Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 597 (Part 1)



597 (Part 1)

**Chapter 598: North Sea**

As a day passed it was just around dawn.

Yuri was stepping out of her quarters.

She had received a message from the Red Feather.

To come to his quarters immediately.

‘No way.’

Her steps gradually quickened.

She had thought she would take a day to consider it but had she already finished?

‘I was trying to find a way to persuade them somehow.’

The news came while she was looking for another way fearing she might be rejected.

Yuri had to calm her racing breath somehow.

She must not show impatience.

Although it was said that everything had already been discovered this was something she had to protect.

How long had she walked like this?

Perhaps due to her hurried pace she had already arrived at her destination.

The moment she entered the quarters she could see a crowd gathered in the yard.

Yuri approached that direction.

“You’re here.”

The young man Red Feather sent a glance at Yuri as she approached.

“I thought you would be late but you came quickly.”

“How could I dare to be late?”

“You don’t have to say flattering words. It won’t change anything.”

His tone was still rude.

If it were up to her she would want to give him a light smack on the head but the situation didn’t allow for that.

‘Hmm?’

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As she forced herself to maintain her expression and looked at him she sensed something strange.

‘He looks tired for some reason.’

That was the state of Red Feather.

His eyes looked particularly weary.

Had something happened in the middle of the night?

Questions arose but she didn’t bother to ask.

What mattered wasn’t that kind of talk.

As Yuri observed him with a peculiar gaze Red Feather initiated the conversation.

“What did I say yesterday?”

“Pardon?”

“What is it that I need to do in the North Sea?”

“…Ah…!”

Yuri’s eyes widened at the question.

“Be specific. Make it easy to understand.”

“…I hope you can lift the curse placed on Palace Head in the North Sea.”

“Is that all?”

“…Yes.”

After hearing her response Red Feather seemed to ponder for a moment stroking his chin.

Not long after he spoke to Yuri.

“If there’s any issue with safety I will cancel the request and return.”

His words came out firmly causing Yuri to shut her mouth tightly.

“Also if I meet Palace Head and attempt treatment but deem it impossible I will return immediately.”

“…”

“My orders are absolute and until the request is completed I am responsible for the party. Will you accept this?”

If a problem arises he will abandon them.

He will attempt treatment if he sees Palace Head but if it doesn’t work he will just leave.

Until the request is over he is in charge and they must follow his orders without question.

In short that’s what he meant.

It was clearly inappropriate to call this a request.

Especially the phrase about absolute obedience to orders was a dangerous statement.

But.

“…I will… accept.”

Yuri had no other choice.

For now what mattered was that he said he would accept the request.

“Along with this you must also fulfill the conditions I set with the Trading Company.”

“…I will accept that as well.”

There was no option to refuse from the start.

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Since Yuri chose to go to the Central Plains this was only natural.

“Hmm.”

Upon hearing Yuri’s response Red Feather nodded briefly.

“Good. Then I will accept the request.”

“…!”

Finally the answer Yuri had longed for came.

As she tried to show a bright expression upon hearing this.

“I will finish the work within two months. I don’t have that much time.”

“Thank you… what?”

She paused for a moment at his words.

“What did you just say?”

“What?”

“The time. Until when do you plan to finish the request?”

“In two months.”

Red Feather answered flatly to Yuri’s question.

Hearing this Yuri let out a short sigh.

“I thought I misheard… Are you saying it will take two months just to get there? That seems a bit tight…”

“What are you talking about?”

Red Feather frowned at Yuri’s words.

“I said I would finish everything within two months. What do you mean it will take two months just to get there? Are you crazy?”

“No…!”

As Red Feather spoke with irritation Yuri’s expression which had been holding back finally twisted in frustration.

“You… what on earth are you talking about? If you don’t want to go just say you don’t want to go.”

It would take at least two months just to get to the North Sea.

Given that they couldn’t recklessly travel between the Central Plains and the North Sea they would have to use a special route to go secretly.

This would require more time than just taking the usual path.

It would already take several months to get there and this way it was clear that it would take even longer.

In that situation to say they would finish everything and return within two months?

That was nonsense.

