Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 459 (Part 2)



459 (Part 2)

“The vessel has reached this state and it seems to have accelerated due to the recent events.

It means it won’t be long before it breaks.

Having thought that far I shifted my gaze to Shin Noya.

“What should I do?”

It was a question about how to proceed. The expression on Shin Noya’s face upon hearing my question was one of disbelief.

“You’re on the brink of death and you ask me how to find a way?”

“Isn’t it because you know the way that you are saying this to me?”

“Hmph.”

I had no idea what this space was.

Whether it was a manifestation of my inner self or some other realm it didn’t matter.

What was important was that Shin Noya was here speaking to me.

“Look at this shameless fellow now even asking me to clean up the mess.”

“Yes. Since you’re going to clean it up could you do it one more time?”

“Hmph.”

I spoke as shamelessly as possible. I had come to realize that there was no time to beg.

Boom.

The egg felt even more intense movements.

It felt like it could break at any moment but Noya’s energy seemed to be holding it back.

“What should I do?”

“… Why do you think I know the way?”

“Isn’t it because you are making that expression?”

“…”

Noya’s expression crumpled a bit more upon hearing my words.

“I do have a method. But it doesn’t seem particularly useful. And there are no other methods. That’s roughly the expression you have.”

“… It seems like you’re the one using mind-reading not me.”

Get notified for updates: https://discord.gg/93rmBjgP6B

“Noya your expression is quite obvious.”

Tsk tsk…

Shin Noya chuckled at my words.

I was sure I had never seen this face before. But perhaps it felt familiar because we had always been together.

Setting aside that nostalgia there was something I needed to know right now.

“… Please tell me how to overcome this situation. Noya.”

If I truly died with my heart pierced how on earth was I supposed to survive in this situation?

Noya who had been looking into my eyes smirked and spoke.

“Just a moment ago you were so dazed. Now that a woman is involved your eyes are coming back to life. Tsk tsk.”

“…”

“A method… Yes there is a method.”

I listened intently to Noya’s response.

What could it be? Since the vessel was on the verge of breaking could it be a way to expand the vessel?

Or perhaps was it something like a miraculous encounter?

I recalled the warning that if I ate anything more here it would be unmanageable which made me somewhat anxious…

“I don’t know what you’re thinking but expanding the vessel is impossible.”

This time it seemed Noya had noticed my expression and immediately responded.

“Even if you try to stabilize your unstable state it won’t be enough to handle that.”

“… Then what am I supposed to do?”

With a question full of doubt Noya pointed again at the egg behind him.

I wondered why he was pointing at that all of a sudden.

“If it has gathered to the point where you can no longer endure then let it flow.”

“Yes…?”

Just let it flow? Does that mean to leave it alone whether the vessel breaks or not?

“If the vessel breaks won’t I die?”

“You would.”

“Then in the end….”

“You as a human.”

“…!”

I had to widen my eyes at Noya’s chilling words.

To say that I would die as a human. What on earth did that mean…

“Don’t you already know? That it is becoming difficult for you to call yourself human.”

“…”

“That is the last framework that keeps you as a human.”

The last framework.

“… That vessel is what allows me to live as a human?”

“Moreover the fact that it is holding on so stubbornly without breaking is your stubbornness.”

Join our discord and ping me to update more chapters. Discord: https://discord.gg/93rmBjgP6B

“Stubbornness…?”

“Yes the last stubbornness of wanting to live as a human.”

I felt my fists clench involuntarily.

Stubbornness.

Is that what it meant that my desire to remain human was that?

The water was flowing and wetting the ground.

That which was barely holding on to contain the water was all my stubbornness.

“… I can’t understand.”

“It doesn’t matter if you understand or not. What matters is… the choice you have to make now.”

“… Noya.”

“The reason I have been holding that back until now was purely out of my own greed.”

“Greed?”

“If your stubbornness is to remain human then my desire was to keep you as a human.”

