1163 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

You have more than enough qualifications. Since you can do it, give it a try. I couldn't easily respond to those words. '...What does that mean?' Are they saying I’ve achieved qualification? "Does this mean I've accomplished something great?" I question if they are referring to reaching the pinnacle of the skill 'Guhyeomhwaryungong,’ but— "That’s just the starting point. You should know this." Guseongyeol responded as if wondering what I was talking about. "...I don’t understand?" What is he saying I should know? I don’t understand at all. Its meaning escapes me. ‘Saying that I've achieved qualification.’ I have enough qualifications, so I should give it a try? Can’t I do it? Guseongyeol’s firm demeanor felt rather strange to me. "I don’t know how to do such things." If I knew, I would’ve done it already. Especially in those battles where I felt like I was going to die. I would have used it then. ‘Clearly extraordinary.’ It was something that inspired awe. A higher dimension that couldn't be classified as human. Calling it ‘Master Transformation’ might not quite fit. If Shin Noya heard it, they might be horrified, but at the moment, it’s the only term that comes to mind. If I could only use something like that... ‘Things would become easier.’ I’m aware it would greatly assist with what is to come. ‘But how exactly can I do something like that?’ I can’t even begin to grasp it. Why is Guseongyeol so certain that I can do it? Unable to comprehend, I just stood there, staring. “……Hmm?” Noticing something was off, Guseongyeol narrowed his eyes. “You really don’t know?” “If I knew, would I be like this?” “…….” Whoosh. ‘Damn.’ Did Guseongyeol take offense at my tone? Flames suddenly appeared in his hand. “Oh, no, it’s not that….” Just as I was about to apologize, “But you, master, certainly did say it strangely—” I couldn’t help myself from adding a remark. My big mouth gets me into trouble every time. Perhaps it was my careless words that were the issue. Swoosh—! “……!” Guseongyeol’s hand suddenly pierced into my chest. The hand slid in so nonchalantly that my eyes widened. Right where my heart was. ‘Are you insane?’ Was he trying to kill me? I didn’t sense any killing intent, so my reaction was delayed. However. Thump—! ‘What’s happening?’ The heart gripped by Guseongyeol’s hand began to respond. There was no pain. Only a warm sensation. Thump. Thump. Thump….. “…….” “What… did you do?” "Ah, I see." Guseongyeol, still clutching my heart, nodded as if he had realized something. Whoosh—! The hand that pierced my chest withdrew. Strangely, there were no injuries. “There was a barrier." "…A barrier?" I asked while rubbing my chest where it had been pierced. “But you, you are the last one.” “Pardon?” This man only continued to speak in riddles. Guseongyeol looked at me with an unusually clear gaze. “You are the last task of the Gu family. You weren’t as far off as I thought.” “What on earth are you talking about?” If you’re going to speak, then do so clearly. His abrupt words only served to confuse me further. “What do you mean by ‘the last’?” “I questioned how you, without even becoming a household head, managed to obtain qualifications. Someone must have helped you. Who was it?” “…….” I stiffened. I was frozen because there were numerous possibilities that came to mind. “Furthermore, it’s not even about mere qualifications. Things from another realm have mixed in. You’re holding them within your body and yet haven’t crumbled. What exactly is allowing you to withstand it?” “…….” A body that became a dragon. The energy procured from the myriad realms. My body, already surpassing human limitations, is imbued with countless elements. It is the art of 'Magical Celestial Absorption’ that fortifies me. It seemed like Guseongyeol had caught on to this. ‘Did he misunderstand because of that?’ A body piled with myriad elements, a naturally heightened level of qualification. Observing this, Guseongyeol might have assumed that I too could perform this Master Transformation. As I pondered this— “The walls built from such origins are rather obstructing your essence. That is the wall." “…Pardon?” His statement was unexpected. The things that had rapidly strengthened me were said to be hindrances instead. Though I frowned upon hearing this. “To clarify, your indecision about what you truly wish to become is also part of it. What do you aspire to be?” “…….” I had nothing further to say to his continued questions. “What do you wish to leave behind? Or rather, where do you remain?” “…What.” “Will you attempt to contain it all and manage it? Or will you empty it all out and keep only one? Resolving this will allow you to obtain what you truly desire.” Guseongyeol wiped away the flames in his hand as he spoke. “No matter how much you pack in, it won’t fill completely. Because the shapes differ, gaps would remain, leading to imperfection. Make your decision promptly. It seems not much time is left.” Unable to respond to his words, I fell silent. Because he struck a chord with the troubles that had been plaguing me recently. Not much time is left. What could this signify? ‘Is it about my power? Or rather.’ Could it pertain to my situation? Given Guseongyeol’s words, who seems to know nothing, it appears to be related to power. If there’s one thing I’m curious about— “Why are you telling me all this?” “…….” Why Guseongyeol is bothering to share this with me remains a mystery. “We aren’t close enough for you to be imparting such teachings to me.” I am a member of the Gu clan, the son of Guseongyeol’s own son, Gu Cheolwoon. Even if this detail offered some help, it wouldn’t become the primary reason. Both I and Guseongyeol are aware that the Gu family isn’t a loving and benevolent place. While I could understand the teachings of Pujeon, ‘I just can’t understand why he’s doing this.’ Why Guseongyeol demonstrated the Master Transformation in front of me and my father. While part of it was guiding my father, ‘It certainly looked like he intended for me to know.’ The form and the power he wielded. It seemed accurate to say he demonstrated it to me. Hence, the question arises. "What do you expect from me?" He didn't seem like the type to do this without expecting something in return. So, I straightforwardly asked what it was he wanted. "……." Guseongyeol couldn't reply. 'Ah, so there is something.' He does expect something in return after all. What could it be? Is there something I could offer him? As I found myself puzzled, "Let me ask you just one thing." Guseongyeol finally spoke up. "The place where you live... what became of my wife there?" "……." Upon hearing his question, my eyes widened. I wondered what he might ask. ‘He’s asking about my grandmother?’ Could it be that— “...You did all of this just to ask about that?” Even showing me his Master Transformation, inspecting my condition, and providing guidance that wasn’t quite guidance—it was all for this? ‘For the sake of his wife?’ He wanted information about his wife? ‘Unbelievable.’ I had sensed this before, but this person seemed a bit unconventional. Moreover. ‘...Am I allowed to say this?’ Though he had asked, I wasn’t sure if it was alright to answer. Ah, maybe it wouldn’t matter? After all... ‘If there are words I shouldn’t say,’ Considering I hadn’t received permission, it seemed things got filtered out anyway. “I don’t know.” “What?” So I decided to answer honestly. “I don’t know anything about Lady Jin. You see, this is the first time I’ve encountered her since arriving here.” "……." “I’d like to tell you more, but that’s all I know. Even from your son, or rather, my father, I haven’t heard much.” Though I had met my grandfather on a few occasions. But I wasn’t sure if meeting was the right term for it. According to the ancestors... ‘The grandfather then wasn’t really the grandfather, they said.’ Stripped of all emotions, purely a remnant committed only to upholding duty and guarding the door. As the ancestors put it, that presence should be treated as separate from the one that existed before. Thus, grandfather was out of the question. ‘As for my grandmother...’ It was truly the first time seeing this presence in my life. Both my grandmother and even my Aunt Guseon. So, I really didn’t know. After responding honestly, “I see... so that’s how it is…” Guseongyeol's expression became noticeably clear. It was one of bitterness. A strong sense of bitterness washed over his face. “So, it turned out that way.” “...Master?” “Thank you for telling me. Rest well.” “What?” The brief flicker of emotion vanished swiftly. He turned his back and began to walk away. Is that it? Is that the end? As I blankly watched him, “Ah, one more thing.” Guseongyeol paused his steps and looked back at me. “Avoid delving into matters concerning the underground for the time being. This isn't a warning; it's advice.” “...!” Whoosh—! With those words, he vanished into a wisp of flames. “...Oh dear.” I let out a sarcastic chuckle. “That man has sharp instincts, doesn’t he...?” He apparently knew I had business in the underground section of the Gu clan. ‘But why would he call it advice and not a warning...?’ It was an ambiguous choice of words to accompany the suggestion not to go. “Tsk.” What should I do? ‘I was just about to head there today.’ Now it felt rather awkward to head there. After being told that specifically, going now felt out of place. ‘...For now.’ I turned my gaze. What caught my attention was a place very far from here, known to be an area the Gu family tacitly oversees. ‘If not the underground, then I suppose I’ll have to head there.’ Since I was going to the Gu family anyway, it was a place I had intended to visit, conveniently given a mission as a pretext. The frontlines. A cursed land teeming with demonic beasts. Rigorously maintained under the banner of righteousness. It seems... “I’ll have to go there, won’t I?” It looked like today I had to visit that place.