Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Alderan
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‘Orca and Reisi know about me.’
It wasn’t a huge surprise. Yuri had already braced himself for Orca reaching that conclusion two years ago.
It wasn’t something Yuri could help. His opponent was a grand mage who had sat at the helm of the magic tower since thirty years before possessors started crossing into this world.
The silver lining was that, just as Yuri had hoped two years back, Orca wasn’t particularly hostile toward possessors. She was on friendly terms with the famous possessor Ox God Head, known to the whole world, and having Reisi as her closest confidant proved her disposition.
On top of that, Yuri was Elena’s benefactor.
“You really didn’t say anything.”
Muttering to himself as he wandered blankly out of the private room, Yuri had already forgotten about sightseeing the magic exhibition hall. Instead, the stories he’d heard from Reisi swirled in his mind.
Elena had never revealed that Yuri was a possessor.
-I have no intention of blabbing that you’re a possessor.
Truth be told, he’d thought it was inevitable that she’d spill it. The emotions Elena felt back then were something Yuri deserved to bear. But from what Reisi had just told him, he now knew she’d kept silent to the end.
‘She must’ve... seen the diary?’
Among the things he’d left behind in Lutran, the diary was his biggest regret. It was an heirloom of the orphaned Yuri, alongside the letters exchanged with Elena.
He’d read that diary countless times to understand what kind of person the original Yuri had been. He’d pored over the pages filled with sticky emotions, especially the parts about his childhood friend, Elena.
His childhood friend, soaring off to unreachable heights. Childish boasts conveyed through their letters. Advice sent to a friend stuck in an orphanage outside his hometown, pickpocketing by day, running errands for a third-rate gang.
Maybe it was different at first, but one thing became clear as they exchanged letters.
Yuri hated Elena. His intense inferiority complex had turned into enmity. That was why he stripped the emotions out when dutifully replying.
The diary brimmed with feelings he couldn’t put in those letters. Deep down, he hoped Elena never saw it, but that was beyond his control now.
‘If you saw that diary...’
He forcibly ignored the creeping emotions. Letting out a deep sigh, Yuri looked up. Walking aimlessly, he’d ended up outside the exhibition hall building.
Better this way. Better to breathe the outside air than squeeze through the crowded interior right now.
‘Full Moon Night Play.’
Ox God Head was searching for the Order Church. Reisi didn’t know the exact reason, but separately, it was certain he was hunting for possessors in the area.
Whether it was out of enmity or some other motive, it would be reckless for Yuri to approach him first.
‘He might not even know I’m a possessor yet.’
Plus, Ox God Head was tangled up in the Bernok conflict right now. With grand mages and apex experts involved, it was too dangerous for the current Yuri. The Bernok conflict even had swarms from the War Church, and far from dying down, it was escalating—possibly with the Chaos Church meddling too.
‘He won’t die there, will he?’
Articles on the Bernok conflict flooded newspapers daily, but no apex expert or grand mage had died yet. Experts of that caliber weren’t easy to kill anyway. Given Ox God Head’s personality, he wouldn’t risk his life in Bernok just for an Ascard Family commission.
Yuri didn’t know why he was after the Order Church, but Yuri himself had ties to it—to the ferocious Lorellia.
‘If possible, I’d like to meet her myself.’
If he met Ox God Head later, maybe they could talk about the Order Church.
Even after sorting his thoughts, he didn’t get up from the bench. It was hard to shove all those tangled emotions aside. So Yuri just sat there, head bowed blankly, killing time.
“Hey.”
The voice came out of nowhere around the time he was mulling a combo of Misty Sky Drifting Fist and Crimson Blood Thread Claw topped with Fist King’s skill cancel. He’d been testing it during spars with Estor and Ha-ryeong on the move, and it was starting to show promise.
Truth be told, it wasn’t clicking now. Even if his martial talent was recognized everywhere, new inspirations didn’t strike every day.
Especially not with all these worries and sticky emotions clouding his mind. He was just sitting there zoning out, wasting time.
“Hey, you punk.”
Thud. The bench shook lightly from a kick. Looking up in surprise, he saw Ha-ryeong glaring daggers. Her getup was ridiculous, like Reisi’s earlier—huge glasses, weird necklace, shopping bags from various stalls dangling from both hands.
