Childhood Friend of the Zenith

This memory.

It is about a promise made at some point.

A story from a time when things were less than they are now.

We were both young.

A time when we didn’t know anything, watching the falling snow, and the memory of when we didn’t hate it.

[The princess read about this in a book this time.

][Oh, really?

]Even though I spoke to her every day, she only responded as if it was bothersome.

Still, the girl was happy and kept talking to the boy.

[They say people from Zhongyuan are really impressive.

][Suddenly?

]When the girl brought up Zhongyuan, the boy showed a bit of reaction.

The girl knew.

It was a reaction born from the boy not being able to hide his irritation.

But it was okay.

Even this kind of conversation, the girl was fine with it.

[It said so in the book.

][What book did you read this time?

][Meeting the most beautiful woman in Zhongyuan, the first daughter of the Binggong family.

][...

]This was the name of a book the maids secretly enjoyed reading.

It was a book the girl had recently been very immersed in.

Upon hearing this, the boy frowned, as if he had heard something wrong.

[Isn’t that a banned item?

]Things related to Zhongyuan were prohibited from being brought to the North Sea.

So the boy asked if this was such a case.

[Ah!

]The girl shouted at the boy as if she was suddenly angry.

[This was written directly in the North Sea!

It’s not something from Zhongyuan!

][Oh, right.

]Just as the boy was about to brush it off, he couldn’t help but ask, as if something was on his mind.

[...

So, why does your speech sound like that?

][Hm?

Does it sound strange?

][Very.

][But it said so in the book…]She had tried to imitate the words spoken by the bloodline in the book.

But it seemed that it didn’t sound right.

[Where do they ever speak like that?

][The first daughter in the book said it like that.

]It was a warm, somewhat lewd story about a cold, aloof man from Binggong who changed after meeting a woman from Zhongyuan.

The male protagonist’s personality was like that in the story.

Suddenly remembering a line, the girl spoke with a serious expression.

[You are the first woman who has treated me like this.

]It was a line written just like that.

And then, there was definitely the line.

[Will you marry me?

][...

]After hearing those words, the boy froze for a moment and then looked at the girl in disbelief.

Then, as if he had something to say, he started moving his mouth.

But…[Ah!

It’s snowing.

]The boy couldn’t say what he wanted to.

The girl, excited once again by the snow falling from the sky, distracted him.

[Look, Cheong-ah!

It’s snowing!

][...

Yeah, it’s snow.

]At her excited words, the boy could only smile bitterly.

[You didn’t even wait for an answer.

Then why did you ask?

][Huh?

What?

][Nothing, nothing.

]Laughing it off.

I am not someone who should be aiming for anything.

That’s what the boy thought again.

[The snow is pretty today, huh?

][Yeah.

]The girl looked at the snow.

[It’s pretty.

]The boy was looking at the girl, who resembled the snow.

Yes.

This was the memory from when the falling snow was not hated.

Breaking through the blizzard, I kept walking.

How much time had passed?

It must have been about one hour or so.

I continued walking on the snow.

Naturally, no footprints were left in the snow.

Woo-woo-wooo-!

I turned my gaze in response to the vibration I felt in my chest.

The speed wasn’t particularly fast.

‘It’s not easy to move while feeling the vibration.

’Though my mind was in a hurry, it wasn’t easy to control.

It was the first time I had tried this method.

The vibration coming from the Thunder Fang of Namgung Bi-ah, somewhere far away.

I had to keep feeling the vibration coming from that.

It was faint but clear.

A contradictory sensation, but that was exactly how it felt.

This was a power I had realized after living these past few years, post-shedding my skin.

I could feel the aura of a magical artifact.

To be more specific.

‘I can only feel the magical artifacts I’ve used.

’If I had experienced the effect of the artifact firsthand, I could sense it when I wanted to.

How did I realize this?

‘…I figured it out while looking for something I had lost.

’I had once lost the mask given to me by the Shadow King.

After desperately trying to find it, I accidentally figured out this method.

When I asked the Shadow King about it, he said something.

‘It might be a dragon trait.

’I didn’t know much about it.

What exactly were dragons?

It seemed like they were living with such traits attached to them.

If I had to think of a reason.

‘It’s because the magical artifacts originally came from dragons.

’All the white-grade beasts were referred to as dragons.

And the early magical artifacts were all things that they had spat out.

Perhaps that’s why I was able to do this.

I could only guess.

I’d need to meet another dragon to understand for sure.

‘Oh, I’ve met one.

’The Shadow King, who was turning into a dragon due to the curse.

And the form of the princess I had just encountered was similar.

If it wasn’t them.

A red-eyed figure flashed through my mind.

‘Blood Demon.

’Three encounters with the Blood Demon.

In those meetings, it had said things that made me suspect it was a dragon.

Moreover, I still remembered the words the Blood Demon had spoken.

‘Something about the Dragon Emperor,’ I think.

What did that mean?

Was it just referring to the leader of dragons?

Or was there something else?

And was that referring to the Blood Demon?

‘Since the Blood Demon got it from the Blood Demon, it must be him.

’Then, does that mean the Blood Demon is the leader of dragons?

‘I have to figure out the meaning of that too.

’Of course, it wasn’t the time to be thinking about that.

