Chapter 440: Possession(4)
Chapter 440: Possession(4)
I’ll post the other version of Leona in the announcements!
*
To start with the conclusion, my first experience with possession was eventful in many ways. It was a series of tragicomic events, so to speak.
Explaining the situation to my father wasn't particularly difficult, but the real problem was the sparring.
As everyone knows, I’ve lived a life far removed from fighting. Although I’ve been receiving training from my father, I still have many shortcomings.
Furthermore, even though Clark had possessed my body, I still maintained a degree of control. This meant that no matter what Clark tried to do, the moment I moved, things would get clunky.
"Don't be afraid! Keep your eyes on the attack until the very end! I'll handle the movement, so you just watch!"
"......Are you really talking to my son right now?"
Just as Clark spoke through my mouth, I flinched every time my father’s attack came flying in. Honestly, this was the biggest issue.
It wasn't that I didn't trust Clark. His martial prowess was several times greater than mine; there was no reason not to trust him.
However, since my body reacted reflexively, it was an awkward situation. I wanted to give full control to Clark, too.
But could anyone really stay still while watching a massive battle axe slam down in front of them? I’d be lucky not to piss myself.
To make matters worse, once my father realized Clark was in my body, he became far more aggressive than before.
Thanks to that, I realized that the training I had received from my father until now was mere child's play.
"Hey, you brat! This isn't my body, it's your son's! It's hard enough for me to adapt, so what if he gets hurt because you're going so hard? Ah, no, I mean..."
"......Just don't talk. It'll be better if Isaac delivers the messages instead."
I almost committed an act of filial impiety unintentionally, but my father just let it slide with a hollow laugh. I decided that from then on, I would be the only one doing the talking.
Still, as the sparring continued, Clark gradually began to adapt. I also did my best to restrain my movements while he controlled my body.
The sensation of the battle axe in my hands felt strange, and swinging it so effortlessly felt very awkward.
But as time passed, I grew accustomed to it. I’m not sure if my skills actually improved... but it was certainly a fascinating experience.
"Whew..."
[You rascal. I don't know if it's because the gods favor you, but your stamina is excellent. Your regeneration is as good as that girl's, too.]
During a brief break, Clark spoke to me in a satisfied voice.
As my father had suggested earlier, I decided to handle all the speaking. I just had to relay Clark's thoughts.
"That girl?"
[You know, her. Was it Kate?]
Come to think of it, I wondered what Kate was up to these days. I hadn't heard any news from her, regardless of what she was doing.
She said she’d visit during winter break, so she’ll show up eventually. She must have her own business to attend to, so there was no need to worry.
[My boy. Do you happen to know who her parents are?]
'No. I heard her entire village was wiped out by a bandit raid when she was young. Fortunately, Ms. Kate was taken in by the Order.'
[Is that so? That’s quite unfortunate.]
'By the way, why do you ask?'
[She resembles a woman I once knew. Her piety was exceptionally deep as well. Of course, I met many people during my travels, so I could be wrong, but that kind of appearance isn't common, is it?]
'That’s true.'
Hearing that, I pictured Kate's face. Even in a world full of handsome men and beautiful women, someone with Kate's striking looks was rare.
Sky-blue eyes with a deeper hue than Adelia's, and golden hair reminiscent of a wheat field.
If nothing else, that vivid blonde hair was hard to find. After all, hair that looked like it was woven from gold thread was one of the symbols of the Minerva Empire.
I didn't know if Kate had some secret regarding her birth, but it wasn't something I needed to concern myself with right now. It would just be meddling.
'What was that person's name?'
[Eli. Eli Luise Estonya. She was a Paladin of the Church of Luminous. She helped me during my journey.]
'Eli Luise Estonya... I'll look into it if I get the chance.'
[Thank you.]
While chatting with Clark, the break ended before I knew it. Clark immediately moved my body and strode toward my father.
The sparring continued until almost dinner time. This was only possible because I had been steadily building up my stamina.
If it had been before I started training, I would have been exhausted in less than thirty minutes, let alone two hours. Combat itself requires an absurd amount of physical strength.
