WeTried Translations

Translator: Joy

Editor: Joy

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◈ Damned Transmigration

Chapter 24

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An offer and a price

What did she mean ‘what did he think of Elena?’

Yuri hesitated, blinking as if to read Orca’s intent. The question wasn’t truly out of the blue; nearly everything she’d said since he stepped into the tower had circled back to Elena. This meeting was about her.

‘So that’s it.’

He was back at that campfire with Haryeong, the conversation circling the same name, the same subject. Only the interrogator had changed.

To Orca, Elena wasn’t just another apprentice. She was an adopted daughter, a girl marked with her old family name, a future disciple she openly hoped would inherit the tower itself.

‘I expect her to become my disciple. Perhaps even the next Tower Master.’

Elena carried the weight of those expectations.

Of the three candidates in the tower, Arist had been dismissed without a thought. She was a girl who had merely clawed her way to an early 4th Circle. Lacey had the power, but no intention of taking Orca’s name.

That left Elena. The orphan girl Yuri once knew had grown into someone far more formidable than he’d realised.

“She’s… incredible,” Yuri said at last, giving voice to the truth.

“You favour her for more than just talent. You favour her for the years she’s poured into this place.”

“That much is true.”

Orca’s lips curved faintly. Then, with an amused glint, she added, “But it still isn’t the answer I wanted.”

“Your question was vague.”

“Then I’ll make it clear. Do you see Elena as a woman?”

“Yes.”

He spoke without hesitation. Orca’s eyes widened, a flicker of genuine surprise crossing her face.

“Well, she’s hardly a man, is she?”

Orca’s smile didn’t falter.

“A deflection. You’re good at those. But you’re avoiding the question.”

She stepped down from her desk, her movements fluid.

“I’m aware of the rumours in Rutlan,” Yuri said, frowning as he caught a cup floating into his hand.

“Even today, half the first-floor lounge seemed to gather just to gawp at my face. They whisper I’m Elena’s lover, or her pet. Baseless nonsense. And you know it.”

“Do I?” Orca tilted her head, teasing.

Yuri stared, baffled.

“Orca-nim, I was gutter scum until Elena dragged me out. Without her, would I ever have had Azure Heaven Pills? Martial training? A future?”

“One never knows.”

Her smile softened.

“The man sitting here now has talent. I don’t know your past, but I see what you are.”

“And I see Elena,” Yuri answered, sipping his water, “as the person who saved my life. Nothing more.”

The debt he owed her was too great to be complicated by anything else. It was a line he would not cross.

Or is that just the excuse?

‘No. I have some decency left.’

Because he wasn’t Yuri.

The boy she believed in was dead, stabbed down in an alley. What sat here was a trespasser, a transmigrator wrapped in his skin. Every kindness from Elena was another drop of guilt in a pool that was already black and heavy.

He understood now how a man could drown in a stolen life.

“You needn’t worry, Orca-nim,” he said quietly.

“I’ve no intention of courting her.”

It wasn’t caution, not only fear of what she’d think if the truth came out. It was terror of watching her faith in him morph into hatred.

“That isn’t a lie.”

Orca studied him from across the sofa, golden eyes sharp.

“But are her feelings the same?”

The question hung in the air. Yuri slowly, deliberately, set his cup down on the table.

“Suppose Elena herself wants something more. What then?”

“Then I don’t see why you’re telling me this. You expect me to hurt her deliberately?”

“I’m not so cruel.”

Orca’s smile turned bitter.

“But people change. A brush with death, a spark of feeling; that’s all it takes. Didn’t you say yourself your values shifted after nearly dying?”

“Yes.”

“I had the same.”

Her tone lightened, though her gaze stayed fixed on him.

“Did Elena’s assassin bodyguard never tell you? Fifteen years ago, I would have killed every assassin I met. Especially those of Salhomun. I nearly died because of them.”

“…And yet one saved you.”

“Their leader. The Faceless Killer himself.”

Yuri’s eyes widened.

“Is it safe for you to tell me that?”

“Why not? It isn’t hidden.”

“Haryeong-nim never mentioned it.”

“Did she ever ask?”

Orca chuckled.

“I don’t keep secrets unless there’s reason.”

Yuri frowned.

“Then who set the trap for you?”

At that, Orca’s smile sharpened.

“That, I keep to myself. I’ve not forgotten, but I won’t dig up that memory for free.”

Orca's refusal was absolute. But a suspicion sparked in Yuri’s mind.

‘Perhaps the one who set the trap wasn’t from this world at all.’

The first transmigrators had begun appearing in this world thirty years ago.

Fifteen years was plenty of time for one to rise in power. And if Orca’s near-death had come from a trap, not a duel, it wasn’t hard to imagine a transmigrator being behind it.

Perhaps it was one of the fallen ones, a transmigrator who had thrown in their lot with the God of Chaos.

“Even I, who’ve lived far longer than you or Elena, was changed by one incident,” Orca said.

