Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 321 (Part 2)



321 (Part 2)

Every time this happened I wondered if Jang-ryong was truly a madman.

Why doesn’t the shaman chase him away while he lives like this?

‘…Is it because of his talent?’

Is that really the case?

Well with talent at Jang-ryong’s level it would be hard to find someone like him anywhere else.

It might be a waste to chase him away just because he causes trouble.

“Oh! Chicken.”

Look at him all excited because the meat has come out.

I wonder if he’s really a true master.

‘…As the saying goes even Shaolin’s Hwang Ah-bul-yeong grilled meat and drank alcohol when he was young.’

In fact it might be that Jang-ryong who lives instinctively like this is cleaner than those who pretend to be pure on the outside while acting foolishly behind the scenes.

“Hyung-nim….”

“What?”

“Isn’t that too much? It looks like you won’t be able to eat it all.”

“If there’s any left you can eat it.”

“That sounds like a pretty good idea.”

At my words Pae-u-cheol smiled brightly.

As we moved in a group I could hear whispers from behind.

– Did Jang-ryong really join that group…?

– Cheol-cheol-yang? Even the shaman’s Jang-ryong has been recruited? How could that be…!

– Wait a minute. Cheol-cheol-yang wasn’t that Iron Yang Iron?

– That’s not the important part.

– The name isn’t important?

– I heard that Geom-ryong has been hanging out with Jin-ryong these days… Could it be?

– The mad dog Cheol Ji-seon who leads the three dragons among the six dragons what on earth…?

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Rumors that made me dizzy were spreading.

In the midst of it all the talk about the mad dog Cheol Ji-seon was still alive and well.

No wonder Cheol Ji-seon is suffering from rage.

I wondered if I was the only one hearing those whispers.

Jang-ryong quietly received his food and chuckled.

“Well then is it Iron Yang Iron-hyeok now?”

“You’re slyly attaching that.”

“What’s wrong with that? It’s a rough creation so it’s fine to throw one in.”

Hearing him say it was a rough creation made me realize he knew I was joking.

His intuition is annoyingly quick.

“But are you really okay?”

At my question Jang-ryong tilted his head slightly.

He had a look that said he didn’t understand what I meant.

“If you’re getting involved like this it might not be good later on.”

“Ah.”

I knew well how much the shaman’s Sect Leader was obsessed with others’ opinions and reputation.

Especially since Jang-ryong was the one receiving all that righteousness and beauty from such a Sect Leader.

Would he really look favorably on hanging out with these troublemakers?

That was my question but.

“I don’t care. It’s fun isn’t it?”

Jang-ryong was completely carefree. As expected this guy is definitely not normal.

“And.”

“Hmm?”

“Being able to eat quietly is a tremendous blessing.”

“Look at the people in the restaurant. Can we eat quietly?”

Since I arrived a bit late it was already bustling.

Quietly? Not a chance.

At my words Jang-ryong chuckled.

He took more food again.

I shook my head at that sight.

Finding a seat is never difficult.

It’s because the quick-witted Mo-yong-hee had already secured a spot in one corner of the restaurant.

Among those gathered there were three from the four great families.

Since it was a gathering of the daughters of Namgung Mo-yong and the Tang Clan it was extremely rare for anyone to join them.

Even if someone wanted to join.

A few sharp words from Mo-yong-hee or Dang So-yeol would make them back off and disappear.

Sometimes Pang Ah-hee would appear and eat with Dang So-yeol.

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But that was only occasionally.

In the end the remaining seat was confirmed when I casually sat down.

“What are you doing?”

“Hmm?”

Just as I was about to sit down as usual.

Mo-yong-hee’s cold voice flew in.

“What?”

“Why are you sitting down without permission?”

It was colder than usual.

The already cold girl had become even colder.

What’s going on?

“Ugh…”

Seeing her turn her head sharply I realized I must have done something wrong… Ah.

I finally understood Mo-yong-hee’s sudden attitude.

“Sorry I had something to do back then.”

Last time when I had a conversation with Mo-yong-hee I had to break our promise because of Cheol Ji-seon’s summons.

It seemed she was angry about that.

And I hadn’t gone to see her afterward.

…It’s understandable to be angry.

“Sorry.”

As I apologized again Mo-yong-hee turned her head back toward me.

