Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1112

Chapter 1112

The chamber door swung open and my father stood there abruptly.

His breathing was harsh, as if he’d sprinted the entire way, and the fierce intensity in his eyes was unmistakable.

In particular.

‘What’s going on?’

He was staring directly at my spoon, his gaze locked onto it. It was more than just a little unsettling. What was with that look? His eyes were always powerful, but in this moment, they felt overwhelming.

“…Who is this?”

Namgung Hyung inquired, looking at the newcomer. However, the answer came from another source.

“Cheolwoon!”

My mother called out my father’s name with a warm laugh. She immediately sprang to her feet and rushed over to him.

“Cheolwoon! You’re here!?”

“……”

At that sight, my father’s expression shifted. Oh, this is…

‘He looks furious, doesn’t he?’

It seemed like he was angry. A sense of dread began to wash over me.

“You know—”

Just as my mother reached him and began to speak,

“What is the meaning of this?”

A voice, cold and sharp, filled the entire room.

“Cough.”

Namgung Hyung, who had been eating quietly, let out a choked cough at the sound.

“Oh my…”

Hyun Soyeon’s reaction was similar. She, too, seemed to sense that something was wrong.

“Uh… uh?”

My mother seemed flustered, as if my father’s response was not what she had anticipated.

But,

“You.”

My father did not relent.

“I gave you a direct order not to leave the room. Did I not?”

“W-well, that’s not it…”

“This is irrational. What is this nonsense?”

“…It’s only that…”

“Come with me.”

“Wait, there’s still some food left…”

My mother cast a longing look back at Hyun Soyeon’s meal, but as my father took her hand to lead her away,

“Ugh…!”

Thud!

“…!”

My mother slapped his hand away.

My father’s eyes widened instantly, like two large lanterns.

“Wait a minute…”

Having pushed his hand aside, my mother hurried over to me.

“Are you going to finish all of this?”

“…What?”

She suddenly began gathering the food in front of me.

“Make sure you eat everything, alright?”

“No, wait…”

“I’m leaving now!”

“…Huh?”

After piling it all before me, she turned back to face my father.

“Cheolwoon! Let’s go!”

“…”

Wearing a bright smile, as if the matter was now settled, my father turned his gaze on me.

Perhaps it was the poor light near the entrance, but the crimson glow in his eyes seemed particularly vivid.

‘…Oh, that’s terrifying.’

His stare was chilling. The kind that makes you swallow hard without thinking.

Soon after,

“You.”

My father spoke to me.

“First thing tomorrow, you will find me.”

“…Yes.”

Having delivered this command, he turned his back and led my mother out.

In the quiet that settled over the room, a single thought crossed my mind.

‘This is not good.’

It seemed I had truly drawn his ire. Just as I was thinking things had become complicated, a slightly awkward,

“Phew… Now I can breathe again.”

Namgung Hyung let out a heavy exhale, his relief palpable. His face had lost its color—he had clearly been frightened.

“Who was that? What sort of man carries such a oppressive presence?”

“Oh my, don’t you know, young master? He is the most renowned man of this era.”

“Renowned? Who is he?”

“Divine Dragon.”

“…Huh?”

Namgung Hyung frowned at Hyun Soyeon’s words. Then, he shot a quick glance in my direction.

“Then who are you?”

“……”

That reminded me of our conversation from earlier that day.

“Did you just call that man Divine Dragon? It can’t be… Wait, the person with him was Cheolwoon… Is it truly Divine Dragon Gu Cheolwoon?”

It appeared the truth was dawning on him.

“No, then, you truly aren’t Divine Dragon?”

“I told you plainly that I wasn’t…”

“It can’t be… Then who are you?”

“……”

“Hmm? Are the two of you acquainted? How?”

Hyun Soyeon joined the conversation, and I rubbed my temples.

‘Ah.’

A headache was beginning to form.

No, it seems it’s already here.

**********

After managing to finish the meal and clean up, I walked outside.

Unlike the moment of my father’s arrival, everything had been calm since.

The moment my mother was gone, my spiritual sense returned to normal, allowing me to perceive everything clearly again, so there was no immediate threat.

‘It really was because of my mother.’

The reason my spiritual awareness had been muted—I was certain my mother was the cause.

The issue was,

‘It seems others don’t notice the effect.’

It appears I am the only one whose spiritual sense diminishes around her. Neither Hyun Soyeon nor Namgung Hyung seemed to have felt any significant difference.

‘There must be a reason for it.’

It seemed something was definitely connected to this world as well.

As I was pondering this while walking,

“What is on your mind?”

Hyun Soyeon, who was walking beside me, asked.

“It’s nothing.”

Incidentally, Namgung Hyung had vanished right after the meal. He seemed shocked to learn I wasn’t actually Shinryong, but he recovered quickly. Once his stomach was full, he announced his departure and left immediately.

Every time I see him,

‘He’s still just as odd.’

Namgung Hyung definitely seemed like an unusual person, even in his youth.

