Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 548 (Part 2)



548 (Part 2)

“That doesn’t mean everything is perfectly fine.”

Chunsalseong nodded as if in agreement recalling the first time he encountered that figure.

That guy was no different from the sword demon I had seen in my previous life.

However.

“He hasn’t completely succumbed to Chunsalseong yet.”

It seemed like he had been consumed by his nature in his past life.

But now it appeared he was not entirely so.

To put it another way.

“Eventually he will be consumed anyway.”

He would be devoured one day unable to overcome Chunsalseong.

When I thought of that.

“It would be better to just stick to the original plan.”

Corrupt him into a demonic practitioner and use him later.

I had sought him out for that purpose yet I was unable to do so.

“Tsk.”

A few days ago the eyes of the guy who had begged me to kill him overwhelmed by guilt came to mind.

Thinking of that made me feel irritated.

“Ah damn it I shouldn’t have seen that.”

I was annoyed.

If I hadn’t seen that I would have just gotten rid of him without a second thought.

But having seen those damned eyes hesitation crept in.

Tsk.

As I clicked my tongue at the rising emotions Seong-yul fully dressed asked me a question.

“Um….”

“What?”

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“May I ask what you wish from me…?”

“What?”

Seong-yul cautiously inquired.

“…Why does someone like you want to take me along and what do you intend to use me for?”

Someone like me.

I chuckled at the words that reached my ears.

“Do you even know who I am?”

“I don’t. But I can tell you’re not an ordinary person.”

It seemed he was under some kind of misunderstanding.

I wasn’t that remarkable of a human being.

“After all I’m not even human anymore.”

I swallowed the words I didn’t need to say.

“Then why are you following me when you don’t even know who I am or what I’ll do?”

“…Because you told me to follow you.”

He followed me simply because I told him to.

“Then you didn’t run away?”

“I had nowhere to run to and….”

Seong-yul spoke to me with calm eyes.

“I judged that I couldn’t escape.”

“Hmm.”

The reason he didn’t run away was that he thought he couldn’t escape from me even if he tried.

“He’s more perceptive than I thought.”

That was the truth. I had no intention of letting him go easily.

“If I kill him then I kill him.”

He possessed Chunsalseong.

Would I keep him alive knowing what would happen later?

In the midst of all this.

“What I desire.”

In the midst of all this what I desired from him.

“Well.”

Nothing particularly came to mind yet.

No there were things but they weren’t things I could wish for from him right now.

“And if I were to say what I wanted what would change? You would do it anyway right?”

“…I don’t know.”

Seong-yul shook his head in response.

“But… if it’s something I can do I will do it.”

Hearing that made me nod slightly.

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“That’s nonsense. You don’t even know who I am or what I’ll do yet you say you’ll do what you can?”

I had thought of corrupting him into a demonic practitioner because he didn’t listen to reason.

And now he was saying he would listen to me?

It was simply absurd.

“Why the sudden outburst?”

“…”

“What is it with you?”

It would be convenient if he was willing to listen to me but I was curious about the reason.

As I looked at him filled with questions.

Seong-yul spoke in a weary voice.

“You know what kind of problem I have don’t you?”

I knew well.

He had a mad nature that craved blood and desired the suffering of others.

“If you need me knowing that… I thought that would be enough.”

If I needed him despite knowing he had Chunsalseong then that was sufficient.

Also.

“Since I have nowhere to go anyway I thought I might as well do something rather than just sit here.”

“…”

It felt like he had somewhat given up.

“Hmm….”

After hearing Seong-yul’s words I pondered.

“It’s ambiguous.”

A sword demon who hasn’t yet gone mad.

If he had been completely consumed by madness it would have been easier to use him.

But this ambiguous state was merely a burden to me.

“A bomb that could explode at any moment.”

He seemed fine now but if madness took hold he could change like he did in the inn.

Knowing that it might be better to just turn him into a demonic practitioner now and use him safely.

That thought crossed my mind.

“I’m too tired to think.”

The image of the guy who had felt guilt. The lingering feelings tied to Cheonghae Ilgeom.

After pondering for a long time there was only one answer.

“Unless I have a way to suppress his Chunsalseong.”

There was no way that existed.

I didn’t know what Cheonghae Ilgeom was thinking but at least I didn’t know of any.

Right.

“Let’s take the easy route.”

If I wasn’t going to transform him into a demonic practitioner I had to kill him.

If that was the case it would be better to just start turning him into a demonic practitioner from now on.

As I thought that I reached out my hand toward Seong-yul.

Swoosh—

“…!”

I quickly turned my head at the presence I felt behind me.

“What is it?”

Seong-yul looked startled upon seeing my expression.

“Over there…?”

“Just be quiet for a moment.”

“…”

In the brief silence I drew qi into my body and spread my senses.

Whoosh—!

The qi that burst from my toes enveloped the surroundings.

Then I felt the presence more clearly.

There were two presences.

And they were quickly approaching us.

“This is bad.”

As soon as I sensed the presence I frowned.

Because it was a presence I recognized.

However the problem was that it was not a presence I expected to feel here.

“…Why is that child’s presence here?”

I had questions but there was no time to think. As soon as I confirmed the presence I circulated qi in my body.

Then.

Crack—!

A sound echoed through my joints as my body began to change.

“…Eh…?”

Seong-yul let out a short exclamation at the sight.

Crack crack—!

As the sound continued my body gradually shrank.

My height decreased and my build became smaller.

The difference was about a hand’s breadth.

“Ha….”

After shrinking my body I brushed my hair back.

Immediately I checked my reflection in the valley.

The first thing I noticed was my slightly reddened eyes.

Fortunately it seemed I had transformed properly.

“…W-What…?”

Seong-yul wore a look of shock at my sudden transformation.

But now was not the time to explain what was happening.

Just as I was regaining my composure.

I felt the presence getting closer.

Step.

A soft footstep was heard.

“Uh…?”

Then a voice followed.

A beautiful youthful voice.

The voice was filled with evident surprise.

As I turned my head at the sound I saw.

“…What?”

The woman whose eyes met mine widened them in surprise.

Her face was familiar yet awkward.

With slightly downturned eyes that seemed sharp.

Her black hair casually let down.

A small pattern drawn between her white martial arts uniform and a petite frame for a woman.

And.

A face that resembled someone I missed.

The woman couldn’t hide her expression as she looked at me.

“Why….”

To my surprise the identity of that woman was.

“…Oppa is here?”

The fourth of the Gu family.

Guryunghwa.