Childhood Friend of the Zenith Novel MTL - Chapter 991

Chapter 991

Of course. Here is the paraphrased chapter:

What is this?

What in the world is going on?

To be grabbed from behind was one thing, but the voice and the situation were entirely unforeseen.

«Why…»

How had Mother—no, the master—ended up in this place?

I didn’t need to turn around to see her face.

I had known it was her the instant I heard her speak.

Because of that, my mind sharpened to a point, and my body went rigid on its own.

What should I do?

«Why.»

Why was she here?

Of all possible locations.

«The residence of the Black Leader.»

This was the home of the Black Leader, the man I had tainted and turned into a demon.

The simple fact that the master had come here left me completely unnerved.

What kind of condition was I in right now?

«A total disaster.»

I was dressed in black to mimic Cheonma and had used the Qi Translation Technique to change my appearance.

«Excuse me? Can you hear me?»

«…….»

I swallowed with a dry throat at the sound of the master’s voice.

«Hmm.»

A quiet hum. I could tell that if I remained silent any longer, the situation would become difficult.

«……Why are you speaking—.»

Before she could finish, I turned around.

«……Who are you?»

«Oh my.»

As I turned and our eyes met, the master let out a surprised sound.

Her eyes went wide as she looked at me. Seeing her face, I was sure.

«Damn.»

It was exactly as I thought; it was truly the master. Just like before, she was wearing a veil, but there was no doubt.

Her fingers were absently toying with a mask she held.

She had concealed her hands behind her back, having quietly taken it out as she turned.

She stared at my face and tilted her head slightly.

Had she noticed something unusual? As a nervous tension built inside me—

«Are you going inside?»

«…….»

She gestured toward the door with her hand.

I stared at that hand for a moment before replying.

«……That was the plan.»

«Oh dear, in that case, would you allow me to go first? As I said, my business is urgent.»

She spoke with a bright smile, as if making a courteous request.

I frowned.

That gentle smile was identical to the one I remembered from the past. It made me clamp my mouth shut without thinking.

But.

«I’m afraid that won’t be possible.»

Even so, I had to speak. If I couldn’t manage expressions, I could at least keep my face neutral. That was the best strategy, based on previous experience.

I forced my expression to become stern and stared at the master. She made a peculiar face in return.

What kind of look was that? Was she irritated by the refusal?

Or had she detected something? A flood of thoughts raced through my mind when—

«Hey.»

The master addressed me.

«Haven’t we met somewhere before?»

«…….»

At those words, I nearly lost my grip on my composure.

She doesn’t recognize me? Even with the Qi Translation Technique altering my features… to think she wouldn’t know me.

«Even though she’s the master.»

Could she be acting? I considered it for a second.

«Unlikely.»

Judging by her reaction, that didn’t seem to be the case.

I couldn’t be sure, but that was my immediate impression.

«I don’t believe so. This is my first time seeing you.»

«Mm… really?»

The master tilted her head. Then, she subtly stepped closer to me and reached out a hand.

I hesitated, watching her hand. Should I push her away? She was moving slowly enough that I could have, but I decided to allow it.

I wanted to understand what she intended.

Yet, just as her hand extended, it stopped. Her fingers froze in the air near my cheek.

What was this? Was she about to touch me? I stared at her hand with a questioning look.

«Oh, my apologies. It was a reflex.»

«…….»

The master awkwardly pulled her hand back.

«Strange. I feel as though I’ve seen you somewhere.»

«If you have no further business with me, may I proceed inside now?»

«Ah.»

The master gave a slight nod at my words.

«But.»

Just when I thought she was finally letting me go, she grabbed my arm.

«Are you… by any chance, someone who works here?»

The unexpected question made me freeze for a split second.

Someone who works here?

I hesitated for a fraction of a moment before answering. I couldn’t afford to delay my response.

«I am not.»

«Ah, I see. Then, a guest?»

«Something like that.»

Hearing my answer, the master nodded as if satisfied. Was that sufficient? Had she believed it? I felt a flicker of relief when—

«But why don’t you find me suspicious?»

Her eyes gleamed with a sharp light as she asked.

«……!»

I almost lost control of my breathing.

Her voice was still light and soft, yet the air around her seemed to vibrate.

This was something I wouldn’t have been aware of before.

Or perhaps, I had been oblivious during the day, and only now, at night, could I sense it.

My heightened senses flared to life instinctively.

Be careful. If this goes wrong here, it will be a catastrophe.

Stay on edge.

Remain as vigilant as possible.

My instincts screamed at me.

My mind, which had grown sluggish from complacency, suddenly began spinning wildly.

«An important figure must reside here. Yet, I approached without any hesitation, and you weren’t the least bit alarmed?»

Why hadn’t I questioned her identity when she insisted on entering?

A cold chill ran down my spine.

I couldn’t afford to say the wrong thing here.

So I chose my words with great care before responding.

«I am merely a guest. And seeing how confidently you carry yourself, I assumed you were also a guest. Was I mistaken?»

«Hmm.»

The master’s eyes narrowed slightly at my explanation.

