623 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The World's Best Martial Artist's Childhood Friend - Chapter 624 > Northern Rabbit - Webnovel Archive 〈 Chapter 624 〉 Authority. Chirp-! Chirp-! The sound of birds tickles my ears. The sunlight was gently shining through. The breeze, as if encapsulating the essence of the season, was refreshingly cool, hinting at an autumn chill. The leaves, full of life, were beautifully colored as if to welcome the approaching fall. It's a sight that sets your heart racing just by looking at it. Beautiful. Truly, it's a beautiful place. If I were wandering here alone, I might have stopped unconsciously to take in the scenery. That's how captivating the place was, but... 'What is this place?' I couldn't simply enjoy the scenery with a cheerful heart. Just moments ago, the world was filled with nothing but the sound of ashes burning. How did it transform into such a world? Moreover, 'Why?' An earthquake was happening for my eyes, which were scanning my surroundings. It was my first time seeing this place. No, given all the places I've been, I might have passed by somewhere similar. Even so, 'Why does it feel familiar?' It couldn't be this familiar. It was as if I'd been here before, leaving a nostalgic and sorrowful feeling. An inexplicable emotion surged through me. 'Where on Earth is this place?' Why do I feel this way? Though it seems like the first time I'm seeing this, there's a coexistence of unfamiliarity and longing. It was a sensation I'd never encountered before. Tap-! The sound of the watermill in motion brought me back to my senses. Then, I looked straight ahead. Because the focus now was not on the landscape but on a figure. 'Nameless?' Nameless. She introduced herself without a name. Recalling this, I examined the woman. However, 'I can't see her.' I still couldn't perceive the woman's form. It was blurry. Her presence was so unmistakable, yet somehow I couldn't clearly perceive her. It felt as if my mind was resisting acknowledging her existence. 'What is her identity?' I knew there was much within me. But now was when Noya and that creature Kron were absent. So, the only two I could think of were... It wasn't the bloodlust. 'Nor the sacred sword.' Then what on Earth could it be? I couldn't figure it out. Just then, Hoohoo. The woman's laughter reached my ears. "You have the same expression." "What...?" "The expression you always have when you're deep in thought. It feels somewhat comforting." Her laughter carried through her words, making me frown. It felt as if she knew me well. I moved my hand slightly. Whoosh-! For a moment, it seemed like fire was gathering. Poof! But then the flame disappeared just as quickly. 'This is driving me insane.' It should be my mindscape after all. Can I not wield my power at will? This absurd situation... "Who are you, and what is this place?" So, I asked her first. Hearing my question, the woman turned her head slightly to look around us. "What do you think?" And then she asked me back. "...What do you mean?" "Do you find it beautiful?" "..." I didn't answer her question. Because it felt silly to respond. However, "You probably find it beautiful. It's the place you liked most after all." She continued speaking, indifferent to my lack of response. "When autumn arrives, the colors here become particularly vivid. It was a bountiful place where living was good." She picked a fallen autumn leaf and handed it to a child, cradled in her arms. The child still wore an expression of fear, but did not refuse the leaf. "So you came several times. I watched you countless times, standing here, looking at the sky. Those are the memories of this place." "...What in the world are you talking about?" It's filled with incomprehensible stories. Not that I ever visited such places. "Should it be called a memory, or an attachment? What do you think?" "..." "No need to answer." The woman smiled. "If it were you, you would have said without hesitation that it's attachment. Because that's the kind of person you are." That smile, for some reason, made my chest ache. It stung. And it was cold. Also, it was heavy. Such were my emotions towards the woman. That’s why. Despite having so many questions, I couldn’t bring myself to ask any. Surely, that's why. [Huuu….] The child in her arms curled up. The woman gently stroked the child. "It's okay. Everything's okay." [Sniffle… Mother….] "..." At being called 'Mother,' the woman paused for a moment. Yet she didn’t stop her hand from stroking. Seeing this, I realized again. Now wasn't the time to hesitate. I approached the woman and said, "Hand him over." "What do you intend to do if I do?" "I'll kill him." Even at the words I uttered without hesitation, the woman's expression didn't change. "Why?" She merely asked. I too gave her an answer. "Because it has to be done." Something that must be done. Yes, this had to be done. Even in the somewhat hazy state I was in, that alone was clear. "…Because it has to be done…." At those words, the woman nodded. "Yes, it must be." "So, hand him over—" "But I can't." Upon hearing this, my face twisted in frustration. "What?" "I'm sorry, but I can't hand over this child." "What kind of nonsense is that?" I mean to take what's mine. What kind of nonsense is this? With a look of disbelief, I glared at the woman. She began to grip the child in her arms more tightly. "As I said before, I did not wish for you to make this choice." Squeeze. The child also tightened its hold, seemingly not wishing to let go of the woman’s arm. "Moreover, I sincerely apologize. Even as I hoped you wouldn't choose this, I was the one who pushed you into this situation." My eyes widened at her words. She pushed me? "What do you mean? You pushed me?" "..." Tap. Amidst the cryptic words, the sound of the watermill echoed. That was the trigger. "Even you having no choice but to turn back time." With the woman's words, something began to resonate within me. "In the end, it was because of me that you became that wretched creature, a dragon, and had to endure this harsh flow." A crack formed in my steady breathing. "It was also I who burdened you with that heavy load on your back. In the end, it was all me." Her trembling breath made it difficult to even speak. What exactly have I heard? 