Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Ghost Spear A member of the Ghost Sword Unit, and one of the rare female demons.

Despite being a spearman like Tang Deok, she was an unusual case of a spearman belonging to the Ghost Sword Unit.

As her name suggests, the Ghost Sword Unit was a group led by Sword Demon, composed of swordsmen under his command.

The presence of a spearman in such a group implied two things: First: “She must possess exceptional skills to justify her inclusion.

” Second: “She must be insane enough for the Ghost Sword Unit to accept her.

” Ghost Spear fulfilled both criteria.

[“Kya-hahahahaha!!!

”] The Witch of the Battlefield.

Watching her pierce through warriors or slash them apart with her long spear was nothing short of terrifying.

She was always drenched in blood, her gaze wandering like a predator in search of prey—an evil spirit incarnate.

Her abilities were evident.

She was a master capable of single-handedly annihilating three elite units from the Martial Alliance with just her spear.

Her spear techniques were so brutal that she earned the prefix "Ghost " in her name, making her a perfect match for the Ghost Sword Unit.

If there was a problem, however, it would be: “Her quarrels with the Green King .

” If Sword Demon had conflicts with the Demon Sword Queen, Ghost Spear frequently clashed with the Green King.

“Well, to be fair, the Green King caused trouble everywhere, so he always had enemies.

” There was even a time when he provoked me and got beaten to a pulp.

And another time when the Green King and Sword Demon fought to the death, only for the Heavenly Demon to intervene and utterly devastate the scene.

Given that history, it wasn’t surprising that Ghost Spear and the Green King didn’t get along.

But what was surprising was: “This lunatic didn’t have any conflicts with anyone else except the Green King.

” Unlike Sword Demon or the Green King, this crazy woman somehow managed to avoid friction with others.

Yet, she repeatedly fought tooth and nail with the Green King...

“And she’s still alive.

That’s the most surprising part.

” The Green King is one of the Demon Cult’s Lords.

No matter how skilled Ghost Spear may be, she wasn’t on the same level as the Green King or Sword Demon.

And yet, the fact that she kept surviving those fights meant...

“Did the Green King spare her?

” It was puzzling.

The Green King was known for ruthlessly killing women, elders, and even children, tearing them apart.

Why would he repeatedly spare her?

“...

Whatever the reason, I don’t care.

” The past didn’t matter.

What was important now was: “I need to make use of her.

” In this life, I had to utilize Ghost Spear.

“Damn it.

” Frankly, I had no idea how to make use of a lunatic like her.

But there was no other choice.

“I don’t have enough intel to act otherwise.

” The group I was currently assembling was based on the information I retained from my past life.

In other words: “I can only work with those I know from my previous life.

” Over the past three years, I had been carefully selecting and corrupting individuals, turning them into demons only if they fit my criteria—those who had been useful or active during this period in my previous life.

Ghost Spear was one of them.

“Ugh...!

H-Harder...!

” “...

” The eerie voice from beneath my feet prompted me to instinctively swing my leg.

Smack!

“Guh!

” Bong Soon’s head was struck, sending her flying and rolling across the ground.

Damn, I hit her a bit too hard.

“I lost control because of how creepy she is.

” She tumbled and eventually hit a rock, groaning in pain.

Nearby, Seong Yul staggered to his feet, his hair disheveled.

Seeing this ridiculous sight, I let out a dry laugh.

“A lord reduced to this state...

” To see Seong Yul—once Bong Soon’s lord in my past life—looking like this was truly absurd.

“Ugh...

” “What are you doing here?

” I questioned Seong Yul, who groaned and held his head as if suffering from a headache.

“I sensed an aura and came to investigate, but I was ambushed.

” “Aura?

” Hearing this, I immediately turned to Nahi.

“Didn’t you block the aura?

” “I apologize.

” Nahi immediately bowed in apology.

Her reaction made me chuckle.

“Why are you apologizing?

You blocked it properly.

” “...

” When I arrived here, I could sense traces of the aura being blocked.

Although the barrier was weak, it was clearly in place.

Nahi had already taken precautions.

Yet Seong Yul had managed to sense it.

“If he detected it despite the precautions, it’s not Nahi’s fault.

” “It’s not necessary to be so harsh.

This guy’s just unusual.

” Seong Yul’s sensitivity to auras was probably abnormally sharp.

Shaking my head, I turned toward Bong Soon.

For the record, I had given her the name Bong Soon.

When I first found her, she was like a wild animal without even a proper name.

So, I gave her one.

“Was that why you got ambushed?

” “Yes...

” “That’s not the whole story, is it?

” “...

” I pressed further, and Seong Yul hesitated to respond.

“Was that why you got ambushed?

” “Yes...

” “That’s not the whole story, is it?

” “...

” Seong Yul clamped his mouth shut at my rebuttal.

I already knew Bong Soon’s strength.

Even if she faced Seong Yul head-on, she wouldn’t lose easily.

If they were to engage in a life-or-death battle, Seong Yul would have a slight edge.

If he truly fought with the intent to kill, Seong Yul, armed with the Heavenly Killing Star (천살성), would come out on top.

