Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 890

Chapter 890

A chill swept through me—not only in my mind, but in every part of my being.

“What are you saying…?”

Had I misheard? No, I was sure I had not. The look on Lady Mi’s face told me everything.

“Are you telling me you didn’t send me a letter?”

“No, I did send one.”

She didn’t refuse the claim outright, but instead offered a clarification.

“I did send a letter… but when did it reach you?”

“Two days ago.”

“Two days…?”

Her eyes opened even wider.

“You can’t mean… you traveled here from Sichuan in only two days?”

“Yes.”

“…”

“That isn’t the important part right now…”

Grip.

Lady Mi seized my shoulder suddenly, startling me with the sudden movement.

“Are you unharmed? Is your body all right?”

“…What? Oh, I’m fine.”

Even her voice had changed, which surprised me further.
Noticing this, she gave a light cough and moderated her tone, recovering her typical demeanor.

“No matter how urgent it was, pushing yourself that hard over such a distance is dangerous.”

“…It’s all right.”

It really hadn’t been that strenuous.
My inner energy had expanded greatly and was far simpler to direct now.
The uncontrollable force that once troubled me was no longer a concern.

But anyway—

“And you say you went to the Martial Alliance as well? What happened to you? Are you truly—”

“Lady Mi.”

I interrupted her. Something much more urgent demanded attention.

“Let’s return to what we were discussing. I am truly fine.”

I reassured her and steered the conversation back.

“You said you sent a letter, but the one I received wasn’t actually from you. Is that correct?”

“…Yes. The timing is wrong. Even in the best case, it would only have arrived today.”

“…”

At the earliest, today.
But I had gotten the letter two days ago, departed at once, and arrived just now.

‘…What is happening?’

I scowled, unable to make sense of it.

‘The handwriting was flawless. The contents matched perfectly.’

Everything was crafted to seem genuine. The situation, the logic—it all fit, and even the script was exact.

And yet it was forged?
My hands shook faintly as suspicion clouded my thoughts. Lady Mi extended her hand toward me.

“Do you still have the letter you received?”

“Yes, I do.”

I had brought it with me. I retrieved it from my clothing and passed it to her.

She unfolded the paper and studied it carefully, her brow knitting tightly.

“…It’s persuasive. I can see why you were fooled.”

She acknowledged it herself. The penmanship, the stamp, even the type of paper she frequently used—everything was the same.

“How…?”

How was this possible? Neither of us could comprehend.

‘What kind of fiend would do this?’

Whoever it was, they had taken considerable trouble to trick me.
And the one capable of such deception was no ordinary person.
As I turned it over in my mind, a cold shiver traced my spine.

“…!”

The idea was disgusting, but it was the most likely scenario.

I didn’t want to believe it, but the probability was high.
Stifling my anger, I asked Lady Mi,

“…If I might ask, when exactly did you learn that my father—the family head—had been imprisoned?”

“Three days ago.”

“…Three days ago.”

It wasn’t certain whether that was when he was actually seized. This was simply when Lady Mi had been informed.
Which meant—

‘The letter must have been sent a day or two before that.’

In other words…

‘Whoever sent it knew my father would be captured and prepared the letter ahead of time.’

That was the only reasonable explanation.

‘What a disaster.’

If that was true, then someone inside the Martial Alliance was responsible.
Frustration welled up. My father’s predicament, the fact that someone had engineered this—it all irritated me deeply.
Compelling myself to remain steady, I addressed Lady Mi.

“…First, please tell me everything in detail.”

I needed to grasp the full situation.

I massaged my temples after hearing the account, feeling the strain in the lines of my forehead.

“Are you all right?”

Lady Mi asked with worry. I made myself lower my hand and schooled my expression.

“Yes, I’m fine.”

Of course, I wasn’t fine. But I acted as if I were, or I might have started swearing in front of Lady Mi.

‘…So, in short,’

To summarize what I had just been told:

‘Father assaulted the Martial Alliance, aiming for Muk Yeon.’

He was intercepted by the Sword Emperor and the Division Leader of the Celestial Dragon and was then taken into custody.

