Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 523 (Part 1)



523 (Part 1)

”’Chapter 524 – Just Give It to Me Once.

[What are you?]

At the moment when Gwaeseon Baekryeonggeom and Namgung Bia were outside.

Shin Noya looked at Nohya and asked.

When he heard that Namgung Bia was going to the North Sea he half-lost his mind and asked Namgung Myung.

But there was no answer.

As the silence continued I was gradually getting angrier.

At that time I was already half out of my mind.

Should I say that the boiling blood and heat had risen to the top of my head?

I was in a state of uncontrollable rage.

Looking back now it seems strange. Even if it was an unexpected situation it wasn’t something to be that angry about.

Emotions that I find hard to control always get in the way.

The problem is that even though I know that I can’t control it.

‘What are you?’

Before I could scream in a voice heated with anger Shin Noya interrupted me allowing me to cool down a bit.

What are you?

I recall what Shin Noya said to Namgung Myung.

Was it the day before or the day before that? Noya had said something similar to Namgung Myung.

– You are not Myung.

Shin Noya who quietly observed Namgung Myung as he raised his voice at Noya concluded with a firm voice towards the end.

The author is not Namgung Myung.

‘Then who the hell are you?’

If that is not Namgung Myung’s thought then what is it?

[… Tsk tsk….]

After Shin Noya’s question a shallow laugh came from Nohya.

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[… What do you mean what am I Shin Cheol? That’s a ridiculous joke.]

[Does it look like a joke?]

Hmm.

I felt heat in my heart. It wasn’t mine.

The scent of plum blossoms began to flow gently through the acupoints.

Light yet dense. Dense yet somewhat transparent.

This was undoubtedly the energy of Shin Noya.

[You are not Myung. Isn’t that right?]

[… Ha….]

At the firm words Namgung Myung laughed.

[Then who am I? I am Namgung Myung.]

Namgung Myung spoke coldly as if to say not to say such absurd things but Shin Noya’s reaction was the same.

[Even if your descendants may have deceived do you think it makes sense to try to deceive us?]

[Shin Cheol…!]

[You are not Myung.]

Wooooo-!

At Shin Noya’s words the Nohya in my hand began to tremble.

[Shut your mouth. I am Namgung Myung. If I am not Namgung Myung then who am I?]

Thud thud thud-! It was a vibration strong enough to make my hands tremble.

Tick tick! Sparks flew in the air. It was because of the shallow thunder emanating from Nohya.

[You appear after such a long time trying to humiliate me? You?]

[Yes it must have been a very long time.]

Noya’s memory is empty.

For some reason it was filled with a sense of alienation. The empty memories seemed to be split apart like shards.

What did he say?

He said he woke up to find himself sealed within a beast.

It was a story somewhat different from history.

In the recorded history of the volcano it was said that the Hwasan Sword Master had completed all roles as Sect Leader and ended his life shortly thereafter.

However in the actual conversation with the thought he met.

It became clear that that history was somehow wrong.

Somewhere along the line it had twisted.

Whether it was something done by those related to Yeonilcheon in the past or something done by the Blood Demon side I do not know.

But there was definitely a problem.

Perhaps the one most concerned about it would be Noya.

[Yes. It was indeed very long. You who have not experienced such a long time what do you know to say that?]

Namgung Myung’s voice was filled with anger.

It was the same last time.

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Namgung Myung had been angry at Shin Noya who had not experienced the same time.

[You still know nothing.]

The anger was justified.

Even I would have gone half mad waiting as a thought for someone who might come at any time after living through such a long time.

However.

[You are right. I do not know.]

It seems Shin Noya thought differently.

[But at least I know that you are not Myung.]

[This bastard really…!]

[It must have been a very long time. The mountains crumbled. So many nameless streets and countless people emerged.]

The Huang Abulyeong of Shaolin was in a state so exhausted that time pressed down on him holding onto corrupted officials.

The Tang Clan endured his life solely for the sake of Noya but the clan he wanted to protect had rotted away.

It was far too long a time.

To endure that time was a change mixed with degeneration and corruption.

For those who had the intention to save the world was this world truly right?

Just not having gone mad long ago would be remarkable.

Yet.

‘There’s no way Noya wouldn’t know that.’

Why does Noya express that this voice is not Namgung Myung?

I still couldn’t understand.

At that moment Noya began to continue speaking.

[Time is inherently like that so even if you say you have lost what you saw it cannot be helped.]

[Is that what you mean? That someone who knows that is now insulting me?]

[Even that solid Cheolyeong has lost hope. It cannot be helped.]

[Then at least….]

[But you see.]

What is it?

‘… This.’

As the two were conversing for some reason I felt cold sweat running down my back.

The air was heavy. It wasn’t Namgung Myung’s problem. This was.

‘Is it Shin Noya’s perception?’

The atmosphere was changing according to Noya’s emotions.

‘Huh.’

Realizing that I suddenly understood how remarkable this old man was.

A gentleman who had only a thought left without a body yet with just his emotions he had this much presence.

He seemed like a grumpy old man yet at times like this he showed a different side.

In the heavily pressed air Shin Noya spoke to Namgung Myung.

[At least that guy has not lost his conviction.]

[…!]

[You do not seem to have such conviction. Yet are you truly Namgung Myung?]

In the voice that spoke casually something was clearly contained.

A belief that I could not dare to recognize.

Something distant that could firmly state the word conviction.

[…]

Was it Noya’s words that were the problem?

Namgung Myung fell into a brief silence and not long after he spoke in a dry voice.

[… Do you know how many years have passed yet you still say such things?]

Even if there was conviction it was a time that should have long since crumbled.

Such years had passed.

It was strange to think that conviction still remained.

[What is strange?]

[What do you know having experienced nothing? At least… at least you should not have said that.]

Unlike the others who remained Shin Noya who had not experienced that long time should not have said that.

Namgung Myung’s argument was understandable to me as well.

While he had suffered greatly and remained a guy who had just awakened after hundreds of years came and questioned why things had changed it was something to be angry about.

The problem is….

‘Is there something that seems to be bothering him?’

In Namgung Myung’s voice I felt something unsettling.

It seemed that Shin Noya also sensed that part.

[… Conviction yes. It can be lost. I have no right to blame that.]

[…]

[But if you were going to do it you should have done it properly.]

[What do you mean….]

For some reason Noya’s voice seemed to be gradually lowering.

[If you were going to lose your conviction you should have just done that. Isn’t there desire filling the place where conviction has been lost?]

[…!]

[Are you going to deny this as well?]

With the heavy words the air lowered once more.

Desire fills the place where conviction has been lost. What could that mean?

I couldn’t understand but it seemed Namgung Myung had some inkling.

[To me there is nothing but desire. The greed to restore the family’s honor. The impatience to fix the broken swordsmanship. That is all there is.]

[What’s wrong with that? Are you saying that even in this state I should have left Namgung behind and only sought peace? What kind of selfish statement is that!]

It was a world that had long since rotted.

If I were to shout for peace and wait foolishly even here I would rather save my own kin.

In a way it could be considered the most rational thought.”’