Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 322 (Part 2)



322 (Part 2)

“Yoo Seol-ah’s seduction?

‘…Seduction?’

I thought about it three times but I still couldn’t understand and blurted it out.

It was simply not a word that suited Yoo Seol-ah.

Did she know that or was she just embarrassed?

She quickly turned her head away.

‘No way have you been staring at me all day under the pretense of seduction?’

‘…’

‘How is that even seduction?’

Regarding the strange word ‘seduction.’

My experiences with it were almost nonexistent.

At least to call just looking at someone seduction seemed quite far-fetched.

Maybe someone like Mo Yong-hee could pull off a captivating gaze.

If someone looked alluring perhaps just looking at them could evoke such feelings.

But at least Yoo Seol-ah was not in that category.

Where on earth did she learn this method?

It felt like everything was off from the start.

‘No way.’

If Yoo Seol-ah looked like that she could probably entice a man just by looking at him.

If she used that to do this…

‘…That can’t be it.’

Yeah that didn’t seem likely.

‘In the midst of all this seduction.’

Regardless of the process or conclusion.

If it was true that Yoo Seol-ah tried to seduce me.

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‘…’

Ah my mind momentarily broke down.

It felt like my thoughts had stopped.

How did it end up like this?

While I was hesitating wondering if I should at least respond.

‘…This time it didn’t work so I’ll try something different next time.’

‘What?’

I snapped back to reality at Yoo Seol-ah’s words.

Something different next time…?

‘What are you planning? No what are you doing right now?’

I had no idea what Yoo Seol-ah was up to.

From saying she liked me since morning to now talking about seduction.

What on earth did she want?

Yoo Seol-ah with her previously trembling eyes now somewhat steadied spoke to me.

‘Effort.’

‘Effort?’

‘Yes. Effort. I can’t do nothing. So I’m doing this. So… please don’t hate me too much.’

She said it with a slight smile.

For some reason it pierced my heart.

So I couldn’t spit out the words.

How could I say I could never hate you?

If I had said it it might have been better.

Was it because of that? My mind which had been hazy like fog began to feel a slight headache.

It wasn’t unbearable pain.

Just a little tingling.

At that moment.

‘Young Master.’

‘Huh?’

Yoo Seol-ah spoke to me.

‘…Can I hug you?’

With a cautious tone she hesitated for a long time before speaking.

I couldn’t help but be surprised.

It was an unexpected statement.

Because it was similar to something I had heard from her once before.

– At times like this… just hug me once.

She probably didn’t remember it.

It was a memory I alone held.

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Before I could refuse or accept Yoo Seol-ah’s words.

She moved first.

She came into my arms.

Though she had grown taller she was still smaller than me so she fit perfectly in my embrace.

Should I wrap my arms around her back?

As that thought crossed my mind I could feel Yoo Seol-ah’s body trembling slightly in my arms.

Unable to resist that tremor.

I gently patted her back.

That was all I could do right now.

How ridiculous.

Even though I knew I had so many words to say.

In the end I chose to keep my mouth shut.

As long as the matters weighing on me weren’t resolved there was nothing I could choose to do.

It was a choice I had to make for myself.

And for the important people around me.

Thinking of that I struggled to utter a word.

‘…Can you loosen your grip a bit? I feel like I’m going to die.’

Just like before.

Yoo Seol-ah’s embrace was too strong. It was a bit hard to breathe.

‘…No.’

My request was firmly dismissed.

Since I couldn’t ask twice I just held it in.

The situation that left me at a loss continued until a few minutes later when Yoo Seol-ah loosened her grip and suddenly ran away.

As the moon hung over the window.

Peng Ah-hee a descendant of the prestigious family and heir of the Peng Clan.

Walked with a warm cup of tea in hand.

It was where her close friend was.

As she arrived at her destination with the warm tea.

She looked out the window where the wind wasn’t blocked and Dang So-yeol was glancing over.

‘What are you doing?’

‘Qya you’re here?’

Seeing Peng Ah-hee who brought the tea Dang So-yeol smiled.

‘Is there something outside?’

‘Huh? No I just thought the night was beautiful.’

The night is beautiful? The stars were sparse but it wasn’t that pretty of a night.

Peng Ah-hee looked at Dang So-yeol strangely and set the tea down in front of her.

‘You didn’t eat much either. Are you okay?’

‘I’ve just not had much of an appetite lately.’

Dang So-yeol said that and took a sip of tea.

As Peng Ah-hee looked at her strangely.

Suddenly she blurted out.

‘What did Gu Mister do?’

Chah…

At Peng Ah-hee’s words Dang So-yeol spat out her tea.

