Failed Possession Chapter-49

Ch-49

—

**Finally.**

Becoming 5th Rank at the age of twenty-two was something extraordinary.

Right away, Lacy Yuzuha—who *had been called* the greatest talent in the history of the Dercia Magic Tower—reached 5th Rank at twenty-six, and the current Tower Lord, Heavenly Thunder Orca, had reached 5th Rank at twenty-eight.

The circumstances of the Rudella Magic Tower, closely tied to the Demonic Cult and shrouded in secrecy, were barely known, but even looking through the histories of other towers, there was no mage who had reached 5th Rank younger than twenty-two. Even Arsen, the apex of the Lucionel Magic Tower—called the Tower Lord among Tower Lords—had been of a lower rank than Elena at that age.

Among figures known to the public, there was only one person who had reached 5th Rank younger than Elena.

And even that person wasn’t a mage.

The Orsia family—a renowned martial clan regarded as the pinnacle among the western cartels.

Estor Orsia, the “Sword Dragon,” grandson of Alvator Orsia, the “Sword Emperor,” who stood opposed to the Heavenly Demon among the Martial Zeniths. He had shocked the world by reaching 5th Rank at the young age of twenty-one.

Slightly behind him, but if the range was widened to twenty-five, there were three more youths of the current generation who had reached 5th Rank.

From the Orthodox Heaven Alliance, Yeonri Eunha, the “Snow Princess,” grandniece of Yeonri Sang-ah, the Silver Martial Empress and one of the Four Absolutes.

Hwangbo Jincheol, the “Tyrant Dragon,” young lord of the Hwangbo family.

Paeng Wonyul, the “Dragon Slayer,” young sect master of the Severing Blade Sect, one of the Six Dark Sects of the Black Dragon Association.

All of them were prodigies whose superiority was impossible to judge even among the rising generation—people born into undeniable, prestigious bloodlines that had accumulated power and heritage.

Which made Elena Heinderga reaching 5th Rank at twenty-two all the more astonishing.

She had not received the privilege of noble blood.

An orphan from the rural city of Aldor.

A pure genius who earned Heavenly Thunder’s recognition through talent alone and entered the Dercia Magic Tower at ten years old.

‘So what’s so amazing about that?’

Yes, it was rare and extraordinary. But Elena wasn’t the only genius like that in the world.

Even the favored child of the Havert Magic Tower—about whom almost no information was publicly known—was said to be young. Perhaps others simply didn’t boast about it. There might well be more mages in other towers who reached 5th Rank around Elena’s age.

Besides, mages didn’t exist only within towers. Among independent researchers there could be young 5th Rank mages, and if one looked toward holy knights or priests of the church, the number would likely increase.

Even among martial artists, there were surely young 5th Rankers who simply weren’t well known.

So Elena’s achievement wasn’t overwhelmingly incredible.

Everyone in the Dercia Magic Tower making such a fuss was excessive—almost pathetic.

“….”

Arist Benharman bit down hard on her lip, chewing on those ugly, desperate thoughts she forced herself to continue.

A 5th Rank mage must go beyond common spells and develop their own unique formulas—and know how to utilize them. A “unique formula” meant one that surpassed 4th Rank spells: an original magic that actively employed soul power.

That was the academic standard.

Just as a 5th Rank martial artist could step into domains of aura they previously couldn’t even attempt, a 5th Rank mage could attempt what had once been impossible.

The alteration of magic through soul power.

For a mage, soul power was akin to the inner energy stored in a martial artist’s dantian. Just as inner energy took on characteristics depending on the martial arts one practiced, a mage’s soul power—infused into their very being—could be called the history of their life.

Simply put, if a lightning-attribute mage reached 5th Rank, they could alter even other-attribute spells into lightning without modifying the formula.

The first to change were the common spells all mages could use. Even a simple fireball, once altered with soul power, could vary wildly in destructive force.

“Excellent.”

The murmur of admiration from a 6th Rank mage of the Dercia Magic Tower irritated Arist.

