1104 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The Greatest of Friends with the World's Best 1104th Chapter Drip. As she wrung out her clothes with her pale hands, blood-stained water flowed freely from them. It was clear she'd soaked up a lot of it, as the amount dripping was no small measure. And as for the weapon she held... 'It's a mace.' A spherical head adorned with spikes, connected by chains—it was evident at a glance how this weapon should be wielded. 'And this woman uses it.' It was peculiar that the one wielding it was none other than a slender woman. It was a weapon unlikely for someone like her to use. Whoosh-! Whoosh whoosh-! The woman paused her wringing to swing her mace around a few times. Then she commented, “Whew! That's better.” She wiped her forehead with the back of her hand, looking refreshed. “......” To an outsider, she appeared blissfully carefree, yet covered in monster blood, rendering anyone at a loss for words. Just then, “...Lady Hyun?” Standing behind, Nam Goong Jin exclaimed, his voice carrying surprise. At his call, the woman wielding the mace turned to look at him. “Oh. I found you.” Her smiling gaze upon him sent a chill down my spine unexpectedly. “Why is Lady Hyun here...?” Nam Goong Jin also appeared to share my sentiment, his eyes wide as he stared at the woman he addressed as Lady Hyun. 'So they know each other.' That was abundantly clear. More so because... 'She looks identical.' The woman bore a striking resemblance to Nam Goong Bi Ah, someone I knew well. How could they resemble each other so much? As I pondered this curious similarity— “Geomryong.” A low voice cut through the air as Gu Cheol Woon spoke, seeming to freeze the atmosphere instantly. “Explain yourself. Who is she?” “......” All eyes turned to Geomryong. He glanced at Mi Hyo Ran but remained silent, unable to speak. In the midst of this tense quiet... “She's my fiancée.” It wasn't Nam Goong Jin who revealed the answer but the woman herself. "Wha?" A ripple of surprise spread around the group, notably through me. 'Did she say fiancée?' With eyes as wide as saucers, I stared at the woman. A fiancée? And she resembled Nam Goong Bi Ah so closely. Ah. I understood now. Having pieced everything together, I was certain of the woman's identity. 'This woman.' Seeing her smile, I was convinced. She was destined to become Nam Goong Bi Ah's mother. * * * Hyun So Yeon. Age: Twenty-two. Daughter of the renowned Seonho Merchant Group in Anhui. Though about a half span shorter than Nam Goong Bi Ah, her features were almost identical. 'How is she so similar?' Apart from stature and hair color, everything else was uncannily alike to Nam Goong Bi Ah, cementing my certainty about her future role as Nam Goong Bi Ah's mother. The real problem was... '...What do I know about her?' I realized that I knew next to nothing about a woman named Hyun So Yeon. I had heard little, mostly because she was already deceased in my time. From the scant information I recalled: 'A daughter of the preeminent merchant group in Anhui.' Because of that, she was engaged to the Nam Goong clan. That was all I knew. 'But still.' I hadn't anticipated her appearance here. “Nice to meet you. I'm Hyun So Yeon.” Crackle. Crack. The campfire's flames flickered around us, gathered in a circle. It wasn't an ideal spot for camping, but the unexpected visitor necessitated this setup. “I didn't expect to meet such esteemed individuals.” She beamed—a smile that brightened the atmosphere instantly. '...Wow.' Looking just like Nam Goong Bi Ah, she smiled naturally. I watched in awe until— Tap tap. Someone nudged me. It was Soi. “Don’t stare so rudely.” Had I been staring too intently? I nodded at her admonition. “I got a bit lost while looking for the path. And then monsters appeared out of nowhere! I nearly got into trouble. I'm so fortunate to have run into you all.” “......” “......” No one could respond to her statement. Nearly got into trouble? 'Liar.' From seeing her swing that mace and the sheer aura surrounding her, it was evident. 'At least a first-rate.' Possibly even superior. Quite a remarkable achievement for a member of a merchant family. She wasn't someone who would have trouble with greenish monsters. At that moment, “So Yeon...” Someone called her—it was Mi Hyo Ran. Hyun So Yeon widened her eyes briefly at the sight of Mi Hyo Ran. “Oh my, sister. How delightfully surprising to see you here!” They seemed familiar with each other. Given that— 'Both are merchant daughters.' Whether it's the Baekhwa Merchant Group or the Seonho Merchant Group, their prestige was similar, explaining their acquaintance. “What brings you here...?” “Me? Ah, as I mentioned, I came looking for—” Hyun So Yeon gestured towards someone with her hand. It was Nam Goong Jin. “I came looking for my fiancé. He hasn’t come to see me.” “No way...” Nam Goong Jin's face twisted at the mention. “How can you come looking for me during a mission? I definitely informed you that I'd joined the Martial Alliance, didn't I?” At his frustrated remark, Hyun So Yeon clicked her tongue. "That's ridiculous." 