Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 978

The influence of demonic energy is effective. I had just verified it for myself.

“Heuk Saek has been defeated.”

The head of the Black Faction—

The one recognized as Gubong’s father had yielded to demonic corruption and transformed into a demon.

Initially, when I channeled the demonic energy into him, I wasn’t completely certain.

But later, based on his state, it was clearly working.

Still—

“It wasn’t a full success.”

I wasn’t certain why, but I hadn’t managed to completely subjugate him.

To put it simply, it was only partially effective.

He had become a demon, but his allegiance to me wasn’t total.

There was no fundamental change in his mindset.

Most who turn into demons display absolute fidelity to me.

But Heuk Saek… was not like that.

Was it because he was an unusual individual?

Or was there something inherently different about the Moonlit Night Tribe itself?

“I will need to experiment on others.”

I never originally intended to employ demonic energy here.

To be more precise, I never thought it would be necessary.

“Why would I travel to another world and resort to something like this?”

That was my line of thinking before.

But now—

“I can’t afford to be selective anymore.”

Now, I must use every tool available to bring this to a swift conclusion.

“Did it work?”

“Yes. But only partly—it’s enough to keep him bound.”

It could restrain his body—but not his will.

“Hm.”

Hearing this, Shin Noya made a strange face.

Noticing it, I instinctively looked his way.

No matter how ill-tempered and brutal he might be, he was still a Taoist master.

And in Zhongyuan, he was once hailed as a hero.

Wouldn’t he disapprove of such a corrupting method—?

“Only halfway, huh… It would’ve been better if you had his mind, too. Tsk, tsk. How can you be so incompetent?”

…So much for that.

I guess there was no need to be concerned.

“……”

“What? Why are you staring at me like that?”

“…It’s nothing.”

I shook my head slightly and gave a light cough.

“Anyway… at the very least, his body is under control. And even without that, Heuk Saek will likely align with us soon enough.”

He was a man driven by ambition.

And those with ambition are the easiest to control.

The greater the ambition, the simpler they are to manipulate.

Those obsessed with power are always searching for ways to obtain more of it.

They care little about the methods—

Only the outcome.

And now—

“I have revealed power to him.”

I showed him something far beyond what he anticipated—

And that alone will start to change him.

That was my assessment.

“So, this side is mostly handled. What about yours, Noya?”

My part is done.

I had already anticipated Heuk Saek’s fall—

And that prediction was largely accurate.

But the more critical matter was the one Shin Noya had undertaken.

“Yusa.”

General Yusa.

His decision now was far more important.

Keeping that in mind, I turned to Noya—

Only to find his expression somewhat strained.

“Hm.”

“What is it?”

“He said he would speak with me again later.”

“…I see.”

That was unexpectedly positive.

I had prepared for some defiance.

If he had erupted in anger and outright refused, it would have been troublesome.

But—

He agreed to listen.

That alone was progress.

I was focusing on Noya’s words—

But for some reason, he didn’t seem satisfied.

Why did he have that look on his face?

Sensing something was off, I asked:

“What’s the matter?”

He replied.

“Something doesn’t feel right.”

“What do you mean?”

“Yusa.”

“Yes?”

“That bastard has sharp instincts.”

“I know.”

Yusa was perceptive.

And he took great pride in that.

But—

“No, it’s more than that.”

“How so?”

“His intuition stems from his Authority.”

“…Authority?”

That ability—

Gluttony.

The power to devour anything.

The hungrier he is, the keener his senses become.

The hungrier he is, the stronger his body grows.

But that hunger is an eternal curse.

I learned about it after Tiamat consumed his power.

And—

“Tiamat can devour their Authorities as well.”

There are four Generals in the Moonlit Night Tribe—

Each one possesses an Authority.

And Tiamat can consume them.

At first, I believed it could only absorb a dragon’s power.

But clearly—

That was not the case.

When Tiamat devoured Yusa’s Authority,

It granted me understanding of his power.

I already knew what Yusa’s ability was.

“So, are you saying that’s why you’re making that face, Noya?”

I can comprehend why his instincts are sharp—

That is just an aspect of his Authority.

But why is that an issue?

At my question, Shin Noya looked at me and said—

“Listen, kid.”

“Yes?”

“Yusa isn’t just sharp. He’s also far from foolish.”

There was a unusual hint of worry in his tone.

