907 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Chapter 907: The World's Best's Childhood Friend Slap! Slap—! "Hey. Hey. Get a grip." I slapped Gu Bong's cheeks, trying to bring him back to consciousness. I've hit him about ten times by now, yet he still showed no signs of movement. "Ugh. This is such a hassle." Perhaps I was a bit too rough. He seemed in bad shape. The good news was he was still breathing—albeit shallowly—and his heart was still beating, indicating he wasn't dead. Moreover, he was regenerating. Though his face was quite messed up, at this rate, he seemed like he'd recover soon enough. The issue was... "Hey, wake up already." The problem was that this guy couldn't get a grip. "After all that cocky attitude, why can't you snap out of it?" Slap—! I slapped him again, but still, he lay there motionless. "Ugh, damn it... Normally, people would wake up by now." What should I do? Should I try pushing my energy into him to wake him up? 'That's too risky.' Normally, it's the easiest way, but not now. He's seriously injured, and doing so could mess up his energy and blood flow. So, for the moment, I had no choice but to wait for him to regain consciousness. "If someone sees me like this, it could put me in an awkward situation..." "What are you doing?" "..." With Gu Bong still in my grasp, I turned my gaze to find Shin Noya had approached silently, looking at me. "Sigh..." His deep sigh made me swallow hard, feeling awkward. ******* I went into the room. Sitting quietly at the desk, the same fragrant aroma from earlier wafted around me. The plum tea I had just drunk—it seemed to be that fragrance. As expected, a cup of tea was placed in front of me. Shin Noya had brought it. As I stared at the tea, Shin Noya, sitting across from me, spoke directly. "Why do you get into trouble in the blink of an eye?" His words made me grimace slightly. "They started it first, over there." "Sure, probably. Even though you've got a rotten disposition, you don't provoke first, so Gu Bong must have done something." "But..." "Even so, what were you thinking, leaving the boy like that?" "..." I scratched my cheek awkwardly. He wasn't wrong. "I didn't mean to kill him. What actually happened?" "Well, at first, I figured I'd go easy on him." Perhaps the issue was the first strike. "After hitting him." "After hitting him." "I noticed he was tougher than expected. And healed quickly too." "...So?" "So that..." Clearing my throat, I averted my gaze while continuing. "I was already annoyed, so it seemed like a good opportunity." "You used him to vent your anger?" "Please say I took the fight a bit more seriously." "You vented." "..." "Are you insane?" Noya retorted incredulously, making me frown. "Well, how could you just disappear like that? If you'd been here, none of this would’ve happened." "Look at this kid? Why are you blaming that on me? You're the one who flipped your lid." "Well, both sides have their faults, don't you think?" "...You're not only mad but also shameless." Noya looked at me with disgust. Utter disdain was evident in his expression. Of course, I felt the same way. "...Anyway." I managed to maintain my composure and asked Noya. "Is he okay?" Noya clicked his tongue shortly when I asked about Gu Bong. "Why? Do you care now that you've beaten him up?" "Not in the slightest. It's just because he's one of your people." "Don't worry. As you probably felt, he's a sturdy one, so he'll likely come around by tomorrow. Thanks to your weird way of avoiding vital spots, there shouldn't be any lasting damage either." "That's good to hear." Noya stared at me silently after I spoke. The lilac hue in his gaze was quite burdensome. Moreover, I understood perfectly well what that gaze meant. "As I mentioned before, young one." "Yes. Don't worry. I've got no lingering resentment now that I've had my go." "..." Please don’t hold any grudges against Gu Bong. That's what Shin Noya probably desired. Seeing how strongly his affection was for someone like Gu Bong suggested just how fond of him he was. "Please tell him I'm sorry when he wakes." There's no need for further explanation. It was an obvious resolution on my part. "One hundred and fifty years, was it?" The time Noya spent in this twisted realm. Compared to the mere four to five years he spent with me, the time with others here must have been dramatically different. The fact that this place bore the name "Hwasan Sect"... "It means it's something Noya has grown fond of." The feelings and values cultivated over time make me respect his wishes. Jealousy? It's not even amusing. I didn't feel any of that. Right now, it was about understanding the immediate concerns before us. "So what about that guy?" I inquired about Gu Bong. It wasn't the typical concern for his well-being, but a genuine question about who he was. "The cattle brat we met last time... there seemed to be something related during the night. Is that correct?" I recalled the transformation Gu Bong underwent at night. His human form showed hints of a beastly nature. When he transformed, it was utterly different. "Nearly beast-like in form." Along with significantly enhanced strength and speed. Though overwhelmed and ended up breaking him, it spoke to just how formidable he temporarily became. "Hmm." Noya paused as if contemplating my question. "Do you remember what I told you earlier today?" "Yes." As intense as it was, it was unforgettable. "Then, do you recall what I said about the Moonlit Night?" "I remember." One of the conditions for entering the Man Gye—those naturally belonging here and belonging to the Moonlit Night. That was the condition. "Gu Bong is exactly one of those Moonlit Night beings." I didn't show any particular reaction to Noya's words. Hearing that belonging to the Moonlit Night was a prerequisite for entering the Man Gye, it seemed perfectly reasonable. "He's a pureblood among them." Pureblood. That word piqued my interest. "What makes that different...?" Are those who came from elsewhere and became part of the Moonlit Night different from those born here? "Not hugely, but there are differences." "What kind of differences?" "Purebloods gain exceptionally high regenerative power and strength at night. It's already high, but it's on another level when night falls." "Hmm." It made sense. 