Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 413 (Part 2)



413 (Part 2)

“What were you going to say?”

“I have no intention of doing that.”

She must know.

Right after the Baekryeon Sword faced off against Wi Seol-ah Namgung Bi-ah and Dang So-yeol all at once.

That such an inexplicable change occurred in Namgung Bi-ah.

Did she feel something from that duel?

Is that why she is experiencing such inner demons?

Even if that’s the case.

‘…’

There was nothing I could do.

There was no reason to blame the Baekryeon Sword.

Rather…

‘Why do I think it’s a relief?’

As I looked at Namgung Bi-ah who was caught in her inner demons I felt both worry and relief.

Because she hadn’t lived a human-like life in her previous life chasing the end of the sword.

Seeing her like this caught in inner demons made her seem more human and I felt she was moving toward a different life than before.

‘It wouldn’t be good from her perspective being directly bound by inner demons.’

Namgung Bi-ah who was troubled in her heart like this was in fact giving me relief.

Moreover I believed in her.

That she would overcome her inner demons without much difficulty.

The Baekryeon Sword who was looking at me pouted as if displeased.

“I don’t like your expression.”

“Suddenly saying that?”

“I don’t like the way you look at me as if you’re proud of me. It reminds me of the past…”

“Eh…?”

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“Never mind. It’s nothing.”

Why did she stop mid-sentence?

While I was exchanging a few more words with the Baekryeon Sword.

Clang-!

With a sound that pierced the ears the duel between the two ended.

The result was as expected…

Woo Hyuk’s sword was touching Namgung Bi-ah’s neck.

It was her defeat.

Namgung Bi-ah looked at Woo Hyuk with wide eyes.

After confirming that I turned my back.

Seeing me the Baekryeon Sword called out.

“Hmm? Where are you going?”

“I’ve seen enough so I should go wash up.”

“Are you sure it’s okay not to go to that girl?”

“There’s no need. It’s better to leave her alone for now.”

If I were to intervene in her problem I might be able to solve it in her stead but.

I didn’t want that.

I hoped Namgung Bi-ah would overcome it herself and stand on her own.

I firmly believed she would.

The Namgung Bi-ah of this life could definitely do that.

‘No she could have done that in her previous life too.’

The Demon Sword Master could have done that as well.

I just didn’t know.

Just as I was about to step toward the valley.

I heard the Baekryeon Sword whispering from behind.

“…She shouldn’t resemble that part too much.”

“What did you say? Who does she resemble?”

“Nothing. Oh if you’re going to wash up Noona can help you…”

“No need.”

I shot back with a voice full of disdain for the Baekryeon Sword and quickly left the place.

That woman is definitely crazy.

Shaking my head I disappeared toward the valley.

Left alone the Baekryeon Sword looked at the back of Gu Yang-cheon and whispered with a bitter smile.

“She resembles her… too much.”

Her voice was filled with longing.

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

Leaving behind the nonsense of the Baekryeon Sword.

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I headed to the valley to wash my sweat-soaked body.

As I carelessly took off my upper garment I felt the dampness of sweat.

After reaching the 7-star level with the Gyeomhwa Ryun Gong my body had become one that wouldn’t sweat a drop with ordinary training.

Yet sweat was flowing down like a river day by day.

That must mean the training was that tough.

I frowned recalling the crazy old man who was leading this training in my mind.

‘That crazy old man.’

The Master was indeed a madman.

I hadn’t felt it until he told me to break through the cave while casting the Tua Pa Cheon Mu.

Only after entering the second training did I start to feel it.

I had been sparring with the Master every single day without fail.

Since I had started night training with the Dark King I thought I could take it easy during the day.

– Until you learn the first volume. I will spar every day.

Sparring didn’t allow for rest.

Moreover there was another problem.

‘He wants me to spar while casting Tua Pa Cheon Mu?’

It was absurd.

I was already on the verge of fainting from pain and he was telling me to get beaten up while using that technique.

‘Am I really being told to do that?’

I twisted my aching body here and there letting out a hollow laugh.

As expected it hurt like hell.

‘This is insane martial arts.’

Perhaps the one who created martial arts was a madman.

Martial arts itself was also quite insane.

Just casting it brought pain along with it.

Getting hit while in that state doubled the pain.

The Master said it was because I hadn’t fully integrated with it yet.

Seeing this I understood why the Master had forbidden me from using it in real combat without permission.

‘If I got hurt while using this…’

It wouldn’t be anything else but my heart stopping from the pain.

When I sparred with the Master I often wondered if this was right.

Thanks to that I had to focus all my mental energy on enduring the pain.

‘And at night… I have to play with the Dark King?’

Haha. It’s ridiculous.

I might as well just die.

If sparring with the Master was painful.

Sparring with the Dark King was a nightmare itself.

‘That’s right. A nightmare. A real nightmare.’