'What is she talking about?' This woman claims to be the reason I regressed? That can't be. Because the one who regressed me was... 'Chunma.' The Sacred Sword had said so. And Chunma himself had confirmed it. I was regressed by Chunma. Not this woman... '...Huh?' As I pondered, I sensed something off. The vague silhouette became a little clearer. In that moment, locking eyes with her, I felt I was on the verge of realizing something. "Could it be, are you Chun—" Zing-! "...!" Suddenly overwhelmed by pain, I fell to one knee. I had to clutch my head as my body trembled. It wasn't physical pain. It was a pain that emanated from the soul itself. This was a warning. A warning that if I recalled, my soul would shatter. "Hah... huff...!" Breathing harshly, barely holding on. The woman simply continued to stare at me. Her expression was unreadable. When she had smiled, I'd thought I had an inkling, but now, I couldn't discern her expression at all. Yet. "Even in countless lives, the life you desired was always an ordinary one." I couldn't see her face, but her voice was tinged with sadness. "Therefore, I didn't wish for you to live this kind of life. So, I made you hesitate whenever you tried to choose something." Her words made my head spin more and more. "I delayed your choices. I even blinded you to prevent you from finding your way." As if confessing, she spoke, and memories floated back. Despite saying I'd use any means necessary, I always hesitated. Even after becoming a dragon, I still longed for humanity. That, was all because of this woman? "I still remember." She said to me. "When you first built this house. The smile you wore." This too was something I couldn't comprehend. "Is that why? I still remain here. Perhaps..." I'll stay here forever. She whispered softly. "Thus, I hope you never find out." Her voice lingered. But I couldn't reply. 'My voice...!' No sound came out. My body was rigid, unable to move. Snap-! Crackle-! I tried to move forcibly, but it was as if something was pressing down on me, preventing any movement. "Oblivion is the best I can give you." Crack-! Crackle-! A strange sound echoed from my strained arms. I knew. That if I forced myself further, I would be crushed. The pain transcended my flesh, encroaching upon my soul. It was excruciating. To a degree I never imagined possible. "So, even if you eventually come to know everything." I managed to lift my head and glance at the woman. "Even then, I hope you never remember me. That's my only wish." I had no idea what she was talking about. It wasn't merely that I didn't comprehend; I had no idea who this woman was or why she existed within me. Snap-! Crackle-! Every time I tried to think, it wasn't just my body, but even my thoughts were blocked. "Haa... huh...!" "Don't worry. This child... I'll hide him in my arms, away from you. When you wake up, it'll be as if it never existed." Speaking, the woman rose. Crack-! As she rose, the sky began to fracture. I intuitively knew. Soon, when this moment passed, my body would awaken. "If, by some miracle, you do remember me. I hope you harbor resentment. That would be nice." A shallow smile crossed her lips. "Resentment means you remembered me. And that's enough for me." She moved. Step by step, she began to walk away. Creak. Cracks appeared not only across the sky but also beneath her feet. She passed by me, holding the child. I had to grab hold. I needed to seize the child from her arms and uncover her identity. Snap-! Crackle-! The pressure binding me intensified. "Y-you...!" I gritted my teeth. This couldn't be how it ends. Fueled by that single thought, I rose. Crunch-! My body began to fracture. Ignoring the pain, I spoke to the woman. "...Don't go." My voice emerged, finally. Even as I spoke, the pain remained constant. It didn't matter. None of that was important. Pause. At my words, the woman halted her steps. Seeing this, a thought clicked. For what reason did I ask her not to leave? For her to leave the child behind? Or to reveal her identity before leaving? I didn't know. My body and mind, both forced into forgetting, were in chaos. But somehow, amidst that chaos, I felt I needed to hold on to her. That was my sole emotion. "...Don't go." I repeated, and the woman's head turned towards me. Still, I couldn't see. Her face remained obscured, indiscernible. "Ha... ha...." She laughed softly. It was the same laughter I'd heard all along, but it was different somehow. "...You're always too much." Her voice, now laden with tears, revealed emotions she'd been suppressing. "Even now, you leave me with an unforgettable moment. Only to forget everything once again." A faint trace of resentment appeared. Emotions I'd never felt from her before. "...Thank you. For giving me one more pillar to lean on." With those words, she waved a hand slightly towards my direction. "...Now go back. This is no longer where you belong." Rustle. And then, the ground beneath me began to crack as well. As I hurriedly tried to speak, "Wai—!" Boom-! "Gah-!" The