Failed Possession Chapter-76

## Ch – 76.

—

The next day.

Yuri, Haryeong, and Estor left the estate, seeing off the Orsian knights.

“They’re even giving us a carriage.”

Haryeong stood before the large carriage and let out an impressed murmur. Its exterior was not particularly flashy, but multiple spells had been cast upon it.

“Wouldn’t a winged horse be more comfortable?”

“Yuri-nim, please don’t speak without knowing. A flying Horse is difficult to manage. And we are not traveling safely within a city—we are roaming outside, where anything might happen. If we fly through the sky just because it’s comfortable and are attacked by flying monsters or struck from the ground, what do you think would happen?”

“Would we fall?”

“Of course we would. Even if we could survive a fall from the sky by keeping our wits about us, it’s better to simply run quietly along the ground than to take such risks.”

I see.

Yuri nodded in agreement and looked at the two horses pulling the carriage.

“But who’s going to drive it?”

Haryeong narrowed her eyes and looked between Yuri and Estor. When she had been employed by Elena in the past, she had usually sat in the coachman’s seat. But now she was no longer hired, so there was no reason for her to do so.

“Well… we can just take turns, can’t we?”

“Since you learned how to drive from me, Yuri-nim, I have no worries about you. But I am rather concerned about Estor-nim, who is accompanying us this time.”

“Please speak comfortably.”

Even Estor did not know Haryeong’s exact age. There was so little information about her that, because of her peculiar aura and way of speaking, one could only vaguely assume she was older.

“And you need not worry about me. I can handle a carriage well enough.”

“Very well, Estor.”

Haryeong was not a woman who refused such requests.

“It’s a relief you can drive. Let’s see just how well our youngest Estor handles the reins.”

“Y-Youngest?”

Startled, Estor looked at Yuri.

“Why am I the youngest? Yuri and I are the same age—”

“You joined last, so you’re the youngest.”

Since he had no intention of driving from the start, Yuri quickly supported Haryeong’s words.

“Surely you’re not lacking confidence in driving a carriage?”

He did not merely agree—he slipped in a subtle provocation. Estor’s expression hardened, and he swiftly vaulted into the coachman’s seat.

“Though I lost to you in the duel, I am confident I drive better than you.”

Yuri felt as though he was beginning to understand how to handle the proud young master of the great Orsia family.

“So, our destination?”

“Red Plains.”

Haryeong answered. Red Plains—one of the cities of the East. The Salho Gate was located there.

“Red Plains… That’s far.”

Muttering, Estor grasped the reins. From here in Panteleon to Red Plains in the Eastern lands would take more than half a year by carriage, no matter how much they hurried.

That was if they traveled solely by carriage. If they headed to the sea and took a ship, they could arrive faster. And if they had the means and qualification to board an airship, they would reach it within half a month at the latest.

But airships were not for just anyone. Those that crossed not merely city to city but continent to continent were far too expensive for ordinary people to even dream of boarding.

“For now, let us set Alderan as our destination.”

Alderan was one of only three cities on the Western continent with an airship port, and it was the great metropolis ruled by the Havert Magic Tower.

“We don’t have the money for an airship.”

“And airships are not something just anyone can board, are they?”

Haryeong’s speech, which had been informal just moments ago, reverted again. Apparently this tone suited her more.

The primary customers of airships were merchant traders. Large trading companies owned airships themselves, but smaller ones reserved cargo space to transport their goods.

“There will be no problem.”

Instead of speaking further, Estor simply smiled confidently. There was no need to ask why. If the heir of the Orsia family personally made a request, they would create a seat even if none existed.

“This will be only my second time boarding an airship.”

Inside the spacious and comfortable carriage, Haryeong whispered.

“A few years ago, when I was assigned to guard my lady, Heavenly Thunder sent us tickets for the airship. Thanks to that, I was able to ride one. It felt quite wondrous.”

“What exactly felt wondrous?”

“That enormous thing flying swiftly through the sky. When I looked down from the railing, the city seemed so small, and the people were too tiny to even see.”

“Hmm…”

Though she maintained her usual calm expression, Haryeong’s eyes sparkled brightly. It was both amusing and adorable. Yuri suddenly felt the urge to boast and casually rested his arm on the window frame.

“What are you doing all of a sudden?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m not sure how to put it. But your expression,Yuri-nim, is extremely unpleasant.”

“Now you’re inventing reasons just to scold me.”

“What exactly are you thinking to make such a smug face?”

“Ah, it’s nothing much.”

[Though I’ve never ridden an airship, I have ridden something similar—and better.]

Since Estor was up in the driver’s seat, Yuri conveyed it through telepathy.