Her tone was light, but her golden eyes were sharp.

“Ridiculous as it sounds, nearly dying made me better. Perhaps the same goes for you.”

“…Yes.”

“But I doubt Elena’s changes will all be for the better.”

“So you think I’m bad for her.”

“Not just her. You as well.”

Orca leaned forward, voice softening.

“Elena wants you close. For you, with your potential only just waking, her world is too sheltered.”

Yuri stayed silent.

“And Elena herself,” Orca continued, “has shifted since you arrived. Once, she’d vanish into the research labs and work until dawn. Now? She comes home on time. She eats her meals with you.”

It was true. For more than a month he’d lived under Elena’s roof, and her habits had settled into the same rhythm as his own.

Breakfast together. Dinner together. Leaving and returning at set hours.

“I don’t plan on leaning on Elena forever,” Yuri said with a short sigh.

“Once my training with Sir Bakerd is done, I’ll leave.”

Because he’d realised something.

The Fist of the Rending Cloud, the drills, the sparring: none of it matched the raw feeling of killing the Oh Brothers. That sharp edge of reality wouldn’t come from meditation or Bakerd’s patient instruction.

He needed true combat. And in Elena’s home, he couldn’t find it. Not when he had to hide his progress, choke down his energy, and pretend to be less than he was.

“Elena will try to stop me. But my mind is made up.”

He wasn’t planning to sever ties completely. Letters, at least, would keep her from worrying.

“If you leave, where to?” Orca asked.

“Still dreaming of adventuring?”

“I haven’t decided.”

“The Adventurer’s Guild, the Righteous Heavenly Alliance — I have ties with both. A word from me could smooth your way.” Orca smiled faintly.

“Think of it as a gift.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

“Mm. I know it was hardly pleasant, summoning you here just to pry.”

Her lips quirked.

“Not my proudest moment.”

“At least you admit it.”

“Yet you’ve got the gall to scold the Master of Dersia Tower to her face. Bold of you. With that temper, you’d fit better with the Black Dragon Society than the Alliance.”

“You have ties with them too?”

“The one who saved my life fifteen years ago was Salhomun’s Faceless Killer. Connections are a currency, Yuri. I deal in all of them.”

“I’ve no wish to become an assassin.”

“And I’ve no wish to see my future apprentice’s husband turn into one.”

Yuri choked, spraying a mouthful of water. The spray froze instantly, each droplet hanging in the air, held effortlessly by Orca’s magic.

“Not content with words, you even try to attack me. What initiative.”

“Future… husband?!”

“It’s only a possibility,” Orca said lightly.

“I was prying, yes, but I’ve no intention of crushing Elena’s feelings. If you want to live as a person, not a shadow, you’ll need connections. Emotions. Bonds.”

She gave a soft chuckle and twirled a finger. The suspended droplets sizzled and vanished into steam.

“The Black Dragon Society may be part of the Underworld Alliance, but don’t mistake them for common thugs. They’re mostly just warriors who couldn’t stomach the Righteous Heavenly Alliance’s endless posturing about honour and justice.”

Yuri raised an eyebrow.

“Don’t tell me you’ve got ties to the Demonic Cult too.”

“That’s absurd.”

Orca gave a dry laugh and shook her head.

“Not none, but I’ve no intention of sending you their way.”

“Why not?”

“Because the Demonic Cult is a madhouse. They chase after the Tenth Circle of divinity, hoping to become gods themselves. The cult worships the Heavenly Demon, the one closest to godhood, as their leader. To join them, no matter your skill, you’d have to be mad enough to value the cult above your own life. Do you want to be a madman?”

“…No.”

“Then stay the hell away from the Demon Subjugation Palace. That is not a place for casual visits.”

It was plain she held the same disdain for them as he did.

“If adventuring appeals to you, I can recommend a clan or two. If you’d rather, I can arrange a place for you as a junior in the Allianc, or in the Black Dragon Society.”

Yuri paused, weighing it.

His mind processed it like a game prompt. Choose Your Path: Adventurer. Alliance. Society.

The latter two certainly sounded more appealing.

Even as a low-ranking recruit, with Orca’s name behind him he could rise. And it’d be freer than pledging myself to some sect.

But each path led back to the same place: Orca’s sphere of influence. That was the problem. He wasn’t trying to trade Elena’s shadow for an even larger one.

“Thank you for the offer, but…”

“No?” Orca looked genuinely surprised.

“I’ve lived my whole life in Oldor. This is my first time seeing a major city. I don’t know yet what I’ll do once I leave Elena, but for now… I just want to wander.”

“So you’ve no intention of settling into any group yet.”

“None. Besides, if I joined under your recommendation, I’d have to work hard not to disgrace you. That sounds like far too much effort.”

Orca burst into laughter.

“So you’re refusing purely to avoid saving my face?”

“Yes.”

Yuri smirked.

“Then what should I give you instead?”

