Childhood Friend of the Zenith
Chapter Summary
It was something I’d neither said nor heard in my entire life. No matter how I looked at him, the kid’s face was a perfect match to my own younger self. Even if I didn’t know why he suddenly looked like this.
“D...
dad...?
” “...
What?
” My mind went blank at the word.
It was something I’d neither said nor heard in my entire life.
Did I just hear that right?
‘Did he really just say...
Dad?
’ I narrowed my eyes, staring hard.
No matter how I looked at him, the kid’s face was a perfect match to my own younger self.
At most, he looked about seven—definitely no older than ten.
Small and scrawny, just like I had been before my transformation.
And those eyes— Sharp and rebellious, full of dissatisfaction, yet staring straight at me with an odd mix of curiosity and determination.
“...
” No matter how I looked at him—he was me.
The problem was— ‘...
What the hell is this?
’ What exactly was he?
He couldn’t possibly be my past self, so who—or what—was this kid?
And why the hell was he sitting on Namgung Bi-ah’s lap?
“...
” “...
” We locked eyes for a moment.
After a few seconds, the kid made the first move.
He slipped off Namgung Bi-ah’s lap.
“...
Ah....
” Namgung Bi-ah let out a faint sound, as if disappointed.
Was I imagining that?
The kid landed softly on the floor, eyes still fixed on me, and started walking over.
The closer he got, the more I could see it— God, he really did look like a brat.
Even as a kid, he had the kind of face that just begged for a scolding.
But before I could react— Thud.
“...?
” He suddenly wrapped himself around my leg.
His tiny body—barely big enough to reach my knee—clung to me tightly.
“What the...
” Just as I tried to pull away— Wooong.
“...!
” A vibration echoed from my heart.
It was faint but unmistakable.
And the moment I felt it, my eyes widened.
‘Ah.
’ Now I understood.
This kid’s identity— “What the—” Just as I was about to say it— “...
Dad?
You’re my dad, right?
” “What?
” “Seriously?
Dad?
” “Wait—how old is this kid?
” “Wow, Young Master Gu.
You’re more of a man than I thought.
Real men should—uh, don’t look at me like that, Lady Moyong....
” “...
” I shut my mouth.
Glancing up, I saw every single person in the room staring at me.
Their expressions ranged from shock to outright hostility.
Especially Moyong Hee-ah.
Her eyes kept flicking between the kid and me, shifting from suspicion to certainty.
Seeing that, I couldn’t help but sigh.
“What the hell are you all thinking?
” I already knew they were jumping to conclusions, but this was ridiculous.
“It’s not like that.
” I hesitated.
Looking at their faces, I knew if I didn’t clear this up quickly, I was screwed.
“It’s not what you think.
” “Not what we think?
” “Of course not!
Does that even make sense?
” Seriously, how old did they think I was?
And besides— “Just look at the kid’s age.
” He was at least six—probably closer to seven or eight.
Even if I tried to do the math— “How young do you think I’d have to be to have a kid this old?
” I didn’t give birth, obviously.
But the timeline didn’t make sense.
At least five or six years ago, I was still— ‘Barely surviving.
’ It was right after my return.
I’d spent most of that time training, fighting, and clawing my way back.
Where the hell would a kid fit into that?
‘Not that it’s impossible, technically....
’ If we included my previous life, sure, I’d be old enough.
But this life?
‘I’m not even married.
’ If anything, I was late for marriage.
Even if I’d planned for a family, it should’ve happened much later.
I had too many enemies, too many loose ends— Marriage?
Kids?
That would just add more vulnerabilities.
“What kind of nonsense are you all spouting?
” The others didn’t look convinced.
And honestly— “...
But you look exactly alike.
” “And he called you Dad.
” “...
” I couldn’t deny it.
Even I thought he looked too much like me.
And the way he clung to me, calling me Dad— Who wouldn’t jump to conclusions?
But— “...
Listen.
He’s not mine.
I’m /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ telling you—he’s not.
” This whole situation was pissing me off.
‘Damn it.
If I’d at least done something suspicious, this would be less frustrating.
’ I had lived like a monk in this life—clean and focused.
I couldn’t even defend myself properly because the accusations were so ridiculous.
Moyong Hee-ah stepped forward, her sharp eyes narrowing.
“Then who is this child?
” “...
Before we go there, can someone explain why he’s even here?
” “Judging by your reaction, you do know who he is.
” “...
” I swallowed hard.
I couldn’t just pretend not to know.
The resemblance alone made that impossible.
And to top it off— The vibration I’d felt earlier told me exactly what he was.
Still, I needed to tread carefully.
Before I could say anything, Moyong Hee-ah pressed on.
“We found him in your residence.
Namgung Bi-ah discovered him—naked and asleep.
” “What?
” In my residence?
Namgung Bi-ah?
I turned to look at her.
She averted her gaze.
There was something suspicious about that reaction.
I wanted to ask her why she was there in the first place, but Moyong Hee-ah cut in again.
“We dressed him, but...
he kept asking for his dad.
And let’s be honest—” He looks exactly like you.
I couldn’t argue with that.
“So you all gathered here thinking he was mine?
” “Not thinking—just...
confirming.
” “Confirming?
You were certain!
” Threatening to kill me if I didn’t show up?
That wasn’t confirming—that was accusing.
And judging by their expressions, they still didn’t believe me.
Moyong Hee-ah crossed her arms.
“Are you absolutely sure he isn’t yours?
” “For the last time—yes!
” I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to stay calm.
“He might look like me, but there’s no way—” Tug.