This aligned with the intelligence I had collected earlier.

‘But his motive is still unclear… and the trial is tomorrow?’

That, too, matched what I had learned at the Alliance.
The problem was…

“So Elder Il is serving as the acting family head?”

“Yes.”

With Father unable to fulfill his role, Elder Il had taken up the position of acting family head.

It made sense.

‘He is the logical choice for it.’

The head steward was detained at the main estate, and someone had to represent the family at the trial.

‘I was in Sichuan and I’m not the heir.’

Naturally, Elder Il was the nearest and most fitting person to act as family head.

“…So where is Elder Il now?”

“If you want him, he’s right outside—”

Lady Mi started to reply, but—

“Ha, you eat a lot for such a little thing.”

Elder Il’s voice came from outside. He had apparently arrived.

I rose quickly and went out.

“Elder Il—huh?”

“Hmm?”

As usual, Elder Il was an impressive sight.

And sitting on his shoulder was—

“Papa’s here!”

—Dol-Dol.

“…”

“Hello!”

Dol-Dol waved at me cheerfully, his hands filled with various skewers.

He still looked just like a smaller copy of me.

But that wasn’t what mattered…

“…Why are you sitting up there?”

“Huh? Big Grandpa said I could.”

Big Grandpa. It was obvious who that meant.

“Yes, I told him to sit there.”

“That’s right. He told me to.”

“…”

He even had one hand tangled in Elder Il’s hair.

Watching the scene, I couldn’t hold back a sigh.

“Get down. Now.”

“W-why!”

“Why?”

I glared at him, and Dol-Dol shrank back.
Then he hunched down and hid behind Elder Il’s large shoulders.

This little rascal…

I moved to grab him, but Lady Mi was quicker than me, stepping forward with unexpected speed.
It was the first time I had seen her move so fast.

She approached Elder Il and held out her arms for Dol-Dol, who immediately jumped into them as if he had been expecting it.

“You made it back safely.”

“Yes, Grandma.”

‘Grandma…?’

What was I supposed to make of that strange term?

And seeing him snuggle contentedly in her arms like some harmless child—what was I even witnessing?

‘A monster being cradled by a human.’

And even pretending to be shy about it.

If anyone else saw this, they would be terrified.

“Don’t be too hard on him.”

“…What?”

“Children should be permitted to be children at times.”

Lady Mi said abruptly, a sorrowful look crossing her features.

“I didn’t realize that and lived with remorse. I hope you won’t repeat my error.”

“…No, wait.”

What was she talking about? Anyone would think I was being harsh with Dol-Dol.

I was about to answer, but Elder Il broke in.

“Anyway, why are you here? Shouldn’t you be in Sichuan?”

“…Things became suspicious, so I hurried back.”

“Ah.”

Elder Il appeared to grasp the situation at once.

“You’ve heard what happened, then.”

“Yes…”

“Hmm.”

He gave me a strange look, then tapped my shoulder lightly.

What was this?

“It seems I misjudged you.”

“Misjudged me how?”

“You’re far more composed than I believed.”

“What does that mean…?”

His words were confusing. Before I could ask more, he elaborated:

“When I got the news, I expected you to charge into the Martial Alliance and make a huge disturbance.”

…What?

I started at his statement.

“But since you came directly here, it seems you’ve matured with time—wait, why do you look like that?”

“…Well, about that…”

Seeing my reaction, Elder Il frowned.

“…Yangcheon. Don’t tell me…”

“It wasn’t exactly a disturbance.”

“…You went, didn’t you?”

Elder Il’s face shifted to understanding, followed by a weary sigh.

“You didn’t make problems, did you?”

“It wasn’t really problems… I just…”

I averted my eyes uncomfortably.

“Fought the Sword Emperor and scorched the earth a bit.”

“If that isn’t causing problems, then what is?”

Elder Il released an irritated breath, about to scold me further. But—

“What? You fought the Sword Emperor?”

Lady Mi reacted more strongly than he did.

“You fought the Sword Emperor? That ancient monster drew his sword on a child—!”

