Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 903

Chapter 903

Paradise.

It was a word that scraped against my thoughts, repeating incessantly.

“Paradise…”

I settled back into the chair, replaying the discussion in my head, my mind still uneasy.

Paradise.
A term that seemed lovely, even ideal, yet now it left a bitter taste.
The issue was that it had been spoken by none other than the Blood Demon.

‘He claimed he dreamed of paradise.’

Did he wish to transform Zhongyuan into a paradise? Or was his aim to find one?
I wasn’t clear on the details, but his final objective was obvious.

However—

‘The Myriad Realms is also known as Paradise.’

If the realm I now found myself in was labeled paradise, could it be related to what the Blood Demon had mentioned?
And if there was a link, what nature could it possibly have? That was the question that continued to gnaw at me.

‘Most of all, his response to my mother.’

Hostility, or maybe caution.

I hadn’t encountered the Blood Demon often, but he was always one to observe events with detached amusement, no matter the circumstances.
But the instant he saw my mother, his guard went up sharply.

Mangye and the paradise the Blood Demon described—there was definitely a connection.

The moment that certainty solidified in my mind—

Thud.

An object was set down on the table in front of me.
I glanced at it and saw a teacup.

“Please drink.”

I turned toward the voice. It was, predictably, not a human.

The one who had spoken had black hair and the ears of a beast.

He seemed to be in his late twenties, but clearly, looks were deceptive here.

“And you are?”

I asked, and his forehead creased.

“…I am Gubong, the first disciple.”

First disciple.
The term made me unintentionally pull a face.

‘First disciple?’

It was the sort of title you’d hear in a martial arts school.
It felt completely mismatched here, no matter how I considered it, but I kept my reaction in check—or did my best to.

“I see. And this is…?”

“Plum tea. The headmaster grew and prepared it himself.”

“…”
This time, I couldn’t conceal my expression.

‘Grew it himself? That old man?’

For someone as notoriously ill-tempered as Noya, the idea of him taking up gardening as a pastime felt completely absurd.
If it had been someone like the Plum Sage, it might have been believable. But Noya? It didn’t suit him at all.

I found it hard to accept and just stared at the tea.

“You should treat it as an honor.”

“Hmm?”

The beast-man Gubong added,

“The headmaster doesn’t normally offer this to anyone. He made a special allowance—an unprecedented one—for you.”

“I see.”

I nodded at his words, then studied him.

“You appear to dislike me. Why is that?”

“…”

Gubong’s eyelid flickered.
His face showed he hadn’t anticipated me being so direct.

It was an honest question from my side.

“We’ve never met before, correct? I don’t believe so. I’d remember someone like you. So why the animosity?”

I took a drink of the plum tea as I spoke and was taken aback.

‘This is excellent.’

Unexpectedly, the tea was pure and aromatic—even pleasant. It felt strangely incongruent, knowing it was made by that irritable old man.

“…It isn’t that I dislike you.”

I let out a short laugh at Gubong’s reply.

“Really? The way you’re glaring suggests you’d like to end me.”

“…”

“I’m not the type people tend to like immediately, but I don’t enjoy being resented without cause.”

I took another sip, emptying the cup in just two drinks. It was too delicious to savor slowly.

“So, what’s your problem?”

I held his gaze, but Gubong didn’t answer. Instead, the intensity in his eyes only deepened.

‘Those eyes… They’re pleading for a confrontation.’

I could feel my own irritation rising.

Already feeling unsettled, this was pushing me further.

Should I challenge him directly?

“Click.”

Before I could move, someone tutted and rested a coarse hand on my head.
The hand was rough, but it carried the scent of plum blossoms.

I didn’t need to look. I knew who it was.

“Why are you starting trouble in another’s home? If you want to fight, do it outside.”

“…Greetings, Headmaster.”

Gubong inclined his head.
The hand belonged, unsurprisingly, to Noya.

Seeing this, I immediately shot back,

“Where did you go? You can’t just dump me in a place like this and vanish!”

“I said I’d be away briefly. How long could I have been gone for you to already be stirring up conflict?”

