Failed Possession Chapter-67

## Ch-67.

—

Yuri and Haryeong were each given an empty room in the estate.

The Orsia Family, said to possess strength surpassing even the Five Great Eastern Clans or the great sects, was extraordinary down to its butlers.

Not only were their bodies well-trained, but their disciplined movements left no openings.

In fact, the butler named Bairen had appeared even in the game—a named NPC. Unlike other named NPCs, he did not carry a sobriquet, but he had been a high-level NPC exceeding level 70.

Accounting for the more than thirty years that had passed, Bairen was likely a Seventh Rank powerhouse.

In the Orsian Knight Order, one only became an apprentice upon reaching the Fourth Rank. The average was Fifth Rank, with many at Sixth Rank, and executive ranks likely at Seventh Rank.

It meant that the powerful figures known to the world were not limited to the Martial Zeniths or the Magic Tower Lords. To begin with, the minimum requirement to enter the ranks of the Martial Zeniths was Seventh Rank—those who had preserved that title for long had surely crossed the Seventh Rank threshold long ago.

‘Just Heavenly Thunder Orca alone is probably Eighth Circle by now.’

Yuri did not know Full-Moon Play’s Rank exactly. Probably not Eighth Rank—there could be vast differences even within the same Rank, so perhaps late Seventh Rank.

The reason Yuri found himself thinking so much about Seventh Rank was Corpse Dissolution Reversion, which he had obtained from the Old Crone’s house. On the martial side, thanks to the Evil-Quelling Heavenly Principle Technique, he had been able to enter higher realms first—but he did not know whether magic worked the same way.

Magic and martial arts were different. Martial ranks were not determined solely by the amount of internal energy stored in the dantian, but magical rank placed heavy emphasis on something called soul power.

That was because soul power was an entirely different force from internal energy or mana. Soul power was the mage’s soul itself—similar to a martial artist’s intent, but not identical. How thoroughly one honed the soul, fused it with magic, and perfected it determined a mage’s Circle.

Possessors possessed talent specialized for magic. Thanks to that, Yuri had been able to focus on martial arts while still using magic as a supplement. But to properly wield Withered Eternal Source from Corpse Dissolution Reversion, he would need to seriously train in magic as well and strengthen his soul power.

‘Magic…’

Was it really necessary just for a single formula? That was the wrong way to think. The Immortal spirit’s Withered Eternal Source was a formula more than worth the time and effort. If Yuri reached Seventh Rank and mastered it completely, he would become an already-hard-to-kill martial artist who was practically a walking corpse—one who could gain the upper hand against most opponents, mage or warrior alike.

‘It’d be hard to tear Withered Eternal Source apart and rebuild it into martial arts with my current ability.’

It was true that a Possessor had talent for magic, but even a diamond needed to be cut to shine. The late Point Ignition’s failure to rise beyond Fifth Circle was not due to lack of talent alone.

In the end, environment mattered.

Yuri’s ability to reach Fifth Rank at his age was because, upon possession, he had learned the Evil-Quelling Heavenly Principle Technique, consumed the Azure Heaven Pill, and mastered the Rantian Flowing Cloud Fist and the Violet Thunder Flash Art. He had laid his foundation by learning peak-tier martial arts and receiving instruction from Fist Wolf.

But on the magical side, his learning was lacking.

“Ah.”

As he sat in a plush chair, pondering magic, something suddenly struck him.

Flame Vermilion Bird Harabel Ushia.

Two years ago, Flame Vermilion Bird had asked whether he would come along.

—If you follow me, I won’t treat you poorly.

She had said she would teach him first, and if he failed to meet her standards, she would not take him as a disciple but would at least use him as a menial. He could not bring himself to seek Orca for instruction in magic—but perhaps he could negotiate with Flame Vermilion Bird over magic.

‘I’ll keep it in reserve for now.’

He would dig into Corpse Dissolution Reversion on his own first, and if it proved too much, he could seek advice from Flame Vermilion Bird or another archmage then. Yuri settled on that conclusion.

“What’s with you all of a sudden?”

Haryeong, who had been sprawled across the large bed, pushed herself upright and asked. Having been given the adjacent room, she was now naturally in Yuri’s room.

“Do you know anything about Flame Vermilion Bird’s whereabouts?”

“That’s an awfully random question.”

“It’s because of the magic we found in the Old Crone’s house.”

“Don’t tell me you plan to sell it to Flame Vermilion Bird.”

