Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 962

Chapter 962

«I wonder what it was you witnessed.»

The woman rose onto the pale tips of her feet and stepped slowly toward Yarang.

With each step she took, the floral fragrance permeating the chamber grew more intense.

Yarang, her head bent low, shifted her hand.

It seemed as if she intended to trace something onto the floor.

«Remain as you are.»

At the woman’s command, Yarang’s motions stilled completely.

She held her position, yielding to the instruction.

The woman extended her hand and softly caressed Yarang’s hair.

«My child.»

“…”

«I believe it would be best if I viewed it for myself on this occasion.»

She smiled as she spoke, and Yarang lowered her head even more—as though settling into a posture that invited the touch.

Once she was properly arranged, the woman stopped stroking her hair and instead pressed her palm firmly against the top of Yarang’s head.

And then—

Sssssss—!!!

A stream of energy lifted from Yarang’s head, flowing up along the woman’s arm.

A beautiful aura of violet and red.

The energy slowly infused into the woman.

“Hmm.”

She released a soft hum, taking in the energy entirely.

Then, after a moment of silence—

“How peculiar….”

Her eyes, which had been shut, opened and settled on Yarang.

“Truly peculiar.”

Yet Yarang did not raise her head.

Observing her, the woman murmured quietly—

«Why is it that I cannot see…?»

A faint crease appeared between her brows, an uncommon expression of unease crossing her features.

She had just consumed Yarang’s memories, intending to witness directly what Yarang had seen.

And yet—

‘I see nothing.’

To her surprise, the familiar clarity that usually accompanied memory absorption was missing.

No, not entirely absent.

She could perceive Yarang in motion.

She could hear what Yarang had heard.

She could detect the smells, the sensations—everything that should have been embedded within the memory.

She had absorbed the majority of Yarang’s recollections.

‘…Hmm.’

But curiously, certain fragments were absent.

Most noticeably, the very end of the memory was nearly blank.

She saw Yarang moving toward a place—saw the direction of her gaze.

She saw the space where that gaze had landed.

But then—

Just as Yarang appeared to find someone, a dense black mist fell, enveloping all that remained of the memory.

By the time the mist cleared, the only thing visible was Yarang walking alone in the rain.

“Hmm.”

The woman tilted her head in curiosity.

This was unprecedented.

For memories to be concealed…

Even within the sacred domain of the Divine Tree, such a thing had never occurred.

‘What is this?’

What manner of situation was this?

She could not comprehend.

So, she lifted her hand and placed her fingers beneath Yarang’s chin.

She raised Yarang’s masked face.

Then, with her other hand, she reached forward—

Srrk.

The mask came away.

Beneath it was revealed a face of stunning beauty.

Thud.

The mask dropped to the floor as the woman gently stroked Yarang’s cheek.

«My child.»

“…”

«What is occurring here?»

Even as she posed the question, she received no reply.

But she was not troubled.

She had anticipated this.

«You are not being untruthful with me, are you?»

The possibility that Yarang was deceiving her…

It was not impossible.

And yet, the woman found it improbable.

Had that been the case, she would have known instantly.

«Hmm.»

What exactly had taken place?

Had Yarang truly seen something?

Doubt began to form in her mind.

Whoosh.

She withdrew her hand from Yarang and turned her back.

As she moved, the tails surrounding her stirred.

But then—

The enormous tails filling the room began to recede.

Little by little, their size diminished—until they were too small to be seen.

Settling back into place, she turned her gaze once more toward Yarang.

«My child.»

“…”

«It appears something has taken place, has it not?»

Again, there was no response.

But this time, the woman sensed something was amiss.

Silence was typical for Yarang.

But ordinarily, even in silence, she would respond through gesture.

Yet now—

Yarang simply stared at her, motionless.

Seeing this, the woman’s eyes narrowed slightly.

There is something.

She was certain.

«Hmm….»

Should she compel an answer from her?

Or was there a reason Yarang could not speak?

Under normal circumstances, a servant who failed to respond should simply be discarded.

That was the natural order.

And yet—

She could not do that.

She might do so with any other.

But not with Yarang.

—No matter what occurs, cherish her as you would your own daughter.

Those words were engraved upon her very soul.

She had never questioned them.

There was no need.

To her, it was natural.

She had never even considered doubting it.

Ssskk.

The woman rose from her seat and stepped forward.

Yet instead of departing, she moved to stand beside Yarang.

«My child.»

Her voice, softer now, called to her.

«Rise.»

Yarang obeyed.

And the moment she stood—something was draped over her.

A cloth.

A veil that covered her entire body, including her head.

The same veil the woman herself wore.

What was happening?

Yarang looked at her silently, awaiting an explanation.

«It has been some time since I last walked outside. We must make ready.»

“…!”

Yarang’s eyes widened.

The ruler of the heavens—

Had just declared her intention to descend into the mortal world.

—

By the time the heavy rain had lessened, I was already making my way back to Mount Hua.

It would have been acceptable to proceed directly to Yahwol, but considering what had occurred, I needed to deliver a report—if only as a formality.

But beyond that—

‘I have to tell someone what I saw.’

I needed to speak with someone about what had happened.

And in this world, there was only one person who could serve that purpose for me.

—“…Why in the world have you returned? Weren’t you supposed to be gone?”

Shin Noya shot me a glare as he sipped tea inside his quarters.

Beside him sat Gubong, whom I had not encountered in some time.

