Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 883

Chapter 883

Of course. Here is the paraphrased chapter:

«What?»

I made a conscious effort to release the tension in my body and asked. Had I misheard? I turned it over in my mind, but no matter how many times I replayed it, I was sure I hadn’t.

«What… what did you say?»

Namgung Bi-ah did not answer my repeated question. She just continued to look at me.

Her blue eyes, deep as the ocean, were as beautiful as ever. When I first met her, I couldn’t bear to hold her gaze and would always turn away. Now, I could just about manage it.

Yet, my own eyes were shaking with sheer fluster. I swallowed hard, my Adam’s apple moving visibly.

Gulp.

The saliva went down my throat on its own.

«Where did you even hear something like that…? No, more importantly, do you actually understand what those words mean?»

I was convinced she didn’t know. Yes, she must have said it without comprehending the meaning.

Just as I reassured myself with that thought and prepared to ask again—

«Making a baby.»

«…What?»

«I know.»

Oh, no. My head began to spin instantly.

When had she learned that? Exactly when…?

«I’m older than you,» she stated, seeming displeased by my shocked reaction.

That was true. Namgung Bi-ah was older than me.

But was that really relevant here? Were the two things even remotely comparable? My mind was a chaotic whirl of conflicting thoughts.

«Could you explain… in more detail?»

I immediately waved my hand to stop her.

«No, don’t. Please, don’t.»

Whatever detailed explanation she was about to offer, I absolutely did not want to hear it from her.

‘Where in the world did she pick that up?’

Had she developed some kind of information network over the last few years? Or had someone told her? But that wasn’t the pressing issue at the moment.

«That…»

«…Yes?»

«…Well…»

What was I supposed to say? I needed to say something, but my lips refused to form the words.

My mind was utterly blank. What could I possibly say?

After stammering uselessly for a while, I finally forced a sentence out.

«Are you… okay with this?»

You absolute fool.

That’s what I came up with? “Are you okay with this?” What even was “this”?

I felt an intense desire to punch myself in the mouth right then.

But, as if my question made perfect sense, Namgung Bi-ah gave a single nod.

«I’m fine.»

«…You’re fine?»

«Yes.»

Her eyes, fixed on me, were as clear and guileless as they always were.

«I’ve always been fine…»

«…I…»

«You’re the one who wasn’t.»

I was rendered speechless. I had no rebuttal because she was completely right.

Yes. I was the one who was unprepared.

It was something I already knew deep down. But even so…

«Bringing this up so casually is just…»

I started to say it was strange for her to be so matter-of-fact, but I stopped myself.

I had finally noticed her expression.

At first glance, she seemed her usual calm self. But looking closer, her pale skin was flushed with a faint blush. The subtle tremor in her eyes was now noticeable.

And most of all, her ears, mostly hidden by her hair, were a deep, burning red.

«…Oh.»

So, she wasn’t unaffected after all.

She had been fighting down her own embarrassment to say this.

And the moment I realized that—

Thump.
Thump.
Thump… thump… thump-thump.

My heart began to race wildly, completely out of control.

In my blank, white mind, a single drop of pink color fell, spreading and dyeing everything a shade of pink as it consumed the white.

My head spun.

What had I been trying to do? Why had this subject even come up?

What had I been about to say to Namgung Bi-ah?

I couldn’t remember any of it. All I could see was her faintly blushing cheeks and her clear blue eyes watching me.

What should I say now?

No, why was I even agonizing over this?

It was the same with Tang So-yeol, and it was the same now.

Why was I overcomplicating things? Was there even a need?

I couldn’t even recall what I had been so worried about.

I just—

I just moved my hand.

To touch Namgung Bi-ah’s cheek. What would happen after? I didn’t know. In that moment, I was operating purely on instinct.

Just as my fingertips were about to make contact with her skin—

«What are you doing?»

«…!»

A sharp voice jolted me back to reality.

I turned my head to see Wi Seol-ah glaring at me, her eyes narrowed to slits.

«What do you think you’re doing right now?»

«Uh? No, I was just… uh…»

I had been so captivated I hadn’t even noticed Wi Seol-ah’s approach. Now, a burning heat rushed all the way to the tips of my ears.

‘What was I about to do just now?’

What had I been trying to do? My face felt on fire as the blush intensified.

I probably looked as red as Namgung Bi-ah’s ears.

But this wasn’t the time for that.

‘I need to explain.’

I decided I had to explain the situation to Wi Seol-ah and opened my mouth to speak—

«Well…»

«I asked you a question.»

