Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Blood ran cold—not just in my head, but throughout my entire body.

“What do you mean by that…?

”Had I misheard?

No, I was certain I hadn’t.

Lady Mi’s expression confirmed it.

“You’re saying you didn’t send me a letter?

”“No, I did send a letter.

”She didn’t deny it outright but clarified.

“I did send you a letter… but when exactly did you receive it?

”“Two days ago.

”“Two days…?

”Her eyes widened even further.

“Don’t tell me… you came here from Sichuan in just two days?

”“Yes.

”“...

”“Right now, that’s not the issue…”Grip.

Lady Mi suddenly grabbed my shoulder, startling me with the abrupt gesture.

“Are you all right?

Is your body okay?

”“…What?

Oh, yes, I’m fine.

”Even her tone of voice changed, which startled me even more.

Realizing this, she coughed lightly and adjusted her tone, regaining her usual composure.

“No matter how urgent it was, covering such a long distance so quickly is harmful to the body.

”“…It’s fine.

”It hadn’t been all that difficult.

My energy had grown considerably, and it was much easier to control now.

The overwhelming power that had once been a problem was no longer an issue.

Regardless—“And you say you also visited the Martial Alliance?

What on earth happened to you?

Are you really—”“Lady Mi.

”I cut her off.

There was something far more important at hand.

“Let’s finish the conversation we were having earlier.

I really am fine.

”I calmed her down and brought the conversation back on track.

“You’re saying you did send me a letter, but the one I received wasn’t actually from you, correct?

”“…Yes.

Timing doesn’t match.

Even at the earliest, it should have arrived today.

”“...

”At the earliest, today.

But I had received the letter two days ago, left immediately, and arrived here now.

‘…What is going on?

’I frowned, unable to understand.

‘The handwriting was perfect.

The context matched exactly.

’Everything was set up to make me believe it was authentic.

The circumstances, the rationale—it all lined up, and even the handwriting was identical.

And yet it was a fake?

My hands trembled slightly as doubt filled my mind.

Lady Mi reached out to me.

“Do you still have the letter you received?

”“Yes, I do.

”I had kept it with me.

Pulling it from my robes, I handed it to her.

She unfolded the letter and examined it closely, her eyebrows furrowing deeply.

“…It’s convincing.

I can see how you’d mistake it.

”She admitted it herself.

The handwriting, the seal, even the paper she often used—it was all identical.

“How…?

”How could this be?

Neither of us understood.

‘What kind of bastard would do this?

’Whoever it was, they had gone to great lengths to deceive me.

And whoever was capable of pulling off something like this wasn’t just anyone.

As I mulled over the possibilities, a sharp chill ran down the back of my neck.

“…!

”The thought was repulsive, but it was the most plausible explanation.

I didn’t want it to be true, but the chances were high.

Suppressing my irritation, I asked Lady Mi,“…If I may ask, when exactly did you learn that my father—the family head—was imprisoned?

”“Three days ago.

”“…Three days ago.

”It wasn’t clear if that coincided with when he was captured.

This was merely when Lady Mi had received the information.

In other words—‘The letter must have been sent a day or two before that.

’Which meant…‘Whoever sent it knew my father would be imprisoned and prepared the letter in advance.

’That was the only logical conclusion.

‘What a mess.

’If this was the case, then someone within the Martial Alliance was behind this.

Frustration surged.

My father’s situation, the fact that someone had orchestrated this—it all grated on my nerves.

Forcing myself to stay calm, I spoke to Lady Mi.

“…First, please explain everything in detail.

”I needed to understand the situation.

I rubbed my forehead after hearing everything, feeling the tension in the creases between my brows.

“Are you all right?

”Lady Mi asked with concern.

I forced myself to lower my hand and composed my expression.

“Yes, I’m fine.

”Of course, I wasn’t fine.

But I pretended otherwise, or I’d end up cursing in front of Lady Mi.

‘…So basically,’Summarizing what I’d just heard:‘Father attacked the Martial Alliance, targeting Muk Yeon.

’He was stopped by the Sword Emperor and the Division Leader of the Celestial Dragon and was subsequently imprisoned.

