Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 549 (Part 2)



549 (Part 2)

“Then Unnie is here too?”

“Unnie?”

When I asked back wondering what she meant Gu Ryeonghwa looked at me as if it were obvious.

“If Oppa is here doesn’t that mean Unnie is here too?”

“…No I mean.”

I hesitated about to say something.

I held back what was about to spill out.

‘Which’ Unnie is she talking about?

I knew that if I said that all the affection Gu Ryeonghwa had for me claiming we were related by blood would completely vanish.

As I struggled to find my words Gu Ryeonghwa spoke to me seemingly frustrated.

“I mean Bia Unnie.”

“Ah.”

Only then could I nod my head.

She was talking about Namgoong Bia.

“Is Unnie not here?”

“She….”

She went a bit far away.

I hesitated for a moment wondering if I should say this.

“I haven’t heard from her in a few years. I thought if Oppa was here Unnie would be here too….”

Huh?

I frowned at Gu Ryeonghwa’s words.

“What do you mean ‘haven’t heard from her’? What does that mean?”

“Huh? Oh I occasionally exchange letters with Unnies. Unlike someone Unnies tend to reply well.”

“…”

I was left speechless upon hearing Gu Ryeonghwa’s words.

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The ‘someone’ she was referring to must be me.

I had never really replied whenever Gu Ryeonghwa sent me a letter.

It was bothersome and I had nothing to say in writing.

But.

‘…Who has she been exchanging letters with?’

Setting aside the fact that Namgoong Bia had been in contact with Gu Ryeonghwa.

I had to focus on the word Gu Ryeonghwa used.

She clearly said ‘Unnies’ not just ‘Unnie.’

“What do you mean by Unnies…? Who exactly are you in contact with?”

At my question Gu Ryeonghwa made a face as if to say why are you asking that.

“Bia Unnie Seol Ah Unnie… and sometimes So Yeol Unnie….”

She started listing names one by one.

My head began to ache slightly as the names kept rolling out.

“Oh but the one I talk to the most is Hia Unnie.”

“…”

Even Mo Yong Hia was mentioned.

“Last time she came over and we had a meal together.”

“What? Who did you have a meal with?”

“Hia Unnie.”

Mo Yong Hia had a meal with Gu Ryeonghwa.

Namgoong Bia and Wi Seol Ah had met at least once so that was understandable.

But So Yeol and Mo Yong Hia had probably never met so when had they been in contact with Gu Ryeonghwa?

Also.

‘When did she go to Shaanxi?’

When had Mo Yong Hia gone to Shaanxi amidst her busy life?

And without me knowing.

As the fact I had been completely unaware of surfaced a dizzying feeling washed over me.

“Ah Oppa.”

“Uh…?”

While my eyes were still spinning Gu Ryeonghwa approached me and asked.

“Is it true that Hia Unnie is having a wedding ceremony next year?”

“…What are you talking about?”

“Then what about Bia Unnie…?”

“What kind of nonsense is that? Who said that?”

“Hia Unnie said… she might have a wedding ceremony next year….”

“Are you kidding me? Seriously.”

What kind of nonsense had she been spreading?

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Who was getting married to whom?

If Mo Yong Hia really said that to Gu Ryeonghwa.

‘I need to catch her and ask about it.’

I needed to confront her directly.

Of course….

‘…Not right now though.’

Mo Yong Hia was currently busy with business alongside Mrs. America.

And since she was also carrying out the task I had asked her to do I couldn’t see her often.

I might only catch a glimpse of her once a month.

So.

‘When I see her later I’ll have to ask.’

I needed to find out what she had been up to without my knowledge.

As I was planning to catch Mo Yong Hia and scold her.

Gu Ryeonghwa’s expression slightly crumpled.

“…Did I say something I shouldn’t have…?”

“No it was very informative.”

“I feel like I’m going to get scolded by Unnie later….”

Gu Ryeonghwa rolled her eyes anxiously and then glanced at the figure behind me.

It was Seong Yul who was watching from a distance.

“Is that person perhaps a friend of Oppa?”

“Hmm?”

“That… the shaman Jang-ryong….”

I frowned at Gu Ryeonghwa’s words.

“How do you know that?”

How did Gu Ryeonghwa know I was acquainted with Jang-ryong?

At my question Gu Ryeonghwa made a surprised expression and then gave me a vague smile.

“Unnie said….”

It seemed this information also came from that ‘Unnie’ of hers.

I wondered which Unnie it could be this time.

Thinking about it gave me a headache.