“Back at the banquet, we told Heuk Saek to steer things toward targeting Red.”

“Right.”

I had commanded Heuk Saek to say that.

That was the plan.

That was what led me to meet Heuk Saek.

That was what led Noya to meet Yusa.

And yet—

For some reason, Noya felt unsettled.

“We set up Red as the target. Yusa definitely heard that.”

“Yes.”

“But… Heuk Saek never directly named himself.”

“……”

Hearing that, my own expression grew serious.

He was correct.

“Did I instruct him to say it?”

When I gave Heuk Saek the order in secret—

Did I explicitly tell him to identify himself first?

“If it were me—”

If I were in Heuk Saek’s position,

I would have brought myself up first—

Then used Red as a diversion.

But what if—

“Heuk Saek didn’t do that?”

What if he didn’t?

“……”

Heuk Saek wasn’t a fool.

But there was always a possibility.

And if Yusa found that strange—

“What would he do?”

If Yusa became suspicious, would he seek out Heuk Saek?

That was a real risk.

And if he did—

“That could create problems.”

Even though I corrupted Heuk Saek with demonic energy, the power known as Myeong might be able to overcome it.

If that power is truly absolute, then it could become a genuine threat.

I fell into thought.

I considered the worst possible outcome—

Turned it over in my mind again and again.

Time was limited, but in those brief moments, countless thoughts raced through my head.

Yet no matter how much I pondered—

“…Hm.”

My final judgment remained largely unchanged.

“The milk is already spilled.”

What happened, happened.

There was no reversing it.

Nor was there any need to.

“Well, we may as well see it through.”

“That’s a rather relaxed way to look at it.”

“What’s your view, Noya? If Yusa truly noticed something odd—what do you believe he would do?”

I thought about Yusa.

I didn’t know him intimately, but I had observed him long enough to form an opinion.

“Rather than reporting it immediately—”

He wouldn’t just run to inform someone for the sake of his standing.

“He would investigate first.”

“He would investigate first.”

“……”

“……”

We both gave the same answer.

Seeing that, Noya looked slightly embarrassed.

I allowed myself a faint smile.

“He is ambitious.”

Just like Heuk Saek.

No—even more so than Heuk Saek.

A man overflowing with ambition.

I could tell just from the look in his eyes.

How else did I survive in Zhongyuan, constantly surrounded by men like that?

“Where there is ambition, there is hope.”

Even in the deepest abyss, men like him will claw desperately for a way up if they see a chance.

He would never discard an opportunity without first verifying it.

“They say you should knock before crossing a stone bridge.”

It was an old saying urging caution.

But in this instance—

“It means he wouldn’t proceed without checking first.”

It wasn’t a perfect fit, but for Yusa, it was close enough.

“If he becomes suspicious, he will look into it first.”

And all I need to do—

Is make sure his doubt turns into certainty.

“So, when exactly did he say he would meet you?”

“In half a shichen (about an hour).”

“Hm.”

That wasn’t very long.

“If he scheduled the meeting for that time…”

If Noya’s worries are justified, then he is making preparations.

A thread of tension traced my spine.

“Half a shichen…”

I noted the time in my thoughts—

When suddenly.

“Oh, and kid.”

“Yeah?”

“You have to go alone this time.”

“What?”

I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Yusa specifically asked that you meet him by yourself. And I need to return to Mount Hua soon. So, even if you’re disappointed, I can’t—”

“No, I’m not disappointed. Why were you planning to come along anyway?”

“…Huh?”

“I can handle this. You can go back.”

“……”

I said it so matter-of-factly that Noya’s face twisted into a peculiar expression.

“Frankly, if you came now, you’d only be a hindrance.”

“…Oh. I see.”

I was already telling him his presence was unnecessary.

But for some reason—

Noya looked strangely dejected.

What was that about?

I simply said he wouldn’t be needed, so why did he look so disappointed?

“If we’re done talking, I’ll be going. Just give me the location, and you can head back.”

“……”

Noya clicked his tongue, seeming awkward.

He clearly had more to say, but in the end, he remained silent.

After that, I got the meeting location from him.

And surprisingly—

It wasn’t within the Moonlit Night Tribe’s territory.

It was in the forest—

A short distance outside the citadel.

The place where I was to meet Yusa—

Was where he would meet Cheonma.