959 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Silence filled the space. The only sound that could be heard was the quiet dripping of water. Drip. Drip. Drip. The source was my hand. Blood kept flowing from the hand that held the sword. Watching the falling blood, I thought to myself. Ah, damn, it hurts like hell. ‘…Why does this hurt so much…?’ Though I maintained a stoic expression, the pain was unbearably excruciating. Perhaps it was because I had gripped it harder and longer than before? I glanced at my palm. ‘Wonderful.’ My bones were visible. Recalling the ridiculously slow regeneration rate from previous experiences, I knew this time would be no different. The bandages hastily wrapped were now soaked and unraveling. I didn’t mind much since they weren’t mine—they were Seol Yeong's. Still, I couldn't just leave things as they were…. I was contemplating tearing a piece of my clothing to wrap it when something unexpected happened. Ssssshhh. ‘Huh?’ Suddenly, I felt a sensation in my left arm. It was Gui Jeong. Gui Jeong suddenly moved, wrapping around my injured hand like a bandage. ‘…Oh.’ What’s this? Was it worried that I was in pain? For a malevolent being, it was surprisingly considerate. Tight. ‘Gah…!’ As if reading my mind, Gui Jeong tightened its hold on my hand. It was likely for the purpose of stopping the bleeding, yet the situation felt rather ironic. While enduring the pain, the figure before me spoke. “…What do you mean, you intend to kill the Dragon Emperor?” “Exactly as I said. I’m going to kill the Dragon Emperor.” “Nonsense! How can a dragon kill the Dragon Emperor!” His eyes reddened with genuine intent. The intensity of his expression was somewhat desperate and fervent. “Why not? Surely it’s possible to kill him.” “Do not try to deceive me with nonsensical words, as if I wouldn’t know that dragons can never defy the Dragon Emperor!” I tilted my head at the elder’s words. Unable to defy them? I don’t think so. ‘If that was true.’ There would have been no need for the Blood Demon to act as he did. “…I, or rather, we, do not trust dragons.” “…Hmm….” Was it because he was unfamiliar with the circumstances, or did he inherently detest dragons? The elder growled at me with an air of reproach. ‘Despite everything, it wasn’t completely unsuccessful.’ I could feel it. A peculiar change in their atmosphere. Was it because I declared my intent to kill the Dragon Emperor? I could sense a subtle shift in their eyes. “Whether you believe it or not, it’s not of great consequence….” Belief mattered little to me in the grand scheme. What was important was— “That thing you’re holding. I’d like to have a bit of it.” “…What?” I gestured toward the sword the elder was clutching, and he frowned. “What are you saying?” “This, right here.” Thunk. “Gah!?” I snatched the sword the elder held in his grip effortlessly. Disarmed so easily, his expression twisted in frustration. “You…you!” It seemed the elder intended to reclaim it, moving aggressively toward me. “…!” As I pointed the sword at his neck, he froze. Of course, I had no intention of actually cutting his neck. I merely needed the sword and intended to halt his approach. Turning my back on him, I retrieved the sword blade and brought it to my forearm. All it took was a single touch. Sssszzzzzzz—! Just as earlier, it scorched hotly. The sword wasn’t hot, but closer to cold. Just a brief contact, and I pulled it away. Then, I threw the sword back to the elder. “Gah!” The elder caught it frantically. Watching him inspect the sword, I chuckled and said, “I just needed this. Isn’t it amazing? Just a touch and it hurts like hell and burns the flesh. So, let me ask. Is this effective only against dragons?” I had been curious for a while. That ominous-looking blade. Even during my sparring with Gu Bong, the mere sight of the metal brought unease. Was it merely an irritation from the metal itself? Was it a discomfort I felt because I was a dragon? “…Do you think I’ll tell someone like you?” “And why shouldn’t you? There are plenty of ways to find out if you don’t tell me. Furthermore.” I looked