“Ditching your promise with this big sis? Got some guts. I was even worried you had some urgent matter, but you’re just brazenly lounging here like nothing happened. How cheeky.”
Oh, right, the promise. Before Yuri could respond, Ha-ryeong deftly lifted White Fang with her shopping bag hand.
“Wondering how I found you? This told me. Even without it, sitting out in the open like this outside the hall, anyone could spot you quick.”
Why was her tone like that? Her eyes and arched brows were sharper than usual. Ha-ryeong was genuinely pissed.
“I’m sorry.”
No excuses. Yuri shot up and bowed deeply.
“Not acting brazen and apologizing right away—looks like one of Yuri’s many flaws has improved a bit.”
Her tone snapped back to normal the instant he apologized. But her brows stayed arched, so her anger hadn’t fully faded.
“So. Said we’d meet in an hour, but you left me hanging for dozens of minutes. What for? Why sit here sweating in the heat, moping?”
“I met Reisi Yuzha.”
No point hiding it. Right now, Ha-ryeong was the only one Yuri could confide these worries in.
“What’d she say?”
Her brows relaxed to normal. Ha-ryeong plopped down beside him instead of standing.
When Yuri relayed his talk with Reisi, she took off her oversized glasses and set them aside.
“Should I kill her?”
“Pardon?”
“Aldera is a big city full of people. Reisi Yuzha barely ventures out, but it’s well-known she’s especially favored by Heavenly Thunder Orca in the Derusia Magic Tower.”
Her brows weren’t exactly furrowed, but they were knit tighter than usual.
“Reisi Yuzha doesn’t have many real enemies, but Orca’s fame means she has plenty. And this isn’t Derusia Magic Tower territory. So if Reisi Yuzha died here, it wouldn’t be some impossible miracle.”
“Y-You’re serious?”
“Honestly, half-joke, half-serious.”
Ha-ryeong’s pitch-black eyes fixed on Yuri.
“No matter how hot-blooded an assassin I am, I’m not hot-blooded enough to assassinate a mage favored by that Heavenly Thunder. Precisely, I’m a cool-headed, rational assassin far from hot-blooded.”
“...”
“But I can be hot-blooded when needed. Even knowing it’s something I shouldn’t do, for your future, Yuri, it’s better to eliminate the source of trouble.”
“K-Killing Reisi Yuzha would pour oil on the fire more than snuff it out.”
“Exactly. So we shouldn’t kill Reisi Yuzha.”
What then? Yuri was dumbfounded, but Ha-ryeong’s face stayed dead serious.
“But that insolent woman did blackmail our Yuri. And the cheeky thing acted like she hadn’t, after doing it. Killing’s too much—how about kidnapping and torturing? To shut her mouth too.”
“I can’t tell where the joke ends.”
“On second thought, torture won’t seal her lips. No matter how professional our interrogations, they can’t override fear of Orca.”
“Then what?”
Prompted, Ha-ryeong nodded and replied.
“Let’s use gu poison here.”
“Gu poison...?”
“Live insects that are poison. Many kinds, but the Tang Clan’s Yin-Yang Twin Gu seems perfect.”
When he asked what kind, she explained briskly. Yin-Yang Twin Gu pairs yin gu and yang gu; plant the yin gu in the target, and control them with agonizing pain via the yang gu.
“Very convenient poison. Can’t read fine thoughts, but it picks up enmity, killing intent, disloyalty—that sort.”
“So... feed Reisi Yuzha a bug?”
“Pity is, I don’t have any Yin-Yang Twin Gu.”
“Then what?”
“Let’s figure it out now. It’s ideal, but impossible to get, and the Tang Clan wouldn’t hand it over if we asked.”
“Whew.”
Yuri sighed and shook his head.
“No more impossible talk.”
“Got it?”
Ha-ryeong blurted.
“Reisi Yuzha said she won’t blab you’re a possessor. But I already know you are, and if you want, I can seriously discuss assassinating her. See how much I care for you, Yuri.”
“...”
“The issue is Estor Orsia. He doesn’t know you’re a possessor. If Reisi tries petty blackmail, she’ll target him for sure.”
“Probably.”
“I think Estor wouldn’t care much even if he knew. What do you think, Yuri?”
