Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 448 (Part 1)



448 (Part 1)

”'< Chapter 449 > Ah this isn’t right.

When was it?

No how long has it been?

I can’t remember clearly.

It’s something from so long ago and also a memory I don’t particularly want to recall.

It’s something I want to bury deep in my heart or erase completely from my memory.

Yet there are definitely things that refuse to be forgotten even with such feelings.

In fact the more painful the memory the more vividly it remains.

This memory was like that for me.

The unique stench of the dark realm had become familiar.

The rising red moon now felt as ordinary as a lamp.

It was when I woke up late at night as always to take my turn on watch.

As time passed the number of survivors dwindled and it was a point where the order had become completely tangled.

Hwaruk.

As the darkness deepened I lit a flame to illuminate my surroundings.

The qi was only as small as a mouse droppings so it only brightened what was right in front of me and it didn’t warm my body much either.

But I felt fortunate to have at least this so I kept it lit.

Pik-!

A gust of wind blew from somewhere and snuffed out the flame with a flick!

[…]

I frowned as I looked to the left watching the pitifully extinguished flame.

[What are you doing trying to die?]

I raised my irritation to the maximum.

The wind just now was an artificial energy created by qi.

The person who extinguished my flame was staring at me with their characteristic cold gaze.

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[You of all people. I clearly warned you not to light a fire recklessly.]

With a righteous cold voice I clicked my tongue briefly.

[What do you expect me to do when I can’t see anything? How can I keep watch if I can’t see anything?]

[If you can’t see anything then just don’t look. If you can’t see even this you won’t be able to see anything at all.]

Her firm words made my brows furrow involuntarily.

[You really know how to talk like a jerk.]

[That’s just the truth. It’s better than your flame attracting a demonic beast.]

She spat out her cold words nonchalantly and tied her long blonde hair back tightly.

The short white neckline made it impossible for the men to look away.

But I averted my gaze instead.

It was because her words dug deeper than her beauty.

[So you mean to say “Crawl because you’re weak”?]

I could see her shoulders slightly tremble at my words.

[…That’s not what I meant….]

[What do you mean it’s not? Enough it’s not like I haven’t been through this before.]

At this point I had no pride left to be hurt by such words.

There couldn’t possibly be anything left to break in my already crushed and shattered pride.

Well maybe just a little bit remained.

[…You wouldn’t understand how I feel being someone like you.]

Was that why I blurted out such words without realizing it?

[You have no idea what it’s like to be rolling on the ground like me. You wouldn’t know.]

[…]

Her golden eyes turned towards me.

There was a subtle irritation in those pupils.

I couldn’t even understand that irritation.

The so-called prodigy who began to stand tall in place of the legendary Oryong Sam Bong.

That was her alias now.

Why would someone praised for their talent be so irritated?

It was something I couldn’t comprehend.

[What do you know to say that…?]

She seemed to be in a bad mood and said that to me.

I could only accept it with indifference.

[Do you know me well enough to say that?]

[…]

At my words the woman the Sword Maiden bit her lip.

Seeing that made me sigh.

This was an unnecessary argument.

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Especially an argument with someone who thinks highly of themselves was something I detested.

It was obvious that no matter what we said we wouldn’t understand each other.

Why would I engage in such a bothersome conversation?

As I shook my head in thought she suddenly posed a question to me.

[Why are you always so dissatisfied?]

[What?]

[Does acting like that in everything make your heart feel a bit more at ease?]

[You little brat. Now you’re trying to teach me? My parents never did that so why are you?]

That’s right.

If my parents hadn’t done it I wouldn’t be in this state.

I swallowed those words inwardly.

[No matter how good you think you are this is it.]

[I’m not that good.]

[Who are you trying to fool right now?]

She was the one who had all sorts of impressive titles yet she claimed she wasn’t good. What kind of nonsense was that?

One.

[…I’m really not that good.]

The Sword Maiden said that to me in a tired voice.