This matched the information I had gathered earlier.

‘But why he did it remains unknown… and the trial is tomorrow?

’That, too, was consistent with what I’d learned at the Alliance.

The issue was…“So Elder Il is serving as acting family head?

”“Yes.

”With Father unable to perform his duties, Elder Il had assumed the position of acting family head.

It wasn’t strange.

‘He’s in a suitable position for it.

’The head steward was stuck at the main house, and someone needed to represent the family at the trial.

‘I was in Sichuan and I’m not the heir.

’Naturally, Elder Il was the closest and most appropriate choice to act as the family head.

“…So where is Elder Il now?

”“If you’re looking for him, he’s just outside—”Lady Mi began to answer, but—“Ha, you eat a lot for someone so small.

”I heard Elder Il’s voice from outside.

It seemed he’d arrived.

I quickly stood and headed out.

“Elder Il—huh?

”“Hmm?

”As always, Elder Il was an imposing figure.

And perched on his shoulder was—“Papa’s here!

”—Dol-Dol.

“...

”“Hello!

”Dol-Dol waved at me with a bright smile, his hands full of skewers of all kinds.

He still looked exactly like a younger version of me.

But that aside…“…Why are you sitting up there?

”“Huh?

Big Grandpa told me to.

”Big Grandpa.

I didn’t need to guess who that was referring to.

“Yes, I told him to sit there.

”“That’s right.

He told me to.

”“...

”He even had one hand gripping Elder Il’s hair.

Seeing the scene, I couldn’t help but sigh.

“Get down.

Now.

”“W-why!

”“Why?

”I glared at him, and Dol-Dol flinched.

Then he curled up and hid behind Elder Il’s broad shoulders.

This brat…I reached out to grab him, but Lady Mi moved faster than me, stepping forward with surprising speed.

It was the first time I’d seen her move so quickly.

She approached Elder Il and reached for Dol-Dol, who immediately leapt into her arms as if he’d been waiting for her.

“You’ve returned safely.

”“Yes, Grandma.

”‘Grandma…?

’What was I supposed to do with that bizarre choice of words?

And the sight of him nestling comfortably in her arms like some innocent child—what was I even looking at?

‘A monster cuddling in a human’s embrace.

’And even acting coy about it.

If anyone else saw this, they’d be horrified.

“Don’t scold him too much.

”“…What?

”“Children need to be allowed to act like children sometimes.

”Lady Mi spoke suddenly, a melancholic expression on her face.

“I didn’t understand that and lived with regret.

I hope you won’t make the same mistake.

”“…No, hold on.

”What was she even talking about?

Anyone would think I was trying to discipline Dol-Dol.

I was about to respond, but Elder Il interrupted.

“By the way, why are you here?

Shouldn’t you be in Sichuan?

”“…Things got strange, so I rushed back.

”“Ah.

”Elder Il seemed to understand immediately.

“You’ve heard the news, then.

”“Yes…”“Hmm.

”He gave me a peculiar look, then patted my shoulder lightly.

What now?

“It seems I underestimated you.

”“Underestimated me how?

”“You’re much more mature than I thought.

”“What do you mean…?

”His words made no sense.

Before I could press further, he explained:“When I heard the news, I thought you’d storm the Martial Alliance and cause a scene.

”…What?

I flinched at his words.

“But seeing as you came straight here, I see you’ve grown up a bit with age—wait, why do you look like that?

”“…Well, about that…”Seeing my reaction, Elder Il frowned.

“…Yangcheon.

Don’t tell me…”“It wasn’t exactly a scene.

”“…You went, didn’t you?

”Elder Il’s face shifted to one of realization, followed by a resigned sigh.

“You didn’t cause trouble, did you?

”“It wasn’t really trouble… I just…”I glanced away awkwardly.

“Fought the Sword Emperor and burned the ground a little.

”“If that’s not causing trouble, then what is?

”Elder Il let out an exasperated breath, ready to berate me further.

But—“What?

You fought the Sword Emperor?

”Lady Mi reacted more strongly than he did.

“You fought the Sword Emperor?

That old monster fought you?

