Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The world was still windless.

The sun was slowly rising, and the breathtaking aurora and crimson waves in the sky were gradually fading, retreating as they embraced the growing light.

As I watched the brightening sky, a thought crossed my mind.

"Can it really be said that they’ve disappeared?

"The stars that lingered after the night had cleared had seemingly left their place.

Yet, this world’s daylight was as peculiar as its night.

The auroras and stars hadn’t truly vanished; instead, they had melded into the sky itself.

Though the time should have been somewhere between dawn and noon, the heavens here were unlike those of Zhongyuan.

"A crimson sky...?

"At first glance, it seemed like the hues of a sunset, but upon closer inspection, the color was inherently different.

It was a sky unlike anything I had ever seen before.

Staring at it in silence, I eventually lowered my gaze.

This place had been strange from the moment I arrived, and while an odd sky added to the strangeness, I had no energy to spare worrying about it.

Something far stranger was right in front of me.

Looking at the broad back ahead, I spoke.

"Noya.

""Hmm?

"At my call, the figure walking ahead turned to face me.

Sharp eyes tinged faintly with a crimson hue, deep wrinkles etched into his face, and an expression as unyielding as ever.

The most respected hero of Mount Hua, the Sage Sword, Shin Cheol.

Since my regression, this man had invaded my body uninvited, bombarding me with endless nagging and criticism.

Back then, he was a voice in the form of a spirit.

Now, he stood here as a fully embodied human.

"Where exactly are we going?

"It had been over an hour since we started walking aimlessly.

Frustrated from simply following his back, I voiced my question, only for Shin Noya to scowl and reply,"Didn’t I tell you repeatedly to fix that impatient nature of yours?

We’ve barely been walking, and you’re already whining.

You really do have a rotten temper.

""You didn’t even tell me the destination!

If it were you, you’d be cursing up a storm by now—"Bang!

"Ack!

"The blow to the top of my head made me clutch it instinctively.

"Whining?

Whiiiining?

""Guhhh...!

"It felt like my skull had been cracked open—Bang—!!

"Gahhh!

"Another hit, and I staggered before collapsing to the ground.

The unbearable pain twisted my breathing, and I glared at Shin Noya through trembling eyes.

"Why twice?!

""Who said I’d stop at one?

What?

Want another if you’re so unhappy?

"Damn it.

Not only did he have a physical form now, but he could also hit me.

"Violence is wrong, you know…""Nonsense.

"Shin Noya chuckled gleefully.

"Ah, that was refreshing.

"He sounded way too satisfied, as if he had been looking forward to this.

"I’ve wanted to smack you for so long.

What a blessing it is that I finally can.

""And you call me bad-tempered… Wait, no, I was joking!

"Seeing his hand rise again, I quickly added the last part.

Damn old man—why did his first instinct always involve raising his hand?

"If you’re so old, why not age gracefully?

"It was easy to imagine how foul-tempered he must have been in his youth.

I silently resolved never to grow old like that.

"Your eyes look strange.

""They’ve always been like this.

""Fair point.

""...

Seriously?

""What’s that, kid?

"His glare made me instinctively lower my head.

It was absurd, but at the same time, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of admiration.

"I couldn’t dodge it.

"I hadn’t been able to avoid his strike.

I had seen his arm move, but before I realized it, I was already reeling from the pain.

"...

A monstrous old man.

"Whether it was how easily he handled that beast, the mental swords in the sky, or the sheer power he exuded— I couldn’t help but question whether he was truly human.

"This is nothing like before.

"In the Imaginary Wind Realm, when I had faced the otherworldly Shin Noya, I’d seen a glimmer of hope.

Back then, I had been able to strategize and eke out a victory.

"But now, there’s no hope.

"Even with the progress I’d made, Shin Noya was like an endless abyss.

"Could I even reach him?

" No.

The thought passed unbidden through my mind.

"Tsk, tsk.

"Shin Noya clicked his tongue as he looked at me.

"So it’s not just your face that’s grown uglier, huh?

""…!

"It felt like he had read my thoughts.

Embarrassment surged, and I clenched my teeth, forcing myself to stand.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about.

""Hmph.

"Snorting, Shin Noya turned and began walking again.

Following him, I decided to change the topic.

