Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1127

Chapter 1127

Escape?

The phrase Namgung Hyung had just uttered echoed inside my head. Running away?

‘Impossible…’

Had this man completely lost his senses?

I could only gaze at him, stunned into silence.

It wasn’t merely the suggestion of him fleeing that shocked me.

‘I knew this was coming.’

I was already aware that Namgung Hyung was fated to become The Strange. I knew he would eventually break free from the Namgung family to fulfill that destiny.

‘But he intends to do it *now*?’

What truly caught me off guard was the timing. So abrupt. And right as the Namgung family’s banquet was beginning? This was…

‘Ah.’

A sudden understanding dawned on me. This person, could he possibly be…

‘Is he intentionally choosing the banquet as his moment?’

It appeared he had been waiting for the perfect opportunity, and now it had arrived. With everyone preoccupied by the celebration, security would be lighter than usual.

He was seizing that chance to make his break.

“…And you want my assistance with that?”

He wanted me to aid his escape?

«Exactly. So? Sounds appealing, doesn’t it?»

«Appealing? Are you out of your mind?»

First, he asked for my support—and now this?

«How in the world do you expect me to help?»

«Why not? Just lend a hand.»

«…Do you forget that I am an invited guest here?»

And not just any guest—I was here representing the Martial Alliance. And he was asking me to help a direct descendant of the Namgung family disappear? There could be no more insane a request.

‘If I were discovered assisting him…’

It would undoubtedly cause a monumental problem. The consequences of my involvement were unimaginable.

«Hmm… So it’s a no?»

«…’No’ doesn’t even cover it. The fact you believed this could work is the real issue.»

«I thought it would be possible with your help. Ah, but even if you refuse, I was going to proceed regardless.»

«What does that mean?»

«Whether you help or not is irrelevant. Just don’t say a word.»

Namgung Hyung offered a radiant smile.

«I am leaving this hell tonight, no matter what.»

«…»

Hell.

That single word caused my eyes to sharpen.

«There is no other day. If it isn’t today… I have no idea what I might do.»

He said it with a smile, but there was no warmth in the emotions lacing his voice. The dense, chaotic feelings churning within him felt like they were clawing at my own insides.

«Anyway, you can manage that much, can’t you?»

«…»

I gave no reply. I simply released a heavy sigh.

Just remaining silent—that was the simplest thing to do.

Even as I told myself that, I heard my own voice asking Namgung Hyung,

«…If I were to help, what would you need me to do?»

«Oh?»

Namgung Hyung’s eyes widened in surprise at my question.

**********

At this late hour, the banquet carried on, the Namgung estate still buzzing with energy, the celebrations showing no sign of ending despite the late night.

Naturally, some guards remained on duty, patrolling as ordered. But their numbers were substantially reduced.

Roughly thirty percent of the typical guard force was absent.

Namgung Hyung and I were cautiously navigating the perimeter of the compound.

More accurately, we were moving through a hidden passage.

Our target?

The storage vault.

«…Let me see.»

Upon arrival, Namgung Hyung immediately began searching. His eyes scanned the area before he stepped forward with certainty and retrieved an object.

‘So this is what he came for.’

I looked at what he had picked up. Noe-a.

Namgung Hyung had come to reclaim Noe-a.

«…You truly plan to take that with you?»

I asked as I watched him fastening the blade securely. His lips twisted into a petulant frown.

«I genuinely don’t want to, but I made a promise.»

«With whom?»

«Someone. A grumpy old man.»

«…»

I didn’t need to ask to know who he meant.

‘Noecheon Ilgeom.’

Noecheon Ilgeom.

He must have come to retrieve the entity sealed within Noe-a.

Had a deal already been struck with the Namgung family’s sword by this point?

I wasn’t certain, but that was likely the case. Before the Demon Sword Queen claimed the blade, its rightful owner had been The Strange.

Yet something felt incorrect.

‘…The past has already been altered, so shouldn’t Noe-a remain here?’

The Strange had once mentioned he was compelled to take Noe-a due to inescapable circumstances.

I had a vague memory that Noe-a had assisted him when he instigated a major incident within the Namgung family.

‘But that isn’t the situation now.’

If he was escaping now, there should be no reason to take Noe-a.

So why?

It was confusing, but I didn’t press him.

Once Noe-a was secured, Namgung Hyung turned to me.

«Let’s go.»

«…»

I guided him back outside. We moved with care, evading the patrols. Even with reduced numbers, there were still plenty of guards. However, with my help masking our presence, it was manageable.

«So, what’s the plan for getting out?»

