Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 900

Chapter 900

The air remained utterly still.

Dawn broke slowly, the magnificent auroras and crimson tides in the heavens gradually softening their glow, yielding to the expanding daylight.

Observing the brightening sky, a notion occurred to me.

«Can we truly claim they are gone?»

The stars that had persisted after the night cleared appeared to have abandoned their posts. Yet, the daylight in this world was just as unusual as its darkness.

The auroras and stars had not actually disappeared; they had simply dissolved into the firmament. Though the hour should have been between morning and midday, the sky here was nothing like that of Zhongyuan.

«A scarlet heaven…?»

At a glance, it resembled the shades of dusk, but a closer look revealed a fundamentally different hue.

It was a sky unlike any I had ever witnessed.

After staring at it silently for a long moment, I finally looked down. This land had been bizarre from the moment I arrived, and while a strange sky added to it, I had no energy left to be concerned.

Something far more peculiar was right before me. I looked at the broad back walking ahead and spoke.

«Noya.»

«Hmm?»

At my call, the figure leading the way turned to look at me. Sharp eyes tinged with a faint crimson, a face carved with deep wrinkles, and an expression as stern and unreadable as always.

The most revered hero of Mount Hua, the Sage Sword, Shin Cheol.

Ever since my return, this man had occupied my body without invitation, ceaselessly filling my mind with scolding and fault-finding.

Back then, he was a spectral voice. Now, he stood here in complete human form.

«Where are we actually going?»

We had been walking without direction for over an hour. Annoyed from just following his back, I finally asked, only for Shin Noya to frown and retort,

«Haven’t I told you again and again to correct that impatience? We’ve only just started walking and you’re already complaining. Your temperament is truly wretched.»

«You never told me the destination! If it were you, you’d be swearing your head off by now—»

*Thwack!*

«Agh!»

The blow to my skull made me clutch my head instinctively.

«Complaining? Coooomplaining?»

«Guhh…!»

It felt like my head had been split open—

*Thwack—!!*

«Gahh!»

Another strike sent me stumbling to the ground. The excruciating pain stole my breath, and I glared up at Shin Noya through watery, shaking eyes.

«Why twice?!»

«Who said I’d stop at one? What? Do you want another one since you’re so displeased?»

Damn it.
Not only did he now have a physical form, but he could also hit me.

«Using violence isn’t right, you know…»

«Rubbish.»

Shin Noya let out a pleased chuckle.

«Ah, that felt good.»

He sounded far too satisfied, as if he had been waiting for this for a long time.

«I’ve wanted to wallop you for ages. What a joy it is to finally be able to.»

«And you call me short-tempered… Wait, no, I was only joking!»

Seeing his hand rise again, I hurriedly added the last part.
Damn old man—was his first instinct always to raise his hand?

«If you’re so ancient, why not act your age?»

It was easy to picture how ill-tempered he must have been in his prime.
I quietly vowed to never become an old man like him.

«Your eyes look shifty.»

«They’ve always looked this way.»

«A fair point.»

«…Seriously?»

«What was that, boy?»

His sharp glare made me instinctively lower my head.
It was ridiculous, but at the same time, I couldn’t suppress a sliver of awe.

«I couldn’t dodge it.»

I hadn’t been able to avoid his strike. I saw his arm move, but before I could react, pain was already exploding in my head.

«…A monstrous old man.»

Whether it was how effortlessly he handled that creature, the phantom swords in the sky, or the sheer aura of power he radiated—
I found myself doubting if he was even human.

«This is nothing like before.»

In the Imaginary Wind Realm, when I confronted the otherworldly Shin Noya, I had glimpsed a chance.
Back then, I could form a plan and manage a narrow victory.

«But now, there’s no hope at all.»

Even with all my growth, Shin Noya felt like a bottomless chasm.

«Could I ever reach him?»
No.

The thought crossed my mind unbidden.

«Tsk, tsk.»

Shin Noya clicked his tongue as he looked down at me.

«So it’s not just your face that’s gotten uglier, is it?»

«…!»

It felt like he had read my mind. Humiliation washed over me, and I gritted my teeth, pushing myself back to my feet.

«I have no idea what you’re talking about.»

«Hmph.»

With a snort, Shin Noya turned and resumed walking.
I followed, deciding to steer the conversation elsewhere.