“…”

“I wanted you to remain human.”

There was a faint bitterness in Noya’s voice.

“Now it is too late and the time has come for you to choose.”

What was he saying I should choose? I faced Noya without hiding my trembling eyes.

“If you wish you can die here as a human forever.”

“…!”

As Noya spoke petals of plum blossoms swirling in the air gathered at his fingertips.

What took shape in his hand was a sword a deep crimson blade pointing towards me.

“Then choose. Whether to end it here or to live on having given up being human.”

“…”

Life and death.

To be told to choose between them was in reality a statement that the scales were tipped to one side.

How could it not be so? Living was like that.

Even knowing all of this I couldn’t easily come up with an answer.

To cease being human.

The weight of that statement kept my mouth tightly shut.

“… If I am not human… what will I become?”

“I don’t know. What I can say is that if you choose that you will definitely regret it.”

“If I choose this I will come back to life right?”

“I don’t know that either.”

“What do you mean by that….”

“Your physical body will be revived but whether what is inside that shell is truly you the rookie is uncertain.”

That was a truly terrifying statement.

‘What if I am not me?’

Does that mean something else will inhabit my body?

Moreover the warning that I would inevitably regret this choice was also frightening.

I thought I could give up anything for the peace I desired.

But now it seemed that was not the case.

‘I see.’

Looking at the crumbling egg I thought.

‘I must have wanted to live as a human.’

Having lived an unhuman life as a demonic practitioner in my past life.

In this life I wanted to live as an ordinary human.

It seemed this was a desire I was unaware of.

Was it saying that if I gave this up I would ultimately regret it?

Perhaps it would surely turn out that way.

Yet.

I moved forward with an expression of indifference.

“…”

Noya seeing that also said nothing merely watching me silently.

The destination was where the egg was.

As I approached and looked at the egg it was still a complete mess on the verge of collapsing at any moment.

It resembled my life.

A life covered in various colors twisted and broken.

The shape of the egg seemed to represent my life as a human.

Slowly I reached out my hand towards it.

Tap.

The texture was rough with not a single soft spot.

It resembled the nature of my own righteousness.

Ignoring that I pushed deeper.

Crack-!

The surface shattered and my hand easily penetrated inside.

The feeling inside was somewhat warm.

“… Rookie.”

In that moment Noya called me in a weak voice.

“Yes.”

“Do you have no regrets about that choice?”

Hearing Noya’s question I let out a laugh.

No regrets?

“No. I want to quit right now.”

“If so.”

“First there are far more important things than my pathetic pride.”

More important than the foolishness and pride of wanting to live and die as a human.

The people I wanted to find peace for with my miserable life were more important.

“If it had been my death and the world on the scales it would have been much easier.”

Being a person who values my pride more than saving the world if that had been the case I would have chosen in an instant.

Unfortunately my opponent was too strong.

“… Ha.”

Noya let out a hollow laugh upon hearing my answer.

“You haven’t changed at all even after a long time.”

“Noya you haven’t changed either.”

“What can I say?”

“You still show your temper.”

“… You little brat?”

As Noya’s face twisted in annoyance and he approached suddenly—

Crack-!

A large crack spread out in all directions from the point where my hand had penetrated.

From the long thick crack water began to flow out gradually.

“…”

I sensed that something tremendous was about to happen.

Swallowing the small fear rising from within I said.

“Oh right. Noya.”

I spoke to Noya.

“What is it?”

“When we meet again later.”

“Yes?”

As I continued speaking the shell of the egg shattered into pieces and the water inside burst forth.

Kwah-!

Just before my body was swept away by the tremendous current I smiled broadly and said to Noya.

“I think we have something to discuss about Lady Dangje-mun.”

“…”

Mentioning Dangje-mun made Noya’s expression quite interesting.

That was enough.

I would endure and tease that old man.

For now this feeling was sufficient.”