Failed Possession Chapter-78

## Ch – 78

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Yuri’s face looked deeply wronged. Watching him blankly, Lacy clicked her tongue.

“Since I already know the circumstances, wouldn’t it be better to stop with the pointless lies?”

“Circumstances or lies, I truly have no idea what you’re talking about, Lady Lacy.”

To think he would lie so brazenly. Lacy let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.

“Ha, Yuri-nim. I don’t wish to create further discord between you and Elena when things are already strained—”

Hadn’t it already gone far beyond merely strained? The thought flickered briefly through her mind, but Lacy continued.

“Since I don’t want to cause unnecessary division between you and Elena, let me make this clear. Elena did not speak about you. But we are certain that you are a possessor.”

“That’s quite baffling.”

“I’m baffled too. I never expected you to deny it.”

“You shouldn’t accuse someone based solely on suspicion.”

“Suspicion? Ha!”

Though his answer still sounded shameless, it was true that regarding the incident two years ago, Elena had firmly denied everything—so in the end, it was suspicion alone.

“Two years ago in Lagos, you were attacked by the former one of the Seven Evils, the Blood Fiend Ghost.”

“Yes.”

“With the strength Elena and Lady Haryeong had at the time, even if he wasn’t in perfect condition, it would have been impossible to survive against the Blood Fiend Ghost.”

“The Blood Fiend Ghost’s condition was worse than your assumptions.”

“Ugh… A-And you reached the 5th Rank in just two years, didn’t you? You even defeated the Sword Dragon in a duel!”

“A lot happened to me in those two years. I encountered fortunate opportunities as well.”

His replies came smoothly, leaving Lacy feeling increasingly stifled.

The reason she had dragged Yuri into this room the moment she saw him was simple: he was the most recent possessor. If she could hear news of Earth from him, perhaps she could also learn about that accursed Pad-lip Immune. And yet—she couldn’t get him to open his mouth at all.

“Wouldn’t it be better if we were honest with each other and felt more at ease?”

Suppressing her irritation and anger, Lacy asked.

That man was unquestionably a possessor. Even if Elena refused to admit it, the way the girl had fallen apart was proof enough.

There was something close to confirmation, too.

The conversation between Orca and Elena. Lacy had not been present in the room that day, but Orca had relayed to her what had been said.

If, by any chance, the War Church were to suspect Yuri of being a possessor and investigate his background, Orca herself would personally vouch for his identity.

More than that—Orca had even summoned the owner of a general store in Aldor to Lutran. Judging by circumstances, that shopkeeper had been the first person Yuri contacted after possession.

‘To show Elena, no doubt.’

Elena herself had shown little interest in the shopkeeper, but Orca’s “consideration” had been sufficient to reassure her.

Still, Lacy could not tell Yuri any of this. No matter how close she was to Orca, her position was maintained precisely because she knew when to keep silent. Especially regarding Elena—Orca had spent over ten years nurturing that disciple. And Yuri was someone capable of stirring and influencing her. That was not something to speak lightly about.

“I know that you are a possessor—”

“You’re being extremely rude.”

Lacy Yuzuha was a possessor. Yuri had held a suspicion close to certainty since first meeting her at the Dercia Magic Tower. Seeing her press him like this only strengthened that belief.

The desperation earlier was likely because she did not want Elena to learn of this meeting. From that, it seemed Elena did not know Lacy was a possessor.

“You asked me to come, so I did. Yet you seize an innocent person and interrogate them about being a possessor. I didn’t realize you were so lacking in courtesy, Lady Lacy.”

From the way she spoke, it was clear her “suspicion” was already conviction. But even if Lacy were a possessor, Yuri had no intention of readily admitting he was one. As someone close enough to Heavenly Thunder Orca to be considered her confidante, Lacy was not someone he could silence.

“Th-that…!”

It was a fair point. Lacy’s shoulders trembled.

“…”

She paused to think. How could she make him admit he was a possessor? As long as she alone carried the secret, he would never speak.

Could she force the answer? It was not impossible. Even if he had defeated the Sword Dragon in a duel, Lacy herself had long surpassed the level of a mere 5th Rank.

But she did not want to do that. To resort to force? Lacy considered herself an intellectual, a cultured and moral person.

“I’m a possessor too.”

It had been a little over six years since Silverwood of the Havert Magic Tower had possessed into this world.

The information he had brought from Earth stopped in June 2022. Lacy did not particularly wish to return to Earth, but she was curious about what was happening in what had once been her first homeland.

And more than that, she was curious about Yuri’s identity. What had become of Pad-lip Immune? Could that man be him? Please—honestly, Lacy found herself hoping Yuri was Pad-lip Immune. If he were, she would be willing to shed, for a moment, the veneer of cultured restraint.

“So… what about it?”

