774 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The Star King's Childhood Friend, Chapter 774: Northern Rabbit - Web Novel Archive The Star King is rising to become the head of the main sect. Suddenly, this was the news spreading across Hanam. Given that an official announcement was even made through an open channel, the credibility was undeniable. It seemed as if considerable effort had been put into this, as within a single day, the news had disseminated throughout all of Hanam. Many discussions were underway regarding this development. – "The Star King is becoming the head?" – "A warrior of royal rank taking on the duties of a sect head? That’s unheard of." The six seats—now seven, with the new addition—of the warrior elders. Since the foundation of the secret alliance, no warrior of royal rank had ever entered as the sect head. While there were instances of warriors ascending to the position of alliance leader, never had one taken the role of sect head, leading to much speculation. – "Why does it matter? Wasn't the Do King also competing in the Martial Arts Festival to claim the position of the Divine Dragon head?" Recalling how the Do King had participated in the Martial Arts Festival, there was some calm reason restored. At this year’s Martial Arts Festival, the prize for victory included the leadership qualification of the Divine Dragon Division, meaning that if the Do King had won, the head position would have gone to him. From that perspective, it wasn't entirely strange for the Star King to become head; however, – "But isn't the Star King just barely past the age of majority?" Criticism arose because the Star King, having just formally become an adult, was deemed too young, despite his accomplishments in Hanam. Still— – "What does age have to do with it? If it's the Star King, we can be at ease." – "The Star King is sacrificing himself for the broken alliance, are you really going to bring up age now?" Such critiques were quickly quashed by those who were greatly angered. Presently, the perception of the alliance among the populace was not favorable. More accurately, while it might hold for a while longer, it would eventually crumble soon. Given the situation— – "It's reassuring if it's the Star King." – "It's the only thing we can rely on." – "Even though the thought of the secret alliance is bothersome, if it's the Star King…." Being the hero who saved Hanam, the choice of the alliance was beginning to soothe the enraged public to some extent. The anger towards the alliance remained, but now there was a reason to momentarily hold back that rage. The Star King’s affiliation with the alliance had a profound effect. When people have something to talk about, unity tends to scatter. The rage directed at the alliance was slowly shaken by such news. Moreover— – "Did you hear about that as well?" In addition to the Star King, there was another piece of news of equal magnitude, causing further confusion. – "They're saying the Divine Dragon Division will be reformed." – "Divine Dragon Division…?" The Divine Dragon Division. Not only were each of its members incredible warriors, but the heads of the Divine Dragon Division would often become prominent figures in history. It was the representative sword unit of the secret alliance and a division directly under the leader’s command, wielding immense influence. Currently, the Blue Dragon Division has assumed their role, but when considering past influence, it would be incomparable, so they say. With the announcement of the resurrection of such a symbol as the Divine Dragon Division, various discussions were rife. However— – "No, that was something they said they would select through the Martial Arts Festival." – "I've heard the winner was supposed to take on the head role, so what does that mean now?" Having predicted that the Divine Dragon Division would be revived through this year's Martial Arts Festival, the surprising news sparked curiosity among many. Due to an attack, the festival was halted abruptly, and no winner was officially declared. From the start, the consideration to appoint the Divine Dragon head through the festival was a contentious issue. Anyone with some knowledge of the Divine Dragon Division might have harbored doubts. It was reasonable because the Divine Dragon Division had one peculiar aspect. While the division members remained anonymous, the identity of the Divine Dragon head was not revealed—that was the division's hallmark. This means that, upon becoming the head, the individual