955 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Having wrapped up the conversation with Noya, I descended back to Hyun once more. It was still not past noon. The place remained bustling with people, and the lively atmosphere was unchanged. I sensed it during my time at the Palace of Moonless Night, but the atmosphere here exudes a uniquely bright energy. Even though the Middle Plains were bustling with activity, they seemed somewhat urgent and overheated, whereas this place felt infused with a certain tranquility. What made it different? How was it different from the Middle Plains? It couldn't be merely because it was a different world—there had to be something distinct. This curiosity led me to observe my surroundings as I walked. 'Hmm...' Naturally, it's not something you can discern just by looking. Or rather, to be honest, I wasn't really trying to figure it out. I just found it comforting to look. The ambiance laced with tranquility was simply pleasing to my eyes. ‘They've really put in a lot of effort here.’ What did Noya say? That this place was created a little over a hundred years ago? For a space built in just over a century, I thought it was remarkably well-made. While I was pondering that thought. “Huh?” I felt a gaze on me from somewhere. Being watched was commonplace for me, but there was something different this time. Narrowing my eyes, I followed the direction of the gaze. Normally, I wouldn't have paid it much mind since it was just a look. ‘What's this?’ This time, there was a sense of emotion attached. And it was somewhat negative, at that. Tracing the gaze, I pinpointed the source. ‘Those people.’ I found the source in the direction I was staring. In the Volcano Sect, where there were many with peculiar appearances, these individuals stood out because of their small stature. They were the dwarven folk I had met previously at the forge. As they looked at me, their faces showed unease and fear. Along with a mixture of wariness and resentment. ‘Ah.’ Only then did I realize why they looked at me that way. ‘It's because of that incident.’ The event at the forge. It happened during a meeting with the person in charge. When I retrieved a glove he was holding, my palm was almost melted off, and there were gazes directed at me when I was referred to as a dragon. This must have spread and influenced them as well. ‘It seems the rumors have reached them too.’ The young ones seemed oblivious, but the older ones surrounding them were the issue. They had a firm stance of not allowing anyone to approach. What was it they said? That they were oppressed and captured by dragons, forced to live as slaves? “...” With that in mind, I pretended to take a step towards them. “Eek-!” “Ugh...!” They immediately pushed the children behind them and looked at me with hostility. Acknowledging this response, I awkwardly scratched the back of my head. With this level of reaction, doing anything now seemed challenging. ‘Now isn't the time.’ In terms of plans, those people—specifically, the blacksmiths' abilities—were indeed needed, but. Currently, the method seemed inconvenient, and I had other duties, so I turned away for now. Though feeling a bit disappointed given I did nothing wrong, I was. ‘Used to it.’ Being looked down upon was something I was accustomed to, so it didn't linger as a thought for long. Besides. ‘Anyway.’ Regardless of whether they liked it or not. I needed to utilize them. It didn't really matter if they saw me poorly. If they were intent on viewing me negatively, then…. ‘I can reciprocate the sentiment.’ So it was fine. With this mindset, I headed towards the tea house where the Tortoise was located. ******************** After wandering Hyun for a brief moment, I finally arrived at the Tortoise’s tea house. But then. “...What is this?” The sight that greeted me made me dumbfounded. Understandably so. “Where did it go?” The tea house, which should've been there, was completely gone. No traces left behind. It was literally as if nothing ever existed there from the start. “...Ha.” This is absurd. What kind of nonsense is this? My face twisted in disbelief at the unreal situation. Is it plausible for a place to vanish like this without a trace? Why is there no evidence left? It's utterly bewildering. “…Have I lost my mind?” It seemed plausible. Such an occurrence would be impossible unless I had lost my mind. However. “That doesn't seem to be the case.” Unfortunately, I wasn’t insane. I couldn’t afford to be with so much left to do. So I quietly watched the spot where the tea house once stood. ‘Seems like something fishy is going on.’ The Tortoise must have done something. With a certainty of that thought, I focused my sight. Uuuung—!! With a concentration of energy in my heart, a heat rose in my eyes. I opened my divine eye. Immediately, my vision wavered slightly as if reacting. The more I used the divine eye, the more familiar I became, and I realized one thing. And that is. ‘Every object contains energy.’ Every object has an inherent energy within it. The divine eye isn’t just for predicting the flow of energy to spot gaps in opponents. It's about observing the energy itself and accepting it quickly. This might be the fundamental basis of the divine eye that the Pazu created. ‘…The more I think about it, the more insane he is.’ How could such a ridiculous power be created? Whether it’s the Heaven Shattering Art or the divine eye, the more I see of the Pazu, the more questions I have. ‘In any case.’ Those who educated me are all monsters, without exception. Be it Shin Noya or the Pazu. Thanks to them, no matter how much effort I put in, I could avoid becoming arrogant—should I be grateful for that? ‘It might be wrong to see it as a good thing.’ But let's set this aside for now. With the divine eye opened, I examined the surroundings quietly. From the trees, rocks, and pebbles. Even to the plum blossom petals fluttering in the sky. Every single tiny thing was imbued with energy. The amount varied by size, but the boundaries were unmistakably fluctuating. As I watched quietly, I directed my gaze forward. ‘There.’ I can see it. In front. In what appears to be empty space, the energy is fluctuating. When seen through the lens of energy, it was unmistakably a house. 'Hmm.' I closed my eyes as I observed. Wooong-! The energy dissipated, deactivating the divine eye. And then. Whoooosh!! Instead of my eyes, I channeled energy into my fists. Crackle. An agonizing sensation surged instantly. The ring of the Nine Flames Wheel Art expanded and spun wildly, with the ferocity of the Heaven Shattering Art mingled within. To prevent it from exploding, I enveloped it with mental imagery. And then, threads of enchantment streamed out, wrapping around it to prevent it from shattering. The explosive force generated by the friction was compressed. I imbued that into my fist. Grind, grind. The intense vibration resonated through my skeletal frame. I forcibly controlled my body, pulsing with veins, to assume a steady stance. The posture was still a mess. Nevertheless, as I crouched, preparing to throw a punch. "Stop-!" Something suddenly leapt out from the air. It was the Tortoise. "You insane fool! What on earth are you trying to do?" His previously unseen eyes peeked out, so shocked was he. The Tortoise’s pupils, usually hidden beneath his brow, were as large as go stones. "Oh." Seeing this, I released the energy I had stored. In that instant. Kuaaaa---!!! A tremendous gust of wind surged from my body. Without releasing the suppressed energy and deactivating it, the luftstorm whipped up violently. “Ugh!” The Tortoise staggered, barely supporting himself with his staff. As the wind subsided, he sharply rebuked me with anger in his voice. "You, what exactly were you trying to do?" At his words, I tilted my head in response. "Seemed like you wouldn't come out, so I figured I'd give a little sign." "A sign…? Do you call that a sign?" The Tortoise scrunched his face in disbelief. "Who on earth gives a sign like that?" "Well... but you came out, didn't you." Really, who asked him to hide? From my perspective, it was a bit unfair. It looked like he was hiding due to doing something. Finding a way to unlock that was bothersome. So I simply meant to blow it all away. I also intended to practice the Heavenly Demon Divine Art by trying it out. But before I could fully unleash it, the Tortoise emerged hastily. ‘Judging by the reaction, would there have been trouble if I had fired it?’ Based on how he dashed out before I fired, it seemed like he hadn’t set up something to withstand it. “…Truly a madman. What on earth were you trying to use?" "Something I've been practicing lately." "…Practicing…?" "Yes. It's something that feels useful. I can't use it often, so I'm trying to get used to it." “Trying to get used to something that is utterly nonsensical? Do you even realize what you were about to do?" "…Something great, roughly?" "…You're insane." The Tortoise shook his head in dismay. His voice was laden with frustration. Why was he reacting this way? “Is there a problem?” "Problem? Of course, there is. The power you were about to wield defies reason." "Oh…." Defies reason, huh? Was it really that bizarre? "Trying to intertwine four things when even one makes no sense? Have you lost your mind?" "Well… without doing this, I can't get what I want." The friction needed to bolster the force. And I had to overlay mental imagery to withstand it before unleashing it. Then, to ensure it didn't shatter, it had to be bound once more with enchantment. The Tortoise began to speak but then cut himself off. “If you proceed like that, not just your body but even your soul….” He stopped mid-sentence. It was clear he was holding back words he wanted to say. “…Enough. Just come in for now." “Am I allowed to enter now?” “…You seem prepared to blow everything away if I say no. What choice do I have?” “Well then, I’ll take the liberty.” I stepped confidently towards where the Tortoise stood, ignoring his disgruntled looks directed at me. Passing by him, the Tortoise’s tea house suddenly appeared before my eyes. As expected, it seemed to be part of his enchantment. Nodding at the familiar sight, I spoke to the Tortoise. “No need to serve tea.” “I had no intention of doing so, you scoundrel.” The Tortoise clicked his tongue repeatedly as he moved forward. He dragged a chair over and sat down, and I took a seat across from him. “…What is your business this time?” “You mentioned something last time, remember?” “Last time?” “Yes. You said to come see you when it was definitely necessary.” “...” His eyebrows twitched, perhaps recalling his previous words. "It's not already time for that, is it?" “I don’t know when that time is, but I need you now, Elder. I need a little makeover.” “Makeover?” The Tortoise looked at me as if the idea was absurd. Meeting his gaze, I spoke plainly. “Yes, a makeover. I need to visit my mother, and it doesn’t seem right to go like this.” “Mother? You’re going to see your mother here?” “Yes.” “Where suddenly is your mother that you need a makeover…?” “They say my mother is the mistress of this world.” “…What?” At my words, the Tortoise’s eyes widened as large as lanterns. Well, relatively larger than go stones anyway. “No way….” The Tortoise stammered, falling silent for a moment. It was evident that many thoughts were racing through his mind. “…I see.” He eventually nodded in understanding. Yet, the expression on his face seemed unusually forlorn and dry. “That’s… That explains it.” “…Elder?” “You.” The Tortoise looked at me and spoke. “You’re the offspring of a yuzhu (妖狐).” At that moment. Rumble--!! The space around us rippled fiercely. **Comments Section:** **히데토 - 2024.10.17 23:02** "Did the nine-tailed fox annihilate everything?" **연우 - 2024.10.29 15:44** "I won't make any predictions." *Note: Only logged-in members can post comments.* --- **Weekly Best:** - +401 Abandoned 6★ Heroes are Obsessed - +2102 How to Live as a Wizard in Magic School - +703 Released Slaves Become Obsessed - +294 Apocalypse Seems Too Easy for Me - +1425 Genius Wizard Who Takes Medicine - +216 Only My Skill Tooltips Are Weird - +717 Double Agent in the Heavenly Demon Sect - +158 Genius Devourer of the Fallen World - +479 Became a Necromancer in the Zombie World - +15010 The World's Greatest Person's Childhood Friend - +511 Infinite Evolution Hunter - +1612 Mistaken for a Genius Strategist - +2513 Ranking #1 with 1 Trillion Assets - +1414 Became a Goddess in the New World - +4915 Being Handsome Makes Life Easy - +3516 Dr. Maeng Wants Big Ear - +2817 Normalizing Dark Fantasy - +9018 Correcting the Villainous Noble Girl at the Academy - +6319 Former Vtuber Wants to Do It Again - +6220 The King of the Underworld is Tired **New Posts:** - **YouTube Official Failed Nation** - "Not sure, but did Earth go under?" - **Cat Returning from Another Ban** - Re: Request for Dungeon Rest Stop #1 - Angry Mom Because Her Kid Was Denied Boarding - Confident it was Pure Love, Yet Manga - Villain Girl in the Class Comic Where He's Approaching - Choose for Me + Feedback Version 3 Appearance - Does Anyone Have 'From Vanessa' Teacher? - Re: Breadworm 2 - So What Has Rome Done for Us After Occupying Our Land!!! - Best Fish in Human History - Intermittent Fasting --- **The World's Greatest Person's Childhood Friend - Chapter 955** (945/1059)