I had thrown out those words in a rush—would they work? What if they didn’t?

Would I have to fight?

«…With Mother?»

Even if she no longer remembered me and had become a dangerous entity…

Fighting Mother, here?

It wasn’t just a question of victory or defeat.

A deep-seated aversion surged up from within me.

But.

Clench.

I slowly tightened the grip of my hidden hands behind my back.

If I had no choice, I couldn’t retreat. Even if I couldn’t win, I couldn’t just die without a fight.

With that resolve, I slowly began to focus energy into my heart when—

«I see.»

The master spoke.

«That makes sense.»

With those words, she turned around swiftly.

«I do have urgent business, but since you say the same, I’ll step aside. Besides, I’m behind schedule as it is.»

«…….»

She walked away with graceful, light steps.

«Take care. I don’t know who you are, but… oh.»

She paused mid-step and glanced back at me.

«Could you deliver a message?»

The way she said it, her face—

«When the next full moon rises, come to the hilltop.»

She smiled, as radiant as a flower in bloom.

Just like the mother I remembered.

*********

I remained standing there for a long time after the master had left.

My tense heart showed no sign of calming, and I was preoccupied with wiping away the cold sweat that kept forming.

«Huuuu…»

I finally released the breath I had been holding back. It was a sigh that had been trapped inside for far too long.

But even after exhaling, the lingering tension refused to dissipate.

«…Ha.»

I rubbed my chest with my hand.

It was absurd.

«What in the world was that?»

What exactly was that?

How could I even describe it?

I hadn’t sensed anything initially, yet paradoxically, I had caught a glimpse of something immense.

The fact that I couldn’t detect her presence was almost ridiculous.

But when I saw the master, her sheer existence was enough to make my blood run cold.

Was this also because I had become part of the Moonlit Night Tribe and my power had increased?

I could perceive things I hadn’t been able to see before.

The master herself didn’t radiate anything particularly distinct, but on the surface—or perhaps buried deep within—

«Something vast is contained inside her.»

Faintly, almost transparently.

A subtle shimmer surrounded her.

Yet, despite its subtlety, it was deeply unsettling. Merely looking at it made my body tremble.

How could something so faint feel so overwhelmingly enormous?

I couldn’t comprehend it.

«This… isn’t simply about strength.»

It wasn’t just a matter of raw power.

It was—

«Something higher.»

Not just strong, but exalted.

A presence so lofty and elevated that the mere act of looking up at it felt impossible.

And I had witnessed that from the master.

«……»

I forcibly wiped away the cold sweat. Had she truly left?

I had still been thinking of her as my mother.

But after seeing that, I was no longer sure if she was even the same kind of being.

«Hoo…»

I let out another deep breath and reached for the door handle in front of me.

Even now, I hesitated over whether to enter or not.

Creak—!

In the end, I chose to go in.

As the door opened and I stepped inside, the presence within turned to look at me.

In that instant, their eyes widened, and they jumped to their feet.

«You…»

The Black Leader watched me warily. I had already put my mask back on.

Through it, I could examine his condition.

«The demonic energy is still there.»

The demonic energy I had implanted in him previously was still present.

After confirming this, I spoke to the Black Leader.

«Have you been well?»

«……»

«Judging by your state, it doesn’t appear so.»

This was our first meeting since I had corrupted him into a demon.

His face was filled with wariness and hostility.

That much was obvious.

«I sensed it before, but… a complete corruption seems impossible.»

I had embedded demonic energy in him to turn him into a demon.

Yet, it seemed I couldn’t make him fully obedient.

Was this a trait of the Moonlit Night Tribe? I wasn’t sure.

It was something to look into, but for now, I set it aside and focused on him.

«It seems you had another visitor besides me.»

I was referring to the master I had just encountered.

«What…?»

«They said, ‘When the next full moon rises, go to the hilltop.’ I was asked to pass that along.»

I watched the Black Leader’s reaction as I relayed the master’s words.

It had sounded like some kind of code phrase, so I expected a response.

«What are you talking about…? Full moon? Hilltop?»

«Hmm?»

His reaction was strange.

Was he trying to play dumb?

I pressed down on my heart and questioned him again.

«Answer me properly.»

Wooong—!!

«Ugh…»

As my command took effect, the Black Leader writhed in pain and spoke again.

«I truly… don’t know what that means…»

«What?»

He gave the same answer again. My eyes widened.

He didn’t know? Then why would she tell me to relay those words—

«…Huh?»

I stopped mid-thought and turned my head sharply.

I looked in the direction where the master had disappeared.

A cold realization crept into my mind.

«…That phrase.»

«When the next full moon rises, go to the hilltop.»

The message the master had asked me to deliver.

«Could it be…»

It wasn’t a message for the Black Leader.

«…Was it meant for me?»

Had she already realized that I wasn’t just an ordinary guest?

«Did she say it knowing that I would be the one to hear it?»

A shiver ran down my spine.

With a stiff motion, I turned my head toward the Black Leader.

Or more precisely, toward the window in his room.

Outside, in the night sky, two moons shone.

One had already waned, nearly a crescent.

The other was just about to become full.