«So, are you really not going to tell me?»

«Didn’t I say it already? Just follow quietly.»

«If you won’t tell me where we’re going, then say something else.»

We had been walking endlessly. I had asked so many questions:
Where is this place?
Why are you here in this form?
What was that creature we fought?
Why did it seem to know you?

But Shin Noya’s answer was always the same:

«I’ll tell you when we arrive.»

I sighed at the familiar reply.

«This is just torment…»

«It can’t be helped.»

Shin Noya finally offered a more substantive answer, though his voice was tired.

«If we aren’t cautious, someone could overhear. The eyes and ears of this place are everywhere.»

«What does that mean?»

«If you’re so dissatisfied, you can leave. I won’t stop you.»

«What?»

His words made my eyes widen.

«And where would I go?»

«How should I know? You’re not a child. It’s no business of mine.»

In other words, if I didn’t like it, my only option was to follow him silently.

«Well? What will it be?»

Shin Noya glanced back over his shoulder.

“…”

Frustratingly, I only had one possible answer.

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

We walked in silence for a long time after that.
Neither of us was inclined toward chatter, and with my questions going unanswered, there was little to discuss.

How much time had passed?

«We’re nearly there.»

Shin Noya’s words made me peer ahead, but—

«What do you mean ‘nearly there’? There’s nothing here.»

All I could see was the same desolate plain as before.
Was there truly something out here?

«Was it around here?»

Shin Noya began to scrutinize the surroundings, his eyes searching.
What was he looking for?

I concentrated my gaze as well, but still saw nothing.
Even so, he kept searching, moving with a purpose that suggested he knew something was there.

«Hmm?»

Faintly, I began to perceive… something.
I didn’t know what it was, but it was present.

«Could it be…?»

I took a step forward and reached out with my hand.

*Wooong—!*

Just as I anticipated, my fingertips brushed against it.

«Noya, is it this?»

«Hmm?»

Shin Noya looked to where I was pointing and frowned.
It seemed I was correct.

«Hmm… How did you…?»

«It just became apparent to me.»

«…Apparent? It shouldn’t be visible. How could you, specifically, see it?»

He seemed genuinely intrigued, his gaze intense. It was as if I had done something I wasn’t supposed to be capable of.

So I replied,

«I’ll tell you when we get there.»

«…Tch.»

Echoing my earlier words back at me, Shin Noya let out an exasperated sigh.
I wondered if I would be hit again. By now, one or two smacks wouldn’t make much difference.

I braced my body for the impact.

«Impudent brat.»

But instead of striking me, Shin Noya simply chuckled.

He then raised his thin, bony hand and extended it into the empty space before him.
As his fingers moved, plum blossom petals began to drift from their tips.

*Rustle.*

The petals danced elegantly in the air, and as they brushed against the strange sensation I had felt—

*Drip.*

A sound like a water droplet echoed, and the space in front of us began to distort.

*Hwaaahhh.*

«…What in the world—?»

I cursed under my breath at the sight unfolding before me.
The space wavered and split, tearing open a dark void.

It was just large enough for Shin Noya to step through.

Staring blankly at the sudden rift, I stood frozen.

«Let’s go.»

Unfazed, Shin Noya walked directly into the opening.

I hesitated for a moment. It was then that Cheonma, who had been following silently beside me, stepped through first without a word.

Seeing that, I followed, crossing into the tear in reality.

*Shhhrrk—!*

The moment I entered, the portal-like opening vanished behind us.

«What is this…?»

I could not conceal my astonishment at the scene before me.

«What the hell is this?»

The world was completely transformed.

We had been on a barren plain, with only sparse weeds breaking the emptiness. Now, we stood in the midst of a thick forest.

While I had first arrived in a woodland, this place was different.
Far more familiar.

The sky was blue, and even the air felt recognizable.

The problem, however—

«It’s heavy.»

The instant we crossed into this space, my body felt heavier.
Or more accurately, it felt like it had returned to its normal state.

«The outside was far too light.»

The overwhelming abundance of energy in the air outside had made my body feel light and energized. Here, it was much more like the conditions of Zhongyuan.

*Chirp! Chirp! Trill!*

The songs of birds and insects reached my ears.

If the previous area had been overwhelmingly unnatural, this place was the opposite—entirely too natural.

«Noya… where are we?»