As I was walking, following the energy, I heard a voice behind me.

“Vioe-gun would never do that.

”It was the voice that had been muttering since earlier.

After hearing that, I let out a slight sigh.

“…Vioe-gun.

”“You’ve said that over ten times.

Close your mouth.

It’s annoying.

”“...

”Finally, it quieted down.

I had to focus, but it kept muttering, which distracted me.

I felt my head lower.

A feeling of melancholy reached me.

“I begged so much to be taken along, and now that I’ve brought you, why are you like this?

”The person I was carrying wasn’t anyone else, but Yu-ri, the little princess of the North Sea.

After we had met at the cave entrance.

We were now traveling together, though not exactly as companions.

“At least you said you wouldn’t be a burden, so why are you acting like one?

”“Ha, but…!

The prince told me to get on your back…!

”“He told you to get on because you can’t even walk properly.

If you had done well, would I have told you to get on my back?

”"...

"Balancing one’s internal energy is about adjusting it delicately in any situation, ensuring mobility remains unimpeded.

When stepping on water or snow, precise control and a significant amount of energy are required.

It was a feat impossible for someone of Yuri’s level, who, even as a first-class martial artist, lacked such refined control.

And so, I carried her on my back.

“Normally, I’d have just left her at the entrance.

”The conversation I overheard at the entrance had been the problem.

Desperately, Yuri had insisted that Vioe-gun wasn’t like that, that he had made a promise to her, and therefore he wouldn’t do such a thing.

It had piqued my curiosity, so I decided to listen.

It seemed related to Woo Hyuk, which caught my interest.

“This is getting a bit tangled.

”Things were becoming a bit of a hassle.

I glanced at Yuri, still on my back, and said,"Let me repeat: I’m not heading to find the Vioe-gun you’re talking about.

"When I asked Yuri what promise she had made with Vioe-gun, she didn’t answer.

Instead, she looked at me and said,[“Please, take me with you.

I’m begging you…”]Where exactly did she think I was going to make her plead so desperately?

"...

I understand that.

" "But why are you asking me to take you?

"I asked, changing direction.

I hadn’t said I was going to meet Woo Hyuk.

I had clearly stated I was just leaving.

Yet Yuri, having realized I intended to go somewhere after stepping outside, had clung to the hem of my pants.

"And why did you take me out in the first place, Young Master?

""Hm.

"Why had I taken her with me?

I thought about it for a moment.

The answer wasn’t hard to find.

"Good question.

"Even I wasn’t entirely sure.

"Pardon?

""Now that I think about it, there wasn’t any real need to bring you along.

"Frankly, she was an unnecessary companion.

Whether I was moving covertly or traveling long distances, Yuri’s presence was more of a hindrance than anything.

Despite knowing all this, I had taken her with me because she had pleaded so earnestly.

If I had to give a reason…"It’s just… you looked so desperately sincere.

"It was a reason as simple as it gets.

Her voice, so desperate in its search for Woo Hyuk, wasn’t something I could ignore.

The hope in her eyes, even though they carried disbelief, had been hard to overlook.

So, I brought her along.

"...

For just that reason?

""Call it the misfortune of having the wrong friend," I said with a chuckle.

It was a pitiful life, having only a handful of people I could call friends—and not even enough to fill one hand.

The suffering I endured was all because of one of those rare friends.

"So, what promise did you make with him?

""...

""You’re still not going to tell me?

"It was the third time I’d asked.

What promise could have made her believe so firmly that Woo Hyuk wouldn’t act otherwise?

I was curious, but once again…"...

"Yuri remained silent.

She had no intention of answering.

Watching her, I said,"If you don’t answer, I’ll leave you here.

Are you sure you still won’t talk?

""…!

"The threat made Yuri flinch.

What would happen if I really left her here?

It wouldn’t be a good situation, that much was certain.

And Yuri was surely aware of that.

Still, she merely tightened her grip on my clothing, refusing to answer.

“She’s not saying a word.

”Was she so sure I wouldn’t actually leave her behind?

I briefly entertained the idea of throwing her off and walking away, but decided to let it go for now.

"Fine.

Then at least tell me what your relationship with that guy is.

Surely you can answer that much.

"What was the connection between Yuri and Woo Hyuk?

To cry so desperately… there had to be something there.

"Could it be that you’re… lovers or—""We’re friends.

Very old friends.

""I see.

"Friends, huh?

Very old friends, at that.

“The princess and Woo Hyuk are friends.

”How long ago could that have been?

I’d heard that Woo Hyuk was from the North Sea, but to think he and the princess were childhood friends was unexpected.

“Oh, now that I think about it.

”Something Woo Hyuk once said came to mind.

"So, do you know who that guy’s fiancée is?

""…Pardon?

"It was something Woo Hyuk had mentioned at one point.

He had said he had a fiancée.

“At the time, I wondered what kind of monk even has a fiancée.

”I’d thought she must be someone from Zhongyuan, but now, considering the circumstances…“Could it be someone from the North Sea?

”The thought crossed my mind.

Of course, whatever the case may be,“What good would a fiancée be at this point?

”It was mere idle curiosity about something I’d heard in passing.

But then…"What… what do you mean by that?

""Hm?

""His fiancée?

"Yuri’s voice was anything but calm as she repeated my words.