1253 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Dawn. Mi Hyoran called for me. She requested only my presence, without anyone else. Upon hearing this, I immediately moved, following the guide. The destination was the place we had visited earlier that day. "You're here." As soon as I arrived, Mi Hyoran greeted me. Ah, rather than a warm welcome, it felt more like she was scrutinizing me with a sharp gaze. "Apologies for calling you at such an early hour." "Doesn't seem like you're apologizing." "It just looks that way." No, she really didn't look sorry at all. I wanted to point it out but held back for now. This wasn’t the time to discuss such matters. "So, what was the reason for calling me?" To my question, Mi Hyoran crossed her legs. "It seemed like a conversation was necessary." "I'm all for a conversation. Though what kind of conversation matters." "Young Master Baek." "Yes." "First, let me ask you." A chill tingled down my spine. I averted my gaze, sensing the faint aura lingering. Energies subtly permeated the air. "Where have you been all this time?" Where was this aura coming from? It wasn’t that I couldn’t detect it, but it was vague. ‘What kind of person is this?’ It puzzled me. Could there really be a presence that I couldn’t detect? I didn’t expect someone capable of masking their presence so well. ‘Even if my energy level is low.’ Not being able to sense such presence was unusual. However, I focused on this while answering Mi Hyoran’s question. "What do you mean by that?" "I mean exactly what I asked. Where have you been until now?" "I’ve been here and there." "I haven’t heard anything about you. I searched for a long time, even inquiring with those who might know, but found nothing. Where have you really been?" There was doubt in her eyes. The statement that they had been looking for me caught my attention. "You say you’ve been looking for me? Why?" "Because you should've been here with us, but you weren’t. I eventually gave up though. Anyway..." Creak. Mi Hyoran leaned her chin on her hand, causing the chair to creak slightly. "The fact that you didn’t show up until now means you’ve either died... or." At that moment. Sreung. A sound came from the Iron Dragon Deputy Leader’s sword sheath beside us. "Or you’ve become a fallen. One of the two." "…Hmm." "That’s why I want to ask. Where have you been all this time?" "From what you’re saying, you’re suspecting that I’m a fallen, aren’t you?" "That’s correct." "Even though I met up with the Poison Pheonix and took down a fallen? And we’ve already confirmed this with blood." "Who knows." Even after I claimed to have dealt with a fallen, Mi Hyoran’s reaction didn’t change. "There’s no evidence proving it." "Ah…" I nodded. She had a point. So then. "What do you propose we do about it?" I was beginning to get irritated. Her outright reaction somehow made this more tolerable, but it was time to reach a conclusion. "This individual…" With my tone, the Iron Dragon Deputy Leader tightened his grip on the handle of his sword. He looked ready to draw it at any moment. But Mi Hyoran raised a hand to halt him. It meant not yet. "Are you suggesting a test with handcuffs?" "That’s the quickest way, indeed." "Then bring them. We can verify." I pushed. It would obviously end up in the same manner as before with those cuffs. Still, I pushed it. The reason was simple. ‘There’s another intent behind this.’ Mi Hyoran didn’t seem to be merely curious about whether I was a fallen or not. If she were genuinely concerned about that. ‘She would have verified and apprehended me at the entrance.’ During the initial check, they would’ve verified my status thoroughly. But since they didn’t and acted this way now. ‘What is she trying to find out?’ It seemed she was trying to discern something. Though I had no clue what that was. "…Hmm." Mi Hyoran tilted her head slightly. Meeting her gaze, I continued speaking. "If you’re not going to verify, then don’t waste time skirting around and state your purpose. What is it?" "…" Frowning, Mi Hyoran let out a small sigh. "I planned to take a bit longer with this, but you’ve caught on already, haven’t you?" "One would be a fool not to." "Then there are far more lacking individuals in the world than you realize." "That’s none of my concern." "…" Perhaps because my words were slightly harsh, Mi Hyoran’s expression turned sour. Her eyes seemed to question the kind of upbringing I had. ‘…I must admit, it wasn’t exemplary.’ There’s little I can say regarding that, so let’s move on. "State your purpose. I don’t wish to exert myself from dawn onward. Are you truly curious whether I’m a fallen?" "No. Whether or not Young Master Baek is a fallen isn’t really important. Honestly, I don’t think you are." "Why don’t you think so?" "If you were a fallen, you wouldn’t even think of coming here. And Poison Pheonix wouldn’t return alive, either. Moreover." Mi Hyoran tapped the armrest of her chair. "You don’t give off the same vibe as a fallen…" "Vibe? Is it because I lack horns?" "I’m not referring to physical appearance. Anyway, I didn’t suspect you were a fallen." "Then what is it you’re trying to gauge?" "Earlier, when speaking about the Iron Dragon Deputy Leader… Well, Young Master Gu, you asked." "Yes." I was told he was dead. I hadn’t believed it and still don’t. That my father was dead? ‘I don’t believe it.’ I couldn’t accept it. Even without tangible evidence, I held onto that belief. And then. "Young Master Gu isn’t dead." Mi Hyoran provided an answer to my earlier inquiry. I wasn’t surprised. I had expected this. "Then why claim he was dead?" "…Because it’s not much different from the truth." "What do you mean?" He isn’t dead but it’s no different than being dead? I didn’t understand it. Further explanation was needed. Expecting a response, I continued to gaze at Mi Hyoran. "Young Master Gu." Mi Hyoran said to me. "Has become a fallen." "…What?" It was a truth I found impossible to believe. * * * Creeeeak. Kyaaaa—!!! A wailing echoed all around. The monsters that filled the land cried out in unison, their noise saturating the ground and the sky above. The resonance reached the brink of explosion. Amidst this overwhelming state, a solemn voice whispered softly. "…Silence." With those words. Thud-! The clamoring creatures suddenly fell silent. The woman, known as the Eulyoung Sword Queen, looked upon them with a smile. "Well done." Her gentle and affectionate voice caused the monsters to bow their heads. Behind her, a pair of folded wings and a slender tail swayed lightly. She was entrancing. Her appearance had changed significantly. And then, "The child of Gu has perished." The Sword Queen uttered with a flick of her swaying tail. At this remark, the person standing behind her opened their eyes. "Although they weren't a particularly gifted child, they weren't one to disappear so easily. It’s strange, wouldn’t you say?" "…" There was no response to her question. The person merely watched the Sword Queen in silence. As their eyes met, she smiled faintly. "Still as reserved as ever." He was quiet, aloof, always quietly carrying out his tasks, so she wasn’t surprised. The Sword Queen continued, gazing at the youth. "It's been a long time since a fallen one was killed. The last time was when Bijuu took out two in quick succession." The fallen sent to capture Bijuu came back utterly shattered, unrecognizable in form. Though technically alive, he was beyond saving and had to be discarded. This was the first such incident since then. "I happily sent for the child of the Tang Clan when I learned of their whereabouts. How terribly sad." She had her eye on that child. Their brilliant potential seemed necessary for the future’s sake. "…There must have been something else nearby." Not only the Tang Clan’s child but something else must have been present. That’s why the fallen had failed. This piqued the Sword Queen's curiosity. She wondered what kind of martial artist could have overcome a fallen. Given the power the fallen wielded, a martial artist defeating one was an impossibility. Such was the law of this world. Yet a fallen had died. There had never been a case of one’s existence disappearing like this before. It was an enigma. Thus, verification was needed. "Though the location of the death is somewhat far, can you go and check it out?" At her request, the youth finally spoke, his lips parting to respond. "Understood." "So you're finally speaking." "…" He closed his mouth again, but the Sword Queen didn’t take offense. To her, even that much was sufficient. After all, they stayed together only for mutual objectives. "I appreciate it." Quietly, the youth turned around. At his expressionless face, flames ignited from his toes. An ash-grey fire engulfed him, and once the blaze faded, he had disappeared from where he stood. "Hmm…" Watching him, the Sword Queen turned her head once more. "You can cry now." Kiaaaah! Kiaaah—!! The moment permission was granted, the creatures that had quieted erupted in wails once more. Despite the noise refilling the space, the Sword Queen remained unperturbed. In fact, she seemed comforted. The sounds allowed her to erase thoughts she didn’t want to entertain, making such noise a welcome veil. "Ah…" All the Sword Queen wished for was, "Soon…" For this ordeal to end so she could see her child again. It was all for that purpose, and she simply awaited and longed for that moment to come.