1250 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Hidden in the northern regions was a sanctuary for warriors. It was a momentary surprise to discover that the place was represented by Mi Hyoran. Remaining idle there was not an option, so they ceased their debates and began their journey. Their direction was north. Regardless of whether Tang Cheongi agreed with the Poison Pheonix's opinion or not, their path was set to the north. As the surviving warriors gathered their hands and began to move, there was one issue. “Are you planning to follow us?” “Hmm?” It was directed at me. Tang Cheongi cast me a questioning glance. “Are you asking if I plan to follow along wherever you're headed?” “...So, what? Are you telling me to just stay put here?” “...” His gaze said he knew that wasn’t what I meant. Scratching the back of my head, I sighed. “Well, there's nowhere else for me to go. Moreover, I've just woken up and lack any information.” “...” Tang Cheongi continued to eye me with suspicion. His intent not to trust me seemed unchanged. At this point, it didn't particularly matter to me whether he trusted me or not. “Cheongi, enough.” “But, sister...” “Have you forgotten who just saved you?” “...!” Tang Cheongi fell silent. “I'm not saying your skepticism is unfounded. But displaying that attitude towards the one who saved us isn't right, is it?” “...However, the Yoma Warrants called him an apostle. They declared he couldn't be human.” “...” It seemed like he was referring to those glowing shackles. They still seemed to unsettle Tang Cheongi. “I understand.” The Poison Pheonix nodded at him in agreement. “So, you're saying that Young Master Baek summoned an apostle, and is now a potential threat?” “...” Tang Cheongi couldn't form a reply. ‘Is it because the justification is lacking?’ A justification to summon an apostle. And a justification to kill the apostle after summoning it. Tang Cheongi found these justifications lacking. ‘In other words.’ Regardless of my current state, they perceived that I had the capability to wipe them out if I desired. That I had deliberately eliminated the apostle made Tang Cheongi's stance seem rather precarious. ‘I wasn't trying to boast about it.’ The situation wasn't half bad. ‘And then...’ Swish. I checked inwardly. What I gained by absorbing Chu Yeongyeon's energy. ‘It hasn't diminished...’ Yet it hadn't increased either. Using Sacred Spear depleted enough that I was left with just the right measure. ‘Perhaps I should have conserved it.’ I poured it out to gauge the absorbed energy's state, but ended up slightly regretting it. ‘As for the authority...’ There was no change in that regard. It seemed that what Chu Yeongyeon had consumed in terms of authority wasn't much. ‘Perhaps because the apostle's corporeal form itself is the authority.’ Maybe there wasn't anything worth calling authority. In the end, what I acquired from the fight were just a few wisps of energy and some scraps of information. ‘Strange as it is, the Mad Celestial Absorption works on an apostle’s energy.’ The technique absorbs energy from the apostle. It meant that I had a means to replenish my energy. ‘...However.’ It was merely recovery, not regeneration. The vessel still wasn't functioning properly. Even so, having a way to recover energy was a step forward. It suggested that perhaps... ‘Maybe here...’ I could find a clue from this place. ‘Moreover...’ Twitch. I mused over the shadow. If the essence or the existence of an apostle is authority itself, then it means my gluttony is perfectly suited to devour such entities. ‘Gluttony consumes authority.’ Initially, I thought it was limited to dragons, but it turned out to encompass ‘authority’ itself. ‘What an intriguing power.’ It is useless to humans, a power that exists solely to counter those who possess authority. As if. ‘As if it's telling me to devour them all.’ Gluttony. An egotistical instinct that dictates no other authority should exist but mine. A paradoxical and bizarre essence. Not unlike its master. ‘...Hmm.’ I clenched my fist gently. More pressing than gluttony was another matter. ‘If Chu Yeongyeon's body is authority.’ If other apostles were the same, then perhaps it represented... ‘...The authority of the main body?’ If the apostles were in a state of receiving power from something else, it could imply authority from the main body. ‘And by main body here...’ Was it the Sword Empress? Could she, who was dubbed the first apostle, be the main body distributing this power? ‘Hmm.’ I nodded. ‘I need to find the Sword Empress first.’ I needed to grasp what was transpiring in this abominable world. I also needed to comprehend the intentions of the Blood Demon. And most importantly. ‘I need to escape.’ I had to get out. From this cursed world. “Young Master Baek?” “Ah.” Snapped back to reality by the Poison Pheonix’s voice, I gathered my thoughts. “Yes.” “What had you so lost in thought...?” “I was indulging in a trifling thought. What is it?” “...Oh, it’s nothing.” Poison Pheonix spoke to me with a glance. “I was just about to tell you... you can join us, if you'd like.” It was a cautious statement, but I felt the wary eyes of other warriors around. Although their suspicion lingered, my assistance had transformed it into a half-hearted doubt. “Well, that is fortunate.” I chuckled. In the end, the outcome wasn't bad at all. *** Three days passed since we began traveling together. While moving, I gathered more information. The first point was— ‘There are more monsters.’ There was a significant increase in the number of monsters compared to the place I knew. The numbers were eerily high. Hardly a moment passed without monsters springing forth. Moreover— ‘I can’t see the grades.’ The monsters lacked any color, just an absence of hue—black. A place that should have been vibrant with greens and blues felt terribly off. When I inquired with the Poison Pheonix, she answered as if it was nothing out of the ordinary. ‘It’s always been like that.’ This world, she explained, had always been this way. "For at least a year, it seems." I wasn't entirely sure if it had always been this way. There was something different compared to the place I knew. "It’s possible this isn’t the place I once knew." I had kept that possibility in mind. "After all, it's a ploy by the Blood Demon." He opened the Devil's Gate to send us here. I recalled that detail. "And that was indeed..." Cheol Jiseon. It was the same as what he used. "Hmm." While pondering over this curiosity, a voice called out beside me. "...Hey." It was Tang Cheongi. "What?" Even as I asked, I already knew. This guy had been hesitantly trying to speak to me for a while now. I'd been wondering when he'd finally ask, and it looked like the moment had come. “Can I ask you something?” Tang Cheongi wanted to ask a question? I was curious about what it might be. "...That thing you used last time. What is it?" “Hmm?” Last time? “What do you mean by last time?” "The power you used to kill the apostle. Was it your martial arts? It doesn't seem like it was from Senior Paejon." “Ah.” I understood what he was referring to. ‘He’s talking about the Sacred Spear.’ The Emberlight Sacred Spear. That must be what Tang Cheongi was asking about. “...Ha.” I couldn’t help but chuckle. “...Have you been circling around for three days just to ask that?” "Who's circling around...!" As if. I’d seen him lingering for days, too shy to inquire directly. ‘So it's true.’ According to what’s known, I was a disciple of Paejon and practiced martial arts. ‘Then I suddenly used flame arts.’ That was probably why he was puzzled. “Is that your power, by any chance?” “Power?” "I'm asking if it's the power of an apostle." “Oh...” This guy? "Are you trying to fish for information?" "...." "Oh, you’re not being subtle. This is just an outright question." It was akin to asking if I was an apostle. The suspicion in his eyes hadn't decreased at all. If he wanted to be wary, he should have done it discreetly. His approach was curious in its frankness. "...Has Tang Soyeol taken after him in this regard?" Tang Soyeol seemed to inherit some of his naïveté. "Rest assured, it's not the power of an apostle." "...And?" “Everyone has their secrets. It’s best not to worry about it.” “...” Tang Cheongi frowned at my clear refusal to elaborate. His expressions were unerringly candid. "I don't trust you." "Yeah, I can see that." "How can I when you withhold information?" "...Who asked you to trust me?" "What?" "Trusting or not doesn't affect anything. Nothing will change because of it." Whether Tang Cheongi trusted me or not wouldn't change the current situation. All of them were well aware of this fact. "I'm here, providing a sense of security, which is more crucial right now." "...." Tang Cheongi fell silent. He knew it too. The past three days had been oddly smooth for the group—not a mere coincidence. A subtle sense of security. The fear of an apostle's sudden attack was significantly diminished. It was because I was present. Even if an apostle showed up, there was a sense that someone would protect them, providing a measure of relief. "...You." Tang Cheongi wore an astonished expression. Did he think I wouldn’t know? Hardly. Thus, the silence lingered. When Tang Cheongi finally spoke again, after some time had passed, he said with a more serious tone: "...Heading to the northern sanctuary as we are, might bring you into trouble." His words took me by surprise. "They aren't as dull or naive as us. They might do something to you." "Oh. Are you worried about me?" "...Y-You...!" Amused, I teased him, causing Tang Cheongi to grit his teeth in frustration. "Damn you." As if realizing his words had been pointless, he stomped ahead. Watching his retreating back, I chuckled lightly. ‘Is he genuinely concerned?’ Despite claiming not to trust me. ‘Poison King, you were more endearing than you seemed.’ Poison King's youth was unexpectedly human. Caught in such thoughts— "...We’ve arrived." Poison Pheonix's tense voice came from up front. At her words, I turned my gaze ahead. "Ah." In the distance. A massive wall loomed. A colossal structure that couldn't have possibly been erected in the span of a year.