“No. I’ll try learning it on my own, and if it doesn’t work out, I’ll ask her for instruction.”

“Huh.”

Haryeong looked surprised.

“If you truly need instruction, couldn’t you ask Orca… or Lady Elena?”

“Say something sensible.”

“Maybe not Orca, but Lady Elena doesn’t seem like she’d refuse.”

“What face do I have to go asking Elena?”

Yuri replied with a frown. Haryeong watched his expression closely, then shrugged.

“Well, if you don’t want to, don’t. As for Flame Vermilion Bird’s whereabouts—I may be a well-informed assassin, but I don’t know everything.”

“So you don’t know?”

“I wouldn’t say that. I’ve heard quite a few rumors. Flame Vermilion Bird causes incidents wherever she goes. As far as I know, the last place she was seen was Surt Volcano.”

“After the essence of fire again? They say it only opens once every hundred years.”

“Probably not. Surt Volcano, where lava flows like rivers, is a hellfire pit where an ordinary person couldn’t last even a day. But to mages who command flame, overflowing with fire essence, it’s like a holy land. Flame Vermilion Bird is likely there to elevate her realm.”

—Knock, knock.

Not long after Haryeong finished speaking, a knock sounded.

“Come in.”

He had already read the presence beyond the door, so he wasn’t surprised when they entered.

Sword Dragon and the Sword Emperor stepped into Yuri’s room together.

It seemed their grandfather–grandson conversation had ended. Yuri and Haryeong rose to greet them.

“So you were together.”

The Sword Emperor’s eyes gleamed with interest at the sight of the two standing side by side.

“Are you lovers, by any chance?”

If Yuri had been drinking tea, he might have sprayed it straight at the Sword Emperor’s face. Fortunately, he wasn’t drinking anything.

“No.”

“It’s a secret.”

The answers came simultaneously. Yuri openly shot Haryeong a foul look. If it wasn’t, it wasn’t—what secret was there?

[We didn’t say we were.]

[Please don’t make statements that invite misunderstanding.]

[A person needs one or two secrets to seem as mysterious as I do.]

Yuri already had more than enough secrets and wanted no more.

“Which is it?”

At the conflicting answers, the Sword Emperor tilted his head. After giving Haryeong a warning glance to stop her from saying anything unnecessary, Yuri answered again.

“We’re not in that kind of relationship.”

“Hm, I see.”

The Sword Emperor nodded lightly. He had only asked out of curiosity—it wasn’t a question of great importance.

“Estor.”

“Yes.”

Sword Dragon held a large box—one that was extraordinary at a glance. Covered in gold and adorned with beautifully cut jewels, the box alone looked worth hundreds of millions, and intricate magic protected the container itself.

Stepping forward, Sword Dragon grinned at Yuri and Haryeong. *Click.* He pressed the side of the box. The jeweled ornaments shifted slightly, and the lock released.

—Whooo…

As the box opened, the air in the room changed. A brilliant fragrance drifted through the space, as though standing in the heart of a flower garden in full bloom, and mana dissolved into the air so thickly it could only be described as viscous.

“Do you know what this is?”

Sword Dragon asked with a confident smile—but Yuri and Haryeong were speechless.

They stared into the box as if entranced. Inside were two bottles, adorned like the box itself with gold and finely cut jewels. The magic placed upon the bottles, however, was far more complex than that on the box.

Magic designed to perfectly protect and preserve the contents.

“W-what… is this?”

Yuri asked haltingly, staring blankly at the bottles. It was the reaction Sword Dragon had expected.

“It’s an elixir from the Ascad Family.”

Sword Dragon answered with a grin—and Yuri’s mouth fell open.

The Ascad Family’s artificial elixir.

Among artificially manufactured elixirs, it was considered the pinnacle—and among natural elixirs, anything less than several thousand years old could not even be compared to it.

Even in the game, it was a difficult item to obtain. Because it allowed stat growth even at max level, it was an item one absolutely had to grind for.

“E-elixir?”

Even Full-Moon Play had carried out requests for the Ascad Family in order to receive an elixir as payment—it was that valuable.

Yuri stammered again, unable to believe it.

An elixir—something one could only glimpse in the late game—was now right before his eyes.

“This is too much.”

It was Haryeong who spoke. She composed her expression, still shaken, and looked at the Sword Emperor and Sword Dragon.

“An elixir of the Ascad Family is a treasure that cannot be purchased no matter how much money one offers.”

