Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 862

Chapter 862

The crackle of fire echoed on all sides. My vision swam as I turned toward the sound.

Embers drifted down from above, and among them, something else fell to the ground.

Thud.

A soft impact resonated through the enormous space.

Crack.

Crack.

The glowing cinders seemed to form a trail, leading the way forward.

I followed, and at the end found a figure collapsed on the ground. It was him, a gaping hole torn through his chest.

Around the wound, a web of fractures slowly expanded.

Crack, crackle.

It wasn’t just his body—this entire realm was splintering.

“Haah…”

My breath came out hot, and I pressed a hand to my own chest.

Wooong.

A warmth I had been missing was gradually returning.

The sensation, absent for days, brought no comfort. For some reason, I felt nothing.

My exhausted body felt weightless, almost separate from me, rather than heavy with fatigue.

Even my own heartbeat, which should have been pounding in my ears, felt faint and far away.

It was as if the slightest loss of concentration would make me drift off entirely.

This feeling of my body and the flames merging into one—it was identical to when I first ingested the Dokcheon Pill I had crafted.

Back then, I had fought with every ounce of my will to keep control.

But now, I didn’t even try.

I was too focused on the bastard lying in front of me.

Haaah… haaah…

His breathing was shallow, his eyes glazed, signaling the end was near.

From the wound in his chest, his entire form was breaking apart.

He was truly dying. Or so it appeared.

But could it even be called death?

This wasn’t a man—it was concentrated energy.

Though countless questions raced through my mind, this wasn’t the moment for them.

“Hey.”

At my voice, his eyes shifted toward me.

I looked at him and spoke.

“Why did you hold back?”

[…]

He didn’t answer. His resigned expression seemed to accept everything that was happening.

That only angered me more.

“I asked you why. Why did you hold back?”

Even if I had surpassed my past life’s cultivation, he wasn’t the me from before.

“You could have done more, couldn’t you?”

He could have ended it earlier. When he used that feint and dropped the flame cores on me, he could have killed me easily.

If his intent was truly murder, I wouldn’t be standing here.

But instead—

“Why?”

He had given me chance after chance.

He kept pushing me, forcing me to react, to become more desperate.

Almost as if—

“Did you want me to realize something?”

As if he wanted me to understand something specific. But what?

I didn’t need to think about it long. I already knew.

“You wanted me to realize that your flames were mine, didn’t you?”

The fire residing within me was entirely my own. The moment I recognized and accepted it, I could make his flames mine, too.

It was simple. All it took was acknowledgment.

But to go this far just to show me that?

Why?

Unable to comprehend, I asked again.

“…Wrong.”

Finally, he answered.

“You would never have realized it by yourself.”

“And why is that?”

“Because you had too much.”

“…”

His voice, carried on labored breaths, was thick with exhaustion.

“You were so weighed down by what you already possessed that you couldn’t see anything else. That is who you are.”

I couldn’t deny it. He wasn’t wrong.

“So, you did all this to teach me that?”

Could he really have driven me to the edge of death just for this?

Before the idea could solidify—

“Don’t flatter yourself.”

His voice turned vicious.

“I wanted nothing more than to kill you.”

His words dripped with venomous intent.

“The way you clung to this new life, hoping for redemption. The way you deceived yourself into thinking you could atone for sins no one recalls. It’s disgusting.”

“…”

“And…”

Scratch. His fingers clawed at the ground with enough force to splinter.

“The way you flee from the duty placed upon you—it sickens me. I despise you.”

Hearing this, I quietly balled my hands into fists.

His words were too sharp, too accurate for me to retort.

“Do you know why I appear to you like this?”

“…I don’t.”

“Because you have never moved past it.”

His form, a copy of my former self, existed because I was still trapped in that time.

I couldn’t argue. He was right again.

“You are still weak and pathetic. You have not freed yourself from anything. Do you believe you are fighting to break loose? You are not.”

His eyes glittered with bitterness.

“Do you even know what weight you carry?”

I wanted to say I did. I wanted to tell him I knew.

But the words stuck in my throat.

“You don’t. If you did, you wouldn’t be like this.”

He was certain. How could he be so sure?

Perhaps because he had seen more of me than I had.

“The duty you bear is written in blood. The head of the Gu family and its heir share the same fate.”

My eyes narrowed.

“Do you know what you gain by becoming the Gu family’s successor?”

