Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 970

Chapter 970

The expression in his eyes told me he was aware that I had discovered the truth.
And I despised it.

That smug grin, that unblinking stare directed at me—it was all too much to bear.

I had the overwhelming urge to smash that arrogant face of his,
but at this moment, expending energy on a confrontation with him was a luxury I couldn’t afford.

«Even the Abyssal Pit… was something my mother arranged?»

The sacred tree beneath Mount Hua.
And the Abyssal Pit—or rather, Kurung—that had resided there.

Noya referred to it as an entity of master-class importance.
But why had such a being chosen to dwell under Mount Hua’s sacred tree to begin with?

‘And now you’re claiming even that was done because my mother asked?’

From what Shin Noya said, everything was arranged by my mother.

Noya becoming a general.
Noya’s betrayal and his disappearance with the sacred tree.

The chaos that followed in Mangye.
And now, even the disaster triggered by the absence of the Abyssal Pit—
All of it was initiated by my mother.

«…To what end?»

What could possibly justify such extreme measures?
What was my mother trying to achieve?
And why had Noya agreed to assist her?

I couldn’t comprehend it, so I had no choice but to ask.

It wasn’t enough to simply accept that my mother had set these events in motion.
I needed to know her reasons.

When he heard my question, Noya looked back at me with an almost detached expression.

«Who can say? I don’t completely grasp your mother’s motives either…»

He went quiet for a moment, lost in thought before speaking again.

«If I were to speculate, the first reason would be to make preparations for you.
And the second—»

Noya raised a finger and once again pointed upward.

«—would be because she desires the end of Mangye.»
«…!»

His words made my expression tighten.

«…The end of Mangye?»

Where did that come from?
Why was he suddenly speaking about Mangye’s destruction?

«She has mentioned it frequently.
And everything unfolding now—this turmoil—
is simply the manifestation of your mother’s long-held desire.»

«I don’t follow. Explain more clearly.»

«I already told you—the moment one sacred tree was disrupted, an irregularity spread throughout all of Mangye.»

«…Yes.»

That disturbance led to a sudden rise in the energy density saturating the air.

«If losing one sacred tree resulted in this level of chaos,
what do you believe would occur if more were taken?»

«…»

«It would be a calamity.
But more significantly—»

Noya tilted his head back toward the sky.
Toward the place he had gestured to earlier.

«If anything were to happen to the master’s sacred tree up there…
I can’t say with absolute certainty,
but it would likely unleash something truly catastrophic.»

Hearing this, I replied immediately.

«…So that’s what you mean by ‘the end of Mangye.’
And you’re saying my mother wanted that?»

Noya and the Abyssal Pit had acted to fulfill that plan.
But did the current master know nothing about it?

Why would my mother wish for something like that?
No matter how I turned it over in my mind, it made no sense.

And there was another thing—

«You also claimed this was all for me.
I can’t make sense of that, either.»

Something meant to benefit me?

«I haven’t received anything.»

There was nothing I had gained from being here.
Not even the one thing I wanted most.

The mother I yearned to see didn’t even recognize me.

How could any of this be tied to me?
What difference did any of it make to my life?

«…»

Noya said nothing.
He only continued to watch me.

And the look in his eyes—
that heavy, conflicted stare—
infuriated me.

«…Why are you staring at me like that?»

«Originally,» Noya started,
«I would have preferred to explain everything to you, as though I had all the answers.
But I can’t do that now.»

«What does that mean?»

«I don’t know every detail of what your mother intends.
And besides—
something has occurred that even I knew nothing about.»

«Something you weren’t aware of?»

«That so-called Divine Sword.
I’m referring to Yarang.»

«…!»

Noya had brought up the Divine Sword.
At those words, I went quiet for a moment.

«I never heard anything about that child.»

His voice was even, but carried a subtle tension.

Under normal circumstances, I might not have noticed.
But this was different.

I knew my mother and Shin Noya shared some kind of history.
And it seemed deeper than a passing acquaintance.

So the fact that Yarang’s existence was news to him—
that clearly signified something.

«As things stand, I truly don’t know what your mother is attempting to achieve.»

Not even he was certain.

I bit my lip lightly at his words.