And then,

“It doesn’t seem like nothing. Go on, tell me. It’s tedious just walking in silence, isn’t it?”

There was another peculiar person here.

She looked exactly like Namgung Bi-ah but possessed a completely opposite personality.

“I’m not bored.”

“Go on. That’s a lie. Your face is practically shouting that you’re bored.”

I genuinely wasn’t bored.

“That can’t be. Isn’t it that you are the one who is bored, not me?”

“Oh, that’s right. How did you know?”

“……”

“You’re bored too, aren’t you? So, tell me something.”

Her attitude was so self-assured. Where did this confidence come from?

“What do you want me to talk about?”

“That thing from before. You’re troubled about it, right?”

“…Huh?”

That thing? What was she referring to?

“The little one and Shinryong. It’s bothering you, right? Am I correct?”

“…What are you talking about?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Young master. You like that little one, don’t you?”

“……”

“But Shinryong appeared and whisked her away so easily, and you were wounded. The sting of love. A passionate love triangle. Is that not it?”

For a moment, I was at a complete loss for words. I had no idea how to respond.

‘Wow.’

Was she actually spouting such nonsense?

Who’s worried about who… Sting of love? Passionate what?

It was a stream of expressions that turned my stomach.

“No. That is incorrect.”

“No? But from the instant you saw her, you couldn’t look away. She was certainly beautiful. I am also known for my beauty, but I’ve never seen someone who remains immune to me.”

“…Your self-regard is quite high, isn’t it?”

“Looking the way I do, it’s only natural to have high self-regard.”

How long had we been talking? It didn’t feel very long, but it was already draining my energy.

Hyun Soyeon clearly took great pride in her appearance. I suppose it was justified, looking like that…

‘She’s nothing like my daughter.’

She would be nothing like the daughter Hyun Soyeon would have in the future.

“So, is that it?”

“…No.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Really, it’s not.”

“So you don’t have feelings for her?”

“It’s not that I don’t…”

I caught myself. I couldn’t say I didn’t like my mother, so I hesitated for a second.

“Hehehe.”

Misinterpreting my pause, Hyun Soyeon’s reaction took on an unpleasant tone.

It felt like the misunderstanding was spiraling out of control.

“No, I said it’s not like that.”

“Oh. Alright then. We’ll go with that.”

“Damn it…”

“But don’t lose heart. I saw earlier, that little one didn’t seem entirely indifferent to you either.”

“…What?”

“Isn’t that right? She didn’t eat her own food. She was solely focused on you the entire time.”

“……”

That was strange. She had dragged me out claiming she was hungry.

Yet, she hadn’t eaten herself, only fussing over my meal.

“That. Normally, that only happens if affection is involved. So, perhaps there is hope?”

“Let it go.”

I didn’t need to hear any more. Talking about love, seriously.

“I have no interest.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“I’m telling you, I’m not…”

I sighed and added more, wanting to prevent any further misunderstandings.

“I have a fiancée, so I’m not interested.”

“Hmm?”

I said, looking at Hyun Soyeon. Thinking of her, who looked just like her, made it slightly easier.

I thought this would make her back off.

“Oh, really? So?”

“What?”

Hyun Soyeon’s response was surprisingly dismissive.

“…I have a fiancée?”

“And?”

“Why?”

“Having a fiancée doesn’t mean you can’t love someone else.”

“What kind of logic is that?”

“Not everyone loves the person they’re engaged to. It’s often a duty, not a desire.”

“…What? Then what about you, Hyun Soyeon? Don’t you have feelings for Namgung Young Master?”

She had been pursuing him and looking after him.

But now she was saying something completely contrary to her actions, which was confusing.

“Yes, I don’t like him.”

“…Huh?”

Her calm reply made me freeze.

What did she just say?

Even with my reaction, Hyun Soyeon stated it so matter-of-factly.

“I told you. I’m doing this because I must. This has nothing to do with love.”

After saying that, she offered a faint smile.

That smile…

‘What is that?’

It was a smile so faint and dry.

“That’s just how it is. So…”

Tap, tap. She patted my shoulder.

“I’m speaking from experience. When you have the chance to seize something, you should. It’s… true, I’ve learned that. I’ll go on ahead, alright? I enjoyed myself today.”

Then she turned and walked away.

As Hyun Soyeon retreated into the distance,

“…Huh?”

My bewildered mind finally cleared.

Because of that, I never got the chance to ask.

‘What?’

Hyun Soyeon said she didn’t love Namgung Jin.

I was so astonished I couldn’t even correct her assumption.

‘…Huh?’

Then what was the reason for chasing him so relentlessly?

She didn’t love him, yet she still did all that?

‘Wow.’

I couldn’t help but let out a dry chuckle. It seems…

‘She must have her own struggles.’

Hyun Soyeon seemed to be dealing with her own issues.

Of course,

‘…Then I should keep my distance.’

She definitely seemed like a bringer of trouble.

Now that I understood, I resolved not to get involved any further.

…No matter what it took.