“…Do you happen to have an elixir? Or something of that sort?”

Orca laughed louder than she had all evening.

“So you want payment for my nagging, is that it?”

“Wasn’t that the point of offering me a position?”

“True enough. But I didn’t expect you to demand specifics.”

“I’ve seen how you instruct Elena. I know my station, Tower Master. I know what’s reasonable to ask for, and what isn’t.”

“Hahaha!” Orca’s golden eyes gleamed with amusement.

“I like your shamelessness. And your greed. Yes, if you’re in a position to demand, you should. I was the one who called it a gift and told you not to feel pressured.”

“Then thank you for not getting angry.”

“Now you’ve trapped me. If I get angry, I look petty, and that simply won’t do.”

She chuckled, but her eyes were sharp, acknowledging the move he’d just made on the board.

She tapped her fingers on the desk.

“Let’s see. Elixirs, elixirs… Unfortunately, I’ve none that would suit you.”

She fell briefly into thought, and Yuri waited.

“Even if you never set foot in this tower as a disciple, Elena did say she wants to teach you magic someday. With that in mind…” Orca’s finger traced a line in the air. Space itself split open, and from the rift she drew a book.

“This is more fitting. I won’t take no for an answer.”

Yuri accepted it carefully with both.

<Art of the Violet Lightning Flash>

“It’s a peak-level martial art that channels Lightning Qi. You won’t manage it yet, but once you reach the Fourth Circle and can imbue your energy with attributes, try it.”

“Why would you have a martial art like this?”

“The Dersia Tower is the heart of lightning magic. And though magic and martial arts differ, martial disciplines often offer insights into manipulating Lightning Qi.”

A crackle filled the air. Violet arcs of lightning, thin as threads, danced around her nail.

“As its name suggests, this art manifests violet lightning. It even inspired some of my own unique spells. I’ve no use for it anymore, so it’s yours.”

Yuri felt his throat tighten.

He’d seen what a peak-level martial art fetched at Le Seyun’s auction house, and this one was worth far more, having once helped shape the magic of Orca Dersia herself.

As she had said, mastering it wouldn’t be simple. Fixing an attribute to one’s internal energy from the ground up demanded not just martial talent but an instinct for mana itself.

In other words, not a problem for Yuri.

By the Fourth Circle, a martial artist could shift their energy at will. Heat, cold, even sword-qi honed to a razor’s edge. But there was a gulf between modifying an existing technique and cultivating an entirely new one from the start.

Even if he reached the Fourth Circle and laced lightning into his Fist of the Rending Cloud, he’d still fall short against someone wielding a true lightning art.

“Thank you.”

He resisted the urge to flip open the manual on the spot, sliding the <Art of the Violet Lightning Flash> carefully inside his clothes.

Orca chuckled at his restraint and let the current fade from her fingertips.

“If you study that art early, it’ll make Elena’s lessons in lightning magic—”

Orca’s words trailed off. She blinked once, twice, then shut her eyes, her brow furrowing in concentration.

“Orca-nim?”

Yuri leaned forward, startled. She didn’t answer. A long minute passed before she clicked her tongue and opened her eyes, irritation written across her face.

“What a lunatic.”

“…What happened?”

“The Moonlit Reveller is here.”

With a scowl, she swept her hand. Space split once more, but this time it didn’t reveal a book, it revealed a view of Rutlan’s main gate.

Clang. Clang. Clang.

A man with skin the colour of bronze was strolling through the air as if it were solid ground, keeping a massive iron sphere aloft with effortless kicks.

He popped it up to his head, bounced it from brow to heel to instep, then sent it soaring over his back before catching it again.

Wham!

His kick launched the sphere like a cannonball, a blow that would burst a man like a ripe fruit or crumble a stone wall to dust. Yet just past the gate, it halted in mid-air, reversing course to spin obediently back into his control.

Beaming, the man raised his arms above his head, then swept them down with theatrical flourish.

Hoo.

The low cry reverberated through the room.

A madman had arrived.

“What… what is he doing?” Yuri muttered, half in disbelief.

Orca looked as though she’d bitten into something rotten. She pushed herself to her feet.

“I have no idea.”

“…Really?”

“But he does that sometimes. Puts on a show with his Madorido.”

“Madorido?”

“That iron ball. His signature weapon. He’s crushed more than one Demonic Cult leader’s skull with it. That’s why the Righteous Heavenly Alliance tolerates him, despite him being a transmigrator.”

Orca settled her vest back onto her shoulders, her gaze fixed on the shimmering rift.

The Moonlit Reveller was now strolling lazily above the city wall, his Madorido still spinning tricks around his body.

“This talk ends here. I need to deal with him.”

“Right…” Yuri stood as well, awkward beneath the sudden weight in the air.

‘What kind of idiot plays with aggro like that and expects to live?’

Watching the Reveller parade his madness for the world, Yuri suddenly felt like the strange one for hiding so desperately what he was.

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