Failed Possession Chapter-95

## Ch-95.

—

“An invitation from the War Church—especially to the Grand Temple in Union—is an honor beyond what you can imagine.”

Unaware of Yuri’s true feelings, Pound continued with a solemn expression.

“The War Church has been observing the movements of Cloud Dragon and Dark Flower. Not long ago, you cooperated with Sword Dragon of the Orsia family to slay a Bishop of the Evil God and played a major role in purging a parish. And this time, you dealt a decisive blow to Agwi—one of the Evil God’s Saints.”

In the decades since the Evil God and his cultists began to rampage in earnest, no one had achieved so much in such a short span.

Above all, they had confronted Agwi—a Saint—and forced him to flee with injuries so severe that recovery would not come easily.

The true identities of the Evil God’s Saints were not clearly known. No one even knew how many there were. It was possible that some had been secretly killed already—but without a definitive roster, such speculation was meaningless.

Agwi, however, was a known Saint. His true name and identity remained hidden, but the title “Agwi” was recognized.

“I cannot speak too freely, but if you were to visit the Grand Temple in Union—hmph, you would still need to undergo testing there—but there is a high likelihood that you would receive *Baptism*.”

“Ha.”

Haryeong’s brows lifted slightly. Allen also looked surprised.

“You mean without even passing through an acolyte stage?”

“Your strength and accomplishments are already proven. Why would you need to serve as acolytes?”

“Hm. So you did not come merely to confirm the situation. It seems the War Church covets these two.”

Allen asked with a faint smile, but Pound pressed his lips together and did not answer.

Yuri quietly sent a telepathic message.

[Is receiving Baptism that significant?]

[The Baptism itself is important—but receiving it at the Grand Temple in Union is truly extraordinary.]

Haryeong responded in kind.

[Union is a religious confederation city. Multiple Churches maintain their Grand Temples there. Just as the Church of Order was expelled from Union and retreated to some hidden holy land, sanctuaries are precious places that Churches protect and conceal.]

Frankly, Yuri still did not fully grasp it. Why hide a sanctuary?

[Don’t be foolish. A sanctuary is sacred because it is directly connected to the god. If its location were widely known and cultists or enemies attacked it, what then?]

Haryeong clicked her tongue mentally and continued.

[The Grand Temple in Union is both symbol and headquarters of an Church. Inviting outsiders like us there for Baptism is unprecedented.]

Receiving Baptism was not easy—but if one met the qualifications, a high-ranking priest in any temple could grant it.

But receiving Baptism at the Grand Temple in Union was, in earthly terms, like receiving it at the Vatican itself.

[And the War Church is particularly closed-off. Unlike the Earth Church or the Church of Abundance, you must follow the faith from childhood to even become a clerical acolyte. From there, you must prove faith, strength, and merit to become a formal priest.]

In short, the insular War Church had extended a love call to Yuri and Haryeong.

For Yuri—a Possessor—to enter the Grand Temple of the War Church would not be like entering a tiger’s den, but like crawling straight into its jaws. He had secured the **Death-Defying Banner** from the Maybeld vault as insurance against catastrophe—but that was nothing compared to the risk of going to the Grand Temple and accepting Baptism.

After a brief silence, Yuri spoke.

“For those lacking faith, such an offer is far too generous.”

Fortunately, that was an excuse he could use. What could they do if he claimed no faith?

“Faith comes fastest when one thinks it too late,” Pound replied without retreating, fixing Yuri and Haryeong with intense eyes.

“If you read the scriptures daily on the journey to Union, faith will surely take root.”

“We are grateful, but Baptism feels premature for us.”

“It is not certain you would receive it. Why not come and see first?”

“We have our own schedule.”

“And does that schedule precede the will of the War Church?”

Three refusals—and Pound still did not withdraw. His last remark even carried naked arrogance. Yuri felt his patience thinning and smoothed his expression.

“My apologies.”

“Not everyone receives such an offer.”

“Then we shall live diligently, so that we may receive it again someday.”

It was a crooked reply—but Pound lacked the subtlety to detect the sentiment beneath it. He merely shook his head in incomprehension.

“If you are finished, would you kindly leave?”

Before Yuri could voice dismissal outright, Allen interjected with a gentle smile.

“You have heard the testimony of four days ago, and you have heard their answer to your proposal.”

“…”

“We have waited long enough. It is time to conduct our own business. I’m sorry, but this concerns the Hammer Church as well. As an outsider, Sir Pound, you must step out.”

“I just spoke on behalf of the War Church.”

“Then you should have asked us to leave first.”

Pound’s shoulders trembled faintly. He cast a lingering glance at Yuri and Haryeong before finally standing.

“If ever you come to Union… or even near it… I ask that you visit the Grand Temple of the War Church.”

“Yes, understood.”

He answered—but had no intention of going.

