Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1083

Chapter 1083

“D-Divine Dragon…”

At the appearance of the man, a hushed murmur escaped someone’s lips.

Divine Dragon, Gu Cheolwoon.

He was a direct descendant of the Shanxi Gu Clan and the present heir to the family.

It was somewhat unusual for the sole son of such an esteemed clan to be an only child. He had also participated in the previous Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, where he demonstrated martial prowess of an overwhelming caliber.

A rising star who had seized the attention of the entire world.

A genius of the younger generation, whose phenomenal strength led many to believe he would one day become a new pillar of the righteous factions.

That was the public’s perception of him.

I looked at my father.

His burning crimson eyes were fixed on me, and beside me, Do Yun elbowed my side.

“…Comrade Baek. Comrade Baek. Look over there. It’s the Divine Dragon.”
“…I am aware.”

I could tell just from a single glance.

“Damn, he looks incredible. I’d only heard rumors, but he’s truly on another level from birth.”
“……”
“Is everyone from the Gu Clan like that?”

No.

“I’d never heard of them before, but seeing him, I suppose everyone from that great clan must be extraordinary.”

…No, they are not.

Just as these ridiculous misconceptions were starting to form—

“Hey. Can you be quiet!?”
“Ah! My apologies!”

Sword Peak Soi’s sharp reprimand sliced through the air. Do Yun immediately fell silent, and the others around us followed suit.

‘Hmm.’

Even as this unfolded, my gaze remained locked on my father.

Then—

“Hahaha.”

I heard a laugh.

It came from the man standing at the very front, whom I assumed to be the leader of the Azure Dragon Division.

«I didn’t realize our youngest was so effective at maintaining discipline.»

A man approached with a bright smile. The people around me tensed at the sight of him.

«Blue Flame Sword Master…!»

‘Ah.’

The title immediately revealed his identity.

‘So the Blue Flame Sword Master leads the Azure Dragon Division.’

Blue Flame Sword Master, Shin Cheolyeon.

A martial artist who had once held the title of Sword Master before the Baekcheon Sword Master. Even from what I knew, he was a figure of significant renown.

Though, by my time, he had long since passed, so my knowledge of him was limited.

A warrior from a previous era, whose name I only recognized.

That was the Blue Flame Sword Master.

‘So he was the Division Leader during this period.’

That was my primary impression at that moment.

As I was lost in these thoughts, the Sword Master spoke to Sword Peak Soi, his smile not fading.

«Well, now that we have new recruits, we can’t call you the youngest anymore.»
«Division Leader…»

At his words, a faint blush colored Soi’s cheeks.

«Pleasure to meet you all. I am Shin Cheolyeon, leader of the main division.»

He then turned to address us. As if they had been waiting for this moment, all of my fellow recruits bowed in unison.

«…W-We greet the Division Leader.»
«…We greet the Division Leader.»

Their eyes were filled with reverence.

To hold the position of Azure Dragon Division Leader was a mark of immense prestige.

To those who aspired to join the Martial Alliance, he was both an objective and a legend.

Everyone regarded the Sword Master with a mix of admiration and excitement.

And then—

«Ah.»

The Sword Master’s eyes suddenly flickered in my direction.

Then—

*Sssss—!*

‘……!’

A wave of energy washed over me.

I wasn’t alarmed. It wasn’t profound enough to be concerning.

It wasn’t an attempt to gauge my full depth.

And I understood why.

‘He’s testing all of them.’

He was projecting his energy toward every recruit, not just me.

There was no need for me to overreact.

After a brief emission of energy, the Sword Master moved through the recruits, shaking each of their hands.

«I look forward to working with you.»
«…T-Thank you!»
«Haha, it’s just a handshake. No thanks necessary.»

Was this his method of raising morale?

After shaking hands with everyone, he finally reached me.

The Sword Master looked at me, a glint of recognition in his eyes as his smile widened.

«You must be Baek Yangcheon, correct?»
«…Yes. That is correct.»
«The one Paejon showed interest in. Is that right?»
«…….»

At his words, my expression soured.

Damn it.

‘That old man has complicated everything.’

Now I was attracting unwanted attention.

That irritating old fool.

«…I was merely fortunate enough to capture his interest briefly.»
«Haha. Briefly, you say? For Paejon to consider taking you as a disciple is no minor event, is it?»

Saying this, the Sword Master extended his hand toward me.

«In that sense, the Azure Dragon Division is fortunate. To have acquired a young talent of your caliber.»
«…….»

I stared at his offered hand.

A sense of foreboding settled over me…

But I couldn’t refuse, so I stiffened slightly and reached out.

*Grip.*

The instant our hands met—

*Hwoooosh—!!*

Exactly as anticipated, a subtle energy seeped into me.

Was he trying to assess my level?

His approach was delicate, almost cautious, as if he hoped I wouldn’t detect it.

‘Tsk.’

As if I wouldn’t notice.

His attempt at subtlety was almost insulting.

What should I do?

It had been some time since I was so openly disrespected in this manner.

Should I simply let it pass?

For a brief moment, I considered ignoring it, but—

‘Why should I?’

Annoyance won out.

I had my reasons for being here, but that didn’t mean I had to endure this.

‘Still, I should be measured.’

Just enough to give him a start.

I carefully modulated my energy and released a counter-surge.

*Hwoooosh—!!!!*

My energy flared, meeting and repelling the Sword Master’s probing force.

*Boom!*

«……!»

The Sword Master instantly released my hand, his eyes widening in surprise.

*Hwooosh!*

The recoil caused the air around us to shudder faintly.

Then—

«Ha—!»

The Sword Master let out a short, sharp laugh.

