Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Sweet Home
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In the game, he'd encountered Heavenly Thunder Orca Derusia countless times—died by her hand just as many, and killed her in return. With no official illustrations in the game, all he had of Orca's appearance were crude graphics and the fan art based on them.
The real thing was definitely different.
The sheer pressure she exuded was on another level.
This wasn't the first time "Yuri" had met Orca Derusia.
Ten years ago. When Orca had come to the Oldor orphanage herself, intrigued by a letter from the director.
Yuri had hidden behind a wall and spied on Orca and Elena's meeting.
Elena, who had never properly learned magic, manipulating mana solely through her innate talent and intuition.
Lifting up the worn-out ball the orphanage kids kicked around without even touching it, moving it this way and that.
When she showed off her tricks to Yuri with a hee-hee laugh, but performed them before Orca with a face full of tension and no hint of a smile—the shabby old ball soared far higher than when the kids kicked it.
To a height a ten-year-old Yuri could never reach.
"Impressive."
Orca had smiled gently at Elena after her tense demonstration. What Elena showed back then wasn't really magic so much as mana manipulation without incantations, but for a ten-year-old who had taught herself that much without any instruction, "genius" was the word.
"Will you come with me?"
He had heard those words from afar.
"Y-Yes... yes..."
He had heard the breathless reply, too.
The formalities were skipped. It ended with Orca saying she would take her. Elena didn't have much luggage. The orphanage might have been home to the ten-year-old Elena, but all she could take from that home was the one worn doll she always slept with hugged to her chest.
"See you later, Yuri."
At the moment of parting, Elena had sniffled and sobbed, snot and all.
"I'll write when I get there. You have to reply. And someday, I'll come visit for sure."
Reality returned.
Ten years ago, orphan Yuri hadn't even been able to stand before Heavenly Thunder Orca. Naturally, Orca hadn't spared Yuri a single glance.
But now Yuri stood before her. It wasn't a meeting arranged with any proper qualifications, but just standing here gave him a strange thrill.
'This could go south.'
More than thrill, he felt a sense of crisis. He had never imagined facing Orca like this. Sure, he was a prospective disciple, but Elena wasn't alone, and this wasn't even the Derusia Magic Tower.
'Who would've thought Orca herself would come here.'
Moreover, Orca's eyes now held "interest." She tilted her head slightly, staring at Yuri's face.
"You've known Elena since the orphanage days, right? The letters she sent occasionally."
"Yes."
"Hm, then maybe you saw me ten years ago too. I don't remember, though."
"That makes sense."
"Let's see."
Orca wore a mischievous smile as she stroked her chin. She examined Yuri's face this way and that, as if appraising him.
"Your face is decent enough. A bit thuggish, though. Didn't know Elena went for that type."
"Exactly! Tower Lord! I told you no!"
Elena’s shout had turned into a near-scream. She rushed forward to grab Orca, but Orca's magic repelled her. Mana moved in an instant, invoking a spell.
"Eeeeek...!"
Bound by the magic, Elena twisted her body desperately to escape, but breaking free from a spell cast by the Tower Lord herself was impossible on her own.
"Using magic for this?! Are you insane?!"
"Everyone else would think you're the insane one for talking to the Tower Lord like that."
Orca chuckled and turned back to Yuri.
"Elena told me the situation. You nearly died in Oldor, so she came and brought you here herself."
"Yes."
"I saw how that Namgung mutt attacked you earlier too. Magic really is convenient."
The gaze fixed on his face shifted downward. Her golden eyes narrowed.
"Your body's pretty well-trained. And you're skilled in a fight."
"Didn't she tell you how I survived?"
"She did. Black Snake Gang, was it? Some organization play-acting at being black road."
"Before that, I was a pickpocket. Pretty good at it, too. Luckily, I had nimble fingers. Fought a lot back at the orphanage, as well."
It wasn't a lie. In truth, Yuri had been a troublemaker from the orphanage days, and he'd never once been caught pickpocketing.
"That's news to me. Looks like Elena didn't want to air your dirty laundry."
"Or maybe she was embarrassed about it herself."
"Haha, that sounds more like Elena's personality."
Orca laughed lowly and nodded.
"Lutran's different from Oldor. If you can't shake old habits and try pickpocketing, you'll get caught quick—unlike before."
"What happens if you get caught?"
"They cut off your hand so you can't steal again."
"Whoever does the cutting probably isn't as merciful as you, Tower Lord, so I won't pickpocket."
Orca laughed again at his deadpan response.
"Born with a silver tongue on top of nimble fingers?"
"My seniors weren't merciful, so they'd beat me with sticks if I talked wrong."
"You fight well. Must mean your seniors were stronger than you."
"Never fought them, so I wouldn't know. Probably never will—they're all dead except me."
Yuri had died too.
"If you're the only survivor, you must be the strongest."
"Hearing that makes me regret the past. Should've tried rebellion instead of just taking the beatings."
"I heard you have no interest in learning magic right away."
