Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1015

Chapter 1015

“We’re going to Mount Marryeong?”

“Yes.”

“Understood.”

Before departing for the next Divine Tree, I spoke again with the turtle guarding the path to it.

As it had before, the turtle stretched out its staff to converse with me.

“…Your master instructed you to go to Mount Marryeong?”

“Correct.”

“Hmm…”

“Why? We need to reach all the Divine Trees eventually, right?”

Since every one had to be found, moving toward the next was the obvious step.

“It’s a question of proximity.”

“Proximity?”

“Indeed. By distance, Black Phoenix Palace is actually far nearer than Mount Marryeong… so why venture there first?”

‘Black Phoenix Palace?’

The name struck me as unusual.

“Is the difference in distance substantial?”

“At least double. Traveling toward Yahwol would take half a day. But reaching Black Phoenix Palace would require two months, and Mount Marryeong… at least twice that long.”

“Damn…”

Hearing it laid out like that, the gap was enormous.

If that was the duration for an ordinary traveler—

‘Accounting for my speed…’

I estimated it would take me roughly seven days and nights.

‘And since external energy hardly fades due to the rifts, I might be quicker still.’

That was purely about velocity, but from a sheer distance standpoint, the turtle was right—it was odd.

‘…Did Mother have a specific purpose in selecting Mount Marryeong first?’

It was probably another of her deliberate choices, but what was her reasoning?

‘If I hadn’t spoken with Mother’s apparition…’

I would have instinctively chosen Black Phoenix Palace first, simply due to its closer location.

‘Would something have been different then?’

Could the order of our journey have held significance? A sudden thought arose—

‘But what does it matter now?’

Dwelling on it at this point was futile.

For now, Mount Marryeong was the goal.

Spending time in speculation was pointless.

“Regardless… whether it’s Mount Marryeong or Black Phoenix Palace, we must depart. I hoped to collect some information first.”

I needed details about Mount Marryeong. And if Black Phoenix Palace lay along the route—

‘Then we can simply pass through it without a detour.’

A slight adjustment to our path would improve efficiency.

“Information, you say…”

The turtle fell into a short reflection before answering.

“To begin, there is nearly no knowledge about Black Phoenix Palace.”

“What? None at all?”

“Yes. All that is known is that its ruler is not of the Wolya Tribe, unlike Yusa, and that they have scarcely ever revealed themselves.”

“……”

A general governing their own territory, yet neither their identity nor any details were known? It was deeply suspicious.

‘That’s unfortunate.’

The gap between facing a known opponent and a complete unknown was vast.

Even Yarang, the most recently appointed general, had some information available, yet nothing existed for the master of Black Phoenix Palace? It was peculiar.

It was certainly worth noting, but for the moment, I inquired about something else.

“…What of Mount Marryeong?”

“That place is better documented. The one who commands there has always been a fierce one.”

“A fierce one?”

“Yes. From what I understand, you’ve encountered them previously.”

“Huh? Ah.”

The instant the turtle said it, I remembered my first day in Mangye.

The brute I had met then.

He too had been a general.

His name was…

“Du Ryeong (Black Horned Bull).”

“Exactly. Mount Marryeong is Du Ryeong’s territory.”

That enormous black bull snorting through its nostrils.

A being of immense size and crushing power.

Back then, he had been obeying the ruler of Mangye’s order to kill me.

‘And then Shin Noya pummeled him relentlessly.’

I recalled him being thoroughly defeated, unable to offer any resistance.

‘So Mount Marryeong is his domain…’

A mountain suited him, somehow.

“Hmm…”

I summoned the memory of Du Ryeong, the one who had breathed fire and tried to end me, before asking the turtle,

“Is there anything I should be wary of?”

“If you end up battling Du Ryeong, never engage him at night.”

“Why?”

“He cannot perish while the moon is visible.”

“Cannot perish?”

“Yes, he is utterly immortal under moonlight.”

The turtle spoke with absolute certainty, making me frown.

‘That aligns with what I know.’

Even back then, Shin Noya had hacked at him repeatedly, yet Du Ryeong would not die.

Wasn’t it called immortality? I recalled someone mentioning that was his ability.

“Hah.”

I let out a soft laugh.

“Then it’s irrelevant.”

“What?”

The turtle looked at me, puzzled.

If it was an authority preventing his death, then it truly didn’t matter.

‘To me.’

As long as I possessed Tam,

His authority would have no hold over me.

*********

I stood at the edge of the Mount Hua Sect, ready to depart.

There was little to pack—just a few changes of clothes and some water.

Not that I needed the water, but I brought it regardless.

Even so, I felt I was traveling light for such a long journey.

“…Is that all you’re taking?”

“Yes.”

Cheonma, who had emerged under the night sky, was even more unprepared than I.

She had packed nothing—not even spare garments.

Meaning she carried not a single item.

“You’re going just like that?”

“Is that unacceptable?”

“Well, it’s not unacceptable, but…”

Then again, did it truly matter? If Cheonma wasn’t concerned, it wasn’t my issue.