Even for the Ascad Family, producing one elixir in a year was considered a successful year. In bad cases, they could go several years without producing a single bottle.

An elixir so painstakingly and arduously made was subjected to strict management and never released onto the market. No matter how much money one carried to the Ascad Family’s doors, it was impossible to buy an elixir from a family counted among the richest on the continent.

There was only one way for an outsider to obtain an elixir: to build enough rapport for the Ascad Family to gift one, or to perform a deed worthy of receiving one as recompense. No matter how outstanding or powerful, at the Fifth Circle it was absolutely impossible to obtain an elixir.

“Too much? I do not think so.”

The Sword Emperor spoke.

“You played a decisive role in resolving Panteleon’s long-standing problem, and you saved the life of my only heir—the one called the future of Orsia.”

“But…”

“And this is also an investment.”

A faint smile curved the Sword Emperor’s lips.

“You are young and brimming with talent. Most of the world is mediocre. The gifted are common. Geniuses are rare. And among those rare geniuses, the two of you appear exceptional.”

“…”

“Before I am the Sword Emperor, I am the Patriarch of Orsia. I wish to form ties with young talents who will one day surely make their names known. What I desire is simple—that you do not forget today’s gift, and that you regard the Orsia Family favorably in the future. And that you maintain your connection with my foolish grandson, who will one day succeed me.”

It was clear he had no intention of backing down from giving the elixirs. In the end, Haryeong gave a slight nod and relented.

It was not that she disliked receiving an elixir—only that the reward was so excessive it felt burdensome. Had she been alone with Yuri, without the Sword Emperor or Sword Dragon present, she would likely have shouted in delight.

“The Ascad Family has long made alchemy its trade. The current Patriarch, Alfreon, is called the greatest alchemist among all his predecessors.”

When farming elixirs in the game, the most important rule was simple: do not kill Alfreon Ascad. If he died, no NPCs respawned in the Ascad Family field, and elixirs no longer dropped.

Alfreon Ascad was treated as a boss NPC, meaning that reaching the hidden boss route eventually required killing him. Lee Su-hyeok had slain Alfreon dozens of times in the game.

Level 70. A high level—but he rarely used offensive magic, and the spells he did use were neither powerful nor difficult. He was not a particularly troublesome opponent.

“Elixirs, being the symbolic artificial panacea of the Ascad Family, have improved with time. The ones I gift you were personally refined by Alfreon.”

The Sword Emperor personally removed the two bottles from the box and handed one to Yuri and one to Haryeong.

“They are entirely different from any elixirs you have taken before. When I consumed one myself… it felt as though the elixir itself were alive.”

“That was my impression as well.”

Sword Dragon nodded.

“Rather than explain, it is faster to drink and experience it. A word of advice: there is no need to forcibly guide its energy. The elixir’s power will ‘settle’ into you of its own accord.”

Yuri swallowed as he stared at the bottle in his hand. The jeweled vessel radiated warmth, nearly like body temperature.

“And as for the spar my grandson desires.”

“Yes.”

“Let us schedule it a month from now. What say you?”

“I am fine even today, but…”

“That will not do. Even at minimum, it takes three to four days for the elixir to fully settle within the body.”

“…Pardon?”

“I told you—it is different from other elixirs. Both my grandson and I required three days for it to fully integrate. After that, time is needed to adapt as well…”

The Sword Emperor’s gaze shifted to Sword Dragon.

“And my grandson will need time to prepare.”

“Prepare?”

“He says that if you fought immediately, he might lose. I am one who believes there is learning even in defeat—but all else equal, victory is preferable.”

The Sword Emperor smiled and patted his grandson’s shoulder.

“Even if he were to lose, I would not have him lose easily. I would like to personally oversee his sword for a month. Will you permit it?”

“If that is the Sword Emperor’s will, I accept.”

Staying at the Orsia estate for a month was hardly an issue—especially after receiving an elixir for free.

“One more matter. We intend to issue an official statement regarding the subjugation of the cultists in the Zone 4. Is that acceptable?”

“I am not certain what you mean.”

“The dispersal of the gathering. The slaying of the bishop.”

From Orsia’s standpoint, there was no reason to hide it. If it became known that the young Sword Dragon had defeated a bishop of the Order of Chaos—considered a blight upon the world—the prestige of both Sword Dragon and the Orsia Family would rise significantly.

“Will you mention the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult as well?”