Orca said, grinning slyly.
"Yes. Tried teaching myself, but no dice. I'm a bit used to physical stuff, though, so if I learn anything, it'll be martial arts."
"You know Elena's sulking about your choice?"
"I'm not sulking!"
Elena shrieked, struggling against the binding spell with grunts. Yuri ignored the scream and replied.
"Yes, I know."
"I said I'm not!"
"But what can be done? Magic... if possible later, I'd like to learn it someday."
"Learning is always worth pursuing, no matter how old you are. Especially magic."
Orca chuckled and nodded.
"Yuri, right? You're extremely lucky. You know that?"
"Yes, all thanks to having a good childhood friend."
"Indeed. Thanks to that childhood friend, you're about to get an Azure Heaven Pill—something most people can't even glimpse."
"You're giving it to me?"
"Who else? Me? Haha, I don't need it. Elena? She's worth it. But we got three pills. One's for you."
"..."
"The Azure Heaven Pill is one of the rarer artificial elixirs from the East."
But not insanely rare. It wasn't valuable enough that Namgung Jin couldn't have smuggled one away.
'If I get friendly with Orca, maybe I can snag a bottle of elixir?'
The Ascard Family's artificial elixir. In the game, one elixir shot your level up several times and boosted base stats massively. At level 99 where you couldn't level anymore, elixir grinding for stats was standard.
"Of course, you can't just take it right away. Without a heart method or mana cultivation technique, it'll just make you healthy—no inner energy gained."
"Yes."
"The heart method... Elena will get you one. Or should I?"
"Why would you do that for someone not even affiliated with the Tower?"
"The man of my cute prospective disciple isn't just anyone."
"I said he's not!"
Elena's scream was now close to a wail.
"Thanks, but I'm good."
He was tempted, but shook his head. This might be a test.
No, even if it was genuine, he didn't want a heart method from Orca. Taking one from her might lead to repeated meetings to check progress. Yuri wanted no part of that. He already had the Heavenly Principle Annihilating Evil Art.
"You know how to refuse too. You've got manners."
Orca smiled mischievously. So it was a test?
"I was thinking of grabbing one if you asked."
Guess not.
"I didn't examine you closely, but you seem pretty talented in martial arts, Yuri. Good fighters usually are. Maybe even magic potential—who knows. You said you've never had a proper teacher."
"I hope so."
"Talking with you is quite enjoyable. I'd love to go inside and chat more over that awful tea."
Orca shrugged and turned to Elena.
"But that might ruin my prospective disciple's pleasant voice. So I'll head out for today."
For today?
Yuri felt cold sweat trickle down his spine as he bowed his head.
"Thank you."
"Polite greetings too."
"I'm enjoying this luxury thanks to my childhood friend, but you made it possible for her to treat me, Tower Lord. And thanks to you, I get an Azure Heaven Pill."
"Good, as long as you know."
He raised his head after the reply. Orca turned away with a pleased smile.
'Phew...'
The moment he swallowed an inner sigh of relief.
"Ah, right."
Orca turned back. A hand shot out and grabbed Yuri's.
"?!"
Crackle! Electricity coursed through the gripped hand. It wasn't an attack. A mild current flowed through his swollen hand into his body. His muscles twitched involuntarily in response.
"You said you got hurt by that Namgung mutt earlier? This much I can heal with magic."
Dodging the slap had twisted his ankle, blocking the punch had sprained his wrist—those were lies. But blocking a punch to the face had hurt his wrist, and crashing down from a height had left his legs tingling—those were real.
Magic electrotherapy? He could see the swelling in his wrist recede rapidly, and the tingling in his legs vanished.
"How's that? Makes you want to learn magic?"
"I'll... learn it later."
"Surprised, huh? Think I'd zap you for no reason?"
Orca chuckled and released his hand.
"I checked you over while healing. No wounds needing special care. Your training's better than it looks. Strip and it'd probably be impressive?"
"Uh...?"
"Your meridians are sturdy, few blockages. But zero inner energy or mana. Your body's a natural fit. Start martial arts now, and you might trash that Namgung mutt in a few years."
Orca turned away after her assessment.
"Now I'm really going. Have fun with your prospective disciple."
"Eyes!"
Elena, who had stopped wailing and was panting, screamed again.
"Yuri! Close your eyes!"
He knew what was coming. Yuri shut his eyes tight. Instead, he focused his senses to the max, trying to read the mana flow.
Massive mana swelled around Orca, distorting the ambient mana. —Crackle! With the sound of electricity, his dark vision flashed bright.
Thunder God Illusion. The magic symbolizing Heavenly Thunder Orca, turning her body into lightning. In Thunder God Illusion, Orca became immune to all physical attacks and her evasion hit the system's max.
A nightmare matchup for Padrip Immunity, whose main damage was barehanded physical attacks. After countless tries, he'd secured anti-Orca skills and built around them, but the trial-and-error had him deleting the game multiple times—the matchup was that bad.
"...You can open your eyes now."
