Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 973

Chapter 973

Of course. Here is the paraphrased chapter:

«You’re aware of its location?»

My eyes widened at his response.

I had only asked on impulse, not genuinely believing he would have an answer. That he actually knew took me completely by surprise.

«Indeed, I am aware.»

«…Where is it?»

In reply, Noya gestured casually toward the ground beneath our feet.

I followed his pointing finger, but there was only the stone pavement.

Why was he indicating there?

Just as I opened my mouth to question him, Noya spoke.

«Below us. Yahwol’s Divine Tree exists far beneath the surface.»

‘Underground?’

A Divine Tree—wasn’t that supposed to be something immense, like the one on Mount Hua? He was claiming such a tree wasn’t above ground but deep below it?

For a moment, my mind went blank.

How could a tree of that size possibly exist underground?

«I only know that it is there,» Noya continued. «I do not know how it exists, nor do I know the method of entry.»

«So there is a specific way in?»

«Naturally. Given the Divine Tree’s significance, it is only logical that it would not be placed somewhere easily reached.»

«…Then what of Mount Hua? Their tree was left out in the open.»

If making it inaccessible was the standard, then Mount Hua’s tree was a clear exception. His argument didn’t hold up.

When I pointed this out, Noya gave an awkward chuckle.

«That one is also concealed, in a manner of speaking.»

That was nonsense. You could see that thing from miles away.

«You believe I am lying? From the beginning, Mount Hua was a place very few could ever access.»

It sounded like a desperate attempt to justify it, and I wasn’t convinced. I just gave an absent nod, letting him talk.

«You little—»

He clearly didn’t appreciate my attitude. His fist clenched.

Damn.

«So,» I cut in quickly, «since you don’t know where the entrance is, that means we have to find it ourselves?»

He clicked his tongue and lowered his fist.

Crisis averted—

—Thud!

«Urgh…!!»

Or not.

I clutched my head.

Damn him.

«Correct, you have to find it,» he said, looking considerably more pleased after having struck me.

I guess that punch improved his mood.

«But at the very least, you will not be searching with no guidance.»

«…What does that mean?»

«What do you think it means? Someone already possesses that knowledge.»

«Someone…?»

A grin touched the corner of his lips.

«You need not look far. Someone who knows every detail of Yahwol is very close by.»

«Who—» I began, then stopped.

I already knew the answer.

The one who knew everything that occurred in Yahwol.

The one who ruled this territory.

«…You mean Yusa?»

The General of Yahwol.

Yusa.

If anyone knew the location of the Divine Tree, it would be him.

It was perfectly logical.

‘There is no possibility he wouldn’t know.’

The Divine Tree itself was tied to the General. The notion that Yusa was unaware of its whereabouts was absurd. He was the one who held the answer.

But—

«There is one issue.»

I had been on the verge of asking how we would get that information from him— when a sudden thought occurred to me.

I froze.

«…Noya. Don’t tell me—»

Noya had purposely come to Yahwol to confront Yusa.

I had assumed it was merely to provoke him, to create chaos for his own amusement.

But—

Now that I considered it, this could mean—

«…Was your objective from the very beginning to extract the Divine Tree’s location from Yusa?»

Was that what Noya had been seeking all along?

I looked at him, searching for an answer—

And then—

—Chuckle.

Noya laughed.

That was all the answer I needed.

It meant I was correct.

*********************

By the time morning arrived in full, Yahwol was in a state of absolute upheaval.

How could it not be?

News had spread uncontrollably— the leader of the Blue Clan, the dominant power in Yahwol’s largest trade district, had been ambushed. To make it worse, he had suffered critical injuries and was now balancing on the brink of death.

A noble had been assaulted.

Tensions were already high following the incident with the White Clan. Now, with this second attack, the general unease solidified into something denser— something perilous.

The perpetrator hadn’t merely invaded the estate. He had strolled in alone, confronted the clan head directly, defeated him, and then disappeared without a trace. And during the fight, he had torn out the heir’s eye, toying with him.

How was that even possible?

Not only had someone attacked one of Yahwol’s most powerful aristocrats— they had shamed him, mocked his entire clan, and departed as if it were nothing.

The sheer absurdity of the event left Yahwol’s citizens in disarray.

And that disarray—

Had reached all the way to the noble families themselves.

Yahwol Manor – The Council of Clans

At the highest point in Yahwol stood a mansion. It was smaller than the estates of the other nobles, its position isolated and precarious— yet nobody dared to challenge its authority.

It was called Yahwol Hall.

This place had been constructed under the direct command of Yusa— the General of Yahwol himself.

Whenever a crisis emerged— whenever a problem grew beyond control— the aristocracy gathered here. And today was the first time in nearly fifty years that its doors had been opened.

Within this place—

“…I didn’t expect to see your face again so soon.”

A low voice broke the quiet.

At the round table, the leader of the Black Clan, a member of the Moonlit Night Tribe, spoke softly.

Across from him, the leader of the White Clan, a massive brute of a man, ground his teeth.