How could he raise his blade against a child—!

”“…Lady Mi, calling the Sword Emperor an ‘old monster’ is a bit…”“Are you hurt?

Tell me you’re not hurt.

”“Damn it all…”With his words ignored, Elder Il muttered a curse under his breath.

Honestly, he’d held back for quite a while.

“…Lady Mi, I’m fine.

Look at me.

Not a single scratch.

It was just a small disagreement.

”“And this disagreement involved burning the ground?

”“...

”I ignored Elder Il’s remark.

“Are you really fine?

”“Yes.

”I meant it.

The fight with the Sword Emperor had left no lasting effects.

After all…‘Neither of us was fighting to kill.

’We were merely testing each other.

It wasn’t a true battle.

If it had been serious…‘The Martial Alliance would’ve been in ruins by now.

’Given our respective levels, the place would have been reduced to chaos.

The fact that it remained intact meant we had both held back.

Turning away from Lady Mi’s lingering doubts, I focused on Elder Il.

“So, the trial is tomorrow, correct?

”“Yes, tomorrow.

”“And as the acting family head, you’ll be attending.

So, what’s the plan?

”“Hmm?

”Elder Il tilted his head at my question.

“What plan?

”“…Pardon?

”“Why would there need to be a plan?

”“Aren’t you supposed to prepare something for the trial?

”“Nope.

”“...

”My head started to ache.

“…Why not?

”“Why would there be a need?

”“What makes you so sure nothing will happen—”“The family head said not to worry.

”“…!

”His answer left me speechless.

“The family head told me not to worry and that everything would be fine.

So I’m just following his instructions.

”“But…”“If you went to the Alliance, I imagine the family head told you something similar.

Am I wrong?

”“…You’re right.

”“What did he say?

”I thought back to what Father had said at the Alliance.

‘He told me it’s fine.

’I couldn’t recall his exact words, but the sentiment was clear.

It wasn’t the words themselves but their meaning that mattered.

“…He said he’s fine and asked me to take care of Lady Mi.

”Hearing this, Lady Mi flinched.

“Did he really?

”Elder Il, on the other hand, smiled.

“This time, he spoke quite clearly.

How unusual for him.

”He called him “that bastard.

” I’d never heard Elder Il refer to my father like that before.

“If the family head said it’s fine, then it is.

Yangcheon, you should trust that and stay put.

He must have his reasons.

”“…And if he doesn’t?

”“Even then, it’s not your place to interfere.

”Elder Il’s expression turned serious.

“You’re not the heir.

It’s not your responsibility to meddle.

”“...

”I bit my lip, unable to argue.

“So focus on what you should be doing.

Leave this matter to the family head and me.

”What I should be doing.

I furrowed my brow, deep in thought.

‘What I should be doing…’My gaze shifted to Lady Mi’s hand, holding the letter I had given her.

What I needed to do now…It was obvious.

Finding the bastard who had forged Lady Mi’s handwriting and the family seal.

Determined, I narrowed my eyes.

There was no use thinking about it alone.

Which meant there was only one option.

‘I’ll use the smartest person I know.

’I had to find Je Gal-hyuk.

******************"The Star King has arrived in Hanam," said the veiled woman, Dancer, as she gazed at the back of a figure.

The man, in the process of donning his robe, tilted his head slightly at her words.

A faint smile graced his lips, and his eyes gleamed crimson, like blood.

"He's faster than expected.

Did he gain something else from Sichuan?

"The Blood Demon chuckled softly.

At the sound of his laughter, Dancer's shoulders trembled ever so slightly.

"Not bad.

In fact, this is good.

"Nodding, the Blood Demon adjusted his attire and steadied his breathing.

The air about him seemed to hum with an almost childlike anticipation.

"I’ll step out for a moment.

""By that, do you mean…"The Blood Demon turned his gaze to Dancer and spoke.

"The time has come.

So, first, I’ll retrieve what needs retrieving.

"His smile widened as he spoke.

And with those words, he dissolved into a cloud of crimson smoke, disappearing from sight.

"...

"Watching him vanish, Dancer lowered her head carefully, as if paying her respects.