Childhood Friend of the Zenith
chapter-229

Time passed and the day for me to go to the battlefront came.

I wasn't even given that many days to spend in the clan, so it didn't feel like I got a good rest out of it.

I carefully picked up all of the letters that were scattered on the floor of my room, one by one, making sure that I didn't rip them by stepping on them.

“…It doesn't seem like there's anything useful yet…”

I checked the letters once again, but considering how there wasn't anything that caught my eye…

Either those guys aren't doing anything very eye-catching…

Or they were preventing him from sending any information out.

It wasn't very easy to know.

If the situation is like this…

It was a bit difficult to act without having information.

If there was a problem in gathering information right now, it would be better for me to reserve my strength and instead focus on gathering information on the key figures of the past who fought against the bloodbath.

And about the energy… the White Demonic Stone would be the fastest way.

But at the current point of time, the white Gate of Demons hadn't opened yet and the White Demonic Stone that I knew of was the only one that had energy.

…Which is why it's so special.

Demonic Stones usually lose their energy after a few days of the demon dying.

They didn't become more effective over time like herbs did, nor could their energy be maintained through management.

However, the White Demonic Stone that the Heavenly Demon gave to me in my past life, wasn't like that.

The Demonic Stone that was at least a few centuries old, not only held its same great energy, but it also didn't lose its color.

Though that could be because it's the White Demonic Stone.

It was from the white ranking demon that I couldn't even dare to imagine, let alone having seen one.

Just their existence alone was a calamity according to the records, so I didn't even know how powerful they were since I never got to see one.

Would I be able to win if I fought against one alone?

I wasn't certain even if I based it off of the level I was at in my past life.

For some reason, I was reminded of how Elder Shin beat one to a pulp all by himself.

Because of that, I respected him a little more.

Elder Shin spoke harshly unlike a Taoist, and his personality was nasty when it came to anything, but in the end, he was an absolute martial artist who thrived in his generation.

Every time I have thoughts like these, he would appear while huffing and puffing his nose proudly.

I sort of missed Elder Shin who became quiet.

…How long did he say that he had to sleep for?

I believe he said it a little more than a year.

That was the 'Contract' made with the tenant that lives in my body I believe.

That would be around the time I finished my business in the battlefront.

[Grrr…]

I started to hear the bastard growling right as I started thinking about him.

Be quiet, I'd rather not hear noises from a beast.

When I said those words, the bastard instantly became quiet.

I briefly organized the letters and shoved them into my drawer and looked around my room, making sure that I didn't forget anything.

When I did so, it reminded me of how I had so many treasures on my body right now.

Do I really have to bring all of these with me?

All of them were accessories that weren't very noticeable, but if I thought about how each of them were treasures, it put a bit of pressure on me.

…Hmm.

I thought about leaving them in a safe, but in the end, I decided to bring them.

Especially the Dishonored Venerable's ring, as it was very useful after all.

“Young Master.”

“Yeah.”

“We are done with our preparation.”

“I'll be coming out now.”

After hearing the servant from outside my room, I quickly moved my body to leave as well.

Right as I was about to leave my room, a stitched part of the uniform I was wearing caught my attention.

The stretched trace it left after being ripped apart somehow seemed like it was stitched up poorly, as the threads didn't seem neat, and a few were sticking out.

At this, I thought of changing into a new uniform.

“…”

But after thinking about who did this, it made me pause.

I was reminded of Wi Seol-Ah, with a smile on her face, despite hurting herself with a needle with her clumsy hands.

-Young Master! Look at this! I finished!

-…Isn't this a bit too poor?

-Hngh… I worked hard on it…

When that thought passed my mind, even though I thought of changing clothes, I left the room with a smile on my face.

As I was walking towards the carriage, Hongwa, who found me, hurriedly ran over to me and spoke.

“Young Master… that uniform… wouldn't it be better for you to change into a new one?”

It seemed like she checked my uniform from far away.

After hearing that, I spoke pretending to not know anything.

“It's a hassle, so let's just go.”

“But, your uniform is…”

“Are you really going to make me become stubborn? I'm just going to go with this one as it's a hassle.”

“…Understood.”

I heard Hongwa letting out a quiet sigh secretly.

I honestly did feel a bit sorry for her, but I decided to leave with this uniform as I already told myself that I would.

“You came?”

When I arrived in front of the Gu Clan's front gate, everyone was finished preparing like my servant said.

It was especially incredulous seeing the Moyong Clan's carriage.

“It almost feels as if I'm going on a trip.”

“It won't be for a short amount of time after all.”

Moyong Hi-ah spoke while shrugging her shoulders proudly, but it felt a bit too much no matter how much I looked at it.

There weren't even that many people, but there was way too much food and commodities stored inside.

Furthermore…

I glanced over to the people that were standing near the carriages.

They were middle aged men, but the energy they possessed couldn't be looked down upon.

Are they escorts?

It seemed like they were escorts of the Moyong Clan that were sent for Moyong Hi-ah.

After seeing that, I asked Moyong Hi-ah.

“…Are you really going to go?”

“Huh?”

“To the battlefront.”

“Of course. Isn't that our contract?”