«Huh?»

Wi Seol-ah wasn’t even looking at me.

«Unni.»

She was glaring directly at Namgung Bi-ah, who was now doing her best to avoid eye contact.

Clearly furious, Wi Seol-ah frowned deeply as she spoke.

«You broke the promise.»

Promise?

«We all agreed we would hold back, so what is this?»

Hold back?

The situation was suddenly veering in a very strange direction.

«Wait a second, what are you—»

«Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about.»

«No, seriously, what are you—»

«Be quiet, Young Master!»

«…Oh, okay.»

I shut my mouth obediently. It had been a long time since Wi Seol-ah had shouted at me like that.

That alone was proof of how angry she was.

«Unni.»

«…I’m sorry…»

«Tang So-yeol said she didn’t want a situation like this. She said she didn’t want to feel humiliated. And you’re using that against her?»

«…I…»

Namgung Bi-ah looked utterly guilty, as if she had no defense.

‘What in the world did Tang So-yeol tell them…?’

I was only getting more confused. What was happening?

«And at the very least, if you’re going to do something, you should wait until Moyong Biyeon is here.»

«…Yes…»

Namgung Bi-ah seemed to shrink under Wi Seol-ah’s scolding.

I couldn’t recall Wi Seol-ah ever being this harsh with her before.

«Um, ladies? Maybe everyone should calm down for a second and explain to me—»

«Young Master, could you step outside for a moment?»

«…What?»

«Please. We need to talk. Just the two of us.»

It was unmistakable: I was being kicked out.

In the middle of this?

Wi Seol-ah’s expression was desperate as she asked. When I glanced at Namgung Bi-ah, she avoided my eyes, looking like a complete culprit.

What on earth was going on?

Though I was burning with curiosity about what had just happened and what was happening now—

«…Alright.»

Given the atmosphere, pushing for answers wouldn’t get me anywhere.

Reluctantly, I stood up and walked outside.

The moment I stepped out, I saw a familiar face.

«Oh? You’re coming out already?»

Tang So-yeol greeted me with a smile. It looked like she had been about to go in.

«They told me to leave,» I said.

«Huh? Who? Unni?»

“No…”

“Then it was Seol-ah?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh my, what’s gotten into her?”

“That’s what I’d like to know…”

I was genuinely perplexed. On top of that, my heart was still pounding from the encounter with Namgung Bi-ah.

When I placed a hand on my chest, I could feel it hammering against my ribs.

‘…If Wi Seol-ah hadn’t shown up when she did.’

What would have happened?

“…”

I ran a hand through my hair, still feeling the residual heat. That had been too close.

‘I almost lost my composure completely.’

I thought I had been restraining myself all this time, but clearly, I hadn’t been.

‘…It’s not me holding back.’

Was it them?

With Namgung Bi-ah being so direct, I couldn’t maintain my control.

Was it even seduction, though? I wouldn’t know—I’d never really been seduced before.

Well, to be accurate, I had.

It’s just that…

‘Anyone who tried too overtly to seduce me, I killed without a second thought.’

That was how it was in my past life. Whether they were spies from the orthodox sects or fanatics from the demonic cults.

Anyone who approached me with a pretty face met the same end.

Because of that, absurd rumors began to spread. That the Black Flame Demon secretly preferred men.

‘I wanted to find the bastard who started that rumor and end them.’

But I never did. If I have one regret, that’s it.

There was one particularly annoying theory, though.

‘They said the one who spread it was none other than the Divine Sword.’

It was ridiculous. Complete nonsense.

Why would the Divine Sword do something like that? Some claimed it was a credible theory, but I never believed it.

Because it was that Divine Sword.

Even though the rumor was irritating, it had one benefit: no more honey traps were sent my way.

I didn’t have to waste time killing people needlessly.

Of course, there was a time when Cheonma asked me about it.

‘They asked if it was true.’

The sly smile on their face made it obvious they were just teasing me.

In any case, it was all garbage.

Anyway…

I’d built up a resistance to crude attempts at seduction, but this kind of genuine, guileless temptation? That was a different story entirely.

It was no wonder I lost my head.

“Did something happen?”

“Well…”

I started to explain the situation to Tang So-yeol when Wi Seol-ah’s words suddenly echoed in my memory.

“They said you told them something. Something about not wanting to feel humiliated?”

“Huh? Told them what?”

“Something about not liking the situation. That’s what they said.”

“Oh! Oh, that!”

Tang So-yeol clapped her hands together as if she’d just remembered.

