1127 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Runaway? Namgung Hyung's words lingered in my ears. Runaway? 'No way...' Has this guy lost his mind? I found myself staring blankly at him, unable to form a response. This reaction wasn't merely because Namgung Hyung was talking about running away. 'I knew this was coming, after all.' I was aware that Namgung Hyung would eventually become a master and that he would have to escape the Namgung family for that to happen. But-- 'Did he really mean now?' Of all times, he decided to try it now? Out of the blue? And just as the Namgung family's banquet is starting? This... 'Ah.' A sudden thought sparked in my mind. Was he planning this deliberately? It seemed like he was waiting for a moment when everyone would be engrossed in the celebration, assuming security would be at its weakest. He was likely going to use this opportunity to escape. "...And you're asking me to help with that runaway?" He wants me to help with the runaway? "That's right. What do you think? Not a bad idea, right?" "What do you mean, not a bad idea, you crazy person." He asks me to take his side. Is he serious? "How am I supposed to help with that?" "Why not? Just give me a hand." "…You do realize I'm here as a guest, don't you?" Not just any guest but as a part of the Martial Alliance. And he's asking me to help a family member escape? It's absurd. 'If I were caught—' It's obvious the trouble it could cause. Who knows what would happen if I helped. "Hmm... so it's too much to ask?" "… How can't you see that even expecting me to consider it is the problem?" "I thought you'd have some way to help. Ah, I planned to go through with it whether you helped or not." "What do you mean?" "I don't mind if you don't help. Just keep quiet about it." Namgung Hyung smiled as he spoke. "Because, by any means necessary, I'm escaping this hell today." "......." Hell. That word made me frown. "There's no other day. If not today… I don't know what I'd do." Though he smiled, his voice carried heavy emotions. Whatever was simmering inside him was enough to grate at my nerves. "Anyway. You can at least do this much for me, can't you?" "......." I didn't reply. I just let out a sigh. Keeping quiet. Of all things, that was the easiest request to grant. Remembering this, I spoke to Namgung Hyung. "…If I were to help, what would I need to do?" "Oh?" Namgung Hyung's eyes widened at my question. * * * As the banquet continued well into the night, the feverish atmosphere had yet to subside, and the Namgung household was buzzing. Of course, there still had to be security, so a few martial artists performed patrols as ordered. However, the number on duty was significantly fewer than usual. You could say nearly 30% were off duty. At this time, Namgung Hyung and I were cautiously moving around the building. Specifically, we were using a secret passage. The place we arrived was none other than the interior of a warehouse. "…Let's see." Upon reaching the warehouse, Namgung Hyung began looking around. Soon, spotting something, he promptly approached and picked it up. 'So that's what he came for.' I identified what Namgung Hyung was holding. The Thunderchild. Namgung Hyung had come for the Thunderchild. "…Are you planning to take that with you?" Watching him gather up the Thunderchild, I asked, and he responded with an annoyed expression. "Honestly, I don't want to take it, but I made a promise." "To whom?" "There is. A cantankerous old man." "......" No need to inquire further; I could guess. 'The Thunder Heaven Sword.' It must be the person associated with the Thunderchild — the master. The question was, was it a promise he made for Namgung's sword? I wasn't sure, but it seemed like this was the reason. After all, before the Sword King, the Thunderchild was indeed owned by the eventual master. What lingered in my mind, however, was: '…I thought he would've abandoned the Thunderchild given the altered past?' He had mentioned that due to unavoidable circumstances, he had to take the Thunderchild with him when he escaped back then. I vaguely remembered something about the Thunderchild aiding him greatly when disaster struck within Namgung. 