As Pound exited, visibly disappointed, Allen shuddered and muttered:

“That ugly fellow talks far too much. Don’t you agree?”

The insult came out of nowhere.

“Now that the obstruction is gone, let us speak of our own matter. As introduced earlier, I am Allen Suface of the Hammer Church.”

Allen smiled brightly at Yuri and Haryeong.

“We meet under these circumstances, but I have long known of you, Yuri.”

“Because of Full-Moon Play?”

He had not heard the full story, but from Pound’s remarks, Allen had forged weapons for Chuk Shin-do.

“Yes. I’ve known that madman for quite some time. Inevitably, rumors about him catch my ear.”

“You seem closely connected.”

“I forged his signature weapon—the Demon-Guiding Orb.”

So Chuk Shin-do’s Demon-Guiding Orb had not been an ordinary iron sphere after all.

‘Of course not. An ordinary iron ball couldn’t withstand the Martial Zenith’s kicks.’

Outwardly, it had seemed nothing more than a sturdy mass of metal. Perhaps it possessed hidden functions.

“And that… strange outfit? Did you make that as well?”

“The clothes? Ah, the white one? Yes. He begged, so I made one according to request. But I only made the first set. What he wears now, he must have obtained separately.”

As he spoke, Allen lifted his dark, shimmering cloak and reached inside.

—Thud.

From within emerged a sizable bag.

“The War Church may covet Agwi’s belongings, but the Hammer Church does not.”

“You mentioned one of your relics was among them.”

“It is indeed one of the relics forged centuries ago under divine revelation by our High Priest and blessed by the Smith God. But it left our Church long ago. Such items are not meant to be hoarded as treasures, but to be used.”

The background was more impressive than Yuri had expected. He swallowed.

Whether Agwi’s bracelet was what Yuri desperately hoped for remained uncertain—but a relic of such pedigree would be useful regardless.

Click.

The bag opened on the table.

“….”

Yuri’s shining eyes faltered slightly.

In the corner lay Agwi’s neatly folded underwear.

“That isn’t the Hammer Church’s relic, is it?”

“Of course not. Though… it isn’t just ordinary underwear. It never tears, adjusts perfectly to the wearer’s body, resists bacteria… various enchantments for convenience and hygiene. Always like new.”

Well, for someone like Agwi—who transformed into a gigantic beast—underwear that stretched and never tore would be useful.

“I don’t need that.”

Yuri had no interest. No matter how pristine, someone else had worn it. If it granted combat buffs, perhaps—but mere hygiene enchantments were useless.

Aside from the underwear were Agwi’s robe, a gold necklace, a gold bracelet—and the grotesque, torn-mouthed mask he had always worn.

“I will explain each in turn… though relics are difficult to describe. Ah, don’t worry. Once worn, you will understand their abilities.”

Allen stood.

Yuri felt a flicker of disappointment. In a game, one could hover a cursor to see stats. In reality, no such convenience existed.

Typically, one would seek appraisal or consult a priest of the Hammer Church. Though Allen claimed wearing it would suffice, Yuri would have preferred detailed explanation first.

“First—this bracelet is one of the Hammer Church’s relics.”

The bracelet Yuri most anticipated was introduced first.

“Its name is Geburah.”

Yes.

Yuri suppressed the overwhelming urge to leap to his feet and cheer.

—

—

 

“Hmm.”

As Allen Suface left the Maybeld estate, he paused mid-step and glanced back.

Beyond the tightly shut grand gates, Yuri’s face lingered faintly in his mind.

“I can’t tell.”

Allen rubbed his chin and muttered. Seeing Yuri stubbornly refuse the War Church’s invitation had made him wonder—perhaps.

Considering that Yuri’s reputation was rising rapidly and that he was brimming with talent, even if he were not a Possessor, it would make sense that he would dislike joining the War Church.

At the very least, if Allen knew what martial arts Yuri used, he could speculate. But unless one were a lunatic like Chuk Shin-do who boasted openly, concealing one’s martial arts was basic practice.

Especially for someone like Yuri—who had not belonged to a famous sect and had learned alone—concealment was essential.

‘Chuk Shin-do once praised him… I wondered, just maybe.’

No. If Thunder Cloud were truly that bastard, Chuk Shin-do would not have stopped at mere praise.

Cat Panties and Pad-lip Immune.

Allen knew how long Chuk Shin-do had waited for someone from his homeland.

According to information Chuk Shin-do had gathered, Cat Panties was already somewhere in this world. But Pad-lip Immune’s possession had not yet been confirmed.

‘If he hasn’t appeared at all… maybe he gave up on first place and quit the game?’

Perhaps he died in an accident or illness back on Earth. Or perhaps he had already possessed someone and was hiding well.

Many fools suspected Pad-lip Immune of being an apostle of the Evil God—even among cultists such rumors circulated.