would wear a mask until the end of their tenure, keeping their identity hidden as a rule. Of course— 'It's like covering one's eyes without reason.' The martial arts of every warrior reveal distinct characteristics, and by the time one is qualified to become the Divine Dragon head, the pool of possible individuals considerably narrows. As a result, regardless of the policy of hiding the identity, it became a tradition to remain silent even if one managed to guess it accurately. Take, for example, the famous swordmaster who was the 11th Divine Dragon head. Before becoming the alliance leader and being renowned as the swordmaster, when he served as the Divine Dragon head, he wore a golden fox mask while fulfilling his duties. His martial art, known as the Crescent Combat Sword, was so distinct that most people knew he was the Divine Dragon head. Not only he, but most heads throughout history had faced this, except for one— 'The last Divine Dragon head.' The 16th head who served just before the division was disbanded—nothing is known about him. Usually, the head would reveal their identity upon stepping down. However, because the division was disbanded, there seemed no need to insist on divulging the last head’s identity. That was nearly twenty years ago. Given those circumstances, when it was announced that the Divine Dragon Division would be reborn, intending to select the head and members through the festival, it brought about considerable discussion. If the winner was to become head, wouldn’t that mean there was no more hiding their identity? Has the unique character of the Divine Dragon Division disappeared? These were the subjects of various debates, but with the festival interrupted, suddenly announcing the division’s revival had stirred more questions. In the midst of all these conflicting opinions— “…Ha.” Around the time the sunset started approaching. Mo Yonghi, the sharp-witted member of the Mo family who heard this, let out a soft sigh. Watching this, I gulped down a dry swallow myself. It’s a habit she shows when displeased or restraining her temper. I had to tread lightly in such moments. Then— "Anyhow…." Mo Yonghi, the sharp of the Mo family, began to speak. "The talk is that the young master will take the head position, isn’t it?" "That… seems to be the case." "You’ve already inked the contract, haven’t you?" "Well… we just sort of verbally agreed…" "So, you didn’t actually stamp it?" "…It’s not stamped. It’s a fingerprint seal." "..." "Sorry." Facing her piercing gaze, I immediately apologized. It seems that none of my excuses held water. "Are you telling me that now?" "If I say 'it's true,' you'd get angry too... Sorry." As Mo Yonghi picked up a nearby water bottle, I grabbed her hand and apologized repeatedly. "Are you letting go?" "If I do, you'll crack my head open with that." "With your level, it won't even leave a scratch. Just accept it." "Just because it doesn't leave a mark doesn't mean it doesn't hurt..." "Then it should hurt! If it didn't, what's the point of hitting you? I need to release the stress somehow, so just let me." "Calm down. Let's resolve this with words. Violence is bad." "Do you know how out of character that is for you?" Of course, I know. But right now, I had no choice but to speak like this. "Listen... the terms were too good to pass up. I even got them to add more." Still holding her arm, I continued to justify. Mo Yonghi's grip slightly loosened as she listened, though her expression did not. "Obviously, they would be. If they weren't good, you wouldn't have accepted them." "Exactly, so..." "But you promised to tell me first about any serious matters. Did you forget that?" "..." She had a point. I had indeed made such a promise. For important matters, especially concerning contracts or trades, I had agreed to consult her first. Mo Yonghi wasn't someone prone to nonsense, and even though I had dependable allies like Cheol Jiseon and Jegal Hyeok, in such matters, Mo Yonghi excelled far better. It was beneficial to consult her. But at the same time, it was a method I adopted for my covert activities. Moreover— "I noticed you were quite busy." "..." I was genuinely concerned about how busy Mo Yonghi had become lately. She was buried in correspondence day in and day out. The work that already demanded much of her time had doubled due to recent attacks. Not to mention, before Mrs. Mi had even discussed aiding the refugees, Mo Yonghi was already preparing to support them. The sheer amount of work she had was unimaginable