«But there is one thing you should keep in mind.»

Noya held me with an intent gaze.

«No matter what—
your mother has done all of this for you.»

«…How can you be so certain?»

«What kind of parent would act in a way that harms their own child?»

«…»

Tch.

I couldn’t accept that.
I’d witnessed plenty of examples where that wasn’t the case.

Hell, my own family was a prime illustration.
We were far from the picture of domestic peace.

Maybe my face betrayed my skepticism,
because Noya offered a faint, humorless smile.

«Well, I couldn’t say—I’m an orphan, after all. Hah!»

«…»

Even now, he was making jokes.
What was I supposed to say to that?

Damn old man.

I released a heavy sigh and turned toward the sunset.

«…So for now, does that mean there’s no way for me to see my mother?»

Even if I did meet her, she wouldn’t be the person she once was.
But Noya had seen her.
So there must be a way.

That’s why I asked.

«Hell if I know.»

And he gave the most frustrating answer possible.

«Like I said earlier, I can’t be sure.
But…»

He paused briefly before adding—

«If you carry out what she intended to do,
then perhaps you’ll find your answer.»

«…»

What my mother intended to do.

«Destroying the sacred trees?»

She wanted every sacred tree in Mangye eliminated.
And doing that might bring me to her?

What kind of absurd reasoning was that?

«…Well, I suppose it aligns.»

I got to my feet.

I already had obligations at Mount Hua.
I already had plans to act for my sect.

And if my mother’s goal happened to coincide with that…

Then maybe—

‘Who knows.’

Even Noya wasn’t sure.
So how could I be?

But—

‘…It’s not as if I have any other leads.’

There was nothing else I could do.
This was the only path forward.

I drew something out from my sleeve.

«Noya.»
«…Yeah?»
«Let me ask you one more thing, just to be certain.»

Click.

Slowly, I fitted a mask over my face.

[Did you come all this way just to tell me these things today?]

My voice shifted.
Noya watched with mild interest.

Had he really traveled to Yahwol only to explain this to me?

«No. Like I said, I had my own business.»
[Meeting Yusa?]
«Yeah.»

That guy…

Well, it didn’t matter now.

I could deal with that later.

For now—

[Night is falling.]

The fading light meant it was time.

[I’ll hear the rest when I return.]

I had work to do in the night of Yahwol.

As I turned completely toward the dimming sun—

«Want some help?»

Noya’s voice called out from behind.

I let out a dismissive sound.

[Not necessary.]

Hooom.

Dark energy swelled within me as I rose into the air.

[Just stay and watch. I won’t be long.]

With that, I disappeared into the gathering dark.

—

The instant Gu Yangcheon vanished—

Shin Noya stood silently gazing toward where the dark flames had dissipated.

«…That kid.»

His control over energy had improved dramatically.
Far beyond what he’d shown during their last fight, when Shin Noya had used him to work out his own frustrations.

‘Did something click for him in that time?’
But there’d been no obvious moment for such realization.
If he had gained insight, where could it have come from?

It never crossed Shin Noya’s mind that Gu Yangcheon might have learned something from watching him pummel Yusa.

He simply thought—
if the boy had found enlightenment in something, then that was that.

And just as he began to smile slightly—

«Cough…!»

Abruptly, Shin Noya clenched his jaw and sank to one knee.

«Sect Leader…!»

Gubong, who had been maintaining a respectful distance, hurried over in concern.

«Are you all right…?!»
«I’m fine. It’s nothing.»
«No, you’re not! We must return to Mount Hua at once…!»
«Return? It’s already night—where would we go?»

In his current state, he would need to wait until morning at the earliest.
Besides—

«If I slip away quietly now, what happens if that kid makes a mess? Heh…»
«Sect Leader…»
«It’s alright. I’m just… a little tired.»

As if to demonstrate, Shin Noya pushed Gubong’s hand aside and steadied himself.

He pretended everything was normal.
But in truth—his condition was severe.

Even the slight trembling in his fingertips—he tried to conceal it.
And as he released a dry chuckle—

‘Damn it.’

This wasn’t good.
No, it was much worse than that.

‘It seems… my time is almost up.’

The miracle he had been granted… was nearing its end.