Elena's weary voice came. After all the yelling, screaming, and wailing, her voice was a bit hoarse.
'Orca Derusia didn't sense my inner energy either.'
Not just visually—she'd grabbed his hand and run current through his body. Yet she judged him as having zero inner energy or mana.
'The Veil of Deception fools even Tower Lord level.'
He'd thought he was screwed when she grabbed him. Instead, huge gain. If even Orca, top-tier mage in Seronis, couldn't detect it, hiding his possessor status just got a lot easier.
"You okay?"
Yuri turned to Elena. Covered in sweat from struggling against the bindings, she was being supported by Ha-ryeong.
"Okay? Why are you asking me that?"
Elena glared at him, breathing raggedly.
'Why's she such a bitch even when I'm worried...'
What a foul personality.
"That's my line...! Yuri, you really okay? No injuries? From that Namgung Jin bastard... no, no, from the Tower Lord?"
"Didn't get hit. She healed me instead. You saw it all—why ask?"
"You don't get it. When I was a kid, you know how much the Tower Lord tormented me? I'd be focused on a magic tome, and she'd sneak up, poke my nape with her finger, and zap—!"
Like flicking a lighter, basically.
"I was startled, but fine. Got real healing too."
Yuri held up his hand, swelling gone. He flexed his wrist—no discomfort.
"...Good."
Seeing his calm face finally put her at ease. Elena sighed deeply and shook her head.
"Sorry. I... I should've warned you, but it didn't cross my mind. Who'd think Namgung Jin would come to the house..."
"What's the deal with him?"
He was honestly curious. Repeatedly ringing the doorbell, freaking out at Yuri, Orca even mentioning lingering feelings. Maybe Elena and Namgung Jin were...
"What deal? Don't talk nonsense. And don't get weird ideas!"
Was there mind-reading magic too?
"Just some guy who stalked me obsessively."
"He even showed up at the Tower, saying 'let's meet once and grab a meal.'"
Ha-ryeong, supporting Elena, spoke up.
"Even as the fourth son, Namgung Jin is the Namgung Clan's rightful heir. And Lady Elena is a prospective disciple of the Derusia Magic Tower. On background and talent alone, he's punching above his weight, but it was still a chance to become a Namgung Clan daughter-in-law."
"Daughter-in-law? Don't say creepy shit...!"
"You never know. If Lady Elena had gone to the dinner Namgung Jin set up last week, it might've developed into that."
"Don't misunderstand."
Elena whipped her head to glare at Yuri.
"He was so annoying and persistent, I was just gonna humor him with one meal. Sorry, but I'm not looking to date right now—too busy with magic! I can't reciprocate your feelings! That's what I was gonna say before leaving...!"
"I see."
Unlike the frantic Elena, Yuri was serene.
"So that's the 'big thing' you gave up to pick me up. Skipping dinner with Namgung Jin."
"Is that even worth calling a 'big thing'?"
Her trembling gaze turned to Ha-ryeong.
"Ha-ryeong, you and your loose lips...!"
"I think it was plenty valuable. How many women would kill to have dinner with the Namgung Clan's fourth son, marriage on the table?"
"Not me!"
"But Namgung Jin didn't think so. That's why he rushed over when he heard you'd returned, and this mess happened. Ultimately, it's Lady Elena's fault for ghosting him."
"Ha-ryeong, are you taking Namgung Jin's side now?"
"Am I crazy enough to side with that Namgung whatever? Just saying how it is."
Ha-ryeong replied expressionlessly, stroking her arm a few times.
"But I never expected Orca herself to show up. I was so shocked I nearly bolted."
"Why run?"
"I've told you many times. Sure, her personality's mellowed now, but up to fifteen years ago, Orca despised assassins."
"She still does."
"But for some reason, she decided to accept the Killing Guard Sect. Me guarding you now is proof. I heard tons of Orca stories during my trainee days."
"Ancient history."
"The fear from those stories lingers. Back then, over ten Killing Guard Sect assassins died just for catching Orca's eye. All on guard duty. Including assassins from other sects, ten times that number died to her."
This world's Orca used to hate assassins too. What changed her mind to accept the Killing Guard Sect? He was curious, but Ha-ryeong didn't know why either.
"What now."
Back at the mansion with Ha-ryeong and Elena, Yuri spoke as they entered.
"You said you'd make food, but we haven't yet."
"It's fine. I came back quick, and you got dragged into this mess."
Even with her saying it was fine, he recalled Elena's expression before they left the mansion.
"Rest up. I'll make food now."
"Uh...?"
"What, hungry now?"
"N-No."
Elena shook her head rapidly.
"I'm fine. I rushed here mid-contract rewrite—gotta head back."
"Never planned to let you."
"Yet I'm the one who came running first for you, Yuri. How mean."
"Your face doesn't look it."
"My face always looks like this."
They bantered as they entered the mansion.
'Azure Heaven Pill...!'
More than anything, his heart raced at the thought of taking one.