Failed Possession Chapter-93

## Ch-93.

—

“Since I became head of the house, fewer than ten outsiders—including you two—have set foot in this treasury.”

Alnair Maybeld descended the underground stairs with his back held perfectly straight.

“It’s an honor.”

Yuri replied, glancing at the back of Eleia Yudel’s head as she walked close behind Alnair. Unlike Frenzied Slaughter Saber and Radiant Heaven Sovereign—who were strongly suspected of being possessors—Eleia was a confirmed possessor alongside Full Moon Play.

‘Who could she be…?’

He had heard about Eleia’s martial prowess from Estor. A swordswoman who freely wielded a greatsword as large as her own body. Yet according to the Sword Emperor, her sword technique itself was not extraordinarily refined.

Instead, she wielded “power” beyond technique.

Her build was not brutishly massive, but for a woman she was muscular—clear proof she had not neglected external body cultivation. A heavy sword style that combined raw strength with inner power.

Yuri had never seen her fight directly, but from the stories, she sounded like a classic power-based swordsman—driving in crushing blows at key openings. A very common build, much like orthodox mages.

He had heard that a few years ago she slew one of the Seven Evils of the Demonic Cult and then disappeared from public view. Why, then, was she now serving as a retainer of House Maybeld?

By the time Yuri finished his thoughts, they had descended the long, straight staircase and reached the underground chamber.

Judging by the number of steps, this should be around the fourth or fifth basement level. But since they hadn’t passed through other floors, he couldn’t be certain. In the first place, the door connected to the staircase bore sealing magic that only the head of house could open—and he had continuously felt magical presences while descending.

This place might lie deeper than the fifth basement. Or perhaps the stairs were merely deep, connecting not to a basement at all but to somewhere entirely separate.

This was the treasury of House Maybeld—one of the wealthiest families among the Prides. Such security was only natural.

Bringing Yuri and Haryeong—whom he had met just yesterday—to such a place meant that, aside from Eleia’s strength as an escort, Alnair was truly sincere about compensating the city.

“Do not feel overly burdened.”

As if reading Yuri’s thoughts, Alnair spoke.

At the bottom of the stairs stood a massive sealed door. Removing his gloves, Alnair turned toward Yuri and Haryeong.

“It is true that the items in this treasury are of great value. But they are worth less than the dignity of House Maybeld and the entirety of Alderan. You are entitled to take whatever you wish from here.”

“I am grateful, but surely it’s impossible not to feel burdened.”

Yuri smiled wryly.

Alnair laughed heartily and shook his head.

“Why? Because it was Heavenly Thunder who ultimately defeated Agwi? You are the ones who made it possible for Heavenly Thunder to arrive. Let’s consider the worst case. Without you, she would not have come. Agwi would have completed the Rift. Alderan would have perished. Do you know what that means? It means House Maybeld would fall in my generation.”

Alnair extended his bare hand toward the sealed door.

“In other words, you saved Alderan and House Maybeld. As head of the house, I must repay you. And frankly speaking, it does not matter to me who defeated Agwi. Heavenly Thunder is not someone within my reach anyway. You know this, do you not? Heavenly Thunder and the Dercia Magic Tower are closely aligned with the Ascad family.”

“I know.”

“But you are different. If you truly feel burdened, then think of this as a transaction.”

A transaction?

Yuri blinked. Alnair chuckled as he stroked the door.

“Cloud Dragon. Dark Flower. You are promising youths with bright futures. Whatever you take from this treasury, I will not regret it. If it is a martial art or spell, we can make copies. Even if you desire a one-of-a-kind item, I do not mind.”

He turned his sharp gaze back to them.

“I value people more than objects. Ah, of course—not all people. Not everyone is equal.”

House Maybeld’s history was the history of merchants. Alnair’s blood carried that legacy.

“What I offer you is not a gift born of kindness. If you feel burdened, then that pleases me. A transaction becomes an investment or sponsorship. The burden you feel becomes a debt of the heart, and you will remain aware of me and House Maybeld. If you feel no burden? That is fine too. Our first transaction simply ends cleanly—and perhaps we shall trade again someday.”

—Kugugung…

The door beneath his palm began to open.

“You will receive such favors many times in the future. In this world, forming ties with promising youths is always useful in some way. And it is useful to you as well. Connections are far better to have than not.”