pressure increased. It was as if it intended to show no more mercy. "Your hesitation, I will carry it for you. There's no need to waver any longer." I tried to muster words from my stammering lips, but I couldn't. "Thank you for indulging in my selfish desires." With the woman's words, a metallic click—like a lock being opened—swept through. In that instant, Whooooosh—!! An indescribable sensation started swirling around me. It was more a sense than a tangible force. Barriers that were set were breaking down. Whatever lay hidden beyond those barriers rushed into me. The pain came as if my hands were being torn apart by force. Yet, I reached out. I had to capture the woman gazing at me from beyond the fracture. But I failed. "That's always been my only wish." Thud-! Finally, engulfed by the fracture, my body vanished from the space. Haahhh. The remnants of the backdrop were erased, leaving behind nothing but a world of ashes and embers. Crackle-! Crackle-! The sound of something burning could be heard. A dark world returned. In that world, "..." The woman stood silently, staring at the place where the owner of the space once was. Perhaps it was because she hadn't seen him in so long? She couldn't help but feel like she'd somehow spilled too many words. That's why. The woman looked at her own hand. Crackle. Just as the world was burning, her hand was crumbling away. "Even so." She realized she had been happy for just a brief moment. The woman thought so as she smiled. [Hoo….] A quiet breath could be heard from within her arms. The child she was holding had fallen asleep at some point. The woman gently stroked the child's face with her hand. Then, she recalled the lie she had spoken. -That was my only wish. "..." The words she had uttered just moments ago. Those words were a lie. Or at least, partially a lie. Her wish wasn’t just for him to be happy. There was another, hidden wish. '...Just once.' Even if only once. 'Call me by my name.' A long-forgotten name he had once given her. She desired for him to call it, just once. The woman harbored this unyielding wish. "...Ha." Remembering this, she scoffed at herself before dismissing the thought. What a pitiable and cowardly wish. Especially as she had chosen this path herself. The woman lingered for a short while longer before finally taking a step forward. Perhaps contrary to her wishes. She may never hear him call her name again. That was why she was nameless. ****************** Whooooosh—!!! The Lord of the Palace was at a loss for words due to the unfolding situation. The Ice Crystal began to emit light. All the chilling energy in the space began to move. Drdrdrdr-! The forceful energy was so immense that even the Lord had to brace herself to withstand it. 'What on earth—!' It was an unexpected occurrence. Was this some kind of anomaly? If not, there wouldn’t be such chaos. Whoooooosh---!!! Like a typhoon, the cold energy spun ceaselessly. Even within it, it was palpable. Whoooosh-! "...What the…!" Amidst the moving cold energy, it felt as though the energy of the Lord herself might be drawn out. As if caught in the current, even the energy she held began to be pulled. Forcing, she managed to rein in her energy. Only then could she withstand it. It was an impossible situation. 'Truly…!' The Lord's gaze focused on the center of the cold energy. She looked at Gu Yangcheon, who had his eyes closed. Something she had thought impossible was happening. Surely, the cold energy in the space was being drawn towards Gu Yangcheon. Even her own energy. 'If this continues…. Perhaps. 'Is he absorbing even the energy of the Ice Crystal?' The Ice Crystal, glowing at the front. Would Gu Yangcheon absorb even the energy contained within it? If that were to happen, 'What would become of it?' The Ice Crystal before her was responsible for creating the harsh winter of the Northern Sea. Its presence ensured that snow fell year-round in the Northern Sea, making it a land of eternal winter. If such an Ice Crystal were to disappear, What would happen then? Such thoughts crossed her mind briefly. Those thoughts, however, did not last long. Whoooosh--!!! The raging cold energy, Whoooosh. Gradually slowed and began to subside. Whoosh-! In an instant, the raging winds ceased. It was a fleeting moment. The flapping sleeves stilled. The scene was now calm, as if the storm had never occurred. In this situation, before the Lord could grasp what had happened, Sss. "...Ha!" An unexpected sensation made the Lord instinctively distance herself. Not from anyone else, but from Gu Yangcheon. 'What is this?' Keeping her distance, the Lord examined Gu Yangcheon. Something was strange. Barely ten seconds had passed since Gu Yangcheon closed his eyes. Yet, in that brief interval, the Lord sensed that a change had occurred. She could do no other. Guooooooo-! The air had changed. The space, which had been cold and chilling. Was now, for some reason, heavy and intimidating. What was this sensation? Just as the Lord was about to express her vigilance and doubt, Swwik. A slight movement could be seen from the previously still Gu Yangcheon. "...Ah…." A short sound escaped. Gu Yangcheon briefly scanned his surroundings before slowly turning his gaze toward the Lord. "...!" Seeing Gu Yangcheon's face, the Lord was startled. His appearance hadn’t changed much, yet the atmosphere around him had. His previously vibrant blue eyes were now even more vivid. The atmosphere was heavier and more intense, but... The reason for the Lord's surprise wasn’t just that. The reason was... "...Young Master Gu." Gu Yangcheon, who was looking at the Lord, was inexplicably shedding tears.