'But that's not the case now.' If he's going to run away now, there shouldn’t be a need to take the Thunderchild. Why insist on taking it? Though I found it puzzling, I didn't press further. After securing the Thunderchild, Namgung Hyung spoke to me. "Let's go." "......." I accompanied him outside, carefully avoiding the patrolling guards. The scout numbers, though reduced, weren’t too scant, yet thanks to my assistance in concealing our presence, it wasn't too difficult. "So, what's the plan to get out?" We made our way back after securing the Thunderchild, and I asked. Helping with a runaway is one thing, but he needed a strategy, right? Namgung Hyung responded confidently. "Ah, there is a plan." On our way toward the warehouse, he uncovered a piece of fabric on the side. Beneath it was— "What on earth is this?" A small tunnel had been dug. "This is a hole I've been digging for three years." "…You dug this for three years?" It looked both deep and long. Had he really been digging it for three entire years? 'A descendant of a noble clan…?' Truly, this guy is insanely determined. However, there was one lingering question. "If you've dug something like this, do you still need my help?" If his plan was to escape through this tunnel, why did he need my assistance? So, I asked. "I've dug it, but it's not complete." Namgung Hyung sheepishly admitted. "Once we get out, it connects to an alley nearby. That's where I'd need some help." A nearby alley? "If it's just that, you still need my help?" I wondered if he couldn't just sprint out from such a close exit. "Ah. It's near the armory." "......" Ah. I understood immediately. Being close to the armory meant security would be tighter. Escaping would be tough, hence his request for assistance. "…Then why dig the hole in that direction? Wouldn't it be simpler to dig straight out to the entrance?" "Do you think digging a hole blindly underground is easy? You can't even see where you're going, let alone keep it straight. This is actually quite a feat!" Namgung Hyung protested, feeling wronged. He had a point, which means... 'I really have to crawl through that hole with him, don't I...?' It meant I had to follow him into that narrow tunnel. "Come on, let's go!" Namgung Hyung eagerly entered the hole first. "......" I sighed as I watched him disappear. Ah, I shouldn't have agreed to this. Regret was washing over me. * * * The tunnel, claimed to have taken three years to dig, was indeed long, seemingly thanks to the time invested in it. I couldn’t tell what tools he might have used; it wasn't exactly neatly dug. Crawling through was challenging, and it took forever to move through such a cramped space. "How much further?" "A little more?" "Didn't you say that a while ago as well?" "You're just imagining it." I asked repeatedly out of exhaustion, and Namgung Hyung's answers remained unchanged. Damn it... He said it wouldn't take long... I was a fool for trusting him. '...Ugh, all this dirt.' How long until we're out of this filthy, suffocating tunnel? Honestly, I wanted nothing more than to just blow the whole thing open and walk out. With just a flicker of flame, I could end this now. As I struggled to endure, pressing onward, crawling and crawling— "Oh... there it is." Namgung Hyung spoke with a hint of laughter. Hearing him, I peeked my head out slightly from behind him. 'Light.' I saw a spot up ahead illuminated by moonlight. That seemed to be the exit. Finally, we're getting out of here. I quickened my crawling pace, heading straight for it. "Just in case, let me go up first and signal when it's safe." Namgung Hyung said before exiting to the outside. I waited for his signal. But then— '...What is this?' Why was there no signal? Nothing could be heard. Did something happen? Could he have been caught? The concerns started to creep in. "Hey, it's fine—come up." Namgung Hyung called out in a flustered tone. What now? Hearing the signal, I followed through the tunnel, emerging outside. "Ptooey." I spat out some dirt that got in my mouth and dusted off my clothes. After shaking off the dirt from my hair, I looked up. enN1WnIzcFhHMVJuR0JvdkNPc013emEvRVlCbm0zb0NZYUR4S28yTm9PS0M2RFlURk4zNGk1VGFqNEYyN0ZKTw "......" "…Haha." Namgung Hyung knelt on the ground, laughing awkwardly as he looked at me. There was a strange atmosphere. Feeling that, I turned my gaze. Fooosh. I sensed warmth from one side. I turned to face the direction the wind was blowing from and saw— "…This is crazy." A youth was seated on a chair, brought in from who knows where. His large frame wasn't hidden, and he looked intimidating, with his menacing red eyes peering out from a slightly lowered head. The identity of this imposing figure— 'Father...?' It was unmistakably my father. The Deputy Commander of the Blue Dragon Unit, Shinryong Goo Cheol-woon. Father was staring sharply at both Namgung Hyung and me. 'What is this? Why?' Why was Father here? What on earth was he doing out here? As I widened my eyes in perplexity— "…Ah, crap…." Namgung Hyung muttered as though finding the situation troublesome. "…It seems your sister-in-law betrayed us?" "…What?" He awkwardly brought up Hyun So-yeon.