Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1133

Chapter 1133

“Idiot.”

That single word was what his father had spat at him after he was thrashed for shielding his nanny.

“A tool should know its purpose. Even a half-blood like you bears the Namgung name. How could you debase yourself so?”

She had always been gentle with him. On days he missed a meal, she would fret and bring him something to eat, no matter the hour.

During the harsh winter, she would ask if he was cold and bring him warmed robes and thick blankets.

If he even seemed slightly unwell, she would press a worried hand to his forehead.

Though he never said it out loud, he had come to see her as a mother.

Whenever she was struck for some failure in her duties, he would throw himself in the way to take the punishment for her.

Every single time, she would just smile and gently hold him back.

“It’s alright.”

“As long as you are unharmed, young master, it is alright.”

The scorn he endured for defending her meant nothing to him.

“As long as you are here, that is enough for me.”

He didn’t care about the mother who left him or the family that saw him as a fool.

He could bear it all, so long as she was there.

That was how his life continued.

Until the day it didn’t.

“…Nanny?”

Namgung Hyung spoke to the woman cradled in his arms.

There was no answer.

“Nanny, speak to me. Please, say something…”

Her body was turning cold. The last traces of warmth were seeping away, leaving behind a chill that was unbearable.

“Ah… Ahhh…”

All that escaped him was a quiet, shattered moan.

His entire frame shook as his nanny’s final words echoed inside his head.

“Young master… You must remember to eat…”

Her lips had quivered to form the words, and then all life had left her.

“AAAAAHHHH—!!!!”

A raw scream ripped from his throat. Tears fell freely down his face, but he made no move to brush them away.

Then, a voice addressed him.

“I warned you, did I not?”

Before him stood the man he called father and the one he called brother.

“A tool must be kept in good order. Tsk, tsk.”

His father spoke these words, the very sword that had slain his nanny held casually in his hand.

“If you were not such a simpleton, she would never have dared to poison you.”

“…That is a lie.”

His eyes, burning with fury, locked onto his father.

His father had murdered his nanny. The reason given? He alleged she had tried to poison him.

Poison had been found in his food. The same food he ate daily.

Using that as their proof, they had executed her.

But—

“And you expect me to believe that…?”

She was not that sort of person. He knew that better than anyone.

In this foul and wretched household, she was the only one who had ever shielded him.

And now, he was supposed to accept that she had tried to murder him?

“Even if she had…”

If that were true, it would have been a mercy.

“Then why—!!!”

His screams tore at his own throat. His body trembled violently.

“Why… Why did it have to end this way…?”

“My son. I have eliminated the one who sought your life. Why do you carry on so?”

“Do not mock me. She would never have done it.”

“Hmm.”

At his defiance, Namgung Jeohwi gave a slight shake of his head.

His father’s eyes held nothing but contempt.

“I see. That may be. But answer me this.”

Then, a faint smile touched his lips.

“What, precisely, do you believe you can do about it?”

“……”

“Abandon these foolish delusions. So long as you carry the Namgung name, your options are none.”

Namgung Jeohwi turned his back.

The sword in his hand caught the light, its blade still marked with his nanny’s blood.

“Cease these pointless thoughts. Remain in your designated place. That is your only purpose.”

With that, Namgung Jeohwi departed.

Left alone, Namgung Hyung held his nanny’s cold form and choked down his sobs.

His father was correct.

Whether his nanny had truly tried to poison him—

Or whether his father had merely wanted her gone—

It changed nothing.

What could he possibly do?

So long as he bore the Namgung name, he was utterly powerless.

That name was his chain, his curse.

“Ah… Ahhh…”

His cries dissolved into ragged, broken breaths.

Beyond that, Namgung Hyung gagged, his stomach clenching with a despair so deep it was physical.

This place was hell.

TAP—! TAP, TAP—!!

He ran through the woods, his face a mask of grim determination as he drove his body to its absolute limit.

As fast as possible, as far as possible.

He had to get out of this hell.