Even so, my father had served as a Knight Commander in that hellish Border Region, so I couldn't even fathom how strong he must have been.
The same went for Clark, who had single-handedly slaughtered the lords of the demon worshippers. Just how much stamina did these people have?
'Wait. Does that mean the barbarians and lords who fought people like this are the amazing ones?'
[What are you thinking about?]
'Just that you and Father are incredibly strong.'
[You’ll be able to become like this one day, too.]
I felt like it would be difficult even if I had hundreds of years. Combat isn't integrated into my daily life, and I intend to live a life that avoids it as much as possible.
The possession was also just a precaution; I had no intention of ever walking into a dangerous place myself.
Unless I fell into a trap, of course. And so, the sparring that had lasted for several long hours finally came to an end.
[Your lower body is good, but your arm and back strength seem a bit lacking. You should focus on training those from now on.]
'Understood. Anything else?'
[As for other parts...]
After the sparring, Clark gave me direct feedback. Since he had used my body himself rather than just watching, he was able to identify the problems in detail.
As he said, I had focused on training my lower body for the sake of my sex life with the women. Perhaps because of that, it was difficult to withstand my father's attacks.
He said that if the lower body is like roots buried deep in the ground, the back is like the sturdy trunk of a great tree.
It seemed like a good idea to do high-intensity pull-ups from now on.
'Isn't having muscles like yours or Father's a matter of talent?'
[True. It would likely be difficult for you to become like us even with effort. Your frame is better than an average person's, but compared to me or that fellow Hawk...]
'......'
I recalled the appearances of my father and Clark when he was alive. They were muscle monsters that looked like they belonged in Baki the Grappler.
Setting talent aside, they were the embodiment of being "built different," and I felt a sense of intimidation every time I saw them. But I didn't desire to go that far.
Having the means to protect myself was enough. As I said before, I was living a life far removed from combat.
After the sparring was completely over, I returned to my room. Perhaps thanks to the divine power, my stamina recovered quickly, so I didn't even feel the need to rest.
"Are you somewhat adjusted now?"
Leona, who was still hugging Ariel, asked me while twitching her animal ears. She was treating Ariel like a complete doll.
Also, seeing that the tissues she had used to plug her nose were gone, it seemed the scent of the cigar that had lingered in the room had completely dissipated.
I removed the sprout attached to my tongue and answered after confirming that the sprout had entered Clark's body.
"Yeah. I struggled a bit at first, but it gradually got better. I realized I just shouldn't do anything."
"That's how it usually is. Shamans also fight by placing absolute trust in the spirits possessing their bodies. It's all about the harmony between the two."
"I did find it difficult to get into sync."
It would be fine as long as I didn't get scared, but that was easier said than done. I sat down in my chair, exhaled, and looked ahead.
I saw Leona looking at me with her ears perked up. I could even see her tail swishing behind her.
She really felt like a large cat, so I gently stroked her head. Her ears folded to the sides, making it easier to pet her.
"Purr. Purrr."
Leona enjoyed it, making her characteristic purring sound. Since she was also holding Ariel, the cuteness seemed to be amplified.
Her tail also wrapped around my arm as if expressing her mood. This is a "dog-cat," not a lion.
I gave her cheeks a final squeeze and stood up. It was almost time for dinner.
"Leona."
"Hmm? What is it?"
"Come to my room after dinner. Okay?"
I said that and gave her a bright smile.
"I have something to tell you, and something I want to do."
By now, she should know exactly what that meant. Leona blinked at my words and then gave a silly grin.
"I was waiting for you to say that."
Of course.
"Can Ariel come too?"
"No."
"Puu. Why not? I want to be with Daddy too."
"There are just things like that, sweetie."
I had to break a sweat trying to stop Ariel.
After finishing dinner and taking a clean bath, I waited quietly in my room. I didn't forget to leave Ariel with Mari, just in case.
But when I went to drop her off, they were still playing Baduk. It wasn't even a match between Cecile and Arwen, but between Mari and Lina.
Seeing them give unsolicited advice from the sidelines was absurd yet funny. Still, I felt good knowing I had created a proper form of entertainment.