[Something similar but better?]

[It’s called an airplane…]

The memory of traveling alone to Jeju Island long ago—round trip. He had not ridden a plane besides that single time, but before Haryeong, who had ridden an airship only once, it was enough to boast.

[An airplane?]

At her questioning echo, Yuri grinned and explained what an airplane was. The more he described it, the more Haryeong’s brows furrowed.

[You speak such nonsense, trusting that I cannot visit your world to see it for myself.]

[I’m not lying.]

[So you are saying a giant bird made of iron flies through the sky?]

[In summary, yes.]

[Without even a balloon?]

[Yes.]

[Without a balloon, how does it fly? You said your world has no magic.]

[I lack the knowledge to explain all of that…]

[Yes, yes, of course you do.]

The sarcasm was clear even through telepathy. Ha-ryeong stopped listening and sneered lightly. Yuri wanted to protest, but logically explaining how airplanes flew was difficult.

[There’s something called an engine, and with that engine—]

“Red Plains is a small city.”

Haryeong had no intention of hearing further lies and did not even use telepathy now.

“It lies within the sphere of influence of the Black Path. Aside from the Salho Gate, there are several other Black Path sects there, but we need not concern ourselves with them.”

“….”

“Why are you looking at me like that, you liar of a Yuri-nim?”

“I’m not lying.”

“Yes, I’m sure you aren’t. In any case—there is a chance we may not be able to meet the Sect Master even if we go to the Salho Gate.”

“Why?”

“The Sect Master is a busy person. As you know, our Salho Gate accepts bodyguard commissions in addition to assassination requests. The Sect Master is the most skilled top-grade assassin in our sect.”

Even in the game, the Salho Gate was located in Red Plains. If one fulfilled the conditions through reputation work, one could visit the Salho Gate in Red Plains and hire a guard assassin. Yet the Sect Master of the Salho Gate never appeared in the game.

‘The Faceless Killer.’

The one who had rescued Heavenly Thunder Orca fifteen years ago when she fell into a trap. In the game, Orca openly despised assassins, yet she changed her mind and assigned Haryeong to Elena because she owed her life to the Faceless Killer.

Yuri had heard that story directly from Orca, but she had not told him why or what kind of trap she had fallen into.

‘If I meet the Faceless Killer, will I be able to hear Orca’s story?’

Orca had said that the tale of being saved by the Faceless Killer was not something that needed to be kept secret. But the matter concerning the “trap,” she insisted, belonged to the realm of secrets, and refused to explain further.

So it was possible that the Faceless Killer would also keep his mouth shut…

‘It feels like it must be related to a possessor. Or perhaps… the Cult of Chaos.’

By now, several clues had begun to connect in Yuri’s mind.

About thirty years ago, a possessor crossed into this world.

About twenty years ago, the prestigious Laspion family of Sairan was annihilated.

Around a similar time, in the Orsia family, the Sword Lord—the head of the house—cut ties with the family along with his wife and disappeared.

Fifteen years ago, Heavenly Thunder Orca fell into a trap and nearly died, only to be saved by the Faceless Killer.

The series of events Yuri knew did not differ greatly in years. Though there was considerable speculation mixed in, those incidents seemed likely connected either to possessors or to the Cult of Chaos.

‘It could even have been something done by those so-called Saints of the Cult.’

For now, there was nothing he could do but speculate. If possible, he wanted to hear from the Faceless Killer about what had happened fifteen years ago.

—

—

Lacy Yuzuha.

Having long since reached the very peak of the 5th Rank, she now stood before the wall of the 6th Rank. Yet she was not blocked by it. The wall before her eyes was frail and low—something she could shatter or step over at any time.

The reason she had not advanced to the 6th Rank was simple.

Upon reaching the 6th Rank, every spell of the 5th Rank would become easier. Even without sufficient understanding, the mere elevation of Rank would allow her to grasp them effortlessly.

Lacy disliked that. She wished to perfectly understand the spells of this Rank before ascending to the 6th. Once one rose in Rank, it could not be lowered by ordinary means. Reality was not like a game where one could delete a character and raise it again. She had to savor to the fullest what could only be done now.

‘Magic is this enjoyable.’

Rustle.

She turned a page of an old grimoire. A 5th Rank spellbook she had recently purchased at the Le-Seun auction house. It was not a lightning-attribute grimoire—her specialty—but magic was enjoyable regardless of specialization.

‘Is magic enjoyable for you as well?’

She thought of Elena, the junior who had remained in Lutran.

Lacy could not claim innocence regarding Elena. At one time, she had shared a room with her, yet she had not made much effort to fill the emptiness Elena carried even then.

