Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 529 (Part 1)



529 (Part 1)

”’Chapter 530 – The Artifact of Creation.

What did this crazy old man just say?

‘Touch me?’

I felt a wave of disgust and had to dig my ears right away.

I wanted to think I misheard.

But it wasn’t just me; the expression on Gwaeseon’s face was a complete mess.

Just by looking at his face I could tell.

That man was thinking the same thing as I was.

And sure enough.

“Old man… have you lost your mind?”

He bluntly said what I wanted to say. It felt a bit refreshing.

Of course that didn’t mean I could understand this situation.

‘Touch me? Has he really gone mad?’

I heard that Namgung Myung was left with lingering attachments. They said he was in a state of being a thought form.

Could it be that he went insane after hundreds of years?

[… Myung… Myung… ]

In the midst of it all the pitiful voice of Shin Noya was grating on my nerves.

‘… Noya your friend is still alive over there… No he’s dead but he’s over there.’

He spoke as if he was reminiscing so I told him he was right in front of us.

[Ha ha what are you saying kid? Where exactly is Myung?]

‘Over there…’

[Are you mistaking that perverted guy for Myung? Hahaha. That can’t be true.]

‘…’

I see.

Shin Noya was currently turning a blind eye to reality.

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He said it wasn’t Namgung Myung but in a way it was the embodiment of his lingering attachments.

It seemed that Shin Noya was starting to believe that wasn’t even true.

‘… Hmm.’

Honestly I didn’t want to believe it either but what could I do about what I had already heard?

[… Please….]

Namgung Myung continued to speak to me pitifully.

Why the hell is this happening?

‘What the hell should I call this?’

I didn’t know how to explain this boiling emotion.

One thing was certain: it wasn’t a good feeling.

To think I would be subjected to this kind of treatment by someone who had already died.

I held back the chills creeping up my spine and asked Namgung Myung.

“… Why are you doing this? Are you…?”

Have you lost your mind? I held back the words that wanted to burst out and said something else.

“Are you in pain…?”

Could the thought form contained in the artifact feel pain?

I didn’t know but at least I could tell that Namgung Myung was in a strange state.

How could anyone think this was normal?

[Ahh…! Please…!]

‘What the hell is going on?’

It was terrifying.

It was already a shocking situation if a woman were to do this and now an old man who had died was crying out to be touched.

“Ah why are you doing this?”

I found myself stepping back without realizing it. Why is this happening?

As I distanced myself with a disgusted expression Namgung Bia who was next to me looked at me with a strange expression and asked.

“… What’s… wrong…?”

“What do you mean what’s wrong? This old man is right now…?”

Just as I was about to bring up Namgung Myung I felt something was off when I saw Namgung Bia’s expression.

“You….”

“…?”

“Can you… not hear anything?”

At my question Namgung Bia tilted her head.

She couldn’t hear Namgung Myung’s voice?

‘… You caught the thought form and used it?’

Not only had she caught the thought form but she had also properly drawn the sword.

And yet she couldn’t hear Namgung Myung’s voice?

‘What kind of situation is this?’

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As I was momentarily taken aback by the unexpected situation Namgung Myung spoke to me in a weary voice.

[… That descendant child may have been recognized by the thought form but not by me.]

“What do you mean by that…?”

He was recognized by the thought form.

But not by Namgung Myung?

Aren’t they supposed to be the same?

[Even if the thought form liked that child they won’t hear it unless I give them my voice.]

This meant that even if Namgung Myung didn’t recognize her she could still use the thought form.

‘Then isn’t that a good thing?’

Seeing the old man’s personality it might actually be better that Namgung Bia couldn’t hear him.

‘… Hmm.’

Ultimately for Namgung Bia to grow stronger she would still need Namgung Myung’s power.

Even if Gwaeseon said he would get a sword from Namgung Myung to teach Namgung Bia.

‘It would be better if Namgung Myung taught her directly.’

No matter how much she learned the true sword of the Namgung Clan Gwaeseon was a shaman.

It wouldn’t be as good as Namgung Myung personally bestowing it upon Namgung Bia.

That’s why I was even more curious.

“… Why don’t you recognize her?”

Isn’t it a situation where she’s more than qualified?

It wasn’t that she lacked talent. She hadn’t abandoned the Namgung Clan like Gwaeseon.

She should be in the best state to learn the sword.

Why wouldn’t he recognize Namgung Bia?

When I asked Namgung Myung about this he replied.

[… Why should I tell you that?]

Ha ha.

‘Look at this old man?’

Is he trying to show off his pride in the midst of all this?

Seeing Namgung Myung like that made me involuntarily smile.

It wasn’t bad.

Those who acted like this while having their weaknesses exposed were always thrilling.

“It seems you need something from me. Can I come out?”

[…]

If he had caught something to use against me there was nothing easier to handle than that.

Begging to be caught was a bit of a joke in many ways but if he wanted it so desperately he shouldn’t have come to me like this.

Also.

‘I need to know why he wants it.’

I had to understand why Namgung Myung was acting like this.

I needed to know what the cause was.

I had to know if there was anything that could harm me.

[… You brat….]

As if he realized he was caught Namgung Myung reacted late but it was already too late.

“If you’re not going to say it then you don’t have to.”

Instead it meant that I wouldn’t do what you wanted. My words clearly carried that meaning.

[… Crack.]

I could hear the sound of Namgung Myung grinding his teeth.

From that I could tell.

‘He must be really desperate.’

Seeing him in this state and still not giving up he must be in quite a hurry. Why on earth was he so out of his mind?

‘Did I do something?’

I couldn’t remember.

The only thing I had done was use the thought form for a brief moment during the day.

Because of that my body had been wrecked from the backlash.

Even now the aftereffects were still lingering.

In that context grabbing the thought form again would be quite a chilling part.

That’s why I didn’t want to hold the thought form if possible.

Given the situation it meant I had no reason to cooperate with Namgung Myung.

In other words.

‘You need to give me a reason. That’s it.’

I wondered if that prideful old man would give me one.

[… That child’s sword is not for herself.]

Surprisingly Namgung Myung began to provide a reason as if he was willing to cooperate with me.

“What do you mean by that?”

Not for herself?

[The moment that child grabbed the thought form she could feel where her path was leading her.]

Was he talking about when Namgung Bia used the thought form?

[That conviction was so upright. The thought form responded to it but I did not.]

For some reason Namgung Myung’s voice which had seemed weary until just now was now filled with fervor.”’