Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 947

Chapter 947

The words I had been holding back finally spilled into the air.

“Tch.”

The sound left my lips and seemed to hang in the suddenly still atmosphere.
It wasn’t loud, but the profound silence made it carry.

The moment it escaped, my hand flew to cover my mouth.

Ah, damn it. I really messed up.

“I should have just stayed quiet.”

It was a thoughtless slip.
Now, every pair of eyes was locked on me, wide with shock and incredulity.
Their stares screamed a single, unified question: what in the world did you just do?

As I swallowed hard, trying to read the room—

“What was that you said?”

The man who had been addressing Cheonma turned his attention to me.

Blue eyes and hair the color of the sky.
What looked like rabbit ears rested atop his head.
His skin was pale and perfect, matching his sharp, handsome features.

“Were you speaking to me?”
“…”

He questioned me with a slight frown.
I paused for a second before answering.

“Ah… It’s a bad habit of mine. I talk to myself sometimes.”
“You were looking directly at me.”
“It’s a misunderstanding.”
“…”

He clearly wasn’t buying it.
To be honest, I wouldn’t believe it either.
Damn it.

“This stupid mouth of mine.”

Once again, my words had gotten me into trouble.
Today was no exception.

“Hmph.”

The man studied me in silence.
His entire posture radiated a natural, ingrained arrogance.

After a moment, he turned back to Cheonma.

The glance he had thrown my way held no real curiosity.
From the beginning, his focus had been entirely on her.

“You. What is your name?”

He posed the question to her again.
Cheonma tilted her head slightly at the words.
Then, gesturing to herself with a finger, she replied,

“Me?”
“…What?”
“Uh…”

Her informal response caused a murmur to run through the onlookers.
Simultaneously, the man’s smooth brow furrowed.

“Your manner of speech is crude.”
“So is yours.”
“Hah.”

He let out a dry, disbelieving laugh at her retort.

“You can’t possibly be ignorant of who I am. That’s inconceivable.”
“Who are you?”
“…What?”

When she asked for his identity, his expression grew even more twisted.

“You must be from outside our lands.”

At his words, Cheonma looked over at me, her face silently asking, What does that mean?

I had to step in.

“Yes, we are not from Yahwol.”

As I moved forward, the man’s focus returned to me.

“Does that mean this woman is under your care?”
“…What?”

What kind of absurd question was that?
My eyes widened in surprise before I quickly controlled my reaction.

“No, that’s not it—”
“How much?”
“…What?”

For a second, I was speechless.
What did this guy just say?

“I asked what price you would accept to transfer her to me.”

He said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world, holding my gaze.

“Name your price for her.”
“…”

What was I supposed to do with this?
This guy was even more insane than I thought.

“Is he out of his mind?”

Purchasing Cheonma with money?
Why?
He’d been going about his business, then suddenly stopped to spew this nonsense. Did he have any idea what he was trying to acquire?

“…Well, she is beautiful.”

Of course, she looked exactly like Wi Seol-ah, so she would be. But—

“Wait.”

I frowned as a realization hit me.

How could he even tell she was pretty?

“Most people can’t clearly see Cheonma’s face.”

Gu Heebi couldn’t, and neither could anyone else.
They never noticed her resemblance to Wi Seol-ah.

Yet, this guy was calling her beautiful and obsessing over her.

“Does that mean he can see her completely?”

How was that possible?
Ah, perhaps—

“Is it because we’re in a different world?”

Maybe perception worked differently here, outside of Zhongyuan.

“If that’s not it…”

I turned to look at Cheonma—specifically, at her ears.

“Is it because of those?”

Could the enchantment she had placed on herself, the one that altered her presence, be causing this?

Was that the source of all this trouble?

Damn it.

A sense of foreboding washed over me. I swallowed dryly and said to him,

“…She isn’t mine. We aren’t in that kind of relationship—”
“Then it’s even simpler. Move aside.”
“…”

This bastard…
I could feel a vein throbbing on my forehead.
I repeated the word ‘patience’ over and over in my head.

Just then—

“I am Cheong Seon of the Blue Clan.”

The man introduced himself to Cheonma.
Hearing that, I clicked my tongue inwardly.

“Just as I thought.”

My suspicion was confirmed.
He was a noble.

From the way everyone had bowed when he appeared, it was obvious.

“So, he’s from the Blue Clan.”

Of all the clans, it had to be that one.
I had been planning to seek them out later today.

Judging by his attitude, he wasn’t the patriarch.
He was probably just a young master, like Gubong.

“And?”

Cheonma tilted her head again, appearing unimpressed.
Cheong Seon narrowed his eyes.

“Your speech remains lacking… But it’s of no consequence. I can overlook that much.”

As he spoke, he adjusted his clothing, a gesture that feigned refinement.

“You say you’re outsiders. That’s acceptable. I can provide the necessary education once you’re with me. Now, what is your name?”
“…”

Cheonma didn’t answer.
Instead, she looked at me again.

What was I supposed to do now?

Ignoring her glance, I turned to Cheong Seon and said,

“Let’s not do this. It’s not as if she’s the only woman in the world—”

I tried to keep my tone light, even forcing a smile, but then—

Shing.

The men surrounding Cheong Seon drew their blades and leveled them at me.

I felt the cold edge of steel against my neck, sending a shiver through my body.

“How dare you speak so casually in Lord Cheong Seon’s presence?”
“Kneel before the young master.”

“Ah.”

Hearing that, I sighed internally.

Seriously.

“Should I just—”

My gaze sharpened as I looked at Cheong Seon.

