Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1098

Chapter 1098

Following the uprising of the Crimson-Rank Beast, word had not yet traveled throughout Zhongyuan.

As the creature had emerged inside a region governed by the Martial Alliance—

And with the Beggars’ Union actively working to quash any gossip, no information had filtered into Hanam.

For the time being, only those inside the Martial Alliance, and even among them, only a privileged handful, knew what had occurred.

«Keep moving! Regulate your breathing!»

At that exact moment, drills were proceeding intensively within the Azure Dragon Division.

Dozens of trainees, all with less than five years in the division, were running in tight formation.

They were maintaining this pace without employing internal energy, a feat that would, inevitably, cause their breath to grow ragged over time.

They had already been running for more than two hours.

‘This is incredibly tedious.’

To me, this hardly qualified as training.

My physique wasn’t so feeble that it would weary from such an activity.

Even without actively using internal energy, my body was already thoroughly infused with it.

At this stage, it wouldn’t make a difference if I ran for half a day—or even a full day nonstop.

However—

«Huff… Huff…»
«Ugh… Hngh…»

The others were evidently not in the same state. They appeared on the verge of collapsing at any second.

Well, obviously.

‘At most, they’re only first-rate.’

Even the most capable among them merely touched the edge of the Peak Realm.

For them, enduring this level of training was already a significant accomplishment.

As I jogged along casually beside them—

‘Hm.’

I kept sensing a stare fixed on me.

It was coming from my left, just a single step behind.

I turned to see who it was.

Do Yun.

The guy was looking straight at me, and the instant our eyes locked—

He gave a slight grin.

«Ahaha…»

His uncomfortable chuckle made me turn my head away.

His expression was full of things left unsaid.

But I wasn’t interested.

‘If he wants to talk, he’ll approach me himself.’

I knew why. The reason was clear.

‘It’s about yesterday.’

The Crimson-Rank Beast Uprising.

Something I’d said to Do Yun amid that chaos must have been preying on his mind.

He was concealing his true power.

Because he behaved so casually and chattered constantly, he gave a first impression of weakness—

But that was incorrect.

‘He’s powerful.’

Do Yun was significantly strong.

To such a degree that—

«You two! No talking!»

The woman scowling at us from the front—Sword Peak Soi.

It would not be an overstatement to say he was stronger than her.

«Ah, yes! Sorry!»

Do Yun promptly offered an apology.

«My apologies as well.»

I added a quiet word.

To me, she wasn’t Sword Peak or any other formal title—

‘She’s just the Plum Blossom Sword Queen to me.’

Since it felt like it was simply the Plum Blossom Sword Queen expressing anger, the apology came naturally.

After speaking, I looked at Soi.

«……»
«……»

Once again, our eyes met.

I gazed back at her without particular intent—

«Tch.»

She clicked her tongue in clear irritation and turned her head away.

‘…What’s wrong with her?’

What is her issue?

Soi’s response was strangely pointed.

It was obvious that she held some dislike for me.

‘What exactly did I do?’

Searching my memory—

She had disapproved of me from the very beginning.

‘But why?’

I had no clue.

In my previous life, we had been on perfectly good terms.

Yet for some reason, this younger version of her seemed to resent me.

‘…Not that it matters to me.’

I was accustomed to being disliked.

It didn’t affect me greatly.

But the absence of any clear reason was somewhat irritating.

Of course—

‘That doesn’t mean I’ll go and ask her about it.’

I had no plan to do that.

******

«Huff… Huff…»
«Ugh… Ahhh…»

Once the training concluded, everyone dropped to the ground, utterly spent.

Soaked in sweat, all they could manage was to gasp for air.

Some were gulping down water incessantly, unable to satisfy their thirst.

Among them, I sat idly, gazing up at the sky.

Naturally, I wasn’t sweating.

I was only sitting because everyone else was.

And as I stared at the sky—

‘…How much longer must I remain here?’

That thought surfaced.

How many days had gone by?

It had been nearly a full week.

How much more time would I have to spend here?

‘I need to return.’

Whether it was Mangye or the part of Zhongyuan I originally came from—

I had to go back.

This was not where I belonged.

‘Tsk.’

What should I do?

‘I must settle this quickly.’

This world desired something from me.

More specifically, my mother had arranged something for me here.

I needed to acquire it as swiftly as possible and make my escape.

‘Just being here feels oppressive.’

My discussion with Paehjon yesterday—

After that, everything began to seem more burdensome.

‘I actually told him about my regression…’

I had confessed to him that I had turned back time.

But ultimately, Paehjon did not believe me.

Even though I had given him the very explanation he seemed to want.

Even then, he remained unconvinced.

‘Or perhaps…?’

Maybe he hadn’t completely dismissed it.

It seemed he might have believed a part of it.

But—

‘It doesn’t alter the fact that he still doesn’t fully accept it.’

