1102 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Chapter 1102: Friend of the World's Greatest Warrior Silver hair complemented by crimson pupils set against a backdrop of porcelain skin. A gentle-faced beauty dressed in a red martial attire that carried a sense of familiarity. ‘Gu Family’s Martial Garb.’ It was undoubtedly the attire worn by those from the Gu family. The distinctive look of the garb made it clear who had given it to her. The issue, however, was: ‘Why?’ Why was my mother here? She was someone who wasn’t supposed to be here. Especially in a carriage filled with provisions? I was at a loss for words as Wi Seol Ah's image came to mind. “Mother...” I almost called out to her instinctively but stopped. I realized it was a situation where I couldn’t just call her that. Then what should I say? No words came to mind. My mind went blank for a moment. After a brief silence, the right phrase came to me. Ah, yes. In situations like this, there was only one thing to say. “Who are you?” “A!” My mother hesitated. She was about to speak, and her eyes rolled slightly. Her large eyes made the movement very visible. “Well... um...” After struggling for words for a while, she eventually smiled. “Hehe.” “......” She was laughing in such an innocent manner. What was I to do? I was hesitating without a word coming to mind when— Whoosh. I felt the presence of flames. I turned around at the familiar sensation. “......” It was my father. This time, my father appeared, looking at me—or rather, at my mother in the carriage. “Oh!” Catching my father’s gaze, my mother beamed. “Cheol Woon!” She called my father’s name without any hesitation. “...What’s going on?” My father frowned, reacting to her words. He looked baffled. Seeing that expression, I understood. ‘He didn’t know.’ He clearly hadn’t realized who was there. He looked flustered, incapable of forming words. “......” “Cheol Woon! I’m here!” Despite his reaction, my mother continued unabashedly. Her purely bright smile rendered me speechless. “Ehehe.” “......” In response to my mother's antics, my father rubbed his forehead. He wore an expression filled with exasperation. Then he looked at me. “Come with me for a moment.” “......” It was the first time we had a conversation alone. Whether wanted or unwanted. * * * It was a dark night. We set off into the forest under the cloak of night. “Ugh!” My mother groaned as we walked. Climbing up the mountain trail seemed to be the reason. Eventually, we reached the mountain’s peak. Under the faint moonlight, my father and mother finally stopped walking. “...Why did you follow?” My father asked my mother. “I definitely told you not to follow.” “But I wanted to come.” “That... sigh.” He sighed as he spoke as if he were scolding, a sight I was familiar with. It felt reminiscent of when I was with Wi Seol Ah. “Does Mi Hyo Ran know?” “No!” “......” She was confident. She was so confident it was almost dumbfounding. “Hyuran doesn’t know.” “...So how did you get on?” Curious about how she boarded unnoticed, as even the owner of the cart didn’t know, my mother replied with a slight nod. “I just got on.” “......” She just got on. It was the same kind of thing Wi Seol Ah would say. She had similarly said that back then. When asked how she sneaked in, she simply stated she just did it. ‘Her presence was undetectable.’ Wi Seol Ah and my mother seemed to share this trait in common. In reality, it was true. ‘Nothing was felt.’ While I heard the sound of eating from the front, no presence was detected. Even now, seeing her, I feel it. ‘Nothing can be felt.’ Even while looking directly at her, her presence is insubstantial. It was peculiar. It was odd, but I understood why. There was only one reason it could be. ‘Because Mother is not human.’ One of the sovereigns of the myriad realms. My mother’s nature might be the reason behind this feeling. As I reflected on that, observing quietly… “Cheol Woon.” “...What is it?” My mother called my father and pointed to me. “He looks like you, doesn’t he?” “What?” ‘Hmm?’ Her comment made my father look at me. He looks like me? The thought of who resembled whom didn’t even cross my mind. Given the context, it was clear. ‘Me and my father?’ No matter how I looked, we didn’t look alike. Even as father and child, it was apparent we didn’t resemble each other. Something strange lingered in my mother’s words. “Enough with the nonsense.” When my father spoke with a crumpled face, my mother pouted and turned away. “......” Watching that, I awkwardly scratched my cheek. “Baek Dae-won.” This time, my father called out to me. The mention of my name made me swallow dryly for a moment. “...Yes.” “Keep it a secret.” “Pardon?” I blinked at his straightforward request. I didn’t expect him to ask so bluntly without any explanation. I thought there would be some explanation, but he just asked to keep it a secret. “A secret...?” “Yes.” “......” It was a bit absurd. “Aren’t you going to explain?” “It’s complicated.” “......” No explanation? Just saying it’s complicated? “...So, you’re just asking me to keep it a secret?” “Yes.” “......Hmm.” Hearing that, I nodded slightly. Just keep it a secret? ‘This...’ It didn’t seem like a bad situation. So, looking at my father, I spoke. “Just like that?” “......” My father’s expression faltered slightly at those words. “What do you want?” “If I ask, will you fulfill it?” “Depending on what you ask for.” His unexpected words gave me pause. Then I turned to my mother. She was looking at me. She raised her index finger and concealed her smile behind it. With that cute expression in mind, I looked back at my father. What to request... “If it’s something you can’t grant?” “......” My father’s eyes knitted together. He glared at me with an intense look. I hesitated. Was he angry? ‘If he can’t grant it, would he kill me?’ That was a possibility. It all depended on my father’s choice. As I pondered that, someone called out, disrupting my thoughts. "I will grant it." My father's voice was firm. ‘Wow...’ He had the air of someone willing to grant anything. I chuckled awkwardly at that demeanor. Seeing him, I spoke. I hadn't really expected anything in return. I just saw it as an opportunity. "I don't have much to ask for. Hmm." After a brief moment of contemplation, I said to my father. "Just back me up in the future when I need it." "......" When I asked him to stand by my side, my father had a peculiar expression. It seemed simple yet was quite a challenging request. Especially in my situation, it felt even more so. He was someone the Sword Masters were wary of. A figure whose background was unknown. Perhaps, from my father’s perspective, he would need to keep watching me. In such circumstances, asking him to take my side when needed wasn't an easy request to fulfill. ‘Indeed.’ I pondered what decision my father would make. If he refused, what would happen next? If it came to a fight, what would unfold? And just as I was mulling over these possibilities... "Let’s do that." Surprisingly, my father agreed. He pressed the bridge of his nose with his fingers, and my mother looked on with a bright smile. ‘From this point.’ It seemed they had been bound together like this, tired yet intertwined, from the beginning. I found myself feeling a complex mix of emotions. However. ‘Hiding myself is one thing.’ But how would they hide my mother? That question lingered, but it wasn’t long before I uncovered the answer. * * * Namgoong Family of Anhuiseong. A cornerstone of the four great families, renowned as the center of swordsmanship. A prestigious family known for wielding sharp, azure-bladed swords. The head of this illustrious family. The patriarch, Namgoong Jeo-hwi, was frowning. Amidst a pile of documents, he held a letter that was the cause of his furrowed brow. "......Coming from the Azure Dragon Squadron?" "Yes, sir." "The reason?" "They claim it is to investigate recent anomalies." "......" Namgoong Jeo-hwi's frown deepened at that. An investigation. Although he had officially reported to the clan, he wasn't expecting such a swift response. ‘What’s going on?’ If the clan was responding this quickly, it might mean similar incidents were occurring in Hanam. "We've received word that several individuals, including your first son, are coming to the Namgoong family." "Is that so?" The mention of his firstborn made Namgoong Jeo-hwi set aside his frown and display a slight smile. His talented son, who was gaining distinction as the Sword Dragon within the Azure Dragon Squadron. “That’s good news.” He hadn’t seen his son in some time, and the timing couldn’t be better. ‘I’ve been waiting for that boy.’ Someone had been waiting eagerly for Namgoong Jin. It had been on his mind, and with his son's return, it seemed like a favorable turn of events. "Quickly inform Miss Hyun. Let her know the first young master is on his way back." "Well..." The man in front of him had an unusual reaction to the patriarch's order. "What is it?" Curious about the man's response, he pressed for an answer. "Miss Hyun... She..." The man was hesitant to speak, prompting Namgoong Jeo-hwi to urge him on. "Speak up." “...She has run away.” “...What?” “She mentioned he wasn’t coming, so she decided she’d better go find him herself...” “...What does that mean?” Namgoong Jeo-hwi was left in disbelief at the report. It was a response to the news that his son's fiancée had run away after waiting so long for Namgoong Jin.