969 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

**Chapter 969: The Prodigy of the Number One Person in the World** The Mother of Mine, who is not the Master of Man Gye. Upon hearing Noya's words revealing it to be her request, I had to take a moment to ponder. What could it mean? It wasn’t mere wordplay, as Noya’s expression was quite earnest. I had to focus to decipher the meaning behind those words. ‘…It was Mother's request. But she is not the Master of Man Gye….’ What does this imply? Was Noya a general? Did he ultimately betray someone? If those statements were true. ‘Was it Mother's request that made him a general? Or was it Mother's request that led him to betray?’ The words were ambiguous, hard to comprehend, yet I quickly reached a conclusion. Whatever the case, these words convey one meaning. “Is it saying that the current Master and my Mother are different people?” It meant that Noya did not equate the current master with my mother. To confirm this notion, Noya nodded slightly at my words. “As I mentioned before, your current mother is not the person you once knew.” “I understand.” In the past, those were just words. But now I was certain. If you meet her directly, there’s no way you wouldn’t know. She was not the mother I knew. Her appearance, her scent, her voice. They were all hers, yet she was not her. So, what should I call her? Right. ‘Master.’ She is the master. The ruler of this land, the master of a world. I ought to see her as the master, not as a mother. Though it wouldn’t be easy, it seemed necessary. “...” The image of her taking Yarang, calling her her daughter, flashed through my mind. Damn it. That image was not easy to forget. Slap-! “Hmm?” I swung my hand to slap my own cheek, and Noya looked at me with a bizarre expression. “…Brat, is that some new taste of yours?” “…I just needed to pull myself together. And what do you mean by ‘new’? I have no other peculiar tastes.” The sting of my cheek snapped me back to my senses slightly. I had hit so hard that blood was trickling from my mouth. I roughly wiped it away with my hand and spoke to Noya. “So… what does it mean when you say it was Mother’s request?” “What more meaning would there be? It was truly your mother’s words.” “So, are you saying it’s the former? The latter? Which one is it?” Was it that he became a general, or was it that he betrayed? When asked, Noya looked and spoke curtly. “Both.” “…Both?” “Yes, both.” Rustle. Noya tossed the words into the air as he rose from where he was seated. The skewer he was eating was already finished, not a trace left in his hand. “Given that your mother would be aware of everything happening in Man Gye, she would also know of my presence here.” “...” Recalling Noya referring to the creature, which might have been the leader, as strangers, I thought that might have been what he meant. “It was merely assisting with a situation that arose.” “…What situation caused you to suddenly become a general in another world? Were you bored?” “It was somewhat boring anyway. Plus, it was quite necessary... Hey, you brat!” Bang-! “Ouch!” I got smacked upside the head. “For whose sake do you think I went through all that trouble? Bored? An old ragged man who broke his bones for you can't be thanked?” “…So then, what kind of trouble did you go through?” I asked, rubbing the stinging back of my head. What could possibly justify needing to be a general here and end in a betrayal and escape? “Hm.” With my question, Noya gave me a long look. Was it a debate on whether to tell or not? His eyes said it all. “Well, never mind the struggle.” So I slightly changed my wording. Not hearing it would only be my loss. Fine, becoming a general can somewhat be explained that way. But. “What about the betrayal?” I was more curious about the betrayal Noya supposedly committed, as told by Yusa. Noya scratched his cheek upon hearing it. Though his reaction differed little from before, it seemed better than earlier. Regarding his betrayal being at the mother's request, Noya eventually explained. “You know about the sacred tree rooted in the volcano, right?” I thought about it. That enormous ancient tree within the volcano. It was the sacred tree made of plum blossoms. “Yes. The one Noya supposedly stole.” The one allegedly stolen by Noya as a seed and taken. Why was this being brought up now? Anyway. “That was also a request from your mother, to take that out.” Upon hearing this, I furrowed my brows. “…Stealing the seed? My mother asked you to do that?” “Yes.” “Why…?” “Why? Just because it was told to be done.” “...” Stealing because he was told to steal. Momentarily dazed by the absurd answer, I stood still. Noticing my bewildered look, Noya chuckled heartily—this man…? “Even that was necessary. For your mother’s purpose, my duty, and for you.” Fortunately, it seemed to have been a jest, as Noya continued explaining, looking at me intently. Hearing it only made me narrow my eyes further. “What purpose…? What kind of purpose…?” Mother’s purpose. What purpose could there have been to make Noya carry out such a task? Additionally. ‘Why has she ended up this way now…?’ If she was different before. There had to be a reason for her current state. Pondering this, I asked cautiously, and Noya, looking at me plainly, spoke. “Kid.” “Yes.” “In Man Gye, do you know how many sacred trees there are in total?” “…I don’t know.” “It’s known that there are four, the same number as the generals.” Noya pointed to the ground with his finger. “One is in Yusa’s domain of Nightmoon Forest. And.” He pointed north next. “Another is in the mountainswhere that brute Dooryeong resides.” Next, he pointed west. “And one more guarded by that obnoxious crow. The last is the volcano.” “…What about the one with Yarang?” “The matter with that child, well, since I took them and ran away, you could say what belongs to that child is now the volcano's.” “That’s….” Isn’t that wrong? I was about to question this, but Noya spoke first. “What’s important is that although four sacred trees are known, in reality, there is one more tree.” “What?” There’s another tree. I was surprised at Noya's words for a moment. Noya pointed to the sky. “There is one more up there. It’s known as the heart of Man Gye.” I looked into the sky where he pointed. The sky, slowly dimming at dusk, was still beautifully tinged with a purplish-pink hue. Yet, all I could see was that sky. The tree Noya spoke of remained invisible. “You think you’d see it just because you want to? Since it’s not visible, it’s naturally kept secret.” “...” Then why point at it? As I looked on, flabbergasted, Noya clicked his tongue in mild annoyance. “Anyhow, the focus is not about the trees themselves, but about the distortion affecting your mother’s state.” “Distortion?” “Originally, the sacred trees should be placed according to the number of generals and their guarded positions. But since even one tree is misplaced, Man Gye’s current state is unstable. The already set parameters have changed. The most significant change can be seen in the density of the energy within the air.” “…!” Hearing those words made my eyes widen. The density of energy in the air. The mention of it caught me off guard. ‘Could that be the reason?’ I had sensed it the moment I arrived in this land. The amount of energy within the air was astonishingly higher than that in the central plains. It all seemed vastly different. ‘…Was it because the equilibrium was disturbed?’ Noya’s words provided an answer. The disruption of fixed rules causing this anomaly. Noya explained the current situation in that manner. ‘If a problem with a sacred tree leads to such developments...’ It implies something seriously significant. Then. “…Why is my mother, or rather the master, not taking action?” Knowing about the current situation, it seemed odd that the present master wasn’t doing much. Even if Yarang’s activity aimed to address it, there were still several peculiarities. “It’s not that she’s not moving.” Noya immediately corrected me. “It’s more appropriate to say she can’t move.” “Can’t move? But wasn’t she just there moving a moment ago?” I just came from seeing her, perfectly fine. What is he saying? Confused, I asked again. “Do you really think what you saw was her coming down?” “...Then?” “Click, click. Given the presence a master holds, if she dedicated herself, this entire area would be turned into chaos. At best, it would be a hastily made form to which she only lent a part of her consciousness.” Noya glanced around at the surroundings. The many people still filled the Nightmoon Forest. “All things considered.” Noya slightly squinted as he looked at me. “If she had appeared with full intent, no shallow tricks of yours would have worked.” “...” “She managed to minimize possible damage by reducing even the forms she sent and deploying ebony spirits, nothing more. Otherwise.” Thunk. Noya jabbed my forehead with his finger. “You'd have long lost your head.” “...” “What I’m telling you is to understand how perilous your actions were.” Wiping my forehead, I bit my lip. “Then I’m even more confused. If the sacred tree is so crucial, and if it was so easily found, why?” Though possible, my question seemed relevant. Should I express it this way? “Wouldn’t it matter if this was the only anomaly?” “What?” “If it were merely the disappearance of a sacred tree, it might not matter much. However, the occurrences in Man Gye now exceed just that.” “What do you mean?” “I mentioned it before. If your mother governs the heavens, then there’s also a being who governs the very deep underground.” Upon hearing Noya’s words, a certain figure immediately came to mind. A being referred to as “Kurung," but in reality, not worthy of such a name. “…The Abyss?” “Correct.” The master of the Abyss. The reigning shadow over the deep and sinister regions of Man Gye. ‘Wasn’t it said to be the core of all beasts?’ It was the being that absorbed the entities unable to arrive in Man Gye and contained in what is called the Demon’s Ruins, where those known as “monsters” emerged under its administration. “Normally, it should be performing its duties underground properly. Do you know where it is currently?” “…In the volcano, right.” “Since it has moved above ground and vanished, the underground of Man Gye is likely in disarray now. Your mother must be using all her power to prevent disruption.” “So it’s not the time to focus on retrieving the sacred tree?” “Exactly.” Noya nodded. The disappearance of the sacred tree created a significant anomaly. But the larger issue is the disappearance of the other being responsible for maintaining the balance. Thus, the master of Man Gye, she is also averting that crisis. “Her main body is entirely focused on managing that, leaving no room for intervention elsewhere. Even leaving for a moment could cause major issues within Man Gye.” “…So retrieving the sacred tree becomes secondary?” “In essence, it wouldn’t have occurred to her that the Abyss would vanish. It’s challenging to prepare for such an event.” “Yet, if it’s such a significant threat, doesn’t it seem strange that no preventative measures were in place?” “Of course. In Man Gye, nothing moves without her consent. Not even a being like the Abyss was an exception.” There was thus no need for concern. As Noya continued quietly, I promptly asked. “Then….” If nothing moves without her consent, then, why has it moved? That's what I wanted to ask. “…What?” I faltered, unable to complete my sentence. Even the Abyss, unable to move without the master's consent, had moved, ironically finding refuge under the sacred tree at the volcano. The sacred tree in the volcano was the one Noya took and fled with, supposedly under Mother’s request. Even though the anomalies resulted from it. That, too, was by Mother’s desire. The implications of these revelations directed thoughts toward a startling possibility. “…Was the Abyss’s displacement, its presence there, also Mother’s wish?” Even the actions of the Abyss. They were orchestrated by Mother. Realizing this, a realization slowly dawned upon me. "Your intuition isn't too bad," Noya smirked knowingly, as if confirming that I was correct. --- **[Comments Section]** **Yeon-Woo:** 2024.10.29 16:50 I have no idea what’s going on here. 0 *Only logged-in members can post comments.* **Weekly Bestsellers** - [Adult] - [BL/GL] +401 Idle ★6 Heroes Become Obsessed +2102 How to Live as a Sorcerer in a Magic School +703 Released Slaves Become Obsessed +294 It’s Only Easy For Me in the Apocalypse +1425 The Drug-taking Genius Sorcerer +726 Double Agent of the Heavenly Demon Sect +217 Why’s Only My Skill Tooltip Weird? +158 Genius Predator of the Doomed World +489 Became a Necromancer in a Zombie World +15010 The Prodigy’s Childhood Friend +511 Infinite Evolution Hunter +1612 Mistaken as a Genius Strategist +2613 Ranked 1: Asset of 100 Trillion Neoya +1414 Became the Goddess of the New World +4915 Life is Easier When You're Handsome +3616 Mr. Maeng Wants Big Ears +2817 Normalize Dark Fantasy +9018 Rehabilitating the Academy's Villainous Heiress +6319 Former VTuber Wants to Return +6220 The King of the Underworld is Exhausted --- **[New Posts]** **New:** Crybaby Divorcee - Crybaby madam now openly carrying knives **OMGod:** +3 **11.11** How can there not be bountiful anger... **11.11** *Sequel:* Squawk of the Raven - Extra of the Terminal World Chapter 152 and beyond **+3** **11.11** Re: From Vanessa to Teacher **+2** **11.11** Is this a pre-survey? A preliminary investigation? **11.11** What are some interesting female hunter novels? **11.11** Romance Recommendations: Erica - When a Friend Becomes Obsessed / On Atonement, the Brutality (19) **11.11** Request for Exclusive Manager **11.11** Romance: Pretty Version of War Booty Duchess Requested **11.11** Looking for current title +1 **11.11** A Comfortable Honor --- **The Prodigy’s Childhood Friend Chapter 969** (969/1059)