Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 534 (Part 1)



534 (Part 1)

“It can’t be that I’m ignoring it on purpose. I also know the reason.

The moment I heard that the bloodline of the Dark King was cursed last night.

From that point on Noya seemed to be in great shock reacting unusually.

[…How… how could this happen….]

Was it lamentation or shock? Noya uttered those words in a trembling voice and then hid away.

It wasn’t like before when he would just fall asleep; he probably needed time to think.

The bloodline of Yeonga was cursed by the Blood Demon.

This aspect seemed to be quite a shock to Noya.

I was curious about this part too.

‘What on earth happened?’

Yeon Il-cheon who sealed the Blood Demon and disappeared.

That man recorded as a hero in history had descendants living a life that was anything but human due to the curse of the Blood Demon.

‘To serve a dragon.’

The more I thought about it the more absurd that curse seemed.

It couldn’t be resolved through death.

To lift it it had to be passed on to the next generation or the dragon itself had to break the curse.

‘What a miserable fate.’

How miserable must it be that the Dark King sought salvation even wishing for his own death?

I had no way of knowing.

Just.

Even so.

‘I can’t just let the Dark King die like that.’

Even if he asks for death because his life is painful I can’t just leave him be.

‘I’m sorry but it’s not easy for me either.’

In a situation that was gradually becoming more chaotic the existence of the Dark King held significant value.

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Especially if he had something he wanted from me.

‘…I should make use of it.’

Opportunities like this were rare.

It was also my favorite kind of situation.

A useful human who wanted something from me.

The easiest to handle and the easiest to discard.

“…Tsk…..”

As I tried to use this a nauseating feeling kept rising.

-Please kill me.

The tone of the Dark King who begged for his own death….

Unlike his usual expressionless face the expression he wore at that time lingered in my mind.

It was truly unpleasant.

It was disgusting to torment someone who wanted to live not someone who wished for death.

I knew very well that the person enduring this would have their life turned into hell.

It was exactly what I had experienced in my past life so how could I not know?

From my perspective which understood that feeling best it was something I absolutely did not want to do.

Yet despite knowing this clearly I had no choice.

There were too many things I had to protect to think about such matters one by one.

“…This is really frustrating.”

Just thinking about it made my blood boil.

I wasn’t angry at the situation.

It was simply.

Anger directed at myself for even using such feelings of the other party.

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

“You’ve arrived.”

Right after finishing my face wash I moved to the residence of the Poison King.

I smiled and spoke as I looked at the Poison King who had turned pale in just one day.

“You’re not looking well at all.”

He wasn’t particularly thin but he had lost a lot of weight since I last saw him.

‘It’s only been a day….’

That must mean it was a very difficult time.

Knowing this the Poison King forced a bitter smile and said to me.

“…There has been a lot of work to do.”

The words of the Poison King who wore a forced smile felt heavy.

Was it because I understood his situation well?

‘His smile doesn’t look like a smile at all.’

It couldn’t be helped.

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Elder had died.

Moreover it wasn’t just one Elder who had died.

As soon as I heard that the First Elder had been killed the Third and Fourth Elders tried to flee.

But they were captured by an unknown martial artist.

It was obvious who that unknown martial artist was.

‘…He’s been busy.’

It must be my father. He said he would clean everything up and it seems he really did.

He hadn’t come home all night so he must have been busy.

Given that the Poison King looked like that it was probably the reason.

‘If an Elder has died it’s not the end of it.’

What the Elders held in the clan was not just a title.

Each had their own forces to manage.

The larger the family the bigger the forces would be.

If three Elders from such a prestigious family had died what would happen to the forces they managed?

‘They would scatter and collapse.’

The head of the family is the Clan Head.

This is a natural principle.

But it’s obvious that not everything in the world follows this logic.

Even if the one to whom they must pledge loyalty is the Clan Head it doesn’t prevent the forces from gathering around the Elder above them.

Namgung Clan was a prime example of this.

The power of the Elder Council was so strong that the Sword King couldn’t exert his power as Clan Head.

‘…For us it’s just that my father is watching over us.’

The Guga clan is a special case so let’s skip that.

The Tang Clan while not as strong as the Namgung Clan certainly had powerful Elders.

The vacancy created by the death of an Elder must have been problematic.

‘Ultimately it’s not the Poison King’s problem….’

It can’t be said that the Poison King’s problem is that the Elders did something to get themselves killed.

‘But it seems he lacks the time and strength to manage it.’

The situation was not looking good.

It would be hard to manage one force let alone three at the same time.

‘And on top of that there’s another issue.’

In an already difficult situation the Tang Clan had also started to falter.

It was only natural that the Poison King looked like that.

That’s why it was strange.

Even now when he should be running around sweating he was calmly in his residence.

“There must still be a lot of work to do so why are you here?”

“I knew you would come Mister.”

“…Hmm…?”

I had to tilt my head at the Poison King’s words.

He knew I would come?

“I don’t remember saying I would come today.”

“I didn’t mean it that way…. But I thought you would.”

“Well this is….”

I didn’t understand why everyone was predicting my actions.

What was annoying was that most of their predictions were correct.

“Then you were waiting for me?”

“…I had some gratitude to express. And there was something I wanted to ask as well.”

At those words I crossed my arms slightly.

I didn’t really need to express gratitude but the latter part caught my attention.

“Something you want to ask?”

“I heard that my daughter collapsed while talking to you Mister.”

“…”

I immediately uncrossed my arms.

Damn it.

“…There’s a bit of a situation regarding that….”

“I’m not trying to blame you so you don’t need to be tense.”

“Oh is that so? Then I’m relieved.”

“…”

Was it a problem that his cheerful reaction was so bright?

The Poison King’s expression slightly twisted.

…No I said it was good that he wasn’t upset. Why is he making that face?

“…This was more of a joke. Now I will ask the main question.”

“Is there another main question?”

It seemed he wasn’t curious about the story of the Tang Clan.

Then what could it be?

As I narrowed my eyes and stared at the Poison King

He suddenly pulled something out from his robe.

‘Huh?’

As I looked at it it was a Dokcheondan.

It seemed to be one that I had given him. Why was he suddenly pulling that out? I was filled with questions as I watched.

“Mr. Gu.”

“Yes.”

The Poison King spoke to me.

“I know you have more Dokcheondan.”

“…!”

I widened my eyes at his words.

…How did he know?

‘Did I mention that I had a lot?’

I couldn’t quite remember but I wouldn’t have said that.

I know myself well.

If I had eaten that good stuff all by myself I might not have mentioned that I had more.

Then how on earth did the Poison King know about it?

As I looked at him with a surprised expression unable to understand the reason

“Haha.”

The Poison King suddenly burst into laughter.

What’s with this guy? Why is he laughing?

Just when I thought he might have lost his mind.

“I was just testing you. It seems you really do have more.”

“…?”

I let out a breath of relief at the Poison King’s words.

‘Damn it.’

I realized with a sigh.

It wasn’t the Poison King who had lost his mind; it was me.

‘Was it because I heard too many things the day before?’

I could think that way.

But that wouldn’t help me.

I was just plain stupid.

“Tsk should I return it to you?”

Now that it was too late to deny it I just confessed.

“Is that a face that doesn’t want to give it back?”

“Ah I’ve been found out.”

As I came out confidently the Poison King’s expression became strange.”