Failed Possession Chapter-12

# Chapter 12.

—

‘What the hell is this bastard doing?’

He didn’t think there had been anything wrong with how he handled things.

Not opening the gate hadn’t even been Yuri’s decision, and he believed he’d explained the situation fairly politely.

The one who ignored everything, kept talking over him, and kept ringing the doorbell was that bastard. Fine — even that was whatever.

But climbing over the wall just because the gate wouldn’t open, calling him a “son of a bitch,” and trying to slap him out of nowhere?

That was clearly crossing the line.

“What the fuck? Did you just say ‘fuck’?”

Classic case of the one who farted getting mad.

The guy had already forgotten that *he* had yelled “son of a bitch,” and instead latched onto Yuri’s single “fuck.”

“How dare you… say ‘fuck’ to me, Namgung Jin?”

Namgung Jin’s face flushed red.

His shoulders trembled as if rage had shot straight to the top of his head.

Yuri was just as angry.

“You call me a son of a bitch and suddenly try to smack me, but me saying ‘fuck’ pisses you off that much?”

Thankfully, he hadn’t brought a sword.

But even without a sword, he had fists.

Namgung Jin glared at Yuri, fists shaking.

Even outside the gate he had sensed it — there wasn’t even a trace of internal energy from this unknown guy. No way someone that young had reached Return-to-Origin. And judging by his speech, he clearly wasn’t some old master rejuvenated through Reverse Aging either.

Which meant—

This guy was just an ordinary civilian with no martial arts at all.

And that only irritated Namgung Jin more.

The bastard had to be insane.

“If you kneel and beg right now—”

“Why the hell would I kneel and beg, you fu—”

There it was again. “Fuck.”

Namgung Jin didn’t hold back this time.

He knew his opponent was a normal person, so he didn’t use internal energy, but unlike before — when he’d just swung out of emotion — this strike was sharp.

First, he’d smash that arrogant nose.

His clenched fist shot straight toward Yuri’s face.

Unlike before, Yuri perceived everything this time.

Namgung Jin’s punch was far subtler and sharper than Oh Bong-chun’s attacks. He only realized it was aimed at his face at the very last moment.

But it didn’t feel impossible to dodge.

Maybe it was because the foul energy had drained from his body. Maybe meditation had worked.

Either way—

His body felt light.

His eyes, no longer aching, tracked the punch clearly.

His mind, no longer throbbing, immediately found the answer for how to respond.

Internal energy spread from his dantian through his whole body.

Tak!

He knocked the incoming fist aside.

The instant Namgung Jin’s arm opened—

Yuri’s fist shot forward.

‘What?’

Namgung Jin hadn’t expected a counterattack.

Startled, he dragged his foot back and leaned away.

Whoosh!

The wind trailing Yuri’s punch scattered his bangs.

“You bastard!”

Namgung Jin shouted and attacked again.

This time he mixed in footwork.

His staggering body suddenly slid to Yuri’s side.

The hooking punch once again targeted Yuri’s face.

Thud!

This time internal energy was loaded into the strike.

So instead of deflecting it, Yuri blocked with both hands—

And got launched backward.

He had anticipated it, though.

He landed a short distance away and stepped back to stabilize himself.

His palms throbbed. His bones ached.

“You blocked…?”

Namgung Jin didn’t pursue.

He looked genuinely shaken, alternating his gaze between his own fist and Yuri’s face.

He had used footwork to slip into a blind spot.

And yet it was blocked.

His movement had been read.

This bastard hadn’t missed a single motion.

“Fuck, what the hell are you trying to do?”

Yuri didn’t want to keep fighting.

Sure, he could follow the attacks for now, but that didn’t mean he could actually *fight*.

Namgung Jin was still holding back.

His body was light.

His eyes were sharp.

His mind clear.

He still had plenty of internal energy left.

He hadn’t even used **Blazing Burst Fist**.

Part of him wanted to try fighting seriously.

But he couldn’t.

If Namgung Jin really unleashed his internal energy, Yuri would lose for sure.

He had to stop this here.

“Y-you—”

“Yeah, you son of a bitch. Climbing over someone else’s wall like a thief. What the hell makes you so high and mighty that you try to beat people up?”

“W-what—”

“What, you fuck. Namgung Jin? Namgung Clan? Stop bullshitting, you petty thief.”

