Childhood Friend of the Zenith

"You know where it is?

"At his words, my eyes widened.

I had asked on a whim, not actually expecting an answer.

But he really knew?

That caught me off guard.

"Yeah, I know.

""…Where?

"In response, Noya casually pointed at the ground beneath us.

I followed his gesture, but all I saw was stone pavement.

Why the hell was he pointing there?

Just as I was about to ask, Noya spoke.

"Underground.

Yahwol’s Divine Tree exists deep below.

"‘Underground?

’A Divine Tree—wasn’t that supposed to be something like the massive one on Mount Hua?

Yet he was saying that such a tree wasn’t above ground, but deep beneath it?

For a moment, my thoughts just stopped.

How the hell does a tree that big even exist underground?

"I only know that it’s there," Noya continued.

"But I don’t know how it exists, nor do I know how to enter.

""So there’s a specific entrance?

""Of course there is.

Considering the Divine Tree’s value, it’s only natural that it wouldn’t be somewhere easily accessible.

""…Then what about Mount Hua?

They left their tree out in the open.

"If making it inaccessible was the norm, then Mount Hua’s tree was a complete contradiction.

That argument didn’t make sense.

When I pointed that out, Noya let out an awkward laugh.

"That one is technically hidden too.

"Bullshit.

That thing was visible from miles away.

"You think I’m lying?

From the start, Mount Hua was a place that very few could enter.

"It sounded like he was trying very hard to justify it, but I wasn’t buying it.

I just nodded absently, letting him say whatever.

"You little—"Apparently, he didn’t like my attitude.

His fist clenched.

Shit.

"So," I quickly interjected, "since you don’t know where the entrance is, that means we have to find it ourselves?

"That made him click his tongue and lower his fist.

Crisis averted——Thud!

"Urgh…!!

"Or not.

I grabbed my head.

God damn it.

"Yeah, you have to find it," he said, looking noticeably more satisfied after that.

Guess that punch put him in a better mood.

"But at least you won’t have to search completely blind.

""…What do you mean?

""What do you think I mean?

Someone already knows where it is.

""Someone…?

"A grin tugged at the corner of his lips.

"You don’t have to look far.

Someone who knows everything about Yahwol is right nearby.

""Who—" I started, then stopped.

I already knew the answer.

Someone who knew everything that happened in Yahwol.

The one who ruled over this land.

"…You mean Yusa?

"The General of Yahwol.

Yusa.

If anyone knew where the Divine Tree was, it would be him.

It made perfect sense.

‘There’s no way he wouldn’t know.

’The Divine Tree itself was something tied to the General.

The idea that Yusa wouldn’t know its location was ridiculous.

If anyone had the answer, it was him.

But—"One problem.

"I had been about to ask how to get that information out of him— But then, a thought crossed my mind.

I froze.

"…Noya.

Don’t tell me—"Noya had deliberately come to Yahwol to meet Yusa.

I had assumed it was just to mess with him, to shake things up for his own reasons.

But—Now that I thought about it, this could mean—"…Was your goal all along to get the Divine Tree’s location from Yusa?

"Was that what Noya had been after from the very start?

I looked at him, searching for an answer—And then——Chuckle.

Noya laughed.

That was my answer.

It meant I was right.

*********************By the time daylight fully broke, Yahwol was in complete turmoil.

And how could it not be?

News had spread like wildfire— The head of the Blue Clan, the dominant force in Yahwol’s largest trade district, had been ambushed.

Worse, he had sustained grave injuries, teetering on the edge of death.

A noble had been attacked.

Tensions had already been high after what had happened to the White Clan.

Now, with this second assault, the unease thickened into something heavier—something dangerous.

The one responsible hadn’t just invaded the estate.

He had waltzed in alone, gone head-to-head with the clan head, defeated him, and vanished without a trace.

And during the battle, he had ripped out the heir’s eye, playing with him like a toy.

How the hell was that even possible?

Not only had someone assaulted one of the most powerful aristocrats in Yahwol— They had humiliated him, mocked his entire clan, and walked away as if nothing had happened.

The absurdity of the situation left Yahwol’s people in chaos.

And that chaos—Had spread all the way to the noble families themselves.

Yahwol Manor – The Council of ClansAt the highest point of Yahwol stood a mansion.

It was smaller than the estates of other nobles, its location isolated and precarious— Yet no one dared question its authority.

It was called Yahwol Hall.

This place had been built under Yusa’s direct orders— The very General of Yahwol.

Whenever an emergency arose— Whenever an issue escalated beyond what could be controlled— The aristocrats gathered here.

And today marked the first time in nearly fifty years that its doors had been opened.

Within this place—“…Didn’t think I’d be seeing your face again so soon.

”A deep voice broke the silence.

At the round table, the Black Clan’s leader, a member of the Moonlit Night Tribe, spoke quietly.

Across from him, the White Clan’s leader, a towering brute of a man, ground his teeth.

