Failed Possession Chapter-14

# Chapter 14

—

Heavenly Thunder Orca Dersia.

He had met her countless times in the game, died to her countless times, and killed her countless times.

Since the game had no illustrations, the only images he’d ever seen of Orca were crude graphics and some fan art based on them.

The real thing was unmistakably different.

Even the pressure she gave off was on another level.

This wasn’t Yuri’s first time meeting Orca Dercia.

Ten years ago.

When Orca received a letter from the head of the Aldor orphanage and grew interested enough to visit in person.

Yuri had hidden behind a wall and secretly watched Orca and Elena meet.

Elena, who had never properly learned magic, moving mana purely by innate talent and instinct.

Lifting the old, ragged ball the orphanage kids used to kick around without even touching it, making it float and move this way and that.

The little tricks she used to show Yuri with a silly grin—

But when she demonstrated them in front of Orca, her face stiff with tension and not a trace of a smile, the worn-out ball soared incomparably higher than when the kids kicked it.

Higher than ten-year-old Yuri could ever reach.

‘Excellent.’

After the tense demonstration, Orca had smiled gently at Elena.

Strictly speaking, what Elena had shown wasn’t magic but simple mana manipulation without spell formulas.

But for a ten-year-old child with no teacher to have that level of talent on her own—

That alone was enough to call her a genius.

‘Will you come with me?’

He’d heard that from afar.

‘Y-yes…’

He’d heard her breathless reply too.

The procedures were skipped.

Orca simply said, “I’ll take her,” and that was the end.

There wasn’t much luggage.

The orphanage might have been home to ten-year-old Elena, but the only thing she could take from that home was a single worn doll she always hugged to sleep.

‘Take care, Yuri.’

At the moment of parting, Elena had cried with snot running down her nose.

‘I’ll send a letter when I arrive. You have to reply. And later, I’ll definitely come find you.’

Back to reality.

Ten years ago, orphan Yuri couldn’t even stand before Heavenly Thunder Orca.

Naturally, Orca hadn’t given him a single glance.

But now—

Yuri stood right in front of her.

It wasn’t a meeting earned through any proud qualification, but just standing here gave him a strange feeling.

‘This might get me killed.’

More than sentiment, he felt danger.

He had never expected to face Orca like this.

No matter that Elena was a prospective disciple, she wasn’t alone, and this wasn’t even the Dercia Magic Tower.

‘Who’d have thought Orca would come here herself.’

And right now—

There was *interest* in Orca’s eyes.

She tilted her head slightly and examined Yuri’s face.

“You said you knew Elena from the orphanage? The one she used to send letters to sometimes.”

“Yes.”

“Hm. Then I may have seen you ten years ago. I don’t remember, though.”

“I’m sure you wouldn’t.”

“Let’s see.”

With a mischievous smile, Orca stroked her chin and inspected Yuri’s face like she was appraising livestock.

“Your face is decent enough. Looks a bit sly, though. Didn’t know this was Elena’s type.”

“I told you it’s not like that, Tower Master!”

Elena’s shout had practically become a scream.

She rushed forward to grab Orca, but Orca’s magic rejected her.

Mana moved instantly and formed a spell.

“Ghh…!”

Bound by magic, Elena twisted desperately, but escaping a spell personally cast by the Tower Master was impossible.

“You’re using magic for something like this?! Are you crazy?!”

“Most people would think you’re crazier for talking like that to the Tower Master.”

Orca chuckled and looked back at Yuri.

“I heard the story from Elena. You almost died in Aldor, so she went to fetch you herself.”

“Yes.”

“I also saw how that Namgung mutt attacked you earlier. Magic really is convenient.”

Her gaze slid downward.

Her golden eyes narrowed.

“Your body’s well trained. You’re good in a fight too.”

“Didn’t you hear how I lived?”

“I did. Something called the Black Snake Faction? A group pretending to be dark-path thugs.”

“Before that, I was a pickpocket. Pretty good at it too. Guess I had nimble hands. Back at the orphanage, I fought a lot too.”

Not lies.

Yuri really had been a troublemaker, and he’d never been caught pickpocketing.

“That’s the first I’ve heard of that. Seems Elena didn’t want to expose your dirty past.”

“Maybe she was embarrassed herself.”

“Haha. That does sound like her.”

Orca laughed softly and nodded.

“Lutran isn’t Aldor. If you keep old habits and try pickpocketing here, you’ll get caught fast.”

“What happens if you’re caught?”

“They cut your wrist so you can’t steal again.”

“Whoever cuts it probably isn’t as merciful as you, Tower Master, so I won’t be pickpocketing.”

At his smooth answer, Orca laughed again.

“Not just quick hands, quick tongue too?”

“My seniors weren’t merciful. If I said the wrong thing, they’d beat me with sticks.”

“You fight well. Guess those seniors were stronger than you.”

“Never fought them. Never will. They’re all dead except me.”

Yuri died too.

“So you survived. Means you were stronger.”

“Now I regret it. Should’ve rebelled instead of just taking hits.”

“I heard you don’t plan to learn magic yet.”

Orca grinned.