And so, I was back in my room. I was sitting at my desk wearing only a bathrobe.
It would take some time for Leona to arrive, so I planned to spend the time writing.
The problem was...
[Can I smoke just once?]
"No. This is my body."
[It's your grandfather's wish. Just once, I beg you.]
Clark, who was possessing my body, was asking for a smoke. While I was waiting after dinner, the sprout appeared before me.
I don't know where or how he got to my bedroom, but I suspect he might have followed me secretly.
Anyway, it seemed he wanted to possess me, so as soon as I put it in my mouth, he made that request.
It felt like I had a "Smoking Dragon" inside me instead of a "Black Flame Dragon." What was I to do with this heavy smoker?
"And you were smoking to your heart's content earlier. Is there anything different about doing it with my body?"
[Of course there is! That refreshing feeling of smoke filling your lungs that I mentioned earlier. I want to feel that sensation once more.]
"You can just ask Father."
[That... from what I hear, there's a specific reason why that fellow doesn't smoke.]
I raised an eyebrow at that story. My father liked alcohol, but he tended to avoid tobacco particularly.
I thought it was because Clark was such a heavy smoker, but was there another reason? Curious, I asked quietly.
"What is it?"
[During his active service, while he was on guard duty, he was smoking when the comrade next to him was hit by an arrow and died. The small light had given away their position.]
"......"
The backstory was so realistic that it made me feel solemn. There have actually been incidents during wars where a unit was wiped out because someone smoked.
In the pitch-black darkness of night, even a tiny light is clearly visible. This was a fact I had experienced firsthand in the military.
How much worse must it be in the Border Region? I let out a sigh and spoke quietly.
"......Fine. But only one."
[As expected, my grandson is the best!]
How can someone usually so dignified become so childish when it comes to cigarettes? They say men remain like children even as they mature, and that was exactly right.
Furthermore, for Clark, tobacco must have been like a lifelong companion. He must have spent more than half his life alone, so I could understand.
Besides, World Tree leaf cigars are beneficial rather than harmful to the body. If it had been a regular cigarette, I would have adamantly refused, but I accepted because it was a World Tree cigar.
I was already working hard to take care of my body; I absolutely did not want my lungs to rot away.
Slide—
Soon, as I opened the desk drawer as he wished, a cigar case came into view.
Since they were World Tree cigars with a premium label, even the case had a sophisticated pattern engraved on it.
I took out one cigar from the box. It looked like an ordinary cigar at first glance, but the World Tree emblem was engraved on the surface.
I heard people used to run scams with these in the past, but recently they’ve been preventing that by engraving the emblem.
Flick—
After taking out the cigar, I lit it with a match I had prepared. Since there were no lighters, matches were the only option.
As soon as the end of the cigar caught fire, I put it in my mouth. From that moment, my actions and Clark's actions began to overlap completely.
Inhale—
As I took a deep drag, I felt the smoke pass through my throat and into my lungs.
I hadn't smoked in my previous life, so it felt very awkward, but Clark was a smoker among smokers.
"Cough! Cough!"
The smoke didn't just stay in my mouth but entered my lungs, causing me to burst into a fit of coughing. It couldn't be helped, as this body had never touched a cigarette before.
Still, the taste wasn't bad. Rather, a sweet minty scent lingered, and I even felt a sense of refreshment.
At the same time, my head felt clearer. I felt light, as if I had been given a sedative.
[Haa... Yes. This is the feeling. As expected, a living body is much better than bones.]
"......"
[How is it? Isn't it nice?]
"......It's not bad."
It really wasn't bad. I just had a negative view of cigarettes themselves.
This strange, bizarre feeling of my body feeling light yet energized exhilarated me.
Moreover, my mind didn't become hazy; it became sharper than before. It felt like my already strong concentration was being boosted.
I opened my closed eyes and looked at the work on my desk. With this level of concentration, I felt like I could stay up all night and still be perfectly fine.
"Whew—"
After that, I began to tap away at the typewriter with the cigar in my mouth. I forgot to open the window, so the room filled with the scent of the cigar, but I didn't notice.