Moreover, Bong Soon was currently restrained and exhausted, making it impossible for her to have ambushed Seong Yul.

Considering the circumstances...

“Why did you let her hit you?

” “...

” He let himself get hit knowingly.

That was the only logical conclusion.

I prodded further, watching as Seong Yul squirmed uncomfortably.

That confirmed it.

“So, you did let her hit you.

What’s the reason?

” “...

Well...

” Realizing he couldn’t avoid the question any longer, Seong Yul hesitated before finally answering.

“...

I just...

didn’t want to fight a woman...

” Bang!

“Gah!

” Without thinking, I smacked him over the head.

I couldn’t help myself.

“What kind of idiotic nonsense is that?

” “...

Ugh...

” Whether it was women, children, or anyone else, the Green King and Sword Demon showed no hesitation in cutting them down.

The more I looked at Seong Yul, the more ridiculous he seemed.

On top of that...

“Do you need a sword through your throat to snap out of it?

” His naive mindset was getting on my nerves.

“If you keep this up, you’ll die.

Get a grip.

” “...

Understood.

” Though he still looked confused, Seong Yul reluctantly nodded.

“This is why rookies with no real combat experience...

” Not wanting to fight because the opponent was a woman?

That was an answer I hadn’t heard in a long time.

For some righteous warriors, it might have been a reasonable response, but...

“That kind of thinking gets you killed.

” In all the wars I’d witnessed, everyone who thought like that ended up dead.

After seeing it happen time and time again, most people would change their mindset.

“Though I’ve always been like this...

” I tilted my head slightly and glanced at Bong Soon.

“Ugh...

It hurts...

” Apparently, she was still dazed from the blow to her head.

I frowned as she stumbled to her feet.

“...

I was trying to knock her out, but she’s still standing.

” I had feared I might have killed her by accident because I hit her harder than intended.

My original plan was to knock her unconscious, yet Bong Soon was up and moving as if nothing had happened.

She then fixed her violet eyes—symbolic of her demonic nature—on me.

“Leader.

” “What?

” “Why did you hit me?

” Was she seriously asking that?

“Because you were spouting nonsense.

” “Why?

Why?

I’m human, so I can’t bark nonsense.

Oh, but maybe I can try?

” “...

” What should I do?

Should I just kill her?

Even though we hadn’t exchanged many words, I was already irritated.

“Why did you charge at me when I told you to stay still?

” Bong Soon raised her voice and replied indignantly: “It’s your fault!

You said you’d let me mate, but you didn’t!

You called me here, tied me up, stepped on me—and I liked that part, by the way!

You can do it again next time!

” Her choice of words was truly a masterpiece of insanity.

“...

Mate?

” Hearing this, Seong Yul gave me a strange look.

“What are you looking at, you idiot?

” “...

Nothing.

” He quickly averted his gaze, but his narrowed eyes suggested his thoughts were anything but innocent.

"This is a total shitshow.

" “When the fuck did I ever say that, you crazy bitch?

I told you I don’t do that kind of shit!

” “Then why the hell did you call me?

Weren’t you going to do it?

” “I called you because there’s work to do!

” “So, no mating?

” “Fuck me.

” This conversation was going nowhere.

It wasn’t even like talking to an animal—it was worse.

Sigh.

“Forget it.

Did you do what I fucking told you to do?

” “Yep!

” Bong Soon answered with a bright, innocent smile.

“I only killed the people you told me to!

I even spared those guys we saw this morning!

I listened so well!

So now mating—” “What exactly did you do?

” I cut off her bullshit and got straight to the point.

“Huh?

What do you mean?

” “You said you only killed the ones who needed killing.

How the fuck did you handle it?

” “Ohhh.

” Realizing what I meant, Bong Soon nodded.

“Killing just one guy was kinda tricky...

so I captured everyone, told them I’d only kill that one bastard and spare the rest if they cooperated!

They were so excited to help!

I’m pretty smart, huh?

” “...

” I ran a dry hand down my face.

She uttered the most terrifying things with such an innocent expression.

I called for Nahi.

“Nahi.

” “Yes, Master.

” “What about the witnesses?

How the fuck did you handle them?

” “No one saw the spear user directly, but there were too many who could make deductions, so we had to take care of most of them.

” “You mean you killed them all?

” “Not entirely.

We handled only those listed in the ledger you provided, and we silenced the rest with restrictions.

” “Restrictions, huh...

doesn’t sound very reassuring.

” “Shall I handle it further?

Brother Deok is in that area right now.

” “No.

Leave the innocent ones alone for now.

If anything happens, we’ll deal with it then.

” I clenched my fist as I said this and brought it down hard on Bong Soon’s head.

Thud!

“Aaaagh!

” Bong Soon screamed, clutching her head.

Ignoring her cries of pain, I grabbed her hair.

Tight!

“I sent Jegal Hyuk with you.

How the fuck did things end up like this?

Huh?

You disobeyed orders again, didn’t you?

” “Aaagh!

Leader, it hurts!

” “It’s supposed to hurt!

That’s the fucking point!

” “But!

I didn’t want to listen to that stuck-up bastard’s orders...!