“…Next time I’ll really get angry.”

Her expression softened a bit with my apology.

Surprisingly she let it go easily.

In my past life I was caught like a rat.

After saying that I apologized once more.

As I sat down in the empty seat in front of me Jang-ryong and Pae-u-cheol also took their seats.

I naturally sat next to the half-asleep Namgung-bi.

As Jang-ryong tried to sit next to me Namgung-bi subtly stood up and gestured.

It was a gesture directed at Jang-ryong.

“Over there… there’s a seat.”

“…Huh?”

“Seat. There’s a seat.”

“Oh there’s a seat. My apologies.”

At Namgung-bi’s correction Jang-ryong moved one seat over.

A seat? Who else is coming?

“Who else is supposed to come?”

After saying that Namgung-bi leaned her face against my shoulder with a sleepy expression.

Her fine hair was a bit of a nuisance while eating.

But since this has been happening repeatedly I’ve stopped caring much about it.

While I was eating naturally Mo-yong-hee suddenly spoke to Jang-ryong.

“It’s been a while.”

She said it with a smile but somehow it felt prickly.

Did Jang-ryong feel it too? He stopped eating and cleared his throat.

“…Ahem. Your voice sounds quite different doesn’t it?”

“It’s only natural since the other person is different.”

“…Ah yes. Well… it’s been a while Miss Mo-yong. Sorry for the late greeting.”

At Jang-ryong’s words Mo-yong-hee took a sip of her tea.

What’s going on with them? Did they meet before?

“I think when I visited you said you had no intention of going either way.”

“…Well you know life is unpredictable isn’t it?”

Ah.

‘What is she gathering the officials? Is that it?’

Among the factions that spread within the Sin-ryong-gwan the largest one is about Mo-yong-hee.

Scholars gather with scholars.

Merchants gather with merchants.

It seems that those with similar backgrounds are banding together.

A few days after I arrived I heard that Mo-yong-hee was gathering people like that.

It seems Jang-ryong had been approached as well.

Jang-ryong must have refused to do that.

He had said he wouldn’t go anywhere but it seemed he didn’t like coming here all of a sudden.

“I’m sorry.”

Seeing Jang-ryong rarely apologize Mo-yong-hee folded her fan and smiled slightly.

“It’s okay. Rather it’s fortunate if it’s Young Master.”

…Ah.

“If you had gone somewhere else I would have tried to bury you…”

“Hmm? What did you say?”

“I’m joking. Hoho.”

In my opinion that was definitely not a joke.

It was the closest to the truth among the things I had heard from Mo-yong-hee in the past.

Seeing Jang-ryong’s slight sweat it seemed he felt the crisis.

That madman seems to find Mo-yong-hee quite scary.

Well in my past life Jang-ryong had been running away from her unilaterally.

Whenever he caused trouble and got caught he would sell me out.

…Thinking about it makes me angry.

It feels like there’s a fire inside me.

Just as I was about to take a sip of the water Namgung-bi had poured for me.

Creak.

Someone sits next to me.

Namgung-bi had said someone would sit down.

Is that person here?

I looked up curious and with the familiar scent of flowers I felt a presence.

“Oh.”

It was Wi Seol-ah who had come to find me in the morning.

She had been trying not to eat together every time I visited.

What’s going on today?

While I was wondering I looked at the food she had brought.

‘She brought a mountain of rice.’

All the side dishes were plentiful.

It seemed Wi Seol-ah noticed I was looking and slightly blushed as she spoke.

“…I heard it’s good to eat a lot…”

Because I had kept telling her to eat more.

That’s why she brought so much.

“If you don’t like it should I take some away?”

“Take away? No way we have to eat it all.”

“…Yes.”

Seemingly relieved by my words Wi Seol-ah sat down and started eating.

She didn’t mention what happened earlier.

All she did was eat.

I wondered if she had already forgotten but her ears redder than in the morning proved otherwise.

‘…Did Namgung-bi call her?’

It was Namgung-bi who said someone would come.

It seemed she was aware of it.

Namgung-bi was just sleeping with her eyes closed leaning against my shoulder.

“…I thought someone was missing. Tsk.”

In the meantime Mo-yong-hee whispered quietly.

It was an uncomfortable meal time unbeknownst to me.