Failed Possession Chapter-80

## Ch – 80.

—

Saying he would tell Estor he was a possessor once he returned to the inn had been, admittedly, somewhat impulsive. But the parts Haryeong had pointed out were painful—and correct. And though he hated to admit it, Yuri himself had at least a small degree of self-awareness about them.

‘Still… calling me pathetic is too much, isn’t it…’

Before possession, the man named Lee Su-hyeok—who was not Yuri—had indeed had somewhat pathetic aspects. After all, what else would you call someone who went around hurling parent-insult slurs under the username “Pad-lip Immune” on overseas forums, protected by anonymity and free from any threat of lawsuits or real-life retaliation?

Of course, Lee Su-hyeok knew full well he wasn’t the kind of person one would proudly introduce to others. But there was one thing he could say with confidence.

He never insulted without reason. He insulted those who deserved it. He only tore into those who strutted around arrogantly despite having nothing particularly impressive to back it up.

Take THOR123, for example. Sure, the guy was serious about lightning mage builds—so serious he was called the father of lightning mages on the forum—and he put effort into writing guides. But his initial build was riddled with flaws. He focused too much on burst damage, leaving an excessively long downtime. And despite that, he hadn’t even secured sufficient accuracy bonuses.

How could anyone not curse when someone strutted in claiming his build was absolutely correct?

So he cursed him.

At first, Thor responded in a gentlemanly tone. But after a few days, he quietly revised the build and posted a “ver.2,” acting as though he had refined it himself.

Naturally, that ver.2 had been completed through Lee Su-hyeok’s profanity-laced advice. Not just ver.2—most of the subsequent upgraded versions were the product of Lee Su-hyeok’s unpaid guidance.

Yet Thor never once mentioned “Pad-lip Immune” in his guide posts. Never once left a thank-you comment under Pad-lip Immune’s threads.

In other words, he was someone who deserved to be cursed.

Pad-lip Immune had only insulted people like that.

So, in a way, he was a righteous insulter. A dark knight who walked the shadows to purify the community…

“…”

He was not someone to be equated with lunatics like Chuk Shin-do, who rampaged about igniting chaos without even the pretense of goodwill.

‘Come to think of it, Thor wasn’t the father of lightning mages—she was the mother.’

Lacy was most likely Thor. UsaUsami had been a woman too, so it wasn’t even that surprising that Thor was female.

“What are you thinking so hard about, Pathetic Yuri?”

He had been called many nicknames by Haryeong, but this one hurt the most.

“I am not pathetic.”

It was also unfair. He had been thrown into an unfamiliar world and forced to live as someone else. Of course he had been cautious, suppressing his personality until everything blurred together.

“Looks like Estor isn’t coming back tonight.”

They had already eaten. Haryeong had enthusiastically explained the alchemical items she’d purchased—explosive pills, severing pellets, concealed weapons. They had also browsed the magic booth catalogues Yuri hadn’t had time to see earlier.

Before they knew it, night had fallen—and there was no sign of Estor. After all, he himself had said not to wait if he couldn’t return tonight.

“What will you do tomorrow?”

“Well, we didn’t properly see the exposition today. I’ll go again tomorrow.”

“You might run into Lacy Yuzuha.”

“I didn’t commit a crime. Why should I avoid her?”

If anything, the one at fault had been Lacy. Thinking back, her approach had been clumsy. She had been confident Yuri was a possessor, but in the end, she had failed to corner him as intended.

—Mancheon HOU!

In fact, midway through, she had seemed half out of her mind, trying obvious leading questions. Was there some psychological reason she couldn’t help herself?

‘Pad-lip Immune.’

The cultists believed Pad-lip Immune to be an apostle of the Evil God. And it wasn’t just cultists—many mid-to-late possessors had reached Hall of Fame rank 1 through his guides and advice. It was entirely possible that even non-cultist possessors harbored resentment or misunderstanding toward him.

Even that bastard who died in Evil Hamlet had admitted he resented Pad-lip Immune before becoming a cultist.

Yuri didn’t know exactly when Lacy had possessed, but she had reached 4th Rank at the same age as Elena—twenty. Which meant she must have possessed before turning twenty.

That was why he thought she was Thor. Thor had also achieved rank 1 around that time before possession. If so, Lacy probably wasn’t obsessed due to suspicion that Pad-lip Immune was an Evil God apostle.

Then why?

Why had she suddenly done that ridiculous “HOU” gesture to test him?

“…”

Was it resentment from all the times she’d been cursed in the community? But she had deserved it. And by her standards, that was over ten years ago.

She had lived happily in this world, mastering Dercia’s beloved lightning magic and receiving Heavenly Thunder’s favor—yet she still clung to insults from Earth delivered through a monitor screen?

‘She’s just as insane as Chuk Shin-do.’

He had intended not to avoid her tomorrow—but now he reconsidered. People don’t avoid filth because they’re afraid of it, but because it’s filthy. Lacy wasn’t frightening. She was deranged filth.

“Will you buy me a dagger tomorrow?”

“If there’s a good one.”

