Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1102

Chapter 1102

A woman with snow-white hair and eyes the color of rubies.
Her gentle beauty was clad in a red martial robe that felt deeply familiar.

‘The Gu clan’s martial robe.’

It was the precise style of garment worn by members of the Gu clan.

The robe was so recognizable, its origin was instantly clear to me.

The true issue, however, was—

‘Why?’

Why was my mother present in this place?

Her presence here was unthinkable.
And particularly here, of all locations, concealed within a supply wagon?

Her sudden appearance vividly called to mind Wi Seol-ah.

I was rendered speechless for a long moment.

“Mother…”

The word nearly escaped my lips instinctively, but I caught myself.
I was acutely aware that this was not a circumstance where I could address her as such.

What else could I say? My thoughts emptied completely.
Unable to formulate a single sentence, I simply stood there, adrift in confusion.

After a brief silence, it came to me. Ah, of course. There was only one appropriate thing to say in a moment like this.

“Who are you?”

“A!”

My mother seemed to freeze for an instant.
She opened her mouth to reply, but her wide eyes darted about nervously, and I saw the hesitation play out on her face.

“Umm… Well…”

She fumbled for a moment before suddenly breaking into light laughter.

“Hehe.”

“……”

Her giggle was utterly guileless.
I was at a complete loss, frozen once more, with no idea how to respond.

*Whoosh.*
A wave of heat washed over me.

I turned toward the familiar sensation and saw—

“……”

My father.

Now it was my father who had materialized, his gaze fixed on me, or more accurately, on my mother inside the wagon.

“Ah!”

My mother beamed with a radiant smile the moment her eyes met my father’s.

“Cheolwoon!”

She called my father’s name with casual familiarity.

“……What is the meaning of this?”

My father frowned at her greeting, visibly taken aback.
His expression made it plain that he was completely bewildered by the situation.

‘He was unaware.’

His face said it all.
He was both flustered and entirely in the dark.

“……”

“Cheolwoon! I’m right here!”

My mother remained undeterred by my father’s stern reaction.
She continued to smile sunnily, making it impossible for anyone to stay angry with her.

“Hehehe.”

“……”

Exasperated, my father let out a heavy sigh in response to her demeanor.

Then, he turned his attention to me.

“Accompany me for a moment.”

“……”

It was our first time speaking alone together.
Whether I desired it or not.

*******

Night in the Forest

Beneath a darkened sky, we ventured into the woods.

“Ugh!”

My mother released a soft gasp as we proceeded.
It appeared to be due to the steep, climbing path we were ascending.

We continued upward until we finally arrived at the mountain’s summit.
Once we reached a small clearing faintly illuminated by moonlight, my father and mother came to a halt.

“……Why did you pursue me here?”

My father questioned my mother.

“I gave you explicit instructions to remain behind.”

“But I wished to come.”

“That…”

He sounded thoroughly frustrated as he spoke, heaving another sigh.
It was an expression I recognized, nearly identical to the one he often wore when looking at me or Wi Seol-ah.

“Does Mi Horan know of this?”

“No!”

“……”

Her reply was delivered with absolute conviction.
It was so self-assured that I was once again left momentarily speechless.

“Mi Horan is unaware.”

“……Then how did you board the wagon?”

When I inquired how she had managed to stow away, my mother simply nodded and answered.

“I merely climbed aboard.”

“……”

She just climbed aboard.

It was the identical reply Wi Seol-ah had given me.
Back then, when I asked how she had slipped in, she also said she had just gotten on.

‘There was no presence.’

Neither Wi Seol-ah nor my mother seemed to emit any discernible presence.
In fact, it was true.

‘No presence whatsoever.’

I could detect the sounds of someone eating, yet I could sense no life force.
Even now, observing her directly, the feeling persisted.

‘Absolutely nothing.’

Despite watching her, I could feel nothing.
It was peculiar.

It was strange, yet I believed I understood the reason.

‘Because my mother is not human.’

She was one of the sovereigns of Man-gye, a being of immense power.
I could not help but suspect that was the cause of this sensation.

As I contemplated this, I studied her quietly.

“Cheolwoon.”

“……What is it?”

My mother called to my father and gestured toward me.

“He resembles you, does he not?”

“What?”

‘Huh?’

At her words, my father’s eyes shifted to me.
I look like him?

The notion had never once crossed my mind.

‘My father and me?’

From my perspective, we shared no resemblance whatsoever.
We did not look like father and son, at least not in any visual sense.

My mother’s comment provoked a strange feeling within me.

“Do not speak nonsense.”

My father scowled as he said this, prompting my mother to poke out her lip and turn her head away.

“……”

Witnessing the exchange, I awkwardly scratched my cheek.

“Baek.”