I still couldn’t understand those words.

[Yeah you’re not good.]

I decided to just let it slide since it was bothersome.

What more could I do if she said she wasn’t good?

I just hoped this time would pass quickly.

It wasn’t just that the watch was annoying but it was uncomfortable to be standing next to the Sword Maiden.

The guy who was supposed to be on watch before us had become a meal for a demonic beast which is why the order had turned out this way.

We were already grinding our teeth at each other whenever we met.

And now they had stuck us together like this.

That damn Seolbong she must have known what she was doing.

The one who arranged the watch order must have been that wretched person.

She must have done it on purpose knowing I was uncomfortable with the Sword Maiden.

Anyway she was someone I didn’t like at all.

In any case it had been about seven days since we had been paired up like this.

Among those days today was particularly chatty.

Ah of course the conversation wasn’t peaceful and it was sharp like before.

After growling a few more times silence began to flow.

For me this silence was rather comfortable so I was just counting the number of stones on the ground.

Then the Sword Maiden suddenly asked something strange.

[What is your goal?]

[…Huh?]

I frowned involuntarily at those words.

What is she talking about…?

It was such an unexpected question. What is my goal?

[What kind of nonsense is this all of a sudden?]

[I was just wondering if someone like you has a goal.]

[Why are you suddenly picking a fight? Are you really crazy?]

I was dumbfounded.

It felt like I had been hit while quietly looking at the stones.

And now a goal? A goal?

[…]

I thought about it carefully but nothing particularly came to mind.

A goal wasn’t something I sought in life.

I had no affection for life itself so how could there be a goal?

Could there be such a thing? I was just living breathing.

The more I thought about it the more it seemed to sour my mood.

I looked at the Sword Maiden with a sullen expression and asked.

[What about you? Do you have a goal?]

[…]

At my question the Sword Maiden turned her head away avoiding my gaze.

[What? You don’t have one either? We’re the same then.]

I smiled as I said that and the Sword Maiden quickly turned her head towards me her eyes lit up.

It seemed she was quite offended by being compared to me.

[…I do… have one….]

Despite her fierce expression her voice was surprisingly gentle.

It felt like a hint of embarrassment was mixed in.

[You have one? What is it?]

Honestly I wasn’t really curious at all but I just asked.

I didn’t need to know what someone else’s goal was.

[…]

The Sword Maiden didn’t answer my question for a long time.

I wondered what kind of grand goal could make her hesitate so much.

Is it something like the Murim Alliance or being the world’s best?

If that’s the case it might be a bit difficult.

Well if she’s that good she might be able to have such a goal.

As I thought that and waited for her response with a sour expression the Sword Maiden finally spoke in a very small voice.

[…Mom.]

[What?]

It was so small that I couldn’t hear it well. I leaned in to listen and asked again.

[…Mom….]

The Sword Maiden said that to me with slightly reddened ears.

Mom?

[…?]

Hearing that I made a strange expression and slightly distanced myself.

[…What?]

Out of the blue she said “Mom” as her goal. What does that even mean?

Did I mishear?

[…Mom?]

[…]

Just to be sure I asked again but judging by her reaction it seemed I hadn’t misheard.

Seeing my reaction the Sword Maiden seemed embarrassed and started to get angry.

[…What…? Is it strange?]

[Isn’t it strange? Suddenly saying “Mom” is your goal.]

[…My mother is a great goal. Why don’t you know that?]

[Maybe because I don’t have a mom. I don’t really get it.]

[…]

The self-deprecation she said plainly made the Sword Maiden momentarily close her mouth.

It wasn’t something I wanted to say to make her feel that way.

[No then why is that your goal of all things?]

Why “Mom” when there are so many other great things to choose from?

This was the most incomprehensible thing I had heard so far.

[…It’s not that I specifically want that to be my goal.]

[But you just said it was your goal.]

[I just meant that I dream of a normal life.]”’