” “Oh, so if you won’t listen to him, that means you won’t listen to me either, huh?

” Jegal Hyuk followed my orders.

If Jegal Hyuk gave her instructions, it was as good as my own orders.

My gaze grew colder, and killing intent began to seep into my expression.

“...!!

” Bong Soon, who had been screaming, froze as she felt the weight of my killing intent.

“Does this look like a fucking joke to you?

” My voice came out dry and low.

“I’m sure I told you: if you can’t follow orders properly, you’re fucking useless to me.

” “L-Leader...

” “I don’t need a disobedient pawn.

Should I just kill you here and now?

” “...

H-huh...

” Tears welled up in Bong Soon’s eyes, pressed down by the weight of my killing intent.

Her small shoulders began trembling as her eyes reddened.

Watching her like this, I didn’t look away and waited.

“I-I’m sorry...

I’m really sorry...

I won’t do it again....

” Finally, Bong Soon apologized.

Only then did I release my grip on her hair and let her go.

“Hic...

sniff...

” “Stop fucking crying.

It’s annoying.

” “Sniff...!

” “Tch.

” She’s such a frustrating and annoying creature.

No matter her skill, Bong Soon was like a ticking time bomb.

Keeping her around was a chore, and I didn’t have time to teach anyone anymore.

Even if she had a high cultivation level, if she couldn’t control herself, she was fucking useless.

Her pure temperament made it difficult for orders rooted in demonic energy to truly take hold.

In situations like this, a brute who thrived on violence was often more useful.

Bong Soon was at the point where getting rid of her might be the better option.

“That’s why I’m debating this.

” Should I just kill her?

If she’s too hard to control, it might be better to eliminate her.

As I pondered whether to end her now...

“...

Forget it.

” “...

Sniff...

okay....

” In the end, I chose to endure.

Everyone I had gathered so far had their uses, and the same went for Bong Soon, the so-called “Spear User.

” She was necessary for me—especially during times like this.

As Bong Soon stifled her tears, I recalled something.

“The Bloodline of the Divine Sword Queen.

” At this point in time, no one in the world knew, but Bong Soon was the daughter of the previous Divine Sword Queen.

It wasn’t Bong Soon herself that I needed but the bloodline of the Divine Sword Queen.

The Divine Sword Queen was one of the biggest secrets and disgraces hidden by the Martial Alliance—and one of the sharpest blades I was preparing.

“That’s why I have to use her.

” I couldn’t kill her yet.

Not until she served her purpose.

Swallowing my frustration, I spoke to Bong Soon.

“Tomorrow, go to the Martial Alliance and register for the tournament.

” “Sniff...?

Tournament?

” Bong Soon tilted her head, puzzled.

“It’s a place where a bunch of idiots beat each other up to compete.

” “Oh!

Sounds fun!

I’ll do it!

” “...

Yeah, I figured you’d like it.

So tomorrow...

” I glanced around before looking at Seong Yul.

“Go with him and get the application done.

” “Okay!

” “Wait...

what?

” Suddenly dragged into this, Seong Yul wore a bewildered expression, but I ignored him.

“You’ve got nothing else to do anyway.

Just go.

” “...

Understood.

” His expression was anything but enthusiastic.

Then again, I could see why he’d feel uneasy about accompanying Bong Soon.

She might do something weird—or worse.

“But, Leader.

” “What?

” Bong Soon, now cheerful as if she hadn’t been crying moments ago, looked at me and asked, “Is there a prize for this competition?

” “There should be.

Why?

Do you need it?

” I recalled something about prizes like Daehwandan or swords being offered.

When I asked Bong Soon if she needed it, she replied with enthusiasm: “If I win everything, can I mate with you!?

” Her declaration, filled with determination, made my head throb painfully.

“Please stop bringing up that fucking mating nonsense.

” Why was she so obsessed with something so crude?

Who even taught her about such things?

“Why not?

You said there’s a prize!

” “...

Ugh.

Fine.

If you win everything, we’ll think about it.

” I decided to humor her with an impossible goal.

After all, there was no way she’d actually win.

Bong Soon leapt to her feet.

“Really!?

If I win, you’ll do it!?

” “Sure.

If you win everything, I’ll think about it...

” I waved her off, hoping to end the conversation.

Buzz—!

“...?

” I suddenly felt something strange behind me.

Extending my senses, I tried to ❖ Nоvеl?ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl?ght) figure out what it was.

“Damn it.

” The barrier I had set up was interfering with my perception.

Thick barriers like this were always a problem—they dulled the sensation of external presences.

Releasing the barrier, I quickly spread my senses outward.

“What the fuck is this?

” But there was nothing.

Only the presences I had already noted remained.

Nothing unusual showed up.

“Was it just my imagination?

” Considering the thick barrier, it might have been.

Nodding to myself, I dismissed the thought.

But shortly after, I saw something odd.

“Oh my, Young Master!

” “...

” “What a coincidence!

Right, Seol-ah?

” “...

Y-Yes.

A coincidence....

” Standing at the registration desk for the Martial Arts Tournament, I found Tang So-yeol and Wi Seol-ah waiting.

What a coincidence indeed.