“…Fine.”

And so, I was about to leave when—

Something felt slightly amiss.

“Hey.”

“Hm?”

“How fast can you move?”

“Hm?”

Traveling together was acceptable, but Cheonma’s pace was crucial. It occurred to me then that I had no idea of her speed.

Since we needed to reach our destination quickly, I asked to form a rough idea.

“I am unsure.”

Cheonma answered as if she genuinely didn’t know.

“Hmm…”

After a moment’s thought, I pointed toward a distant tree.

“…Do you see that tree over there?”

“Yes.”

“Run to it as fast as you—”

Fwoooosh—!!

Before I could finish, a whirlwind exploded into being.

The ground where Cheonma had stood cratered inward, a deafening boom followed, and debris flew in all directions.

Leaving the shattered earth behind, my eyes tracked her movement.

She had already reached the tree and laid her hand upon it.

“…Is that your top speed?”

I narrowed my eyes and asked.

“Yes.”

She replied in the same even tone as before.

“Hmm…”

She was fast. Certainly not slow.

‘…But she is slower than me.’

Compared to my speed, she was considerably slower.

‘And furthermore…’

Why was she running like that? She wasn’t employing any Light Footwork technique.

She had run purely on raw physical power.

‘Considering that, it’s an astonishing pace.’

Before achieving transcendence, I had been only a bit quicker than this.

But compared to my current self, she was markedly slower.

‘At this rate…’

Bringing her along would consume too much time.

‘What to do?’

Should I simply leave her behind?

For a brief instant, I considered it.

Wasting unnecessary time on travel was inefficient, so going alone would be better.

“Ssshh…”

After a moment of contemplation, I reached out.

Fwoosh—!

“Huh?”

Using my energy, I lifted Cheonma into the air.

She offered no resistance and simply floated toward me.

Thud—!

I seized her by the scruff of her neck and turned her around.

She adjusted naturally, locking her arms around my neck.

Rather than being carried, she was now clinging to my back.

“Do not release your grip. If you fall, I will not return for you.”

“Understood.”

With her reply, she tightened her hold around my neck.

Feeling it, I exhaled in irritation.

‘…This is aggravating.’

It was getting on my nerves.

The sensation was familiar, which made it worse.

Even though her scent was different, the feeling was nearly identical.

Was it because she looked exactly like Wi Seol-ah?

Even the way she held on felt eerily similar.

How could I describe this?

In this life, I had often carried Wi Seol-ah on my back.

And in my past life, I had once carried a bleeding Wi Seol-ah while fleeing for my life.

Now, the very entity that had once hunted me in that past life was clinging to my back.

What in the world was I supposed to call this?

It was a feeling beyond description.

If I had to call it unpleasant, it probably was.

If I had to call it complex, it certainly was.

It was something that defied simple summary.

So I said nothing.

I forced all my thoughts down and concentrated on gathering strength in my legs.

Ssssshhhhh…

Heat coalesced, and the ground beneath me began to scorch.

Gradually, my body sank lower—the earth was melting.

Once I had accumulated sufficient heat, I pushed off the ground with all my might.

And then—

KWOAAAAHHH—!!!

A tremendous burst of flame erupted, propelling my body into the sky.

By the time the roaring inferno had finally subsided—

Exactly as I had calculated, seven days and nights had passed.

And I had reached Mount Marryeong, a mountain forged mostly of stone.

*********

At the hour when the moon dominated the sky, the wind was still.

I trekked across the rocky landscape.

After some time wandering, I noticed a large boulder and settled atop it.

“Huu…”

Only then did I finally release a tired breath.

“Damn… that was draining.”

Not only was I breathless, but my energy reserves were severely depleted.

I had assumed I wouldn’t fatigue, given the plentiful energy in the atmosphere—but contrary to expectations, my body was utterly spent.

Flying non-stop without rest had clearly exacted its price.

“Huuu…”

I regulated my breathing and assessed my condition.

My depleted energy and stamina would likely regenerate before dawn.

After recovering my breath for a time—

I suddenly remembered something I’d overlooked.

I grabbed the figure clinging to my neck and tossed it aside.

“Ugh!”

Cheonma, who had been silently holding on, tumbled through the air before landing on the ground.

“How long did you intend to keep hanging there? We’ve arrived, so get down.”

“……”

Cheonma clicked her tongue in apparent disappointment.

Why did she seem regretful?

I considered saying something, but I was too weary to bother.

“Huu.”

Taking another deep breath, I surveyed the surroundings.

Everything was stone.

A few trees dotted the area, but they were scarce.

‘…Is this the correct place?’

Judging by the coordinates, this should be where the turtle had directed me.

‘But something feels wrong.’

Something felt distinctly unusual.

‘Why is it…’

Not only were there no signs of human activity—

‘Why is there not a single trace of life?’

There wasn’t one living presence in the immediate area.

The void was so complete it felt profoundly unnatural.