Old mages who had long since given up challenging for the Tower Lord’s seat and instead devoted themselves to advancing the tower’s magic and their own studies. Seniors she always flattered and called respectfully.

Those stiff, crabby elders who rarely gave her a kind look—every single one of them was now watching Elena’s demonstration and praising it.

Flame Storm—a particularly difficult common spell.

Its difficulty came from having to control both fire and wind attributes simultaneously.

Easier than fusing multiple spells, yet still so hard it was called the wall of 3rd Rank.

…And Elena had added her soul power on top of it.

Fire, wind, lightning.

Three attributes melted into one spell, while she simultaneously cast five spells at once.

It was a demonstration that even 6th Rank mages couldn’t help but admire.

Even veteran 5th Rank mages wouldn’t be able to demonstrate magic this *easily*.

“So the next Tower Lord would be Lacy, I thought.”

“Lacy’s excellent, but purely in terms of potential, Elena might be better.”

“She’s seven years younger, after all.”

“And Elena was personally taught by the Tower Lord. That matters.”

“It was Lacy who stepped down from being a disciple candidate. She already built her own mental image. She rejected the Tower Lord’s tutelage because she had her own path.”

“It’s too early to compare them. Elena can build her own mental image from now. Rather than speculating about the next Tower Lord, we should simply bless the tower’s prodigy.”

“Heh, next Tower Lord? As if Lady Orca would ever retire.”

The mages chatted with satisfied smiles.

Elena Heinderga’s 5th Rank qualification review.

The very fact that a seat had been prepared meant her 5th Rank was already acknowledged. The result was decided before it began. Seniors offered blessings, rivals burned with ambition, juniors gazed in admiration.

Here, Arist was utterly isolated.

She had been removed from the disciple candidates two years ago. No longer a rival—so she couldn’t burn with drive. She couldn’t bless. She couldn’t admire.

All she had left was an inferiority that clawed at her heart.

She was still stuck at 4th Rank. Even filling the quarterly reports was exhausting.

But what tormented her most—

Orca no longer expected anything from her reports.

Not just Orca. Everyone at the Dercia Magic Tower.

Two years ago, Arist had been a young genius, one of three disciple candidates.

Now she was nothing special. Just another 4th Rank mage.

‘How…?’

She had known Elena was talented.

But twenty-year-old Elena hadn’t been like this.

Over two years, Elena had thrown herself into magic as if she were a different person.

It started after returning from Lagos.

Before going there, she always returned home daily. After returning, she barely went back, eating and sleeping at the tower. Maybe once every ten days she’d visit home, only to return the next day as if nothing happened.

Yet she didn’t stay only in the tower.

Whenever she developed new magic or needed data, she left Lutran.

Field tests. Data collection.

Everything was tested in real combat.

And not just against monsters.

Wanted criminals—especially martial artists of the Demonic Cult.

And cultists who worshiped evil gods.

Whenever there was even a rumor of sightings, Elena immediately departed.

For two years she lived like that.

An obsession that could only be called madness.

People had even started calling her **Mad Thunder**.

‘Did she… get possessed or something?’

Something must have happened in Lagos.

But even considering that, she’d changed too much.

“…Enough.”

Orca, who had been watching, spoke.

“I don’t think we need to see more. Any objections?”

None.

“Elena Heinderga. I, Orca Dercia, officially recognize you as a true 5th Rank mage.”

Applause erupted.

But Elena didn’t smile.

Watching her face from within the clapping crowd, Arist swallowed hard.

Who could possibly look at the current Elena and remember the “marigold” from two years ago?

The marigold had already withered.

Her once-lustrous golden hair now long past her waist, dry and coarse. Her sapphire-bright eyes dull. Pale skin. Dark shadows beneath her eyes.

Withered.

Yet still beautiful.

Even more beautiful for having withered.

Those hollow yet sharply focused, dull yet eerily glinting eyes made Arist swallow unconsciously.

And at the same time, she realized.