Of all things, Lacy was the one to come out first? No matter how strong her backing, this was reckless. But regardless, even if she revealed herself, there was no reason for Yuri to follow suit.

“…”

Lacy’s tightly pressed lips trembled. She felt a powerful urge to abandon civility and become a barbarian—but barely managed to restrain herself.

“Y-Yuri? You may not fully understand, but even if Elena did not say it, Lady Orca and I are certain you are a possessor.”

“Your misunderstanding runs deep. I’m not even sure where to begin clearing it up.”

“Aaaah!”

Unable to contain the impulse any longer, Lacy shrieked. She tore the ridiculous hat from her head and hurled it to the floor, then stomped on it repeatedly.

“Ah! Aaaah!”

“It looks like you just bought that… Is it fine to step on it?”

“I’ll buy another one!”

Breathing heavily, Lacy snapped her head up and glared at him.

“You’re Pad-lip Immune, aren’t you?”

“Pad… lip? What is that?”

“Chuk Shin-do! CatPanties! USAUSAMI! FUCKINGSEXY!”

Thud, thud! She continued stomping the hat as she shouted. Yuri was genuinely bewildered at the transformation of the once gentle and rational Lacy.

“Please, calm down.”

“You’re Pad-lip Immune, aren’t you?!”

“I truly have no idea what you’re talking about…”

“I know you’re a possessor! Tell me your name—your name!”

“My name is Yuri.”

“Not that one! Your name on Earth!”

“Listen, Lady Lacy. Hypothetically speaking, let’s say I am a possessor. Even so, why would I have any reason to admit that to you?”

“I told you I’m a possessor too?!”

“I’m not one, so I don’t know how possessors relate to each other—but even if I were, being one doesn’t mean you automatically trust each other, does it?”

“Th-that…!”

It was a sound argument again, leaving Lacy at a loss for rebuttal.

She felt like she might go mad from frustration. She was certain—based on what Orca had told her—that he was a possessor. Yet she could not reveal that source. And without revealing it, she could not force him to admit the truth…!

“…”

Lacy bit down on her lip, then suddenly kicked a nearby chair.

“Fine. I was too agitated.”

“I’m glad you realize that.”

“First…! I do not wish for unnecessary misunderstandings, so I will state my position clearly. Yuri-nim, I am beyond suspicion—I am convinced that you are a possessor. But I have no intention of using that as leverage to threaten you.”

“Threaten?”

“I mean I have no intention of leaking your identity to those around you.”

The moment she said that, Yuri’s gaze changed.

The hostility in it was chilling enough to make goosebumps rise along Lacy’s skin. It had not yet become killing intent—but it teetered dangerously close, as though it could tip into killing intent with the slightest push.

“Hmm…”

Oddly enough, the hostility sharpened her mind. Lacy slowly clenched and unclenched her fist beneath her sleeve as she stared back at him.

An ordinary mage, faced with such open hostility, would first think to create distance. Lacy did not. She had trained not only in magic but in martial arts as well. Her study of magic ran far deeper, but she had cultivated martial discipline to wield that magic more effectively.

“Please rein in your hostility—”

“Fuck.”

Before her gentle words could finish, Yuri spat to the corner of the room.

“I endured it, even though it pissed me off, when you dragged an innocent guy in here and started threatening him. But now you’ve crossed the line hard.”

“E-Excuse me?”

“What exactly are you trying to do? Huh? I said I’m not, so what do you want from me? Got proof?”

Perhaps she did. If she had proof she could show, she would have shown it already. It was Lacy who had crossed the line first and started pushing recklessly. Yuri had been holding back until now.

“You say you don’t intend to threaten me? Then what have you been doing this whole time? If you’re favored by the Dercia Tower Master, does that mean you can just grab an innocent person and harass them like this?”

“Y-You… your language—”

“Damn right I’m swearing. You did something worth swearing at first. What, you get to be upset because I cursed? What am I supposed to do? Back home I was basically small-time gang trash—so in situations like this, I don’t know what else I’m supposed to do except swear.”

Yuri scowled and raised his fist slightly.

“That doesn’t mean I’m going to punch you just because I’m pissed, right? Huh? See? I’m being rational here. I might’ve been an orphan who rolled around with third-rate thugs, but I’m not the kind of person who grabs someone’s weakness and threatens them over a misunderstanding.”

“W-Wait, Yuri-nim—”

“So what are you, Lacy? Even an orphan like me learned basic manners. Why are you this rude? Are you an orphan too?”

“Pardon?”

“I asked if you’re an orphan. Didn’t your parents ever teach you there are things you shouldn’t do?”

Lacy’s lips parted soundlessly. An orphan? She was not an orphan. Even if they had not been close, she had parents back on Earth—and the person called “Lacy Yuzuha” in this world had parents as well.

