Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 956

Chapter 956

A low growl echoed, like the sky itself splitting apart.

The atmosphere contorted, and a strange, powerful force flooded the area.

*Thud!*

My heart hammered violently against my ribs as the energy inside me broke free, surging without restraint.

A primal, defensive reflex.

My body moved on its own accord; power rushed through my meridians, flooding every part of my being.

*Whirrrrrr—!!!*

The rings of the Nine Flames Firewheel expanded, spinning at a terrifying speed.

An intense heat flared, scorching the top of my head.

‘…What is this…?’

This feeling—

It was too strange to be mere hostility or a desire to kill.

Yet, it wasn’t completely unknown, either.

‘A sorcerous working?’

I resolved to categorize this sensation as a type of spell.

If that was accurate, then should I view it as an intent given form through sorcery?

Manifested intent is molded by one’s emotions and depth of cultivation.

So if a spell was being used to project an aura—

‘Is this the outcome?’

An aura conjured through sorcery.

A phenomenon shaped by the turtle’s own profound mastery.

If that explained what was happening now—

‘Fascinating.’

Beyond the reason for his reaction, the situation itself captured my interest.

Sorcery is a complex power, one I still hadn’t fully grasped.

‘So it can be employed this way, too.’

Learning it could be applied like this offered a fresh viewpoint.

‘What, precisely, is the distinction?’

The pressure mounted, slowly beginning to affect me as well.

I devoted my entire focus to analyzing the method of its manifestation.

‘It’s fundamentally unlike the manifestation of internal energy.’

Then the manner of its expression must also be different.

Should I examine it from a sorcerer’s perspective?

*Thump.*

I concentrated my heart energy, weaving fine threads of sorcery.

It didn’t seem to apply direct pressure the way internal energy does.

If I had to describe it—

‘Distortion. Or a divergence from nature.’

And transformation.

Turning truth into falsehood.

Or weaving falsehood into truth.

That was the core principle of sorcery, as I understood it.

‘Then, in the end…’

Instead of exerting genuine pressure, could it be fabricating the illusion of pressure through sorcery?

It felt almost like a play on words, but—

*Ssssss—!*

Following this insight, I adjusted my energy flow accordingly.

In that instant—

*Crack—!*

«…!»

A fracture shot through the phenomenon the turtle had crafted.

The two forces met, grinding against one another like millstones.

«Aah.»

Witnessing this, a smile of pure delight spread across my face.

«So that’s the mechanism.»

«…Ha.»

*Crrrkk—!*

As the two crafted phenomena collided—

The turtle released a dry, hollow laugh.

«…You truly are an unbelievable bastard.»

He sighed, a sound of pure resignation, and as he did, the immense pressure dissolved into nothing.

I clicked my tongue in disappointment.

‘I was nearly there.’

Just a moment more.

If I could have held onto that sensation a little longer, I would have comprehended it completely.

But—

‘For now, I should exercise restraint.’

Given the situation, it wasn’t the right time to press further.

It was then that—

«What in the world are you thinking about right now?»

The turtle’s voice jerked me back to the present.

«Oh, right. What were we discussing?»

«…»

He stared at me with utter incredulity.

«…We were discussing how your mother is the sovereign of the Man’gye.»

«Ah, right.»

Now that he mentioned it—

That was the topic.

I had come here because learning sorcery was necessary to meet my mother.

And when the turtle heard that—

«You called her a Demonic Fox earlier.»

He had referred to my mother as a Demonic Fox (Yohou).

«Is that her actual name?»

«…Are you telling me you don’t even know your own mother’s name?»

«She was never called that before. But perhaps she goes by a different name here.»

«…»

The turtle’s face became utterly unreadable.

He was a being with few expressions to begin with, making his thoughts impossible to decipher.

After a short silence—

«…No, that is not the case. Demonic Fox is merely a title.»

«A nickname that only you use? Or—»

«I am certain others called her that as well. But…»

*Tap. Tap.*

The turtle tapped his staff against the ground several times.

«Whether any of them are still alive is another question entirely.»

«…»

His voice carried a faint, cold undercurrent.

A trace of deep bitterness.

That did not bode well.

‘That kind of reaction…’

Had my mother done something?

‘Hmm.’

Just what had she done?

I was curious, of course, but—

‘I shouldn’t press him on it.’

If he wasn’t volunteering the information, asking would be pointless.

«…Haa.»

The turtle released a long, weary sigh, as if sifting through complex emotions.

As he steadied his breathing, I simply watched him in silence.

«…You are ridiculous.»

Eventually, he turned to me, his voice thick with exasperation.

«It is obvious that I hold no fondness for your mother. And yet, you sit there so calmly.»

«Well…»

That much was clear.

«But I haven’t done anything wrong. If something happened, it was her doing.»

«…»

At my straightforward reply, the turtle’s expression went completely blank.

«You really are a shameless bastard.»

«Shameless? No, I’m just stating a fact.»

I shrugged.

«I was just as shocked as anyone to learn my mother is some great figure in this world. Honestly, I didn’t even want to come here.»

That was half a lie.

I had made a deal with my father back when I mastered the Nine Flames Firewheel.

