Childhood Friend of the Zenith - Chapter 660

Episode 661. Villain and Hero.

We headed from Hanam Street to our lodging.

By then, the sun was gradually setting.

Since I remembered the way to the lodging, finding it wasn’t too difficult.

However, we spent some time wandering around eating this and that.

“You said you wouldn’t eat, but you’re enjoying it so much.”

If you were going to eat this much, why didn’t you do it from the beginning?

Still, it was better than not eating at all, so I was relieved.

The sun was setting.

The sunset signaled the approaching night.

My hands were full.

I ended up like this after buying various things.

Honestly, I thought about using spatial water to carry everything because it was cumbersome to carry, but if I did, it would attract too much attention, so I had to endure it.

Even so.

“She’s carrying more than me…”

Wiseol, walking beside me, was carrying more than me.

Judging by her cheerful expression, she seemed to be in a good mood.

Just looking at that expression made everything seem fine.

“Right now, more than that…”

As we walked, I recalled the recent events.

It was related to the incident with the illusion magic.

“I was so surprised that I forgot.”

Due to Wiseol’s sudden appearance, I forgot to put magic on the illusion.

“It’s a bit regrettable.”

Since I had already planted something on Beomdong, there shouldn’t be any issues with the illusion, but still, it was unavoidable to feel regret.

Moreover.

“…That darn woman, didn’t even pay for the tea?”

I was so desperate that I ended up having to pay for her tea as well because she left without paying.

“Let’s meet next time.”

I must have been ripped off tenfold; even now, it’s frustrating to think about it.

“Damn it, why is the tea so expensive again?”

It was ridiculously expensive for just tea. What’s with people who enjoy that?

It was probably all planned by Moyonghee, but I didn’t expect it to work so well.

Who would pay such a high price for tea and snacks at an inn?

They were really delicious.

The taste was quite good.

Even though I clearly knew how good it was, I ended up buying a lot.

“Do you like it?”

Wiseol said it was good. Well, she was always like that, so let’s assume that’s the case.

I wondered if the others would enjoy it.

Of course.

“If you don’t eat, Wiseol will eat it all.”

I’m not worried about food being left over.

Should I be thankful for this…?

Walking slowly like that.

Step.

As I passed through the forest path lit by lanterns, I sensed a presence.

When I shifted my gaze there.

“Oops!”

Suddenly, Dang Soyeol popped out from the bushes.

She had leaves all over her head as if she hadn’t come along the road.

I wasn’t surprised by her appearance.

I had sensed her energy a while ago.

“Gongjinim!”

As soon as Dang Soyeol spotted me, she smiled brightly.

Since I didn’t have hands at the moment, I used energy to brush off the leaves on her and then asked her while looking at her.

“Where did you go?”

Certainly, I had sensed Dang Soyeol’s presence around the inn, but at some point, her energy disappeared.

I thought she might have something to do and just let it go.

It seemed like she had been wandering around instead of going back to the inn.

“Oh, I just had some errands to run.”

Dang Soyeol replied with a smile.

I nodded when I heard that, but…

“Just errands?”

I wasn’t entirely calm inside.

“There’s a hint of blood.”

Dang Soyeol emits a faint scent of blood. She might have tried to erase it.

After reaching a higher realm and completing the transformation, my senses were heightened.

I could detect such a scent lightly.

Therefore, although I didn’t know what Dang Soyeol had been up to, I could tell it wasn’t something peaceful.

I simply chose not to show it.

“There must be a reason for not talking.”

With that in mind, I asked Dang Soyeol.

“Food.”

“I didn’t eat.”

“Why? What did you do instead of eating at this hour?”

“I was planning to eat with Kongja.”

“What nonsense. Isn’t a meal three times a day? If I’m not there, are you not going to eat all three meals?”

“That could happen… Ouch!”

She hit him on the head with a sweet potato for his ridiculous remark.

Since he had no hands, he had to hit her with his energy.

“You’re talking nonsense.”

“Ow…”

Ignoring his fake groans of pain, she didn’t pretend to know what he was talking about. Kongja then grimaced, stood up, and walked briskly towards Wiseol.