For the rest of her life—

she would never be Elena Heinderga’s rival.

“Thank you.”

Though she said thanks, her face didn’t look thankful at all.

*

*

“5th Rank, huh… wow, that’s amazing.”

The mansion was unchanged from a week ago.

A nearly lifeless living room. A cold dining table. An empty pantry. Thick curtains blocking sunlight. Stiff leather sofa. A messy bookshelf.

Only magic kept weeds from growing outside and dust from piling up indoors. Without it, the place would’ve looked haunted.

Haryeong strode inside.

“Seriously, why do you always keep the curtains closed? Miss Elena, did you secretly become a child of darkness or something?”

Swish—!

Sunlight poured in.

Elena, following behind, flinched.

“Ugh… t-too bright.”

“Anyone would think you live here all day. You just came back with me.”

“I like dark rooms.”

“That’s because you treat this nice house like a place just to sleep. And you barely even do that. Maybe four times a month?”

Elena only puffed out her lips and didn’t answer.

Though people called her **Mad Thunder**, and though at the Magic Tower she hardly spoke to anyone except Orca or Lacy—
when she was alone with Haryeong, her old self showed through.

Somehow or other, it had already been more than two years since Haryeong had served as Elena’s guard. In that time, a natural bond had formed. Not only did Haryeong know *why* Elena had become like this, she had gone through the same experience.

While Elena ate and slept at the tower, it was Haryeong who brought her the clothes she needed while grumbling and complaining. It was Haryeong who dragged her out to meals when she skipped food and even forced her to pay for them.

It was also Haryeong who followed her when she left the comfort of the city under the excuse of “field tests and experiments,” fighting dangerously perilous Demonic Cult martial artists and heretical cultists—and it was Haryeong who drove her dagger unfailingly into the throats and chests of those who tried to ambush Elena.

“Are you not going to pack?”

“Pack what?”

“Why pretend you don’t know? Miss Elena, the genius mage who reached 5th Rank at twenty-two. Surely it isn’t a secret known only to me that the Ascad family prepared a grand mansion in central Lutran as a gesture of respect for you?”

“I’m not going.”

Elena staggered over and collapsed onto the sofa like dried fish.

“What would I even do living alone in some huge mansion? This place is already big.”

“If you go, you won’t be alone. If you say the word, there’ll be cooks waking at dawn to bake fresh bread, and attendants who’ll smile and obey no matter how unreasonable your orders are.”

“When have I ever given unreasonable orders?”

“Do you really want me to say out loud how many times I had to suppress my killing intent toward you?”

“A-anyway, I’m not moving. Here is… more comfortable.”

Shielding the sunlight with her hand, Elena answered.

“If it’s so comfortable, why do you always live at the tower?”

“….”

“As a wise assassin, I know the reason well enough, but I won’t mention it and hurt your feelings. See how considerate I am.”

Through the gaps between her fingers, Elena’s eyes were narrowed in irritation, but since it wasn’t the first time she’d looked at her like that, Haryeong remained completely composed.

“I’m leaving tomorrow. How do you plan to live after that?”

“….”

“My advice is to just shake it off and move. If the environment changes, your mood might change too. If you hate an empty house, go to the bustling mansion—even if it’s just filled with servants.”

“…Do you really have to go?”

Elena straightened from her slumped posture. Her trembling eyes fixed on Haryeong.

It wasn’t the first time she’d asked that either. She’d already said it at least ten times this week alone.

But Haryeong’s attitude remained firm.

“I am your guard assassin.”

“….”

“I already failed to fulfill that role properly two years ago. The contract should have been terminated then. I only remained because I omitted information from the reports I had to send regularly to the Salho Gate.”

“Haryeong, I know you were looking out for me.”

“Yes, I was. But this is a different matter. When you were 4th Rank, I could guard you. But now that you’re 5th Rank, someone of the same rank cannot reasonably serve as your guard.”

“…So what? You’re still stronger than me.”