But Allen did not believe for a second that Pad-lip Immune was an apostle.

The guy had just been an unemployed bum who played games all day.

‘I’ll ask next time we meet.’

It had been two years ago, but if Chuk Shin-do had praised him, he must have made a significant impression. The Chuk Shin-do Allen knew did not offer even casual praise—especially not to a junior.

“Surely he didn’t die in Bernok.”

Allen muttered quietly, turning on his heel. He felt a twinge of concern—but he had no intention of going to Bernok to help Chuk Shin-do.

Allen’s wish was simple: to live leisurely, peacefully, happily, and easily in this world—with this handsome face.

He did not want to fight cultists unnecessarily. He did not wish to stake his life vowing to slay the Evil God. Nor did he wish to pray to the Goddess of Order.

‘But learning that Agwi massacred the Laspion family pisses me off.’

Leisurely and peaceful.

To live that way required power and backing.

When he had first arrived in this world and pondered how to live, how to secure strength and background, Allen had naturally thought of the Laspion family’s sword art.

‘If not for those bastards, I would’ve learned the Laspion sword art.’

But before he could act, the Laspion family had been wiped out.

With that, he had been forced to revise his second-life plan entirely.

So he chose the Hammer Church. Joining meant respect wherever he went, substantial income, minimal danger—and even if his identity as a Possessor were revealed, it would not be a problem.

For such pragmatic reasons he had chosen it. And yet, he had discovered talent and enjoyment in forging weapons, eventually rising to master craftsman.

‘In the end, this turned out well.’

Seated inside his carriage, Allen took out a mirror and studied his face.

Though he saw it daily, he never tired of it. Gazing at his reflection lovingly, he murmured:

“I’m glad I possessed this body.”

Chuk Shin-do always spoke of wanting to return to Earth.

Allen was different.

Possession had made him blissfully happy—and he never wished to return.

—

—

 

Agwi’s necklace bore a high-level subspace enchantment. It was on an entirely different level from the simple spatial expansion charms placed on pouches or bags.

The necklace itself was directly linked to a subspace. Without opening a bag or reaching inside, one could retrieve or store items at will.

“You’re really giving this to me?”

“Yes.”

The moment he heard the explanation, Yuri felt it suited Haryeong perfectly.

She normally stored hidden weapons in concealed pockets within her sleeves or waist. Those pouches had spatial expansion magic, but retrieving the exact weapon mid-battle was cumbersome.

“I like it.”

“Pardon?”

“Not enough to say I love it.”

With her usual expressionless face, Haryeong turned in front of Yuri and lifted her bobbed hair away from her shoulders.

“…?”

Her pale nape was exposed. Yuri blinked, tilting his head in confusion.

“What are you doing?”

“That’s what I should be asking.”

“Foolish Yuri. Are you planning to trade the necklace for candy? Hurry and put it on me.”

Couldn’t she do it herself? he thought. Still, he stepped forward as instructed. He had never put a necklace on someone before, and inexplicably felt tense.

Click.

In the end, it was simple. Haryeong lightly bumped her back against his chest and touched the necklace.

“Oh.”

Her hand slid straight into empty air.

“Ohoho.”

She pulled out a large gemstone from the subspace, her eyes widening.

“Is this gem mine too?”

“That’s shared.”

“Joint property?”

“Yeah… something like that.”

As she emptied her hidden weapons into the subspace, Yuri examined the rest of the bag’s contents.

Geburah alone would have satisfied him completely—but the robe and mask were impressive as well.

The robe was enchanted with top-tier defensive magic—at least Unique-grade in game terms. Of course, it had not withstood Orca’s magic.

“Take this.”

“Me?”

Estor blinked, catching the robe tossed at him.

“Why give this to me?”

“Estor, don’t ask too many questions. The tattered robe Yuri currently wears carries many stories. In my opinion, our pathetic Yuri would never discard it.”

Haryeong smirked as she stored weapons one by one. Yuri kept silent.

The torn-mouthed mask was fitting for a Saint of the Evil God who rampaged in secrecy. Its perception-disrupting magic suppressed one’s presence merely by wearing it. Combined with stealth techniques, it could deceive even high-ranking observers.

‘So that’s how he appeared in the exhibition hall’s center.’

For someone who might be hunted at any time, Yuri needed such an item.

‘If I combine this with Veil of Deception, could I fool even someone at the level of the Martial Zenith?’

Items, like skills, had synergy.

He felt mild discomfort at wearing the mask Agwi had used—but washing it thoroughly would suffice.

“Thump-thump.”

Finally—the golden bracelet.

Geburah.

As Yuri lifted it, Haryeong teased him. Ignoring her, he opened the bracelet.

—Geburah is worn on the right arm.

It symbolizes strength.

Recalling Allen’s explanation, Yuri fastened it onto his right wrist.

Thud.

With a heavy sound, his vision went dark.