Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Full Moon Reveler
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Elena Haiderga—what did he think of her?
Yuri didn’t answer right away. Instead, he blinked a few times, trying to gauge Orca’s intentions.
The question didn’t strike him as out of left field. Ever since he’d entered the room, his conversation with Orca had mostly revolved around Elena. And the reason Orca had summoned him in the first place was undoubtedly connected to her.
‘I see.’
His mind flashed back to that first night leaving Oldor. The conversation he’d had with Ha-ryeong by the campfire, with the flames flickering between them. Only the other person had changed; the subject remained the same.
To Orca, Elena was a cherished prospective disciple, the adopted daughter she’d even bestowed her own family name upon.
‘I expect that child will one day become my disciple. I see her as the successor to the tower lord.’
Elena carried great expectations. Orca had three prospective disciples, but she hadn’t mentioned Arist at all. The young mage clung to her solely on the merit of reaching the fourth tier at such a young age, but Orca’s heart wasn’t with him.
Then there was Reish, who had rejected the position of tower lord outright. That left Elena as the only true heir apparent. Yuri’s orphan childhood friend from back home was an even more remarkable figure than he’d realized.
“I think she’s amazing.”
Yuri voiced his honest feelings.
“Elena must have earned Orca’s favor not just through innate talent, but through a decade of hard work in the tower.”
“That’s true.”
Orca smirked and nodded.
“But setting aside right or wrong, your answer doesn’t quite match what I was curious about.”
“The question was too vague.”
“Do you see Elena as a woman?”
“Yes.”
Yuri answered without a moment’s hesitation. Clearly not expecting such immediate admission, Orca’s eyes widened round.
“Elena isn’t a man, after all.”
“Ha...”
Orca let out a hollow laugh at his follow-up. She slowly shook her head and stepped down from the desk.
“Are you clever or just shameless? You always find a way to slip through.”
“I know the rumors circulating in Lutran. Even today, the lounge on the first floor of the tower was packed with mages who came just to catch a glimpse of me.”
Yuri grabbed the teacup floating idly in the air and furrowed his brow.
“They’re all nonsense. I’m neither Elena’s man nor her secret consort. You know that better than anyone, don’t you, Orca?”
“Who knows.”
Was she being serious? Yuri stared at Orca in disbelief.
“Orca. Back in my hometown, I lived like trash. Elena saved me. If she hadn’t come looking for me, would I ever have tasted the luxury of swallowing an Azure Heaven Pill and learning proper martial arts?”
“Who can say.”
Orca smiled faintly as she plopped down across from him.
“I don’t know about your past, but the you I’ve seen is a decent fellow. Talented, too.”
“And cheeky.”
Yuri took her words in stride and sipped his tea.
“I don’t see Elena as just a childhood friend.”
“Then what do you see her as?”
“My benefactor.”
It wasn’t a lie. That’s how Yuri truly felt.
“I’ve received so much grace from Elena. How could I possibly see her as a woman?”
Elena was beautiful. That was undeniable. But Yuri had received too much from her.
Was that really all?
‘How shameless.’
Yuri was a possessor. Elena cared for him because he was her childhood friend from the orphanage, but the real Yuri—the one she knew—had died from a knife wound just dozens of days ago.
The one here now was a monster wearing that dead Yuri’s skin, mimicking him. Every time Elena devoted herself to her ‘childhood friend Yuri,’ a dark, twisted guilt welled up deep in his heart.
Now he understood why so many possessors failed to adapt to reality and chose suicide.
“I understand you treasure Elena, Orca, but there’s no need to worry. I have no intention of pursuing a romantic relationship with her.”
He’d reached that conclusion out of fear of the potential catastrophe ahead. For now, Elena hadn’t discovered he was a possessor—but what if she did someday? What if she realized a possessor had been impersonating Yuri, using her, toying with her emotions?
‘Could I stand tall and declare it a cruel misunderstanding?’
No. That’s why he didn’t want to be exposed. He feared the emotions and bonds they’d built crumbling to dust. He didn’t want to face Elena screaming in contempt.
“That’s no lie.”
After a moment of silence, staring at Yuri, Orca spoke. She draped both arms over the back of the sofa and fixed her gaze on his face.
