Failed Possession Chapter-63

## Ch-63

—

A great deal had gone awry from the original plan today.

Yuri’s intention had been to infiltrate the cult’s assembly itself through Point Ignition.

At the gathering, he would meet other Possessors, trade on the name “Cat Panties,” mix in lies about having shared secret and private conversations in reality with someone called “Pad-lip Immune,” a fellow from the same hometown, and pry information out of them.

After that, when the “Bishop” arrived, he would look for an opening, slip out of the assembly before receiving the “baptism” that made one a cultist, and, if possible, even attempt to assassinate the Bishop.

If things went well enough to reach the brink of assassination, he would wring as much information as possible about the cult before killing him.

All of that had been thrown into chaos by Sword Dragon’s sudden charge and the Young Cult Leader’s intrusion.

‘Still, didn’t it turn out well?’

He killed Point Ignition quickly before the man could spout nonsense. The Bishop—an 6th-Rank mage—the Withered Old Crone, was also eliminated without great damage.

He failed to communicate with the other Possessors, but instead he had made contact with the Orsia family’s Sword Dragon and the Demonic Cult’s Young Cult Leader.

Saving the Young Cult Leader’s life, in particular, would count as quite an achievement. Thanks to that, he was even called “Benefactor” by one of the Seven Evils—now locked as **Shadow Sword**.

And the Young Cult Leader herself likely had a favorable impression of Yuri. He had saved her life and given her a mask.

It wasn’t just her. Even Sword Dragon, walking a little ahead, was showing considerable interest in Yuri. When Yuri first saw him recklessly charging into the assembly, he had taken him for a lunatic. But after exchanging a few words, he seemed far more decent than that bastard from the Namgung clan.

On top of that, they had obtained the location of the Withered Old Crone’s residence. It was regrettable that she self-destructed before they could interrogate her, but searching her dwelling might reveal more information about the Chaos Cult.

“Demonic Cult’s Young Cult Leader, one of the Seven Evils—Shadow Sword—and the Orsia family’s Sword Dragon.”

For once walking quietly at his side, Haryeong spoke. She tapped the fox mask hanging by her temple with her finger and glanced at Yuri.

“As expected of you, Yuri-nim. The man of 3.5 billion who shocked Lutran two years ago. Once you set your mind to moving, you stir upheaval wherever you go.”

“Seems your tongue’s loosened up now.”

In the past, when Haryeong spouted such nonsense, Yuri tried not to refute her and simply let it slide. But things were different now. Two years alone had changed him. So he did not back down.

“Earlier you were trembling and keeping your mouth shut. Now that the ghosts are gone, are you feeling better?”

“Yuri-nim, you are under a strange misunderstanding. Trembling? I was never trembling.”

“Really? A moment ago you were hunching your shoulders and calling for a mother who isn’t even here.”

“Bringing up my parents crosses a line.”

“Wait, Haryeong-nim. Don’t move.”

When Haryeong’s expression stiffened, Yuri’s did as well. He stopped abruptly and glared past her shoulder.

Haryeong froze. She halted, staring at him with tense eyes.

“W-what is it.”

“Behind you!”

At his sudden shout, Haryeong leapt straight into the air.

The sight filled Yuri with a wave of nostalgia.

His tiny rented room on Earth.
The phone he clutched before sleeping.
The short, one-minute videos he absentmindedly scrolled through.

The ones that captivated him most were videos of cats doing astonishingly foolish things—especially those that startled and leapt straight up or bolted away.

Haryeong’s reaction was exactly like that. Her tail didn’t puff up, nor did her back fur bristle—but her tightly hunched shoulders rose sharply.

“My mistake,” Yuri said before she could speak.

“…”

Haryeong pressed her lips tight and glared at him. The killing intent in her eyes surpassed even when she had stared down the Blood Fiend Ghost two years ago. The angle of her brows might as well have set a new record.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Because I genuinely want to kill you.”

“Let’s not use such harsh words between us.”

“Between us? What are we, exactly?”

“Older sister and younger brother, acquaintances, close friends—”

“So you want to die, Yuri?”

She snapped immediately.

“You’ve got some serious disrespect toward your noona. Where did you learn such rotten pranks?”

“Y-your speech is rather crude…”

“Pull that kind of stunt again and you die by noona’s hands.”

