Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 381 (Part 1)



381 (Part 1)

“I know.”

I had to hold my breath at my father’s words.

I had somewhat anticipated such a response.

If my mother were alive he would be the only one who could know where she is.

I thought that was obvious. I looked into my father’s eyes and asked.

“…Where is she? Where is my mother?”

I needed to know where my mother was.

Not just because I missed her which would be a common reason.

I was gradually beginning to realize that everything tied to me was related to my mother.

Including the beast within me and the identity of my mother known as the second calamity.

Even the name of the master of the ten thousand realms.

And among all of this the most important thing was.

‘About the divine sword.’

Just before I let go of the divine sword the voice that wrapped around me and spoke was undoubtedly my mother’s.

How could I forget?

It was a voice that lingered even when I wanted to forget.

My mother had clearly told me to embrace the divine sword within me.

After hearing those words I had taken on the energy of the divine sword.

Perhaps my mother might also know how I could meet the divine sword again.

I thought so.

Therefore to uncover the truth behind all of this I ultimately had to meet my mother directly.

“If you know I hope you will tell me.”

“…”

At my question my father looked at me without showing any particular reaction.

I wondered how he could be so unresponsive. But when I looked closely into his eyes I could tell.

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‘It’s not that he’s unresponsive.’

My father’s pupils were subtly shaking.

Seeing that I held on until I could hear his answer.

After a brief silence my father finally spoke to me.

“…Why do you want to know that?”

At his response I had to furrow my brow in front of him which was rare.

Why do I want to know that?

In an instant I felt my insides flip at my father’s words.

“Is it strange for a child to want to know where their mother is?”

“…”

“…It’s not just that I want to know. I want to know now even at this point.”

How long has it been?

I never thought I would raise my voice in front of my father. This was the first time since my return. It was one of the few moments in my past life as well.

The situation warranted it.

It was something I had not known even until the moment my heart burst. If my mother were alive somewhere.

Moreover if it was related to my current life. Even if it were unrelated it was a fact I should have known somehow.

“If you know you can tell me.”

Even with my words my father remained unmoved. His silence was incredibly frustrating.

“Clan Head….”

“If you find out where your mother is what do you plan to do?”

I paused for a moment at my father’s sudden question. But I quickly spoke up.

“I will go find her.”

“To where your mother is.”

“Yes.”

I did not lie.

That was the question I was asking. My father must have already guessed this.

“…That place is not somewhere you can just go because you want to.”

“Why? Is it because it’s the realm of calamity?”

“…”

“If that’s not it is it because I have to become the Young Master? Or is it something else?”

My father’s eyes which I had not seen easily before looked particularly clear today.

“Is it because my mother is a calamity?”

“…!”

The moment I spoke those words.

A sudden heat burst forth from my father’s body.

The intense energy almost made me take a step back but I managed to hold my ground.

If it were any other time I might not have noticed but I didn’t want to be pushed back now.

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Amidst the spreading heat my father’s eyes looked quite sharp.

Was he frowning?

Or was he angry?

I couldn’t tell as I was not used to seeing changes in my father’s expression.

“…How do you know that?”

Was it a reaction to the fact that my mother was a calamity?

If so it meant that my father knew of the existence of the calamity and that my mother was one.

“I heard it from….”

Kuuuuuu-!

Just as I was about to answer a heavy presence surged from my father. I felt my heart sink under that energy.

“Who told you? Who dared to say such things to you?”

‘…Oh no.’

My father seemed quite angry and the heat around him intensified.

It was at a level very similar to what I had felt earlier.

Where was his anger coming from?

Was it a problem that I had heard about it?

“…That’s not important right now.”

“No it is important. So tell me.”

“…”

His gaze was one that insisted I couldn’t get past without answering. Seeing that look I had no choice but to speak.

“…I heard it from the World Tree known as the Master.”

“…”

My father’s eyes trembled upon hearing my words.

The World Tree had said that my father and mother had come to visit. If so it meant that my father also knew about the World Tree.

His reaction suggested that my words were indeed true.

“How do you know that? Could it be….”

My father’s large hand gripped my shoulder.

“Have you been there?”

“If it’s where the World Tree is then yes.”

I meant the false world the place where the imprisoned World Tree was.

As I spoke my father’s expression twisted further.

Why? Why was he making such a face?

Just as questions arose in my mind my father spoke to me.

“The reason you crossed the wall. Is that also due to the influence of that place?”

He was asking if the reason I could reach the realm of transformation at such a young age was due to the influence of the realm of calamity.

“There was some influence.”

I had received help.

Thanks to the time spent there I was able to shorten the path to reach the realm of transformation.

However the more I spoke the worse my father’s expression became.

“What place is so problematic that you are making such a grim face?”

‘It would be the same if I returned anyway.’

Even in a false world I felt hunger and thirst.

If necessary I could kill a demonic beast to fill my stomach. If I was thirsty I could quench it with blood.

If I felt the unique poison of the demonic beast I could purify it with qi but if I couldn’t do it all I could just move with the pain.

As long as I didn’t die there was no problem.

As a result I reached the realm of transformation.

Moreover I was able to cross over to the present world with the realizations I gained there.

What was the problem?

I couldn’t understand my father’s reaction.

It was concerning but that wasn’t what I wanted to ask right now.

“I heard that you Clan Head also went to that place with my mother.”

“Did she say that?”

She? The way my father referred to the World Tree felt subtly concerning.

“Yes.”

“…It seems she spoke carelessly.”

I flinched at the heavy anger in his voice.

The World Tree was still a being that ruled the Central Plains. Yet my father spoke coldly as if it were nothing.

“The reason you don’t want to tell me is that my mother truly brought calamity upon the world?”

“If that is the case what will you do?”

“Even if that is true nothing will change. I need to know.”

“…”

After hearing my answer my father stared at me intently.

Just when I thought he might finally give me an answer.

“I refuse.”

“…!”

At my father’s response I bit my teeth together.

Was he really going to refuse even after coming this far?

“Why…? I think I deserve to know this much having learned to some extent.”