"Even after all these years, your smug, rotten face still pisses me off.

"His growled words dripped with hostility.

The Black Clan’s leader simply stared at him.

Then—He smirked.

The White Clan’s leader narrowed his eyes.

"…Are you laughing?

""Oh, my apologies," the Black leader said, his voice laced with amusement.

"I just couldn’t help myself.

""What the hell is so funny?

""It’s just… rather entertaining," the Black leader mused.

"Seeing a man who’s been locked up in a room for weeks suddenly act like he’s got a spine.

""You bastard—!

"—Krrrrk.

The White Clan’s leader shot up from his seat, sending his chair scraping back against the floor.

Instantly, murderous aura flooded the room.

The sheer weight of it sent a suffocating pressure outward.

Most of it came from the White leader himself— But an equally sinister black energy began to rise in response.

The air thickened.

A single wrong move, and a battle would erupt right here and now.

Then—"Can we not do this?

"A honeyed voice slipped between the clashing energies.

And in the next instant——Fwoosh!

Both auras unraveled like threads, scattering harmlessly into the air.

The two men turned, their aggressive glares landing on the woman who had spoken.

She met their gazes with complete indifference.

Instead, she shrugged.

"You called for a meeting," she said lightly.

"And then you start throwing tantrums the moment you see each other?

Come on.

""…Red.

"Her hair was scarlet.

She was Hong Jeong, the leader of the Red Clan.

She ignored their reactions and continued, her tone casual.

"Let’s remember why we’re here, brothers.

"Her voice was smooth, even playful— But her eyes burned.

She had no intention of hiding her ferocity.

"The Blue Clan was weak, yes," she admitted.

"But they weren’t that weak.

And you both know it.

"The White leader scowled.

"Yet now, the Blue Clan’s head is barely clinging to life—his chest torn open.

And his heir?

Had his eye ripped out.

Tell me, brothers—does that seem normal to you?

"A low, taunting chuckle left her lips.

She was speaking to the White Clan’s leader.

Though the Black and White Clans had their tensions, the real hostility had always been between the White and Blue.

Years ago, the two had clashed, and the White Clan had crushed the Blue Clan in battle.

And now?

Now, the Blue Clan had been completely humiliated.

This time, the White leader had no response.

He had thrown jabs at the Black leader earlier— But now, he was silent.

"Not to mention," Hong Jeong added, "this so-called invasion?

The bastard walked right into the estate and fought them on their own turf.

In their own domain.

And yet they still lost.

What does that say?

""…What are you getting at?

"Hong Jeong tilted her head.

"Oh, nothing much," she mused.

Then——Clap.

She snapped her fingers.

"I just think we have a very dangerous guest in our city.

""Hah… Don’t tell me you’re scared?

"The White leader scoffed.

Hong Jeong’s eyes widened slightly.

"Oh my.

Are you not scared, brother?

""What?

""I mean, you’ve already been beaten half to death by Cheonma, haven’t you?

Why act so tough when the whole world saw you get your ass handed to you?

""…!

""Brother, a little self-awareness goes a long way.

Acting tough after such a pitiful loss?

It’s just embarrassing.

""You bitch—!

"Enraged, the White leader’s energy surged again— But before he could strike—Hong Jeong laughed.

And in that moment——Rumble—!

A crushing force exploded from her body.

Her energy wrapped around her like a living thing, pulsing with killing intent.

"Brother, brother, brother… Why do you always bare your fangs?

"Her smile was razor-sharp.

"It just makes me want to pull them out.

"A pause.

"Or maybe… should I peel off that arrogant face of yours instead?

If you’re curious, just say the word.

"Hong Jeong.

The Red Clan’s leader.

And the strongest noble in Yahwol.

Her name alone carried a weight.

And as she shifted, her aura took shape—The Black leader clicked his tongue.

Minutes ago, she had told them to calm down.

Yet now, she was the one who had successfully provoked the White leader into an unstoppable rage.

And she was laughing about it.

‘She’s dangerous.

’She had always been dangerous.

By age alone, she should be no different from his son.

Yet she had risen to the head of her clan by slaughtering her own family.

That power.

That instinct.

That insanity.

She wasn’t just strong— She was twisted.

The Black leader sighed and moved to stop them—Then—"Oh.

"Hong Jeong’s eyes widened slightly.

And in the next instant, she withdrew her energy.

The sudden shift left both the Black and White leaders momentarily stunned.

Then—"Sit.

"A voice rang from the center of the round table.

Someone had arrived.

The White leader immediately sat down.

Hong Jeong, as if she had never even been angry, elegantly returned to her seat.

The one who had spoken was a young man with light green eyes.

He was the one who had summoned this council.

And—"I’ll say this now.

"The man—"The mood I’m in right now is shit.

So don’t piss me off.

Or I will kill you.

Got it?

"Was Yahwol’s apex predator.

Was Yusa—the General of Yahwol.