Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 502 (Part 2)



502 (Part 2)

“Ah of course.

[It doesn’t seem like a problem that can be viewed so simply.]

As Noya said it was certainly not going to be resolved that easily.

Still I was hoping it would be.

[You little brat.]

“Yes.”

[You can’t understand can you? How can you be happy?]

“I’m happy you know?”

[Yeah… Why is that?]

“… Um.”

Am I really happy?

I touched my mouth with my hand at Noya’s words.

My lips were indeed slightly curled up.

No matter how I looked at it it wasn’t a situation to smile about. So why was I like this?

As I pondered.

“… Ah.”

After thinking for a bit I felt like I understood.

Why I was happy about this fact.

Perhaps it was because I felt relieved.

The hope that I would no longer be related to the curse that I was not human.

That must be the reason.

Could it be that I could grow stronger alone?

That might be true. There would be a certain charm in moving ahead alone when everyone else was stuck at their limits.

But.

The reason I was smiling now wasn’t because of that.

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If I could grow stronger alone.

‘It feels like I have a justification to bear it alone.’

Not letting those around me be swept away. A justification to bear it alone.

It was frustrating to think I had to roll alone but the fact that those who would rise with me might be relatively okay.

Strangely enough I felt relieved by that thought.

[… You little brat.]

Noya let out a tone that seemed to express pity for me.

‘Don’t look at me like that. It’s really not that bad.’

[… Who said anything about looking?]

‘Isn’t it because I’m sorry for cleaning up the mess they made?’

[…]

Noya didn’t respond to my words this time either.

It was obvious.

Even though that old man had a nasty temper he wasn’t a bad person.

‘Don’t worry about it. I’m just cleaning up Noya’s mess while I’m at it.’

[… Stop calling it a mess. It makes me feel dirty.]

‘Mess is mess isn’t it?’

It was clear that the reason Noya had been feeling a bit down lately was also this.

Even though the Blood Demon was sealed it hadn’t been properly dealt with.

And it had affected the later generations as well.

It was because of that guilt that he was acting this way.

‘Why?’

Naturally I couldn’t understand that feeling.

I had rolled and rolled and even sealed it so why should I feel sorry for them when they could handle the remaining issues?

Even though I jokingly called it a mess that was how I truly felt.

The problem was that I was left to deal with the remaining tasks.

As I said earlier.

‘If I want to stop the Blood Calamity it has to overlap.’

Heavenly Demon knew that he was related to the Blood Demon.

By going to another world he realized that perhaps the divine sword from his previous life was also related to the Blood Demon.

Moreover.

‘The Murim Alliance itself is entangled with the Blood Demon.’

It was an obvious statement when viewed through the lens of blood energy.

If I wanted to do something I had to get involved anyway.

So there was no need for Noya to feel so sorry.

I do it because it’s something that needs to be done. The meaning of that is still the same as it was from the beginning.

Isn’t it rather fortunate?

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‘It’s not the kids but the country.’

The ones who should be rolling on the ground are not those who should be happy and comfortable.

That alone was a relief.

[… Speaking of which you little brat.]

“Yes.”

[Is it okay to leave that guy as is?]

“That guy…? Ah!”

I paused for a moment as I was about to stretch my body.

I recalled who Noya was referring to.

The brain demon. Something presumed to be Namgung Myung… but not him.

I had shoved that into a drawer and had come outside.

I had stuffed it away because it was making too much noise.

Ironically when I moved away I couldn’t hear the sound anymore.

“Isn’t it fortunate? If it was something that had mingled with your energy like Noya it would have been painful to hear.”

If it was something that the monster had left behind I thought it could just stay there.

Moreover it was awkward to hand it over to Namgung Bia right away.

‘… How did that happen?’

Thinking about the brain demon made my head ache slightly.

The bloodline of the Namgung Clan. It was said that those not chosen by the brain demon couldn’t grasp it.

So why was I able to hold it?

It was all incredibly complicated.

