then—

*come back someday.*

Elena buried the words she couldn’t say in her heart.

Haryeong returned, pulling a carriage, and climbed onto the driver’s seat.

—