“I gave them a little lesson because they were so ignorant. That must be what they’re referring to.”

“You did what?”

“A lesson. About sex.”

“…”

Hearing that, the vague unease I’d felt solidified into a cold dread.

‘So you’re the one they learned it from.’

It was you.

I did my best to ignore the sudden throbbing in my temples.

“How… How did that even happen?”

“Well, it wasn’t planned. They just knew absolutely nothing. No matter how much time they’ve spent dedicated to the sword, it’s ridiculous to be that clueless at their age.”

“…”

I couldn’t disagree with her. She was absolutely right.

For people their age, they should have known.

If they weren’t martial artists, they might have had children already.

However…

“Then what did Seol-ah mean about you not wanting to feel humiliated?”

Wi Seol-ah had clearly said that Tang So-yeol didn’t want to feel humiliated, which is why she told them.

Hearing that, Tang So-yeol’s eyes widened slightly.

Her expression showed she hadn’t expected that to be repeated.

She scratched her cheek awkwardly before letting out a small sigh.

“Well, it’s just…”

She hesitated, but then confessed.

“It felt unfair…”

“Unfair?”

“I didn’t want to compete with someone who didn’t even understand the fundamentals. It felt like it would be a blow to my pride.”

“Compete? Compete over what?”

“Over who gets to be with you first, of course. It wouldn’t be a fair competition if someone was completely ignorant, so I filled them in.”

“I see, that makes a certain kind of sense… Wait, what?”

I was starting to nod along when the meaning of her words finally hit me.

…Be with me?

“Hehe.”

“Don’t you ‘hehe’ me. Explain yourself properly. What do you mean by ‘be with me first’?”

“Well, to be honest… this is mostly your fault.”

“How is this suddenly my fault?”

Tang So-yeol frowned slightly as she elaborated.

“Watching you, it’s obvious you’re affected, but you never take the initiative. If we just wait for you, it feels like we’ll be waiting forever. That only leaves one option, doesn’t it?”

She casually tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

“We have to make the first move ourselves.”

“…”

Her statement was as bold as it was shameless.

“So, we made a deal among ourselves.”

“A deal…?”

I raised my hand to stop her.

“Hold on. I’m having trouble keeping up. Are you telling me the deal was—”

“That’s right. We agreed on who would get to make the first move—or who would be the first one you… respond to.”

“…Are you all out of your minds?”

“A little. And if we are, it’s because you made us this way. So it’s not entirely our fault.”

Her sheer audacity left me speechless. All I could do was stare at her, my mouth agape.

“Anyway, that’s the agreement. The winner gets priority.”

“And… why would you decide something like that without consulting me?”

“If you don’t like it, just say so.”

“It’s not a matter of liking or disliking—”

“You wouldn’t dislike it anyway.”

“I haven’t even finished—”

“But you wouldn’t, would you? Because you’re not the type to let anyone go. You want to keep all of us.”

“…”

She had seen right through me. Tang So-yeol’s light green eyes gleamed with absolute certainty, leaving no room for argument.

“We all know it. You can’t choose just one, so you’ll end up clinging to all of us.”

“Do I really seem that selfish to you?”

“If not selfish, then incredibly possessive. Extremely so.”

“…You don’t even hesitate, do you?”

“Because it’s the truth. And we know there are things you want to say but feel you can’t. But listen.”

Tang So-yeol’s gaze intensified, her light green eyes curving into mischievous crescents.

“That doesn’t mean we’re going to keep restraining ourselves forever. You’re going to have to be the one to exercise control from now on. We’ve reached our limit.”

“You…”

“Oh, don’t worry. We agreed that if anything happens, it will be when all three of us are present. It wouldn’t be fair otherwise.”

All three. I didn’t need to ask who the third was.

Ah, so that was it.

‘That’s why Wi Seol-ah was so angry.’

The earlier scolding suddenly made perfect sense.

As all the pieces fell into place, I froze. I had no idea how to even respond.

At that moment,

“By the way.”

Tang So-yeol poked my chest with her finger before brushing past me.

The faint, clean scent of sandalwood lingered in her wake.

“When you come back in, be prepared. We’re completely serious about this.”

“…”

“Just so you know.”

With those final words, Tang So-yeol walked into the infirmary.

And I was left standing there for a long time.

Be prepared, she said.

“…”

Could I really handle it?

I let out a long, weary sigh as the thought crossed my mind.

‘Handle it, my foot.’

Running a hand through my hair, I finally admitted the truth to myself.

I was reaching my limit, too.