Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 478 (Part 1)



478 (Part 1)

**Chapter 479 – The Decayed**

“… Are you okay?”

This was what I said right after hearing that Dang Je-mun was asking me for a favor.

I truly wondered if she was okay.

It was a question I couldn’t help but ask.

No matter how I looked at it it was a difficult matter for Dang Je-mun to bring up.

Despite my doubts Dang Je-mun only maintained her sad expression and did not retract her request.

– Is it possible?

“…”

At her question I pinched my lips lightly with my thumb. Was it possible?

‘I don’t know.’

Honestly it was too much to give a definite answer.

It was hard to think about how to handle this without it affecting me.

But.

‘Hmm.’

No matter how much I pondered my answer was already set in this situation.

“I don’t think it’s a matter of running away and saying no.”

-….

Dang Je-mun smiled bitterly at my answer. It must have hit the mark.

She knew I wouldn’t be able to refuse.

So it was only natural.

‘She must have brought up the topic of Tang So-yeol.’

If it was something related to her she would have thought I couldn’t refuse. And that was.

‘It’s something I can’t deny.’

It was something I couldn’t bring myself to reject.

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“I’ll at least give it a try.”

I would try whether it worked or not. That was the extent of the answer I could give right now.

Fortunately Dang Je-mun nodded slightly as if my answer wasn’t bad.

– Thank you Hu-in.

“No need for thanks. After all….”

It felt like I was working for a reward so I didn’t need any expressions of gratitude.

Moreover she herself seemed to be quite troubled by this issue.

‘I’m not exactly thrilled about this either.’

To be precise it was far from a pleasant matter; it was a very frustrating one.

‘The problem is how do I deal with the Poison King?’

Since it was related to the Tang Clan I had no idea how to approach the Poison King.

Furthermore this had to be considered only if the Poison King was not involved in this matter.

No matter how rotten a person the Poison King was.

I hoped he wouldn’t be involved in something like this.

‘It’s about my daughter. I hope not.’

If by any chance the Poison King was involved in this matter.

Thud.

I tilted my head slightly as I thought.

‘I have to kill him.’

My heart sank coldly. I had made a firm decision in my mind.

If the Poison King became a nuisance I would kill him.

With that resolve I steadied my heart.

– Hu-in.

Dang Je-mun called me.

“Yes senior.”

– If you are curious about anything I have already conveyed it to Shin-cheol in advance.

“Yes?”

I opened my eyes wide at those words.

‘Things I would be curious about?’

It wasn’t that I didn’t know what that meant.

I was just wondering what she might have told him as there were so many possibilities.

‘Really? Noya.’

I urgently called out to Noya in my mind.

[Hmph.]

Noya seemed to have residual feelings from our earlier argument responding in a rather strange manner.

… Anyway what a petty old man.

At least from the looks of it he wasn’t denying anything so it seemed he had heard something.

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Just as I was curious about what information he had received.

– Also….

Dang Je-mun continued as if her words were not yet finished.

– I have prepared a small gift for Hu-in.

“A gift… you say?”

– Yes. A gift.

What could she have prepared?

In any case I had never received a proper gift when someone said they were giving me one so I felt quite anxious.

Whether she knew of my anxiety or not Dang Je-mun continued speaking.

– Originally it should have been given to Shin-cheol… or another child.

Dang Je-mun smiled as she spoke.

– But for now it would be right for you to receive it. She would want this too.

“… She?”

As soon as I asked Dang Je-mun’s hand reached toward me.

Swoosh.

“…!?”

The translucent tip of Dang Je-mun’s hand pierced through my chest. It was a sudden attack.

There was no pain. There was not even a sensation of it entering.

Was it because she was a spirit?

“Seon….”

I tried to ask Dang Je-mun what this action meant.

– I hope there will always be blessings on your path.

Dang Je-mun simply smiled and cut off her words.

Then.

Boom-!

“…!”

With a sensation of my body flipping over I lost consciousness.

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

The body of Gu Yang-cheon who had lost consciousness collapsed as it lost strength.

Just before hitting the ground.

Thud-!

A small dragon flew in to catch Gu Yang-cheon.

Seeing that Dang Je-mun took a step back.

And immediately examined her hand.

Suuuu….

She could see that her once translucent hand was becoming fainter. This was a sign that the end was approaching.

Even though Dang Je-mun clearly understood this she did not feel sad.

She simply accepted it.

It had been too long a life to hold onto any regrets and she thought that if she could achieve even a fraction of what she had desired that would be enough.

However.

– Shin-cheol.

There was a small sense of regret left for that.

– Are you there?

[… What is it.]

A somewhat sulky voice responded to Dang Je-mun’s call.

At the somewhat trivial-sounding voice Dang Je-mun chuckled softly.

– Are you still sulking?

[Who… who is sulking? Do you think I’m such a petty person?]

Dang Je-mun couldn’t bring herself to say no.

– Please stop being angry. I didn’t mean it.

[I’m fine you know? I don’t even remember what I heard….]

– Is it because I called you a petty and oblivious inspector?

[…]

Gu Yang-cheon’s body trembled slightly at Dang Je-mun’s words.

It seemed that Shin-cheol who was there reacted.

[… Who… who….]

– I understand.

Just as Shin-cheol was about to explode with anger Dang Je-mun interrupted him.

– I understand that you didn’t notice my feelings and that you ultimately let go of the opportunity. I understand it all.

[…]

– Shin-cheol you have always been a person for whom conviction is the most important.

Being narrow-minded and oblivious was frustrating and annoying from the perspective of a woman who admired him.

However if she knew where Shin-cheol’s gaze was directed she couldn’t have acted that way.

– You are a hero.

A martial artist who only looked at the goal of saving the world.

The conviction of a hero who wanted to plant a brilliant plum tree on peaceful land.

Shin-cheol was someone who lived only for that.

Dang Je-mun knew that he would not have embraced a woman even if he had his eyes on one.

If she had approached him in her original body using the name Dang Je-hee would the outcome have been different?

No Dang Je-mun was certain.

Shin-cheol would have ultimately chosen nothing.

So approaching him for a moment in her original body.

Or being by his side in a male form.

That was the only choice Dang Je-mun could make.

– I wanted to tell you. But.

Even knowing that she always wanted to say it.

That she was a woman.

A beautiful woman.

And.

That she loved him.

She wanted to open her mouth and chirp to ask him to hold her touch her and put her to sleep.

But Dang Je-mun held back.

She had to hold back.

She wanted to see Shin-cheol treat her that way and she was also hungry for it.

– I held back. Because you are that kind of person.

It was precisely because he was that kind of Shin-cheol that she loved him.

Even if his words were rough he would unhesitatingly give his life to protect those around him.

If it came to a situation where he had to die he would take the first step forward.

He chose the conviction and desire to save the world over a life as an ordinary person.

That was why Dang Je-mun could love him.

– So it’s okay.

She smiled.

– Don’t feel guilty. I’m okay.

[… Je-mun.]

Hearing Shin-cheol’s voice Dang Je-mun nodded.

This is the end. She could feel it for sure.

She looked down at her toes.

Her once translucent body was gradually disappearing from that point.

Seeing this Dang Je-mun closed her eyes.

– I think I should go first.

She said calmly.

– I wonder if the other friends are waiting?

[… They probably are. They are all a bunch of useless bastards but none of them would abandon anyone.]

– That’s right.

At Shin-cheol’s light words Dang Je-mun nodded.

– Shin-cheol.

[… Yes.]

She called him out but Dang Je-mun paused her lips for a moment.