She was really going.

…Ugh.

I didn't think that she would actually go.

I did promise that I would give her my heat, but I couldn't help but be shocked when she said that she would follow me to the battlefront to get them.

…Is she really that desperate for my heat?

If my heat really did help Moyong Hi-ah's condition, it was understandable for her to be desperate as her life depended on it.

As I rolled a lot of thoughts in my mind, Moyong Hi-ah continued to speak with a smile on her face.

“Young Master Gu, do not worry.”

“I wasn't worried.”

“…I am not that weak for Young Master Gu to worry that much.”

“You were very weak.”

“…”

“You couldn't even handle one blow last time if I recall correctly?”

I saw Moyong Hi-ah's eyes shake after hearing me.

It felt like the stress I had been building over for decades, no, a few centuries had disappeared after seeing her like that.

She teased me so much, calling me weak.

I felt a bit embarrassed getting revenge like this just because she made fun of me in my past life, but who cares? It wasn't like anyone would know.

“…Even so… I could defend myself.”

“Hmm… If you say so.”

I was able to see that she was trying her best to not let her expression break apart.

If it was me, I would have made a shitty expression and spoken back right away.

That part of hers was talent as well.

As I was playfully speaking to Moyong Hi-ah…

Press.

Someone came in between Moyong Hi-ah and me to break us apart.

Moyong Hi-ah lifted her eyebrows after seeing the person who interrupted us.

“…Sword Dancer…?”

It was Namgung Bi-ah.

“Stop… Now.”

I felt a mysterious coldness in her voice.

She didn't pull it up fully, but I sensed a tiny bit of Lightning Qi on her shoulders.

…She looks like a cat showing her claws.

That's how it seemed to me, but it seemed she looked rather threatening to Moyong Hi-ah, who turned around and walked towards her carriage.

-I'll be seeing you next time.

She said before leaving.

Namgung Bi-ah, who watched Moyong Hi-ah walk away, seemed to relax, as she came slightly closer to me and stood still.

“What is that satisfied expression of yours?”

“…I… Won…”

She sounded proud as if she had just achieved a great victory. She looked rather cute, but I couldn't understand why she was so high on guard against Moyong Hi-ah.

Is it because they are both cat-like…?

They had some resemblance to cats.

Though if I had to choose, Moyong Hi-ah would be more like one.

“That's that, but do you…”

“…Hmm…?”

“No… It's nothing.”

I was about to ask if she could really afford to follow me, but I shut my mouth midway.

I remembered how Namgung Bi-ah told me that she preferred that I didn't ask her such questions.

Unlike the Moyong Clan's carriages, Namgung Bi-ah didn't really ask her clan to prepare anything for her.

It seemed like she had told them beforehand because no members of the Namgung Clan remained in the Gu Clan anymore.

I heard that there were a few servants who took care of Namgung Bi-ah…

But it doesn't seem like they are always with her…

And they slept at my place, so my servants seemed to have gotten used to this as well, seeing as they also took care of Namgung Bi-ah along with me.

Namgung Bi-ah's personality had always been… careless.

And since she never really cared for her surroundings, even if a servant made a mistake and there was a problem, she would just let it go.

Because of this, taking care of her was probably easier for the servants as well.

“But even so, didn't you make almost no preparation at all?”

“…Hmm?”

A few uniforms, some spare swords, and the accessory I gave her.

That was everything that Namgung Bi-ah brought with her.

“Do they… not give food there?”

“They would… but they probably make food for themselves.”

“I'm… good at eating things from the ground.”

“Please don't eat stuff like that…”

Was she really a blood relative of a noble clan?

It was strange that I was the one questioning if someone was a blood relative of a noble clan, but Namgung Bi-ah was a rather extreme case.

She had no care or regrets for the world.

Though she did get a bit better recently.

It seemed like she went on walks more frequently and she ate well.

She felt a lot different from the Demonic Human who only craved her sword and slaughter in my past life.

That much is enough.

Yes, that much was enough.

Hoping for anything more was strange to begin with.

“The carriages aren't allowed to enter midway and have to be sent back, so you should go to sleep.”

“…Okay.”

After hearing me, Namgung Bi-ah yawned and got on the carriage.

Like I said, the carriages couldn't move in such terrain midway, so we had to start walking from there.

So it would be wise for everyone to reserve their energy before that.

After all, that terrain was a mess.

“Young Master.”

“Hmm? Oh, Muyeo…”

Right as I was about to greet Muyeon, I paused midway after seeing Gu Jeolyub standing behind him.

That guy…

Gu Jeolyub was wearing a uniform that differed from his usual one.

It wasn't the uniform that the blood relatives of the clan wore, but the one the Gu Clan's Swordsmen wore instead.

After seeing that, I asked Gu Jeolyub.

“Are you really going…like that?”

“Yes.”

He answered firmly.

As if he had already made up his mind.

“…Alright.”

I wanted to ask him more things, but I didn't bother and just nodded.

If he had made up his mind to find his path, I had no right to judge him for it.

After hearing me, Gu Jeolyub lowered his head slightly.

