Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 374



374

Red eyes.

When I express my anger.

It was different from the red eyes my father possessed.

If my eyes were glowing red with anger

Jang Seon-yeon’s eyes felt like they were shining with blood.

Even the pupils were wide open creating a bizarre impression.

‘What the….’

It was surprising that Jang Seon-yeon was alive.

But I had to sweat from the inexplicable sense of alienation I felt from him.

The pain in my right arm was one thing.

But the discomfort rising from within began to take over my body.

What is this? Why does it feel so chilling?

Chiiiii.

Even amidst all this the pain felt from the scales that had emerged was gradually intensifying.

‘This….’

In the past few months

I thought I had become somewhat accustomed to pain while training the Tuapachungong I learned from the Pajeon.

But this was a different kind of pain.

‘It’s like….’

It felt like it was spreading slowly. Should I say the area where the scales had emerged was increasing?

The problem was why this phenomenon suddenly occurred.

Moreover.

‘No one seems to care even with that appearance.’

Setting aside the fact that Jang Seon-yeon had appeared.

With his eyes in such a state the fact that no one felt anything strange was concerning.

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‘Does it only appear to me?’

Does that mean Jang Seon-yeon’s eyes are visible only to me?

Why…?

As these complicated thoughts crossed my mind

A familiar voice reached my ears.

– You seem to be in bad shape.

I widened my eyes and looked at the owner of the voice.

The one speaking to me was Jang Seon-yeon.

– …You bastard….

– I didn’t intend to surprise you. But seeing your reaction I’m pleased.

Jang Seon-yeon smiling looked quite different from the person I knew.

Why is that?

Clearly it was Jang Seon-yeon’s face and voice.

Yet there was a sticky sensation in his voice.

I couldn’t smell anything but my nostrils felt filled with a metallic scent.

This was definitely the scent of blood.

‘Blood scent…? The smell of blood?’

Once I thought that far I felt like I understood what I was sensing from Jang Seon-yeon.

– Blood Demon…?

At my words Jang Seon-yeon’s smile deepened.

Seeing that I could be certain. I understood why I felt alienation from him.

Even though it was Jang Seon-yeon it didn’t feel like Jang Seon-yeon.

– You….

– You’re quite perceptive.

That guy was not Jang Seon-yeon but the Blood Demon.

– How… how are you here?

– Is it surprising that I’m here?

– That’s not what I meant…!

– I was just feeling stifled and wanted to breathe some fresh air. How about it? Do you like it?

– …What happened to Jang Seon-yeon the owner of this body?

Could it be that he borrowed this body to descend just like Shin Noya did?

If Shin Noya could do it

Then the Blood Demon could do the same.

At my words the Blood Demon expressed doubt.

– Ah you burned this child terribly to death. I wonder why you seek me.

– Don’t talk nonsense. You didn’t come to chat did you?

– Hehe.

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In response to my growl the Blood Demon merely laughed as if it were amusing.

Meanwhile the pain I felt in my arm was growing increasingly severe.

This isn’t good.

‘Why is this suddenly happening?’

Usually it was nothing.

Suddenly experiencing this pain…

‘Could it be because of the Blood Demon?’

The only abnormality I encountered was meeting the Blood Demon. No matter how I thought about it that was all.

– You seem to be in a lot of pain.

I was trying not to show it but the Blood Demon immediately noticed something was wrong.

Seeing that it seemed this pain was indeed related to the Blood Demon.

– …Did you do something to me?

– Hehe… You’d like to think that but unfortunately Ah-ya I have no intention of doing such a thing to you.

– Nonsense! Have you forgotten that you forcefully injected your energy into me?

– I did. So was there a bad outcome?

– What…?

Forcing it in and then saying this is ridiculous.

– Surely there were times when you used my power when needed?

– …!

– This is a miracle I directly bestowed upon you. Do you really think you wouldn’t notice?

From that statement it meant that the Blood Demon was aware of the times I had used blood energy.

And even if the scales emerging on my arm weren’t the Blood Demon’s doing

I could tell he knew about these scales as well.

– …What on earth is this?

When I asked the Blood Demon about the scales

He looked at me with a strange expression.

In that expression I felt something indescribable.

– Indeed. Ah-ya it seems you are the anomaly I was hoping for.

– Stop talking nonsense. What is this?

– You are certainly not my fragment yet how did you begin to bloom?

– …Bloom?

And bloom at that?

– I’m not entirely sure but if that’s the case it would be the first for a human. It’s something to celebrate.

– Why do you keep saying things I can’t understand?

– I’m saying it’s something to be happy about. It means you’re rising above the incompetent and filthy lower species.

The Blood Demon’s voice was laced with joy.

– I hope you break your shell soon.

His voice as if intoxicated and the words he uttered made my head spin.

The more I felt that way the more intense the pain in my arm became.