'What?' I must have heard wrong. "Who was it that told me to wait if I longed for you? And who's the one trying to squirm out of it now? Really, Jin-ah, have you lost your mind?" Oh, it seems I didn't mishear. Hyun So Yeon really... 'Has a robust personality.' Unlike Nam Goong Bi Ah, she had quite a feisty temperament. “No, I told you I couldn't leave the Martial Alliance, but you insisted. When you seemed adamant, I merely said to try waiting for me.” “Which I did. So what's the problem? I even came out to greet you! Isn't that enough to earn your love?” "You think saying that makes this okay...!" "Who was it that suddenly decided to join the Martial Alliance despite the clear schedule for our engagement ceremony?" “......” Hyun So Yeon's words shut Nam Goong Jin up effectively. Clearly, he’d stepped into a complicated situation back then. “You do know both the Nam Goong family head and my family head had their struggles because of you, right?” “......” "But what? You can't come because you have grand ambitions within the Martial Alliance? Jin-ah, have you lost your mind?" “…….” Judging by the way she berated him, it wasn't the first time she'd confronted him like this. "And that so-called grand ambition isn't even something remarkable..." As Hyun So Yeon spoke, she glanced sideways at Mi Hyo Ran. "It's all the more frustrating because it's such a trivial reason, you know?" “…….” Nam Goong Jin averted his gaze. Continuing the conversation wouldn't be to his advantage, so he opted to avoid it altogether. “......Hah.” Hyun So Yeon, though she seemed to have more left to say, chose to hold her tongue. Then she turned her attention to Gu Cheol Woon, who sat at the head position. "Geomryong." "Speak." Her father merely gazed into the campfire as he responded. "It seems my identity has been confirmed. Would it be acceptable if I accompany you on your journey? You're headed to the Nam Goong clan, and I left in a hurry, without provisions." At her request, her father turned his eyes to her, causing Hyun So Yeon to pause briefly. But she quickly collected herself and continued speaking. "I'll compensate you once we return." "That will be acceptable." "What—!" Nam Goong Jin stood up abruptly at his decision. "Gu Cheol Woon! What do you mean by—" He began to protest, his voice rising, but in that instant, a chilling energy emanated from his father's body. Kwaaaa—! “Gah!?” The pressure of the energy made Nam Goong Jin gasp as he fell silent. "Address me properly, Nam Goong Jin." “Ugh..." His body trembling under the suffocating force, Nam Goong Jin eventually conceded. "Deputy... Leader..." At those words, the oppressive energy dissipated, leaving Nam Goong Jin staggering. “Cough, cough...!” Ignoring Nam Goong Jin as he coughed and clutched his throat, her father spoke to Hyun So Yeon. "Given the same destination and a promise of proper compensation, there should be no issue." "Thank you for your generosity." Though she responded calmly, it was apparent she was quite surprised by how easily Nam Goong Jin had been subdued. ...And so it was. ‘So this means that this woman will travel with us to the Nam Goong clan?’ It seemed inevitable now that her father had decided. It was indeed a rather peculiar journey. Reflecting on this, I continued to observe Hyun So Yeon until— “......!” Our eyes met suddenly, for a brief moment. As she looked at me, Hyun So Yeon flashed a bright smile. It was a natural and captivating smile. Her fleeting gaze and expression sparked a thought. ‘It suits her.’ A smile like this seemed fitting for someone like Nam Goong Bi Ah, too. That was the thought that crossed my mind. * * * Time passed. Life in the carriage remained much unchanged. We were still en route to the Nam Goong clan. Considering it was merely a day's journey at most, I figured it was bearable enough. 'Damn.' The already cramped space grew even tighter. For a simple reason. “...Please, don’t get any closer.” “With this cramped space, how can I not? Jin-ah, just endure.” Hyun So Yeon had joined us in the carriage. Mi Hyo Ran decided to place Hyun So Yeon in the carriage we occupied rather than her own. Being engaged, it surely wouldn’t be an issue, or so she claimed. Hyun So Yeon agreed. Nam Goong Jin, who protested emphatically, was simply ignored. As a result, we bore the brunt of the discomfort. 'Damn it.' This wasn’t easy. How much longer did we need to endure this? While pondering this dilemma— “We have arrived.” The driver's call reached our ears. Drawing a sigh of relief at the news, 'Finally.' Anhuiseong. The place where the Nam Goong clan resided. The moment relief washed over me at our arrival— “What the...?” The driver cried out, panic evident in his voice. “Up ahead, the family head is coming towards us!” “Hmm?” Everyone in the carriage widened their eyes at the announcement. "What...!?" Nam Goong Jin's face drained of color in an instant.