1280 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

I treated the wounds I received from the battle with Cheolhyun Buseon. To be honest, it wasn’t much of a treatment. He simply used his energy to enhance his regenerative powers. Thankfully, since he wasn’t in a human body, even somewhat severe injuries healed quickly enough. ‘…Ah, what a waste of energy.’ At the end of the day, I still had to use energy. A considerable amount of it drained away once again. ‘Looks like I’ll need to hunt more demons.’ Devouring two or three wasn't enough. Unless I regenerated, I had to always make sure his energy was fully replenished. ‘…How on earth do I return to my original body?’ The inability to regenerate was the real issue, which I had to resolve first. ‘What am I supposed to do…?’ If I knew how, would I still be lingering around like this? The only lead I had was from mother. ‘She told me to find a snake.’ Out of nowhere, she mentioned finding a snake. What on earth was she referring to with that? What kind of snake? ‘…Sigh.’ A few possibilities came to mind, but which one it was, he wasn’t certain. Even so. ‘Things that shouldn't exist in this world.’ The first thought was the snake he saw in Sichuan. The mysterious snake from the Golden Celestial Record. Seeking out that snake again seemed the only sensible lead he had. If not that. ‘Find a serpent-like monster among the higher-ranked magical creatures, either red or white.’ Naturally, it wouldn't be a blue creature. Perhaps among the superior ones? This notion crossed my mind. ‘This is all guesswork too.’ It wasn't a solid lead. It too was just an assumption without any concrete evidence. ‘If acquiring that could solve everything, it would be nice.’ If it didn’t, it would be yet another problem. ‘Tch.’ I couldn’t afford to spend my time without energy forever. I needed to resolve this quickly somehow. ‘For that,’ Escaping this damned world was the utmost priority. I knew all of that, but, ‘Nothing ever goes as planned.’ My life never worked out the way I wanted. “Does that mean there’s no memory of acting as a heretic?” “…Yes.” I was facing Namgung Jin who had just woken up. Namgung Jin had regained consciousness approximately half an hour ago. Led by Tae Hoan and Mi Hyoran, they were extracting information from Namgung Jin. However, “…I see. If there’s no memory at all, then there's nothing we can extract.” Namgung Jin claimed he remembered nothing from his time as a heretic. “...Do you truly remember nothing?” Mi Hyoran inquired, to which Namgung Jin nodded. “…I'm sorry.” “…Ah.” Mi Hyoran brushed her forehead, observing him attentively. ‘Hmm.’ There wasn’t even any torture involved. It was merely a sequence of questions. Yet, ‘The reaction from the others isn’t exactly favorable.’ Several people were casting hostile glares. There were even some who shouted at Namgung Jin. They were likely those who lost comrades to him as a heretic. Would they stand by idly? I doubted it. Sure enough, “…It makes no sense that there’s no information.” “Exactly. Shouldn’t we extract it through torture?” Some, suspecting Namgung Jin of hiding the truth, demanded torture. “Stay calm. While it’s not off the table entirely, it’s not the time to resort to that.” Tae Hoan dismissed their demands. Perhaps he didn’t wish to torture someone no longer a heretic? ‘No.’ I felt it wasn’t as simple as that. He didn’t strike me as an individual who would pursue such hollow justice either. “Master Namgung.” It was then Mi Hyoran spoke up. “Do you really remember nothing?” “That is…true.” “Not even when you saved me?” “….” Namgung Jin hesitated at Mi Hyoran’s words. “I remember that. Because it was before I became a heretic.” Namgung Jin recalled the time when he saved Mi Hyoran. Around the time heretics appeared, he became one in order to rescue her. “But after becoming a heretic, those memories are lost.” “That is correct…” “Understood.” With that, Mi Hyoran stood up. “…Hold on…” Turning her back, she walked toward the entrance. As if exhausted from the questioning, she spoke as she passed by. “Would you spare me a moment?” “….” Upon hearing her, I glanced at her briefly. ‘Hmm.’ It seemed she noticed something too. * * * I followed Mi Hyoran to a corner of the cave. At a distance, I saw her stopping. As soon as I saw her, I spread my energy shield. Wooong-!! Inside the small energy barrier, Mi Hyoran looked at me. “Thank you for coming.” “Oh, it’s nothing. I came because you called me.” “Young Master Baek.” “Yes.” “Master Namgung is hiding something.” Mi Hyoran stated bluntly. I quietly nodded at her words. “I agree, it seems that way.” “….” Mi Hyoran looked at me with slightly widened eyes. “When did you realize that…?” “Well, perhaps around the time Namgung Jin woke up and I had to knock him out again?” “How…” “He had a revealing expression; there was no need for further confirmation.” “….” “I thought Miss Mi would notice too.” I scratched my cheek lightly and asked her. “Why are you telling me this?” I expected her to realize it too. Since I anticipated she would. But why was she telling me this specifically? Sensing there might be a reason behind it, I asked. “…Because I thought Young Master Baek might know of a way.” “A way?” “Yes.” “What kind of way? Ah.” Perhaps. “Are you talking about a way to get Namgung Jin to confess?” “….” Mi Hyoran did not deny it. Seeing this, I laughed softly. “Ah, well. I wouldn’t have such means.” “Do you really not?” “Hmm.” I contemplated not whether I had a method or not, but rather, I pondered briefly on whether to respond truthfully or with falsehood. The decision didn't take long though, and I opted for the truth. "Well then…" However, "But I have no intention of using that on Namgung Jin." "Why not…?" Mi Hyoran looked taken aback by my answer. I found her reaction quite intriguing. "The methods I know involve breaking things or crushing them to extract information. Do you think it's okay to use that on Namgung Jin?" This wasn’t about simple torture. What I could do made basic torture seem like child’s play. It was a life I had lived. "…What do you mean." Despite my explanation, Mi Hyoran still appeared flustered. "It seems unlikely you didn’t know. Why are you so desperate?" I couldn’t understand her. Though thinking I might know a way was a good judgment, she surely didn’t believe that method would positively impact Namgung Jin. Yet, she seemed eager for any solution. "What is it you’re hoping for?" "It's not hope. I just wish Master Namgung would share what he knows." "And you don't care about what happens to Namgung Jin as a result?" "…." "Is that really the case? While people can be like that, Miss Mi doesn't strike me as someone so cold-hearted." Maybe someone like Moyong Hi-ah could. If it were her, she likely wouldn’t have believed someone who had been a heretic in the first place. And if they became human, she would have relentlessly confirmed it or extracted information. To the point of being ruthless and brutal. Yet if it was the path for her comrades, she would have walked it willingly. ‘But Mi Hyoran isn't in that situation.’ A group now divided due to the existence of heretics. They battled not just against monsters but also their once-comrades. Despite understanding her unstable state due to many considerations, “Just out of curiosity.” I noticed something unusual about her. “Your emphasis on my ability to turn heretics back to humans and the insistence on extracting information from Namgung Jin. Is it because of…” I glared at Mi Hyoran as I asked. “The Blue Dragon Deputy Lord?” “…” Her body stiffened. Mentioning father elicited such a reaction. ‘Well then.’ Noticing her honest response, I scratched my head. ‘Is what Namgung Jin might know related to her father?’ It seemed so to Mi Hyoran. Moreover, ‘Considering how she brought up her father when I mentioned I could turn heretics back into humans.’ It was evident that her father's issue was occupying her mind. Suddenly, I felt a bit sorry for Namgung Jin. Though she undoubtedly felt some guilt towards him, it seemed her father's matter took precedence. Even so, "It feels a bit too much." Her instability and lack of resilience didn’t paint her too favorably. "…" "I'm not defending Namgung Jin. It’s not like I have particularly positive feelings towards him either. Still… it seems like your priorities have shifted.” Briefly, Namgung Jin had overlapped with how I used to be. And for that moment, I resented Mi Hyoran a bit. "That's enough." "Mr. Baek…" I said as I brushed past her. She almost tried to stop me. "Either way, I have my own matters to tend to. I need to do what I've set to do." With an emotionless expression, I widened the distance between us. Her request was slightly muddled, but it was something I needed to do regardless. I returned to the space where Namgung Jin was. Tae Hoan was still with him. “Hey.” Ignoring him, I approached Namgung Jin directly. “…?” As Namgung Jin focused his gaze on me approaching, Thump—! "Guh?!" I grabbed him by the throat and lifted him. “Ugh!” "Since I’m in a generous mood, I’ll ask three questions. You just need to answer one of them." I looked at the struggling Namgung Jin, and asked. "First one." “Ughhhh…” "Where is Miss Hyun?" Namgung Jin responded by squirming, not saying a word. "Second." Noticing his reaction, I asked another question. "Are there more heretics coming here?" "Uh… I…" Still no answer. Then the third. “If you don’t answer, I’ll break your neck.” I warned him and asked. “Is the soul you possess related to Miss Hyun?” “……!!” Namgung Jin’s eyes widened. Bullseye.