I nodded.

The authority to open the gates beneath the Gu family estate.

And the freedom to act outside the family’s restrictions.

That was all I understood.

“It removes the barrier the world has imposed upon martial artists.”

“…!”

His words made my eyes go wide.

“…What?”

“Do you truly believe you grew strong so quickly just because of demonic arts? You are mistaken.”

“It only helped you. The decisive factor was the authority you received as the family’s heir.”

Years ago, Noya had said the world constrained martial artists, preventing them from gaining excessive power.

That’s why martial artists today were weaker than those from before the Blood Demon era.

“…Becoming the Gu family’s heir removes those barriers?”

I had never heard of such a thing.

Seeing my shock, he continued.

“Of course not. You ran from your father before you could be taught.”

“…”

“Then again, that is your father’s fault. He must have cherished you too much.”

What was he saying?

When had my father ever cherished me?

My mind was a whirlwind, unable to make sense of his words.

Why would becoming the family’s heir grant such an advantage?

What was the Gu family, truly?

As my thoughts spun—

“Do not misunderstand.”

His voice rose, angry.

“Do not think of this curse as a privilege or a blessing. It is merely a reprieve the world has allowed out of necessity.”

“What does that mean…”

“It is a process meant to create a stronger vessel. So that it can endure.”

A stronger vessel?

I focused on his words. Was the Gu family’s succession designed to make someone stronger, faster?

“…Why?”

“Because the vessel must be resilient to carry the burden.”

Thump, thump. My heart began to pound again.

“When you become the successor, forming the nine links, you will gain a qualification.”

“…And that qualification is?”

“The right to become the head of the family.”

“…”

When one ascends to Successor and masters the Gu Flames Firewheel Technique, only then can they lead the family.

It was a condition I had never known.

«You wouldn’t know,» he said, scoffing at my ignorance. «You never had the qualifications, and your father likely didn’t want you to know.»

Heh heh…

A hollow laugh escaped him.

«Truly a foolish man. His method of protecting his child was twisted beyond reason, wasn’t it?»

Protecting his child? By «child,» he clearly meant me. Was he saying my father acted to protect me?

I couldn’t grasp it. I had to wait for him to explain.

«You probably never even considered it.»

His face was full of mockery.

«You rose to successor and then fled the family. Why do you think your father never pursued you?»

“…”

«Do you believe it was because he couldn’t? Don’t be ridiculous. Few in this world could best your father. Do you count yourself among them?»

Even Cheonma couldn’t defeat him, leading to a stalemate. In my past life, I had been completely powerless against him.

I couldn’t even touch the edge of his robe.

That’s why I had believed his inaction meant he had discarded me.

I thought he had simply let me go.

But—

«He was merely allowing you your freedom.»

His explanation was different.

«He didn’t want to imprison you within our family again, so he stood aside and did nothing.»

«Truly an idiot, isn’t he?»

Crack.

His hand shattered completely.

«The burden of blood doesn’t vanish because you run from it. Someone must bear it eventually. So tell me,» he said, steadying his shaking voice, «when you reached mastery in your previous life, why didn’t you become the family head? And then…»

Crack… crackle.

His body began to crumble faster.

«The duty you didn’t take up—who do you think carried it?»

“…”

The words hit like knives, stabbing into my chest. Like nails being driven in, one hammer blow after another.

I couldn’t stop the memories from rising.

My father, breaking under the force of my fists.

His energy fading as he grew weaker, older, more frail.

«Ah…»

Suddenly, it was hard to breathe.

«The time had come. Yet nothing was completed. Your father should have relinquished his position long ago to bear the weight, but he did not.»

«The world isn’t kind enough to permit such sentiment.»

«And so, what do you think your father endured?»

My hands shook.

«And whatever it was, the wrath of the world,» he spat, «is not something a mere human can withstand.»

«It wasn’t a light load to carry. He endured it. All for the sake of a wretched creature like you. You never knew, and you never wished to know. That is just the kind of man you are.»

“…”

My knees almost gave way. It was as if all the strength had left my legs.

I forced myself to remain upright. There were still things I needed to ask.

«What is… the family head’s burden?»

«Why, do you want to carry it now?»

“…”

«It is far too late to ask that. If you want an answer, ask your father. Though I doubt he would explain it properly.»

His tone was dripping with scorn, but I ignored it.

«And that is why I hate you,» he said.