I felt like I wouldn’t be able to hold back a scream any longer.

Watching that the Blood Demon spoke with a full smile.

– You seem to be in a lot of pain Ah-ya. I will show you mercy this time as well.

– What…?

– This also carries the meaning of congratulations so don’t forget that.

The moment the Blood Demon uttered those incomprehensible words

I felt a sudden surge of blood energy that had been lodged in my qi center.

It was even violent.

As if responding to someone’s command it thrashed vigorously.

I didn’t feel pain but the energy starting to move on its own was a problem.

I tried to suppress it somehow but the rampaging blood energy burst forth from the qi center and began to engulf my body.

‘Crazy!’

It took only a few seconds for the blood energy to permeate my entire body.

The problem was.

‘What is this…?’

The pain I felt afterward suddenly subsided.

Could it be the effect of the blood energy?

Then did the blood energy soothe the pain?

I checked my throbbing arm.

I couldn’t bear to roll up my sleeve here but the pain had definitely disappeared.

At this point no matter how I looked at it it was hard to believe that the current situation was unrelated to the Blood Demon.

– Hehe….

Even in this situation the Blood Demon was busy smiling at me.

– That child seems to dislike me quite a bit.

– …Dislike?

– Ah-ya the pain you felt stemmed from your hostility towards me.

At the Blood Demon’s words I frowned.

That meant the scales emerging on my arm were something unusual.

Feeling hostility towards the Blood Demon.

What on earth is this?

– It’s instinct. That’s how it is. It’s the arrogance of a creature that doesn’t want to see another equal being in the same world.

What could be so enjoyable with that satisfied tone?

The expression full of laughter.

Even the feeling of anticipation.

I couldn’t understand anything.

Above all.

– Why are you telling me this?

I needed to know why the Blood Demon was doing this to me.

I knew he was showing me goodwill.

Whether this was truly goodwill or an action intended with calculation I didn’t know.

But at least it meant that the Blood Demon had no reason to act this way towards me now.

– You what exactly do you want from me?

– Nothing. I don’t want anything from you.

– Is that really what you want to say after appearing before me like this?

It was absurd. You don’t want anything?

While showing such obvious signs of wanting something?

– If I had to find something I want it would be for you to be able to do more than you can now.

– You’re still speaking in riddles. It’s disgusting.

– Ah-ya the day you understand this will not be far off. If you ever come to know you will come to find me on your own. I’m just waiting for that day.

– You expect a day will come when I’ll seek you out the disaster? You want me to come to kill you is that it?

The moment I uttered the word ‘disaster’ the Blood Demon’s smile deepened.

– It seems you’ve figured out a lot more than expected. Not bad.

– …Be clear. What is your goal? Why are you doing this to me?

– A goal.

The Blood Demon paused for a moment. He seemed to be lost in thought.

But soon he spoke to me again.

– To break free from what is predetermined. If that is a goal then it can be called a goal.

– What does that mean….

– Originally I intended to move to find the fragment a little earlier but seeing you begin to bloom I think I can change my mind.

Bloom.

I could only frown at the incomprehensible words.

The fact that he changed his mind means he initially had some intention to do something.

I didn’t know how but it was clear that the Blood Demon had donned Jang Seon-yeon’s guise.

That means he had some purpose for doing something in Jang Seon-yeon’s form?

‘…Then the reason I didn’t see any traces of Jang Seon-yeon even after returning from the demon realm.’

Could it be that was also the Blood Demon’s doing?

How on earth?

I still couldn’t easily guess the Blood Demon’s intentions or what kind of being he was.

I could only tell from his words.

At the very least I could only conclude that the Blood Demon was not human.

No I had known that from the beginning but now I was just more certain of it.

– I’ll move a little more slowly. So you can realize it gradually.

– Who do you think you are to do whatever you want…!

Wiiing-!

Just as I was about to speak to the Blood Demon

I suddenly felt my consciousness fading.

I felt dizzy.

– Don’t worry. It’s just the backlash from suppressing your hostility.

– …What else are you going to do to me?

– As I said before I haven’t done anything harmful to you. Look. Even the master of the abyss within you isn’t reacting.

As the Blood Demon said the beast that used to snarl and show its teeth at the slightest provocation

This time it didn’t show any reaction.

Since Shin Noya had taken the divine sword into his body it was natural that the beast had also been almost invisible but now wasn’t the time to consider that.

– Today I truly came just to greet you.

– One aside from that I have gained a lot. I can see a clear path now.

– I hope to see the day you come to find me on your own.

As the Blood Demon’s telepathy continued to echo in my mind my consciousness grew fainter.

I tried to hold onto my consciousness somehow.

But in the end I couldn’t endure it and lost my grip.

And then.

When I regained my senses afterward

The meeting of the orthodox sects had already concluded.