“…Lady Mi, referring to the Sword Emperor as an ‘ancient monster’ is a little…”

“Are you injured? Tell me you aren’t hurt.”

“Damn it all…”

His comment dismissed, Elder Il cursed under his breath. Truthfully, he had restrained himself for a while.

“…Lady Mi, I’m fine. Look at me. Not a mark. It was only a minor clash.”

“And this minor clash included burning the ground?”

“…”

I disregarded Elder Il’s remark.

“You’re truly unharmed?”

“Yes.”

I meant it. The encounter with the Sword Emperor had left no damage.

After all…

‘Neither of us was fighting to kill.’

We were only feeling each other out. It wasn’t a real battle.
If it had been serious…

‘The Martial Alliance would have been destroyed.’

Given our respective strengths, the place would have been wrecked.
The fact that it remained standing showed we had both exercised restraint.

Turning from Lady Mi’s continued concern, I focused on Elder Il.

“So, the trial is tomorrow, correct?”

“Yes, tomorrow.”

“And as the acting family head, you will be there. So, what is the strategy?”

“Hmm?”

Elder Il tilted his head at my question.

“What strategy?”

“…Pardon?”

“Why would a strategy be necessary?”

“Shouldn’t you prepare something for the trial?”

“No.”

“…”

My head began to throb.

“…Why not?”

“Why would it be needed?”

“What makes you so certain nothing will occur—”

“The family head said not to be concerned.”

“…!”

His reply stunned me.

“The family head told me not to worry and that everything would be resolved. So I am simply following his orders.”

“But…”

“If you went to the Alliance, I assume the family head said something similar to you. Am I incorrect?”

“…You’re right.”

“What did he say?”

I recalled what Father had told me at the Alliance.

‘He said it was fine.’

I couldn’t remember his precise words, but the message was clear.
It wasn’t the phrasing but the intent that mattered.

“…He said he was fine and asked me to look after Lady Mi.”

Hearing this, Lady Mi flinched.

“Did he truly?”

Elder Il, however, smiled.

“This time, he spoke quite directly. How unlike him.”

He called him “that bastard.” I had never heard Elder Il refer to my father in that way before.

“If the family head says it’s fine, then it is. Yangcheon, you should trust that and remain calm. He must have his purposes.”

“…And if he doesn’t?”

“Even then, it isn’t your place to intervene.”

Elder Il’s face grew stern.

“You are not the heir. It is not your duty to interfere.”

“…”

I pressed my lips together, unable to rebut.

“So concentrate on what you ought to be doing. Leave this affair to the family head and me.”

What I ought to be doing.
I frowned, thinking deeply.

‘What I ought to be doing…’

My eyes moved to the letter in Lady Mi’s hand, the one I had given her.

What I needed to do now…

It was clear.

Find the scoundrel who had counterfeited Lady Mi’s handwriting and the family seal.

Resolved, I narrowed my eyes.

There was no point in pondering it by myself.

Which left only one path.

‘I’ll consult the most intelligent person I know.’

I had to find Je Gal-hyuk.

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

«The Star King has reached Hanam,» stated the veiled woman, Dancer, watching the back of a figure.

The man, in the midst of putting on his outer robe, inclined his head slightly at her words. A subtle smile touched his lips, and his eyes shone a bloody crimson.

«He’s quicker than anticipated. Did he acquire something more in Sichuan?»

The Blood Demon gave a soft laugh.
At the sound, Dancer’s shoulders trembled almost imperceptibly.

«Not bad. Actually, this is good.»

Nodding, the Blood Demon finished adjusting his clothes and regulated his breathing.
The atmosphere around him vibrated with a nearly youthful eagerness.

«I will go out for a while.»

«Does that mean…»

The Blood Demon looked toward Dancer and spoke.

«The moment has arrived. So, first, I will reclaim what must be reclaimed.»

His smile broadened as he said this.
And with those words, he dissolved into a mist of crimson smoke and vanished.

«…»

Seeing him disappear, Dancer bowed her head respectfully, as if in silent homage.