Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 1148
Chapter 1148
After confirming my schedule, I reviewed the letter once more to examine the specifics.
‘Departure in three days…’
In three days, I would be going directly to Shanxi. That much was clear.
Now—
‘What is the stated reason?’
What justification was being provided for my journey to Shanxi? I needed to verify that as well.
‘Huh?’
My gaze landed on an unexpected term.
‘…The return of a precious artifact. Accompanied by a classified mission.’
The reasoning was ambiguous. The return of an artifact? And—
‘A classified mission?’
Something so secret it wasn’t even detailed in the letter? That was the official cause for my travel.
‘What is this classified mission about?’
What could possibly warrant such formal language?
What was being used as the basis for this?
‘What did Father arrange?’
What discussion had taken place between my father and the Sword Master for these words to appear in my orders?
«…Unusual, isn’t it?»
As if he had heard my thoughts, the Azure Dragon Division Leader let out a soft laugh.
«It’s unusual for me, too. But of course, when it comes to him, I don’t question it; I simply abide by his choices. That is…»
Creak.
He leaned back heavily in his seat.
«…The reason I hold you in such high regard and offer you such uncommon leeway.»
«…»
«Therefore, please…»
The Division Leader’s face was calm, but his voice became very quiet.
«Do nothing foolish.»
A soft, yet unmistakable caution.
«Understood.»
I gave my reply. Yet, even as I did, my mind was racing.
‘How did someone like him die?’
A man of his strength would not have died without a fight.
What occurred in the past that led to the Azure Dragon Division Leader’s death?
It was a question that persistently troubled me.
**********
Creak.
I closed the door behind me and walked outside. The sun had long since disappeared, and darkness had taken over.
«Hmm…»
Rubbing my cheek, I gazed up at the moon. It wasn’t just the time spent in that room—
‘…This mission is what’s troubling me.’
The stated purpose for my trip to Shanxi kept repeating in my thoughts.
Returning an artifact? That was logical.
But classified? That word stuck with me.
‘What does it entail?’
Since it was classified, no one would provide me with an explanation.
‘This is going to be difficult.’
Given the situation, this was bound to become more complex.
‘…I have no other option, do I?’
I couldn’t improve the circumstances. From my viewpoint, this was the most favorable result possible.
‘Well, as long as I reach Shanxi, nothing else is important.’
The crucial point was that I was going to Shanxi. That alone was a victory.
«This is acceptable.»
I persuaded myself. Even if it wasn’t ideal, I chose to be satisfied.
I gave a single nod and was just about to step away when—
«…»
I detected a presence.
Instinctively, I turned my head and inquired,
«Did you need something?»
«My, my.»
A voice answered from a darkened area where someone had been observing.
Long black hair, wide eyes, fair skin.
It was Hyun Soyeon.
«Oh dear. You noticed me?»
She laughed lightly.
I suppressed the desire to sigh.
«You weren’t making an effort to conceal yourself.»
«Ahaha. You’re right, aren’t you?»
If she had truly wished to remain hidden, she would have done a better job.
Hyun Soyeon was, after all, a first-rate martial artist.
«So, what is it?»
I asked, curious about her intentions.
Hyun Soyeon moved closer and said,
«Oh, nothing important. I just slipped away because it became tiresome.»
«Slipped away? From what?»
«Oh, the banquet. Speaking of which, where were you? You never appeared.»
«…There was a banquet?»
«Yes?»
«…»
I hadn’t been informed of any banquet.
Sure, I was in a meeting with the Division Leader, but still—
‘…They held a banquet?’
Was it to celebrate Hyun Soyeon’s arrival?
And no one thought to tell me?
«Ah…?»
Noticing my expression, Hyun Soyeon suddenly looked apologetic.
«Wait… are you being excluded?»
«…»
That was a little irritating.
«Not at all.»
«Aaah… I… well… I apologize?»
«Why are you saying sorry?»
Somehow, her apology annoyed me even more.
«Sigh. So, you slipped away?»
I chose to move past the subject of the banquet. Even if I had known, I wouldn’t have attended.
Honestly.
«Yes. They were far too insistent.»
It was easy to imagine what she meant.
With her appearance, men were undoubtedly drawn to her.
The issue was—
«Namgung was there, wasn’t he?»
Her fiancé, Namgung Jin. Shouldn’t he have been there to manage it?
«As if he would care. He was too preoccupied looking elsewhere.»
Hyun Soyeon shrugged.
That remark—
«…Was Lady Mi there too?»
«Yes. The Vice Leader was also present.»
«…»
So, everyone except me had been there. Wonderful.
«Ah… um… I—my apologies…?»
«I said to stop apologizing.»
«O-Okay.»
So, Mi Horan had been there, meaning Namgung Jin had been absorbed in watching her.
That also implied other men might have seen an opportunity with Hyun Soyeon being alone.
‘…Is he completely irrational?’
If Namgung Jin had affections for Mi Horan, then certain individuals might have tried to approach Hyun Soyeon.
And he had done nothing to prevent it?
I found that absurd.
‘Even if he has no personal concern for her.’
She was still his fiancée. Allowing her to be neglected like that would bring shame to his family.
