1215 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

"......I don't think I'm okay." Words she should never have uttered. Not okay. It's tough. I want to stop. Such words were forbidden, even if it cost her life. Saying them would be futile, meaningless, and would only make her appear weak. What could possibly justify not being okay? Where did the karma of her actions go? There were those who died by her hands and for her sake. How dare she say such things, knowing about them? She couldn't. She shouldn't have. Yet. "It's okay." In front of Jin Yeon Ryeong, she couldn't hold back. "It must have been hard, right?" 'My child. It must have been hard, right?' The last words her mother spoke to her in the central plains came to mind. Faced with Jin Yeon Ryeong, who looked at her with the same eyes, she found it difficult to hold back. "......Yes." Her trembling fingertips hid her helplessness. "......It was a bit hard." "Really...... I can't imagine how difficult." What was so tough for her? Why did she struggle? Jin Yeon Ryeong didn't press for such details. She simply patted her shoulder. "At such a young age, how hard it must have been." "......" Conscience pricked her. She wasn't that young at all. It only appeared that way. She had lived long enough. "I don't know Baek Gongja's circumstances well. I want to ask, but if you can't speak, that's okay too." "......" Yeon Ryeong must know about the manifestation of her unique traits. Even if he wasn't the direct descendant of the clan leader, she probably recognized him as a close relative. The reaction with her father's blood would indicate it. "If it's too hard, take a rest. That's alright too." Jin Yeon Ryeong truly asked nothing more. "If you're hurt, say you're hurt. If you can't tell anyone, if I'm alright, I'll listen." "......But, why would you do that, Mrs. Jin?" "A mother is there to hear such words." "......" "You said it yourself. You could call me mother." She joked so brightly. Not that a mother exists solely to play such a role. Besides, it wasn't something she could impose on her. ‘Although technically, she's more of a grandmother.’ Still, this world is ultimately a created space. There was nothing more she could do for her. "......Thank you." All she could do was muster a thank you. It was the best she could offer. "Would you like some yakgwa?" "......I'll have some." She accepted it cautiously, taking a small bite. The comforting pat was steady and gentle. 'Sweet.' The yakgwa was sweet. She realized once more that she wasn't particularly fond of sweet things. Despite that realization, she swallowed the entire yakgwa. "......It's delicious." "Oh, I'm glad." Somehow. It seemed right. After consuming the yakgwa, she rose to her feet. Following Jin Yeon Ryeong's lead, she stood as well. "Are you leaving?" "Yes. Oh, you didn't have to get up. I've imposed a lot." "Did it help?" "......Yes." Not everything was clear. It just felt like she had untangled something enough to regain some clarity. “That's a relief.” Jin Yeon Ryeong spoke with a smile. "Thank you." He bowed his head to her, showing his gratitude. "Thanks to you, I feel I can go on." And he meant it. For the first time in a long while, he truly meant it. * * * A day passed. Time flew by, and morning arrived. "Be careful!" "Make sure the position is right!" Since morning, bustling noises filled the air. It was the sound of loading goods onto carts. "Tsk." Someone clicked their tongue at the sight. It seemed to be Paejon. He expressed displeasure as he watched the carts, clearly annoyed. "Damn it. After handing over such expensive information to bring him here. He didn't even have a solution. What kind of body is this?" Clicking his tongue in my direction, I shrugged my shoulders. "Indeed." "You act as if it's none of your concern." "What can I do? Even the greatest in Zhongyuan has no solution." It was about the Immortal Healer. After examining me, he had declared there was no hope for someone like me, as if I were already a living corpse. Even when the best in the central plains couldn't help, Paejon seemed frustrated. "But thank you. I didn't expect you to be so considerate." I remained composed. I had experienced this once before. Instead, the fact that Paejon had brought the Immortal Healer was what shocked me. "......To think I brought such an expensive man and he was of no help. This is a scam if anything." "Calling it a scam? That's quite a statement." Someone leaned out of the carriage. It was the youthful-looking Immortal Healer. "I said I didn't want to come. You dragged me here and then call it a scam. Are you out of your mind?" "I brought you here, assuming you had the skills. If you claim you don't, it's a scam, what else could it be?" "This guy......?" The Immortal Healer seemed outraged, judging by his scowl. Just when it looked as if the elderly might clash once more. "That's enough. Bijuu. Talking to you only raises my temper." The Immortal Healer shook his head and sighed. "I did all I could, so don't forget the promise." "Tsk......" "Don't call for me until the carriage departs." With that, the shutter closed. 