For the first time, I felt the full weight of his hatred.

And, truthfully, I hated myself just as much.

My sight grew blurry. What was this?

Was my vision failing?

«Let me ask you again.»

I wiped at my eyes, not understanding why.

«Why are you still alive?»

Tears.

Something warm streaked down my cheek.

They were tears.

«Ah…»

Realizing it, I couldn’t help myself. I covered my face with my dry hands.

«Why are you alive?»

No answer came to mind. I wanted to ask myself the same thing. Why was I still alive?

To atone? Was that it? If so, perhaps dying would have been simpler.

Was it because I preferred this changed world?

Because I found solace in a place where no one knew my crimes?

Or…

Was it just because I enjoyed seeing the children? Was that all?

I didn’t know. Nothing was clear.

«Answer me.»

“…I just…”

I truly didn’t know. So in the end, I could only say one thing.

«I just wanted to live.»

[…]

No grand reason. I simply wanted to live.

Foolishly, stubbornly—that was everything.

Atonement, regret, fear—

It all came down to the same answer.

I didn’t want to die.

I wanted to live.

Though my voice was choked with tears, the words came out. They were pitiful, but they were the truth.

«…Ha…»

He let out a short laugh, as if he had finally heard what he was waiting for.

«I didn’t think it would be so difficult to hear you say that.»

“…What?”

«Now, disappear. I don’t want to see you anymore.»

I wanted to ask what he meant, but before I could—

At his words, my vision shattered instantly.

*****************

Crackle.
Crack-crack.
In a space now devoid of voices, only the sound of burning embers remained.
There, a goblin, wearing the guise of another, lay sprawled out.
[Haaaah…]
It released a tired sigh. It was truly weary.
For the first time in centuries, this depth of fatigue was unfamiliar.
[Foolish beings…]
Was that stubbornness something they inherited from it?
Their refusal to be reasonable was maddening.
Not a single one could be honest. Every last one was detestable.
And yet—
[…I’m sorry.]
Because everything was, in the end, its own failing, the goblin offered a soft apology.
Crackle. Crack-crack.
The sound of burning grew louder. Soon, this entire realm would fall apart.
Then it would once again succumb to a long slumber.
Thinking this, the goblin closed its eyes.
Step.
A footstep sounded from behind.
The goblin’s eyes opened slightly at the noise, though it wasn’t surprised. It already knew who was there.
[A meaningless disturbance.]
At the goblin’s words, the figure who had appeared gave a light laugh.
“You didn’t need to intervene. That child would have understood eventually. Did I not tell you to stay out of my business?”
“For that, I apologize.”
Hah!
The goblin slowly pushed itself up from the ground.
“I have told you before. You should show respect when addressing me.”
It glared at the figure—
A woman.
With black hair and violet eyes, she cradled a child in her arms. Her bearing suggested a disagreeable nature.
Looking at the goblin, she spoke.
“I don’t speak respectfully to anyone. If I ever did, it was only rarely, and to one person.”
[Still an intolerable woman. Do you not understand that child is mine?]
Instead of answering, the woman simply laughed.
Her laughter provoked a short, annoyed click of the tongue from the goblin.
*[You’re no better. Your taste in men is terrible.]
“My standards are very high. That’s why I have no regrets.”
[Tch…]
Foolish woman. The goblin held back its words.
Telling her anything was pointless. If anything, feeling pity for her seemed more fitting.
A wretched being who had given up everything for a man who deserved none of it.
Because of that, the goblin found it could not bring itself to hate her.
[If you are so worried, why not reveal yourself?]
“I can’t.”
The woman was still smiling, but the slight change in her expression did not escape the goblin’s notice.
“That would not be good for him.”
[Tch.]
“I only came to see your face before you sleep again. Even if it is not truly your face… I wished to see it.”
The goblin understood her meaning.
Its current appearance mirrored another’s, making her sentiment clear.
Satisfied, the woman turned and walked away, the child still sleeping in her arms.
The goblin watched her leave before lying back down.
That was the end of their exchange.
As its eyes slowly shut, sleep came to claim it, as if it had been waiting.
Before falling into another long rest, the goblin thought of the woman and murmured:
[This is a small comfort I have given you.]
A gift, bestowed in secret for her sake, through the incapable descendant.
Whether that fool would understand in time was unknown.
[Please, understand before it is too late…]
With that silent hope, the goblin fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.