«Even after all this time, your conceited, rotten face still infuriates me.»

His growled words were thick with hostility.

The Black Clan’s leader simply stared back.

Then—

He smirked.

The White Clan’s leader narrowed his eyes.

«…Are you laughing at me?»

«Oh, my apologies,» the Black leader said, his tone dripping with mockery. «I simply couldn’t help it.»

«What is so damned funny?»

«It’s just… rather amusing,» the Black leader reflected. «To see a man who’s been hiding in a room for weeks suddenly pretend to have any courage.»

«You bastard—!»

—Krrrrk.

The White Clan’s leader shot up from his chair, the legs screeching against the floor.

Immediately, a murderous aura saturated the room. The immense weight of it pushed outward. Most emanated from the White leader himself— but a similarly dark black energy began to rise in answer.

The air grew heavy.

One wrong move, and a fight would break out immediately.

Then—

«Must we really do this?»

A honey-smooth voice slipped between the clashing pressures.

And in the next instant—

—Fwoosh!

Both auras unraveled and dispersed into the air.

The two men turned, their aggressive stares landing on the woman who had spoken.

She met their gazes with utter indifference. Instead, she gave a slight shrug.

«You called for a meeting,» she said lightly. «And then you begin having a tantrum the moment you lay eyes on one another? How tiresome.»

«…Red.»

Her hair was a vivid scarlet.

She was Hong Jeong, the leader of the Red Clan.

Ignoring their reactions, she continued, her tone almost conversational.

«Let’s recall why we are here, brothers.»

Her voice was smooth, even playful— but her eyes held a fierce glow. She made no effort to conceal her ferocity.

«The Blue Clan was weak, that is true,» she conceded. «But they were not that weak. And both of you are aware of it.»

The White leader scowled.

«And yet now, the Blue Clan’s head is barely clinging to life— his chest ripped open. His heir? Had an eye torn from its socket. Tell me, brothers— does any of that seem normal to you?»

A low, taunting laugh escaped her lips. She was speaking directly to the White Clan’s leader.

While the Black and White Clans had their disputes, the true animosity had always existed between the White and Blue. Years prior, the two had fought, and the White Clan had crushed the Blue Clan in battle.

And now?

Now, the Blue Clan had been utterly disgraced.

This time, the White leader had no retort. He had thrown insults at the Black leader earlier— but now, he was silent.

«Not to mention,» Hong Jeong added, «this alleged invasion? The individual walked directly into the estate and fought them on their own ground. In their own domain. And they still lost. What does that tell you?»

«…What is your point?»

Hong Jeong tilted her head.

«Oh, nothing much,» she mused.

Then—

—Clap.

She snapped her fingers.

«I simply believe we have a profoundly dangerous guest in our city.»

«Hah… Don’t tell me you’re frightened?»

The White leader scoffed.

Hong Jeong’s eyes widened in mock surprise.

«Oh my. Are you not frightened, brother?»

«What?»

«I mean, you’ve already been beaten nearly to death by Cheonma, haven’t you? Why posture so boldly when the entire world witnessed your humiliation?»

«…!»

«Brother, a little self-awareness is necessary. Posturing after such a pathetic defeat? It’s merely embarrassing.»

«You bitch—!»

Enraged, the White leader’s energy flared again— but before he could act—

Hong Jeong laughed.

And in that moment—

—Rumble—!

An overwhelming force erupted from her body. Her energy coiled around her like a living entity, pulsing with lethal intent.

«Brother, brother, brother… Why do you always bare your fangs?»

Her smile was sharp enough to cut.

«It only makes me wish to pull them all out.»

A pause.

«Or perhaps… should I peel that arrogant face from your skull instead? If you’re curious, you need only ask.»

Hong Jeong.

The Red Clan’s leader.

And the strongest noble in Yahwol.

Her name alone carried immense weight. And as she shifted, her aura solidified—

The Black leader clicked his tongue.

Minutes before, she had told them to be calm. Now, she was the one who had successfully incited the White leader into an uncontrollable fury. And she was laughing about it.

‘She is dangerous.’

She had always been dangerous. By age alone, she should be no different from his son. Yet she had ascended to the head of her clan by slaughtering her own family.

That power. That instinct.

That madness.

She wasn’t merely strong— she was twisted.

The Black leader sighed and moved to intervene—

Then—

«Oh.»

Hong Jeong’s eyes widened slightly. And in the next instant, she withdrew her energy completely.

The sudden shift left both the Black and White leaders momentarily stunned.

Then—

«Sit.»

A voice rang out from the center of the round table.

Someone had arrived.

The White leader immediately sat down. Hong Jeong, as if she had never been angry at all, elegantly returned to her seat.

The one who had spoken was a young man with light green eyes. He was the one who had convened this council.

And—

«I will say this now.»

The man—

«My current mood is terrible. So do not irritate me. Or I will kill you. Understood?»

Was Yahwol’s apex predator.

Was Yusa—the General of Yahwol.