The Pride families that had ruled the Western Continent for centuries understood well that making allies was more important than making enemies. That was why Magic Towers existed within cities ruled by Pride houses.

The treasury door fully opened.

Yuri had half-expected walls, floors, and ceilings made of gold—but that was not the case.

Inside was a long corridor lined with dozens of closed doors. At its center stood a large crystal sphere.

“Follow.”

Alnair and Eleia entered first.

Yuri followed, swallowing hard as he surveyed the surroundings.

A barren corridor devoid of paintings or ornaments. The doors bore no distinctive markings—yet he felt countless layers of magic emanating from them.

This was a space that could never be entered without a key—existing solely for the treasury’s purpose. And that key was likely Alnair Maybeld himself. Each of those dozens of doors likely connected to separate spaces housing treasures of astronomical value.

“It would take days to search room by room. So we use this.”

After stroking the crystal sphere several times, Alnair stepped back.

“One of Alfreon’s most useful gifts. Place your hand upon it, and you will naturally understand how to use it.”

Haryeong, having already decided what she wanted, moved first.

Though her expression appeared calm as usual, the tightness around her lips betrayed tension.

‘Or anticipation?’

Standing before the sphere, she swallowed and extended her hand.

—Wooooong.

The orb glowed softly beneath her palm.

She blinked several times, tilted her head, then quietly closed her eyes.

“…!”

Her expression stiffened abruptly.

Her eyes widened; her mouth parted slightly in shock. She turned sharply toward Alnair.

“Why is this here—”

“Do not ask.”

Alnair smiled.

“I do not know what you found that startled you, nor am I particularly curious. But whatever it is—do not ask why or how.”

Though visibly shaken, Haryeong quickly regained composure.

“I apologize.”

Bowing, she turned back to the sphere.

“You may both use it at once.”

Seeing Yuri still standing there, Alnair chuckled.

Yuri cleared his throat and stepped forward.

He glanced sideways at Haryeong. Her lips were pressed tightly together, eyes focused in concentration—though her brows twitched occasionally in lingering shock.

‘Just what did she find?’

Curious, Yuri placed his hand on the sphere.

[Search function activated.]

[Please recall what you seek.]

The voice echoed directly in his mind.

Yuri’s shoulders twitched.

So this was a gift from the greatest alchemist of the century, Alfreon Ascad. The crystal itself seemed to house something akin to artificial intelligence.

‘Hmm…’

Naturally, the first thing that came to mind was Geburah.

Agwi’s bracelet might not actually be Geburah.

[No item named Geburah is stored.]

The answer came immediately. Yuri felt a slight pang of disappointment.

If Geburah were here, he wouldn’t have to cling to hope over Agwi’s bracelet.

[Sixteen items named Elixir are stored.]

‘Sixteen?’

He had searched out of curiosity only; he had no desire for more Elixirs.

He needed to test how reliable this search function truly was.

His memory of game items and skills was incomplete. And this world held items that had never existed in the game.

‘Does it have to be an exact name?’

He tried recalling vague keywords.

[No item named Dercia is stored.]

Even a single word triggered a search.

He continued.

[For items related to Namgung Clan: One Imperial Sword Art, one Sky-Piercing Boundless Sword Art, one Grand Flame Sword Art are stored.]

[For items related to Havert: one low-grade, one mid-grade, one high-grade item stored.]

[For items related to Orsia: one low-grade item stored.]

[Searching items matching conditions.]

…

With each thought, the sphere responded.

Even broad “conditions” worked.

Yuri swallowed.

Magic from the Magic Towers. Martial arts from powerful Eastern clans and major sects of the Orthodox Heaven Alliance. Even many martial arts from major Black Dragon Society sects—all returned the response: stored.

[For items related to Salho and Tang Clan: one Ruthless Killing Stream, one Poison-Blood Divine Art, one Heavenly Maiden Flying Garment Technique, one Vast Origin Art are stored.]

Now he understood why Haryeong had been shocked.

The Maybeld treasury contained Tang Clan martial arts.

Ruthless Killing Stream was the Tang Clan’s signature hidden-weapon art. The other three were inner cultivation methods.

Even if she had been cast out, it was only natural she’d be shaken to see her clan’s arts stored here.

‘Perhaps…’

Heart pounding with anticipation, Yuri searched further.