Unlike other cigarettes, I didn't even need an ashtray, so I didn't have to move my hands. The ash didn't scatter; it turned into mana and dissipated into the air.
A cigarette that was beneficial to the body and required no cleanup. There was a reason why every smoker wanted this product.
[I'll be going now. I should be satisfied with this for today.]
"Get back safely."
Only after smoking three whole cigars did Clark return to his own body. The sprout that had been attached to my tongue floated around for a bit before immediately disappearing.
Since the sprout was treated as a kind of soul, it was free from spatial constraints. I could tell by the way it passed through the wall and vanished.
I continued my work while still savoring the cigar scent lingering in my mouth. I had the illusion that my typing was much faster than usual.
No. It wasn't an illusion. My hand movements had actually become faster and were moving without hesitation.
It was like a dazzling dance. Was this also the power of the World Tree leaf cigar?
'This kind of thing must be even more addictive.'
To prevent addiction, it would be best to only smoke when Clark wanted to. If I kept smoking, I might become a heavy smoker myself.
I absolutely wanted to avoid that. Arwen would gladly give me more whenever I asked, but World Tree leaf cigars were one of Albenheim's major exports.
If I used up those exports recklessly, it would cause problems in Albenheim as well. There were many factors that could lead to trouble.
Knock, knock, knock—
Thanks to writing at an incredible speed, just as I was about to write the ending, I heard someone knocking.
It didn't feel great to have my concentration broken, but a guest was a guest. I paused my dazzlingly moving hands and looked toward the door.
[Isaac. It's me. Can I come in?]
It was Leona. I checked the clock, wondering if it was already time, and saw that there was still a little while before nightfall.
It seemed she had come to talk. Conveniently, coffee and snacks were already prepared.
I stood up and walked toward the door. It was better to open it myself than to just give permission indifferently.
Creek—
"You're here?"
"Yeah. I'm her—"
Leona's happy face upon me opening the door lasted only a moment before she stopped mid-sentence and froze.
Then, her eyes began to glaze over, and her face turned red. I was puzzled by her reaction, but then it hit me.
I had been smoking cigars as Clark wished until just now, and I hadn't even ventilated the room.
Naturally, not only was the scent clinging to my body, but the room must have been filled with smoke.
To Leona—especially a beastkin who had entered estrus—it was practically like spraying a massive amount of aphrodisiac all over her.
"Ah. Sorry. Wait a second..."
Thud—
Just as I was about to hurriedly close the door, Leona stopped it by sticking her foot in. I looked at her in panic.
"Haa... Haa..."
Had it become too difficult to endure after such a stimulus was added to a situation where she was already holding back as much as she could? Leona's face already looked like her switch had been flipped.
"You really... are going to... play it like that...?"
Leona gulped and glared at my chest, which was visible through the gap in my robe. I don't know what she was misunderstanding, but it definitely wasn't like that.
It was my fault for forgetting to open the window, but I hadn't expected her to come so early.
I wanted to explain somehow, but she was faster at opening the door with her beastkin strength.
"Le-Leona?"
"I can't take it anymore... I... do you know how much I've endured...?"
Leona said that and pushed me back. Even while doing so, she didn't forget to lock the door firmly.
As I was pushed back and back, I eventually reached the bed. As soon as we reached the bed, she pushed my chest hard once more.
Falling onto the bed, I reached out and scrambled backward, trying to talk to her somehow.
I didn't want to jump straight into the main event like this. I wanted to at least set the mood.
"W-wait! Leona. I have something important to tell—"
"Shut up and take it off."
"......What?"
While I was dumbfounded, Leona took action first. She untied her ponytail, letting her hair fall loose, and then proceeded to take off her top.
Underneath her top, instead of underwear, she was uniquely wrapped in bandages. It made her wild nature stand out even more.
Just as I was dazed by the feeling of an assault tank charging in a straight line, Leona grabbed my underwear beneath my robe.
"Because I can't hold back anymore...!"
Having said that, she...
"Shut up and take it off already!"
...pulled my underwear down.
