1069 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

**Peerless Friend Chapter 1069: North Rabbit - Web Novel Archive** Silence lingered. Time passed as they locked eyes. They stood there for a while, unable to speak, merely gazing at each other. Or perhaps it wasn't that long. Though it felt like only a short moment had passed, the heavy atmosphere made time stretch interminably. The sound of gentle whispering filled the air. Dust, stirred anew by Taechun's disappearance, drifted in all directions. It danced under the night sky, swallowed by the aurora. When the two moons slowly aligned to point at them. “Ah...” It was Yehwa who broke the silence first. What should she say? Where should she start? In that fleeting moment, Yehwa was deeply troubled, pondering. Had he uttered her name knowingly? Did he remember her? Had the veil of forgetfulness truly been lifted? Suffocated by countless questions she wished to ask, Yehwa deliberated deeply. “Yehwa.” “......!” Guyangcheon addressed her with a weary expression. “Is that your name?” “......” Upon hearing the words, Yehwa's eyes gradually softened. Relieved yet realizing the truth; her name remained unknown. * * * “Remember one thing.” When all choices had been made, my ancestor spoke to me. “When you return, utter just one word.” What was I to utter? Puzzled, I simply watched my ancestor. “Yehwa.” The name flowed from him with an inexplicable sense of familiarity. Yehwa? “Yes, Yehwa.” It was a name I had heard before. Yes, it was a name. Someone’s name. Repeating it as if it were familiar, I finally looked at him and asked. “What is this? Whose name is it?” To my inquiry, in a low, distant gaze, my ancestor responded. “It is the name of a pitiable person.” “A pitiable person...?” “Yes, the name of someone no one remembers.” “What...” “Say no more. Just remember. If you choose not to carry this out, then your 'choice' will also be disregarded.” “...” Faced with these words, I had no choice but to nod. In reality, it wasn't much. Just utter a single name. A simple and straightforward task, so I nodded. If that's all it took, then I was willing to do it. Accepting this, as if out of habit, I muttered the name when I opened my eyes. “Yehwa.” A mere two syllables. From half-open eyes, the name slipped through a body inexplicably wracked with pain. What followed was a surge of profound darkness. Nighttime? Perhaps it was also night before I lost consciousness. Judging thus, I attempted to open my eyes. ‘Cold.’ A strange chill wrapped around my entire body. Where did this feeling arise? How could it be so cold and dark? It felt odd to attribute it to simply being night. Perplexed, I surveyed my surroundings with a muddled mind. Slosh. A tactile sensation beneath my feet. There was water. Cool and soggy, the water flowed beneath my legs. Unable to comprehend what was happening, I turned my gaze forward, feeling discomfort. Where was this flow of water coming from? I traced it to its source. An enormous gate. It was a black iron gate, partially opened, from which water gushed. ‘What?’ What was this water? Simply touching it induced a feeling of vastness. Staggering as if floating, I managed to refocus ahead. Only then did I notice something standing far away. Who was it? The solitary figure standing at the center of the currents. They seemed vulnerable, as if they might collapse any moment. Yet they did not move. Watching their pitiful figure. Swoosh. The figure turned towards me. As our eyes met with a wretched gaze, I spoke. “Yehwa.” Clang. As soon as I spoke, the sound of something locking reverberated, and the view cleared. The darkness disappeared, revealing a sky illuminated by countless stars. Under the brilliant shimmering of the aurora, the world reappeared. “......” The darkness vanished. No, it hadn't vanished. Though it seemed gone, what replaced it was deeper shadow. A rising darkness now cloaked the woman's body. Ssss— Like flames, the darkness enveloped her, closely resembling a long robe. What was that? Beyond its peculiar form, the amethyst eyes staring into mine jolted me awake. ‘Heavenly Demon.’ It was indeed the Heavenly Demon. Though the form felt distant and alien, she was unmistakably the Heavenly Demon. “Is Yehwa your name?” Suppressing the discomfort that was palpable at her mere presence, I asked. “......” There was no answer. The Heavenly Demon widened her eyes slightly at my words, then slowly reverted her expression. Disappointment. No matter how oblivious one might be, it was impossible not to recognize what that expression meant. Why did she bear such a look of disappointment? ‘Yehwa.’ Was there some significance to the name the ancestor told me to speak? “Who... are you?” Someone whom no one remembers. Could this be why they were deemed a pitiable existence? I wanted to ask. Who exactly are you? As I posed the question, the Heavenly Demon lifted the corners of her mouth in a semblance of a smile. “There's nothing as futile as expectation.” Clearly, she articulated through a dry smile. “Knowing that well enough, and yet expecting again. No matter how much time has passed, it implies I'm still weak.” Ssss. The flame on the long robe began to waver more intensely. “How did you know? No, asking would serve no purpose.” Realizing something, the Heavenly Demon spoke to me. “With him within you having told you, if it was an act of consideration, extend my thanks, but ensure it doesn't happen again.” “......” It was a peculiar sensation. The more I heard her voice and saw her form, the more it became evident. "...You." The presence standing before me was indeed not the naive woman I’d met in this life. “You are the Heavenly Demon.” It wasn’t the woman I’d encountered in this life. But indeed the Heavenly Demon I’d known from a past one. Realizing this, I spoke, a smile blooming on the woman's lips. “Yes, that’s enough.” **A Presence Unmatched in This Life** The presence before me was overwhelmingly different from her current self. Alluring yet exuding arrogance. Simultaneously, she emitted an overwhelming aura befitting an absolute entity. “There are times when not knowing is necessary.” “...You’re speaking nonsense. That’s not what I asked, is it? Just who are you?” I spoke with a twisted expression. The words felt empty as they left me. A broken vessel. That seemed to be the state it was in, not fully restored. “Why did you make me regress? Or rather, were you aware that I retained my memories from the past life?” Was it true that I possessed memories from my past life? If so, why had I pretended otherwise? Furthermore, what was the reason for making me regress? As I questioned her with an accusatory tone, the Heavenly Demon gave the same faint smile as before. “There was no other way. That’s all.” “...There was no other way?” Aside from making me regress—there was no other option. Her statement distorted my face further. It was an absurd thing to say. “That doesn’t justify it.” Claiming there was no other way but to make me regress? What kind of nonsensical excuse was that? “What do you ultimately want from me? What is your purpose?” I had learned from my ancestor. That the Heavenly Demon was the one most influential in distorting my predetermined fate. It wasn’t by chance, but by necessity. The Heavenly Demon urged me to make that choice knowing everything. I couldn’t comprehend it. “...Why?” Why exactly? Why did you do such a thing? What was your intent? I questioned, over and again, but the Heavenly Demon’s response was unchanged. Just a dry laugh and a serene expression. Even while witnessing this, I couldn't cease my questioning. “Fine, whatever. Whether you altered my fate or not, I could accept that, but.” I glared at the Heavenly Demon. “How is it that I know you?” Yehwa, she'd said. That seemed to be the Heavenly Demon’s name. But still. ‘I know this.’ I knew the true name of the Heavenly Demon. Not precisely what it was, but I should have known it. But I didn’t. Yet I felt as though I must. The contradiction in those feelings bred discomfort. ‘Why don't I know?’ Why was I unaware? Not knowing gnawed at me unbearably. It drove me to a heightened state of sensitivity. Twisting my expression, I spoke. “Do I know you?” “......” The Heavenly Demon closed her eyes to my question. For a brief moment, silence passed. “Well.” The Heavenly Demon spoke. “For the question you ask... it isn’t something I can answer.” She shook her head. With each gesture, the mirage started fading. “It’s something you must recall yourself. If you don't, I can’t provide any answers.” “...Then who should? Who’s supposed to tell me what even I don’t know?” To my remark, the Heavenly Demon merely smiled without replying. And then. “You know.” She uttered words entirely different from those I had asked. “There isn’t much time left...” Though she seemed composed, she looked like she might cry. “Could you call me once more?” “What?” What was she asking me to call? That was a short-lived thought. Yet, her request seemed bizarre, especially now, claiming there wasn’t time. To say such a thing in this moment? I felt perplexed and contorted my face, but ironically, my mouth spoke differently. “Yehwa.” I uttered the two syllables calmly. “Yes.” To that, the Heavenly Demon replied. “Thank you. I missed you too. See you later.” “What...” Just as I was about to react to her sudden words, Crack! The formidable aura encasing the Heavenly Demon vanished, and she collapsed. “...!” Just before she hit the ground, I hastily moved to catch her in my arms. At that moment, Rip! Rip! Rip! The sound of something tearing filled the air, and as if the fabric of space itself was being rent, someone emerged from within. enN1WnIzcFhHMVJuR0JvdkNPc013NWpZMWNpN3FlOHJuV0t5TERkZ0tlYUh5Wk9pT05sSk10emE4dHhBampaWg “......” There stood a silent woman with chestnut hair. It was Yarang.