She adjusted her expression after saying that, forcing herself to ignore the cold sweat trickling down her spine.

“You’ve gotten quite nasty now that your martial arts have improved. Back when you were weak and innocent, you were rather cute. But Yuri-nim, don’t forget— I am an assassin skilled at stabbing from behind, not from the front.”

“Yes, Dark Blossom-nim.”

“Do you know what it means when ‘flower’ appears in a title?”

Haryeong returned to her usual blank expression and puffed out her chest.

“Youth. Exceptional beauty. Outstanding skill. Only when all three are present does one earn ‘flower’ in their epithet.”

In the titles of rising young talents, “Flower” and “Dragon” carry great meaning. Exceptional young men bear “Dragon” in their titles; exceptional young women, “Flower.”

An exception would be Snow Lady Yeonri Eunha, niece of the Silver Martial Empress. As heir to the famed Yeonri clan and inheritor of the Silver Martial Empress’s true teachings, she bore the title Snow Lady.

“You’re not exactly young, Haryeong-nim.”

The moment Yuri muttered that, she finally lost patience.

Smack! Her foot struck his shin.

“Ow.”

“Don’t make that sound when it doesn’t even hurt.”

In truth, her own leg throbbed more than his.

“I understand you harbor many misconceptions about me. My age is a secret, but I am not so old as to lose the right to ‘flower.’”

“So how old are you?”

“It’s a secret.”

Throughout their banter, Sword Dragon remained silent. In truth, he wanted to join the conversation, but the familiarity between Thunder Cloud and Dark Blossom made it difficult.

‘Thunder Cloud… Dark Blossom…’

Sword Dragon was not ignorant. He knew the titles Full Moon Play and Fist Wolf, but “Thunder Cloud” meant little to him.

He vaguely remembered hearing of a youth acknowledged by the two 2-years ago—but little more. The youth’s movements afterward had not been clear.

As for Dark Blossom, he knew of her through—formerly Golden Marigold of the Dercia Magic Tower, now more often called “Mad Thunder,” a fierce young witch.

Dark Blossom was said to be her guard—an assassin from the Salho Gate personally connected by Heavenly Thunder. Little was known of her origins, but she earned her title through exceptional skill and beauty.

‘Charged recklessly at cultists earlier, now he’s just glancing back and keeping quiet.’

Watching Sword Dragon sneak glances, Yuri thought so.

“Did you wish to say something to us?”

Since Sword Dragon seemed reluctant, Yuri asked first. If possible, it would be better to become friendly with him as well.

“He must be staring because my uncovered face is unexpectedly beautiful,” Haryeong muttered flatly.

“This is all because Yuri-nim spouted nonsense earlier. Sword Dragon likely assumed my face was shattered beyond showing. But then—what’s this? Beneath the mask, a lovely face. Naturally, he’d be surprised.”

“You’re shameless.”

“So my face is shattered, is that what you’re saying?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

He refused to admit it outright.

Sword Dragon cleared his throat several times before slowing his steps.

“I was surprised by the face beneath the mask. And… by the fact that Thunder Cloud was using face-changing arts.”

“You were cursing and speaking casually earlier. Why are you suddenly being polite?”

“We hadn’t exchanged names then.”

He awkwardly matched Yuri’s stride.

“Forgive my rude question. I know nothing of the title Thunder Cloud.”

“I have rarely acted in the open.”

“Have you done wicked deeds?”

“Not excessively virtuous ones, but not wicked either.”

“Hm… well. I do not discriminate between righteous and unrighteous paths. I, Estor Orsia, believe I can befriend anyone who is not of the Demonic Cult or a heretical cult.”

He cleared his throat again.

“What is the relationship between you two? From what I hear, you’ve known each other long.”

“Yuri-nim was a childhood friend of Lady Elena, whom I served until recently,” Haryeong answered.
“Two years ago we interacted closely, and I taught him the basics of martial arts.”

“The basics…?”

Sword Dragon staggered in shock.

“Lady Elena means Mad Thun— no, Golden Marigold. Two years ago you learned the basics? Then, Thunder Cloud, your age… You are the same twenty-two as I, and only entered martial arts two years ago?”

“That is correct.”

Sword Dragon stopped walking entirely.

“Ha… haha… hahahaha…”

He let out an empty laugh.