Just as he was pushing himself forward, dredging up the last dregs of his strength—

“You fool.”

A voice resonated in his ear.

“Control your energy. You will fall before you reach anywhere at this rate.”

“I can manage on my own.”

Namgung Hyung’s retort was sharp and brief.

The voice came from the sword fastened at his waist.

It was the voice of Noe-a (Thunder Fang).

After his nanny’s death—

After he had been imprisoned in a dilapidated, ruined chamber—

He had found a hidden passage.

That passage led him to the Namgung family’s sealed armory, and to this sword.

He learned the truth later.

The wretched place he had been locked away in—

It was once the dwelling of Noecheon Ilgeom (The One Thunder Sword), the hero of Namgung, the man who had averted a great slaughter.

Why that place had been left to decay, he did not know.

And as for the voice—

“It is him.”

Noecheon Ilgeom.

The absolute master of Namgung, the hero who ended a massacre.

His spirit endured within Noe-a, and now spoke to him.

“Tsk… What madness possessed you? You could have lived out your days in Namgung well enough.”

“I told you. I would choose death over remaining in that place.”

Namgung Hyung scowled and forced his legs to move faster.

“And besides. Did we not already agree to this?”

“…Tsk.”

The reply was dismissive.

Leaving Namgung clearly displeased the old man.

Of course it did.

The old man’s ultimate goal was the restoration of Namgung’s glory.

What had he said before?

“You must restore the lost swordsmanship of Namgung.”

The family’s techniques had decayed over generations. He wanted Hyung to bring them back.

Naturally, Hyung had no such intention.

“Why in the world would I ever do that?”

If swordsmanship was so important, his father or his brother could see to it.

That was what he had said.

But—

“It must be you.”

The voice of Noe-a was for his ears alone.

That was why, the sword insisted, he was destined to lead Namgung.

“Disgusting.”

Namgung Hyung had no desire to become the head of Namgung.

He would sooner bite off his own tongue and die.

He was going to leave this place.

It was the one thought that had sustained him his entire life.

Of course—

“Without this, it would have been impossible.”

Without Noe-a, escape would not have even been a fleeting dream.

His departure was the result of a pact between him and the old man.

He’d had no other choice.

“I had to break the curse.”

As a direct descendant of Namgung, a restriction was buried deep within his very being.

The Patriarch of Namgung.

Or—

“Grandfather.”

The previous family head.

He was compelled to obey their commands.

It was an unbreakable law.

Because of it, he could not even choose death for himself.

“Running away was also beyond reach.”

Escaping this wretched place had been unimaginable.

“But because of this, I could leave.”

The sword at his hip—Noe-a.

It suppressed the restriction.

“Do not forget our contract, descendant.”

“…I know.”

The fact that he alone could hear the voice—he used it as leverage.

He made an offer.

He would restore the Namgung family’s swordsmanship and bequeath it to them—on the condition they helped him escape.

If they refused, he would pretend he could not hear Noe-a’s voice. He would do nothing to recover their lost techniques.

Under that threat, Noe-a had finally yielded.

That was how he suppressed the restriction and got away.

That was why he had sought out the sword and entered the sealed chamber.

“I am free.”

A smirk found its way onto Namgung Hyung’s lips.

He moved under the cloak of night.

Finally, he was outside of Namgung.

Unlike his brother, Namgung Jin, he had never been permitted to leave.

But now, he was beyond its walls.

Now—

“I can go anywhere.”

Anywhere.

He could do anything.

It was the only thought in his mind.

“First, I must disappear.”

Now that he possessed Noe-a, he had to move with caution and avoid the gaze of Namgung.

That was his sole concern.

As he savored this hard-won freedom, nothing else seemed to matter.

But then—

“Descendant…!”

Abruptly, Noe-a’s voice called out to him, urgent and sharp.

“What is it—”

“Run.”

“What?”

“The old monster is stirring. The one who never deigned to look this way before. The balance is shattered, and now he advances. Disgusting filth.”

“What are you rambling about?”

“Your grandfather approaches.”

“…!”