Over the past month since I started training with the Dark King the number of times I died had increased as time went on.

On the first day I died nine times and now it was easily over twenty.

It felt as if the Dark King was telling me something.

No matter how hard you try you cannot reach yourself.

It felt like that was what he was saying.

Perhaps because of that I felt quite mentally exhausted.

It really seemed like there was no way out.

‘What am I supposed to feel from this training?’

The Master seemed to hope I would realize something through this training.

But I was in a state where I couldn’t feel anything at all.

What was I supposed to realize after experiencing so many deaths?

No matter how much I thought about it I couldn’t understand.

‘It’s difficult.’

As my insides grew weary my body felt tired too.

Ignoring my exhausted thoughts I finally arrived at the valley.

When I got there I saw someone coming out as if they had washed up first.

As soon as I saw them my eyes widened.

“Hmm?”

“Ah.”

The person was Wi Seol-ah.

She must have just washed up as her hair was dripping wet.

“Young Master…!”

Wi Seol-ah who spotted me smiled brightly.

That smile was particularly dazzling.

It reminded me of the time when Wi Seol-ah used to greet me with her wet hair while serving me.

As that memory came to mind I approached her and dried her hair with the towel I was holding.

“Uhm? Young Master? Eek!”

“D-dry! You need to dry! You can’t go out like this!”

How many men would be staring at her in this unnecessarily alluring state? Why would she want to go out like this?

Why hasn’t she improved in this regard over time?

Wi Seol-ah who let out a slight scream seemed to enjoy my rough touch leaning into it subtly.

Unbelievable.

“Do you like it?”

“Yes… I like it.”

“…Oh really.”

I had nothing to say when she answered like that teasingly.

As I was drying her hair a thought suddenly crossed my mind.

‘…I should have just dried her with heat.’

If I used heat it would dry quickly so why was I doing this?

As soon as I thought of it I wrapped the towel around her and released heat.

With the heat Wi Seol-ah made a face that seemed somewhat disappointed.

“Dry yourself well. What are you doing?”

“I was just about to dry it….”

“That’s a lie.”

“…”

At my remark Wi Seol-ah pondered for a moment and then nodded slightly.

She still wasn’t good at lying.

Perhaps because I pointed it out she looked somewhat sullen and I chuckled and asked.

“Should I give you some sweets?”

“Eh…!”

At the mention of sweets Wi Seol-ah’s eyes sparkled.

But it was only for a moment before she quickly turned her head away.

“I’m not a child anymore.”

“What was that reaction just now?”

“I didn’t react at all.”

She still seemed to like sweet things.

But I couldn’t understand why she was forcing herself to pretend not to like them.

Seeing Wi Seol-ah like that I smiled inwardly.

It felt like my mind which had been blocked with thoughts was loosening up a bit.

As I looked at me Wi Seol-ah suddenly made a strange expression and gently touched under my eyes.

Her hand was cold perhaps because it had just been in the water.

“What’s wrong? Did something get on you?”

“No… it’s not that… Young Master are you okay?”

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

“…You look really tired.”

Wi Seol-ah’s expression asking me looked pitiful.

Hearing that made me slightly surprised.

I look tired? Me?

‘Is it showing?’

Somehow everyone I met kept asking if I was okay.

It seemed my expression was somehow strange.

Realizing that I tried to force a smile.

“I’m fine.”

“…”

Of course Wi Seol-ah had a disbelieving expression.

‘What can I do? I have to endure it.’

If it’s hard I endure it. That’s all there is to it.

“I’ve just been having some nightmares lately.”

“Nightmares?”

“Yeah.”

Very terrible nightmares that I have every night.

Even for me experiencing so many deaths was somewhat excessive.

I was exhausted.

That was all I felt at the moment.

Then as Wi Seol-ah was touching my cheek with a worried expression I suddenly asked her.

“You… no Wi Seol…”

“Yes?”

I was about to call her name but suddenly shut my mouth tight.

Why was it so difficult to call her by her name?

“It’s nothing much… but what do you think I should do if I have nightmares every night?”

It was a trivial question I brought up.

It had nothing to do with the nightmares themselves.

What was I thinking to ask something like this?

I just turned the conversation because I was embarrassed to call her by her name.

Unaware of my inner thoughts Wi Seol-ah tilted her head at my question.

Every time she did her hair swayed which caught my attention.

“Nightmares…?”

“I’m just asking so don’t worry…”

“Maybe you should try to wake up…? Since it’s a scary dream.”

Wi Seol-ah’s words made me smile slightly inside.

What she said was indeed correct.

If I knew it was a nightmare I would have tried to wake up first…

‘Huh?’

Suddenly something flashed through my mind at Wi Seol-ah’s words.

‘If it’s a nightmare I should wake up.’

That phrase somehow resonated with me.