That had been the will of the Magic Tower Master, Orca, and Lacy had not defied it. To be honest, rather than tending to the unstable mind of a mere ten-year-old child, it had been far more enjoyable to immerse herself in grimoires and research magic.

‘Though I never expected her to grow like this.’

That Elena could not get along well with the other mages of the Tower? Lacy had not thought it a serious issue. She herself had never actively socialized with the others either. In the end, the Magic Tower was a place where only one’s ability mattered.

‘That man…’

Elena’s childhood friend—Yuri. If not for him, Elena would not have twisted this far.

Lacy let out a short sigh and closed the grimoire.

She could not concentrate. After thinking of Elena, that man had surfaced in her mind as well.

‘Who is he?’

It was certain that Yuri was a possessor. Elena still denied it, but Orca and Lacy were convinced.

Yet they did not know his “name.”

It had already been seventeen years since Lacy herself possessed into this world. By now, even the users who had remained in that old community were difficult to remember clearly. Of the names that still stood out vividly in her memory, only a handful remained.

Not a few had joined the community after her transmigration. It was practically impossible for Lacy, as she was now, to guess Yuri’s true identity.

‘FUCKINGSEXY, CatPanties, and UsaUsami came before me.’

Those who, together with Full-Moon Play, had been grouped as notorious villains in the community. They had already achieved Hall of Fame Rank 1 and crossed into this world.

‘Could it be Pad-lip Immune?’

Silverwood of the Havert Magic Tower. Until Yuri’s identity as a possessor became known, Silverwood had been the last possessor Lacy knew of. Even until Silverwood achieved Rank 1 in the Hall of Fame, Pad-lip Immune had languished at the bottom of the rankings, yet in the community he had been treated as a mysterious figure thoroughly versed in the game.

‘But I don’t think he’s Pad-lip Immune…’

It was only a suspicion. Unless one knew what skills Pad-lip Immune had learned in the game, it was impossible to be sure. That meticulous man had rarely revealed his build on the boards. In the early days of the forum—before even hidden bosses had been discovered—he had posted a few screenshots as so-called character verifications, but even those had been manipulated fakes…

As far as Lacy knew, Pad-lip Immune was Korean, like Full-Moon Play and CatPanties.

Yuri had encountered Full-Moon Play early on, yet showed no sign of recognition. Moreover, Full-Moon Play himself had reacted with such shock upon learning that Yuri was a possessor—rambling about nausea and vomiting, clearly disturbed—and had displayed a negative reaction toward the idea that they might share the same homeland.

‘Even his personality is different from Pad-lip Immune…’

Lacy glared at her trembling fingers. To her, the name “Pad-lip Immune” was one worthy of hatred. The strategy guides she had written out of pure goodwill had been humiliatingly refuted, and every time she left comments answering questions, he had mocked her. Even after seventeen years, it was difficult to forget.

Someday—someday, if Pad-lip Immune came to this world.

How many times had she imagined forcibly subduing him and tormenting him thoroughly?

The reason Lacy chose the Dercia Magic Tower in this world, and learned lightning magic—why she studied each spell to its utmost limit, refining her skill as a mage—was partly because she liked Dercia’s magic, but also because of a small wish: to one day teach magic to that Pad-lip Immune who had always scorned it as “trash.”

‘How does it feel to learn the magic of Dercia, which you called garbage?’

She had imagined forcing Pad-lip Immune to his knees as he struggled and refused to learn Dercia’s magic, and making him address her as “Master” with the very mouth that had spewed filthy and insulting words.

Lacy had not yet abandoned that wish.

That was why she could not endure her curiosity about Yuri’s identity. Perhaps—just perhaps—he was Pad-lip Immune.

‘But… he did subjugate a bishop of the Evil God…’

Again, only suspicion—but there had been rumors that Pad-lip Immune was an apostle of the Evil God. Lacy herself remained undecided about that rumor, but Silverwood of the Havert Magic Tower was convinced that Pad-lip Immune was indeed the Evil God’s apostle.

He was not alone. Several possessors who maintained contact with Silverwood shared that conviction. Most of those who had possessed within the past ten years seemed to believe it.

“Haah…”

It was a dilemma with no clear answer. Lacy let out a short sigh and opened the carriage window, leaning her head outside.

Beyond the towering city walls, airships floated in the sky, clearly visible even from this distance.

Alderan.

Though Lacy did not often go out, at this time every year she left Lutran and came to Alderan.

Partly to attend the annual Magic Exposition held there, and partly to meet Silverwood of the Havert Magic Tower.

“It would have been nice if you’d come with me.”

Recalling Elena, who had refused without a moment’s hesitation, Lacy formed a bitter smile.