“Yes. I tried learning on my own but couldn’t. I’m more used to using my body, so if I learn something, it’ll be martial arts.”

“You know Elena’s sulking over that?”

“I’m not sulking!”

Elena screamed from within her restraints.

“I know,” Yuri answered calmly.

“I said I’m not!”

“But it can’t be helped. Magic… maybe someday, if I get the chance, I’d like to learn.”

“Learning is worth pursuing no matter how old you are. Magic especially.”

Orca nodded.

“Yuri, was it? You’re very lucky. You know that?”

“Yes. I’m living well thanks to having a good childhood friend.”

“Of course. Because of that friend, you’re about to consume something most people never even see — an **Azure Heaven Pill**.”

“I’m the one eating it?”

“Then who would? Me? Haha. I don’t need that. Elena? She could use it. But we got three, didn’t we? She’ll give you at least one.”

“….”

“The Azure Heaven Pill is quite a rare artificial elixir from the East.”

Rare, but not priceless.

Not so valuable that Namgung Jin could never part with it.

‘If I get close to Orca, could I score an elixir?’

The Ascard family’s artificial elixir.

In the game, one bottle boosted several levels and even raised base stats. At level 99, farming elixirs was standard.

“Of course, you can’t take it right away. Without a breathing method or mana cultivation technique, you’ll just get healthier — you won’t build internal energy.”

“Yes.”

“A breathing method… Elena will find one for you. Or should I?”

“There’s no reason for you to do that for someone not even affiliated with the Tower.”

“Well, you’re my cute disciple’s man. Not exactly a stranger.”

“That’s not what it is!”

Elena’s scream was practically despair now.

“Thank you, but I’m fine.”

He was tempted, but shook his head.

This might be a test.

Even if it wasn’t, he didn’t want a breathing method from Orca. That would tie him to her.

Besides—

He already had the **Evil-Quelling Heavenly Principle Technique**.

“You know how to refuse. Got some manners.”

Orca smiled mischievously.

“Was thinking of getting you one if you asked.”

So maybe not a test.

“From what little I saw, you’ve got talent for martial arts. Good fighters usually do. Maybe even magic too. You’ve never had a proper teacher.”

“I hope so.”

“Talking with you is fun. I’d like to go inside, drink that terrible tea, and chat more.”

She shrugged at Elena.

“But if I do, my cute disciple’s pleasant voice might break. So I’ll head back for today.”

For today?

Cold sweat ran down Yuri’s back.

“Thank you.”

“Polite too.”

“I’m enjoying this life thanks to my childhood friend. But you’re the one who made it possible for her to help me. And thanks to you, I even get an Azure Heaven Pill.”

“Good. As long as you know.”

She turned with a pleased smile.

‘Whew…’

Just as Yuri swallowed a sigh of relief—

“Oh, right.”

She turned back.

Her hand grabbed his.

“?!”

Bzzzt!

A current flowed through his hand.

Not an attack.

A mild electric current ran through his swollen wrist and into his body. His muscles twitched reflexively.

“You said you got hurt earlier. This much I can treat with magic.”

The ankle sprain and wrist strain had been lies.

But blocking that punch and getting thrown had been real.

It felt like magical electrotherapy.

The swelling visibly faded. His leg stopped aching.

“How is it? Want to learn magic now?”

“…Later. I’ll learn.”

“You’re startled. You think I’d roast you? No reason to.”

She chuckled and let go.

“I checked while treating you. Nothing serious. Your conditioning’s better than it looks. Pretty good build under those clothes, huh?”

“…What?”

“Your meridians are strong, very few blockages. But truly not even a speck of internal energy or mana. You were born with a good body. If you start martial arts now, you might beat that Namgung mutt within a few years.”

Having delivered that evaluation, Orca turned away.

“Now I’m really leaving. Play nice with my prospective disciple.”

“Eyes!”

Elena, who had finally stopped screaming and was panting hard, suddenly shrieked again.

“Yuri! Close your eyes!”

He knew what that meant.

Yuri quickly shut his eyes. Instead, he focused his senses and tried to read the flow of mana.

A massive amount of mana swelled around Orca, distorting the mana in the air itself.

—Bzzzt!

With the crackle of electricity, even the darkness behind his eyelids flashed white.

Thunder God Transformation.

The magic that symbolized Heavenly Thunder Orca—turning her body into lightning itself.

While in that state, she became immune to all physical attacks, and her evasion rose to the system’s maximum.

A nightmare matchup for a build centered on bare-handed physical attacks.

After countless attempts he had finally secured anti-Orca skills and incorporated them into his build, but during the trial-and-error phase, the matchup had been so terrible he’d deleted the game several times out of rage.

“…You can open your eyes now.”

Elena’s voice sounded drained.

After all the shouting, screaming, and wailing, her voice was slightly hoarse.

‘Even Orca Dercia couldn’t sense my internal energy.’

Not just visually—she had grabbed his hand and even sent current through his body.

And still she’d concluded he had not even a handful of internal energy or mana.

‘The Veil of Deception works even against someone at Tower Master level.’

