Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1139

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Chapter 1139

The strained and bleak mood within the carriage, luckily, did not persist for very long.

Father had merely opened the door to evaluate the state of the carriage, or possibly to check on Mother.

Satisfied that all was well, he shut the door and departed. It was simply that, under the circumstances, I had remained uncharacteristically vigilant.

“…You can stop now.”

I spoke up, growing weary of being fed. Mother tilted her head.

“Are you full?”
“Yes.”

Truthfully, I wasn’t. Martial artists expend immense energy, and their appetites are far from ordinary. A few rice balls were nowhere near sufficient.

I had only said it out of rising irritation.

“Alright. Then may I have the rest?”
“…Please, go ahead.”

I sincerely wished she would. I couldn’t comprehend why Mother was so insistent on sitting directly beside me and feeding me by hand.

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one puzzled by this behavior. After Father and Mi Horan had left, Soi, who had remained inside with us, shot me a strange look and murmured,

“…How curious.”
“What is?”
“I have never seen that lady offer her food to anyone before.”
“…”

Was her appetite truly that formidable? Now that I considered it, I had noticed she ate a considerable amount before.

How should I describe it…

‘She was just like Wi Seol-ah.’

Like Wi Seol-ah when I had first encountered her after my return to the past. Her consumption of food had been so ferocious that the memory of her devouring meals was still vivid.

Thinking about it…

‘She used to share her food with me, too.’

She would frequently offer me whatever she happened to be eating.

But why, though…?

‘Do I look that undernourished?’

I ate perfectly well. I was far from starving, so I couldn’t understand why people kept trying to give me their food.

Well, it didn’t matter.

‘…It will probably pass without any issue.’

Father’s glance into the carriage had been disquieting, but I believed the matter would blow over without consequence.

Surely, he wouldn’t misunderstand, would he?

Confident it wouldn’t become a problem, I turned to Soi and asked,

“So, when do we depart?”
“The Vice Commander is still finalizing his discussion with the Namgung Clan Leader. We will leave the moment they are finished.”
“Hmm…”

Hearing that, I looked out the window. As anticipated, I could see Father and the Namgung Clan Leader deep in conversation some distance away.

The Namgung Clan Leader appeared utterly drained, as if he had aged a decade in a single night.

Then again, given the endless stream of calamities that had unfolded since dawn, his exhaustion was only natural.

‘What are they discussing?’

I wanted to sharpen my senses and listen in, but…

‘No, I cannot.’

With Mother seated right next to me, my energy perception was malfunctioning again.

Just then, I saw the Namgung Clan Leader pass a letter to my father.

Judging by the movement of his lips,

‘…Please entrust this to the Sword Master…’

It seemed to be a letter intended for the Martial Alliance.

At the very least, I could attempt to read their lips—if I couldn’t listen, I could still try that.

Tap, tap.

“Hm?”

Someone knocked on the carriage door.

Looking down, I saw it was Hyun Soyeon.

“What is it?”
“You’re leaving, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Then shouldn’t you at least say a proper goodbye? We did, after all, spend the night together.”
“…What kind of nonsense—”
“Spent the night together?”

Before I could retort, Soi was the first to react. She immediately pulled Mother into a protective embrace, yanking her away from me.

“Ugh!”
“…The night?”

“Why are you looking at me like that? It is not what you are thinking.”

“Oh, really? But last time, you appeared at my residence at dawn and entered my room, did you not?”

“Damn it.”

So she was referring to the time I had gone to question her about Namgung Hyung.

“That was an entirely different situation.”
“How so? Nothing I said was incorrect.”
“Well…”

It was because of the circumstances involving Hyun Soyeon and Namgung Hyung.

I was about to say so, but I closed my mouth. That was not a subject to be carelessly mentioned.

Click.

I clicked my tongue softly and turned my head away.

Hyun Soyeon gave a smirk.

“I’ve been thinking something for a while now.”
“…What?”
“You are a much kinder person than you appear, Young Master Baek. Did you know that?”
“What absurdity are you spouting now?”

First, she provokes me, and now she’s tossing out baseless compliments?

She ought to look properly before speaking. Soi’s expression was completely scandalized.

“I’ll cease the jokes. I merely wanted to tease you for attempting to slip away without a word. It is far too cold-hearted to leave without a farewell.”
“This is ridiculous… We are not nearly close enough to require a formal goodbye.”
“Not close? Like I said, we spent the night toge—”
“I will take my leave now. It was an honor to have shared such an enjoyable time. I wish you well.”

Cutting off her impending nonsense, I quickly offered my farewell.

Only then did Hyun Soyeon grin, appearing satisfied.

The problem was…

‘She’s smiling, but…’

There was a clear undercurrent of weariness and concern visible beneath her expression.

“…I do sincerely hope you fare well.”
“Then does that mean everything else you said was a lie?”
“Perhaps half of it?”
“Hah…”

Hyun Soyeon released a short laugh before stepping closer and lowering her voice.

“Young Master Baek.”
“Yes?”
“That beautiful and elegant fiancée awaiting you back home—take good care of her.”
“…What?”
“Do not let your gaze stray. Cherish her and live happily. She has a pleasant nature, correct? Usually, those as lovely as I am possess good personalities, too.”
“…”

Did they really?

I was skeptical, but I saw no point in arguing.

“…I will manage it.”
“Very well. Now that our farewells are done, I shall take my leave as well. I need to have a word with my own fiancé.”
“Alright.”

Hyun Soyeon finished speaking and turned to go. As she walked away with a leisurely sway, she suddenly glanced back at me.