“Do you truly think so? I don’t. You’re no longer weak enough to need my protection. Rather, in a crisis, I might be the one needing yours.”

Keeping her usual expressionless face, Haryeong continued.

“And I’m a martial artist before I’m an assassin. I feel a sense of alarm that I haven’t focused on my own training during a mission that lasted over two years. So I’ll step down from this guard duty.”

“….”

“If you wish, I can arrange another guard for you, but I don’t recommend it. Hiring a 6th Rank assassin is extremely expensive. One year might cost as much as the Ascad family’s mansion.”

“I’m not hiring another guard.”

Elena barely replied and let her shoulders droop.

“Haryeong. Then… not as a guard… just… um, without a contract… would you stay by my side?”

“What kind of relationship is that supposed to be?”

“….”

“Miss, are you trying to claim some relationship you’re too embarrassed to even say out loud?”

“Friend!”

Unable to endure the teasing, Elena shouted.

“Stay as my friend.”

“In my opinion, that’s not what friendship is.”

“I-it’s just how I put it.”

“If you truly consider me a friend, shouldn’t you respect my decision too?”

“Ah, seriously…!”

Elena let out a long sigh and nodded.

“Fine, fine! Go then! I won’t stop you—go wherever you want!”

“You don’t need to say it like that. I’m leaving tomorrow anyway. Still, after serving you for over two years, shouldn’t we at least share a meal to say goodbye?”

“So where are you going? Back to the Salho Gate to train?”

Elena pouted and muttered.

Haryeong quietly looked at her.

For once, a faint curve appeared on her usually emotionless lips.

“I’m thinking of looking for Yuri.”

Elena’s face stiffened.

Yuri.

That name itself was taboo to her.

“It’s already been two years, and personally I’m curious and interested. I don’t know where he is, but if I try, I’ll find him.”

“….”

“What about you, Miss Elena? If you want, would you come with me to find Yuri?”

Elena’s expression turned cold. A sharp glint flashed in her dull eyes.

“I… I’m not going.”

Her face looked chilling, but her voice trembled weakly.

“Haryeong, if you… go… find him… I can’t stop you, but…”

“But?”

“Wouldn’t it be hard… to suddenly go see him…?”

“Miss.”

Haryeong tilted her head slightly, her faint smile deepening.

“Won’t you regret it?”

“….”

“Perhaps Yuri is waiting for you to come.”

Elena didn’t answer right away. She hugged her knees and stared blankly at the bright window.

“I’m not going.”

After a moment, she answered.

“I don’t… want to see Yuri.”

She muttered softly and looked back at Haryeong.

“So even if you meet him… you don’t have to tell him how I’m doing.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.”

She stared outside a little longer, then got off the sofa.

“I’m going to sleep.”

“Miss, the sun’s still high in the sky.”

“I’m tired from the evaluation and everything. Slept late last night too. So… I’m sleeping.”

“Skipping dinner? It’s our final meal before parting.”

“Wake me in the evening. No… never mind. I can wake up myself. You… just rest here or do whatever.”

Elena staggered up the stairs.

Her dry, longer hair—now no longer frizzing with static even when she used magic—she grabbed it in her hand.

A door she hadn’t opened once in two years caught her eye.

She forcibly looked away and headed to her own room.

Her room had changed a little.

The old doll that always sat on the bed—now sat by the window instead, turned to face outside.

Beneath the window was a desk.

Elena stared at it blankly.

In that desk drawer was a hairpin she couldn’t bring herself to throw away.

“…Ugh.”

Her chest throbbed and her stomach churned. Clutching her chest, she groaned and flopped onto the bed.

She had come up to sleep—

but sleep wouldn’t come.

“Hmm.”

After confirming she couldn’t hear footsteps anymore, Haryeong dropped onto the sofa.

‘Was I too mean?’

Thinking that, she hummed softly.

“I clearly told you—and even asked you to come with me, Miss Elena.”

Shrugging, Haryeong drew White fang from her waist.

Bathed in sunlight, the blade shone dazzlingly white.