—»If you fully master the Nine Flames Firewheel, I will tell you where your mother is.»

That was our agreement.

And the moment I heard it—

‘I was already planning to find her.’

I fully intended to go to wherever she was.

But—

‘It wasn’t solely about seeing my mother.’

That wasn’t my only purpose.

Of course, I had longed for her. Desperately, even.

But—

‘There was something more important than that.’

Now, my personal feelings were secondary to a greater objective.

‘…I need to understand what is happening to me.’

If anyone could provide answers, it would be my mother. And—

‘I need to confirm the truth about the Divine Sword.’

When I discovered traces of her at the Divine Dragon Pavilion, my mother had appeared for the first time and intervened.

She had told me to absorb the Divine Dragon into my body.

‘But I still don’t know what happened after that.’

Since then, she hadn’t appeared again.

I had no idea where the Divine Sword was now.

That was why I needed to see her.

But—

‘…If she doesn’t even recognize me, that will be a problem.’

No matter what, it was absurd that she might not know her own son’s face and could try to kill me.

I was just as much a victim in this situation.

So—

«Help me out.»

I needed the turtle’s power.

«…How has the conversation arrived at this point?»

The turtle frowned, as if this conclusion made no sense to him.

What was so strange about it?

«I need to meet my mother, and to do that, I need to learn sorcery. You are the only one I know who can teach me.»

«No, that is not my question… Why in the world should I help you?»

«Come on, can’t you just lend me a hand?»

«…So you will simply insist until I give in?»

Sharp.

The more we spoke, the deeper the look of disbelief on the turtle’s face became.

«You want me to help you, the son of my enemy?»

«Yes.»

«Do you not hear how absurd that sounds?»

«It does sound absurd.»

I wouldn’t deny it.

It was an unreasonable request.

But—

«That’s why, instead of a favor, let’s make a deal.»

«A deal?»

The turtle’s expression shifted, showing a flicker of interest.

«Yes, a deal.»

«What manner of deal?»

«You teach me sorcery, and in return, I will do something for you.»

«…What?»

For a moment, the turtle’s interest seemed to vanish.

«I have nothing I need from you. How does that constitute a deal?»

«You will, eventually.»

«Huh?»

«Whether it’s something related to my mother or a personal matter of yours, I will fulfill your request.»

«…»

One of the turtle’s thick eyebrows twitched.

This offer was nonsensical.

He could have dismissed it outright.

But instead of refusing immediately—

He was considering it.

Which meant—

‘There is something he wants from me.’

Or at least, something he might want in the future.

And I had no intention of letting that opportunity slip away.

«As long as it’s not something like killing her or fighting her, I’ll do it.»

«…Heh. Kill her? What nonsense.»

«Right? That would be excessive.»

«It’s not about that. Even if you died a hundred times over, you could not kill her.»

«…»

Ah.

So that was the issue.

I scratched my cheek awkwardly.

Was my mother truly that powerful?

Well, if she ruled an entire world…

‘Is she stronger than the Blood Demon?’

The thought crossed my mind, but I set it aside.

That wasn’t important right now.

But then—

«…Perhaps not.»

The turtle suddenly murmured to himself, lost in thought.

After a brief silence, he muttered again—

«I see. Maybe… it is not impossible.»

«What are you talking about all of a sudden?»

«You said you would grant my request, correct?»

«Yes, as long as it’s not one of those things.»

«And anything else is acceptable?»

«Hearing it phrased that way makes me slightly nervous.»

«Give me a clear answer.»

«I will listen first, and if it’s too unreasonable, I will refuse. But I will agree to most things.»

«…I see. Understood.»

The turtle nodded in acceptance.

His reaction gave me pause.

«You’re truly alright with the possibility that I might refuse?»

That meant he could end up making this deal for nothing.

But he simply smirked.

«It is of no consequence. After all… I will ensure you do not refuse.»

«…Wow.»

That was a terrifying thing to say.

Should I back out now?

As I hesitated—

«I will regret this,» the turtle said.

«My own foolishness is drawing me into matters I should avoid… but I suppose this is fate.»

*Creak.*

The turtle rose from his chair.

And then—

*Fwoooosh!*

The scenery transformed.

In the blink of an eye, the teahouse was gone.

I now stood in the center of an immense plain.

Lush, green fields stretched to the horizon, pulsing with vibrant energy.

And in the middle of it all—

The turtle and I stood facing one another.

«I will ask you.»

His voice echoed strangely.

It seeped into my heart, embedding itself deep within.

«What is it that you seek from me?»

It was chilling.

And yet profoundly heavy.

For a fleeting moment, the vibrant plains seemed to warp, threatening to collapse into a suffocating swamp.

When facing a powerful martial opponent, the clash of intent is as sharp as a razor’s edge.

But against this opponent—

It felt like the collision of seasons.

At times, it was cold.

At times, it was searing.

Sometimes, it was cool and refreshing—

But then, suddenly, it would become humid and oppressive.

A distorted symphony of sensations.

Facing the turtle felt like confronting transformation itself.

I processed the overwhelming sensations and gave him my answer.

What did I want?

The answer had been decided from the very beginning.

«Everything.»

Not a single thing less.

I intended to take everything from him.