I didn't know what choices he would make and what he would gain by following me to the battlefront, but I hoped he would make the choices that seemed right to him.

Only then would I not have to kill him, after all.

“Muyeon.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“Why are you going?”

“…Pardon?”

“You don't have to follow me.”

Muyeon was my escort, but he didn't need to follow me to the battlefront.

He reached the peak realm at a young age, and he could be excused from his position after working this long in the Gu Clan.

If he wanted, he could probably join the First Army.

Though I don't know how the Third and Fourth Army would react to that.

But whatever it was, he didn't have to stay as my escort and babysit me.

Was my question that funny?

Muyeon covered his mouth to hide his smile, which was rare to see.

“Why are you smiling?”

It was annoying.

“…I-It's nothing. I just didn't expect the Young Master to say that…”

“What was wrong with what I said.”

I said it because I cared for him, so what was funny about that?

“…I have no intention of leaving the Young Master's side.”

“Are you crazy…?”

“Pardon?”

“If you got this much out of it, you should go to a better place. How much do you think you can gain from this position?”

He'd be better off quitting as an escort and starting his journey as a martial artist.

This was especially true for someone with talent like Muyeon's.

However, Muyeon seemed to have a different idea as he answered.

“I still have much to learn from the Young Master.”

“…”

This guy was definitely not normal.

He had nothing to learn anymore, so he chose to learn from me?

Is he really crazy?

I seriously considered sending him on a vacation.

I was about to step away from Muyeon, almost disgusted by him,

“I don't know about anything else, but you definitely have luck with people.”

“…When did you come?”

A giant hand wrapped around my shoulder with a heavy voice.

“Haha…! I happened to pass by.”

It was the Second Elder, who had almost fully recovered.

“Why do you always say that you happened to pass by?”

“It's not like this old man can just happen to pass by by lying down.”

“That may be true…”

“If your grandpa comes all the way here by moving his old body, you should thank him! But instead… you argue with him first… Tsk tsk…”

“I feel a headache as soon as I see you, Second Elder.”

“Do you want me to cure it for you? This old man is good at that.”

“That's violence, not cure. Please put down your fist.”

He always chose violence first.

And what part of him was old…? He was still terrifying.

“I heard that you will be out there for a year. Do you want me to come with you if you're nervous?”

“No, I don't need you or anyone else. I just want to go alone.”

“Hehe, you dream big.”

Why did he say that I dreamed big when I just wanted to go alone?

“…Whatever. I'll be leaving now.”

“Are you sulking?”

“I'm not.”

Talking more with him only made my head hurt more.

Ugh, my head…

As I was thinking of wrapping my head with my hands,

The Second Elder brought up a different topic.

“Yangcheon.”

“Yeah…”

“Did you get a chance to speak with Yeonseo?”

“Huh?”

Why did he bring up Gu Yeonseo all of a sudden?

I didn't understand why the Second Elder asked this question.

However…

“…Well, I tried to see her.”

I made efforts to visit Gu Yeonseo separately.

But I wasn't able to in the end.

“It seemed like she had no intention of seeing my face.”

“…Hmm.”

According to Gu Ryunghwa, she visited her.

But Gu Yeonseo seemed to avoid me.

I'll see her one day, so whatever.

I wasn't in a hurry either, so I put it off for now, thinking that I'd see her one day in the future.

By the way, ever since the Immortal Healer and Zhuge Hyuk left the clan, Gu Ryunghwa seemed to be in low spirits.

They were good friends, after all.

I should've talked to Hyuk before he left.

Unfortunately, I couldn't have a proper conversation with him.

I was very disappointed.

“…Hmm? I feel a killing intent from somewhere.”

The Second Elder rubbed his shoulders with his two giant hands.

As if he got chills.

“Now that I think about it, Ryunghwa didn't come.”

“She should be asleep.”

Early in the morning, I noticed her sobbing, saying that I was going somewhere again,

So, feeling bad for her, I put her to sleep with acupuncture.

I thought it would be better to just put her to sleep.

Though it's a bit unfair for her.

I'd have to make her feel better by giving her a gift when I returned.

But by the time I returned to the clan, Gu Ryunghwa wouldn't be there anymore.

The Sword Queen sent letters saying that she was returning soon and that they would leave for Mount Hua as soon as she did.

“I'll be leaving now.”

“Right, don't get hurt and have a safe trip.”

“You are the one who should be more careful. I'm telling you not to get hurt aga… Ah, jeez! Could you please not resort to violence every time?”

“…Huibi should be waiting for your arrival, as she waited to train with her little brother for a long time after all.”

“What an unwelcome piece of information.”

“And this.”

As soon as I saw the Second Elder taking out a letter, I growled right away.

“…What, why are you acting this way?”

“What are you giving me this time? Don't give me that.”

Considering how I ran into problems as if a bomb had exploded every time the Second Elder gave me something,

I told myself that I wouldn't take anything from him this time.

“You're not going to take it?”

“It's possible that you hid something inside again, so how can I trust you and accept it?”

I wouldn't take it this time, even if I died-

“Even if it's about Seol-Ah?”

“…”

At least that was what I thought, but I guess I could give it a pass just this one time.