I tried to look into it but because Namgung Myung was making such a racket I just shoved it away.

[… You’re quite something.]

Noya expressed surprise at how I had really shoved it away.

‘After all it won’t make me get along with it.’

Honestly it was a bit of a dull matter.

It wasn’t a weapon I would use.

Let alone.

‘I just want to be quiet for now.’

I was already in a troubled state and one bad-tempered old man was enough.

[… Heh. This brat…?]

It was a complicated situation.

‘… The problem is dinner later.’

There was also the issue with my father. How surprised I had been to see my father suddenly show up in Sichuan.

Moreover I had even been told to prepare because he would scold me at dinner.

‘I really want to run away.’

It was an incredibly troubling situation.

If it were up to me I would just want to get scolded and get it over with.

But my father would just throw out a few words and disappear making that impossible.

‘Where on earth did he go?’

It was strange that he had suddenly appeared.

What business could he have in Sichuan?

I was a bit curious about that.

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

The present in Sichuan.

At the center stood the Baekhwa Trading Company Sichuan branch.

It was the most eye-catching and splendid building in Sichuan.

With a brilliantly decorated background from the entrance.

It was filled with well-trained staff.

It was only natural. Captain Mi Hyo-ran was a person who wouldn’t allow even a slight gap so the management of the staff was thorough.

And the branch manager responsible for this Sichuan branch.

Dae Meok-ri had recently been dreaming of grand ambitions.

The reason was simple.

Dae Meok-ri was feeling increasingly obsolete as he aged.

Moreover as the lack of performance grew rumors spread that Dae Meok-ri was trying to pull some tricks and that a new branch manager for the Sichuan branch would be selected.

As anxiety sprouted day by day.

-… What?

– The Mister from the Gu family has come to visit.

– Why would that gentleman come here?

The Mister from the Gu family.

He had come.

He wasn’t the child of the Captain and he was a bastard but he was the only male of the Gu family and his position as Clan Head was assured.

Moreover it was said that he had recently earned the alias of So Yeom-ra based on his outstanding talents.

Additionally he was said to be the youngest Hwa-gyeong?

Of course even Dae Meok-ri dismissed this part as a joke.

A martial artist who wasn’t even of age being called Hwa-gyeong was nonsense.

Anyway.

The important thing was that he had come.

At a time when rumors were circulating within the Trading Company that the Captain was secretly favoring him.

Dae Meok-ri had no reason to refuse this meeting.

He thought he might as well gain some points for maintaining his position.

What started as a light meeting.

– Your mother would be pleased.

Remembering Gu Yang-cheon who had said that with a bright smile Dae Meok-ri felt a shiver run down his spine.

The atmosphere that enveloped him.

The words and gaze that tightened around him without any pretense.

Even though he had heard that he was not related by blood to the Captain why did Dae Meok-ri feel a similar aura to Gu Yang-cheon?

What he could understand was.

‘… This is an opportunity.’

It might be an opportunity that the Mister was approaching him.

His beliefs as a merchant? The pride he had built up over the years?

Dae Meok-ri knew that none of that mattered.

It might be a chance to gain a huge customer.

But the problem was that he couldn’t provide the items he wanted.

Faced with the atmosphere emanating from Gu Yang-cheon right in front of him Dae Meok-ri had no choice but to make a decision.

He would stick to the Mister.

Dae Meok-ri made that choice.

When he heard the news that Gu Yang-cheon had sent a letter to Captain Baekhwa as promised Dae Meok-ri was convinced that this choice was not wrong.

That was just a few days ago.

“I heard that the child made a transaction here.”

Dae Meok-ri had to regret that choice at that moment.

“Gu Gu Clan Head… that that is…”

If he had known that the choice he made back then would lead to this situation he would have never done it.

“You don’t have to answer.”

Dae Meok-ri was regretting it too late.

“One thing I hope you didn’t do that.”

“….”

“I think you might not be able to control your strength right now.”

It was already too late.