“That’s not him.”

“Isn’t it?”

“Do you think he looks like a Taoist?”

Of course.

That guy Woo Hyuk had many issues to be called a Taoist.

But for now I decided to pretend not to know for the sake of explanation.

I looked at Seong Yul and gave Gu Ryeonghwa a rough explanation.

“He’s just an acquaintance. You don’t need to worry about him….”

“Seong Dojang?”

“…Huh?”

As I was explaining about Seong Yul Yeong Pung who was next to me suddenly spoke while looking at Seong Yul.

I paused.

At Yeong Pung’s words Seong Yul flinched and trembled.

He looked genuinely startled.

Seeing Seong Yul’s reaction I wondered if they knew each other.

‘What’s going on with him?’

He was trembling as if he were anxious.

Seeing that it seemed there was something unusual about their relationship.

*

Swoosh—!

The howling wind whipped through my eyes.

The fierce snowstorm made it impossible to see even a step ahead.

It was truly a blade-like cold.

No matter how many layers of clothing one wore it wouldn’t be long before the body froze.

Thus people referred to this land as the land of extreme cold.

There wasn’t a day when snow didn’t fall on this land.

And the wind never ceased to bring spring.

This was such a land.

Beyond this land.

Kraaaah—!

A massive roar pierced through the sound of the wind.

Boom—!

With a tremendous noise the ground shook.

Thud—! Thud thud—!

On the shaking earth as if an earthquake had struck.

A figure clad in fur garments was moving forward.

The destination was the center of that enormous sound.

Rumble—!

Kraaaah—!

Despite the continuous explosions that could instill fear.

He merely walked slowly.

As he walked a bit further an unknown burning smell began to waft.

Rumble—! Kraaaah—!

The sound had become much rougher but he could tell from the burning smell and the noise.

That it was slowly coming to an end.

Feeling that he quickened his pace.

As he walked a bit further.

Rumble—!!

With the loudest noise he had heard so far.

Boom—!

Something fell shaking the ground with a thud.

The young man could see.

In the distance on the ruined ground.

A massive demonic beast resembling a monkey with red fur lay collapsed.

The burning smell was also emanating from that creature.

“Wow.”

Seeing that the young man couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

“You really burned it well. Did you have a tantrum or something?”

The young man spoke in a playful tone.

But there was no response.

Naturally it wasn’t a conversation directed at the already dead demonic beast.

The young man’s gaze was directed not at the demonic beast but at the woman standing above it.

Not even feeling cold she wore a loosely draped outer garment.

Her white hair was tied back casually.

Her skin reminiscent of snow was striking but the gaze she held was colder than the current weather.

Looking at her the young man spoke.

“Do you know how long I’ve been looking for you? Sa-mae.”

“…”

The young man continued to speak but the woman still didn’t give him any attention.

It was as if she didn’t hear him at all.

However the young man didn’t stop.

“I know you’re angry because we started late. But what can I do? The Ice Palace Head has unfinished business.”

“…”

“Master and Senior Baekryeon were causing such a ruckus. I don’t know why it’s always my job to find you.”

“…”

“Did you get lost again? Next time you should leave breadcrumbs or something Clan Head.”

“…”

Despite the continued disregard the young man persisted in speaking.

Yet the woman remained still.

Seeing that the young man sighed deeply.

“Jae-soo. You really….”

“…Why…?”

“…”

Finally hearing a response the young man had to cover his forehead with his hand.

“…Damn it.”

It was a curse his friend always muttered.

For some reason Woo Hyuk felt he understood why he had been saying that.

Sighing repeatedly Woo Hyuk turned to the woman again and spoke.

“…The princess is looking for you.”

“The princess…?”

Her expression was filled with confusion.

She couldn’t understand why the princess would be looking for her.

“Well I heard.”

Woo Hyuk continued.

“Yang Cheon said he was curious about that friend of yours….”

“…!”

“If you don’t want to go I can make excuses… huh?”

Woo Hyuk’s words trailed off as he noticed that the woman who had been in front of him had vanished.

At that moment.

“I’ll go.”

Hearing a voice from behind him Woo Hyuk quickly turned his head.

In the direction he looked the woman was already moving as if she was ready to go.

“…”

Woo Hyuk stared at her in disbelief.

But the woman was already on her way.

Seeing that Woo Hyuk said.

“Jae-soo. That’s not the right direction.”

“…”

At Woo Hyuk’s correction the woman changed her direction.

But that way also seemed wrong in Woo Hyuk’s eyes.