‘Honestly, does he ever think?’
I released a quiet sigh.
Is this what happens when a man becomes infatuated with a woman?
It was beyond pathetic—it was bewildering.
Actually—no matter how obsessed, this was excessive.
‘…Why, though?’
There had to be a reason for Namgung Jin’s fixation on Mi Horan.
Of course—
‘Lady Mi is beautiful.’
Objectively, Mi Horan was a remarkably attractive woman.
Even considering she wasn’t a martial artist and had aged more visibly, she was still a beauty.
But still—
‘Even so…’
Hyun Soyeon was in an entirely different league.
The gap was enormous.
And yet, Namgung Jin had disregarded his fiancée for Mi Horan?
It was illogical.
And then—
‘That woman, standing beside Namgung Jin…’
I couldn’t comprehend her, either.
She clearly had no romantic interest in him, yet she remained at his side.
Hyun Soyeon was just as confusing to me as Namgung Jin.
«Oh my~?»
She laughed as she looked at me.
«You’re giving me that pitiful look, aren’t you?»
«I am not.»
«Oh, please. It’s all over your face. Fine, since I teased you first, I’ll allow it.»
«…»
«Anyway—! I was making my escape, and what do you know? I saw you! So I thought I’d wait and talk for a bit.»
«You didn’t just see me. You knew I was here and waited on purpose.»
«It amounts to the same thing.»
How was that the same? That was no coincidence.
«I mean… hmm…»
I began to speak, then stopped.
«…What did you want to discuss?»
Mildly interested, I decided to hear her out.
«You’re willing to talk? Wonderful! Let’s take a walk!»
She beamed and started walking ahead confidently, as if she knew the route.
I tilted my head slightly.
‘…Does she actually know where she’s going?’
People like her often had no sense of direction.
I wondered if Hyun Soyeon was similar.
**********
I discovered the answer soon enough.
To my surprise, Hyun Soyeon did not get lost.
«…How do you know the way?»
I asked as she led without any uncertainty.
She glanced back at me.
«Hmm?»
«The path. How do you know where to go?»
«…What do you mean? It’s clearly a path.»
«…»
Well… yes.
That was how it was for most people.
It was strange not to know where a path led.
«…Some people have trouble with that, you know.»
«Huh? Really? At that point, isn’t that a medical condition rather than poor sense of direction?»
«…»
I barely stopped myself from saying that person was her daughter.
Awkwardly scratching my cheek, I continued walking when—
«Oh, wait.»
Hyun Soyeon suddenly looked at me.
«The one who gets lost easily… is that your fiancée?»
«…»
She had figured it out immediately.
Her perception was frightening.
«Judging by your face, I’m right. Your fiancée has no sense of direction, doesn’t she?»
«Well…»
«Don’t even try to deny it. You always get that specific look on your face when you think about it.»
«What look?»
«A soft, yearning expression.»
I stopped moving.
My feet froze mid-step.
«That look that says you miss her terribly.»
«I never— I didn’t—»
«Don’t deny it. Your eyes are shouting it. You must adore your fiancée, don’t you?»
«…»
Yearning for her?
Had I really made such an expression?
I wasn’t certain.
I had never actively reflected on it.
«What is she like? For you to feel that way about her?»
«…I’m not sure.»
What was she like?
I instinctively looked up at the sky.
The moon was visible above.
Not a half-moon, not a full moon—just something in between.
Its shape was irrelevant.
What mattered was that, right now, I was looking at the moon.
«…She is like that.»
«Huh?»
Hyun Soyeon followed my gaze.
«What? The moon?»
«Yes, the moon.»
«…What about it?»
«That’s what she is like.»
«…What does that mean?»
She frowned slightly, clearly not comprehending.
Her expression seemed to ask, ‘What are you talking about?’
I couldn’t help but smile.
Even I thought it was absurd.
«A person like the moon. Sometimes veiled by clouds, sometimes entirely absent. But always present. And when it becomes too dark, she shines just enough to show she is still there. That kind of person.»
«…»
Hyun Soyeon scrunched up her nose.
It was as if she had heard something deeply unpleasant.
«Baek Yangcheon. You’re far more of a romantic than I imagined.»
«…Are you making fun of me?»
«Yes.»
«I’m leaving.»
«A—ahhh! I’m sorry!»
She quickly seized my arm.
«I was only joking! I just didn’t expect you to be so open about your feelings!»
«When did I ever mention feelings?»
«Huh?»
«Did I?»
She blinked, seeming genuinely puzzled.
«Wait, wait. Saying all that while gazing at the moon—isn’t that basically a declaration of love?»
«…What?»
«Am I wrong?»
«…»
I didn’t answer.
The word ‘love’ felt strangely weighty in my heart.
I had never once entertained the thought.
«…Let’s go.»
«Huh? Go where?!»
In the end, I didn’t refute it.
And, childishly, I found I couldn’t bring myself to.
Comments for chapter "Chapter 1148"
MANGA DISCUSSION
Madara Info
Madara stands as a beacon for those desiring to craft a captivating online comic and manga reading platform on WordPress
For custom work request, please send email to wpstylish(at)gmail(dot)com