“I wasn’t starting anything! Can’t you see? I was the one being provoked.”

“Amusing. Kid, how many people in this world do you think would provoke you for no reason just by seeing your face?”

“Well, you would.”

“Want to be hit?”

“No.”

I quickly stopped talking as I felt his hand press down harder. The actual issue, though, was—

‘That look.’

Gubong’s glare grew even more severe as he watched.
What was this? Envy? No, that didn’t feel accurate.

‘If not envy, then…?’

It seemed like something different altogether.

“Gubong.”

“Yes, Headmaster?”

“You’ve done your duty. Leave us now.”

“…However…”

“I’ll take over from here. Go and rest. You might lose a finger if you linger too long near this troublemaker.”

“You’re really comparing me to an animal now…?”

“You aren’t human regardless.”

“There you go again, old man.”

“Watch your language.”

“Hmm?”

While I was arguing with Noya, Gubong broke in.

“Address the Headmaster with proper respect.”
From his tone, it was clear my casual use of “old man” had bothered him.

“See, kid. What kind of youth calls me an old man? Completely lacking manners.”

And yet, Noya appeared to relish the exchange, laughing lightly.

Gritting my teeth, I responded,

“Yes, Headmaster. Now stop joking and take a seat.”

“Very well.”

“Damn it.”

“I heard that.”

Noya pulled over a chair and sat opposite me.

“You’ve done well. You may go.”

“…”

“Gubong.”

“…Understood.”

Gubong gave a respectful bow to Noya and left, but not before shooting me a final, sharp look.

‘Damn those eyes…’

I was frowning, about to complain, when Noya laughed loudly.

“Hahahaha!”

I turned to him, both irritated and earnest.

“What’s his problem? Why is he acting that way?”

“Don’t judge him too severely. In a way, his open hostility is almost refreshing, isn’t it?”

“Refreshing? Hardly. I was moments away from plucking his eyes out.”

Under different conditions, I wouldn’t have hesitated. But this was Noya’s territory, and something about Gubong’s feelings seemed tied to his loyalty to Noya.

“You’re quite short-fused, aren’t you?”

“So, would you have ignored it if you were me?”

“If it were me, I’d have removed his head.”

“…And you’re called a sage?”

I hadn’t planned on killing him, but this old man would have no such reservations.

“Regardless, let it be for now. That boy has certain… imbalances.”

“…”

I didn’t answer. Next time, I wouldn’t be so forgiving.
Noya didn’t pursue it further.

“Did you enjoy the tea?”

“…It was acceptable.”

“Your expression says it was delicious. Click, click.”

“…”

He had seen right through me.
I wanted to deny it, but the tea had been genuinely good.

“How have you been?”

“Not good.”

“Glad to hear it. I’ve been fairly well myself.”

“…Why ask if you’re going to dismiss the answer?”

“Truthfully, I’m not very interested, but it’s customary to ask, isn’t it?”

«Such a casual response.»

“Where did that black-haired girl go?”

“I don’t know. She departed abruptly.”

“…And you’re fine with not knowing?”

Noya looked at me, astonished.
Naturally, he would—he knew the girl was Cheonma.

Ordinarily, this was something I should have prioritized.

“…It’s fine.”

Without thinking, I brushed it aside.
Not good. This was a matter I should have taken more seriously.

‘I’m being carried away by events.’

With everything in turmoil, I must have pushed it to the back of my mind unconsciously.

“Hmph.”

Noya tilted his head slightly as he observed me.
The more I saw him, the more defined his features appeared.

But…

‘Damn, he’s infuriatingly handsome.’

He looked like someone who must have been exceptionally good-looking in his youth, which annoyed me for some reason.

“What’s with that strange look in your eyes?”

“I recalled something unpleasant.”

“While looking at my face…?”

“A misunderstanding. I simply glanced up and your face was in the way.”

“…You…”

Noya seemed to weigh whether to become angry but eventually let out a breath and spoke.

“…Never mind. It’s too exhausting to get upset over every minor thing. Ask what you came to ask.”