This time, my father addressed me by name.
I swallowed dryly.

“……Yes.”

“You must keep this concealed.”

“I beg your pardon?”

I narrowed my eyes at his direct and unexpected words.

I had honestly anticipated some manner of explanation, but instead, he simply instructed me to keep it secret.

“Keep it secret…?”
“Yes.”
“What does that entail? Are you requesting I conceal this woman’s presence?”
“Yes.”
“……”

I was mildly astonished.

“…Should you not at least provide an explanation?”
“It is complicated.”
“……”

He would not even offer an explanation? Merely stating it was complicated?

“…So you are simply asking that I remain silent?”
“Yes.”
“…Hmm.”

Hearing this, I gave a slow nod.

He wanted my secrecy?

‘This situation…’

It did not seem entirely unfavorable.

So, I looked directly at my father and spoke.

“Are you being serious?”
“……”

My father’s expression altered slightly at my question.

“What is it you desire?”
“If I make a request, will you honor it?”
“That depends on the nature of the request.”

So, he would agree, conditional on what I asked for.

It was an unanticipated reply. I glanced over at my mother.

She was watching me, and with a mischievous smile, she subtly opened her mouth and covered it with a finger.

Her playful expression gave me pause before I returned my gaze to my father. If a request was possible…

“And if it is something you cannot do, what then?”
“……”

My father’s eyes narrowed sharply.

He fixed me with an intense, penetrating stare. I flinched. Was he angered?

‘If it is something he cannot grant, will he attempt to kill me?’

It was not an impossibility. It would be determined by my father’s decision.

As I was thinking this, he suddenly spoke.

“I will do it.”

My father’s voice was firm.

‘Well then…’

He was prepared to agree to anything.

I offered an awkward smile in response.

I did not have any specific, grand desire. It was merely an opportunity to ask.

“Nothing significant. Well…”

I thought for a brief moment before addressing my father.

“Simply… promise you will stand with me when the time arrives.”
“……”

My father’s face grew complex at those words.

It was a simple request, yet a profoundly difficult one. Particularly given my current circumstances.

A person under the vigilant watch of the Sword Master.

An individual with a mysterious past. My father, bound by his duty, was likely also obligated to monitor me.

And here I was, asking for his future allegiance. It was no small favor.

‘Let us see.’

I waited to see what judgment my father would render.

If he refused, how would he respond? If he chose to confront me over it, what would happen?

Just as I was wondering—

«Very well.»

To my astonishment, my father consented.

*Thud.*

He pressed his fingers against his forehead. My mother, observing him, merely smiled.

‘From this moment onward…’

From this moment, they were already intertwined. Seeing them interact in such a way left me with conflicted emotions.

However—

‘Setting my own secrets aside…’

How, exactly, did they intend to keep my mother’s presence hidden?

The answer remained a mystery, but I was soon to discover it.

*******

Namgung Family, Anhui Province

The Namgung Clan—one of the Four Great Houses and the heart of the sword sects.

A renowned family, famous for their mastery of the sharp, azure sword.

The clan’s leader, Namgung Jeohwi, was presently scowling.

Amid the stacks of documents covering his desk, he held a single piece of paper—the source of his displeasure.

«…The Azure Dragon Division is en route?»

«Yes, Clan Leader.»

«For what purpose?»

«They are investigating the recent disturbances.»

«……»

Namgung Jeohwi’s frown deepened. An investigation? He had already submitted a full report to the Martial Alliance; he had not anticipated them to act with such speed.

‘Something must be occurring.’

For the Alliance to mobilize this quickly, similar events must have transpired in Hanan as well.

«So, the First Young Master and a select group are journeying to the Namgung Clan?»

«That is correct.»

The mention of the First Young Master caused Namgung Jeohwi to set aside his frown and allow a slight smirk.

His son—the Sword Dragon, a prodigious talent within the Azure Dragon Division.

«Good.»

It had been too long since they last met, and the timing was ideal.

‘I have been awaiting that boy’s return.’

There was someone who had been eagerly anticipating Namgung Jin’s homecoming.

It was a matter that had been weighing on him, and now, with his son returning, the timing could not be more perfect.

«Go and inform Lady Hyeon at once. Tell her the First Young Master is returning.»

«Well… about that, sir…»

The man before him hesitated.

«What is it?»

Sensing the oddity in his subordinate’s demeanor, Namgung Jeohwi pressed for an answer.

«Lady Hyeon… she… you see…»

Watching the man struggle, Namgung Jeohwi grew impatient.

«Out with it.»

«…She has fled.»

«…What did you say?»

«She stated she was weary of waiting. So, she resolved… to seek him out herself…»

«…What?»

Namgung Jeohwi’s face went utterly blank.

His son’s betrothed had grown impatient and run away to find him?