"So, are you really not going to tell me?

""Didn’t I already say it?

Just follow me quietly.

""If you won’t tell me the destination, at least say something else.

"We had been walking endlessly.

I had asked countless questions: Where are we?

Why are you here in this form?

What was that beast we fought?

Why did it seem to know you?

But Shin Noya always gave the same answer:"I’ll tell you when we get there.

"I sighed at the repeated response.

"This is just cruel…""It can’t be helped.

"Shin Noya finally gave a more substantial reply, though his tone was weary.

"If we’re not careful, someone might hear.

The eyes and ears of this place are everywhere.

""What do you mean?

""If you’re so frustrated, you can leave.

I won’t stop you.

""What?

"Shin Noya’s words made my eyes widen.

"And where would I even go?

""How should I know?

You’re not some toddler.

It’s none of my concern.

"In other words, if I didn’t like it, I should shut up and follow him.

"Well?

What’ll it be?

"Shin Noya glanced back slightly.

“...

”Frustratingly enough, I only had one answer.

********************We walked in silence for a long time after that.

Neither of us was the type for small talk, and with no answers to my questions, there was little else to say.

How long had we been walking?

"We’re almost there.

"Shin Noya’s words made me look ahead, but—"What do you mean ‘almost there’?

There’s nothing here.

"All I could see was the same empty plain as before.

Was there really something out here?

"Was it around here?

"Shin Noya began looking around, scanning the area.

What was he searching for?

I focused my gaze as well, but there was still nothing.

Even so, he continued searching, moving as though he knew something was there.

"Hmm?

"Faintly, I began to sense… something.

I didn’t know what it was, but it was there.

"Could it be…?

"Taking a step forward, I reached out with my hand.

Wooong—!

As expected, I felt it at my fingertips.

"Noya, is it this?

""Hmm?

"Shin Noya looked at where I was pointing and frowned.

It seemed I was right.

"Hmm… How did you…?

""It just appeared to me.

""…Appeared?

It shouldn’t be visible.

How could you, of all people, see it?

"He seemed genuinely curious, his gaze intent.

It was as though I had done something I shouldn’t have been able to do.

So I replied,"I’ll tell you when we get there.

""...

Tch.

"In a retort mirroring my earlier words, Shin Noya sighed with exasperation.

I wondered if I’d be hit again.

At this point, getting smacked once or twice wouldn’t be too bad.

Bracing myself, I prepared my body for the impact.

"Impudent brat.

"But instead of striking me, Shin Noya merely chuckled.

He then raised his thin, bony hand and extended it into the space before him.

As soon as his fingers moved, plum petals began to flow from their tips.

Rustle.

The petals danced gracefully in the air, and as they brushed against the odd sensation I felt—Drip.

A sound like a droplet of water echoed, and the space before us began to shift.

Hwaaahhh.

"…What the—?

"I cursed at the sight unfolding before me.

The space rippled and tore, opening into a gaping hole.

It was perfectly sized for Shin Noya to pass through.

Staring blankly at the sudden void, I froze in place.

"Let’s go.

"Shin Noya, unfazed, stepped into the opening.

Still hesitant, I paused.

That was when Cheonma, who had been silently following beside me, stepped in first without a word.

Seeing that, I followed, stepping into the tear in space.

Shhhrrk—!

The moment I entered, the portal-like opening vanished.

"What is this…?

"As I took in the scene before me, I couldn’t hide my astonishment.

"What the hell is this?

"The world before me was entirely different.

We had been in a barren plain, with only the occasional weed breaking the monotony.

Now, we stood amidst a dense forest.

Though I had first arrived in a forest, this place was different.

Far more familiar.

The sky was blue, and even the air felt recognizable.

The problem, however—"It’s heavy.

"The moment we transitioned into this space, my body felt heavier.

Or rather, it felt like it had returned to normal.

"The outside was too light.

"The abundance of energy in the air outside had made my body feel buoyant and invigorated.

Here, it was more akin to the conditions of Zhongyuan.

Chirp!

Chirp!

Trill!

The sounds of birds and insects tickled my ears.

If the previous area had been overwhelmingly unnatural, this place was the opposite—entirely too natural.

"Noya… where are we?

""It seems we’re fortunate after all.