“We grew closer today. An ordinary dagger won’t do.”

A dagger.

Yuri began thinking again. Game items came to mind first. Just as the sword emperor’s beloved blade Atria was the ultimate weapon for sword builds, other weapons had their own endgame items.

Pad-lip Immune had never been fortunate enough to wear even a proper armor piece, let alone such weapons—but the only character Lee Su-hyeok had raised in that game hadn’t been Pad-lip Immune.

Unlike the arrogant Thor, who dismissed builds using skills she’d never tried, Lee Su-hyeok had tested nearly every skill and item in Seronis. His final build might have been the infamous “Underwear Martial Artist,” a symbol of veteran degeneracy—but he had experimented widely.

‘Silent Blade (Muk-in).’

Among players, CatPanties had always used it—the ultimate dagger in the game. There were other excellent daggers, like the Claw of the Human-Faced Spider or the Tail Sting of the Six-Headed Serpent—but none compared to Silent Blade.

The problem was that Silent Blade was a Tang Clan heirloom.

Haryeong had said she was abandoned by the Tang Clan.

Giving her the Tang Clan’s heirloom would carry many implications. To seek Silent Blade would mean openly challenging the ruling family of the Assassin path, one of the Six Dark Sects of the Black Dragon Society.

A full-scale conflict with the Tang Clan was not something he could even consider right now. It was realistically impossible.

No matter how strong Yuri had become, he was still in a different league from a Martial Zeniths. Sparring with the Fist King had made that painfully clear.

The current Tang Clan head—and Master of the Assassin path—Dark King Tang Yu-shin was a Martial Zenith.

‘Haryeong’s father must be the Dark King…’

She hadn’t told him the full story, but Yuri’s mind automatically began scripting a morning soap opera.

Perhaps Haryeong was the Dark King’s illegitimate child. At first, she had been brought into the clan and raised. But her overwhelming talent caused discord within the family.

After all, the Dark King would have had legitimate children with his lawful wife. Eventually, for their sake, he expelled Haryeong.

‘It really does sound like a morning drama.’

If that were true, it made sense she rejected the term “revenge.” Yet from Yuri’s perspective, saying it wasn’t revenge was even harder to understand.

Whatever the reason, she wanted to kill her father.

If someday she asked for his help in that act—

“Please don’t be too disappointed if I can’t buy it tomorrow.”

Shortly after he said that, footsteps approached. From the presence, it was Estor—who had said he might not return tonight.

“Thump thump.”

Haryeong whispered softly. Her heart truly beat faster, and her eyes sparkled. Yuri’s expression, by contrast, stiffened slightly.

Even if he had resolved himself, facing it directly tightened the chest. But it wasn’t something to postpone. Better to speak before growing closer than to have everything shatter from unwanted exposure.

He did not want to relive how he had felt two years ago.

So Yuri reached for the door first. With a gentle push of internal energy, it slid open. Estor, who had been about to knock, grinned.

“What, were you two waiting for me?”

“We were. Though you said you might not return tonight?”

“Lord Maybeld insisted I stay the night, but I have a room to return to. It felt burdensome.”

Estor strode inside, openly grumbling.

“They even suggested I meet the Maybeld heiress. She’s a fine lady, sure—but I’ve decided to travel east with you and Lady Haryeong. I can’t be meeting women here.”

“Hmm…”

“What’s that look? Ah, I can guess. Did Lady Haryeong tease you mercilessly before I arrived?”

“We need to talk seriously. Go grab a chair and sit down.”

“Seriously?”

“I owe you an apology.”

Yuri spoke with a stiffened face. Estor blinked wide-eyed, then glanced back and forth between Yuri and Haryeong.

“…Hmm.”

His expression hardened slightly. After a brief hesitation, he let out a short sigh and scratched the back of his head.

“Yuri.”

Dragging over a nearby chair and dropping into it, Estor began,

“If you lost that pouch, it’s fine. It’s my money, and even if it’s gone, the Orsia family finances won’t suffer.”

“…What?”

“It just means we won’t have funds for the upcoming journey. I can borrow from the Maybeld family—no problem. And if that feels burdensome, we can use your or Lady Haryeong’s money.”

“Hey, wait.”

“Hmm. On second thought, I don’t even need to ask Maybeld. If I go to the bank, I can borrow quite a sum under my name. So don’t look so dejected.”

He had misunderstood the heavy atmosphere and the mention of an apology. Haryeong’s lips twitched at the absurdity, and Yuri cleared his throat before pulling the pouch from his coat and placing it on the table.

“I didn’t lose it.”

“Then what? Spent too much? That’s nothing to apologize for either.”

“I’m a possessor.”

He said it.

The words came out smoother than he had imagined—but his heart was anything but at ease. As Haryeong had said, it was better to speak than to be exposed later.

Still, he feared the reaction.

“…?”

Caught completely off guard, Estor’s eyes widened. He stared at Yuri, mouth slightly open. There was surprise—but no other emotion yet.

“I possessed two years ago, when this body’s original owner turned twenty.”