I felt a small hand grabbing my pants.
Looking down, I saw the kid pulling at my clothes.
“...
What now?
” I asked, exasperated.
His face crumpled.
“...
Dad...?
” Tears welled up in his eyes.
“Dad...
you’re not my dad...?
” “...
” Shock filled the child’s trembling eyes, and tears began welling up.
Oh, hell.
“Hey, hey!
What’s with the tears?
” “Daaad....
” “Dad?!
Why the hell would I be your dad?
Get off me!
” Panic shot through me as I tried to pry the kid off and back away.
And, of course— “...
Trash.
” “He’s garbage.
” “You’re too cruel, Young Master....
” “...
” I froze.
The room’s atmosphere shifted into something downright chilling.
To them, I already looked like the worst kind of scumbag—a man denying his own child.
The kid’s pathetic expression wasn’t helping, either.
What the hell was I supposed to do about this mess?
Before I could figure it out— “...
Come here....
” It was Namgung Bi-ah who spoke.
The sniffling child turned and waddled back into her arms, curling up in her lap.
I stared at the scene, dumbfounded.
She lifted the kid with practiced ease, holding him close and gently stroking his hair.
And then—she looked at me.
“...
” Her gaze was calm, but it felt like she was silently demanding an explanation.
‘Even if you look at me like that....
’ There was only one thing I could say.
“I’m telling you again—it’s not true.
” “...
Not true...?
” “Yeah.
He’s not my kid—” “...
Okay....
” “Huh?
” Namgung Bi-ah nodded and turned her attention back to the child, brushing his hair with surprising tenderness.
The way she soothed him left everyone else in the room visibly stunned.
Especially Moyong Hee-ah.
Her face flickered between disbelief and anger.
Actually, it was both.
“Bi-ah....
” Finally, Moyong Hee-ah spoke up.
“That’s it?
That’s all you’re going to ask?
” “...?
” Namgung Bi-ah tilted her head, genuinely confused.
“...
What do you mean?
” “That’s all you wanted to know?
” “...
Yeah.
” Without hesitation, Namgung Bi-ah nodded.
“He said no.
That’s enough.
” Her tone was completely flat—like the matter was already settled.
But Moyong Hee-ah wasn’t buying it.
“You’re just going to believe him?
” “...
Yeah.
” “What?
How can you trust him that easily—” “Hee-ah.
” “...
” Moyong Hee-ah immediately shut up.
Even I was surprised.
Namgung Bi-ah almost never called people by name.
“Why are you—” “You already know.
” “Know what?
” “That he’s telling the truth.
” “...
” Moyong Hee-ah clenched her fists, visibly frustrated but unable to argue.
Thud.
Thud.
The only sound in the room was the soft patting of the child’s back.
Finally— “...
Then what is this kid, anyway?
” Moyong Hee-ah turned back to me.
“Uh...?
” “He’s not yours.
But he was in your room.
He looks exactly like you.
And you clearly know him.
So who is he?
” “...
” I swallowed hard.
She wasn’t wrong.
Of course, Namgung Bi-ah’s reaction was the strange one here—just brushing it off without a second thought.
But I did need to explain.
The problem was— ‘How the hell do I explain this?
’ I glanced at the kid—still snuggled up in Namgung Bi-ah’s lap.
‘Why the hell does he look like that?
’ My head throbbed.
I knew exactly who he was.
Even if I didn’t know why he suddenly looked like this.
This kid— ‘Dol-Dol.
’ He was Dol-Dol.
A creature born from the red mana stone I’d absorbed years ago.
He’d started off as a small snake and grew larger and more monstrous over time— To the point where he’d become the size of a mountain.
Lately, he’d been too big to keep anywhere near me.
But now— ‘Why does he look like this?
’ Instead of a monstrous beast, he was suddenly...
human.
I briefly wondered if it might not actually be Dol-Dol— ‘No.
It’s definitely him.
’ He was connected to me—linked to my energy.
I could still feel that connection.
So there was no mistake.
But why had he changed?
I could only think of one possible reason.
‘Did it happen because of me?
’ Dol-Dol had always transformed along with my growth.
And after what happened with the mana stone earlier, my body had definitely changed.
That had to be the cause.
And the fact that he looked like my younger self?
‘Is it because of my energy?
’ He’d been created from my power, so it made sense that he’d take on my image.
In a way— ‘...
Does that technically make him my kid?
’ Biologically, no.
But spiritually?
Yeah, maybe.
Not that I could explain it like that.
“Gu Yangcheon.
” “...
” The stares grew sharper.
They wanted answers.
‘Do I just admit it?
’ No.
Even I knew that would get me killed.
But— ‘What if I just play dumb?
’ Claim he’s mine and tell them it’s none of their business?
Tempting.
But my instincts screamed that would be a very bad idea.
‘Then what do I do?
’ Just as panic started setting in— “Ah.
” An idea hit me.
“Gu Yangcheon?
Are you going to answer or—” “He’s my brother.
” “...
What?
” Moyong Hee-ah froze.
“What did you just say?
” “I said—he’s my brother.
” “...
Your brother?
” “Yeah.
Not my son—my little brother.
” I pointed at myself— And then at Dol-Dol.
“Our father’s his dad.
” Crash!
“Uh...?
” The sound of glass shattering made me turn.
There stood Mi Horan—my mother—frozen in place.
Her eyes locked on me, wide with shock.
“...
Mother?
” ____________________ TL Note: Hi!
Just a reminder - Dol-Dol is the main character's riding dragon.