'His regenerative power was indeed impressive.' I was amazed when his arm regenerated even after breaking it. It seems he becomes even more formidable at night. I wanted to observe it more, but unfortunately, I ended it before I could even see much. "Oh, so that's why that bull guy...?" I wondered if that's why the leader guy wouldn't die. "No." Noya shook his head firmly. "He wasn't a pureblood, so he doesn't possess that power. That's entirely a power granted by the Man Gye." "...A granted power?" "Yes, the biggest difference between purebloods and others is this. Even if it's night, those without pure blood won’t have these traits. However." Noya poured plum tea into his empty cup, and the fragrance became even more intense. "They have granted powers... which can be used until the sun rises." "So that guy's..." "Something about being immortal. That’s his power." "..." Immortality—it was a simple yet clear explanation. "The Moonlit Night..." Those who become stronger under the moonlit night. The name couldn't be more fitting. Recalling Gu Bong's ears and tail reminded me of a form my mother had shown once. "..." My mother. As quickly as the thought came, my mind grew chaotic again. 'Forgetting, he said...' Could it be true that she remembers nothing? Then how did anything linger in my body? The questions persisted. I was losing my grip on what steps to take next. "Young one." In the midst of that thought, Noya called me. "...Yes?" "Let's have a talk now." "A talk?" What kind of talk? Is it about what I should do next or something I haven't heard yet? I hadn't fully listened before, so maybe that's it. As I thought about this and perked my ears... "How have you been?" Noya's unexpected words caught me off guard. "Pardon...?" How have I been? Out of the blue? I found myself bewildered, but Noya continued speaking as if it were nothing. "Seeing that Gu Bong ended up a mess even in that state, it means you've gotten stronger. I could tell at a glance." I felt a bit awkward at his words. Certainly, the difference in my abilities before Noya disappeared and now was immense. "It’s nothing special. Just..." "You lived diligently. You’ve been through a lot." "..." The words that I lived diligently and endured much unwittingly made me clench my hands under the table. The feeling was truly uncomfortable. "It's a shame I couldn’t watch over you and tease you more. Haha. You were so fun to mess with." "...Is that important, even in this situation? That you couldn't tease me?" "Of course, it is. So tell me, how have you been surviving while I was absent?" "..." I knew more than anyone that this wasn't the time for such talks given the convoluted situation. I was well aware. "...It's nothing significant. After you disappeared..." Yet, strangely, I began speaking to Noya without hesitation. It was perhaps going to be a really long tale. Yet, words effortlessly flowed. It gave me comfort. An emotion I hadn't felt in a long time. I found myself talking leisurely, honestly. Nobody had ever heard these words before, spoken without any organization. In such manner, I unfolded my tales without end. Noya listened silently, pouring plum tea into my empty cup. This continued till night gave way to dawn. *********** Outside the building, a black-haired woman stood in the field, gazing up at the sky. The twin moons in the sky were fascinating every time she looked. Pretty in their own right, or as simply intriguing as ever. "Hmm." Her impressions of the sky weren’t solely positive. A mysterious familiarity, a sense unlike seeing it for the first time, coursed through her senses. The sky gave the woman such reflections. "But no." She had neither seen nor stepped foot here before, so why such a feeling? Though it was oddly strange, it didn't bother her much. Such sensations were not new to the woman. Feeling the unfelt. Accustomed to what hadn't been seen. The woman had experienced it countless times, making it unsurprising but still... "Hmm." The sensation was particularly strong today. That was why she was out alone, examining the surroundings. Though the place itself wasn’t familiar, it just seemed right to do so. "Hmm..." As she looked around, her expression grew grim the more she peered about. "This is annoying." It started becoming a hassle. Staying like this all day. Being away from him. To her, it was all tiresome and bothersome. "Should I go back?" This much was enough. She nodded in agreement with herself and began to turn away. It was at that moment. Swooosh—! A breeze came from somewhere, turning the woman's head. She glanced toward the dense trees obscuring the area. She tilted her head in curiosity. At the same time, her softly glowing amethyst eyes shimmered. "Who?" At the moment she asked towards the invisible source... Crunch. Someone quietly emerged from between the trees. "…" The woman's brows knitted at the sight. The first things visible were the drooped ears and fluffy tail of a dog, along with long brown hair and a mysterious black mask on the individual. "…" Seconds passed as they locked eyes. Just as the woman was about to move quietly towards that direction... Whoosh—! The masked figure that had been watching suddenly vanished without a trace. The woman chose not to pursue. Could she have followed if she tried? That was uncertain, but... "It's annoying." Her dispirited mood had reached its peak, making her unwilling to even try. Besides that... ‘I don’t want to go.’ An indescribable feeling that she shouldn't follow lingered in her mind. Swoosh— As she finally turned her back and walked away. Naturally, her destination was the place where he resided. "Hmm." Nevertheless, she periodically glanced back. The encounter with the masked figure gnawed at her thoughts, intensely so.