Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 383



383

“What is this hand?

Is it really my father’s hand?

If so why is it on top of my head?

Is my mind broken? I can’t think straight.

It was an unexpected situation but I knew what I had done with my own hands.

The more I thought about it the more my breath became erratic and my head started to spin.

As I gradually began to grasp reality my heart started to sink coldly.

– I recalled the answer.

My father had told me.

– I have thought about it continuously but there are no words that resonate with me.

– What do you mean suddenly…?

– You are my son.

My eyes widened at my father’s words.

– You are something to me. The answer to that is solely that.

What was I to you I wondered.

And now you are giving me an answer to that…?

– Please be quiet for now. First…

– I forgive you.

I flinched at my father’s words. Forgive me for what…?

– I forgive you for wanting to harm your child with your own hands.

-…

I bit my lips tightly at his words.

How long had he known my intentions?

Where did he catch on? Just when I couldn’t calm my trembling eyes.

My father continued to speak.

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– I forgive you but you must not forgive me.

– Right now… is that really what you want to say?

His rough hand stroked my hair. It felt awkward and coarse.

I wanted to swat it away immediately.

But ironically I couldn’t.

– Well done. Not bad.

His voice as rough as his touch pierced my ears.

– Third.

– …Yes…?

– I will ask. Did the first leave with a smile?

-…

I was at a loss for words at the question about Gu Hee-bi.

– …I don’t… I don’t know.

It wasn’t that I was avoiding the answer. I truly couldn’t remember.

What expression did Gu Hee-bi have at the end? What was she doing…?

– I see.

My father nodded quietly at my answer.

– Then remember this.

My father’s red eyes began to gradually turn black.

His hair which had been red was not turning black but rather white.

This was evidence that vitality was dissipating.

I wanted to do something upon seeing that but I already knew. It was too late.

– Live.

-…!

Hearing those words my heart sank heavily.

– Father…

I called out to him urgently.

-…

My father had already passed away.

Without bending a single knee. Standing on both legs just as he had at the beginning.

Thus my father reached death.

Seeing that it was I who knelt down.

– Ah…

Something was wrong.

This wasn’t it.

I felt like bursting my own heart and dying right then.

But I couldn’t.

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– Live.

The words my father left behind had already bound me like shackles.

What could he have meant by saying that? Was it a command to live and atone?

If not… what on earth was the purpose of those words?

I curled up covering my face with both hands.

I didn’t shout or scream.

I simply breathed quietly.

How long had I been there like that?

Tap-

I felt a presence behind me.

-…What is this…

Someone who had confirmed the situation spoke in surprise.

It was the Demon Sword Mistress.

Had she run over? She approached me with heavy breaths and asked.

– Are you… okay?

I was not okay.

Not at all okay.

– Why… the Cult Leader clearly… told you not to go…

Her words were correct.

Heavenly Demon had urged me not to go to the Gu family.

But I had come here alone.

And in the end it had come to this.

The Demon Sword Mistress seeing that I wasn’t saying anything looked around and spoke in a hurried voice.

– First… we need to get away… people will come soon.

The Demon Sword Mistress grabbed my shoulder.

I didn’t want to move lying down like this.

But my qi had all drained and my body exhausted from battle wouldn’t obey my will.

– Let go… just like this…

Hearing my tired words the Demon Sword Mistress cast a binding spell on me.

-…!

– I’m sorry… but this is not okay.

My weakened body couldn’t break free from her binding spell.

I had to follow her and get out of here.

Even while moving quickly.

My eyes were fixed on my father’s figure.

Until it gradually faded away and I could no longer see it.

******************

I killed my father.

I still vividly remembered that moment.

‘…Damn it.’

This was the reason I couldn’t easily blame my father in this life.

Every time I looked into my father’s eyes I was filled with fear and guilt.

How could I forget?

The sensation I felt in my hands back then was still clear.

Was it because the memory resurfaced? My breath began to quicken.

I tried to stabilize myself by circulating my qi but that was not easy either.

Seeing me like that my father looked at me with a strange expression.

It overlapped.

My father’s white hair which had turned completely white.

And the moment when his eyes which were now red were turning back to black.

“Why do you look like that?”