He couldn’t answer right away. They’d met by chance at the Fragrant Evil Cult gathering. Fought together, he’d saved her life somehow, sparred, left Pantheon as one.
They were comrades. But he thought they’d become friends first.
Estor was a good guy. Even now, he was meeting Aldera’s power players for Yuri and Ha-ryeong.
He did dumb stuff sometimes, unbelievable for a famed Orsia young master, but he was dead serious about the sword.
“No telling.”
Months together, but who knew Estor’s true feelings? He seemed straightforward, but learning Yuri was a possessor could flip him like a pancake.
That’s why Yuri didn’t want to tell. Most possessors wouldn’t. Possessors were aliens here, souls overwriting natives.
To build bonds without hate or hostility, either reveal it upfront like Ox God Head or hide like most.
Yuri was doing the common thing.
“Yuri. Personal opinion.”
Ha-ryeong cut in.
“You’ve got a pathetic side.”
“?”
It hit from an unexpected angle.
“I get it, given your situation. You hide it outwardly but fret inwardly. What I can’t stand most is your attitude toward Miss Elena.”
“What suddenly—”
“Let me explain why you’re moping. Blackmailed. Grateful Miss Elena kept your secret to the end, guilty you forced her to, or terrified of repeating a past where your possessor status wrecked everything. Right?”
Spot on. Yuri just blinked, speechless.
“Probably way more pathetic before possessing Yuri—before crossing over.”
“Gah...”
That brutal, violent word clutched Yuri’s chest unwittingly. Ha-ryeong’s tongue was sharper than any famed sword now, her words deadlier than sword beams. She was ruthlessly murdering Yuri—no, Lee Soo-hyuk.
“Bet you barely socialized with others.”
“Sniff...”
Yuri’s shoulders shook. Friends? None. Honestly, barely talked to girls.
‘...Count online chats as friends?’
Probably. Good thing then: USAUSAMI was a girl. So Lee Soo-hyuk had a girl friend.
“Sudden status change must’ve wrecked pathetic Yuri. Original memories and personality mixing with real Yuri’s, acting him to hide being a possessor, forming your current self. Still pathetic, but better than before.”
“St-Stop...”
Yuri meant it. Apt criticisms he could stomach anger at, but they hurt worse...
“What stop? I could rant your pathetic bits for three days straight.”
“Like?”
“Blithely ditching our promise, sitting here alone head down moping. Super pathetic.”
“Urk...”
“You’re hurting too much, so I’ll stop.”
Seeing Yuri clutch his chest in real agony, Ha-ryeong tsked and showed mercy.
“Another personal opinion. Take it or leave it, but hear me. To keep your friendly tie with Estor, better you tell him first.”
“That’s...”
“Better from you than someone else, right? Estor’s already traveling far with us. The longer you wait, the harder it gets, bigger the backlash.”
True. Praying it stays hidden forever, but life’s unpredictable. Better now, before the airship.
“If Estor rages, despises you, spreads rumors? Why worry? You can ‘ask’ him, Yuri. Just say forget it.”
The spar bet. Estor wouldn’t break that.
“And one more. I’ve kept your secret too. Think I got no questions? Back from Logos, Orca summoned me instantly, grilled me on you. Killing Guard Sect sent letters about you too.”
Obviously. But Yuri had never asked Ha-ryeong about it.
“I kept quiet. See? I’m a tight-lipped assassin.”
“...”
“I know you’ve got more secrets from me. Cat Panties, Padrip Immunity, possessor stuff. Curious, but mutual secrets on identities, fine. But I’m your anytime consultant assassin—keep it in mind.”
Ha-ryeong put her glasses back on. Yuri stared blankly, then stammered.
“Why’re you so good to me?”
“Not the first time you’ve asked.”
“Honestly, I don’t get it.”
“I’ve said multiple times: wanna be close friends.”
“Yeah.”
“I’m disowned by my clan.”
Glasses made her expression harder to read than usual.
“First noticed you ‘cause you belonged nowhere, alone. No ties means you can join anywhere, and back then, I judged you had top potential to become an expert.”
When was it?
Two summers ago, Lutran mansion. Advising on martial arts, sparring as partner.
“Without Tang Clan banner, I’m just a Killing Guard Sect assassin. I know my talent’s exceptional, but tough environment to shine.”
