Childhood Friend of the Zenith Chapter 1139

“…What did you just say?”

My father scowled at the nonsense I had just uttered early in the morning. He had just woken up, his exhaustion clear as day. His messy, unkempt hair was oddly amusing to look at.

I chuckled and spoke.

“You remember what we talked about, right?”

The one favor he had agreed to grant me. I brought it up again and said—

“I need to go to Shanxi. And as far as I know, Vice Leader’s hometown is also Shanxi.”

“……”

Shanxi Province. It was not only my father’s hometown—it was mine as well.

“Something has come up there that I need to take care of. I’d like your help in getting there.”

“Ha…?”

My father let out a bewildered exhale, as if my blatant demand was too absurd to even process.

“…Shanxi? And what exactly is your business there?”

“That’s a bit difficult to explain. Which is why I’m asking for a favor.”

“……”

At my words, my father’s face twisted slightly.

What I was essentially asking for was help with something I couldn’t even explain.

“New recruits of the Martial Alliance cannot leave the premises for half a year unless they’re on a mission. You should be well aware of that.”

“Yes. I know.”

I knew it all too well.

Though, amusingly—

‘So it was only half a year back then?’

By the time I had been rolling around in the Alliance, I remembered the restriction being three years.

But now, in this timeline, it was just six months?

Something must have changed along the way due to past events.

‘Well, whatever.’

Six months, three years—what did it matter?

‘It’s not like I plan to stay here that long anyway.’

I had no intention of rotting away in this place for six months, let alone three years.

“…So, you’re asking me to find a way around the rule despite knowing all this?”

My father let out a hollow laugh. I met his gaze and nodded confidently.

“Yes. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be a proper favor, would it?”

“Ha…”

If he had agreed to grant me a favor, then he should do it properly.

Besides, this was the only thing I needed from my father.

“…Shanxi, huh.”

My father narrowed his eyes in genuine contemplation.

After a moment of silence—

“Do I have to give you an answer right now?”

“No. Since we’re leaving today anyway, you can give me an answer once we reach Hanam.”

Considering my father’s personality, if something wasn’t possible, then it really wasn’t possible. I wouldn’t dwell on it if that were the case.

However—

‘If he refuses, I’ll just have to find another way.’

I had to get to Shanxi. Preferably through legal means.

Although this method wasn’t exactly legal either—it was still the best option available.

But if it didn’t work out—

‘Then I’ll just break the law.’

It wasn’t like I had ever lived as a law-abiding citizen.

Causing a mess was my specialty. If there was no way, I would make one.

That was the goal in this life, after all.

“Anyway, I’ve made my request. I’ll go prepare now.”

I rose to my feet and added—

“Take care of yourself. You don’t look very healthy.”

“……”

At those words, my father’s brow twitched. Probably because he was still bitter about losing to me last night.

I received no response, so I simply shut the door behind me and left.

‘Hmmm.’

The bright morning sunlight hit my face.

I had defeated my father.

I had bested Heavenly Lord.

For something that had all happened in the span of one night—it had been an intense and eventful encounter.

And yet—

‘It means nothing.’

No emotions stirred within me.

Defeating my father in his youth held no meaning.

Defeating a crippled, demon-possessed Heavenly Lord held no meaning.

‘Nothing changes.’

The words of my ancestor echoed in my mind.

Today was one of those days when they irritated me more than usual.

**********

Later That Morning

“Hurry up and load everything!”

The Namgung family’s martial artists moved busily, shouting commands as they prepared the carriages.

They were in a frenzy, piling supplies onto the large wagons. The sheer number of people involved was impressive.

Now that time had passed since blocking the White-Rank Magyeong Gate, and resistance had been crushed, preparations were underway for our return to the Martial Alliance.

“…Food supplies seem sufficient. Did you check the route?”

“Yes. We’ve assigned the most experienced coachmen. The horses are the best we could find.”

Mi Horan was overseeing the final checks, ensuring everything was in order.

As supplies continued being loaded onto the large carriage—

“Should we get on now?”

I glanced around and prepared to board.

“You’re getting on already?”

“Yeah. This is the only ride we have, isn’t it?”

“…Well, you’re not wrong.”

I exchanged a few words with Do Yun and headed toward the same small, rundown carriage I had taken before.

But just as I was about to climb aboard—

“Baek Yangcheon.”

Someone called out to me.

Turning my head, I saw Soi.

Her expression was far from pleasant—whether it was due to the battle against the demonic beasts or her disappointment in me from before, I wasn’t sure.

“What is it?”

I asked indifferently.

Her gaze held an incredulous look as she spoke.

“…Not that one. Get on this one.”

“Huh?”

That one?

I followed her line of sight—

“…You mean the big carriage?”

“Yeah.”

The one carrying my father, Mi Horan, Soi, and my mother.

“…Why?”

Previously, they had crammed four people into a tiny, rickety carriage, but now they suddenly wanted me to take the spacious one?

It didn’t make sense.