around. The area was filled with small clans watching me warily. After casting a glance at each of them, I addressed the elder. “If you really don’t plan on answering, perhaps I’ll learn by killing each of your comrades here.” “…!” My words, laced with killing intent, caused the elder to hesitate. Before his reaction intensified, I laughed. “I’m just kidding.” Though I said it with a broad smile, the elder’s expression didn’t change. Of course, it didn’t. This was both a warning and a demonstration. If I wished, I could kill them anytime. But I wasn’t doing it. This was my way of proving it to the elder. Whether it was effective or not, silence blanketed the area. Observing each response, I took a step back. “There’s probably no point in staying here today any longer. I’ll be heading back for now.” This was as far as it went. I could push further, but to establish the relationship I wanted, I needed to retreat first. “The next time, I hope we have a proper conversation.” “…As I’ve said...I…” “Yes, you don’t like dragons. I understand. Moreover,” I gestured to myself with my injured hand. “I don’t like dragons either. So, we’ll get along just fine.” “...” “See you next time. I hope you answer my questions then.” “You…!” I waved my hand dismissively and made my way outside. The elder seemed to say something, but I paid it little mind. Leaping away, I distanced myself and ascended a building. “Hmm….” It was around sunset. Soon, night would fall. Watching it for a moment, I turned my gaze northward. Things on this side were settled. The matter with the turtle was temporarily concluded. ‘Let’s go back.’ It was time to finish the last task of the day. Outside the gates of the Mount Hua Sect, my destination was clear: Yawol. Even though I finished yesterday’s tasks, I found myself questioning whether I needed to return so soon. ‘But I have to go.’ There were many unfinished matters that required my attention, alongside needing to observe more developments. ‘I need to look into Yusa more closely.’ I had to approach him. Completely getting close might be uncertain, but still. ‘Everything will become clearer once I get closer.’ Given Yusa’s powers, which I had some understanding of—they were not someone who wouldn’t notice a stealthy approach. At times like this, it’s best to approach directly. ‘It does feel like I’m visiting too often….’ It seemed as though I ventured to Yawol every day. Perhaps I should just settle there instead? ‘That might indeed be better.’ Frequent visits had become tiresome. And since there were already members of the Mount Hua Sect over there, it wouldn’t be too difficult to let them know. With these thoughts in mind, I continued climbing the mountain. “...” I halted abruptly, turning my gaze. I scanned my surroundings as if surveying a forest. It looked as if nothing was there—only familiar trees and bushes from this well-trodden path. Gradually, all that remained were the two moons in the sky. “Hmm….” I rested my chin in my hand and let out a quiet sigh. “...” I felt the breeze. I didn’t extend my senses or intensify my focus. Merely standing silently, eyes closed, I absorbed the surroundings. Then, after a short while. Saaa. Among the flowing air, an anomaly appeared. “Found you.” I opened my eyes, simultaneously mustering my energy. Thump. With the view shifting, I pursued someone. The instant I moved, so did the hidden observer. But. Snap-! “…!!” My hand reached the figure before they could escape. Upon capture, my quarry struggled desperately, but before they could, I exerted force and slammed them to the ground. Kaaa-boom---!!! A loud impact accompanied the shattering of the earth. The pressure caused a cloud of dust to rise into the air. Annoyed by the obstructed view, I dispelled the dust with a wave of energy. The figure pinned to the ground came into sight. As I recognized the figure, I laughed. “Is it you?” For the last few days, Every time I left Mount Hua, this presence annoyed me. Attempting to use my senses to locate it made it hide. Neither could I visually spot it, driving me to frustration. “It’s you, right?” Finally, I had