The moment she grabbed his hand, he’d thought, *I’m screwed.*

Instead, he’d gained something huge.

If even Orca—one of Seronis’s top-tier mages—couldn’t detect it, then hiding the fact that he was a possessor would be much easier going forward.

“You okay?”

Yuri turned toward Elena.

Maybe because she’d struggled so hard against the binding spell, Elena was drenched in sweat, supported by Haryeong.

“Okay? Why are you asking me that?”

She glared at him, breathing heavily.

‘Why’s she snapping even when I’m worried about her…’

What a nasty personality.

“That’s what I should be saying…! Yuri, are you really okay? You’re not hurt anywhere? What Namgung Jin did to you—no, wait, what the Tower Master did—”

“I didn’t ‘get done in.’ She treated me. You saw it yourself. Why’re you asking?”

“You don’t know! When I was little, do you know how much the Tower Master tormented me? If I focused on a grimoire, she’d sneak up behind me and poke my neck with her finger—zap—just to scare me…!”

So basically flicking a lighter behind someone’s ear.

“I was surprised, sure, but I’m fine. I really got treated.”

He raised his hand, now completely free of swelling. Moving his wrist felt perfectly normal.

“…That’s a relief.”

Seeing his calm face, she finally relaxed.

Elena let out a long sigh and shook her head.

“Sorry. I… I should’ve said something. I didn’t even think about it. I never imagined that Namgung Jin guy would come to the house…”

“What’s your relationship with him?”

Honestly, he was curious.

The nonstop doorbell ringing, the way he lost it when he saw Yuri, Orca directly mentioning affection.

Maybe Elena and Namgung Jin were—

“What relationship? Don’t talk nonsense. And don’t get weird ideas!”

Did she have mind-reading magic or something?

“He’s just a guy who kept pestering me.”

“He even came all the way to the front of the Magic Tower asking her to have a meal with him,” Haryeong added while supporting Elena.

“Even as the fourth son, Young Master Namgung Jin is a legitimate heir of the Namgung family. And Lady Elena is a prospective disciple of the Dercia Magic Tower. In terms of background and talent he falls short, but still, it was a chance to become the daughter-in-law of the Namgung family.”

“Daughter-in-law? Don’t say something so horrifying…!”

“You never know. If Lady Elena had attended the meeting he arranged last week, the relationship might have developed in that direction.”

“Don’t misunderstand.”

Elena whipped around and shot Yuri a glare.

“He kept nagging me so much I was sick of it, so I just said I’d have one meal with him and get it over with. I was planning to say, ‘Sorry, but I have no intention of dating anyone right now, I’m busy focusing on magic, so I can’t reciprocate your feelings,’ and then leave…!”

“I see.”

Unlike her hurried explanation, Yuri remained calm.

“So that’s what you meant by giving something up to come get me. You skipped your dinner appointment with Namgung Jin.”

“Does that even count as something worth giving up?”

Her trembling gaze shifted to Haryeong.

“Haryeong, you didn’t need to say all that…!”

“I think it was quite valuable. Do you know how many women would want a dinner that might lead to marriage with the fourth son of the Namgung family?”

“I wouldn’t!”

“Apparently Young Master Namgung Jin didn’t think so. That’s why, when he heard you were back, he came straight here and this whole mess happened. In the end, it’s your fault for standing him up without a word.”

“Haryeong, are you taking his side right now?”

“Am I insane? Of course I’m not siding with that Namgung whatever. I’m just stating the facts.”

Haryeong replied with her usual expressionless face, absentmindedly checking her arm.

“Still, I never expected Lady Orca to come in person. I was so startled I almost ran away.”

“Why would you run?”

“I told you before. These days her temperament’s mellowed, but until fifteen years ago, Lady Orca absolutely despised assassins.”

“She still does.”

“Perhaps. But for some reason she decided to tolerate the Salho Gate. The fact that I’m assigned as Lady Elena’s guard proves it. Back when I was a trainee, I heard many stories about her.”

“That’s all old history.”

“Even so, the fear from those stories remains. In the past, more than ten Salho Gate assassins died just because they caught Lady Orca’s eye. All killed while on escort missions. Including other assassin sects, probably ten times that number died by her hand.”

So Orca used to hate assassins here too.

He wondered what had changed her mind enough to tolerate the Salho Gate, but since Haryeong didn’t know either, there was no point asking.

“Well, this is awkward.”

Walking back into the manor with Elena and Haryeong, Yuri spoke up.

“I said I’d cook, but I still haven’t.”

“It’s fine. I came back early anyway, and you got dragged into all this.”

Even though she said it was fine, he remembered the look on her face before she left earlier.

“Rest. I’ll make food now.”

“Huh…?”

“What, are you hungry already?”

“N-no.”

Elena shook her head quickly.

“I’m fine. I rushed over while rewriting the contract, so I need to go back.”

“I wasn’t planning to give you any.”

“I was the first one to rush here for you, and that’s how you treat me?”

“Doesn’t look like that on your face.”

“My face always looks like this.”

Chatting like that, they entered the manor.

‘The Azure Heaven Pill…!’

More than anything else, the thought of taking one made his heart pound.