—“It was raining outside, wasn’t it? But you—why do you look completely untouched? …What happened?”

Shin Noya had begun speaking offhandedly, but the instant he saw my face, his tone changed.

His shift in demeanor made me unconsciously touch my own face.

Do I look that troubled?

Compelling my expression to calm, I replied.

—“…It’s nothing major. Something occurred, so I came to speak with you.”

—“Something occurred?”

Shin Noya narrowed his eyes.

—“Yes.”

—“I will take my leave.”

The moment I confirmed it, Gubong got to his feet.

It appeared he had learned from prior experience that this was not a conversation for him to hear.

He nodded toward me before exiting.

Something about his demeanor felt different from before.

What’s going on with him?

I wondered briefly, but Gubong was not the concern at present.

With only the two of us remaining in the room, I turned to Shin Noya.

And then, I began recounting everything that had just transpired.

—

After I finished my account, Shin Noya frowned deeply and asked,

—“…You’re claiming Yarang was that child?”

Yarang—one of the Generals of Mangye, was the Divine Sword.

When I explained it in those terms, his reaction was immediate.

—“Yes.”

—“…”

As I nodded, Noya released a long sigh.

—“…Brat.”

—“Yes.”

—“You always say it’s nothing, and then you bring me the most unbelievable stories.”

—“…”

Hearing that, I offered an awkward smile.

Now that he mentioned it, it was true.

—“Ever since you arrived, there hasn’t been a single day of peace.”

Should I apologize for that?

I hesitated, uncertain how to respond.

Then—

—“…Are you completely sure?”

Noya’s voice grew more grave.

I nodded once again.

—“Yes. I am certain.”

It was not merely a question of likeness.

Others might not have noticed, but I knew.

The feeling she gave me when I looked at her, the energy she emitted—

And the way she had fought against Cheonma.

Everything indicated that Yarang was the Divine Sword.

When I explained this to Noya, I saw his expression grow even more serious.

—“How is such a thing possible?”

—“You mean you were unaware as well?”

—“How in the world would I know? If I had, don’t you think I would have told you?”

—“…”

That was a fair point.

—“Then… do you know how long Yarang has been active?”

—“Not very long, from what I gather. But she was here before me.»

So Mangye existed before Noya’s arrival.

That meant it had to be at least a century old.

‘What in the world is happening?’

How could she be here?

Logically, the simplest explanation was that it was merely someone who resembled her.

But no.

I refused to accept that.

Those eyes. That energy.

And the feeling I had when I saw her.

Everything told me that Yarang was the Divine Sword.

—“That child… hmm.”

Noya stroked his chin, deep in thought.

His fingers traced his jawline, his brows knit in concentration.

Then—

—“…Very well, but let’s set that aside for the moment.”

He turned his gaze toward me.

—“Regardless of all that, what do you plan to do now?”

—“…Pardon?”

—“If you’re certain she is here, what is your next step?”

—“…”

It seemed Noya was less concerned with whether Yarang was truly the Divine Sword and more focused on what I intended to do about it.

But my course of action had been decided long ago.

—“I must meet her.”

I had to meet her. No matter what.

Even if I was sure, I needed to see it with my own eyes.

And more than that—

I needed to understand why she was here.

Why she appeared like this.

To learn that, I had to encounter the Divine Sword once again.

When I gave my answer, Noya immediately posed another question.

—“So? Do you plan to wait? Until she appears again?”

—“…”

I hesitated this time.

I needed a moment to think.

But not for long.

—“…I will go and find her.”

Wherever she is, I will seek her out.

She had been nearby before, so waiting might bring her back.

But I lack the patience for that.

Besides—

—“If I want to understand what is happening, I need to find everyone involved.”

Even if I caught Yarang and questioned her,

I already knew—there was another behind this.

That time.

The last time I had faced the Divine Sword.

The moment she had tried to vanish—

Someone had told me to hold her in place.

My mother.

My mother—

And the highest authority in Mangye.

If anyone knew what was happening, it had to be her.

It had to be.

‘In the end…’

The reason I had come to Mangye.

The link between Mangye and the Blood Demon.

The truth about myself.

And now, the enigma of the Divine Sword.

To uncover all of it, I needed to meet my mother.

‘I must quicken my pace.’

To see my mother, to fulfill Noya’s requests—

I needed to move faster.

At this rate, I would not make progress.

Ever since I had seen the Divine Sword again,

I had felt it.

The mounting urgency. The fire building within me.

—“…Anyway, that is the situation. If even you know nothing, Noya, I will simply have to account for that.»

Having said all I needed to say, I stood up.

If there was nothing more to gain from Noya, there was no reason to linger.

—“Where are you going?”

—“Yahwol.”

There was something I had meant to do there before all this happened.

I had to return and attend to it.

As soon as I stated my destination—

Shin Noya suddenly stood as well.

—“…Noya?”

—“Alright, let’s go.”

—“What?”

Go?

Where?

I blinked in confusion, and Noya, with his usual impassive expression, clarified.

—“I said, let’s go. To Yahwol.”

—“…You’re coming as well?”

—“Yes.”

Pat. Pat.

Brushing off his martial robe, he spoke in a casual tone—

—“It seems I need to go this time.”

—“…”

The look on his face said it all.

‘…He definitely looks like he’s planning to punish someone severely.’

One thing was clear—

He was not going with peaceful intentions.