Reached 5th Tier without full Tang poison martial arts. That talent made the clan view her as a threat.
“As you know, my biggest weakness was thin internal energy. Never had proper elixirs, incomplete heart method. My energy ceiling’s low, martial arts incomplete, so I saw mid-5th Tier as my limit.”
Her brows twitched behind thick goofy frames, angle hard to see.
“You asked why so good. Easiest for you: among prospects I, disowned assassin, could approach, you were the cream of the crop.”
Silent, Yuri heard her out.
“Miss Elena similar. Sect Lord pitied this discarded girl, entrusted me—closest to her specs—with Golden Lily Elena Haiderga’s guard duty, near Orca’s disciple.”
Ha-ryeong’s lips quirked.
“In hindsight, her conditions: woman, not too old, no confusing guard with spying, no pestering.”
“No quietness?”
“Most assassins are. I’m quiet when quiet. If she’d specified, I’d have aced it.”
He’d suspected more to her approach, but hearing it direct felt fresh. Just as she said.
Spelling it out made it easier to grasp.
“You treated me and Elena well to make your abandoning clan regret?”
“Not denying. Back then, I thought Elena might become Derusia Magic Tower Lord someday. Wholehearted care, she might return the favor as a bigshot.”
Aha ha. Not joyful tone, but she laughed with her mouth.
“You too, Yuri. With Elena’s backing, bound to rise high someday. Wanted to butter you up early. To me, worthless assassin, you two were future insurance.”
“Your words contradict.”
Calculated reasons explained easy, but highlighted the unexplainable.
“Insurance for future, yet risked your life why?”
In Logos, Ha-ryeong had. She’d steeled for death to help Yuri and Elena escape.
“Back then, I judged death inevitable either way. But surviving luckily? I’d be both your lifesaver. Worth the gamble?”
“Lie.”
“You’re right. That intent too, but emotions overrode reason. Like you stepped up hating our deaths, same for me.”
Ha-ryeong shrugged.
“Harsh on you, Yuri, but good outcome. Brought us closer.”
“...”
“Still got my original goal. Not lying about wanting friendship. Bearing fruit. Guarding Elena got me Shadow Flower moniker as mere assassin. Post-contract, found you, luckily got an Elixir.”
Solved her biggest flaw: thin energy. Plus improved constitution, so even incomplete heart method lets her aim higher.
“And as expected, you’ll keep gaining fame, Yuri. Walking with you, Tang Clan’ll notice me. Get it now? This calculating assassin’s favor?”
“I see you’re just as pathetic, unable to criticize me.”
She claimed self-interest, but Yuri thought not all. This stoic woman’s actions outpaced her expressions.
Blocking Blood Fiend risking death, sticking by Yuri—who could face crises anytime for being possessor plus tangling with cultists.
“Pathetic? Nah, unlike you, Yuri. I’ve got clear goals.”
“Why make clan regret ditching you? Revenge?”
“More make them regret than revenge. Hm, thinking... not revenge, but Yuri. I want to kill my father.”
“?”
Destructive again. Yuri’s eyes widened; Ha-ryeong rarely grinned fully.
“Wanna do it myself, but won’t be easy. But get close to you, help lots... someday ask your aid killing him.”
“Kill... your father? Not revenge?”
“Yes. Totally different reason. Not those feelings.”
“Then why kill?”
“‘Cause I must.”
As she said, mutual secrets on origins. Not ready to spill that yet.
But they’d shared stuff they hadn’t even yesterday. Maybe close enough before, just hadn’t opened up.
“Feels like we’re closer now.”
Yuri chuckled wryly, standing.
“Coincidence. Was thinking same. Pathetic Yuri.”
Ha-ryeong kept her faint smile, rising too.
“Gonna keep those glasses? They really don’t suit you.”
“Expensive.”
“What’s it do?”
“Magnifies distance, faintly shows mana flow, more.”
“Whose money?”
“Mine. Planning to take from Estor’s pouch in your pocket.”
“Huh.”
Brazen. Yuri shook his head, turning.
“When Estor returns, I’ll tell him I’m a possessor.”
“Wow.”
Ha-ryeong deadpanned admiration.
“Pathetic Yuri’s great first step.”
“Stop calling me pathetic.”
Fact or not, he hated hearing it nonstop.