1155 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

He pondered. “Hmm.” And pondered some more. “Uhmm...” He wanted to fold his arms and contemplate, though that was just a bit too much for now. So, he racked his brains hard. Thinking over and over to find a way out of this situation. “Hm!” If there was anything he could think of... ‘Nothing. This is already a mess.’ Nothing. There's no way to turn back. No matter how much he pondered, a hundred or a thousand times, it was the same. This situation... ‘It's a wreck.’ A wreck, and a serious one at that. A cold sweat trickled down as he stared at the situation. It wasn't just him. “...Madam?” Goo Sung-Yeol, who had been fighting and threatening him, was the same. “...This, this is...” Goo Ryun, who uttered those words, was no different. And even he... “A son...?” Jin Yeon-Ryeong, who was pale with shock, looked over this way with eyes wide open in disbelief. “Grand Master. What do you mean by this...?” “Uh, no... well...” “A son? That Baek So-Hyeop is...?” Jin Yeon-Ryeong stared at him with trembling eyes. “...Is he your son?” “Madam Jin... that's not...” Goo Ryun seemed ready to say something. “Tsk...!” He bit his lip as if he had made up his mind about something. Oh, whatever it was, it seemed like it shouldn't be allowed to happen. “Ugh, First... No! Grand Master, hold on a moment...!” He tried to stop him urgently. “That’s right...! That child is indeed the hidden bloodline of the household head...” “What the...” Goo Ryun didn't stop and revealed the shocking truth. The startling reality erupted forth. “...What?” Goo Sung-Yeol, bewildered and unable to comprehend what was happening, wore a stunned expression. This sudden tale was completely unexpected. “What is this... No.” Frantically, Goo Sung-Yeol spoke to his wife. “No.” “...Ah?” Yet Jin Yeon-Ryeong only looked at him with blank eyes. “It's not...! Stop this evasion!” Annoyed by Goo Sung-Yeol’s attitude, Goo Ryun grabbed him by the collar again. "The Blood Relic activated. We confirmed it with Cheol-Woon's blood. With that level of illumination, it's impossible unless they're family. Will you still deny it?" “...Did the Blood Relic really activate?” Upon hearing that, Goo Sung-Yeol looked sharply in his direction. “...” “...” “Ah.” Amidst the silence, a brief reaction slipped through. His glowing red eyes were filled with confrontation. -Answer me. A voice echoed in his mind. -Who is your father? “...” He seemed to have caught onto something. After realizing this, he clicked his tongue and responded internally. -...I am your son, sir. My lord. -... After hearing the answer, the lord's brow furrowed. When Goo Sung-Yeol was informed that his father was indeed the child’s ancestor, he let out a deep sigh. Goo Ryun, hearing this, appeared even more enraged and pushed him further. “Stop avoiding the reality. Master. If you’re a man, do what must be done! Will you still try to deny it? Bring the relic back and we’ll verify-” “No need for that.” Snap. Goo Sung-Yeol brushed off Goo Ryun's grasp. “What?” “It means it’s confirmed.” Goo Sung-Yeol, with a furrowed brow, declared. “He is indeed my child.” He said, mingling his words with a sigh. “Oh...” Jin Yeon-Ryeong, hearing this, swayed and fell with a thud. “Oh no!” He hurriedly flew to catch her. Jin Yeon-Ryeong had already lost consciousness. “...Take her to the doctor.” Goo Sung-Yeol, observing this, spoke with a heavy expression. “And...” He looked over at him. “Come to the master's chamber.” “...” “It seems we have matters to discuss.” His tone resembled that of a father who was about to scold his son. * * * After escorting Jin Yeon-Ryeong to the doctor, he followed Goo Sung-Yeol to the chamber. Creak. The familiar setting of the master's room of the Goo family, reminiscent from his past life, came into view as he entered the room. Click. Goo Sung-Yeol sat down in a chair and pressed his temples. In the silent room, only Goo Sung-Yeol's two red eyes shone visibly. While observing, Goo Sung-Yeol spoke to him. "...Light the fire. The room is dark." “...” He knew the elder was aware of his ability to manipulate Gu Flame Wheel Technique. There was no point in hiding it, so he complied. Snap-! With a flick of his finger, blue flames enveloped the lamp. Whoosh-!! Goo Sung-Yeol slightly nodded at the sight of the different hued flames. His expression was full of evident reluctance. "There's a mix of something non-human in you." “It turned out that way, somehow.” “It’s something to be kept far away. The Gu family being involved with something non-human? What have you been through?” “...?” Suddenly chided for something he’d never heard of before about the Gu family's involvement with non-humans. “What’s that look for?” “Oh, it’s just that it’s the first time I'm hearing about it.” “What?” “Pardon?” Goo Sung-Yeol looked at him as if he couldn’t comprehend. “...Do you really know nothing of the Gu family?” “No, I know as much as needed.” “To what extent?” “What does the clan leader know?” “...” “I’m just joking.” This household didn’t respond well to jokes. “I know the very reason for the existence of the Gu family.” “...Sigh.” Goo Sung-Yeol let out an incredulous breath upon hearing that. “Yet, you haven’t even become the Minor Head?” “...Well, technically speaking, I did in a previous life.” But not at the moment. The problem was... ‘Even as the Minor Head, I didn’t learn much.’ What was known involved the reason for the Gu family’s founding, the truth of their blood, and... ‘Things in the depths below.’ Mysterious, immeasurable entities of non-human origin. They were said to exist underground. “It's beyond understanding.” Goo Sung-Yeol was evidently perplexed by this reaction. Now, the realization that he was the one who was out of the loop left him even more bewildered. “...Is this something I was supposed to know?” “Didn’t Cheol-Woon ever tell you anything?” “We weren't exactly the type to have deep father-son conversations.” Never had he been told. Despite being instructed not to get involved with non-humans, and to comprehend deeper narratives about the Gu family, he had never heard any of this from his father. Why was that? As he struggled to understand, he heard Goo Sung-Yeol speak with a contorted expression. “So...” “...Is the burden that should not have been yours being borne by you alone?” “What?” “It seems a foolish choice was made...” Goo Sung-Yeol bit his lip, his expression full of regret. “What do you mean? Furthermore, from the start...” At this point, he needed to ask. “Do you actually believe what I’ve said about my identity?” Claiming to be the grandson of his son, yet the ease with which he accepted it seemed peculiar, prompting the question. In response to the question, Goo Sung-Yeol looked at him with sharp eyes and spoke. “No matter how strange the situation may seem, the heat and burden within you testify to it. Moreover, in this world, there’s little left that can surprise me.” “...” It was a statement he couldn't help but accept. “What is your purpose here? Why have you come without fulfilling your burden?” “...I didn’t come here willingly.” He had merely been pushed into arriving. Considering he should explain the situation, he tried to speak. Press. “...” His mouth opened but then closed again. Suddenly, he found his voice trapped, unable to utter a word. “Oh, come on.” He scratched the back of his head. ‘I can't say it?’ He realized one thing he hadn’t known before: he was unable to speak about the reason for being here. He hadn’t even considered explaining it until now, so he hadn’t realized. “I can’t talk about it.” He confessed honestly. Hearing this, Goo Sung-Yeol frowned. “A restriction?” “Not sure. It seems that way, though.” He wasn’t entirely sure, but it appeared likely. “No matter how I look at it, I cannot understand... How did you come here as a Burned one?” There it was again, being termed as a ‘Burned’. Something he had heard multiple times now. “...That so-called Burned. Why is it such a big deal?” “...You don’t know that either?” “Is it something I should know?” Was it yet another thing his father had neglected to tell him? “Being Burned literally means harming what the world has achieved. They are the ones who scorch the tenuous barriers. Mostly, it refers to beings that defy reason.” “...” Beings outside the realm of reason. Things that should not exist in this world? ‘Is that me?’ Certainly seemed like it. However... “...How did you recognize it right away?” “As that is the burden of the clan head, it's only natural to know.” “...What?” The clan head’s burden? He was shocked to hear that. ‘The clan head’s burden includes such power?’ To discern the presence of beings that defy reason in the world? ‘...Huh.’ His mind was suddenly blank. Then... ‘The reason my father, despite being the clan head, often ventured outside the family...’ Could it have been because of this? He had assumed it was solely to deal with the Great Magician Gates and Magician Gates. But if it was because... ‘If it was indeed for this...’ It explained the peculiarity. “Burned ones don’t adhere to time or era. Their existence is recognized merely by being. It's just that it turned out my grandson fits that description.” “...” “If you didn’t come for any particular purpose, then return. This isn’t where you belong.” At Goo Sung-Yeol’s words, he swallowed dryly. “...Yes. I am well aware.” He knew. He honestly wanted to go back too. But he simply couldn’t. He intended to say more but was interrupted. “Master!” A voice rang out from outside. “Madam Jin has awakened...!” “...!” Hearing this, Goo Sung-Yeol immediately rose to his feet. “...I’ll hear the rest later. Wait here.” “Huh? Yes?” The moment he heard about his wife waking up, he dashed out. Despite being a person of great annoyance and discomfort, his face turned into a canvas of genuine concern. His affection for his wife seemed profoundly intense. “...Just what.” Left alone suddenly, he wondered if this was really alright? As he pondered over it: ‘Ah, now that I think about it.’ He remembered something. He reached into his bosom to retrieve something. It was a letter. The one he was supposed to read upon the arrival of the Blue Dragon Grand Master. It was supposed to contain information about a secret mission. “...Well.” Admittedly, he had completely forgotten about it. Being alone now seemed as good a time as any to take a look, so he opened the letter. “Huh?” His body froze upon seeing the words written inside. The letter contained this instruction: [Investigate the peculiarities at the front line.] “...?” The front line. He couldn’t help but scowl at the all-too-familiar term.