1268 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

"What did you just say?" I asked again, thinking I might have heard wrong, but Mi Hyo Ran calmly explained as if I heard correctly. "I said that an apostle attacked—." "No, not that part. Which apostle are you talking about?" "..." I had heard about the apostle's attack long ago. What mattered to me most was which apostle it was. If I heard correctly... "Did you say Geomryong (Sword Dragon)?" Geomryong. There is only one Geomryong I know of in this world. "Are you saying that Nam Goong Jin became an apostle?" Geomryong Nam Goong Jin. It meant that man had become an apostle. "...Yes." After a brief silence, Mi Hyo Ran reluctantly admitted it. It meant I hadn’t heard wrong. '...Did he really become an apostle too?' Nam Goong Jin becoming an apostle? 'It's not that surprising, is it?' Honestly, it wasn’t a big revelation. When I heard my father had become an apostle, I was surprised, but Nam Goong Jin becoming one wasn't that shocking to me. 'I suppose he could.' Considering the Nam Goong Jin I knew, it wasn’t entirely out of character. So, this part was understandable. 'Then why is Mi Hyo Ran reacting like that?' Mi Hyo Ran’s reaction to Nam Goong Jin becoming an apostle was odd. There was a hint of hesitation and guilt. 'Really?' I narrowed my eyes at the thought of Mi Hyo Ran feeling guilty about Nam Goong Jin. 'Something’s off?' This was strange. The mismatched pieces were slowly coming together. 'Is that it?' The reason Mi Hyo Ran abandoned her hideout and came all this way. The unnecessary action of seeking help elsewhere. Could it be... "Did you come here because of Nam Goong Jin?" "No, that's not it." Mi Hyo Ran immediately denied my words, but... 'Her eyes are evasive, aren't they?' She was avoiding my gaze. 'What?' What's happening in this situation? It wasn’t enough that Mi Hyo Ran felt guilty towards Nam Goong Jin—did it compel her to move as well? It was unthinkable. At least, in my understanding of things. "What on earth is going on..." "It's too late. Let's go inside. Staying here any longer could be dangerous." Mi Hyo Ran ignored my question and started walking. Her refusal to answer was palpably strong. "...Huh." I sighed at the sight. Mi Hyo Ran walked ahead briskly, and I narrowed my eyes while following her. * * * As we reached the entrance of the cave, there were people standing just like in other places. The person in the front reacted immediately upon seeing us and raised a hand to halt us, hand on their sword. "...Stop ri—" The moment they were about to speak, the guard recognized Mi Hyo Ran’s face. "Mi So Danju...?" "It's been a while." "Why are you—" "I came after receiving a letter from the Divisional Commander of the Divine Dragon Unit. I heard you needed help." "...Ah..." "Is a procedure necessary? Then I'll wait." "No." The guard quickly replied to Mi Hyo Ran’s words. "I’ll contact the Divisional Commander immediately." "Please do." The guard then entered the cave. At that moment, I stood in front of the cave and looked around. We had arrived not long after passing through the vines. The distance wasn't that far, but... 'The terrain is vastly different.' Unlike Mi Hyo Ran's hideout built on a field, this was a large forest with a hideout hidden within the vines. 'It seems safer, but...' The fact that such a place was attacked eventually means it doesn’t make much difference, does it? 'Hmm.' While taking in information by gazing around, I heard a voice from afar. "Thank you for coming all this way." I turned my gaze upon hearing the voice. There was a familiar face. 'Tae Ho An...' He was the Divisional Commander of the Divine Dragon Unit. It wasn’t long since I saw him last, but... 'What happened?’ Something about him had changed. I squinted at Tae Ho An's body. 'His arm and eye...' His left arm was missing, and he wore an eyepatch over his left eye. It seemed much had happened in a year. "I honestly didn't expect anyone to come. I'm surprised we've received help. Moreover..." Tae Ho An’s eyes turned to me. "So, kept your face for long. Wasn’t your name Baek Yang Cheon?" "That's right." "Haha. You're alive." When people look at me, that's the first thing they say. It's not surprising anymore. "Please, come in." Tae Ho An asked no more questions and instead began to guide us. Once inside the cave, I was even more surprised. 