Taking one side of the luggage Wiseol was carrying, she didn’t even bother to greet him.

It seemed so natural for them to divide the load.

There didn’t seem to be any situation where they would greet each other based on my memory.

As I stared, wondering what this was all about…

“…No, it’s just that…”

For some reason, Kongja seemed flustered in response.

I couldn’t understand why he was so flustered.

“I greeted you earlier.”

On the other hand, Wiseol calmly replied to me in a flat tone.

“When?”

“Um. Before going to the inn where Kongja was.”

“…Huh?”

If they were talking about the inn where they encountered the transformation, when did they greet each other?

As I thought about it, I couldn’t comprehend the situation and just shook my head.

“I greeted you then.”

Wiseol said with a wide smile.

I decided not to ask any further. Her smile was full of a sense of finality.

“Oh, yeah. Right. That could be it.”

My instinct was telling me not to ask any more questions.

So, I decided to let it go.

It probably was nothing… It must have been nothing.

******************

Upon returning to the lodging, I quickly changed my clothes and finished my meal.

I was anxiously looking for a place to escape due to the presence of Pacjon, but ironically, Pacjon was nowhere to be found in the lodging.

There was a sense that something was going on, as if they were saying they would come later.

It felt like the line was getting longer.

After that, although some were surprised to see Wiseola suddenly join, since they were not unfamiliar faces, they simply passed by thinking, “Oh, okay.”

Furthermore, it seemed like the upper ranks already knew that Wiseola would arrive, as they prepared another residence for her.

Since there were also people coming from the northern sea, it was necessary to divide the personnel a little.

However, here, Namgoong Bi-a and Gwisun, who were sick, had to be placed in a residence with a healer.

“To suddenly appear after a month and disturb an old man. Are you in your right mind?”

Due to that, Wiseola, who was suddenly put to work, had a very annoyed expression.

“You’ve been quite relaxed lately. It’s good to work.”

“You’re enjoying your leisure after seeing that…!”

“If it’s your last days, you should hurry up a bit. I’ve heard you’re always just playing baduk.”

“This darn guy…?”

Even though Wiseola got angry at me without saying a word, I knew from his unique temperament that he was diligently treating the world.

“How are you feeling?”

“What does it matter.”

Stirring herbs vigorously, Wiseola said.

“Both are immortals, so their regenerative abilities are high, so there shouldn’t be a big issue. The wound might be a bit deep, but since I treated it well, I don’t need to worry.”

“…I see.”

On the way here, I helped with the treatment by rolling the dice, and since I had done something before departure, there seemed to be no problem.

“They probably need about three months to fully recover… but even after a month, they should be able to move without any problems.”

“Thank you.”

Three months?

It’s a short yet long period.

The fact that immortals need that much time means it was a significant injury.

‘…Sigh.’

Should I have done more?

It seems like I should have.

Just as I was clenching my fist, thinking about Woohyuk.

“Hey, Ahaeya.”

Wiseola calls me.

“What happened to you?”

“Excuse me?”

“Your body.”

“Ah.”

Right.

Before setting off, I remembered that my physical condition wasn’t great.

Certainly, it seemed precarious to fully recover even with bimuge.

Now, looking at it, not only had I fully recovered, but I had also become even healthier, enough to raise eyebrows even for the gods.

“Just, had a bit of luck.”

“Just because you keep getting lucky doesn’t mean everything will turn out fine… Tsk, tsk, saying that, won’t all the doctors die out.”

Even if the world were to collapse, it didn’t seem like doctors would die out….

Even the nobleman who hardly worked and occasionally did so, saying such things left me baffled.

‘It’s not like luck comes around that often.’

Luck was something that might or might not happen in one’s lifetime.

It was strange that I, who took it for granted, found it odd.

“Well, anyway…. Nothing out of the ordinary happened, right?”

“Someone who disappeared to the North Sea asking if nothing happened, that’s quite a peculiar thing to say.”

…”

I scratched my cheek awkwardly.

There was a favor asked by the gods, but due to things unraveling, I had to rush to the North Sea.