“It is true she assisted.”

The Sword Emperor answered, then chuckled lowly.

“Of course, lines will be drawn. We did not fight hand in hand. And mentioning the Demonic Cult will place pressure upon the cultists. Thus far, the Demonic Cult has never openly clashed with them. The cultists skulk like cockroaches—they have not even dared to trespass upon the Demonic stronghold.”

Whatever the Heavenly Demon’s intent in dispatching the Young Cult Leader, the Sword Emperor clearly intended to use the statement to place the Cult of Chaos and the Demonic Cult into overt opposition.

“What are your thoughts? May we include your names and contributions?”

This was about reputation.

Yuri pondered briefly. He had used the alias “Crimson Leg” when entering the Evil Hamlet, but that alias had been for contacting the cult.

Now that the bishop was dead and the parish dismantled, there was no reason to continue using it.

For a Possessor, reputation was a double-edged sword. But Yuri had safeguards on his side. If it became officially recognized that he had fought alongside Sword Dragon to subjugate cultists, then even if the War Church learned he was a Possessor, it would serve as mitigating merit.

‘If my name becomes known… Lorellia will learn of me as well.’

He did wish to meet Lorellia again.

The only concern was whether the cultists might attempt retaliation for the destruction of their parish.

But that was precisely what Yuri desired. If he intended to kill the Evil God, he needed to kill as many cultists as possible.

“It is fine.”

“I have no objection either.”

Haryeong glanced at Yuri, her lips curved into something resembling a smile—though twisted in a way uncharacteristic of her.

After receiving their answers, the Sword Emperor and Sword Dragon departed.

Normally, powerful elixirs required protectors present during ingestion. But this was the Orsia estate—there were few safer places in the world.

“Why did you make that expression earlier?”

“What do you mean?”

“You smiled strangely.”

“Now you criticize my expressions? Your personality is quite unpleasant, Yuri-nim.”

Haryeong answered and sat heavily on the bed.

“I did smile. But not strangely.”

“Then why?”

“If my name and reputation are spoken alongside Sword Dragon’s, the Tang Family will hear of it.”

“…”

“And Lady Elena in Lutran will learn that I am with you. Imagining that made me smile.”

Hearing Elena’s name unsettled Yuri. He did not want to pursue the topic further.

Haryeong knew that—and found it rather enjoyable.

“The elixir. Shall we take it here?”

“We received them together; we should drink them together. Do you object?”

“Not objecting.”

Click.

The lid twisted open. Without tilting or shaking the bottle, the bright red liquid within rose into the air. The floral fragrance intensified, and the mana in the air grew heavy beyond mere viscosity.

The luminous red liquid undulated in midair, like the slime children once played with on Earth.

Thanks to the Sword Emperor’s prior explanation, Yuri was not startled. The writhing elixir slowly approached him.

From the moment he opened the bottle, ownership of the elixir fixed itself upon him. Yuri looked at it briefly, then opened his mouth.

The elixir entered.

Just as the Sword Emperor had said—there was no need to swallow. The elixir flowed down his throat of its own accord.

Though it was roughly the size of a fist and wriggled like slime, there was no discomfort. It felt less like drinking liquid and more like inhaling smoke—yet his throat did not constrict, nor did he cough.

—Thud.

The elixir passed down his esophagus, coursed freely through his meridians, and surged toward his dantian.

—

—

 

Light slipped through the heavy blackout curtains and stabbed at her eyelids.

She must not have closed them properly the night before. Elena, sprawled across the sofa like a corpse, felt irritation rising with her throbbing headache and the orange glow bleeding through her closed eyes.

‘Maybe I should just replace it with magic…’

Most mages who lived on coffee and buried themselves in formulas and theses had chaotic sleep rhythms. There were countless spells to block sunlight from windows.

She had never cast one—because sometimes, a woman would enter the living room, scold her, and draw the curtains open.

But now, even that woman was gone.

“Ugh…”

A pulse of pain struck her head. Elena groaned and moved her hand. The hand that had hung limply over the sofa twitched and slowly lifted.

Thud.

Her hand struck the table before the sofa. It only shook slightly—but the bottle precariously placed upon it toppled over.

Clunk.

An annoying sound. Elena frowned and forced open her eyes.

The messy living room came into view. From the fallen bottle, the alcohol she had failed to finish before sleep poured out in a steady stream.

Red and viscous like blood, it spread across the carpet.