At those words, Namgung Hyung’s eyes flew wide.

The instant his instincts screamed at him and he tensed his legs to flee—

KUUUUUURRRRRUUUUNG—!!!

“Too late.”

Thunder bellowed, and the world turned blinding white.

Crackle—
Sizzle—

A sound like the very earth dissolving filled the air.

And then, standing at the forest’s heart—

A man.

Clad in elegant blue robes.

With hair of white and eyes of piercing ice-blue.

“……”

A cold sweat instantly drenched Namgung Hyung’s back.

How many times had he laid eyes on this man in his life?

Perhaps only a few.

But even so, he knew exactly who stood before him.

The very embodiment of Namgung.

“…For one of your stature, you’ve come a long way to see such a lowly creature.”

Forcing a smile, Namgung Hyung spoke.

“Grandfather.”

“……”

At the address, the Heavenly Lord, the Patriarch of Namgung, turned his gaze upon him.

“My grandson.”

“……”

“You have been… mischievous. Do you have any idea what it is you tried to steal away?”

How had he gotten here?

Namgung Hyung didn’t bother wondering.

He already understood this man was beyond comprehension.

One of the Three Masters.

A man said to have reached the zenith of martial arts.

An existence so overwhelming that to call him abnormal would be an understatement.

“Of course I know. It is merely an antique.”

“Hahaha. An antique, you say?”

“What else could it be? My father does not use it. You do not use it. It is worthless trash. I merely thought to relieve you of it.”

“Trash?! You wretched boy—!”

Noe-a erupted in anger, but he ignored it.

The only thing that mattered was his grandfather’s reaction.

The old man’s gaze settled on the sword at Hyung’s waist.

“You hear it.”

“…It is faint. But I hear it.”

“You hear Noe-a. And you overcame the restriction.”

“Yes.”

“I see. Then you shall become the next head of Namgung.”

“…What?”

The words were uttered with such casual ease.

“Return. I will bestow upon you the title of Young Lord.”

“……”

GRIT.

Simply because he could hear Noe-a, he was being offered the position of Young Lord.

Just like that.

So effortlessly.

It was maddening.

“I refuse. I left because I detest that vile family and that repulsive title. Why would I ever go back?”

“Hmm…”

At Namgung Hyung’s words, the Heavenly Lord narrowed his eyes.

“I see.”

“I would rather die than ever—”

“Then die.”

CRACK—!

Lightning fell.

The moment he spoke, a searing bolt of thunder descended directly toward Namgung Hyung’s head.

He could not evade it.

By the time he perceived it, it was already upon him.

He was going to die.

That thought had just enough time to flash through his mind—

CRACKLE—!!!!!

Noe-a roared.

CRACK—!!!

The sound of shattering lightning exploded in his ears.

He squeezed his eyes shut.

But—

There was no pain.

Only noise.

That was strange.

Cautiously, he opened his eyes.

“…What?”

His eyes widened in shock.

The lightning had clearly struck—

But it was frozen in the air before him, flashing and furious, but utterly motionless.

His grandfather, too, was staring.

No.

Not at him.

At something standing in front of him.

“Who are you?”

The Heavenly Lord asked.

There, in front of Namgung Hyung—

A figure had appeared, intercepting the lightning.

The thunderous strike of the Heavenly Lord, the Patriarch of Namgung.

And this person had caught it with one bare hand.

And stood there as if it were nothing.

FLUTTER—

A man, nearly eight feet tall.

Shrouded in a black robe, his long hair flowing in the wind.

CRUNCH—!
CRACK—!!!

He clenched his fist, and the lightning within his grasp shattered into nothingness.

Sparks erupted outward in a brilliant cascade.

And then—

“It has been a long time, old monster.”

A voice, deep and resonant, rolled through the forest.

“You ask who I am?”

The man looked at the Heavenly Lord and spoke.

“I am—”

And then—

“Cheonma.”

FWOOOSH—!!!

Pure darkness exploded outwards, devouring the sky.

The moon above vanished completely.