So, it wasn’t strange for the gods to express their discontent this way.

“Still, we did manage to block it to some extent before leaving.”

…”

The words I spat out didn’t prompt any further response from the gods.

“…So, that’s what’s puzzling. What exactly happened?”

“Just, well. I just blocked things my way.”

“Ha.”

It was about the descendants of Jegalsega plotting a rebellion and the gods’ request to stop it.

I just complied with it.

At least on the surface.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure nothing you’re worried about happens.”

As I spoke, I subtly got up.

“I’ll leave it to you.”

As I mentioned Namgoongbia while brushing off my clothes, the gods looked at me and asked.

“Are you leaving?”

“Yes. I have to go to work now.”

“Work?”

It was about time.

‘Honestly, I’d like to rest a bit more.’

It was a leisurely time after returning.

Just one day had passed.

I wanted to alleviate my fatigue and spend some time lazily.

‘But I have to move.’

That’s how it had to be.

I knew my purpose well enough to not linger.

To protect, one must move. Just the thought alone was enough to make me rise.

“If you’ll excuse me, I’ll take my leave now,” I said.

After giving a nod of respect to the deity, I took my next steps.

Only a month left until the Day of No Shadows.

‘Within that.’

I had to finish all preparations.

******************

As the setting sun receded,

A crescent moon rose, shedding light on the dark sky.

At the time when the moon would also rise above the lake, following that light.

Sapak.

I walked along the road.

It was the same path I had taken before.

Located a bit away from Hanam.

It was still an undeveloped area.

Chirrrr-!!

The sound of cicadas tickled my ears.

Quiet, silent, yet leisurely.

As always, the forest exuded this atmosphere.

However.

“Well made.”

I knew that all of this was a set-up situation.

Thud.

While walking straight ahead, I slightly changed angles.

Sung-yul was following behind.

Just in case, I brought him along.

One.

“From now on, you can come alone.”

It seemed unnecessary to bring Sung-yul along anymore.

Now, I knew the way.

No, precisely, now the path was visible.

In the artificially twisted space, the path was clearly visible.

I set forth on the path.

Things unseen before were now visible. Things unfelt were now felt.

Was this purely a difference in elevation of consciousness?

It must not be.

I could intuitively know.

“From a different perspective.”

I reached out my hand and waved it through the air.

Hmm.

I sensed something.

“Magic.”

The foreign power I discovered in the North Sea.

I thought the distortion in this space was magic.

Not yet certain, but that’s what I thought.

As I gradually found my way and walked along the path.

Sapak.

I felt a presence ahead, and someone appeared, kneeling before me.

“I greet you, Master.”

A woman with emerald green hair similar to Tansoyul’s and purple eyes.

She was now Nahee.

I looked at her and smiled faintly.

“Long time no see. How have you been?”

“It’s been a while. How have you been?”

“You probably haven’t been doing well.”

“There was so much to do.”

Without waiting for Nahee’s response, I walked past her.

Nahee, as if familiar with the situation, got up and followed behind me.

“It seems like we did well. It wasn’t bad.”

“Thank you.”

“As for the situation… I’ll take care of it later.”

As I walked, I pulled out a mask that had turned slightly golden from my arms.

Simultaneously.

With a whoosh-!

Using shape-shifting magic, I slowly grew in size.

In a few seconds, my body transformed to almost a foot taller.

Since I had initially worn a slightly larger robe, it fit perfectly with my enlarged physique.

Click.

I put on the mask that I had been holding over my changed body and face.

Wearing the mask again made me instinctively realize that it was time to get back to work.

[Nahee.]

I spoke to Nahee with a deeper voice.

“Yes, Grandmaster.”

“Go and report to the Celestial Leader.”

Inform the previous sect leader who is staying in seclusion.

Tell him that I have arrived and he should prepare to receive me.

“…I will follow your orders.”

Soon after, Nahee turned into smoke and disappeared.

[…]

I stopped walking and looked up at the crescent moon.

Unintentionally, I thought to myself.

‘…Wasn’t that just a bit cool?’

I nodded with a slight sense of satisfaction.