In the end, he had declined to give it his full credence.

What was it he said?

‘He said he would think it over.’

That was all.

He stated he needed time to consider.

‘Hm.’

Well, to be fair—

Even if I were in his position, I wouldn’t have believed it either.

No matter how well it matched the facts, it was simply too incredible.

‘The real problem is—what comes next?’

The Sword Master’s suspicions.

And while Paehjon did promise to confirm my identity—

‘Depending on what Paehjon does next—’

If matters took a bad turn, it could provoke a conflict within the Martial Alliance itself, where the Sword Master was the Alliance Leader.

‘…So before that occurs—’

I needed to resolve this and depart at the earliest opportunity.

Thinking this, I shifted my focus toward one of the larger structures within the Azure Dragon Division.

A place referred to as the Vice Division Leader’s Residence.

«…»

The place where my father was.

I released a long sigh as I looked at the building.

“Huuu…”

Given the reason I had been brought here, it was almost certainly connected to my father.

The timing of my arrival, the situation—everything indicated that I was meant to obtain something from him.

‘But what exactly is it I’m supposed to get?’

What was it that I needed to receive through my father?

I didn’t know yet, but I was sure something was there.

Because there was no other reason for my presence here.

As I contemplated this, staring at the Vice Division Leader’s Residence—

«What are you looking at?»

A voice broke into my thoughts.

Soi.

«Huh?»
«I asked what you’re looking at.»
«Oh, it’s nothing. Just watching what’s in front of me.»

«……»
«Did you need something?»

She had purposely come over to speak to me. That implied she had some purpose.

Yet, Soi simply glared at me without speaking.

What was this about?

«Hey.»

Just as I was about to inquire—

«About yesterday.»

«What about it?»

«Why didn’t you handle it properly?»

«…What?»

Yesterday?

That was abrupt.

If she meant yesterday—

‘She must be referring to the monster.’

The battle against the Crimson-Rank Beast.

So that was what she meant.

«What do you mean, ‘I didn’t handle it properly’?»

I asked, not comprehending her point.

Soi frowned and replied.

«You could have done more. You have the capability. So why did you just stand there watching?»

«……»

Now my own eyes narrowed.

‘Oh?’

She had noticed.

That I hadn’t confronted the Crimson-Rank Beast with my full power.

She had perceived it.

How?

‘Is her intuition keener than I thought?’

That was possible.

After all, the woman before me was destined to become the Plum Blossom Sword Queen, ruling the pinnacle of the martial world.

‘Hm.’

How should I answer this?

No wonder she had been shooting me those sharp looks all day.

So this was the cause.

«I didn’t exactly hold back.»

I had still offered support in my own manner.

I simply hadn’t engaged directly.

«No. You definitely didn’t exert yourself fully.»
«…What makes you say that?»
«Because you’re strong. Far stronger than that.»
«…I wouldn’t go that far.»
«You defeated the Sword Dragon, and yet you claim you aren’t strong?»

«……»

Ah, that’s right.

Sword Dragon—Namgung Jin.

I had forgotten about him entirely.

Yeah… I did overpower that guy.

«Ahem… Well, perhaps his reputation was greater than his actual skill.»

«The Martial Alliance doesn’t award the title of ‘Dragon’ to those who are weak.»

Soi stated this with a firm expression.

Hearing that, I tilted my head slightly.

‘What’s this?’

There was something odd about her words.

A steadfast faith in the Martial Alliance.

That was what I detected in her.

‘Interesting.’

She was different.

The Plum Blossom Sword Queen I remembered wasn’t necessarily a paragon of virtue, nor did she place particular trust in the Martial Alliance.

«You clearly possess tremendous strength. So why didn’t you intervene?»

At this point, I partly relented.

«It was resolved well enough without my involvement. What’s the issue?»

The outcome was acceptable.

Why was she making a complaint about it?

I asked, genuinely confused.

«Someone might have died.»

Because I hadn’t stepped in, someone could have died?

Hearing that, I gave a faint smirk.

«That would have been the monster’s doing, not my responsibility.»

«You…»

«Besides, I have no desire to be criticized for something that didn’t even occur.»

I was fully aware that the Crimson-Rank Beast Uprising was my fault, and I felt somewhat guilty for it.

But even so—

‘This is just irritating.’

It felt like she was nitpicking without cause.

Suppressing a sigh, I looked at Soi.

Her striking eyes held a glint of distinct hostility.

Just as I prepared to reply—

«Soi. New recruit.»

A voice interrupted.

Soi instantly snapped to attention and saluted.

«Yes, senior!»

The newcomer appeared to be a martial artist from the Azure Dragon Division.

He looked at both of us and spoke.

«An assignment has come down. Prepare to move out immediately.»

«…Huh?»
«What?»

At the sudden announcement, both Soi and I frowned.

An assignment?