1245 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

One year. The moment I heard those words, I let out a sigh. ‘No wonder.’ From the beginning, it was strange. Since the moment I met Poison Phoenix, something felt off. It was as if this place was familiar to her. The condition of the cave and the layout of the hideout were another tell. These were not things that could be set up in just a day or two. Still. ‘But a year is a bit too much, isn’t it?’ No matter how you look at it, a year? It’s a nonsensical amount of time. If it was just a matter of a few days, I could somewhat comprehend it. ‘A whole year.’ An entire year. “Is it the same for the others?” “...Why would you ask that?” “Just answer the question first.” “It’s probably the same. Since we fell into this hell.” It wasn’t just Poison Phoenix. It meant everyone was in the same situation. ‘...A year?' How can there be such a time difference? It didn’t make sense. ‘Is this the Blood Demon’s doing?’ Could even this be the work of the Blood Demon? To think such a thing is possible... This wasn’t an experience I had in my previous life. ‘Back then.’ We all transferred at the same time. Though our landing spots were different, the time wasn’t. We lived the same time. ‘...How can there be such a difference now?’ What does a year even mean? Unable to grasp it, I frowned. “Young Master Baek.” Poison Phoenix called me. “Yes...” “Did you perhaps... only recently arrive here?” “...” She seemed to have figured something out from my reaction. She cautiously inquired further. “Yes.” I answered honestly. “I just woke up here moments ago.” “Oh...?” “...That’s impossible!!” Tang Cheongi shouted at me. “You expect me to believe that?” “Believe it or not, it’s the truth. What else can I say?” “It’s a bluff. If you managed to infiltrate, what aren’t you capable of?” “Infiltrate, really? I told you, I didn’t come on my own. Your sister guided me here.” “That’s... because our sister is naive...” “Cheongi, quiet down for a moment.” “Sister...?” A chilling voice momentarily reached Tang Cheongi, surprising him. Did I hear wrong? The tone and manner of speaking seemed completely different a moment ago. “So, you say you just woke up here and met me immediately?” “Yes.” “Without encountering anyone else, you met me first?” “...Yes, precisely.” “Ah!” Poison Phoenix clapped her hands as if she realized something. Her face lit up with happiness. Except, it was eerie with all the blood on it. “It really must be fate...!” “...Excuse me?” “How else could it be that after such a time gap, I’m the first one you’d see! If it isn’t fate, it doesn’t make sense...” “...Tang Sojeo, is this really the time to talk about such things?” I cut her off. She needed to be aware of our surroundings and the stares we were getting. Couldn’t she see the other martial artists looking appalled? “Oh my. Sorry, I got too excited...” “...Anyway. As I was saying, I didn’t come here with any specific purpose.” “How are we supposed to believe that?” Asked one of the martial artists. My answer remained the same. “Believe or don’t... As I said earlier, that’s all there is. Why are you all so suspicious?” It was odd just how much they were on guard. Even if they’d spent a year here, was there a reason to be this wary of me? ‘In my previous life, there wasn’t this level of hostility.’ Back then, they attempted to rescue any new arrivals. Life was precious, and any living human was considered a comrade. But here, something feels off. “What’s happening?” When I inquired, unable to understand, the martial artists remained silent. They seemed to debate whether or not they should reveal anything. Just as it seemed no one would speak— “It’s because we can’t trust others right now.” “...Poison Phoenix!” “Sister...!” At her words, everyone jerked and tried to stop her. Perhaps they felt they shouldn’t divulge such information. “But this much is known to everyone, isn’t it?” “But...!” “Honestly, those who know Young Master Baek are already aware, aren’t they?” Poison Phoenix spoke with a firm, icy gaze. “If Young Master Baek decided to do something here, no one could stop him.” “...” Silence spread, and that silence was akin to affirmation. “Even if he came here with negative intentions, there’s nothing and no one to stop him, right? So wouldn’t it be better to trust him in our current situation?” “...” “...That’s...” “We don’t have the time to dwell on negativity. I’ll just make the call with my judgment.” She spoke decisively. Her resolve and strength were palpable. At first, I thought she was a bit scatterbrained, but Poison Phoenix now had a commanding presence. ‘Truly like someone.’ She reminded me of Tang Soyeol. He showed such authority even if he seemed gentle only to me, embodying the presence of a martial family bloodline. “Young Master Baek, currently, all the martial artists here are scattered, living separately.” “Scattered, you say...? Are their positions known?” “Some have disclosed their locations, while others hide them.” “They hide them?” The idea of them hiding their locations caught my attention. There must be a reason for it. The problem is. “And.” It didn’t just stop at hiding. “There are also those who hunt others.” “...Hunt? You mean they hunt each other?” Martial artists hunting one another? Why on earth? “Why would they do such a thing?” In this world, they should be busy dealing with demonic beasts. The notion of them fighting among themselves was staggering. With survival itself a struggle, what sense does this madness make? Seeing my bewilderment, Poison Phoenix continued with a somewhat distressed expression. “They can no longer be seen as human, nor as comrades. That’s why everyone is so wary of you, Young Master Baek.” “...Not human, you say?” Those who hunt martial artists aren’t human? “Yes. They call themselves ‘Apostles’.” “...!” Apostles. The word made my eyes widen. I didn’t expect to hear about Apostles here. “Apostles? What exactly are they?” I feigned ignorance, thinking perhaps the Apostles here differed from what I knew. Upon questioning, I was told, “They are beings who, while retaining their human form, have become monsters.” “...” Human yet monstrous? “...How is that even possible?” “It’s possible when someone sells their dignity as a human in a desperate attempt to survive.” Tang Cheongi spat his words with an air of disgust. “Like trash.” “...” He seemed drastically affected, full of bitterness. “Apostles maintain their human appearance but have turned into monsters... making them hard to recognize.” “So these Apostles are the ones hunting martial artists?” “That’s right.” “...” This... ‘I’ve heard this before.’ It’s something I’ve heard before, no, more than just heard. ‘...Wasn’t this what I did?’ In my past life, during the transfer incident, it was eerily similar to what I did—killing and freeing all those who’d undergone a certain transformation. That time too... ‘I was called an Apostle.’ I had once been known as an Apostle of nothingness. Recalling that, I frowned. Is it the same kind of situation now? “...From the first who became an Apostle as the starting point, those who fled to survive formed groups. They created hideouts to escape the Apostles.” “...Were there that many people?” “At first, yes, there were.” “How does one become an Apostle, exactly?” How does one transform from human to monster? Poison Phoenix explained, “You have to be chosen.” “Chosen...?” “Yes, it’s said you become corrupt when chosen by the first Apostle.” “...This original... Apostle?” “...” Poison Phoenix hesitated, swallowing her words as if struggling to respond. Just as I considered whether I needed to wait— “It’s the Black Sword.” Tang Cheongi answered in her place. “She is the first Apostle.” “...!” The Black Sword becoming an Apostle made me narrow my eyes. “Damn it.” Tang Cheongi cursed with a tone full of resentment. Something must have occurred. “...Which is why we’re all scattered and hiding.” “So there are others besides those here.” “Yes, though we don't know where.” “...Hmm.” “Young Master Baek.” “Yes.” Before I could organize my thoughts, Poison Phoenix called and asked, “Is everything you’ve said the truth?” “...Yes. It is the truth.” “Can I really trust you...?” “Yes.” Her expression was one of desperate hope, sensing it might be the last time she asked. ‘Apostles, huh.’ Beings that are and yet are not human. The terminology was strange. This place had undergone a significant transformation from what I knew. ‘...The Black Sword became an Apostle...’ Now everyone was fleeing from the Apostles. ‘What a mess.’ I wondered how the world had come to this point. Perhaps... ‘Could even this have been planned by him?’ If it was all part of that vile Blood Demon’s plan, it made sense. The question was how he orchestrated such chaos. ‘What should I do now?’ How should I go about resolving this situation? While mulling over this— “Words alone aren’t enough to trust you.” Tang Cheongi approached me, holding something. “...Cheongi...!” Poison Phoenix gasped at the sight. “...Verification requires certainty, doesn’t it?” Tang Cheongi offered me an object, unwilling to back down. “What is this?” It appeared to be a chain. “It’s an item that reveals if someone is an Apostle.” “...This?” “Tang Sojeo...! We can use that only once more...!” “Yes, Tang Sojeo has a point. We should preserve it.” “How many have we lost trusting wrongly? I cannot yield on this. Wear it.” “...” A chain that can determine if someone is an Apostle. Could it be a mystical artifact? “Very well.” I put it on without much thought. After all, I wasn’t an Apostle. But then— Clank! The moment the chain was placed on my arm... Wheeeeee—!!! “Huh?” The chain began to glow. “Look at that, it’s glowing.” Doesn't this mean I’m not one? I spoke with this implication in mind. “...!” “This is...!” Clank—!! Clink—!! “Huh?” They all drew their swords against me as a group. The atmosphere grew much more tense and hostile. “Hmmm!” I nodded after observing the scene. ‘Well, this is a disaster.’ It seemed things had gone seriously awry.