'Promise, huh.' I focused on the Immortal Healer's words. From prior conversations with Paejon, it seemed the Immortal Healer was searching for someone yet again. 'Considering it's termed as information.' It must be someone of great importance. Perhaps. That would explain why the Immortal Healer got involved. "Anyway, a nasty temper." One troublesome elder chiding another. This was as good as casting blame on oneself. "......What's with that look?" "What is?" Still, he caught on quickly. "Your look was odd or... never mind. Call when we’re ready to leave." With apparent annoyance, Paejon leapt away, disappearing somewhere. After watching him go, I surveyed my surroundings. There, not too far away, stood Namgung Jin. He approached with a blank expression. "Are you-" I tried to address him, but Namgung Jin walked past me without a word. Complete disregard. 'Ugh.' I awkwardly scratched my head. Listening to him before prevented any anger from surfacing toward Namgung Jin. Then I spotted Soi. "Are you-" Once again, I attempted to greet her. However, upon seeing me, she briskly walked past. '......' Damn it. Does everyone dislike just me? Tsk. I nodded vaguely, pretending to accept it. Just then, as if knowing what was on my mind— "What are you doing?" Hyun So Yeon approached and spoke to me. "......" I stared at her intently. "......What's with those creepy eyes?" She immediately backed away, covering her chest. "......I was just grateful, so what's with the reaction?" "No, it was genuinely creepy." "Harsh words." I was truly grateful she didn’t ignore me. "Anyway, that’s not important." Hyun So Yeon said, brushing it off with a playful wave of her hand, and then she asked, "I heard Captain Do isn't joining us this time?" "......Ah." "Something must have happened, right?" "Roughly, yes." It was about Do Yoon. He wouldn’t be participating in the return trip. Naturally. 'He's locked up; how could he come along?' With Do Cheol's actions and Do Yoon turning himself in at the Gu family, it was unlikely for both to join. Though I was somewhat troubled by Do Yoon's situation, I couldn't dwell on it. I had matters of my own to settle. 'First and foremost.' I needed to meet my mother. And. 'Find the Blood Demon.' He was the root cause of all these issues. '......I have to regain my strength first.' Recalling my great-grandfather's warning, I needed to recover my strength. Anything could happen, and I had to be prepared. Finding my mother was part of that preparation. The reason was simple. 'I just felt I should.' Instinctively, I knew. If there was anyone who understood my problems best, I had to seek out those like us. In the central plains, there were only a few individuals like that. Blood Demon, my mother, and possibly my great-grandfather? Aside from my mother, they were all dangerous figures. 'Phew.' I scratched my head in frustration. Tap. As I continued scratching, I felt a presence. Looking to my side, I saw my father. And next to him— "Hello, little brother. Good morning." Gu Seon greeted me with a bright smile. Seeing her, my face automatically twisted. "Wow. Look at that expression. Doesn’t it look just like the family head’s? How do you end up looking exactly the same? Brother, look at this." "......What kind of comments are those, right to my face?" "Then don’t make a face like that." "What nonsense is this?" Telling me not to make a certain face, saying don’t look like that. What kind of ridiculous talk is that? I stared at Gu Seon in disbelief, but she merely laughed, finding it all amusing. "Is this funny to you?" "Of course! It's incredibly entertaining." "......" I'd better not continue this conversation. As I struggled to suppress the urge to say more— "Baek Yangcheon." "Yes?" My father called out to me. Wondering what it was, I looked over. He took something out from his robes and handed it to me. "What is this?" "It's something your mother wanted me to give you." "......To me?" "Yes." From Jin Yeon Ryeong? Suddenly, why give me something? I took the item. I felt a round object in the pouch. 'What is this?' Curious, I opened the pouch. Inside was— "......Oh?" A familiar red bead awaited me. This was— '......Isn't this what Lady Mi gave me?' Back when I was departing for the northern sea, Mi Hyo Ran had given me a bead, telling me to use it in times of danger. It was identical to that one.