to me. I wondered whether she even had time to eat or sleep. She was pushing her thin frame to its limits. Bringing up such trivial matters in this context felt inconsiderate. "So, I stayed quiet about it. Besides, the deal seemed to go smoothly. Could you please stop being angry?" "Do you know why I'm so busy?" "Hmm?" Just as I was meticulously explaining, her voice turned cold, making me pause. Was I imagining things? It seemed as if the temperature around Mo Yonghi had dropped, with an almost visible snowfall forming around her, despite us being indoors under a perfectly intact roof. So, what was that? "It's all because of you...!" "Wait...!" "I've been cutting down on sleep to gain your approval, working myself to the bone, and you say you were too busy to inform me!? How is that even an excuse!!" "Calm down! Let's just talk this through...!" "Calm down, my foot! Do you even realize you're human!? Exchanging common sense for martial arts shouldn't be this way!" She's not entirely justified, albeit humorously; as soon as she mentioned it, such thoughts crossed my mind. Maybe that’s why? I momentarily let go of her arm. As the pressure released, the water bottle shot up into the air. Well, this is great. I might just have to take the hit. That was what I thought, squinting slightly in anticipation. "...You...!" Mo Yonghi lifted the bottle, but rather than throwing it, her face flushed red. "Huh?" Her eyes started to swell with moisture, the corners of her eyes reddening as tears brimmed on the verge of falling. Was she actually starting to cry? Had the formidable Mo Yonghi finally been reduced to tears...? In both this life and my past one, I'd never witnessed such a sight. Seeing this, I was filled with panic, standing dumbstruck. At that moment. Mo Yonghi placed the bottle down, spun on her heels, and turned away. "...Enough. I'm really busy, so I'll be going now." "...Uh... okay?" With those words, Mo Yonghi left, leaving me staring blankly at her retreating figure. This could be really bad. Shifting my eyes, I met the glares around me. Particularly severe were the stares from the women present. It was a rare occasion when we'd all gathered for a meal. Given I wanted to discuss my new responsibilities, I brought up the topic; however, I hadn't anticipated this explosive reaction from Mo Yonghi. "…" A heavy silence enveloped us, uncomfortable and prolonged. During this unsettling tranquility— "Excuse me for saying so." The first to speak was Wi Seol ah, who'd been diligently eating away at her third bowl of rice. "But this time, the young master is at fault." "…" With Wi Seol ah's words, Namgung Bia and Tang Sohyeol nodded in agreement. It was then I immediately grasped the extent of my predicament. ****************** After finishing the meal, I moved with intent. Though I wished to search for Mo Yonghi, I couldn't due to a prior engagement. "Did you have a fight?" That was the first thing I heard upon arriving at my meeting location. "...How did you know?" "From your response, I gather you did." "No, not exactly a fight, more like..." I was on the receiving end, unable to utter a word in defense, and the one who lashed out ended up leaving in tears. "Anyway, how did you know?" Puzzled, I asked. The room's owner, Mrs. Mi of the Baekhwa Trading Company, looked at me. "Your expression was remarkably reminiscent of someone." "Of whom?" "Someone a bit foolish, quite a naive woman." Mrs. Mi let a faint smile play on her lips. It was unexpected, but I felt compelled to speak my mind. "Then we don’t really resemble each other." "...?" "She isn't foolish, she's rather smart." "…" To insinuate that Mo Yonghi was foolish was intolerable. Proclaiming this with a sense of rebuttal, Mrs. Mi's smile deepened. "In this aspect, you surpass your father." "...Suddenly?" Why was my father being mentioned here? Swish. Concluding her remarks, Mrs. Mi resumed examining her increasingly abundant correspondences. "You accepted the role of sect head, I hear?" As the sound of shuffling documents filled the room, a question was unexpectedly posed to me, causing me to gulp nervously. "…Yes." Was I about to be scolded here too? The tension crept quietly upwards. "The youngest sect head, is it?" Mrs. Mi's question seemed out of the blue. "...Huh? Oh, yes." "I heard they call you the Star King. Also, the youngest king, correct?" "Yes, that seems to be the case." "Do you know the significance of being the youngest?" "Well, yes." "It means you have attained something at the youngest