“But are Elena’s feelings the same as yours?”
“...”
“I get that you see her as your benefactor and cherish her accordingly. But isn’t Elena hoping for more than just a childhood friend from you?”
“That may be, but I don’t understand why you’re telling me this.”
Yuri set down the teacup he still held.
“Surely you don’t expect me to deliberately act in a way that makes her hate me?”
“I’m not that cruel.”
Orca gave a wry smile and shook her head.
“Emotions and pivotal events change people. Take yourself—even you said your values shifted after nearly dying back home. Isn’t that right?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve been through it too. Doesn’t Elena’s bodyguard assassin tell you stories about me? Just fifteen years ago, I despised assassins. Especially that sect called the Killing Guard Sect.”
“...”
“In a way, I’m like you. Fifteen years ago, I fell into a trap and nearly died. The one who saved me was the current lord of the Killing Guard Sect, the Faceless Slayer.”
Yuri couldn’t help but look shocked.
“Is it okay to tell me something like that?”
Ha-ryeong, an assassin of the Killing Guard Sect, didn’t even know this story. Why was Orca sharing it with him?
“Is there a reason I shouldn’t?”
Orca tilted her head instead.
“It’s not exactly a secret.”
“Ha-ryeong didn’t know about it.”
“First, ask that assassin—your sect lord—if she ever demanded an explanation from me about it. I’ve never been questioned by her.”
That was her reason? It seemed absurd, but Orca had no apparent motive to lie.
“Who the hell tried to trap and kill you, Orca?”
That was the real shock. The fact that fifteen years ago, Orca had nearly died in a trap.
“That story falls under secrets.”
Orca smirked.
“I’ve never forgotten it, but it’s too unpleasant to dredge up.”
She didn’t seem inclined to share now, but Yuri secretly wondered if the culprit was a possessor.
The first possessors had crossed into this world thirty years ago. Fifteen years of growth would be plenty, and using a trap instead of direct confrontation could threaten even Orca.
‘Or maybe minions of the evil god.’
The worst kind among possessors: those who murdered priests of the Goddess of Order, abandoned any hope of returning to their original world, and sided with the God of Chaos.
“Even I, who’s lived several times longer than you or Elena, was changed by a single event. It might sound funny coming from me, but I think that near-death experience changed me for the better. You too, probably.”
“Yes.”
“But I’m not sure the changes Elena will face ahead will be entirely positive.”
“You think my reunion with her might have a negative impact.”
“Not just Elena—you too.”
Her golden eyes narrowed.
“Elena wants to keep you within her reach. For you, whose potential is blooming like a flower, the greenhouse she’s created is too peaceful.”
“...”
“It’s the same for Elena. With you around, she’s stopped obsessing over magic like she used to. The girl who’d hole up in the tower’s lab until late at night, lost in focus—she’s been heading home at the same time every day lately.”
Yuri had been staying at Elena’s mansion for over a month now. Just as he spent similar days without major deviation, so did she. She left the mansion around the same time each day and returned around the same time.
Eating breakfast with Yuri. Eating dinner with Yuri.
“I don’t plan to keep freeloading off Elena forever.”
Yuri let out a short sigh.
“Once Bakerd’s guidance ends, I intend to leave the mansion.”
Training in the Cloud-Treading Sky Drifting Fist for a month had driven one thing home.
He needed real combat. The sensation from when he’d first possessed this body and killed the Oh brothers kept resurfacing. He couldn’t feel it in spars with Bakerd. No matter how he visualized it in meditation, it never felt real.
He could probably advance tiers through solitary cultivation without combat. But not in his current environment. Elena’s mansion. Elena’s side. Too many things to worry about. Hiding his internal energy, concealing his progress. He couldn’t even train freely.
“Elena might try to stop me, but I’ve made up my mind.”
He wasn’t cutting ties completely. Occasional letters reporting he was alive would ease her worries.
“Where will you go if you leave?”
“Didn’t you say she wanted to be an adventurer as a kid? Planning to become one?”
“I haven’t decided that far yet.”
“How about joining the Righteous Heavenly Alliance? I have connections with both the Adventurer’s Guild and the Alliance. If you want, I’ll pull some strings. Consider it a gift from me.”
