Childhood Friend of the Zenith
Chapter Summary
“There were far more days when I didn’t bother to count. Even if Noya’s claim of 150 years was true, a tree growing to such a size was nothing short of bizarre. Could it be that while over a hundred years had passed here, only a few months had gone by in Zhongyuan?
150 Years.
The staggering number made my mind go blank for a moment.
150 years?
Not months?
“What… what kind of nonsense is that?
”Noya had been absent from my body for a few months at most.
How could over a hundred years have passed?
I asked again, unable to believe it, but Noya’s expression was deadly serious.
“There were far more days when I didn’t bother to count.
It’s likely been even longer than that.
”“What in the…”“This place was nothing but barren land when I arrived.
Completely lifeless.
So, I planted a single tree.
”My gaze followed his words.
A massive tree, so enormous it blocked the sky, came into view.
“That… is that the one?
”“Yes.
It’s grown quite a bit, hasn’t it?
”“It’s beyond enormous.
”Even accounting for time, the tree was absurdly strange.
Even if Noya’s claim of 150 years was true, a tree growing to such a size was nothing short of bizarre.
“I don’t quite… understand.
So…?
”“It’s fine.
You’ve been dim-witted for far longer than a day or two.
”“Can we skip the insults and focus, please…?
”“Ah, apologies.
It’s a habit.
”It was infuriating, but I held my temper and pressed on.
“Noya, are you saying it’s been 150 years since you arrived here?
And during that time, you created the Mount Hua Sect?
Yet, in the world I came from, only a few months have passed?
”“Oh, so you do understand now.
”“No, not at all.
”Time flowed differently.
Could it be that while over a hundred years had passed here, only a few months had gone by in Zhongyuan?
If that were the case…“…Why didn’t you return sooner?
”If he had promised to return in a few months, why stay here all that time?
At my question, Noya scratched his head, looking slightly embarrassed.
“Well, I couldn’t come back, now could I?
”“What do you mean you couldn’t?
”I frowned at his response.
“You said there was a way back.
”“That’s because I believed that guy’s words.
How was I supposed to know it’d turn out like this?
”Noya grimaced as he added,“Besides, technically, I ended up in this mess trying to grant your request.
So why are you making a fuss?
”“…”He had a point.
I was at a loss for words.
“…I’m sorry.
”I sincerely apologized, and Noya looked at me with a peculiar expression.
“Well, this is unexpected.
I thought you’d be shameless to the end.
”“I’m not that hopeless, am I?
”“You sure?
”“…”The confident tone irritated me greatly.
Was I really that much of a scoundrel?
Still, 150 years was excessive.
How could anyone endure such an unimaginable length of time?
Noya lying?
‘No.
’Impossible.
The Noya I knew wasn’t the type to make up stories.
If it was true, then he had truly spent over a century in this place, creating the Mount Hua Sect in his own image.
As I pondered, a glaring issue came to mind.
“…Noya.
”“Speak.
”“…How are you still alive?
”“…Are you cursing me?
”“No, I’m asking seriously.
”Setting aside the years and the absurd tree, the core issue remained unresolved.
“You’ve lived far too long.
”“So, you really are cursing me.
”“No, that’s not it…”No matter how I phrased it, it sounded off.
I was being genuine.
‘Did Noya live an additional 150 years in his body?
’From what I knew, he was already over eighty.
Martial artists aged slower and lived longer, but enduring an extra century and a half?
Even more bizarre was…‘He looks exactly like he did in the mental realm.
’Noya’s appearance hadn’t changed a bit from what I’d seen in that realm.
How could this be?
“You still have a physical form, haven’t aged, and are still here.
What’s going on?
”When I laid out my thoughts, Noya stared at me quietly.
“Hmm.
”Was it a hard question?
He tilted his head slightly before explaining.
“When I first came here, someone spoke to me.
”He continued in a calm, explanatory tone.
“They offered to lend me their body for a while.
”“…Lend you their body?
”“That’s right.
”“Who?
”“You know, that thing that used to growl in you every day.
”“Kurung…?
”“Oh, yes.
What a fitting name.