“—end him?”

As the thought crossed my mind, a faint wave of energy leaked from my body.

Ssshhhhh.

“…What was that?!”
“Ugh…!”

The men closest to me flinched, their bodies shaking as they sensed my killing intent.

Realizing what was happening, I immediately reined the energy back in.

“Damn it.”

I had almost lost control again.
The stifling aggravation made it difficult to keep myself in check.

At least I had managed to contain it to those immediately nearby.

Cheong Seon, however, was staring at me with a peculiar look.

“What are you doing?”
“That… just now…”
“What was that…?”

The men seemed confused by what they had just experienced.

“What is the meaning of this…?”

Cheong Seon glanced around with a furrowed brow. Suddenly, his eyes fixed on something—the plum blossom embroidered on the chest of my white robe.

“…You.”

Cheong Seon shifted his gaze from the blossom to Cheonma.
His expression changed, his eyes now flashing with irritation.

“So, you’re from Mount Hua.”

Annoyance saturated his tone.
What had Mount Hua ever done to be so universally disliked?

At this point, I couldn’t help but wonder.

“Tch.”

Cheong Seon seemed deeply displeased, but even so, his eyes remained locked on Cheonma.

“A disappointment, but… this will suffice.”

As if trying to convince himself, he suddenly stepped closer to Cheonma and reached out.

“It matters not if you’re from Mount Hua. What matters is what comes next. You need only become mine.”

His greedy hand moved to grasp Cheonma’s wrist, but—

Grip.

“…Huh?”

It never connected.
Before he could touch her, I caught his wrist.

“I get that you’re eager, but you’re moving a bit too quickly.”
“What do you think you’re doing…?”
“We haven’t even had a real discussion, and you’re already trying to lay hands on her? That’s excessive, don’t you think?”

I spoke with a smile, but the look in his eyes turned venomous.

“I asked what the hell you are doing.”
“What does it look like? I’m stopping you.”

He had overstepped, so I stopped him.
Hearing it stated so plainly made Cheong Seon’s face contort with rage.

“…Hah.”

He laughed, but it was empty, his eyes completely humorless.

What a piece of work.

“Do you have any idea whose wrist you are holding right now?”
“Not really, and I don’t care. Also—”

I took a deep breath, suppressing the energy that threatened to surge out as I spoke.

“If you’re such an important figure, shouldn’t you be more cautious? There are witnesses, after all.”
“…”

If no one were watching, I’d be happy to show him exactly what happens.
But for now, I had to maintain control.

“You filthy commoner…”

Cheong Seon sneered, and I felt the muscles in his wrist tense as he tried to pull free.

But—

Squeeze.

“…?”

No matter how much strength he used, his arm didn’t move.
His eyes widened in surprise.

“Maybe stop trying to flex your strength? It’s just embarrassing.”
“You…!”

His face flushed red as he strained visibly.

Tch.

Watching him struggle, I picked my moment and released his wrist.

Stumble!

“…Kuh!?”

He lost his balance and fell hard onto the ground.

His long, lanky body splayed out in the dirt made for a pathetic sight.

“Oh dear…”

I let out an awkward chuckle.

“You don’t seem very strong. I should have helped you keep your balance. My apologies.”
“You… You bastard…!!”

Cheong Seon scrambled to his feet.

“How dare you… humiliate a noble…?”
“When did I do that?”
“You disgusting vermin… Do you have any idea what you’ve just done?”

I couldn’t help but laugh at his words.

“If I say no, will you forget about it?”
“…Grit…”

He ground his teeth, his face turning a deeper shade of red as he glared at me.

“You impudent fool. Do you know who my family is? We could make you disappear with a single word.”

“Wow… That’s frightening.”

Should I start shaking in fear?
The idea was amusing, so I spoke instead.

“But.”

I leaned in slightly, just enough so only he could hear.

I saw him flinch.

“Do you know who my mother is?”
“…What?”
“I mean, your family might be powerful, but…”

With a sly smile, I continued.

“Do you know who my mom is?”
“…What about her?”

He looked bewildered by the sudden mention of my mother.

“Well.”

I smiled faintly.

“I’m not going to tell you.”
“You bastard…!!”

Crunch—!!

Cheong Seon exploded with rage and lunged at me.

“Seize him! Rip him apart and feed him to the beasts—!”

As he shouted threats and charged, I moved on instinct.

Hah.

Haven’t I held back enough? If I restrained myself any longer, I might burst from the frustration.

“Well, I’ve already beaten a member of the White Clan.”

What would it matter if I pummeled one from the Blue Clan now?

Of course, it would cause problems.

“But who cares.”

I’d shown restraint three times already.
It was time to stop holding back.

With that thought, I tightened my fist, ready to hit him.

Thwack!!

“Kuh!?”

But before I could swing, Cheong Seon was slapped so hard he flew backward several meters.

“…Huh?”

It wasn’t me.

It was someone else’s hand.
Looking past the fallen Cheong Seon, I found the one responsible.

It was Cheonma.

She was the one who had struck him.

“You…?”

Stunned, I could only stare at her in disbelief.

But Cheonma wasn’t looking at me.
Her expression was the same as always, completely unchanged.

And yet, despite the familiarity of her face, a cold dread traced its way down my spine.

“…Cheonma?”

This wasn’t the Cheonma I had grown used to.
No, this was the Cheonma I remembered from my past life.

The one who had once been utterly untouchable in her arrogance and peerless in her dominance.

“You.”

That Cheonma was now standing before me, her aura palpable as she walked toward Cheong Seon.

“Do you wish to die?”