883 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

“…What did you say?” He forced his body to relax as he asked, unsure if he misheard. It seemed unlikely, but it wasn't a mistake this time. “…What, what?” Despite his repeated questions, Namgung Bia remained silent, just looking at him. Her eyes, blue like the ocean, were beautiful as always. At first, he couldn’t meet those eyes and turned his head numerous times, but now, he could barely manage to look at them, though trembling with embarrassment. He swallowed hard, the sound audible as his throat moved slightly. “…Where did you learn something like that… No, do you even know what you're saying?” He thought she knew nothing about this, so surely, she must not have known what she was doing. However, he couldn’t ignore what she said. “…It’s about making a baby.” “...” “…I know….” He was dizzy. When did she learn about this? How? “…I'm older than you.” Namgung Bia pointed out his behavior, not approving of his stance. Indeed, she was older. But still, was age even related to this topic? He pondered deeply. “…Explain…in detail?” He waved his hand at her request. “…No, don’t. Please don’t.” Even if he wished for an explanation, he least wanted to hear it from her. ‘Where in the world did she learn this?’ He wondered what kind of information she had acquired over the years, but for now, that wasn’t the main issue. “…That….” “...” “…Uh….” What should he say? He needed to say something, but his mouth wasn’t cooperating. His thoughts were blank. What should he say? After stuttering a while, he finally spoke. “…Is it okay?” Idiot. The only thing he managed to ask was if it was okay. What was so okay about this? He immediately regretted his words, wanting to just smash his own mouth. Meanwhile, Namgung Bia nodded at his question. “…It’s okay.” “…Really?” “Yes.” Her gaze was as clear as ever. “…I was always okay….” “...” “…You weren’t, though.” He was at a loss for words. It was true, he wasn’t ready. He knew it well, yet hearing it like this was different. Talking about such things so nonchalantly…. He was going to criticize her easygoing manner but closed his mouth upon seeing Namgung Bia’s expression. Upon closer observation, her always pale skin seemed a bit flushed, and her eyes were trembling. Especially noticeable was the redness of her ears peeking through her hair, as if they might explode at any moment. “...” He realized she wasn't unbothered. Namgung Bia was embarrassed too, forcing herself to speak. Understanding that made his heart race. Thump. Thump. Thump… Thump… Thump Thump…. His heart raced wildly, pounding against his chest. A pink droplet fell into his mind that had turned white, spreading pink all over. His mind was hazy. What was he trying to do? Why did this conversation happen? Why did he even approach Namgung Bia for this? He remembered nothing. All he could see were Namgung Bia's slightly colored cheeks and her blue eyes looking at him. What answer should he give here? Should he be pondering this? Whether with Tang Sohyeol back then or now, he questioned why he hesitated. Was there ever a need to hesitate? Why did he ponder it originally? That too he forgot. He simply moved. He was about to touch Namgung Bia’s cheek. What would happen after that? He didn’t know. He was just moving as his instincts dictated, finally about to touch her cheek when— “…What are you doing?” “…!” The voice that intervened jolted him to his senses. He turned his head. Wi Seol Ah was staring at him with narrowed eyes. “What are you doing?” “I, uh….” So engrossed was he that he hadn’t noticed Wi Seol Ah approaching. Suddenly, his face flushed with heat. ‘What was I about to do?’ What had he been intending? The heat spreading through his body invaded his ears. He must have looked as red as Namgung Bia. Now wasn’t the time for such thoughts. ‘Explanations first.’ He needed to explain to Wi Seol Ah. Thinking that, he started to speak. “That’s….” “I'm asking.” “Huh?” Wi Seol Ah wasn’t looking at him. “Unni.” She was glaring at Namgung Bia instead, who was desperately avoiding her eyes. Wi Seol Ah furrowed her brow, clearly displeased with Namgung Bia. “You’re breaking the agreement.” Agreement? “We all decided to wait, so what’s this?” Wait? The situation was taking a peculiar turn. “…Hold on, what are you—” “What’s this sneaky business?” “No, what are you talking…?” “You just stay quiet, young master!” “…Oh, ok.” He shut his mouth obediently. How long had it been since Wi Seol Ah yelled at him? It was a rare occurrence. It showed just how upset Wi Seol Ah was. “…Unni.” “…Sorry….” “Didn’t Sohyeol tell us she hates situations like this and doesn’t want to be sneaky? Using that to your advantage is too much….” “...” Namgung Bia looked like she had nothing to say, even if she had ten mouths. ‘What did Tang Sohyeol supposedly reveal…?’ He was more lost than ever. What exactly was happening here? “And at least, if you’re going to sneak around, you should do it while Miss Moyong is here.” His head was spinning trying to keep up. "…Yeah…." Namgung Bia grew smaller with each word. Had Wi Seol Ah ever pushed Namgung Bia to this point before? Not in his memory. "Guys...? Let's calm down a bit... and explain to me what's happening...?" "Young master, could you step out for a moment?" "...Huh?" "I'm asking you, please... We need to talk among ourselves." Was she really asking him to leave the room now, in a moment like this? Wi Seol Ah's voice seemed desperately sincere. Why was she so earnest? Looking confusedly at Namgung Bia, she averted her gaze. She seemed almost guilty. What on earth was going on...? Considering that asking questions probably wouldn't yield answers in this tense atmosphere, he awkwardly stood up. He stepped outside. As soon as he did, a familiar face greeted him. "Oh? Are you coming out now?" Tang Sohyeol welcomed him with a smile; she seemed to have been about to enter. "They told me to leave." "Huh? Who told you? Was it Unni?" "No…." "Then was it Seol Ah?" "Yes." "Oh my, why would she do that?" "That's what I want to know…." He was indeed curious. Especially since his heart hadn't calmed from what happened with Namgung Bia. He put a hand over his chest, feeling his heart still racing. ‘What if Wi Seol Ah hadn’t shown up?’ What would’ve happened then? "…" He ran a hand through his hair, feeling the lingering heat. It was close. Really close. ‘Almost lost control there.’ He would’ve certainly lost control, thinking he had been restraining himself well until now. But he wasn't the one holding back. Was it the others who were holding back all along? Namgung Bia tried so hard to tempt him, leaving him dazed. But was that really temptation? He wouldn't know what temptation was until he faced it. No, to be precise, he had faced it—a lot. But then… ‘In my past life, I just killed anything that approached with false seduction.’ Whether it was agents from the righteous sects or crazed magic practitioners. Anyone who came to him with a pretty face was dealt with swiftly. Because of that, ridiculous rumors like the Black Flame Demon enjoying men ran rampant. ‘I wanted to find the source of those rumors and kill them.’ He never found them, much to his annoyance. It was said that the rumor came from someone called Shin Geom, but he thought that was nonsense. What reason would Shin Geom have to do such a thing? Supposedly there was some credibility to it, but he didn’t believe it at all. Especially as it was ‘Shin Geom.’ Though it left him irritated, thanks to that rumor, beauty traps ceased to approach him. He was relieved not to have to kill anyone unnecessarily. Of course, back then, even the Heavenly Demon questioned him. ‘Is it true?’ he had asked. He had seemed to be joking with a mischievous expression. Stupid rumors, they were. At any rate…. While he was somewhat immune to such vile temptations, this kind was tricky for him to handle. Even if they were temptations, it was different. That's why he couldn't compose himself. "Did something happen?" "Well…." Just as he was about to explain what had happened, he recalled Wi Seol Ah's words. "The kids said you told them something. What was that about?" "Huh? I did?" "They mentioned you said something about not liking a situation." "A situation...? Oh! Oh, perhaps you mean that?" Tang Sohyeol clapped her hands as if she had remembered something. "I gave them some sex education since they didn’t know much. Could it be that?" "What did you say?" "Sex education." "..." Hearing that, the strangeness in his mind dissipated completely. ‘Wondered where they learned it from, and of course, it was from you.’ He ignored the ache in his head. “How… How did it come to that?” “Well, not ‘how’ really… They just didn't know anything. Considering their age, not knowing at all was just too much, right?” “...” She was right. Given their ages, they should've known such things already. If they weren’t warriors, they might've had several kids by now. However. “So what did Seol Ah mean by not wanting to feel petty?” Wi Seol Ah had clearly said that Tang Sohyeol didn’t want to be petty by not saying anything. Understanding dawned on Tang Sohyeol, widening her eyes. She seemed to have assumed that part would remain unsaid. She hesitated, scratching her cheek sheepishly before finally admitting, “...It seemed a bit underhanded…” “Underhanded?” "I didn’t want to fight with someone who didn’t know anything. It felt like I was compromising my pride.” "Fight? Fight over what?" “They were bound to compete over who would get to you first. It wouldn’t be fair if someone lacked information, so I told them.” “Oh, so that’s why they’re fighting... Wait, what?” He was about to understand but stopped in confusion. …Get to him? “Heh.” “Don’t laugh it off. Explain properly. What do you mean by ‘get to me’.” "But honestly.... It’s mostly your fault, young master." “Why is this suddenly my fault…?” Tang Sohyeol crumpled her elegant brow as she spoke. “From what I’ve seen, you respond, but you never make the first move. And just waiting feels like it'll take forever. So there's only one solution.” Tang Sohyeol tucked her hair behind her ear as she added. “We have to make the first move then.” “...” Such audacity in her words. “So we made an agreement amongst us.” An agreement…? He raised a hand immediately. “…I’m struggling to keep up with this. By agreement, do you mean...?” “It’s exactly what you think. We agreed on who would make the first move on you, young master, or who would let you make the first move.” “…Are you crazy?” “Halfway, yes. And if we’ve gone crazy, it’s because you’ve driven us there, young master, so it’s not on us.” Her blatant audacity left him speechless, his mouth hanging open in a silent response being the best he could muster. "Anyway, we reached an agreement among ourselves. Whoever wins gets the priority," Tang Sohyeol declared. “…W-Why are you deciding that without my consent?” “Would you dislike it? If so, just say so.” “I mean, it’s not about liking or disliking...” “You won’t dislike it, young master.” “I haven’t even finished answering.” “But isn’t it true? You wouldn’t let anyone go.” “...” Her words struck right at his core, filled with certainty that left him unable to deny. “We all know it. You won’t settle for choosing just one; you need to keep us all close to you.” “Do I seem that selfish?” “Your possessiveness is quite… intense, if nothing else.” “...And you’re not even hesitating with that answer?” “We know there are things you can’t say, and you’re holding back because something’s weighing on you. But you know what?” Tang Sohyeol’s eyes twinkled as they narrowed like crescent moons. “That doesn’t mean we’ll keep holding back. From now on, you hold back, young master. We’re tired of restraining ourselves, so we won’t anymore.” “You…” “Oh, don’t worry. We agreed among ourselves to wait until we’re all together. Otherwise, one of us would be left out, and that would be unfair.” The last one. He didn’t need to ask who that was. Ah, so that’s it. ‘So that’s why Wi Seol Ah was upset...?‘ They had promised to hold back together, and the scolding made sense now. Realizing this, he couldn't react or think any further. At that moment. “By the way.” Tang Sohyeol poked his chest with her finger and slipped past him. As she passed, her distinct woodsy scent lingered in the air. “When you return, be prepared. We’re serious.” “...” “Just saying.” With a wink, Tang Sohyeol entered the infirmary. He stood there for a long time. Prepare himself, she said. “...” Could he truly endure it if he did? He sighed at the thought. ‘Endure, my foot.’ With a hand pushing back his hair, he finally conceded. Now, even he had his limits.