Even as he said it, Yuri knew the guy probably *was* from the Namgung Clan.

In Lutran, impersonating them would be insane.

“Y-you bastard! I *am* Namgung Jin of the Namgung Clan! Why would I hide my name?!”

“Oh, so climbing over someone’s wall in broad daylight and trying to slap a guest who was properly invited isn’t shameful? Something to brag about? You fake Namgung wannabe. That ‘noble’ Namgung Clan wouldn’t act this damn rude.”

People with status usually cared about face.

Especially prestigious families.

And this wasn’t just anyone’s house—

It was Elena’s. The favored child of the Dercia Magic Tower.

‘Golden Marigold? Is that nickname just because she’s blonde?’

That’s lazy as hell.

Shoving that thought aside, Yuri glared at him.

“You trespassed into Elena’s house, assaulted me, threatened me, and impersonated the Namgung Clan? You’re screwed now. Don’t even think about running.”

The mansion’s security magic had already activated.

Elena at the Magic Tower would notice.

Ha-ryeong at the inn would show up soon.

That would settle everything.

As for Yuri’s insults?

‘There was a misunderstanding. Sorry.’

Who the hell would blame Yuri here?

“You… you insolent…”

Namgung Jin trembled, unable to speak properly.

His worst habit was losing all judgment once anger flared.

But he realized things quickly.

This situation was absolutely not in his favor.

If it were some random house, fine—

But this was Elena’s. Thunderbolt Orca’s favorite.

There was no reason to sour relations with the Dercia Magic Tower over something this trivial.

The only way to resolve it peacefully was for him to lower his head.

“There… there must have been some misunderstanding. I thought you were an intruder—”

“What misunderstanding? Don’t talk nonsense. I already explained who I was. Just admit it — you got pissed because I didn’t open the door.”

Namgung Jin bit his lower lip.

He couldn’t deny it.

He had gotten annoyed.

Then angry.

And—

Seeing Yuri’s wet hair, like he’d just bathed—

Inside Elena Heinderga’s house—

He’d lost his mind.

“…So who exactly are you?”

“Shouldn’t you say something else first?”

“I… I still don’t know who you are. You say you’re a guest… I can’t even be sure Elena isn’t inside. So first, tell me your name and your relationship with her.”

Still being stubborn to the end.

Are all noble family brats like this?

Yuri simmered as he opened his mouth—

“Ha.”

He shut it again.

The gate was open.

Haryeong stood there, daggers in both hands.

In the entire week of travel, she had never once shown an expression.

But now—

Her face was something Yuri had never seen before.

“What… exactly is this?”

She looked genuinely dumbfounded.

Blinking wide eyes, she stepped into the garden.

“This is strange. I don’t see any other intruders…”

After scanning the yard, her gaze landed on Namgung Jin.

“…Which means the identity of the trespasser who broke into Lady Elena’s residence is… the fourth young master of the great Namgung Clan, Namgung Jin?”

“H-Haryeong…”

“If my judgment is mistaken, please correct me. But from what I see, Young Master Namgung Jin not only trespassed… but—”

The eyes that had been wide and round narrowed.

Haryeong looked at Namgung Jin’s footprints stamped into the garden soil, then at Yuri’s hand, red and swollen.

“It appears you used violence against Lady Elena’s guest, Yuri.”

“Th-that… there was a misunderstanding.”

“Young Master Namgung Jin. I find it difficult to imagine what kind of misunderstanding could exist in this situation. And even if there was one, you clearly crossed the line.”

Haryeong’s voice sank coldly.

She hid the daggers in her hands and continued.

“Considering your status, and the fact that there is little risk of you fleeing, I will temporarily withhold punishment.”

“Punishment…? Haryeong, did you just say punishment? You—a Salho Gate assassin—intend to punish me, Namgung Jin?”

Namgung Jin’s eyebrows twitched.

He glared at her, openly furious.

“Yes, that is correct. Please do not misunderstand. I, too, fear the authority of the Namgung Clan. But what can I do? As a Salho Gate assassin, I must carry out my contract thoroughly.”

“How dare—!”

“I don’t understand why you’re so angry, Young Master. If someone broke into the Namgung residence and attacked your household, what punishment would your clan give that intruder?”

After saying that, Haryeong shut the gate.