caught the perpetrator. It was thanks to my persistence in pinpointing that unusual presence without relying on my senses. “You’re called Yarang, right?” The woman with the black mask. I wasn’t certain she was actually a woman, but her body suggested so. She quietly stared at me, her throat trapped in my grasp. Her expression was inscrutable beneath the mask. Despite the substantial pressure I applied, the pain should have been excruciating. Yet she didn’t let out a single groan. ‘Is this woman—’ The Master of Myriad Worlds. Was this the daughter my mother mentioned? Moreover, ‘She even injured the Heavenly Demon.’ She reportedly wounded the Heavenly Demon before disappearing? Squeezing. Recalling this fact, my grip tightened. “Who are you? Why do you keep following me around, provoking me?” “...” “Don’t want to talk? Well, then.” As strong as she might be, being called a general, Still, she’d been watching me all this time. It might be better to provoke a reaction in response to a fight. I reached a decision in my thoughts. “Let’s see how long you keep your mouth shut.” Fwoosh---!!! I enveloped my hand in flames. Surrounding it with blue flames, I punched towards the woman known as Yarang. No. I tried to punch. Fwoosh---!!! My fist hurtled speedily, seemingly about to crush her face, yet For some reason, it halted just before her nose. Was I merely trying to scare her? No. I genuinely intended to hit her. Yet. “…Who are you….” I couldn’t. My body, stiff as stone, rejected the act. “You, who exactly are you?” With trembling eyes, I asked. “What is your identity-?” Saaa---!!! “Ugh!” I squinted my eyes, unable to finish the sentence. Suddenly, energy erupted forth. A golden energy surged, blinding my vision. Desperately clearing it away, I regained sight. “Damn.” Yarang, whom I had captured a moment ago, had already vanished. Where could she have gone? While frantically searching for her, there was no need to actually find her. She hadn’t run away. Instead, she had moved to my rear, merely watching me. About to speak to Yarang once more, Snap-! The string securing her mask suddenly unraveled. The mask began to slip away from her face. Thunk. It fell to the ground with a soft sound. Yarang’s uncovered face emerged into view. Upon seeing it, my heart dropped heavily as if it hit the floor. It couldn’t be helped. For the face I now saw belonged to Yarang. “You….” It was the face I dearly missed, both in this life and the last. The exact same face as Wi Seol Ah, the Divine Sword. Was she really the Divine Sword? 0 Only logged-in members can post comments. Weekly Best Adult BL/GL +401 Abandoned 6★ Heroes Become Obsessed +2102 How to Live as a Magician in Magic School +703 Liberated Slaves Become Obsessed +294 Apocalypse But Only Easy for Me +1425 The Medicine-Consuming Genius Sorcerer +216 Only My Skill Tooltips Are Weird +717 Dual Spy for the Demonic Cult +158 The Genius Predator of the Destroyed World +479 Became a Necromancer in a Zombie World +15010 Childhood Friend of the World's Greatest +511 Infinite Evolution Hunter +1612 Mistaken for a Genius Strategist +2613 Ranking 1st with Assets of 10 Trillion Yen +1414 Became the Goddess of the New World +4915 It's Easy When You're Handsome +3616 Dr. Meng Wants a Big Ear. +2817 Dark Fantasy Normalization +9018 Reforming the Evil Young Lady at the Academy +6319 I Want to Be a Former Vtuber +6220 The King of the Afterlife is Tired New + View More New Request for Magical Girl Uncle Request for Magical Girl Uncle GoCooking +1 November 11, Request for Cinderella at 12 o'clock🥬 November 11, Repeat Mark/To the Moon with Me🥬🥬 November 11, Binge-watching Re: PureBear's Rebirth as a Chaotic Billionaire _ I'll Shake It Up🥬 +12 November 11, Curious, Curious +7 November 11, Youtube Officially a Failed Country +15 November 11, Re: Request for Dungeon Shelter No. 1 +6 November 11, Angry Mom Because Her Child Was Denied Boarding +7 November 11, I Believed in Pure Love but Comics +3 November 11, 1-Cut Villain Tried to Flirt with the Quiet and Gloomy Girl in Class Comics Childhood Friend of the World's Greatest 959th Episode (949/1059)