Chapter 2
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: If I'm Found Out, I Die? Why?
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Possession? Actual possession? I'm possessed? Into this guy?
Ha... A hollow laugh escaped Yeo Si-un's lips reflexively. In a half-dazed state, he quickly read through the letter.
I don't have much time, so I'll keep this brief. The body you're possessing belongs to Elric Raishion, second son of the Raishion Ducal House. He's known in high society as a magic genius. And that's my name too.
"Elric... Raishion..."
It was the name of the villain from the novel he'd read before possessing this body.
This pattern was all too familiar. With trembling eyes, Si-un read the next line.
Waking up in someone else's body must be disorienting. But just so you know, this wasn't my intention. I only learned about the future by accident myself.
"...His personality matches the book exactly."
Now half-resigned, Si-un compared Elric's speech patterns to those in the book. It was a form of escapism.
Other details are in the book on the desk. After learning the future, I tried to compile as much info as possible for you, but time was short, so some things might be missing. Still, I guarantee it'll be a huge help.
"The book..."
Knowing the future. Just how far had Elric Raishion grown in ways Si-un didn't know?
That said, if he'd known the future, shouldn't he have tried to prevent the possession instead of writing this letter and book?
Ah, maybe it couldn't be stopped?
Well, possession isn't something one person can easily resolve. Si-un sighed but kept his eyes glued to the letter.
If you want to know what magic is, what it can do, or what being a magic genius means, take the third blue-covered book from the right on the second shelf of the bookcase. It'll help you awaken to magic.
Magic. As if he didn't know what magic was. It was the staple of every webnovel he'd devoured as a cripple.
If anyone finds out you've been possessed—that you're not the real Elric Raishion—you die.
"What?!"
Si-un, who had been reading in a daze, jumped at those words. D-die? What did that mean?
But this isn't my body anyway. So if it dies, that's fine, right? My real body probably didn't die either.
Wait, does that even work with possession?
And if you're thinking it's okay to die since it's not your original body, drop that idea. Once you're in this body, if it dies, you die too.
"What the hell..."
Si-un didn't bother holding back the curse that slipped out. It was that ridiculous.
And from what he'd noticed, this guy seemed to know far more than he did. He must have obsessed over this issue endlessly.
Details are in the book. That's all for the letter. Good luck.
And that was truly the end. Si-un examined the letter from every angle, shook it out, even held it to the light, but there was nothing more.
"What is this?"
He stared blankly into space, his face a mask of bewilderment.
"Possession... Possession..."
With his own eyes confirming it, and the letter sealing the deal, Si-un had no room left for denial.
He really had been possessed. Into Elric Raishion, the genius villain from the webnovel he'd read.
"...For now, the book. Let's check the book."
It said the info was in the book. He needed to learn more. Whipping his head around, he spotted the desk.
The desk was easy to find, large and near the window.
And on it sat a single thick book. That had to be the one Elric mentioned.
"Hoo..."
He took a deep breath, sorted his tangled thoughts, sat in the chair, and opened the book. There was Elric's elegant handwriting, just like in the letter.
There was all sorts of info on Elric Raishion. Flipping through, he found descriptions of the world too.
"Wait, 18 years old..."
The academy arc started at 18, so right now he was...
"Did I possess him before entering the academy? Or is he already a first-year?"
No, the academy in the webnovel was a boarding school with year-long terms. This room looked more like a private study than a dorm.
So he probably hadn't enrolled yet.
"At least that's... a relief?"
Si-un muttered, then let out a disbelieving scoff.
"Relief my ass..."
This was more absurd than a bolt from the blue. What was he even saying?
"Magic..."
Oh yeah, there was magic too.
He had no clue why, and his mental state was still in pieces, but to survive in this body, he needed to know about magic.
"...Let's give it a try."
Second shelf, third blue book from the right...
"Ah, there it is."
The title was in those familiar-yet-unfamiliar letters. He sighed deeply and read it aloud.
"[Training Method to Dramatically Increase Mana Recovery Speed], author Elric Raishion?"
The title rang a bell. Of course it did—it appeared in the novel.
Right after enrolling, he'd drawn attention from professors and students for writing such a groundbreaking book. Even though he was the villain.
No, no, that's not important now. Si-un shook his head and opened the book.
And then,
Whoooosh—
Suddenly, a massive storm of mana swirled before his body.
"What is this...!"
Startled, Si-un soon realized the storm had no effect on him.
He'd squeezed his eyes shut at the onset but now peeked them open, mesmerized by the mana storm's dance.
Beautiful. Even a mere storm could be this stunning. For a moment, Si-un felt his scattered mind piecing back together.
Just as he thought it was dying down, the storm engulfed him,
Shaaa—
seeping into his body with uncanny gentleness.
And at his heart, something distinct from any organ or tissue pulsed vividly.
"This is... mana...?"
He knew what mana was from the book: the intangible energy needed for magic, perceptible only to the chosen few.
Cautiously, Si-un placed a hand on his chest and willed it to move.
The mana responded like an extra limb, flowing freely as a refreshing aura enveloped him.
"Whoa..."
It felt like a paralyzed limb suddenly coming alive. Not something new born, but a vital lost treasure rediscovered.
Knock knock—
"Young Master, is something the matter?"
As Si-un lost himself in a happy smile, savoring the mana and forgetting his plight, someone knocked. A very cautious voice filtered in.
"...!"
Si-un—Elric—jumped, started to reply, then clamped his mouth shut.
Oh, by the way, when you open the book, someone outside will ask if something's wrong. Just say it was a minor experiment.
How did he know even this? Were all geniuses like that? At this point, Elric Raishion was starting to scare him. Goosebumps prickled Si-un's skin.
Ah, not the time. If caught, he dies—that's what it said. He didn't know why, but better safe. Clearing his throat, he closed the book and called out.
"A minor experiment."
Should he say not to worry? But that didn't fit the personality. Si-un wore a confused expression, unable to continue.
Better not say more, just in case. He shut his mouth.
Luckily, it was the right call. The servant replied "Yes, sir," and that was it.
Now mana-awakened, Elric sharply sensed the servant's presence and drew a breath.
'The world...'
It felt dissected to the nanoscale and fed straight to his brain. It wasn't this intense alone, but with someone nearby, their presence was crystal clear.
And more: lost in the shock of reading the letter and book, he'd missed it, but now birds flying outside, the cool breeze, rustling trees—all registered at superhuman levels.
'This is... talent...'
Superior magic talent made one hypersensitive to mana, enhancing presence detection.
He hadn't grasped it while reading, but feeling it firsthand, it clicked. Compared to his Yeo Si-un days, his senses expanded vastly.
And that presence now detected the dense mana within him. Unlike the light brush earlier, he delved deep.
'What is...'
Si-un was overwhelmed by 'Elric's' mana.
The intangible energy throbbed alive in his heart, radiating immense vitality. Si-un, now Elric, was speechless.
"Hoo..."
Calm down. This body is mine, at least for now. Gotta adapt.
A few deep breaths helped. Even the mana flowing with his breath prickled sensitively, but he adjusted to his body.
With that, Elric closed the blue book and continued with the thick one left by 'Elric'.
After reading all about 'Elric', the world, and miscellany, he finally reached why being exposed as Yeo Si-un meant death.
You actually read this far. I'm impressed. I didn't say where the death reason was, so you had to scour every page.
Elric scowled at the teasing tone.
This jerk—could've just said it was at the end! Pissing people off!
And right on that torn page too.
Si-un—no, Elric—swallowed hard and turned the page.
If you're discovered not to be me, you will die.