Quite clever of you.
”“Thank you.
I think so too.
”“…”Behind me, I could feel Cheonma staring at me with a strange expression, but I ignored it and addressed Noya.
“So, you’re saying Kurung lent you their body?
”“Yes.
Thanks to that, I haven’t aged a day and have been using it well.
”“…”I couldn’t wrap my head around it.
How did that creature lend its body to Noya?
‘That enormous thing was Kurung.
’The gigantic, roaring beast I’d encountered alongside my mother.
It had been as massive as the tree.
Then…‘What is it?
’What kind of being was Kurung to not only lend its body to Noya but also reside within mine?
Furthermore…‘My mother said she attached it to me.
Why did they fight?
’What had led to their battle when my mother suddenly appeared?
The questions were endless.
At that moment—“Leader!
”A voice called out from the distance.
“Hm.
”Noya nodded toward the speaker.
It was a small boy, one who genuinely looked young, unlike the other “small” people I’d seen here.
The problem was…‘…He’s not human either.
’He had animal ears and a tail, much like my mother.
“You’re back!
”“Yes.
Have you been well?
”“Yes!
”The boy beamed with a radiant smile.
His face was pure and cheerful.
Then, his gaze shifted to me.
The boy tilted his head slightly, meeting my eyes.
“Who’s this?
Another new disciple?
”“No, this one’s too slow-witted to be of any use.
”“Oh, I see.
”“…What kind of nonsense is that to say right to my face?
”“You’re not even human, are you?
”“That’s a bit harsh, don’t you think?
”This time, it genuinely stung.
What’s worse, the boy accepted it without batting an eye.
“See you next time, then!
And bye, slow-witted hyung!
”“Slow-witted…”“Do your best.
”“Yes!
”The boy ran off after bowing politely.
I stared dumbfounded at his retreating figure when—“Pfft.
”A sudden laugh broke the silence.
I turned to see Cheonma standing there, expressionless as always.
“…Did you just laugh?
”“No.
”“But you laughed.
”“I didn’t laugh.
”He shook his head firmly, but something felt off.
It really seemed like he laughed.
“Click, click… Stop messing around and follow me.
There’s still much left to discuss.
”Noya turned and strode off without looking back.
Watching him go, I frowned and muttered under my breath.
“He smacks me around and berates me, then just walks off like nothing happened.
What a thug.
How is he supposed to be some master sage?
He’s just a common neighborhood thug.
”“At least keep your insults to yourself…”“If I’m going to say it, why would I keep it to myself?
”“…”Noya turned back abruptly, and I braced myself for another blow.
“Well, I suppose I’m not much better, but you’re something else too, brat.
You’ve taken all those beatings and still can’t keep your mouth shut?
”“I have to say what’s on my mind to feel better.
”“Well, I suppose that’s true.
”Noya nodded as if he agreed.
Maybe I wouldn’t get hit this time.
As soon as the thought crossed my mind, pain shot through my skull.
My head drooped as a sharp impact landed on my crown.
“Still, some things deserve punishment.
”“…Shit.
”I rubbed the top of my head, swearing under my breath.
I’d expected it, but I hadn’t managed to dodge.
“Click, click.
”I looked around, still nursing my throbbing head.
The boy who had run off earlier was now holding a sword amidst a group.
Though their appearances varied greatly, the sword techniques they practiced were uniform.
As I watched the group of non-human figures, I voiced the question that had been on my mind.
“About what you were saying earlier.
”“Hm?
”“You mentioned that bull was once on the verge of becoming a demon.
By that, do you mean…”I gestured toward the strange beings.
“…that they were once in a similar state?
”“…”Noya fell silent for a moment, but thankfully, not for long.
“That’s correct.
”“Then how are they here instead of becoming demons?
”The elderly beings and the beast-like children didn’t appear demonic to me.
“Was their world not destroyed?
”I thought maybe their world hadn’t perished, allowing them to avoid becoming demons.
“No, all of it was annihilated.
”Noya’s response was resolute.
“…Then how did they not turn into demons?
”“…”At my question, Noya stroked his long beard.