Orca smiled warmly, propping her chin on her hand.
“No need to feel burdened. I know calling you here—a mere close childhood friend—and subjecting you to what amounted to interrogation and pressure under the guise of conversation isn’t something to brag about. It’s just unseemly.”
“Good to know you realize that.”
“I’ll admit it was unseemly of me, but your guts in openly snubbing the lord of Derusia Magic Tower are impressive. Given your past and temperament, the Black Dragon Society might suit you better than the Righteous Heavenly Alliance.”
“You have ties to the Black Dragon Society too?”
“The Faceless Slayer of the Killing Guard Sect saved my life fifteen years ago. How could I not?”
“I don’t want to be an assassin.”
“And I don’t want to turn my prospective disciple’s prospective groom into one.”
“Pfft.”
Yuri, mid-sip, spat out his tea. But the spray hung frozen in the air, never reaching Orca.
“Not content with sass—you attack too. Impressive initiative.”
“Prospective groom?!”
“Prospective is prospective. I’ll admit I’ve tried to keep you and Elena apart, but I have no intention of crushing her feelings entirely. If you want to live as a human, you’ll need emotions and bonds like that.”
Orca chuckled, wagging her finger. The suspended droplets evaporated into nothing.
“The Black Dragon Society is part of the Black Dao Alliance, but not everyone there is filthy trash. Plenty joined because they found the Righteous Heavenly Alliance’s talk of justice, chivalry, and righteousness outdated and annoying.”
“You’re not connected to the Demonic Cult too, are you?”
“That’s properly insane talk.”
Orca let out a hollow laugh and shook her head.
“I won’t say I have none, but I’m not sending you there.”
“Why not?”
“The Demonic Cult is a gathering of lunatics aiming for the tenth-tier divine realm to become gods themselves, worshiping the Heavenly Demon—closest to godhood—as their cult leader. To be a true follower, you have to be mad enough to put the cult above your own life, no matter your power. Do you want to become one of those maniacs?”
“No.”
“Then stay far away from their Subduing Demon Hall.”
Orca shared his negative view of the Demonic Cult.
“If you want to be an adventurer, I can introduce you to a few clans. If you prefer the Righteous Heavenly Alliance or Black Dragon Society, I can secure you a spot as a low-rank warrior.”
Yuri pondered for a moment. This was like a job-change quest via Orca. Clan adventurer? Righteous Heavenly Alliance warrior? Black Dragon Society warrior?
Honestly, the alliances appealed more than adventuring. Even as a grunt, entering via Orca’s introduction meant potential advancement to core positions based on his abilities.
‘Plus, more freedom than sect disciples.’
But either way, he’d stay in Orca’s sights. That was the biggest hurdle. He wanted to escape Elena’s watch by leaving the mansion, not trade it for Orca’s scrutiny.
“Thank you, but...”
“You don’t want it? Why?”
She’d assumed he wouldn’t refuse, so her surprise was genuine.
“I’ve lived my whole life in Oldor until coming here to this great city for the first time. I haven’t decided what I’ll do after leaving Elena, but for now, I want to wander the world.”
“No plans to settle with any group yet?”
“Yes. And if I join via your introduction, I couldn’t slack off—I’d have to work hard. If I mess up, it’d besmirch your reputation.”
“Hahaha. Rejecting for my sake, is that it?”
“Yes.”
Yuri smirked and nodded.
“If you really want to give me something, make it something else.”
“Something else?”
“Elixirs or whatever... got any?”
“Hahaha!”
It was the biggest laugh since their talk began.
“Demanding compensation for my bullying, eh?”
“Weren’t you introducing me to a position with that intent?”
“Fair point. But I didn’t expect you to demand specifics.”
“Last time with Namgung Jin, I was there when you taught Elena. Of course, I’m no lord of Derusia Magic Tower, so I’ll only covet what suits my station.”
“Hahaha!”
Orca laughed heartily again.
“I like your shamelessness. Your greed too. If the situation allows demands, you should make them. I’m the one who called it a gift with no strings first.”
“Thank you for not getting mad.”