“Yes, sir.”

I offered a strained smile and went straight to the main point. There were piles of questions I wanted to ask and endless things to understand, but…

“Is there a way to go back?”

Ultimately, the most critical question was how to return.

The problem was…

‘Would that old man even know?’

From what he’d said, he’d been trapped here for 150 years. Was it possible he had a solution?
I asked, trying to hide my anxiety.

“There is.”

“…!”

To my shock, Noya said a way existed.

“Why that expression? Didn’t you think there would be?”

“Of course not. If there was, why…”

Why hadn’t he left? I was about to ask, but—

“A way exists, but it couldn’t be used.”

“…What?”

What did that mean?

“You realize this is a separate world, yes?”

“Yes.”

How could I not?
Not only were there non-human creatures everywhere, but two moons hung in the sky. It was impossible to miss.

“Once you’ve entered another world… to depart, you need the consent of that world’s master.”

“…Consent?”

The world has a master, and their approval is needed to leave?
I didn’t understand. If that was true—

“Then how was I able to come here—”

How had I crossed over so effortlessly? I started to ask when—

“That’s because Zhongyuan lacks a master.”

Noya interrupted before I could finish.

“You’re aware of this, aren’t you? It’s why Zhongyuan is in its current state.”

“…”

I didn’t want to acknowledge it, but he was correct.

‘…So that means.’

His words could only imply one thing.

“To return, I need permission from this world’s master?”

“Precisely.”

“…The master…”

The master of this world. If I obtained their consent, I could go back to Zhongyuan?

“It’s not a guarantee, but it’s the most likely method.”

“…”

Hearing this, a specific person came to mind. If the master of this world was who I suspected…

“That’s correct.”

Noya spoke.

“It’s your mother.”

“…!”

“You likely had your suspicions, didn’t you?”

“…I wasn’t certain.”

Noya chuckled at my reply.

“You were certain. You merely didn’t wish to believe it.”

That, too, was accurate.

The master of Mangye.
Putting together what Muah and the Blood Demon had said, everything led to one conclusion.

My mother was the master of this world.

‘If that’s true…’

The realization was staggering, but regarding my return, it seemed simple enough.

At least, that’s what I believed.

“I know what you’re thinking, but it won’t be so straightforward.”

Noya must have guessed my thoughts because he interjected swiftly.

“It won’t be straightforward?”

“A world’s master seldom desires their children to depart for another world. And with Mangye, it’s even more improbable.”

“…Why?”

“This section requires a longer explanation, so I’ll save it for later. For now, understand this: if you’re anticipating maternal love from her, you should release that hope.”

Why? The question formed in my mind instantly.

It wasn’t as if I had expected much, but a part of me had contemplated it.

Now he was advising me to discard even that faint hope? And claiming it would be futile?

“Why?”

I asked out loud, and Noya answered with a reluctant expression.

“She may be your mother, but… she likely no longer considers herself one.”

“…What?”

“Particularly given her hatred for dragons. You must avoid meeting her. If you do, things could become catastrophic.”

“What are you talking about?”

Hatred for dragons? She’s my mother but no longer sees it that way?

“I don’t understand, Noya.”

“Well, that’s…”

Noya started to explain but then suddenly straightened, his gaze turning sharp.

“It seems it has awakened.”

“…What?”

“I’ll clarify on the way. Get up.”

“Again…?”

Why were we always on the move? I’d only just reached the residence, and now he wanted me to leave again?

“What’s wrong? Are you tired already? It’s not distant, just over there.”

Noya pointed out the window.
The place he indicated was one I’d seen before—one that had stunned me.

“Something down there has stirred. We should go there first.”

“Stirred?”

What, had something been asleep? Just as I wondered—

“Yes, it’s awake.”

Kugugung—!!!

“…!”

The earth trembled fiercely, and goosebumps prickled on my skin.

Simultaneously—

[Groooar.]

A low, powerful roar resonated.
I immediately looked up.

That sound—could it be?

“The master of this land’s darkness.”

[Koouar.]

Kurung roared.