""Excuse me?

""Hmm.

"Shin Noya exhaled as if relieved, then turned to me and spoke.

"Follow me.

"With that, he began walking again.

It was the same as before, so I fell in step with him.

"What was I going to ask…?

Oh, right.

I was going to ask about that creature.

""…!

"Breaking the long silence, Shin Noya suddenly began explaining, as though this was his intention all along.

Was he really planning to reveal this only after we arrived here?

Though abrupt, I decided to focus and listen carefully.

"That creature is a leader.

You probably noticed, but it’s brutish and violent.

""…Yes.

"That was the exact impression it gave—unrefined and savage.

Its very presence radiated such energy.

"It was certainly a strange one.

"Recalling its ability to speak had left me deeply unsettled.

As I pondered, Shin Noya addressed me again.

"Kid.

""Yes, Noya?

""Let me ask you.

What did that creature seem like to you?

""What it seemed like?

"Naturally, the first word that came to mind was beast.

But as I was about to say it, I found myself hesitating.

A beast.

Could it truly be called that?

The thought stirred doubt within me.

Seeing my hesitation, Shin Noya turned his gaze away and continued speaking, his steps unbroken.

"You’re not wrong.

For you, and for me, calling it a beast isn’t far from the truth.

""Does that mean… it’s not actually a beast?

""Oh.

"At my question, Shin Noya gave a small nod of approval.

"It seems you’ve learned to use your head since the last time I saw you.

"“…”Just insult me outright, you old man.

Grinding my teeth, I refrained from voicing my thoughts.

"If you say it’s not a beast, you wouldn’t be wrong.

But that’s not the complete answer either.

""I don’t quite understand.

"If it is, then it is.

If it isn’t, then it isn’t.

This ambiguous response only confused me further.

"Hmm, let me put it this way.

"As Shin Noya spoke, I frowned, noticing something in the distance.

"They’re creatures that almost became beasts.

That’s how I’d put it.

""Almost became?

""Yes, creatures that nearly transformed into beasts.

The leader is an especially strong example among them.

Strong enough to have caught her attention and received her authority.

"I froze.

Her authority.

That word grated against my ears.

"Authority…?

""Yes, it possesses something called authority.

Though it calls itself immortal, I’d say it’s more of an annoyance than anything truly eternal.

"“…”"Anyway, that’s not what’s important.

Judging by your eyes, you’re curious about something else entirely.

Am I right?

""…You are.

"Where was this place?

Where had Cheonma and I been brought?

These were the most pressing questions, just as Shin Noya had said.

I thought he might finally explain, but—"To explain that, you’ll need to listen carefully.

"Of course not.

"As I said, the leader was a creature that nearly became a beast.

""…Yes.

""Now, kid.

Tell me—what do you think beasts are?

""Excuse me?

"His question caught me off guard, and I turned to look at him.

Shin Noya was watching me, his gaze serious.

He wasn’t joking.

Taking the question seriously, I answered,"Monsters that emerge through the Magyeong Gate.

That’s what I think.

""Correct.

"“…”Should I feel pleased about getting it right?

Instead, I felt irritated.

What’s the point of asking something so obvious?

As I frowned at him, Shin Noya continued.

"Then, where do you think these beasts come from?

""From beyond the Magyeong Gate, of course.

""Also correct.

But if you dig deeper, the story changes, doesn’t it?

""Changes?

""What does the Magyeong Gate truly signify?

What lies beyond it that spawns these beasts?

That’s what I mean.

"“…”My eyes narrowed.

The Magyeong Gate and the beasts— I had never thought deeply about them.

The gates had existed since before I was born, and hunting the creatures that came through was common sense.

But how were they connected?

"I’m not sure.

"I had no answer.

As I mulled it over, Shin Noya spoke.

"Beasts, you see.

"He paused, his tone grave.

"Are the remnants of worlds that have already perished.

""…!

""Creatures that have lost their masters and were erased by the new rulers who replaced them—that’s what beasts are.

""That means—""A world that loses its master welcomes a new one, and in doing so, wipes out all the living beings it once held.

Now, where do those erased beings go?

"I stared into his eyes.

"The answer is simple.

"Shin Noya’s voice was heavy and cold as ice.