He went on to explain his life since then—living as “Yuri.” He did not speak of Elena, nor of their broken relationship. But he spoke of the “talent” of a possessor.

He felt he had to. Estor’s first favorable impression of Yuri had been built upon the martial prowess forged through that talent.

“Why are you telling me this now?”

Estor listened quietly before asking, brows furrowed.

“There was no need, was there? I’ve never suspected you. If you’d stayed silent, I would never have imagined such a thing.”

“It might come out someday.”

Yuri forced a neutral expression. His chest felt tight with anxiety, but he refused to let it show.

“If we’d parted ways at Panteleon, I wouldn’t have felt the need to tell you. But you’re traveling with us. Boarding an airship. Crossing to the distant eastern continent.”

“Hmm. True.”

Still, none of the emotions Yuri had feared showed in Estor’s eyes. That made reading him harder.

“So I told you. If it were to come out after we crossed that far—”

“Understood.”

Before Yuri could further gauge his reaction, Estor slightly turned his head. He glanced toward Haryeong, who stood off to the side, watching with shining eyes as though observing a fire across a river.

“Lady Haryeong knew from the start?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you.”

An unexpected answer.

Estor grinned and nodded.

“I don’t know the hardships of a possessor, but I know it can’t be easy to reveal that yourself. Yet you told me first. That’s something to be grateful for.”

“…What?”

“If you’ve revealed something difficult, does that mean there’s trust between us? Hmm. Now I’m in a bind. I don’t have any secrets to offer in return…”

He crossed his arms and thought for a moment, then glanced between Yuri and Haryeong.

“Want to hear about some embarrassing mistake from my childhood? Or perhaps my failed first love?”

“I’m curious about the first love.”

Haryeong answered immediately before Yuri could speak.

“However, Lord Estor, though I am curious about your secrets, I do not intend to share mine. That is not because I distrust you—it is simply that my secrets are quite personal.”

“My first love is personal too…”

“So how exactly did it fail?”

Yuri had braced himself and revealed the truth—only for the conversation to shift instantly to first love. He blinked, then managed to stammer,

“That’s… it?”

“Hmm? What do you mean, it?”

Estor tilted his head.

“Is there more to say?”

“I said I’m a possessor.”

“I heard you.”

“Don’t you feel betrayed? Angry?”

“Did I ever ask you if you were one?”

“No.”

“Then you never lied to me. You simply didn’t say something I never asked.”

Estor looked genuinely puzzled.

“Unless I’d known the ‘Yuri’ from before you possessed, what I know is only you—the possessor Yuri. Why would I feel anger?”

“What a coincidence. I felt the same.”

Haryeong chimed in with a nod.

“But shouldn’t you be angry? I defeated you in a duel.”

“So?”

“I’ve only trained properly in martial arts for a little over two years. Sure, I had fortunate encounters—but the talent of a possessor—”

“That’s a strange thing to say.”

Estor tilted his head again.

“I was born with tremendous talent myself. I was born into the Orsia family, one of the most prestigious martial houses in the western continent. My grandfather is Sword Emperor Alvator Orsia.”

“…”

“Yuri. Did you choose to possessed here?”

“No.”

“Did you choose the body you entered?”

“No.”

“Compare everything between us—my environment was overwhelmingly superior. My life has been filled with fortune. Few in this world were born into as good a family with as much support as I was. For me to rage at you for benefiting from talent would be like smearing filth on my own face.”

Estor did not know the original Yuri. Just like Haryeong. Naturally, his reaction differed from Elena’s.

But this likely wasn’t the common reaction.

Most natives of this world reacted negatively to possessors on principle. Former friends might harbor hatred—even killing intent. Even strangers would keep their distance upon learning the truth.

“So, the failed first love?”

Haryeong pressed again, but Estor cleared his throat and deftly changed the subject. Yuri remained sitting there, mouth slightly open, stunned.

‘Is this guy sane?’

He had steeled himself to reveal the truth—yet Estor acted as though it were trivial.

“By the way, you’re not planning to openly announce you’re a possessor from now on, are you?”

“That would be difficult.”

He had told Estor because they would travel together for months—and because, in the worst case, he had a way to silence him.

“Hmm. Then I suppose I must help guard your secret. I have a very tight mouth. No need to worry.”

Estor grinned and stood.

Whatever thoughts or emotions he hid inside, outwardly there seemed to be no scheming.

Should he trust him? Would it be better to emphasize the ‘promise’ more firmly?

“…”

He didn’t.

Yuri kept silent. What they needed now was trust. He had revealed the truth precisely because he didn’t want to break it. Rather than bind Estor with the chain of a wager won in a duel, he wanted to try believing in him.

“I must pay respects at the Havert Magic Tower tomorrow. What about you two?”

“We’re going back to the exposition.”

Yuri composed himself and answered. Immediately after, Haryeong glided closer and whispered,

“Lord Estor may not know, but today Yuri-nim was far too busy with various pathetic worries to properly enjoy the exposition. Would you like to know what those pathetic worries were?”

“Be quiet.”

Yuri hurriedly cut her off.