“No… it’s nothing.”

Was it because of the memory that just came to mind? It was a bit hard to meet my father’s gaze.

I shook my head trying to erase it.

“…I understand what you are saying but I still need to know.”

This situation my father’s sudden apology.

It was a confusing story that I couldn’t understand.

But that wasn’t the main point right now.

“Please… can’t you just tell me?”

“…”

My father seemed to be contemplating what to do in this situation.

He stood still lost in thought.

Then after a while he gave me an answer.

“Alright. I will tell you.”

“…!”

Just as my face was about to brighten.

“But there is a condition.”

“A condition?”

The word ‘condition’ made me pause involuntarily.

But it was okay. After all he was saying he would tell me.

“I will do whatever condition it is…”

“Fight me and win.”

“Excuse me?”

I felt like I had misheard…

Was he joking? I cautiously examined my father’s face.

But his gaze was as serious as ever.

“Are you saying… to fight and win against the Clan Head?”

“Yes.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

I asked once more but my father’s gaze remained unchanged.

Confirming that I had to immediately show a look of despair.

“You’re just saying you don’t want to tell me right?”

“I said that from the beginning.”

“…”

That was true.

No I almost got swept away by my father’s words without realizing it.

“But you should at least give me a condition I can fulfill. What is this…?”

“Are you predicting defeat from the start? That’s somewhat disappointing…”

“Yes. You know I can’t win so you said that. How petty.”

“…”

“…”

Perhaps I was getting heated I unconsciously treated my father casually as I would with others.

Was this a mistake?

It was a way of speaking I had never used with my father before.

As a result one of my father’s eyebrows furrowed.

He looked quite displeased.

At this rate it felt like my request would truly disappear.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

“Since you seem to dislike it so much I will change the condition a bit.”

Just as I was about to hastily apologize surprisingly my father indicated that he would change the terms.

Why…? I was relieved that I seemed to have gotten away without being scolded…

“Just once.”

“…!”

“If your attack touches me even once I will tell you.”

“Just once… is that what you mean?”

“Yes just one strike. If you can’t even do that I will not tell you where your mother is and even if you find out on your own I will do everything in my power to stop you.”

“Not telling me is one thing but stopping me from finding out on my own is too much isn’t it?”

I frowned at his incomprehensible words and my father cut me off firmly.

“If you can’t even do this you will die there.”

“…”

“There will be no further agreements. If you don’t like it go back.”

I had no idea why my father was so adamant about this.

But the words carried a sense of ‘concern.’

Perhaps it was because of the conversation I had just had with him.

For some reason I felt that way.

I felt a strange warmth but it wasn’t so unbearable that I wanted to die.

Calming my emotions I asked my father.

“So are you saying we should duel here?”

At my question my father nodded. Seeing that I had to add in a flustered manner.

“I just had a duel with Baek Cheon-geomju you know? I don’t have much strength left.”

“I know.”

“Then are you still saying we should do this?”

“Do you not want to?”

“…Of course.”

Just as I was about to say that I definitely didn’t want to.

My father’s earlier words echoed in my mind.

– There will be no further agreements. If you don’t like it go back.

“…”

In other words it meant: If you don’t want to don’t do it. I don’t have to.

Isn’t that what it means?

Ha.

This is ridiculous.

‘My father… is more petty than I thought?’

None of the conditions were to my liking.

He must have set conditions thinking I wouldn’t easily give in.

But even those conditions were difficult to fulfill.

I couldn’t gauge how strong my father was right now.

It was crucial that it was completely invisible to me.

It meant he was strong enough that I couldn’t comprehend it. Even now having reached the realm of transformation.

The fact that I couldn’t see my father’s strength meant.

Just how far had he reached?

‘He wants me to land a hit on such a father?’

This was absurd.

It was truly a ridiculous statement.

As I looked at my father with a dumbfounded expression.

He spoke to me.

“Are you not going to do it? Then go back.”

He was even provoking me.

At this point I thought honestly. Didn’t he just want to spar with me? That thought crossed my mind.

Moreover.

I knew there was no chance of winning.

“…No.”

If he was going this far.

I didn’t want to run away either.

“I will do it. Right now.”