“Indeed… the world is vast.”

After laughing briefly, he stared blankly at the sky.

“This is not boasting, but I was born with blessed talent in an excellent environment. I have received ample support and worked diligently. Naturally… I believed that among those my age, I was the most outstanding.”

Among young talents: Golden Marigold of Dercia Magic Tower. Snow Lady of the Yeonri clan. Tyrant Dragon of the Hwangbo clan. True Dragon of the Dancheon Sect.

Sword Dragon had believed himself foremost among them.

“But today, the sky I had narrowed collapsed. The Demonic Cult’s Young Cult Leader—so many rumors, yet she seemed little different from me in age or skill. And you, Thunder Cloud… same age, same Rank, yet only two years in martial arts…”

“By fortunate encounters,” Yuri answered quickly.
“It’s true I learned from Fist Wolf two years ago, but I gained several fortuitous opportunities.”

“Fortuitous opportunities?”

“Yes. In Lutran I received elixirs and martial arts from Heavenly Thunder. And in Lagos as well.”

“Lagos—the Rift of Chaos?”

“Yes. As you know, rare opportunities occasionally arise in Rifts.”

Orsia’s greatest headache was the refugees occupying lands outside the city—born of the Rift at Lanalsa fifty years ago. Panteleon lay near Lanalsa; Orsian knights were duty-bound to manage that Rift.

Thus Sword Dragon knew well of opportunities born in Rifts. Several Orsian knights had indeed benefited from the Lanalsa Rift’s surges.

“Isn’t that so?”
Yuri said, glancing at Haryeong.

There had been no miraculous encounters in Lagos two years ago. But Haryeong was not so tactless as to honestly reveal that day’s truth here.

“Do you know what Yuri-nim’s nickname was when he was in Lutran?”
“I don’t.”
“‘The Three-Fifty Million Man.’”

Yuri had heard the name before but never understood it. When Sword Dragon blinked in puzzlement, Haryeong answered casually.

“Yuri-nim came to the capital with nothing, and within a month he had earned thirty-five hundred million. I’ve met a lot of people, but I’ve never seen anyone luckier than Yuri-nim. Penniless to that amount—does that even make sense? If you ask me, Yuri-nim’s greatest talent isn’t martial skill; it’s simply luck.”

“Huh…”

Though born with the Orsia family’s golden spoon, Sword Dragon was not completely numb to money. He knew how enormous thirty-five hundred million would be to a penniless commoner.

“Yuri-nim proved that impossible luck even in Lagos. Before arriving at Lagos I joked that you might encounter a rift boon, but I never expected you actually would.”

“Huh…”

“You also found other Fortuitous opportunities after leaving Lagos. Without those, you wouldn’t have reached your current level.”

They didn’t go into the details of those Fortuitous opportunities, and Sword Dragon didn’t press further. Fortuitous opportunities—especially those tied to martial techniques—were naturally kept secret.

“So he gained elixirs and techniques, then,” Sword Dragon said with a knowing grin.

“Indeed. Thunder Cloud, you are fortunate; it benefited me as well. Had it been only us, killing that old crone would have been difficult. Not impossible, but it would have required much resolve.”

“I still think becoming entangled with the Demonic Cult was ill fortune.”

“Haha, perhaps. But I gained much today. I killed a cult Bishop, learned how wide the world is, realized I’d been a frog in a well, met the Young Cult Leader whose existence was mostly rumor, sparred with Shadow Sword—who’s said to be nearly a Sword Demon in the Cult—and…,”

Sword Dragon paused, looking at Yuri and Haryeong.

“Meeting you two feels like a great stroke of luck.”
“You flatter us.”
“No—no flattery. Thunder Cloud, Dark Blossom, I hope our meeting doesn’t end here.”

He bowed politely.

“I would like to invite you as guests of the Orsia family. I pledge my honor and name that you will be treated without discomfort.”

“How can I refuse when you bow and insist? It’s an honor to be invited—please raise your head.”

Sword Dragon smiled and lifted his head after hearing their reply.

“Thank you for not refusing. We’ll soon reach that old witch’s residence; let’s search quickly and return together.”

“All right, Sword Dragon.”
That answer came from Haryeong. Sword Dragon blinked at her suddenness.