As I stared at her in confusion, Soi added—

“It’s the owner’s order.”

“Owner?”

I turned my gaze toward Mi Horan, who was engaged in conversation nearby.

‘She asked for this?’

Mi Horan specifically requested that I ride in her carriage.

I raised my brows slightly.

‘Why?’

There was no clear reason.

As I stared at her in confusion—

—Glance.

Mi Horan’s gaze met mine.

And in that instant—

‘Get on.’

She mouthed the words clearly.

“Wait a second…”

The situation caught me off guard.

I turned back to Soi, my eyes questioning her.

“…You’re serious?”

“Yeah.”

“Just me? Or are others coming too?”

“…The request was… just for you.”

“Wait, what?”

I furrowed my brows.

“So, you’re telling me to abandon Do Yun and Senior Namgung and get on that big carriage by myself?”

“Well… yes.”

Soi hesitated for a moment. Even she seemed to realize that telling me to leave my companions behind while she and the others had been riding comfortably in that spacious carriage was selfish.

“I’ve been crammed in that rickety old wagon for days with them. And now, after all that bonding, you want me to just leave them behind? Meanwhile, you all have been traveling in comfort the whole time?”

“I… well…”

Even though it was Mi Horan who had offered the carriage, Soi clearly felt guilty about taking the ride so easily while expecting me to abandon my companions now. Her voice trailed off.

“Wow… So you’re basically telling me to be a selfish bastard and ditch my teammates?”

“That’s not what I meant… Ugh… should I go talk to Lady Mi again and ask if—”

“No need.”

“…What?”

Soi’s words came to a halt as she processed what I had just said.

“Let’s get on. My back’s been aching, and I was wondering how I’d manage the trip. This changes everything. Should I go in first?”

Without waiting for an answer, I casually climbed onto the large carriage.

“…Huh?”

Soi stood there, dumbfounded, staring at me in disbelief.

What was she expecting?

‘What’s wrong with being selfish sometimes?’

It was fine to be a little selfish in moments like this. Suffering together only doubled the pain. If one side could avoid hardship, wasn’t that a victory for everyone?

I glanced at Do Yun, who stood in the distance, staring at me with a hollow expression.

‘This is life, my friend.’

I could only hope he learned to endure the cold, hard reality.

As I leaned my chin on my hand, waiting for Soi to get on, a voice called out to me.

“Hey, hey.”

“…Huh?”

I turned my head at the unexpected sound—

And flinched in shock.

“…Damn it.”

It was my mother.

She was already inside the carriage, smiling brightly.

‘…I didn’t even notice her.’

Once again, I had completely failed to sense her presence.

“…What is it?”

I tried to suppress my unease as she leaned in close, grinning at me.

“Did you eat?”

“Huh?”

Why was she suddenly asking about food?

“No, I skipped breakfast.”

I hadn’t been hungry, so I hadn’t bothered eating.

But—

“That won’t do.”

My mother’s face hardened as she spoke.

“You have to eat properly. You’ll get hungry later.”

“I’m not really—”

“Here, take this.”

She ignored my response and pulled something from her robe.

What was that?

‘…Food?’

It looked like a rice ball. Some kind of lumped-together food.

What was this about?

“Eat it. Hyun gave it to me.”

“Hyun? Who’s—”

I stopped mid-sentence as a name flickered through my mind.

There was only one person here who would be called Hyun.

“…You mean Lady Hyun Soyeon?”

“That’s right.”

“…”

When had she prepared this?

The idea that Hyun Soyeon had made food and given it to my mother was… strange.

“I don’t need it. You should eat it instead—no, I mean, you should eat it.”

I wasn’t about to steal my mother’s food just because I had nothing better to do.

I wasn’t even hungry, so I really didn’t need it. I pushed the rice ball back toward her, but—

“Hey! Eat it! I don’t need it!”

“Don’t give me that crap. I saw you stuffing your face last time. Just eat it already.”

A struggle broke out.

Why was she so intent on feeding me?

It reminded me of when Wi Seol-ah was younger—she had been just as stubborn.

After going back and forth for a while—

‘Ugh…’

It was getting annoying.

“…Fine. Just one bite.”

“Okay! Great!”

I let out a deep sigh and reluctantly bit into the rice ball.

—Click.

At that exact moment—

The carriage door swung open, and I locked eyes with someone.

It was my father.

“…”

“…”

The scene was as follows—

I had just taken a bite out of the rice ball that my mother had handed me.

She, in turn, was holding her hands beneath it to catch any crumbs, leaning in very close to me.

I was frozen in place.

My father stood there, expressionless.

And yet—

‘Somehow…’

I had a gut feeling that his expression wasn’t entirely neutral.

Just as I was about to pull away—

“Oh my.”

A new voice joined in.

Behind my father, Mi Horan had appeared, observing the situation.

Then, with a small smile, she said—

“You two seem quite close.”

“…”

At those words, the air inside the carriage instantly turned ice-cold.