[One item named Seven-Night Flowing Cloud Steps is stored.]

[No item named Blood-Wheel Soul-Shattering Palm is stored.]

These were epic-tier skills obtainable only in late-game content—martial arts Yuri had sought since the moment he possessed this body.

‘Having it is nice… but…’

In the game, they had been mandatory pickups.

Now?

He no longer felt they were essential.

In terms of in-game ranking, *Blood-Wheel Soul-Shattering Palm* surpassed *Rantian Flowing Cloud Fist*, and *Seven-Night Flowing Cloud Steps* surpassed *Storm-Wind Cloud Step*. In some sense, they were superior versions—clearly outperforming the lower-tier skills.

But Yuri now understood that reality was not the game. Learning an entirely new martial art required time and effort.

‘Setting aside Blood-Wheel Soul-Shattering Palm, which isn’t even here… do I really need to take Seven-Night Flowing Cloud Steps and learn it from scratch? Wouldn’t it be better to refine Storm-Wind Cloud Step further through experience?’

They were undoubtedly excellent martial arts. In the game they had been classified as epic-tier skills; in this world, they would likely be called divine arts.

But they were not immediately essential.

‘I’ll look at other things first.’

If nothing else proved worthwhile, choosing Seven-Night Flowing Cloud Steps wouldn’t be a bad option.

With that thought, Yuri continued searching.

Honestly, what tempted him more than martial arts or magic were items. Martial arts and spells would ultimately come as copies. But items had to be received in their original form. That felt more advantageous.

Especially epic items—usually one-of-a-kind in the world.

‘Wait.’

[No item named Heavenly Demon Divine Art is stored.]

[No item named Evil-Quelling Heavenly Principle Technique is stored.]

‘As expected.’

He had searched just in case, but the answer was predictable. He felt no disappointment.

[No item named Keter is stored.]

That too was expected. If this world followed the game, Keter—the ultimate mage accessory—would be in the possession of Apex, Arsen Lucionel. And Apex Lucionel was very much alive, currently involved in the Bernock conflict.

‘What should I choose…’

If he used weapons, the choice would be easier—but Yuri did not.

He had no immediate need for new martial arts.

He reviewed his current deficiencies.

With a possessor’s mana affinity, the Evil-Quelling Heavenly Principle Technique, and the Elixir in his body, inner power was not an issue.

Martial arts? He already possessed what he needed, centered around Evil-Quelling Heavenly Principle Technique.

Magic? Gate-Sealing Thunder and Withered Eternal Source alone would not be easy to fully master. If he grew greedy for more magic, he would end up half-baked in everything.

Then it had to be an item.

Thinking of the future—what item would help most? Not weapons. Perhaps armor or an accessory?

He recalled the battle with Agwi.

He had survived by luck. Just as Orca said, Agwi had toyed with him. That was why he lived.

There was no guarantee that future battles would be against weaker or equal opponents—or even foes he could struggle against and perhaps match.

What if he met someone on Agwi’s level? And that enemy did not act arrogantly, but fought like a lion hunting a rabbit at full strength? What if escape were impossible, leaving no option but to fight?

In such cases, the first solution that came to mind was *Geas*.

Even Agwi, in a situation where escape was impossible and death certain, had fled using the power of Geas.

‘Though not unscathed.’

Yuri didn’t even know how much power Agwi had gained from his imposed restrictions. But more importantly, Geas wasn’t something just anyone could use. No matter the Church one chose, obtaining power through Geas required offering faith in return.

‘Penalty skills can apparently be replaced with Geas… but what I need right now is…’

When facing a powerful enemy.

When escape is impossible.

Power that lets you survive without dying.

At the very least, power that lets you escape.

Power that turns the impossible into possible.

[Searching for items matching conditions.]

Soon, the crystal responded.

[Three items named Frenzied Blood are stored.]

[One item named Explosive Blood Art is stored.]

[One item named Elixir of Final Resolve is stored.]

The names scrolled through his mind. Some he recognized. Some he did not. But understanding their function posed no problem.

[Elixir of Final Resolve grants power beyond one’s limits when consumed. Upon expiration, the user inevitably dies.]

The crystal answered his unspoken question.

Most of the items were like that. In exchange for surpassing limits, you died—or were crippled.

‘Dying defeats the purpose.’

If the item helped him overcome a crisis only to kill him afterward, that was backwards.