“To bring up… parents… this is…”

Lacy knew what the term *Pad-lip* meant. But what Yuri had just said carried a different weight from the indiscriminate insults of Pad-lip Immune in the past. Unlike that man, who hurled such insults recklessly in any situation, Yuri’s words felt disturbingly appropriate to the emotions and circumstances at hand.

‘Was that even really a Pad-lip…?’

She understood the meaning, but she did not fully grasp it. That only deepened her confusion. She had been so certain he was Pad-lip Immune, yet now he was saying something that resembled a Pad-lip in this moment—was that an unconscious admission? Or did he truly not know what it meant? If it were the latter, then even if he were a possessor, he was not Pad-lip Immune…

Her thoughts tangled chaotically, but first she had to extinguish the fire in Yuri’s eyes. Lacy raised both hands.

“I’m sorry, Yuri-nim. I was at fault. I do not wish to be your enemy, so please calm down. And this was something I absolutely needed to confirm.”

She forcibly suppressed her agitation. As she had said, she did not want to become Yuri’s enemy. If possible, she wished to build enough familiarity to one day hear the truth of his identity from his own mouth.

If possible—without Elena knowing. Whatever the case, Lacy did not want to further provoke Elena.

‘Though Lady Orca might find it amusing.’

It was true she had acted rashly and rudely. How could she ease his hostility? After a moment’s thought, she spoke.

“Full-Moon Play’s Chuk Shin-do is searching for the Church of Order.”

It was something she had heard from Orca, but Lacy did not consider it a secret. While Full-Moon Play and Orca were on relatively friendly terms, it was nothing compared to Orca’s relationship with Elena.

“He is also searching for other possessors—especially those from the same homeland. The fact that he uses the name Chuk Shin-do in this world, and that outfit, and…”

And here she decided to test him. Firmly suspecting Yuri was Pad-lip Immune, she cast aside her cultivated demeanor and leapt—

“H-Hou!”

She meant to do it boldly, but stumbled slightly over the motion. It was an awkward posture she had never attempted in her life.

Lacy knew the pronunciation of that ceremony was not “Hou.” She had corrected Chuk Shin-do several times. But when addressing that Korean, Pad-lip Immune, one had to say “Hou,” not “SIU.” She remembered clearly what Chuk Shin-do had told her.

“…”

Seeing her suddenly leap and perform that ceremony—Yuri, who had been genuinely furious moments before, found himself unable to speak. Had he not still been tense and angry, he might have burst out laughing.

“T-The reason… for this ceremony… is to find someone from the same homeland.”

“Ah… I see.”

Aside from that bizarre outburst, what Lacy said was worth listening to. Chuk Shin-do was searching for the Church of Order. And for possessors from the same homeland…

‘Me? CatPanties?’

CatPanties had known Chuk Shin-do since the old community days. Yuri himself had been fairly close to Chuk Shin-do. Though it had never happened, Chuk Shin-do had even said he would buy him a drink sometime.

“Chuk Shin-do… whether he seeks the Church of Order to gather information about other possessors, or because he has business with the Order Church itself—I do not know. But to be introduced to the Order Church, he became a fixer for the Ascad family. The reason he intervened in the Bernok conflict was also at the Ascad family’s will.”

“And why are you telling me this?”

“Isn’t it quite interesting—to someone who is a possessor?”

“I told you, I’m not.”

The answer was consistent. Lacy recalled something Chuk Shin-do had muttered before and tossed it out casually.

“Perhaps… nausea?”

Fortunately, Yuri had already been restraining his emotions in anticipation of more nonsense. Lacy’s sudden remarks were sharper than Estor’s blade in their duel; without maintaining a clear mind, they were difficult to withstand.

“N-Nausea? What are you talking about?”

“Hm…”

Though Chuk Shin-do had reacted negatively to the idea that Yuri was from the same homeland, Lacy still left room for doubt.

“Fine. Let’s end it here. No matter what I say, it seems difficult to hear the truth from you.”

“So it’s finally over?”

“Mancheonhou!”

The shout burst out of her.

“You said we were ending it.”

“Ahm…”

Lacy felt her face heat with embarrassment and coughed awkwardly.

“If… if you ever wish to share secrets with me, please let me know. I am acquainted with several possessors. I could be of help to you.”

“No need.”

Yuri answered sternly.

“I’m sorry for snapping and swearing. But you did something worth swearing at. Honestly, someone else might have cursed worse. You might’ve gotten hit.”

“I’m sorry.”

Lacy bowed her head first.

Yuri did not reply further. He turned sharply and opened the door.

‘Next time I see that crazy woman, I’d better be careful.’

The information she gave about other possessors was worth keeping in mind. But that did not mean he should openly admit to being one.

Especially regarding “Pad-lip Immune”—it was better to say nothing.

Anyone still obsessing over that name after coming all the way to this world probably wasn’t sane.