1298 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Rescuing the Poison Phoenix. After I set my mind on that, the first action I took was quite straightforward. “……What did you say?” First, I approached Namgung Jin to convey my intention. Whether he was being hard of hearing or merely feigning ignorance was unclear. When Namgung Jin, eyes wide with confusion, asked again, I replied. “Did you not hear? I said to come with me.” “……Me?” “Yes.” On the journey to rescue the Poison Phoenix, this time I wasn’t going alone. I intended to form a party. The first person I sought out was Namgung Jin. Of course. “Why me?” Namgung Jin didn’t seem to understand. And that was understandable. Even if I saw it, Namgung Jin didn’t seem exactly useful. Yet. “It’s because I need you.” It's not that he was useless right now, but he wasn’t lacking in necessity either. “No……” “We’ll leave it at that, and anyway, you’re coming.” “I……” Namgung Jin hesitated, his gaze shifting to Mi Hyoran. His look expressed both bewilderment and apparent regret; it was as if he was silently pleading not to be taken away. “…….” Mi Hyoran ignored his gaze. Instead, she asked me a question without looking at Namgung Jin. “Is Namgung Jin needed?” “Yes.” “……What’s the reason?” “I can't say.” “…….” My bold and shameless answer made Mi Hyoran’s expression sour. There was nothing else to say. I found explanations tedious and unnecessary. I just needed to drag Namgung Jin along. With that thought in mind, as I looked at him. “Namgung Jin.” “……Yes.” Mi Hyoran called to Namgung Jin. His shoulders shuddered in response to her words. “……Can you help him, Baek Yangcheon?” “…….” At Mi Hyoran’s request, Namgung Jin’s eyes wavered briefly. “……I’ll go……” “…….” He had been refusing, questioning why he had to go, but one request from Mi Hyoran, and he agreed? ‘Crazy fellow.’ How should I interpret this? At that moment. ‘Ah.’ I quickly looked back. There stood Young Lady Hyun, observing the situation with indifferent eyes. “…….” The sight of her immediately prompted me to throw a punch. Thwack-! “……Ack!?” Startled, Namgung Jin groaned from the unexpected hit. He looked at me with eyes questioning why I struck him. “Oh, sorry. Got suddenly irritated.” “……What?” “Anyway, you’re coming with us.” I forgot that I was low on energy and didn’t knock him out. I controlled my strength right before the strike. If I had used my physical strength in this weakened state, his head might have cracked. Ignoring him, I approached Young Lady Hyun. “Let’s go.” “Okay.” She shrugged indifferently and followed me. “…….” “…….” As we walked in silence, an awkward, uncomfortable calm settled between us. Then suddenly, a laugh came from beside me. “Fufu.” Young Lady Hyun was laughing. I squinted my eyes at her words. “What? Why are you laughing?” “Just, how cautious you seemed was amusing.” “……What?” Who exactly was supposed to be cautious here? Even with a look of discontent, I gazed at her. She continued laughing. “Why do you keep laughing? I wasn’t being cautious.” “Oh, sure, I totally trust that expression.” “…….” Tch. I clicked my tongue and expelled a sigh, ready to dismiss the conversation when Young Lady Hyun stepped forward and blocked my path. “Don’t worry about it.” With an oddly refreshing expression, she spoke to me. “What, did you think I’d be shaken by things like that?” “……No. That’s not it.” “Don’t worry about it. The future is set anyway.” “…….” A predetermined future. Her words seemed to sit unpleasantly within me. Even in this situation, she implied, regardless, Namgung Jin would marry her. It felt as though the result wouldn’t change, prompting me to speak. “Is there any meaning in obtaining something that way?” There’s no love between them. The same goes for Namgung Jin and Young Lady Hyun. Does it not matter despite that? “Oh my?” My words seemed to surprise Young Lady Hyun, displaying a change in her expression. “What’s that? Are you worried for me?” “……What’s there to worry about?” “Ah, you’re not, are you.” As if realizing something, she chuckled. “Are you worried about your dear daughter-in-law? But actually, it would be better if you weren’t blocking that?” “…….” “Just joking. Put down those fists.” Seeing my clenched fists from irritation, Young Lady Hyun quickly created distance. As she continued to walk ahead of me, in quick little steps. “Really, it’s okay, so don’t worry about it. Besides, I have nothing to insult others for…” “…….” Her words, said with a hint of self-mockery, brought Namgung Bi-ah’s face to mind. Truly, there wasn’t a more chaotic family. ‘A mess.’ With a deep sigh, I approached Young Lady Hyun. “Can I ask you something?” “You can ask two things.” “……About what was loaned to Namgung Jin. Can it be retrieved?” “Who might ‘that guy’ be? I can’t tell without a name.” “…….” “Okay, I get it. You’re impatient.” I really almost hit her. She then coughed lightly, nodding. “I don’t really know what was loaned. I only know something was, but it was by her will, and I don’t know if it can be reclaimed.” “…….” So it was Namgung Bi-ah who loaned something to Namgung Jin, as I suspected. But why did she do so? “Is she still asleep?” “Yes. Sleeping deeply.” “……Tsk.” “Oh, was the reason you wanted to take Namgung Jin because of that?” “…….” Young Lady Hyun seemed to have caught on to my intention. Yes. Part of the reason for taking Namgung Jin was related to Namgung Bi-ah. “……True devotion, isn’t it?” “It’s not…” “A man should only see one woman, right?” “…….” I bit my tongue. My conscience felt a prickle with her words. Young Lady Hyun’s expression briefly contorted at my silence. “……What’s with that look?” “What do you mean?” “You’re putting on a face that’s really, really annoying. What is it? Do you possibly have more than one woman aside from ours?” “Let’s move on to the next topic.” "Hey." Young Lady Hyun addressed me with informal speech, but I ignored it. Damn, this is why overly perceptive people are troublesome. * * * "……Baek Yangcheon." The next person I sought was Tang Cheongi, the Poison Dragon. Looking pale and unsteady, he seemed to have just gathered his wits as he looked at me. "You look a mess." I chuckled as I spoke, and Tang Cheongi clenched his fist. Although it wounded his pride, it was only for a moment. Tang Cheongi once again approached me, attempting to kneel before me like before. "Whoa, what are you doing?" I quickly caught his arm and helped him up. "Don't kneel. It's unsightly." "……Please, you must save my sister…." "Whoa, whoa. I got it. I’ll save her, so just stand up." "……What?" "I'm saying I’ll save her. Your sister." "……!" Upon hearing my words, Tang Cheongi's eyes widened like saucers. He immediately stood up and grabbed me by the collar. "I asked you to stand, not grab me by the collar—" "Is it true…? Are you really… going to save my sister?" His eyes pleaded desperately. Why is he looking at me like that when he isn’t even sure if I can do it? ‘This is burdensome.’ The trust placed in you always has a way of burrowing deep into your soul. Having only encountered disappointment in life, trust affected me that way. "……Didn't I say I would?" "……Ah…." Upon hearing this, he slumped down. "What makes you so confident? I only said I’d try. I’m usually the type who doesn't speak about my plans to others…." "……Who are these others?" "Huh?" "No one else stepped forward. It was only you… only you who took action." "……." Tang Cheongi’s words brought some clarity. ‘Is that so?’ The others. It meant that no one in this hideout stepped up to rescue the Poison Phoenix, in defiance of my father’s orders. In contrast. ‘……It wasn’t intentional, I suppose.’ When I stepped up to help save those at the Poison Phoenix's original hideout. Tang Cheongi must have been making a comparison to that. However, even with that said. "It was an unavoidable situation." Blaming those who didn’t act for the Poison Phoenix is futile. "I didn’t act for your sister back then either." When you think about it, I was stepping up to save Tang Cheongi. "Don’t get it twisted. There’s no reason for anyone to step up for others." And certainly no reason to be disappointed about something like that. "……." Tang Cheongi knew this too. Despite being part of the orthodox faction, if he had experienced this messed-up world long enough, he couldn’t possibly be unaware. Hearing my words, Tang Cheongi clenched his fist. He probably understood better than anyone that what I said was true. Watching him, I said. "Then save her yourself. Don't just rely on me." "……What?" Tang Cheongi raised his head at my words. "Let's go together. Are you coming or not?" "……What can I possibly do there…?" "What are you saying, you fool? After all that talk about how precious she is, are you really going to leave it all in my hands?" "……." When I taunted him, strength returned to Tang Cheongi's gaze. "Speak clearly. Do you want me to take you along?" "……Take me, please…." "Nice." I nodded in agreement to his words. In no time, I grabbed him by the collar. "……!?" Initially startled by my sudden grip on his collar, Tang Cheongi momentarily panicked. "Gugh!" And just like that, I unceremoniously draped him over my shoulder as if dressing him in a piece of clothing. Though he reacted in pain, I simply disregarded it. "Now we’re all set." I had gathered all the members. Now. "Let’s move out." To rescue the Poison Phoenix. Or rather. ‘Let’s give my father a lesson.’ It was time to give my father a piece of my mind.