'Why is it so spacious?' The cave interior was much more expansive than I anticipated. The place where there were beehives was cramped by comparison. 'This is like...' It was similar to the space where Mo Yong Hee Ah had gathered survivors before. That was in Mt. Tai, and it's surprising such an underground space exists here. 'And as for the people—' The place wasn't crowded with people when we passed through. There were signs of life here and there, but not many. While I gauged all this as we walked, "The others are currently receiving treatment, which is why you don't see them upstairs." Tae Ho An seemed to understand my curiosity and addressed it. "There are quite a few seriously injured people, so treating them where they're visible is impractical." "...I see." "We’ve arrived. Please come in." Tae Ho An led us into a space built into one side of the cave wall. Inside, it wasn't as large in comparison to the main cave. It was a simple room with a few tables and chairs. "I'm sorry. I don't have much to offer. The situation being what it is." "It's okay." Everyone sat down once inside. As soon as we were seated, Mi Hyo Ran immediately got to the point. "I received the letter. You mentioned that an apostle attack is scheduled." "...Yes." An apostle attack was scheduled. I furrowed my brow at those words. 'Scheduled?' What did that mean? I continued to listen. "...Is it the same apostle as last time?" "Can't be certain. It's merely a guess. But it could be someone from our hideout..." "No... That won't be the case. Chu Young Yeon is dead." "What?" At Mi Hyo Ran's words, Tae Ho An's eyes widened. "...What do you mean?" "Exactly as I said. The apostle Chu Young Yeon is dead... Baek Gong Ja took care of it." Tae Ho An turned to look at me after hearing about Chu Young Yeon's death. His eyes asked if it was true. "...Ah, yes. That's how it happened." "How did..." I was about to say I just caught and beat him, but then... "Baek Gong Ja has a special power that allows him to capture apostles. That's why he hasn't shown himself over the past year." '...Huh?' Mi Hyo Ran suddenly made an unexpected claim. It was contrary to what I was thinking. 'What's she up to?' It was peculiar, but I decided to let it play out. "A power to capture apostles?" Tae Ho An looked at me with eyes full of curiosity. "Is it true, Baek Gong Ja?" "...Ah, yes... well..." I glanced at Mi Hyo Ran. She was looking at me with a neutral gaze, as if telling me to make my own choice. "...That's correct." For now, I went along with it. I figured there must be a reason, so it was best to wait and see. "A power to capture apostles like that. How did you obtain it?" Tae Ho An's eyes were urgent as he asked how I came to have such power. I quickly racked my brain for answers. But, what to say...? '...Will I be able to keep a straight face?' It didn't seem likely. If mishandled, it could end up worse than saying nothing. While hesitating with such thoughts... "I'm reluctant to disclose how I obtained it. However..." I managed to say. Additionally— A bright flame ignited. "What's this...?" I drew Tae Ho An's attention by letting Baek Yeom (White Flame) burn in my hand. "...This is the power effective against apostles." "...And what is it exactly?" "It doesn't have a specific name. I've been loosely calling it Baek Yeom... Apparently, it's effective against apostles." "...This flame, you say?" "Yes." I held it and clasped Tae Ho An's hand with it. "...!" Tae Ho An flinched at my action. "Ka?" Realizing it had no effect on him, his eyes widened. "It has no effect on ordinary people. It's a power that only works on apostles." This explanation wasn’t a lie either. In reality, Baek Yeom was useless against ordinary objects and humans. Having explained Baek Yeom, Mi Hyo Ran interjected, as if she had been waiting. "That's why I brought Baek Gong Ja here. So if you have any information, please share it." "...." "This attack... Is Geomryong scheduled to come? And." Mi Hyo Ran asked with serious eyes. "If Geomryong is planning to attack this place for the third time, what is the reason?" The reason. Why would Geomryong attack this place? ...Is there such a reason? Tae Ho An furrowed his brow after hearing Mi Hyo Ran’s question. "...Mi So Danju." "Truly." Mi Hyo Ran interrupted Tae Ho An as he was about to speak. "Do you not know the whereabouts of Hyeon So Jeo?" [TLN: Namgung Jin's fiancée if you've forgotten] Frozen. Hyeon So Jeo. The mention of that name froze not only Tae Ho An but also me.