“Saying it like that? Now I’d look petty if I did. Fine, can’t have that. The lord of Derusia Magic Tower has a broad mind.”
Still chuckling, Orca tapped the table with her finger.
“Let’s see. Elixirs, elixirs... Shame, no suitable ones for you.”
She muttered, lost in thought for a bit. Yuri waited patiently without pressing.
“I don’t know if you’ll ever join Derusia Magic Tower someday, but Elena said she wants to teach you magic later. Thinking of that future, this might be good to learn.”
Orca’s deliberation ended. Her long finger sliced vertically through the air, splitting space like a zipper. She reached in and pulled out a book.
“This suits your station. No refusing—take it.”
Yuri quickly extended both hands to receive it.
[Violet Lightning Thunderflash Art.]
“It’s a thunder qi art on the level of peak mastery. Too advanced to learn now, but once you hit fourth tier and can infuse attributes into your internal energy, try incorporating it.”
“Why do you have a martial art manual like this?”
“Derusia Magic Tower is the ivory tower of lightning magic. Martial arts and magic differ, but there’s much to reference in handling thunder qi.”
Orca grinned and raised a finger. Zap! Violet currents swirled around it.
“The art manifests thunder qi as a spinning flash, true to its name. It was one of the components in developing my unique magic. I don’t need it anymore—take it.”
Yuri swallowed hard. He knew from the Leseun auction how priceless peak mastery arts were. And this one was advanced enough for Orca to reference in her unique magic.
As she said, it was tough to learn now. Infusing attributes into internal energy from low tiers required mana affinity and comprehension over martial talent.
Meaning no issue for Yuri.
Fourth-tier warriors could naturally alter their internal energy’s attributes. Freely wielding fiery or icy energy, or maximizing cutting sword qi—that was fourth tier.
But modifying attributes within an existing art versus learning a whole new attribute art differed in power and depth. Even if Yuri reached fourth tier and mixed thunder into Cloud-Treading Sky Drifting Fist, he’d lose to true thunder arts.
“Thank you.”
Suppressing the urge to flip through it, Yuri clutched the Violet Lightning Thunderflash Art manual to his chest. Orca giggled and dispersed the currents.
“Learning that art ahead of time will help when Elena teaches you lightning magic later...”
Orca trailed off, blinking several times. She tilted her head, then closed her eyes, concentrating on something.
“Orca?”
Yuri called, alarmed, but no response. After about a minute, she clicked her tongue and opened her eyes.
“What a real lunatic.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Full Moon Reveler is here.”
Orca scowled and flicked her hand. Space tore open differently this time, revealing a different scene.
Thud, thud, thud...
The view was outside Lutran’s gates, where Yuri had passed in a carriage a month ago.
A copper-skinned man walked the sky, juggling a metal orb with his feet. Not stopping there, he juggled it to his head, heading it, then flipping it behind him with a few stationary headers.
He heel-kicked it once—thud—then brought it back with his instep, bouncing it a few times.
Bang! The metal orb rocketed forward from his kick. It hurtled toward the wide-open massive gate.
“Gasp...”
At that speed, it would burst a person and collapse a building. But just past the gate, the orb halted abruptly and returned to the man.
He looked deeply satisfied, clasping his arms overhead before slamming them down.
[Hou.]
A low voice echoed in the room.
A real lunatic had arrived.
“...What the hell is that guy doing?”
Yuri stammered. Orca, face twisted like she’d bitten shit, rose from her seat.
“No idea.”
“...”
“But that madman sometimes juggles his Demonic Path Compass with his feet like that.”
“What?”
“That’s its name. Full Moon Reveler’s signature weapon. He’s smashed countless Demonic Cult fiends’ heads with it, which is why even as a possessor, he gets VIP treatment from the Righteous Heavenly Alliance.”
Orca shrugged on her vest, glaring at the space. Full Moon Reveler resumed his tricks with the Demonic Path Compass, sauntering skyward over the walls.
“Conversation ends here. I need to greet that lunatic.”
“Y-Yes...”
Yuri staggered to his feet.
‘How the hell is he still alive?’
Watching the guy, Yuri wondered if his own desperate efforts to hide being a possessor made him the weird one.