Even as he pondered, the crystal continued listing names.

Most were mutual-destruction types, or items that forcibly induced berserk states.

For Yuri—Lee Su-hyeok—berserk was not unfamiliar.

His game character, Padlip Immune, always incorporated berserk in its build. In the game, berserk usually lowered defense into the negatives while massively boosting offensive stats. But for Padlip Immune, defense might as well not exist. He wore no armor. And in the late game, bosses killed you in one hit anyway.

So berserk had been useful—trigger it at death’s door, boost stats, sustain through lifesteal.

But reality would not mirror the game. If you truly lost your reason, you couldn’t fight properly.

[One item named Death-Defying Banner is stored.]

The final name spoken by the crystal.

This item had not existed in the game.

[Death-Defying Banner is one of the sacred relics of the War Church. It was bound to House Maybeld one hundred years ago in exchange for continued offerings.]

[If one reaches the brink of death on the battlefield and death draws near, planting the banner will form the War God’s Sanctuary and invoke a miracle.]

Sanctuary.

Miracle.

Yuri’s thoughts halted.

‘This is it.’

The War Church was notorious for hostility toward possessors. Yet even without being clergy, one could form a sanctuary and invoke a miracle?

‘The conditions are strict.’

It required reaching death’s brink on the battlefield. It could not be used casually.

But even with that restriction, sanctuary and miracle were more than enough to sway him. Properly used, it might overturn certain death.

‘What form does the sanctuary take? What degree of miracle?’

[Unconfirmed.]

It had never been used; even the crystal lacked detailed information.

‘Seven-Night Flowing Cloud Steps… or Death-Defying Banner…’

The deliberation did not last long.

No matter how divine Seven-Night Flowing Cloud Steps was, it could not compare to a sacred relic that invoked sanctuary and miracle.

‘If necessary, I can obtain it later.’

Maintaining good relations with Alnair Maybeld was something Yuri desired as well. If their relationship deepened, he might enter the treasury again someday.

“I’ve decided.”

Yuri opened his eyes.

Haryeong still stood with her hand on the crystal, eyes closed.

“I’ll say this in advance. Once you name it, you cannot retract your choice,” Alnair said with a faint smile.

“I have no intention of retracting.”

“Is that so? Then speak. What did you choose?”

“Death-Defying Banner.”

“Death-Defying Banner…?”

Alnair’s brow twitched.

He seemed less surprised by Yuri’s choice than by the name itself—like there was history attached to it.

“Do you know what it is?”

“The crystal told me. A sacred relic of the War Church.”

“That’s right. A sacred relic. One that’s been buried in this treasury for a hundred years. Why do you think that is?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Because we never had reason to use it.”

Alnair clicked his tongue.

“Maybeld has always been merchants, not warriors. We never faced situations requiring such a relic. Yet a hundred years ago, the War Church scoundrels gladly swallowed the astronomical donations Maybeld provided—and as repayment, they handed us that relic. What do you suppose that meant?”

“I… don’t know.”

“I believe it was mockery. They ran their Church on Maybeld’s donations, yet looked down on merchants who did not stand on battlefields. So my grandfather—the head of Maybeld a century ago—threw the banner into the treasury. It had no use.”

Alnair raised his hand.

The ring on his finger glowed softly. A distant door deep within the corridor swung open.

“Death-Defying Banner. I know its name and general ability. But having never used it, I do not know the details.”

As its name suggested, the banner bore a golden pole with crimson cloth attached.

It was larger than Yuri expected.

‘Do I have to carry that around?’

It would probably fit in a magic bag.

Alnair watched the floating banner with a complicated expression.

“So the gift of mockery from a century ago finally leaves Maybeld. Well, the head of house can hardly carry such a thing onto a battlefield. Cloud Dragon—starting now, you are the master of Death-Defying Banner.”

With that declaration, the banner drifted toward Yuri.

He swallowed and grasped the pole.

The banner, as tall as he was, vanished instantly.

“…?”

It had disappeared—but not truly.

Yuri could clearly feel it.

If he reached death’s brink and death drew near, the crimson banner would appear before him.

‘At least I won’t need to stuff it into a bag…’

Thinking that, Yuri turned toward Haryeong.

She had opened her eyes and was staring at him.

“I’ve decided as well.”

Haryeong spoke.