“Deciding your punishment is, naturally, Lady Elena’s authority. So please remain here and wait without moving.”

“…I told you, there was a misunderstanding.”

“I have already answered that. If you truly wish to explain this misunderstanding, do not speak to me—explain it directly to Lady Elena.”

Namgung Jin bit down on his lower lip.

Clenching and unclenching his fists in anxiety, he let out a short sigh.

“I will return to my clan and send a letter of apology along with proper compensation. So for now… just for today, allow me to leave.”

“A letter?”

Haryeong tilted her head.

“Why would you write a letter? The person you should apologize to is right there.”

Her finger pointed at Yuri.

“And Lady Elena will return soon. Surely… you don’t mean you wish to avoid facing her directly over this matter, Young Master Namgung Jin?”

“…”

“Wouldn’t it be better to simply bribe Yuri and me and ask us to pretend this never happened?”

“…Would you really let it go if I did?”

“No. That wouldn’t be possible. Yuri may not know, but I am under contract with Lady Elena.”

“I’m not taking a bribe either.”

Yuri answered with a frown.

“How unexpected. I thought you would.”

“What exactly do you take me for?”

“Regardless, Young Master Namgung Jin would likely offer a considerable sum to smooth this over. He is that broad-minded.”

Saying that, Haryeong approached Yuri.

“Are you injured—… hm. My apologies. I’m not blind; I can clearly see your hand is swollen.”

“Are you actually worried about me?”

“Of course I am. Do you have any other injuries?”

“My shoulder’s kind of stiff. And when I fell, maybe I stepped wrong—my ankle too.”

“Shoulder? Fell? What exactly happened?”

Namgung Jin, who had been nervously clenching his fists, quickly turned his head.

“Th-that—”

“Young Master Namgung Jin, I wasn’t asking you.”

Haryeong replied without even turning around.

Yuri glanced at Namgung Jin’s reddening face and said,

“I was attacked three times.”

“Three times?”

“Yes. First, he jumped down from that wall and tried to slap me. I dodged, but I twisted my ankle doing it.”

“A slap?!”

“Yes. Then he threw a punch at my face. I knocked it away, but I strained my wrist.”

“ face?!”

“Yes. And then… he suddenly vanished from the front and appeared beside me, swinging a punch. I panicked and blocked with both hands, and my body went flying through the air before I landed.”

“Young Master Namgung Jin… did you use footwork and internal energy as well?”

Haryeong stared at him, genuinely shocked.

The first two attacks being handled by Yuri wasn’t surprising. No matter how hot-blooded Namgung Jin was, a Namgung heir wouldn’t use martial arts against an ordinary civilian without internal energy. That wasn’t just conscience—it was the rule of the prestigious Namgung Clan, rooted in the Orthodox Heaven Alliance.

But from what she heard, he had clearly used footwork and even infused internal energy into his punch.

“I… I didn’t think that man was ordinary.”

“Don’t speak nonsense. Young Master, did you truly not know? That’s impossible.”

“…”

“If this had ended with more than minor injuries, what would you have done? And you aimed for his face? If he’d been unlucky, he could have died.”

“That’s why… I said I would apologize and compensate…!”

Namgung Jin’s voice trembled.

“To begin with, who exactly is this Yuri fellow? Haryeong! That’s the first time I even heard his name from you! No matter how many times I asked, he wouldn’t tell me! Isn’t it natural for me to be suspicious?”

“Why are you the one getting angry?”

“I’m not angry! I’m saying there was reason for misunderstanding! Who the hell is this guy that he’s inside Elena’s house, bathing, and you’re defending him?”

“Young Master Namgung Jin.”

Haryeong’s eyebrow twitched.

“I understand you’re agitated, but your attitude is excessive. I don’t see why I should be the one enduring your temper.”

“I told you, I’m not—!”

—Krrr—

Namgung Jin, pounding his chest in frustration, suddenly looked up in shock.

A thunderclap rang out from the clear blue sky.

“Good heavens.”

Haryeong was just as startled.

Reflexively, she grabbed Yuri’s wrist and pulled him back.

Yuri also stiffened, staring up at the sky.

A sound effect he had heard countless times in the game.

In Seronis, a sudden thunderclap meant only one thing.

[Heavenly Thunder Orca Dercia has appeared.]

There was no system text here—

But a bolt of lightning struck straight down into the middle of the garden.