1189 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

How could he have known? There's no need for such doubt. Just looking at the situation, it's clear. The only one watching earlier was Nam Goong Jin. Therefore, it must have been Nam Goong Jin who informed his father about all of this. ‘Would that man really bother?’ A rival of sorts, and perhaps the person he would dislike the most—would he really go and tell his father about this? It was something I couldn't comprehend. So, I wished I could offer some excuse. ‘Ah.’ I couldn't respond telepathically. Damn, was my energy really so blocked that I couldn't even use telepathy? This was truly a mess. "Ahem..." Unable to respond, all I managed was a small cough. Seeing that no telepathic response was forthcoming, my father looked at me curiously. "I heard you collapsed, so it would be strange if you were fine. It just looks like that," Jin Yeon Ryeong responded as if not believing my father's words. Gu Seon, upon hearing this, twisted her face again. "…So I'm only appearing to be fine?" "What did the physician say?" "Mother?" "Oh, they just said I should rest." "That's a relief. Eat well too. I'm so thankful you saved our troublesome daughter." "I'm not... troublesome..." Jin Yeon Ryeong acted as if she hadn't heard Gu Seon's remark. Gu Seon, in turn, seemed to give up and sported a sullen expression. "……." At that moment, my father and I locked eyes. With a peculiar gaze, my father stared at me. Just looking into those eyes made me want to avert my gaze instinctively. As we held each other's gaze in silence, "I have a lot of work, so I'll be heading back." With those words to Jin Yeon Ryeong, my father stepped outside. Noticing this, Jin Yeon Ryeong quickly stood. "Oh, right. You should be resting—sorry for the disturbance." "No, not at all… Thank you for visiting." "Rest well. Thank you once again." With a bright smile, Jin Yeon Ryeong exited. Even then, she wasn't paying attention to Gu Seon. "Unbelievable." Watching this, Gu Seon shot me a look of exasperation. "Isn't that nice?" "…What is?" "You're getting so much love from our family. Isn't that great?" "……." I shook my head in disagreement. "Why? Feeling too blessed to even realize it?" "I don't know who's feeling so blessed." "What?" "…Forget it. I'm leaving too." "What the...? Hey! Aren't you supposed to rest too!" What kind of patriarch would move the entire household to search for a lost daughter? And what kind of brother would come on the pretext of seeing me just to check on their sister? A mother who pretended to focus all her attention on me while actually tending to Gu Seon's injuries? I don’t know who’s unaware of familial love here. ‘Our households are so different.’ Despite being from the same family, they're markedly different. How did someone raised in such an environment end up like that? It's a mystery to me. I ignored Gu Seon's yelling and walked. I had talked to Jin Yeon Ryeong, so I needed to step outside. I wasn’t physically hurt. It was just a lack of energy that was the issue. ‘…Ugh.’ Why isn't it working? This was really troublesome. ‘Is it the problem of the Main Transformation?’ I attempted it thinking I could handle it, but the side effects were severe. If not being able to use my energy was a result of the Main Transformation, that's even worse. ‘This is crazy.’ I used it thinking I could confront Taecheon. Had I known it'd be like this, I wouldn't have. I don't even remember right after using it. My energy definitely covered my body… and what happened next? ‘When I woke up, I saw the ceiling.’ I remember very faintly. His surprised expression, the exhilarating high as if flying, and Nam Goong Bia's brain waves. That's about all I recall. ‘What should I do?’ With my energy all tangled like this, is there any other solution? Even if not, I needed to find one. ‘If I happen to run into the great-grandfather...’ That elder who said he'd come to see me in person. If I ran into him without precautions, there would be no way to handle it. "Anyway." Nothing comes easy. Grinding my teeth, I reached my destination. Entering inside, I found the person I was looking for. "Seeing you again…?" Hyun So Young looked my way with slightly exhausted eyes. "…What is that look?" "It's just that I've been seeing more of you than usual, and it's kind of exhausting…?" "……." I couldn't deny it. I didn't come here just because I wanted to see Hyun So Young. ‘Is there no reaction?’ I was really here to see Nam Goong Bia inside. To check on her condition. And yet. ‘There's no trace.’ With lack of energy, I couldn't sense anything. The idea that she might show up again didn’t seem likely. "Why are you staring like that? It's piercing." "……." It seemed Hyun So Young didn't remember the earlier incident. "Ah. Right." Suddenly, Hyun So Young seemed to remember something. "Come to think of it, I heard I collapsed earlier…" "Don't you remember?" "It's blurry. Lately, this happens sometimes. Maybe I'm tired?" "This sometimes happens?" "Yes. I'm not sure why. Should I see a physician…?" Hyun So Young’s face twisted as if pondering deeply. ‘…Not remembering things has happened often...’ Whether it's entirely because of Nam Goong Bia or due to something else, there must be some connection. "Since when has this been happening?" "What?" Hyun So Young looked at me with a puzzled expression. "…Why are you curious?" "…Pardon?" "It's just odd because someone who usually doesn't care about anything is asking. Are we that close now?" "We're not exactly strangers, are we?" I mean, we're not extremely close, but surely close enough to ask? "Well… I suppose that's possible." She glanced at me sideways. What’s with that look? "…It's just..." "Just what?" "It doesn't feel like you're asking out of genuine curiosity…?" "……." I felt a chill run down my spine. This woman was incredibly perceptive. "Of course not." "Right?" "Yes. So please, just answer." "…I really think you're not curious… but, no matter. It hasn't been long… about half a month." ‘Half a month.’ A somewhat ambiguous timeline. "Have you always had health issues?" "Do I look like I do?" "…No." Having seen her wield a mace, I didn't particularly get that impression. But still. ‘Even if it’s not because of Nam Goong Bia…’ If she were Nam Goong Bia's mother, from what I know, she was fated to die early. Whether it was due to an illness or not, I was aware of this much at least. If it is indeed a chronic illness, then perhaps something unusual might start happening soon. “...Take care of your health.” “Huh? Oh, yes.” She seemed a bit taken aback. What's with that reaction even when I'm expressing concern? “What is it?” “Why?” “Well, your eyes seem a bit eerie since I last saw you.” “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” “No, I'm serious. But it feels like… you aren’t actually looking at me directly?” “Talking nonsense means you really must be unwell. Go inside and rest.” “Come on….” I moved on, leaving Hyun So Young behind. ‘Heard it in the earlier conversation.’ The brain waves became erratic as time ran out. So then. ‘Is there a time limit?’ Does she need a method to come out again? ‘Who in the world…?’ Who helped impose the restraint on Nam Goong Bia and allowed her to come here? And furthermore, ‘Said they’d save me.’ Save me from what, exactly? ‘Who’s saving whom.’ They’re talking about saving me. From what, exactly? “Hmm…” Both the issue with Nam Goong Bia and my own physical state, nothing but problems. ‘How should I handle this?’ How do I untangle this blocked energy? If it is due to the Main Transformation, how long will these side effects last? ‘I need to find a solution.’ I can’t just stay like this. I need to find a way immediately, and to do that... ‘I need to find someone who might know.’ Someone who would know about my situation. It's obvious who I should go to. ‘Gu Sung Yeol.’ My grandfather. It seemed like the quickest way was to approach him with my questions. With that thought, I was just about to head towards the former family head when— “Hey.” "……!" I was startled. I was caught off guard by the voice coming from beside me. My dulled senses couldn't pick up on someone getting so close. I tried to hide my surprise as I turned to look. “…Do Yoon.” “Oh. How nice to see you.” It was Do Yoon. “I heard something big happened last night. Is Baek Chinwoo alright?” “Well, I'm just fine.” “Of course. I figured as much, haha.” So word had spread about Gu Seon's disappearance and my role in bringing her back? I thought I returned quickly, yet the story seems to have gotten out. “You seem all right physically… Oh, are you in a hurry to get somewhere?” “Not really, but why?” I was a bit pressed for time, but I didn't need to reveal that, so I kept my reply neutral. Do Yoon smiled and continued, “Ah, just thought… if you're feeling alright, maybe you'd like to come somewhere with me.” “Where?” “My place.” “...Hmm?” His place? By that, he must mean— ‘His family’s place in Sanseo?’ Another prominent clan said to be located in Sanseo. I wasn’t familiar with them, but they existed. And he’s inviting me there now? “Hmm, sorry but…” I was on my way to see Gu Sung Yeol, intending to decline when— ‘Ah.’ A thought struck me. It concerned the very nature of Do Yoon himself. His purpose, the attitude he had shown, and his identity. Pondering these, I questioned the reason behind his invitation to his family grounds. "……." What to do? “Wait here for a moment, then.” I didn’t take long to decide. “I’ll quickly go where I was headed.” That moment marked today’s destination.