age." "Yes, I understand." Didn't I already say I knew? Why did she keep explaining? "Being talented and exceptional enough to surpass your seniors at such a young age." "Yes, I know..." "The youngest king and the youngest sect head… quite an achievement. Truly an accomplishment." Was that... a chuckle? Mrs. Mi seemed to suppress a smile as she lowered her lips. What was happening? What was this situation? Much like Mo Yonghi's earlier tears, this scenario was equally bewildering. "Oh, do you have a copy of the contract?" "I do." Naturally, I had one made on the spot when I received it. When I asked for paper and a brush, Muk Yeon pulled them out, suggesting that if I hadn't asked, he wouldn't have shared them. Crafty old man. Definitely can't let my guard down. "I would like to see it later, if you don't mind." "...If you wish, I can send someone to deliver it." "That would be fine." Mrs. Mi nodded in satisfaction at my response. Was that the end of the conversation? 'Won't she ask why? Why it had to be done?' The discussion was surprisingly straightforward. Was this really why she summoned me? I had come in quite an apprehensive state, thinking I was called for something significant. "…" "…" No more words followed. It seemed the conversation had come to its end. Hence, I thought I should carefully bid her farewell and leave. "…And…" Mrs. Mi paused, hesitating to speak. Hearing her, I halted my steps. "Yes?" "That..." "Yes." "Um..." "...?" There had to be a reason she called me, yet Mrs. Mi was hesitating, unable to easily express herself. Did she forget what she wanted to say? That's unlikely. The renowned Mrs. Mi wouldn’t forget. So, what was making her behave this way? Just as I was starting to question— "Well... done." That was what Mrs. Mi told me. "…Uhh…" Hearing that, my mind went blank for a moment. "…Thank you." I barely managed to respond. It was hard to find the words. It was just a simple compliment, yet it felt oddly profound. "…Yes, you may go now." "…Yes. Well then, I'll see you next time." I hesitated, gave a brief nod, and left the room. "…" Right after Gu Yangcheon exited. Left alone, Mrs. Mi turned her attention back to the documents. Shuffle. Shuffle. The soft brushing of scrolls continued for some time. "They say he's the youngest." Mrs. Mi suddenly uttered. To an empty-looking room, yet someone was clearly listening. -Yes. A voice replied from within the ceiling. "The Star King… Though they say some manipulation by the alliance was at play, he indeed achieved the position of the youngest sect head as well." -I have heard this too. "…Isn't it admirable? Quite impressive and something to be proud of." -…. "I suppose I should have the branch master send a little something. He'll likely need some funds now that he's serving as sect head. Let’s start with what's available at the branch office…." -Why did you not mention this to the young master while he was here? "…" The excitement in Mrs. Mi's tone dwindled as her guard's observation halted her words. Her gaze faltered. The guard saw the opening and pressed on. -If you had spoken, the young master would have surely been pleased. Indeed, he would have been. The guard suggested so to the mistress. "But I cannot." In contrast to earlier, Mrs. Mi's voice was calm as she addressed her guard. "Why not, Madam?" A woman without fears in the world. Despite not practicing martial arts, she seemed unbeatable, yet her words now sounded unexpectedly fragile. "Don’t you think it might burden him? So not just yet." -…. Surely not. Speak up now. The guard wanted to urge, but held back. He knew it would be crossing the line to insist further. Understanding this, the guard chose to steer the conversation elsewhere. -Then, are you not going to mention this as well? "What are you referring to?" -The... Seeing Mrs. Mi's unfamiliar expression, the guard hesitated and continued almost incredulously. -The fact that the head elder from the Gu family is escorting the former leader here to Hanam. The real reason behind their intention to summon Gu Yangcheon. Wondering why Mrs. Mi hadn't mentioned it, the guard sought to understand the reasoning. However, the moment the words were out— -…Former leader? "…" The guard witnessed it. The expression of the renowned leader of the Baekhwa Trading Company cracked. An astonishing occurrence, prompting the guard to cautiously inquire. -…Did you perhaps forget? "…" Indeed. Caught up in her excitement, Mrs. Mi had forgotten what she intended to convey. A rare lapse in her life, indeed.