“We will see each other again, won’t we?”

She offered those final words and departed.

“…”

See each other again? Was that necessary?

I honestly had no desire for such a thing.

Feeling completely drained, as if I had just weathered a tempest, I closed the carriage window. I hadn’t even managed to observe the conclusion of Father and the Namgung Clan Leader’s discussion.

“Ugh…”

I was spent. Somehow, this felt more exhausting than my battle with the Blood Demon.

As I leaned back against the seat, half-reclining from the fatigue…

I felt a piercing glare from the side.

What now?

I looked over, bewildered, to find Soi staring at me with pure contempt.

…What was her problem this time?

“…You have a fiancée? And yet, with Lady Hyun…?”
“No, I—”
“You beast…”
“That’s… Ah, never mind.”

I gave up on explaining.

I was far too tired for this.

As I shut my eyes, wanting to do nothing at all—

Clunk.

The carriage door opened once more.

It was Father and Mi Horan returning.

“We depart now.”

Father, having concluded his talk with the Namgung Clan Leader, spoke plainly.

Finally, the business in Hanam was concluded.

It had been a matter of significance, yet also not.

And now, I was returning to Hanam.

**********

Time passed. Several days had gone by since our departure from Anhui for Hanan.

As was usual, nothing particularly eventful had occurred during the journey.

We reached Hanan relatively peacefully.

“Identity confirmed.”

Upon arriving in Hanan, our party was counted and granted entry into the Martial Alliance. Thanks to my father’s status as the Vice Commander of the Azure Dragon Division, we encountered no unnecessary complications.

The only difference from our departure was…

“…I heard a White-Rank Beast emerged in Anhui.”
“In Anhui…? Not a Red-Rank, but a White-Rank Beast?”
“Yes. It was quite a significant incident.”

Inside the Martial Alliance, rumors regarding the White-Rank Beast had already spread far and wide. It was the topic on everyone’s lips.

“A White-Rank Beast in this day and age…”
“Rumor says they managed to prevent almost all casualties.”
“No casualties from a White-Rank Beast? How…? Ah, did the Blood Demon intervene?”

Whenever Anhui was mentioned, it was natural to think of the Blood Demon.

Since he was in Anhui, it was logical to assume he had handled the White-Rank Beast.

“Surprisingly, they say he did not.”
“What? It wasn’t the Blood Demon? Then who…?”
“No one knows. They could not confirm the identity, but apparently, an unknown martial artist dealt with the White-Rank Beast and departed.”
“Is that even possible? Was the White-Rank Beast weaker than anticipated?”
“No. According to the rumors… that unknown master was on the level of the Three Masters…”

The speaker suddenly clamped his mouth shut.

A martial artist equal to the Three Masters. That was not a statement to be made lightly.

The Three Masters were the very symbols of the orthodox sects, the pinnacle of the martial world.

To claim someone stood on the same level as them was not something an orthodox martial artist could utter carelessly.

Because of that, no one treated the rumor too seriously, only whispering about it in hushed tones.

‘So the rumors have spread this far.’

I couldn’t help but make a strange expression as I listened.

The speed of the news was impressive. I hadn’t anticipated events in Anhui reaching Hanan so rapidly.

‘Is it because there were so many witnesses?’

That was likely. There hadn’t been just a handful of people present during the incident. Hundreds had participated in the battle alone.

It wasn’t strange for rumors to propagate.

“Wait here.”

Father addressed the personnel.

“I must report to the Alliance Leader. Remain on standby.”
“Understood.”

We waited near the entrance to the Alliance Leader’s office.

Mi Horan and Mother had already gone. The only ones left were Do Yun, Namgung Jin, Soi, and me.

‘So he is reporting directly to the Sword Master.’

Normally, he would have reported to the Azure Dragon Commander first before meeting the Alliance Leader. The fact he went straight to the Sword Master indicated this was an urgent matter.

‘Hmm… well, that means the Anhui affair is concluded.’

One matter was settled. Now that our mission was complete and we had returned, I could permit myself to relax a little.

Though, with unresolved issues remaining—Sanseo, the Blood Demon, Do Yun, and my mother among them—it wasn’t truly a time for rest.

‘I do need a moment to breathe, however.’

There was too much information to process. I required time to organize my thoughts.

Just as I was thinking that and steadying my breathing—

Sssssssshhhh.

‘Hmm?’

A peculiar sensation washed over me.

Heat.

An immense presence.

‘What is this?’

Even with my energy perception suppressed, I could feel it. I instinctively turned my head.

And in that moment—

“WELL, WELL, WHO DO WE HAVE HERE? AHAHAHAHA!!!”

With a thunderous shout, someone charged directly toward me.

There was no killing intent.

Since I sensed no hostility, my reaction was a fraction slower.

WHAM!

“Ugh!?”

A large hand gripped my shoulder tightly.

“Our esteemed Young Lord! Hahahaha! I came running the instant I heard you had arrived— Hm?”
“…Huh?”

A middle-aged man with a thick build and a booming voice.

At the sight of him, my body froze.

And he, in turn, also froze.

His hair was predominantly dark, but strands of white had begun to show.

A giant standing over eight feet tall, with crimson eyes.

A fearsome appearance, yet a face more familiar to me than any other.

The man before me was someone I knew better than anyone.

As I stared at him blankly, he looked back with confusion and asked,

“…Who are you? You are not that brat Cheolwoon.”
“…”

The man who spoke—

‘…Elder Il?’

Gu Ryun, Elder Il of the Gu family.

But this was his younger self.

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