For Yuri it felt like he was mocking her.

“No matter what to treat someone like this…”

“Sorry.”

Red Feather interrupted Yuri as she was about to get angry.

“I don’t have the time to waste months there.”

It was understandable that she was angry.

Given the situation it was only natural.

“If I say I’ll do it I’ll do it. Don’t mumble so loudly.”

Right now it was too precious a time to explain this to her.

It would take a long time to explain.

No even if it took a long time it was clear she wouldn’t understand.

So it was better to just show her.

After that Red Feather quietly raised one hand and said.

“Get down.”

“What do you mean–!”

Yuri tried to speak up but then—

Swoosh—!!

Boom—!!!

Something fell right in front of Yuri.

The ground shook violently and a shockwave burst forth.

“Princess—!”

In the sudden turn of events Woobum and Wooseok shielded Yuri preparing to take a defensive stance.

Whoosh—!

In an instant the wind blew sweeping away the smoke.

Thick dust rose into the air.

In a flash the surroundings cleared and the view in front of her became clear.

Yuri who was calming her startled heart had to take a sharp breath.

The ground was deeply dented from the impact.

Something was writhing on the chaotic floor.

Grrrrr….

There was a creature the size of a house covered in blue scales.

A monster with a twisted fierce face and glowing blue eyes was there.

Yes a monster.

A vicious creature she had never seen before in her life.

It was a presence far more overwhelming than any demonic beast she had encountered until now.

“What is that…?”

As Yuri grabbed her trembling shoulders and stared at it with wide eyes.

“Oh damn it.”

A curse was heard from somewhere. It was Red Feather.

He looked around scanning the area.

Whack—!

Grrrrr—!!

Suddenly he swung his hand and struck the monster’s head hard.

The shocked monster’s head whipped around letting out a roar.

“I told you to come down quietly. Now look it’s a mess again.”

Grrrr… grrrr….

“What do you mean you should have done well? Are you going to clean it up? Are you going to clean it up?”

Grrrr….

“Excuses damn it your hands are as small as a fly’s shit compared to your body what are you going to clean up?”

Thud—! Boom—!

He kept slapping it as if he was displeased.

Seeing the monster groaning helplessly from the hits Yuri found herself at a loss for words for some reason.

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

She let out a sigh while watching the little guy making all sorts of excuses.

“Do you think I’m doing this to look cool?”

Even though he clearly told it to come down quietly.

This little guy seemed to enjoy the attention.

‘No wonder the qi was flowing out more than usual earlier.’

It seemed he had grown bigger too.

Who did he take after to be so disobedient?

“Did I raise you like this? Huh?”

Grrrr….

“Is that right? This little brat….”

Is he really going through puberty? He doesn’t listen at all.

Just as she was about to hit him a bit more.

“…Um… uh… that… um….”

A stammering voice came from behind.

Yuri was staring at this side with wide eyes her mouth and eyes both wide open.

Her expression was quite a sight. She seemed genuinely shocked.

“What on earth… what is that?”

Having regained her senses Yuri pointed at the little guy.

What is it?

Upon hearing the question he answered.

“A mount.”

“Pardon?”

“A mount.”

Faster than a carriage.

A mount that would take her quickly to the North Sea without needing to navigate obstacles.

That was this creature.

‘There’s no other way.’

To handle everything within two months she needed to secure a fast means of transportation first.

Fortunately she had the fastest means of transportation above all else.

Thanks to that she had to retrieve the one that would be with Cheol Ji-seon in Hubei again.

‘Didn’t Ji-seon say he was stuck in Hubei?’

It was an unavoidable sacrifice.

That guy would manage to survive on his own.

Right now she was in a hurry.

‘If it’s this guy.’

She didn’t know how far it was to the North Sea but riding this creature wouldn’t take long.

It eats like a pig and doesn’t listen at all.

But in terms of being a mount it was an exceptional creature.

The problem was.

“…Are you saying I should ride this…?”

The reaction around her was somewhat unusual at the thought of riding this creature.

Of course Yuri’s reaction was one thing.

The others watching also looked the same.

Tangsoyeol and Moyonghee were also wearing shocked expressions.