His eyes, the color of plum blossoms, reflected a faint emotion—compassion.
“Brat.
”“Yes.
”As we walked, a dwelling came into view.
It was the smallest and plainest building I’d seen so far.
Could that be Noya’s residence?
“You asked earlier what this place was.
”“Yes.
”Walking toward the dwelling, Noya began to explain.
“Some call this world an act of mercy.
”“…Mercy?
”“Yes, mercy.
Out of the countless lives whose worlds vanished, only a select few are brought here.
They don’t become demons; instead, they settle in this other world to live.
”Hearing that, my eyes widened.
His words meant…“Creatures from countless realms you’ve never seen come here every day.
That’s why this land is called Mangye (The Myriad Realms).
”The Myriad Realms).
The name signified a fusion of innumerable worlds.
“This place is where those who should have perished arrive by sheer luck.
Because of that, some call it the world’s mercy.
And others…”Noya paused, turning to me, before uttering another word.
“…call it paradise.
”That word struck me as oddly familiar.
“Haha, isn’t it amusing?
”Paradise.
That was the very ideal the Blood Demon sought to achieve.
**************In the stillness of the space, a woman reclined slightly, her half-lidded eyes lazily open.
Her amethyst eyes, resembling the sky and stars of this land, and the long tails extending behind her, radiated an undeniable presence.
The woman, whose breathing was calm yet faintly labored, repeatedly furrowed her elegant brow as if something was bothering her.
Her slender, jade-like fingers tapped lightly against her furrowed brow.
‘This is strange.
’A discomfort lingered, heavy and oppressive.
Her frustration grew, her delicate brow knitting deeper.
‘Why?
’Why did she feel this way?
The source of her unease was a face she had seen not long ago.
‘Why does it keep coming to mind?
’Was it because it was a face she hadn’t seen in a long time?
Or was it because she had thought such things had long been erased, making the memory stand out more?
She thought as much, but it didn’t feel like the whole story.
‘I can’t understand it.
’The face had undoubtedly belonged to a dragon.
A species that had sinned, broken cosmic laws, and faced annihilation.
They had been banished from Mangye as punishment.
And yet—‘They’ve reappeared.
’How could such a species show itself in this land again?
It was beyond her comprehension.
‘The Dragon King must still be enduring punishment.
’That arrogant and loathsome being had long since disappeared from sight.
How, then, had this situation come to be now?
And more importantly—“…It’s irritating.
”Of the two hatchling dragons, the face of one in particular lingered, stirring unease within her.
A dragon with piercing blue eyes.
Its black fur and fierce gaze left a distinct impression.
‘Why?
’She didn’t know why, but the face of that dragon continued to clutter her thoughts, leaving her increasingly agitated.
As she mulled over this, deeply engrossed in her frustrations—[My master.
]A man appeared in the space, kneeling before her.
[The captain has returned.
]“…”At his words, the woman straightened slightly.
If he had returned, did that mean the mission was a success?
Had they succeeded in killing the dragon?
The thought sent a faint shiver through her chest.
[However, he reports that he was unable to carry out your will due to unforeseen interference.
]“…I see.
”Her eyes flickered subtly.
“Failure?
I had assumed he would succeed.
” [An outsider intervened and obstructed his mission.
]“…Hmm.
”An outsider.
At that word, her expression briefly tightened.
Lately, this outsider had become something of a nuisance.
“I extended my mercy… Why would they make such a choice?
”It was puzzling.
They had exchanged mutual promises, fulfilling each other's desires.
Why, then, had he chosen this path?
And more than that, how had he succeeded?
Breaking the terms of their agreement shouldn’t have been possible.
What trick had he used?
As the woman sank deeper into her thoughts—[What shall we do?
]The man asked, looking toward her.
“I’m not sure.
”Her reply, uncharacteristically uncertain, left him visibly taken aback.
[…]His reaction betrayed his surprise at her ambiguous answer.
“I’ll need to think on it for a while.
”[…Understood.
]Despite his questions, he said no more.
His master’s words were always absolute.
He was certain this time would be no different.
With unwavering confidence in her, the man bowed and remained silent.