Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 529 (Part 2)



529 (Part 2)

It felt like various emotions were swirling within.

[Knowing what the end of the sword for others is I don’t want to give strength to the child who wishes to walk that path.]

[You…!]

‘… Noya. Just a moment.’

As Namgung Myung spoke Shin Noya seemed ready to retort so I stopped him internally.

The sword for others.

What Namgung Myung was talking about was ultimately a lament for himself who had lived for the world.

‘No perhaps it’s a lament for the regrets that Namgung Myung left behind.’

I wondered if it was really that different. It was probably similar.

Leaving aside how Namgung Myung’s true self could have vanished with such regrets I felt I understood why he did not acknowledge Namgung Bia.

A sword not for oneself but for others.

If Namgung Bia wishes to nurture such a sword.

For whom is that sword?

I already knew the answer.

‘Me.’

As much as he said he would go to the North Sea to protect me there was no way I could be so foolish as to not know for whom that sword was meant.

If that was a problem in Namgung Myung’s eyes.

“What do you want me to do about it?”

[… What?]

That wasn’t my concern.

I only wanted to stop Namgung Bia from trying to protect me.

If that led to this situation it would only be a pain for me.

“Is it that you don’t like that this kid has a good heart and is trying to help?”

[How can you say that….]

“Well damn it’s true.”

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Though my words were harsh they weren’t wrong. I spoke a bit more forcefully feeling slightly irritated and Namgung Bia’s eyes widened beside me.

I was trying to hold back as much as possible since he was next to me.

He was really getting on my nerves.

“The ancestor is acting worse than a child.”

[You little…!]

Seeing Shin Noya lamenting over Namgung Myung’s state.

It seemed the real Namgung Myung was not like this. I couldn’t understand why this man was acting this way.

‘Is it because of regrets?’

He had said it himself that he left behind regrets.

Perhaps he had only left behind ugly emotions.

If that was how he had to endure the years I could accept it.

Of course.

‘I have no intention of experiencing that mess.’

There are plenty of senile old men around.

I already had a headache. Dealing with this guy was just annoying.

I was trying to figure out why he was acting this way.

It seemed better to just take the easy route.

Feeling a bit heated I spoke to the trembling Namgung Myung.

“You said you needed me.”

[… Yes….]

I didn’t know why I was needed but if it was that urgent.

“Then promise me you’ll properly teach him. Then I’ll take care of it.”

I needed to get something out of this too.

[You…!]

Namgung Myung’s voice deepened at my threat.

Did he not expect me to use this against him? It was fine if he realized it now.

[Are you threatening me?]

Haha.

I burst out laughing at Namgung Myung’s words.

“This Elder is quite amusing.”

After all he hadn’t seen me in a long time so he could say such things.

[What’s so funny….]

“So do you think this is a threat or what?”

[…]

“If we go a bit further it’s more like a deal. It would be nice if we could exchange favors.”

I would do what he asked so he should grant me what I wanted.

Is that so difficult?

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In my view it wasn’t hard at all.

As I smoothed out my furrowed brow I spoke to Namgung Myung.

“So just answer whether you will or not. I’m sleepy and want to go to bed.”

[… Grr.]

Namgung Myung gritted his teeth at my words.

But I could already predict what kind of answer he would give based on his reaction.

If there was something slightly off.

‘I did get a bit heated and was a bit harsh.’

This was more about feeling sorry for Shin Noya than for Namgung Myung.

No matter what I had been harsh on Shin Noya’s friend….

[Friend? Who are you talking about?]

Ah he had already become someone who didn’t know.

Seeing Shin Noya react as if he truly didn’t know my guilt vanished.

What a relief.

Goesun was looking at Noya with an expression that was hard to describe.

Namgung Bia was just rolling his eyes not understanding the situation.

Amidst this I was waiting for a response from Namgung Myung.

A few seconds passed.

[… I will tell you….]

Namgung Myung’s answer came.

“What did you say? Senior. I can’t hear you well.”

[… I will teach that child the sword so I mean to ask you to take care of it now.]

“I told you I can’t hear you.”

[How can you not hear me when I’m saying this!]

Namgung Myung shouted at my words but I genuinely couldn’t hear him.

“He can’t hear you.”

[…!]

It wasn’t me; it was that Namgung Bia who still couldn’t hear.

This was something I had to clarify.

[Ugh….]

After a brief pause as if he understood my words Namgung Myung let out a short sigh and spoke again.

[… Can you hear me now?]

“…!”

Only then did Namgung Bia seem to sense something and reacted.

His surprised eyes looked somewhat cute.

[Now it’s….]

As soon as I heard Namgung Myung’s words I brought the Noya to Goesun.

I wanted to get it done quickly if he was going to do it.

Then.

Whoosh-!

I felt my qi being absorbed into the Noya I held in my hand.

[Huh…!]

Immediately Namgung Myung let out a breath of admiration.

The sound felt quite disgusting and I wanted to throw it away immediately.

But for now I had to endure.

‘… He asked me to take care of it. Was he trying to absorb my energy?’

A significant amount of energy was being drained.

It was because he was consuming it bit by bit.

[Huhhh!]

“… Ugh. Damn.”

Hearing an old man groaning like that was utterly revolting.

As the absorption of qi gradually decreased.

“Why are you really doing this?”

I asked Namgung Myung without hiding my contempt.

What on earth was he doing?

Was it because I had absorbed a bit of energy?

Perhaps having regained some clarity Namgung Myung’s voice seemed to return a bit.

[… It’s because you infused energy into the Noya.]

I nodded slightly at Namgung Myung’s words.

It seemed that using the Noya earlier was indeed the reason.

‘Why though?’

What connection could there be between me infusing energy and Namgung Myung reacting this way?

No matter how much I thought about it I couldn’t find a significant correlation.

“Do you know the reason for this?”

[… I know. I just didn’t expect to experience it directly.]

Fortunately it seemed Namgung Myung knew the reason.

I returned the Noya which he had been holding with a disgusted expression back to Goesun.

Goesun’s expression upon receiving it didn’t look too pleased either.

It was probably because he had seen too much of his ancestor’s foolishness.

If I were in his shoes I would feel quite detached if my ancestor acted like that.

After exhaling a series of rough breaths Namgung Myung seemed to have calmed down and spoke to me.

[… I have a guess as to why I’m reacting this way.]

“It seems a bit late to be revealing your voice now.”

[I have one question I want to ask. Aha.]

I poked at him with a voice that was as cold and taciturn as when I first saw him.

It seemed he was trying to ignore my words.

This didn’t matter much so I was about to smile and let it go when.

[What is your relationship with the Blood Demon?]

I had to furrow my brow at Namgung Myung’s words.