«You are far more remarkable than I anticipated. Hahahaha—!!!»

His reaction was not as negative as I had feared.

«My apologies. I reacted on instinct when I was startled.»

I offered a mild excuse, and he dismissed it with a wave.

«It’s quite alright. If anything, the apology is mine. I didn’t expect you to detect it. Hahahaha.»

*Thump thump—!*

His large hand clapped my shoulder repeatedly.

«Are you aware of something?»
«Of what…?»
«Among the new recruits, you are only the second one to respond to that.»

He appeared genuinely pleased.

“I went to considerable effort to bring you here. I hadn’t expected you to be this impressive. Excellent. I will be watching your progress with interest.”
“Thank you.”

He had exerted effort to secure my placement.

I narrowed my eyes at that revelation.

So it hadn’t been a coincidence.

“Since today is the first day, we will conclude here. To celebrate your acceptance, a banquet will be held tonight. I expect everyone to attend.”
“Understood—!”
“Then I will see you all later. And the youngest… ah, no. Soi, report to the division leader’s office.”
“Yes, sir.”

With a final wave, the Blue Flame Sword Master departed.

As he left, the members of the Azure Dragon Division moved as one to follow him.

“Do not become presumptuous. Remain quiet until the banquet.”

Sword Peak Soi shot a piercing glare at everyone, her warning clear.

The intensity in her stare made the others freeze momentarily.

After delivering her warning, she fell into formation, and my father walked past me. By then, he was no longer looking in my direction.

I wasn’t looking at him either. There was no reason to.

I simply stood still, feeling the weight of his presence recede.

Then—

“Hey.”

Someone addressed me.

The voice was gratingly impudent.

‘What now?’

I turned to see who it was.

“I didn’t expect to encounter you again here.”

An arrogant face came into view, as disagreeable as the voice.

A young noble with white hair and blue eyes.

Surprisingly, it was Namgung Cheon.

“You remember me, don’t you?”
“…Ah.”

Why in the world was he here?

And worse—

‘He’s a member of the Azure Dragon Division?’

His uniform confirmed it. Damn it.

‘Just looking at him tells me he’s going to be trouble.’

I stared at him with undisguised irritation, and Namgung Cheon scowled in return.

“What is that expression? That is no way for a junior to behave.”
“…Pardon me?”
“I disliked you from the first moment I saw you. And yet you had the luck to end up here?”

His smug expression was infuriating.

Now I could see exactly who Namgung Cheonjun took after.

“You are Baek Yangcheon, correct?”
“…That… yes.”
“I look forward to working with you.”

*Tap tap.*

He patted my shoulder twice as he walked past.

“Ah.”

I let out a weary sigh and rubbed my face.

“…What a nuisance.”

This relentless series of troublesome encounters was exhausting.

**********

Azure Dragon Division Leader’s Office

A spacious room, orderly and filled with scrolls and documents.

Behind a large desk, the Blue Flame Sword Master sat, smiling.

Before him, Sword Peak Soi stood with a puzzled expression and asked,

“Has something good occurred?”
“Hm? Oh. Not precisely. It’s merely… amusing.”
“…Pardon?”
“This year’s recruits. There are several intriguing individuals among them.”
“…Ah.”
“Don’t you agree?”
“…Yes.”

Soi replied with a somewhat reluctant look.

She wasn’t sure “intriguing” was the right word, but one particularly aggravating person had indeed joined.

“Judging by your expression, I’d say you’re thinking of the same person I am.”
“……”
“That young man… Baek Yangcheon, was it? He is the most intriguing one.”
“……”

Soi didn’t respond.

He was correct. That was exactly who she was thinking of.

“I was curious when I heard that Paejon had taken an interest in him…”

As he recalled that fierce-looking youth, the Blue Flame Sword Master’s smile deepened.

“He is undoubtedly worthy of the attention.”

It was a genuine surprise.

Not only had he sensed the probing energy, but he had also pushed back against it.

‘The second one.’

This had only happened twice.

The Blue Flame Sword Master had tested every recruit in the same manner.

Of all of them, only two had responded.

One had sensed the energy and repelled it, much like Baek Yangcheon.

And the other—

‘Devoured it.’

That one had absorbed his energy and even attempted to weaponize it.

A completely different reaction—brutal and destructive.

“What is your opinion?”

The Blue Flame Sword Master turned to the person who had done just that.

A young man with crimson eyes, Gu Cheolwoon, met his gaze.

“I did grant your request as a favor for your promotion to vice-leader… but this was no trivial matter for me.”

Bringing in the recruits he had wanted.

Among them, Baek Yangcheon had been someone every division was vying for.

Securing him despite that competition had been a challenge, even for the Blue Flame Sword Master.

But he had accomplished it.

Because it was a request from his newly appointed vice-leader.

“Thank you for making it happen.”

Gu Cheolwoon bowed his head, and the Blue Flame Sword Master gave a slight nod.

“Well, in the end, this benefits us as well… But I must admit, I didn’t anticipate you taking an interest in him.”

He was not the type to usually show concern for others.

Despite mastering the Fiery Arts, a martial path of pure annihilation, Gu Cheolwoon himself had always been distant and detached.

So when he had asked for Baek Yangcheon to be recruited, even the Blue Flame Sword Master had been taken aback.

“Is there a reason?”
“……”

Gu Cheolwoon fell silent, deep in thought.

After a moment, he answered,

“I do not know.”
“Hm?”

It was an unexpected reply.

He had been asked for a reason, and he simply stated, “I do not know.”

But—

“I do not know yet. But I intend to discover the answer.”

Gu Cheolwoon had resolved himself.

He would find out.