As if accustomed to this Peng Ah-hee wiped the spilled tea off the table.

‘What… do you mean by that Ah-hee?’

‘Seeing your face lost in strange thoughts I figured it must be that. Am I wrong?’

At Peng Ah-hee’s question Dang So-yeol’s lips twitched.

‘…Half right.’

‘I knew it. Should I go and beat him up?’

‘Ah no…! Our Young Master doesn’t see women as threats…!’

‘Our So-yeol is so sure that I would lose huh…? I might be quite hurt…’

Even while saying that I already knew.

Gu Yang-cheon was now called Jin-ryong and had risen to the highest position among his peers.

In contrast Peng Ah-hee who was just called a prodigy without any alias.

How could she possibly win in a fight?

‘…Just I feel a bit shabby these days.’

‘Suddenly?’

At Dang So-yeol’s words Peng Ah-hee’s eyes sparkled.

The one known as the Independent King and the greatest masterpiece of the Tang Clan feeling shabby?

It was an absurd story.

‘Why do you think that?’

‘Something feels that way.’

While she was smiling as she spoke about Dang So-yeol.

Her crescent-shaped eyes looked somewhat pitiful.

‘…Uh yeah.’ Though it was something Peng Ah-hee couldn’t understand.

It was an undeniable fact that Gu Yang-cheon was overly blessed with women.

The women surrounding him were all absurdly remarkable individuals.

‘Even Bi-a Unnie.’ One of the candidates for the next generation of sword masters.

‘And Mo Yong Miss.’

Though her martial artist skills might be somewhat lacking.

Her talents weren’t limited to martial arts and she was known for being exceptionally capable.

‘…And Seol-ah too.’

And then there was Yoo Seol-ah known as the descendant of the sword master.

‘…This is really strange?’

Every time she recalled each one Peng Ah-hee had to stifle a gasp.

What on earth was so appealing about Gu Yang-cheon that such incredible women were clinging to him?

It was a mystery.

‘But I kind of understand these days…’

If it were the old Gu Yang-cheon he would have been a level of a reckless scoundrel.

If Dang So-yeol had said she liked him she would have tried to dissuade her.

But now Gu Yang-cheon seemed a bit different.

His personality was still troublesome.

At least he didn’t act that way towards the women who approached him.

From the start for a martial artist their level was akin to honor.

The title of the youngest peak martial artist was.

Honestly a coveted asset in any clan.

In other words.

It meant he could potentially become the best in the world someday.

Even the Poison King who cherished Dang So-yeol dearly.

Might shed tears of blood over it.

‘…If there were other women besides So-yeol it might be different.’

Perhaps they would try to poison Gu Yang-cheon the moment they saw him.

It was certainly likely.

But among such people.

Dang So-yeol thought of herself as shabby.

‘Why do you think that? You too…’

‘I know. That I shouldn’t think that way. But it looks like that?’

Dang So-yeol kept smiling.

‘I know I shouldn’t compare. But I keep comparing. Without the name Independent King I have nothing.’

While she uttered such endlessly pitiful words.

She sipped her tea with a calm expression.

Peng Ah-hee found it somewhat fascinating to see Dang So-yeol evaluating herself in such a serene tone.

If she were in Dang So-yeol’s position.

She would have felt immense pain.

‘So… are you thinking of giving up on Gu Mister?’

‘Huh?’

At Peng Ah-hee’s words Dang So-yeol tilted her head.

That reaction made Peng Ah-hee feel a bit puzzled.

Wasn’t that the kind of feeling she was trying to convey?

‘Why would I give up on Gu Young Master?’

‘Isn’t it? Like… compared to those people you feel less capable so you want to stop?’

At Peng Ah-hee’s words Dang So-yeol chuckled.

‘So that’s not the case?’

‘Yeah that’s not it.’

After laughing for a while Dang So-yeol looked back at the night sky.

‘Give up? If I were going to do that I would have done it much earlier. I already knew I was lacking compared to Seol-ah and Unnie.’

‘Then?’

‘Since I feel lacking I started looking for other ways.’

‘Other ways?’

‘Yeah. If I’m lacking I need to fill that gap.’

What could she mean by filling that gap? As Peng Ah-hee blinked in confusion.

She saw Dang So-yeol’s face.

The way Dang So-yeol spoke with a smile.

Was somehow different from usual.

Was she not here to complain?

‘Ahee.’

‘Huh?’

Dang So-yeol looked at Peng Ah-hee and said.

‘Can you help me?’

The look in Dang So-yeol’s eyes as she said that.

Was incredibly calm.”