«It seems fortune has favored us after all.»

«Pardon?»

«Hmm.»

Shin Noya exhaled as if relieved, then turned to me and said.

«Follow me.»

With that, he began walking again.
It was the same as before, so I fell into step beside him.

«What was I going to ask…? Ah, right. I was going to ask about that creature.»

«…!»

Breaking the prolonged silence, Shin Noya suddenly began to explain, as if this had been his plan all along.
Was he really only planning to reveal this after we arrived here?

Though the shift was abrupt, I focused and listened carefully.

«That creature is a chieftain. You likely sensed it, but it is brutish and violent.»

«…Yes.»

That was precisely the impression it gave—crude and savage.
Its very essence radiated such energy.

«It was certainly a strange being.»

Remembering its ability to speak had left me deeply unsettled. As I pondered, Shin Noya addressed me again.

«Boy.»

«Yes, Noya?»

«Let me ask you. What did that creature appear to be to you?»

«What it appeared to be?»

Naturally, the first word that came to mind was beast.
But as I was about to say it, I hesitated.

A beast.
Could it truly be called that? The thought planted a seed of doubt.

Seeing my hesitation, Shin Noya turned his gaze away and continued speaking, his stride unwavering.

«You are not incorrect. For you, and for me, calling it a beast is not far from the truth.»

«Does that mean… it is not actually a beast?»

«Oh.»

At my question, Shin Noya gave a slight nod of approval.

«It seems you have learned to use your head since last we met.»

“…”

Just insult me directly, you old man.

Gritting my teeth, I kept the thought to myself.

«If you say it is not a beast, you would not be wrong. But that is not the full answer either.»

«I don’t fully understand.»

If it is, then it is. If it isn’t, then it isn’t. This vague reply only muddled things further.

«Hmm, let me phrase it this way.»

As Shin Noya spoke, I frowned, noticing something in the distance.

«They are creatures that almost became beasts. That is how I would describe them.»

«Almost became?»

«Yes, creatures that nearly transformed into beasts. The chieftain is a particularly powerful example among them. Powerful enough to have drawn her attention and been granted her authority.»

I froze.

Her authority.
That term grated unpleasantly in my ears.

«Authority…?»

«Yes, it possesses something called authority. Though it styles itself as immortal, I would say it is more of a persistent nuisance than anything truly eternal.»

“…”

«Regardless, that is not what matters. Judging by your eyes, you are curious about something else entirely. Am I correct?»

«…You are.»

Where was this place?
Where had Cheonma and I been taken?
These were the most urgent questions, just as Shin Noya had said.

I thought he might finally explain, but—

«To explain that, you will need to listen carefully.»

Of course not.

«As I said, the chieftain was a creature that nearly became a beast.»

«…Yes.»

«Now, boy. Tell me—what do you believe beasts are?»

«Pardon?»

His question took me by surprise, and I turned to look at him.

Shin Noya was watching me, his expression solemn.
He wasn’t joking. Taking the question seriously, I answered,

«Monsters that emerge from the Magyeong Gate. That is what I believe.»

«Correct.»

“…”

Should I feel good about being right? Instead, I felt a spike of irritation.

What was the point of asking something so obvious?

As I scowled at him, Shin Noya continued.

«Then, where do you think these beasts originate?»

«From beyond the Magyeong Gate, of course.»

«Also correct. But if you delve deeper, the narrative shifts, does it not?»

«Shifts?»

«What does the Magyeong Gate truly represent? What exists beyond it that gives birth to these beasts? That is what I mean.»

“…”

My eyes narrowed.

The Magyeong Gate and the beasts—
I had never pondered them deeply.

The gates had existed since before my birth, and hunting the creatures that came through them was simply a fact of life.

But how were they connected?

«I am not sure.»

I had no answer. As I turned it over in my mind, Shin Noya spoke.

«Beasts, you see.»

He paused, his tone grave.

«Are the remnants of worlds that have already perished.»

«…!»

«Creatures that have lost their masters and were erased by the new rulers who supplanted them—that is what beasts are.»

«That means—»

«A world that loses its master welcomes a new one, and in doing so, annihilates all the life it once sustained. Now, where do those eradicated beings go?»

I stared into his eyes.

«The answer is simple.»

Shin Noya’s voice was heavy and cold as ice.