“You said you were twenty-two?”
“Well, yes, but—”
“Haryeong, don’t.”
“I was only joking to ease the stiff mood.”

“Ah… I’m fine,” Sword Dragon stammered.

“Good, Sword Dragon,” Yuri added lightly. Sword Dragon’s expression flickered through a complex mix of emotions.

“All right then, Thunder Cloud.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Sword Dragon nodded with effort and accepted.

*

*

The witch’s residence was a shabby, ordinary building tucked into a side alley of the busy district. Like J
Point Ignition’s shanty, complex magics were woven through the structure.

Luckily, the magics didn’t trigger simply because someone neared. Whether to flaunt her status as a high-rank mage or to secure the place, the security enchantments were delicately crafted: they would activate only if someone forced their way in.

“Magic,” Sword Dragon muttered. Yuri stood and stared at the building to judge the spells. If they forced an entry, it would instantly signal the Withered Old Crone and trigger her interception measures.

Fortunately the crone was already dead; if they forcibly broke the spells, it shouldn’t pose a major problem.

“Can you dispel it?” Yuri asked.

“Not with my magic,” Sword Dragon replied.

He drew his broken sword—the one split in his duel with Shadow Sword.

“Then cut it.”
“You can do that?”
“Thunder Cloud, you saw earlier, right? There’s nothing the Orsia Radiant Blade cannot sever.”

It sounded like bragging, but it was true that Sword Dragon’s Radiant Blade had cleaved through the spells the witch had unleashed. Yuri and Haryeong naturally positioned themselves to guard him.

Sword Dragon concentrated ki into the shattered blade. Roaring, gold energy swelled and clung to the sword.

‘About three minutes,’ Yuri thought.

After a time like boiling a cup of noodles, the Radiant Blade was ready. Sweat beaded on Sword Dragon’s brow; even with deep internal power, manifesting the Radiant Blade at his present state demanded strain.

Crackle—!
As Sword Dragon advanced with the Radiant Blade, the enchanted wards in the walls reacted. The immense mana in the blade collided with the building’s mana, warping the untriggered runes and tearing fissures in the space itself.

‘I see.’

The Radiant Blade could sever magic because it created such ruptures—like making a clean incision through a spell.

“Inhale.”

With a short breath he swung. A golden stroke split the fissure and scattered the enchantments.

“It’s done.”
Sword Dragon exhaled deeply and sheathed the blade. The technique was burdensome, but it proved that Orsia Radiant Blade tactics could counter magic.

‘Can I do the same?’ Yuri wondered. Evil Quelling Heavenly-Principle1 can burn mana and magic; with focused intent it might be possible. The Blazing Brust Fist technique—by ignoring defensive bindings and scorching internally—could, if inverted, provide countermeasures against magic.

‘I should think it over.’

Seeing Heavenly Thunder’s technique and the Radiant Blade broadened Yuri’s perspective. Whether or not he liked being called the Three-Fifty Million Man, having witnessed those things firsthand had been fortunate.

“Let’s go in.”
Sword Dragon wiped sweat from his brow and led the way.

‘Maybe there’s a grimoire inside,’ Yuri thought. Information on the cult mattered, but there was also hope for magical tomes. The Withered Old Crone was a sixth-rank mage; even if he wouldn’t use her unique magic, just reading a high-rank grimoire had value.

The wards had been neatly cut, so there was no interception when they opened the door.

“How lavish,” Yuri said frankly as he followed Sword Dragon inside.

Though the exterior was worn, the interior was ostentatious—far beyond Point Ignition’s shanty.

But the air smelled strangely artificial. Not foul, but unnaturally clear.

The reason was obvious.

In the first room, shelves were lined with large glass jars containing human and animal organs and chunks of flesh.

“…”

The display—set among other ornate furnishings—was grotesque and chilling. Yuri glanced at Haryeong’s blank face, then leaned toward her and began to speak.

“Wak—”

Slash!
A fierce slap landed across Yuri’s cheek. Caught off-guard, he blinked; Haryeong glared coldly and raised her hand again.

“I told you you’d die,” she said.
“Sorry.” Yuri apologized plainly for his lapse in judgment.
“Don’t die—search.”
“…?”
“Sorry.”
Again Yuri apologized.

“You’re insane.”
Haryeong’s expression twisted slightly, then she answered belatedly.