1212 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

TLN: The site that I get the chapters from did not post 1209-1211 :( so here is 1212. If they fix 1209-1211 I will post them when I see. Emerging from the underground, the exit wasn't much more challenging than the entrance. After all, it was merely an empty prison, so leaving it was just a matter of stepping outside. I carried the seal as I went out. Creak—!! Hearing the door close behind, I ascended the stairs. The General stood there. “Welcome back.” He greeted me with a light gesture, extending his hand slightly. I already knew what it meant. I handed him the seal. As I placed the seal in his dry hand, I pondered. ‘Who exactly is the General?’ It was something I should have asked, but I couldn’t. My ancestor vanished the moment I stepped out of the room. Was it something I could only hear underground? ‘Perhaps the effects only activate in that room.’ Considering how long I had heard the voice that hadn’t come through even in death, it seems something specific triggered it. ‘Hmm.’ Ultimately, it didn’t matter. “Have you returned?” “Yes. I’m back.” I met Gu Seongyeol again. He faced me in the same manner as before. “I’ve handed the seal to the General.” “Alright. Did you get what you wanted?” “…No. I didn’t get what I wanted, but I did receive something else.” “I see.” Gu Seongyeol didn’t inquire further, as if that explanation sufficed. However, every time I saw him, a question arose. ‘Isn’t this different from the stories?’ The stories I heard about my grandfather and the present Gu Seongyeol felt somewhat at odds. Some said that the former head of the Gu family was insane. ‘How should I put it? Rather than mad…’ He seemed more like a grave figure reminiscent of my father. Where is that madness hidden in him? Observing my reflections, I spent a quiet moment with Gu Seongyeol. Thud. He set down the letter he had been holding and looked at me. “Well, we should resume our conversation.” “……” I recalled what I heard before going underground. He insisted that I must grant his request. I swallowed my dry throat silently and nodded. “Yes, please go ahead.” What could he possibly ask for that requires such an unconditional agreement? As I anxiously awaited— “My request is quite simple.” Gu Seongyeol spoke to me. “…What?” His words left me dumbfounded. It was completely unexpected. Moreover, “…Who am I supposed to take?” It was a rather unwelcome request, extremely so. * * * I exited Gu Seongyeol’s dwelling. A lengthy conversation wasn’t necessary. I couldn’t refuse, given the circumstances. It was unconditional, after all. So I immediately moved towards my next destination. ‘Tsk.’ I clicked my tongue inwardly. ‘Why did I even agree?’ I never imagined I’d receive such a request. I thought it’d be something significant, yet it turned out to be bizarre. Perhaps if it had been difficult or burdensome, it might have been easier. This wasn’t that either. How could he ask for something like this? That’s part of the problem. Moreover, ‘Why me?’ Entrusting this to me instead of his own son is downright absurd. How can one leave aside their own son and ask me this favor? As much as the situation baffled me, “What?” Someone equally puzzled stood before me. “In the middle of eating, what nonsense is this?” A woman who was enthusiastically savoring her meal, Gu Seon, put down her chopsticks, looking at me. “What did you just say?” “……” I sighed and repeated what I had said to her. “We have to leave tomorrow.” “Sure, it’s sad to part so soon, but sending off Yri isn’t really difficult. But.” Thud. She picked up her chopsticks again and pointed them at me. “…Why me?” Hearing her question, I pushed my hand through my hair. Even to me, what I was saying seemed absurd. Indeed. I was about to tell Gu Seon something quite peculiar. That is, “Why do I have to go to Hahnam with you?” I meant to inform her that she had to accompany me to Hahnam. In response to her inquiry, I furrowed my brow and answered. “…Your father insists on it.” “Yri’s father?” She looked at me with an expression that said she couldn’t comprehend it. But that made two of us. Gu Seongyeol instructed me to take Gu Seon to Hahnam. ‘And by tomorrow, no less.’ He didn’t even give us any time to linger—just depart by tomorrow, he said. There’s no problem. In the mountains, I’ve gained what I needed from the Gu family. Even things I shouldn’t have obtained, and unnecessary information; my goals were achieved. The mission from Hahnam was completed without much difficulty anyway. ‘Anomalies at the frontlines?’ I documented it. The movements of the Sa-Pa group and the resulting problems. Recording them was sufficient. bWpnL1VNWWVlR0h2N0IyVWd5ZUJTL1kvWnh2NER1Vm9jOWRPdVkxaUN3ZkhDM3BsZ094M2kreGdYR3o3YTFtUg So, leaving as soon as tomorrow is welcome. ‘I have things to do back there, after all.’ I do have matters to attend to in Hahnam. So, going is truly welcome except— “Still, the master of this place said to take you along.” Why should I take Gu Seon along? “There’s no reason! Why should it be me? Not my brother, but me? Why?” “I wouldn’t know. I’m just following orders.” “Do you do everything you’re told? I didn’t think you were such a kind soul. Why the sudden charm act? Just act as you usually do; it’s unsettling.” “Well, there are circumstances on my end, too.” Does she think I’m eager to take her along? I, too, am forced to do this… ‘Ah.’ Thinking it over, an idea came to mind. ‘There it is.’ There’s no need to force her if she doesn’t want to go, right? If she refuses, saying she can’t go, then it’ll be fine. I nodded. A solution presented itself. Right, that can work. She doesn’t want to; I'll simply say I can’t take her. “If you really don’t want to go, then you don’t have to. I’ll explain everything to the master…” "What are you saying? Who said I didn't want to go?" "…What?" Her words made my face twist with confusion. What was this? "Weren't you just saying you didn't want to go?" "I never said that. I was just wondering why my brother had to take me." "……." "Hahnam? Sounds great. I was feeling stiff anyway. It'll be nice to get out after a few years. When did you say? Tomorrow? I'd better start preparing." "What... What's the rush? Think it over. You're not feeling well, so why leave home? You'll just exhaust yourself out there." "My health is fine. I'm dying of stiffness from being stuck here. I’ll prepare by tomorrow and we’ll go? Let's make the best of it, Yri." "……." Damn it. Gu Seon smiled brightly, seemingly pleased. I had misunderstood. I naturally assumed she wouldn't want to go. 'Come to think of it…' It actually makes sense now. She appeared to like going out more than anything. I had momentarily dismissed that. Or perhaps I had avoided acknowledging it. "So... You’re coming?" "You said we're going, right? Isn’t that what this is?" "…Yeah. We are going." Oh. This is going to be quite exhausting. That was the moment when Gu Seon's trip to Hahnam was decided. * * * Leaving the place with a worn-out heart, it didn't seem much time had passed despite the hurried movements. I sighed inwardly and carried on. Exhausted, I headed to the final destination where I needed to meet someone. Hyun So Yeon. I came to see her. More specifically, 'Namgung Bi-ah.' I wanted to check on Namgung Bi-ah, whom I believed to be within her. Ever since discovering Namgung Bi-ah’s presence in Hyun So Yeon, I've occasionally sought to see her. Feeling this tired, it seems I sought her out even more. But then, ‘Hmm?’ I noticed someone else inside besides Hyun So Yeon. ‘Who’s that?' It was Namgung Jin. I saw him there with Hyun So Yeon. “It doesn’t seem like a problem.” “It is a problem, how could it not be?” “...That’s because you-.” Something felt off. A serious atmosphere lingered. What are they talking about? As I tilted my head, "Ah." "…." Both paused when they noticed my presence. I failed to suppress my presence. Now that I was caught, I had to smile awkwardly. “Should I come back later? It seems like I should.” "……." Namgung Jin squinted at me before speaking to Hyun So Yeon. “We'll talk later.” “…Yes, please do.” With those few words, Namgung Jin walked past me. What’s up with him? He already had a rude face, but he seemed sharper than usual today. After Namgung Jin left, “You’re here? I’ve been seeing you a lot lately, Yri.” Hyun So Yeon spoke as if it were nothing. “At this rate, romance might bloom. Are you by any chance interested in-?” "What did Namgung Jin say to you?" I quickly dismissed her nonsense and asked Hyun So Yeon. Her lips pouted, seemingly displeased at my lack of response to her banter. “He didn’t say much.” “Really? Then that’s all I needed to know.” I tried to move past it, thinking it’s not important, but Hyun So Yeon frowned. “…Anyone can tell he said something, so why brush it off?” “I figured you didn’t want to talk about it, so I didn’t press.” She said it was nothing, so I thought I’d leave it at that, but it seemed she wasn’t satisfied. “Nevertheless, it’s polite to ask twice.” "……." What does that even mean? It was baffling, but she seemed to expect it, so I asked, “…What happened?” I loaded the question with exasperation. To which she responded, “Oh, he suggested we call off the engagement. Using my relationship with you as a reason.” "……." She dropped an incredibly shocking revelation.