Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 360 (Part 2)



360 (Part 2)

‘…Mother.’

That voice was unmistakable.

It was the voice of my mother hidden deep within a memory so distant I could hardly recall when I last heard it.

What on earth was happening?

I pondered this as I moved my body.

In the magical realm the World Tree had told me.

-Your mother is alive.

That my mother was alive.

This was something I already knew.

‘…It’s not that I knew she was alive.’

I had only seen my mother heading towards the open portal in the air when I was young.

I simply had no way of knowing whether she had met her end or not.

However if that voice from back then truly belonged to my mother.

‘Where could she be…?’

How did she know to call out to me?

After that I tried once more to hear my mother’s voice but there was no response.

‘You know something don’t you?’

I stroked the beast’s belly.

The World Tree had said that this creature was connected to my mother so I wondered if it had done something.

[Grunt?]

The creature merely expressed confusion as if to say “What are you talking about?”

I bit my lip in confirmation.

‘It told me to embrace it.’

To embrace the energy of the divine sword that was gradually fading away.

That voice had clearly said so.

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The energy that had rendered me completely immobile had been momentarily neutralized.

If it was indeed connected to my mother’s voice.

There must have been some significance to it.

Especially since I had heard from the World Tree what kind of being my mother was.

‘Was she not called the master of the myriad realms?’

A being that even the World Tree could not easily approach.

The second calamity that had descended upon this world.

Just hearing those two lines of description made it clear that my mother was no ordinary person.

That such a mother had tried to help me.

‘If the owner of the voice is indeed my mother then that would make sense.’

Or it could be the intervention of another being. But that was still uncertain.

In the end I had listened to the voice and embraced the energy but I had no idea what to do next.

If I were to find a way there would be only one thing to do.

‘I must find my mother.’

It was a nonsensical conclusion.

I knew that the magical realm was not a single place and that finding a way was not easy.

But I still had to search.

Right now… the only person who could possibly know what had happened to the divine sword was my mother.

To do that.

‘I need to meet my father.’

A certain being who would likely know what had happened to my mother.

That was for now the Clan Head of the Gu family my father.

After settling my thoughts on that I decided to find my companions to clear my complicated mind.

I hadn’t been able to find them properly due to the events that were about to unfold and I also needed to see the current Wiserah.

Just as I was about to move my feet.

“…!”

A chilling sensation forced me to stop in my tracks.

Because beyond the dark gaze someone was there.

‘Since when have they been there?’

I hadn’t noticed.

The unknown figure was leaning against the wall looking this way.

This unfamiliar sensation—I had felt it before.

That meant this person was definitely…

“…It’s good to see you Senior.”

As soon as I recognized the identity I clasped my hands in greeting.

The figure having heard my words finally detached from the wall and approached me.

As they stepped out of the darkness and into the moonlight their face came into view.

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As expected.

The man was the Dark King.

I concealed my trembling and scrutinized the Dark King.

He wore the same expressionless face as when I first saw him. A cold expression that revealed nothing of his thoughts or feelings.

The Dark King spoke to me.

“I was waiting as it seemed you were focused.”

There was an unspoken rule about not peeking at others’ training.

It seemed the Dark King didn’t care about such things.

Neither did I.

“Do you have business with me?”

“I told you I would come to see you last time didn’t I?”

“…You did say that.”

He had indeed said so.

I never thought he would actually come to see me.

‘Is that person also not normal?’

If someone like the Dark King said he would come to meet me didn’t he consider how terrifying that would be for someone in my position?

But then again someone of his caliber probably wouldn’t bother with such details.

In a world where power equates to authority.

‘If he wanted to he could even kill the Three Lords.’

That was a rumor circulating in the world.

If the Dark King truly wished for it he could even kill the Three Lords.

If he desired it he could kill the Three Lords who were at the very end of the many martial artists spread across the Central Plains.

Most who heard this would dismiss it as mere exaggerated rumors meant to praise the Dark King.

But facing him directly I couldn’t help but think that it might be possible if the circumstances were right.

‘His presence is barely perceptible.’

Even though he stood right in front of me his aura remained faint. The only relief was that it wasn’t completely absent like last time.

I didn’t know what effect the mask he wore had but I could feel a slight presence.

I hadn’t felt anything when he was unmasked.

“Hey kid.”

“Yes… Senior.”

The term of address was a bit jarring but I didn’t comment on it.

From his perspective I was indeed a kid.

He looked to be in the age range between twenty and forty.

But the Dark King was undeniably a seasoned master who had been active during the era of the Elder.

It meant that one couldn’t gauge his age by appearance alone.

As I thought this the Dark King suddenly spoke.

“The more I see you the more you resemble him.”

It was a familiar phrase. I had heard it so many times.

“I often hear that.”

He must have been referring to my father.

Most people who said I resembled someone usually meant my father.

“Hmm?”

I thought it was a given but upon hearing my words the Dark King tilted his head slightly.

…Was that not the case?

“Are you not saying I resemble my father?”

“No.”

“Uh… then who are you saying I resemble?”

Was he referring to the Elder?

It would be a bit strange to say I resembled that old man.

It felt somewhat unpleasant.

Just as I was having such thoughts.

Whether he knew my thoughts or not the Dark King spoke of another person.

“I’m talking about your grandfather.”

“My grandfather?”

I had heard that before as well.

I had been puzzled then too wondering what connection the Dark King had with my grandfather that he kept bringing it up.

Just as I was about to ask for clarification.

“If you resemble him that much… you can’t be unrelated by blood.”

“Excuse me?”

The Dark King began to speak of something incomprehensible.

“It’s truly puzzling.”

“What are you talking about…?”

Thud.

“…!”

I wanted to ask the Dark King what he meant but I couldn’t.

The Dark King who had been standing in front of me suddenly concealed his form.

He appeared right in front of me and grabbed my right arm.

Was it an ambush?

For a moment I was startled and just as I was about to draw up my qi.

“Hey kid.”

The Dark King suddenly rolled up the sleeve of my arm.

‘Oh no…!’

I was taken aback.

There were traces left from the demonic practitioner transformation.

Skin that looked like reptilian scales about the size of my thumb.

As I pondered what to do about this.

He looked at my skin and said.

“What is your relationship with the demonic practitioner?”

“…What?”

I couldn’t help but ask back.

It was such an unexpected question.