964 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Chapter 964: The World's Most Acclaimed Friend's Childhood He stared at the hand that stopped him. A thin, slightly pale hand. He shivered as Noya's grip held his hand tightly. He tried to move his body, but ultimately he couldn't. Noya's strength was part of it, but there was also his determination to control himself. Creak. His bones seemed to groan as he struggled to breathe steadily and hold on. "Hmm." He could stop himself somehow. But even as he did, his gaze followed the people who passed by them. "Calm down." Noya spoke, gripping his shoulder firmly. "..." He didn't respond. He just watched blankly as two people disappeared into the crowd. "What is it...?" He finally managed to ask Noya. "What I just saw... is it true?" He didn't exactly see it but felt something. He questioned whether what he sensed was accurate, and Noya, seeming a bit perplexed, replied. "How would I know? I'm just as taken aback." Noya seemed just as clueless about the situation. His expression was enough to confirm that. Which meant... "It wasn't just my hallucination," he thought. The sensation he had just felt was not just a figment of his imagination, he was sure of it. Then... "Why...?" Why were they here? Part of him wished it was a delusion. But if it wasn't, it caused more trouble. He clenched his hand. "...." He pressed down on the sensation in his hand and recalled. I should not meet my mother now. At least not in this state. He kept reminding himself of this. Noya must have meant the same thing. "Damn..." It was not as easy as he thought. Especially when they passed right in front of him. Was he just supposed to let them go? He pondered this while staring at the direction in which the two had vanished. ************** "Hmm?" A woman walking along suddenly stopped in her tracks. Glancing back, she turned around. "What is it?" She sensed something amiss, but all she could see was a swarm of people. "Hmm..." Seeing this, the woman hesitated. Should she unveil it for a moment? She considered it but slightly shook her head and faced forward again. Unveiling it now wouldn't be wise. Doing so would surely cause unnecessary trouble. Since she had come down after so long, she wanted to stay quietly and leave. Of course. 'Something... does bother me, though.' Something felt off. She vaguely sensed she shouldn't just pass by. What had she overlooked so far? She had passed by so many children that none of them stayed in her memory. From beneath a veiling cloth, jewel-like crimson eyes shifted slightly, looking at the woman beside her. "Daughter." "...." At the woman's call, the masked woman, Yarang, looked at her. "Have you seen anything unusual?" At the woman's question, Yarang remained silent momentarily, then shook her head. "I see." The woman was convinced without further suspicion and smiled. "I understand. From now on, you must truly be my eyes and ears. Guide me well." To this, Yarang nodded again. Yet, her gaze continued to be fixated on the path they'd taken. After scanning the crowd for a while, Yarang moved after the woman resumed walking. "Hmm." Touring the area, the woman observed her surroundings. "It has changed a lot since last I saw it." When was the last time she saw it? It was such a distant past that she couldn't count. Back then, it was just a thicket. It was fascinating to see something like this here now. "As always, time flows so quickly. Doesn't it?" Yarang nodded at the woman's words. In the blink of an eye, time changes. Mortal time never fits right. Time just exists. The flow from it wasn't particularly significant to the woman. That's why. That's why she didn't care. Because time was infinite, it held no meaning. Beauty comes when something is finite, but it wasn't so for her. Hence, the essence was lost for her. Thus, even seeing the transformed Yawol, she found it fascinating but didn't feel more than that. "Hmm." The woman scanned her surroundings with her characteristic beautiful gaze. The light in her eyes seemed somewhat dimmed. What was she looking at now? She tried to capture it with her eyes but didn't see anything particularly beautiful. No, she likely didn't want to capture it that way. After all, it wouldn't help to capture it anyway. There's no need to ascribe meaning to it or try to remember it. This place was indeed the world she belonged to and needed to guard as a being, but that was all. To the woman, this land was just that. She couldn't recall the last time she wanted to remember and capture something in her mind. 'Memories.' Is there a need to remember anything? Did she ever try to do that? While she pondered this, walking slowly, she suddenly noticed something. "Ah." She widened her eyes upon discovering something, and then— Thunk! In a desolate place, something landed from above as if it had fallen. It was a young man with light-green hair. She watched him with a calm expression. "...I greet my master." Tension clearly visible on his face, Yusa bowed cautiously. "It's been a while." The woman spoke softly, and Yusa swallowed nervously, bowing even more deeply. "What brings such an exalted presence to this humble place...." "Humble"? The woman smiled slightly at Yusa's words. "What place on this land could be humble." "...." The floral fragrance filling the air had Yusa parting his lips hesitantly. It seemed he made a slight verbal misstep. "I apologize. I... spoke out of turn...." "It's alright. I wasn't expecting an apology." With a slight rustle, she approached Yusa. But there was no detectable aura around her. With a sense close to nothingness, Yusa trembled. How could it feel so devoid of emotion? "Raise your head." At the woman's words, Yusa lifted his head. He then met the woman’s crimson eyes. Swish. The woman gently caressed Yusa's cheek with her white hand. "Would it be a problem for you that I've come all this way to you?" "How could it be? There isn't a place on this land that you, my master, cannot visit." The woman's lips curled into a faint smile at Yusa's unwavering words. Then she continued. "I'm glad. Could I ask you something then?" "I am listening." Yusa laid almost prostrate on the ground. The tail that once swayed was now still, and the ears that had perked were drooped. He displayed all the respects he could. Seeing this, the woman inquired. "I heard something interesting happened recently." “…!” Yusa's tail moved slightly at her words. "I understand things happen, but it feels like this is the first time I’m hearing about it," the woman continued. "It wasn't exactly that... we've nearly completed our verification. Once all the information is gathered, I intended to report it." "Truly?" "Tru—." [Truly?] "…!" Crash! At the woman's voice, Yusa's body jolted noticeably. His heart, his very soul, seemed to flinch. His throat felt constricted—the sensation one had when given a command. "…It's true." "I see." As he managed to reply, the overwhelming pressure subsided. It was only then that Yusa could breathe properly again. "So, you'll tell me later?" "If you prefer, I can inform you right now." "No, that's alright." The woman declined Yusa's offer. "If you'll tell me when the time comes, I'll wait." For her, waiting wasn't an issue at all. As she mentioned earlier, time meant nothing to the woman. "That's all I wanted. Sorry to have disturbed you." "Not at all…." "How much longer do you plan to be here?" Though it was an unusual question, there was a reason she asked. "I'll depart first thing tomorrow." The woman had assigned a special task to Yusa. "I see. Then rest well." With nothing more to say, the woman turned around. Yusa quickly began to speak as she did. "Are you returning now, my master?" "Hmm. Not yet." She shook her head slightly at Yusa's question. "Not immediately…." The woman looked at Yarang beside her and said, "I’m thinking of going on a little outing." "An outing…?" Yusa asked. "Yes, an outing." With those words, she slowly walked away. Without a hint of regret, she left Yusa behind. Yusa bit his lip slightly as he watched Yarang follow her. **************** The woman, accompanied by Yarang, arrived at a park in the city's center. A quiet space within the bustling city. She strolled through the area, observing her surroundings. Leaving the densely built area for this place felt peculiar. Yarang quietly observed and followed the woman. How long. Until when. And for what purpose. These were questions that could have been asked. But Yarang didn't. She couldn't question it even if she wanted to, nor could she even if she were able. She simply watched the woman. Then. "Daughter." The woman spoke to Yarang. "There's something, you see." Her voice was as gentle and calm as ever. Beyond her soft-spoken words, she added, "I think it's time we change the general." The words held a sharpness that contrasted with her gentle tone.