Back in our quarters, I questioned Namgung Hyung. Helping was one thing, but did he have an actual strategy?

Namgung Hyung answered with absolute assurance.

«Oh, absolutely.»

He spoke as we approached the storage vault again. Then, he lifted a cloth lying beside it.

Underneath—

«What in the world is this?»

There was a hole. A small, excavated tunnel.

«This is the escape passage I’ve been digging for three years.»

«…You dug this for three years?»

It was deep and lengthy—he had been digging this for three entire years?

‘A direct lineage member of a prestigious clan…?’

This man was truly deranged.

But one question remained.

«If you dug this, then why do you need my help at all?»

If he just planned to crawl through, what was my role?

«Well, I did dig it, but… I didn’t complete it all the way.»

Namgung Hyung gave an embarrassed smile.

«Once I emerge, I’ll come out near an alley close to the main entrance. I’ll need some assistance from that point.»

An alleyway?

«And you need my help for that?»

Couldn’t he just run once he was out?

«Oh. It’s next to the armory.»

«…»

Ah.

That clarified everything.

The exit’s proximity to the armory meant it was heavily guarded. Escaping would be difficult, hence he required my aid.

«…If you were going to dig a tunnel, why there? Why not aim straight for the exit?»

«Do you think digging a tunnel underground is simple? You can’t even see where you’re going! This is a masterpiece considering the circumstances!»

Namgung Hyung retorted indignantly.

I had to concede he had a point.

So…

‘That means I have to go down into that hole with him…?’

The reality was that I would have to crawl through that tunnel alongside Namgung Hyung.

«Alright, let’s go!»

Namgung Hyung eagerly jumped into the hole first.

«…»

Watching him vanish into the passage, I released a deep sigh.

Ah. I never should have agreed to this.

Regret washed over me in a powerful wave.

**********

A Three-Year Tunnel

The tunnel Namgung Hyung had spent three years digging was, predictably, very long.

It was also poorly constructed—whatever tools he’d used were clearly not meant for tunneling. The rough, uneven walls made crawling an arduous ordeal, and I was already worn out from the slow, grueling progress.

“How much farther?”

“Just a bit more?”

“You said that earlier.”

“Must be your imagination.”

No matter how many times I asked out of sheer irritation, Namgung Hyung’s answer was unchanged. Damn it…

He’d promised it wouldn’t take long. And yet, I was still crawling through this wretched tunnel like a fool for believing him.

‘Ugh, this filth…’

How much longer did I have to endure this grimy, claustrophobic space?

Frankly, if it were up to me, I’d just blast my way out.

A single burst of flame would suffice.

Gritting my teeth, I forced myself onward. I crawled and crawled, until—

“Oh… there it is.”

Namgung Hyung’s voice held a note of anticipation.

Hearing that, I raised my head slightly from behind him.

‘Light.’

Moonlight streamed through an opening up ahead.

That had to be the exit.

Finally. We were finally getting out.

I quickened my pace, moving straight for the opening.

“I’ll go up first and scout. Wait for my signal before you come out,” Namgung Hyung instructed before climbing out.

I stayed where I was, waiting for the signal.

But.

‘…What?’

No signal came.

I heard nothing.

Had something gone wrong? Was he captured? Just as those fears arose—

“Oh, come on up.”

Namgung Hyung’s voice came, sounding strange—almost startled.

What was going on?

Following his cue, I climbed out of the tunnel.

“Ptui.”

I spat out the dirt in my mouth and brushed myself off. After shaking the dust from my hair, I opened my eyes—

And went rigid.

“…….”

“……Hahaha.”

Namgung Hyung was on his knees.

He turned to me with a strained smile.

The mood was wrong.

Sensing it, I instinctively turned my head—

A warm gust of air brushed against my skin.

I looked toward the source of the breeze.

And saw—

“……You have got to be joking.”

A chair.

Someone had placed a chair there.

And seated in that chair was a young man.

His crimson eyes glowed like hot coals, his formidable physique impossible to overlook.

Even sitting, his presence was overwhelming.

His sharp gaze was fixed on us, radiating an immense pressure.

And his identity was—

‘Father…?’

It was my father.

The Vice Commander of the Azure Dragon Division—Divine Dragon Gu Cheolwoon.

His piercing, unwavering eyes were locked onto me and Namgung Hyung.

‘Why? Why is he here?’

Why was Father sitting in this specific spot?

I stared in utter disbelief.

Right then—

“……Ah, damn it…”

Namgung Hyung muttered, his voice thick with defeat.

“……It seems your sister-in-law sold us out.”

“……What?”

And out of nowhere, he mentioned Hyun Soyeon’s name.