Childhood Friend of the Zenith Chapter 1148

“Keuhk!”

Cough!

Wi Seok’s strength gave out as he collapsed to his knees on the floor, retching uncontrollably.

“Kuh… cough…!”

His bloodshot eyes, now glistening with tears, and the saliva dribbling down his lips made for an utterly disgraceful sight.

But those damned eyes of his, still glaring at me, were getting on my nerves—so I moved my foot.

Smack—!

“Kehk!”

His jaw took the hit, and he crumpled instantly, passing out and collapsing into the very vomit he had just spewed.

I spared him no further attention and turned my gaze back toward the woman.

“…Lady Hyun.”

Hyun Soyeon.

She was standing there—an unbelievably beautiful woman. She was so breathtaking that even as Wi Seok lay broken on the ground, the other men around her were staring, utterly spellbound.

Of course, she was beautiful.

After all, she resembled her.

Or rather…

‘That one looks like this one, actually.’

In any case—

“…Why are you here?”

I asked, staring at Hyun Soyeon, who had appeared out of nowhere. She tilted her head slightly.

“Why? Am I not supposed to be here?”

“Ordinarily, no.”

This was the Azure Dragon Division’s headquarters. A place where outsiders shouldn’t be able to enter so freely. And even within that, this was the main building of the Sword Division—an area where unauthorized individuals had no business being.

It was an impossible situation.

“Hmm… well, I suppose.”

Hyun Soyeon tilted her head from side to side before answering.

“But I made it possible.”

She smiled brightly and added—

“I decided to sponsor the Azure Dragon Division.”

“…What?”

“Oh, well, technically, it’s our trading company, but… same thing, right?”

“….”

Sponsoring the Azure Dragon Division?

Hearing that, my expression twisted.

“…Suddenly?”

“It’s not sudden. I sent a letter some time ago. Probably around the day Young Master Baek left.”

That meant… only a few days ago.

If I counted the time properly—

“You wouldn’t have even had time to receive a reply.”

Even if she had sent it and immediately departed, at the fastest, it should have taken two months to receive any response.

Yet, she was here just a few days after I arrived. It made no sense.

When I pointed that out, Hyun Soyeon responded as if it were obvious.

“Of course, I just sent it and came right away.”

“…What?”

“There wasn’t time to wait for a reply. Not that I needed one.”

“And why wouldn’t you need one?”

“Who would refuse this offer?”

“….”

I shut my mouth.

She had a point. Normally, no one would refuse.

This wasn’t a sponsorship for the Martial Alliance itself but a direct sponsorship for the Azure Dragon Division…

‘The Division Leader would have found a way to make it happen no matter what.’

The only reason Mi Horan could move freely through the Alliance using the Baekhwa Trading Company’s name was because of the Azure Dragon Division Leader’s influence.

And yet—

‘Despite already having a sponsor, someone else has come to sponsor them again.’

There must have been some discussions between the Baekhwa Trading Company and the Azure Dragon Division.

‘…But the fact that she’s already inside and freely walking around means…’

That the Azure Dragon Division Leader had already accepted it.

And to confirm that—

“Well, well. Now this is an interesting situation.”

A middle-aged man landed gracefully on the ground, a wide smile on his face.

Flutter—! His light blue martial robe billowed, the Martial Alliance’s emblem and a blue dragon embroidered on the fabric.

“The Division Leader…!”

Upon recognizing him, the gathered members immediately straightened up and offered their formal greetings.

“Hmm…”

The Azure Dragon Division Leader glanced at the unconscious Wi Seok and then at me before slightly furrowing his brows.

“You’ve caused trouble again, haven’t you, our little youngest?”

“….”

Should I apologize? I considered it for a moment, but before I could decide, the Division Leader acted first.

Whoosh—!

With a mere flick of his fingers, Wi Seok’s limp body lifted into the air and flew toward the other members.

“Ugh!”

One of them caught him mid-air.

“Take him to the infirmary.”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

At the Division Leader’s command, they quickly carried Wi Seok away. Then, he turned his gaze toward Hyun Soyeon.

At that moment—

“Oh my, our most esteemed sponsor has arrived!”

“….”

His tone was oddly lighthearted.

He even rubbed his hands together exaggeratedly, making me momentarily speechless.

“We should have gone to receive you in person! I don’t know where to put myself, seeing you take the trouble to come all this way.”

“Oh no, I should be the one thanking you for accepting me.”

“Aha! As elegant in speech as in appearance.”

“Oh my~.”

Hyun Soyeon covered her lips with her hand, laughing at the Division Leader’s cheap flattery.

“I should have shown you a better side of us, but alas. Our boys are a bit… spirited, you see. Hahaha.”

“Oh, no, no. A true martial artist should be that way.”

“Grateful for your understanding. Now then, shall we continue our discussion inside?”

“Gladly.”

With that, the Division Leader led Hyun Soyeon away.

And just as they moved, I heard a voice in my ear.

—”Come to my office after this talk is over.”

His tone was entirely different now—heavy and commanding.

‘Hmm.’

I had a bad feeling I was about to be scolded.

**********

Time passed, and by the time the once-clear sky began to take on the hues of dusk, the Division Leader was still occupied in conversation with Hyun Soyeon. Because of that, the previously scheduled meeting had been canceled, leaving me with free time.

So, after finishing a bit more of my training, I figured it was enough and made my way to the Division Leader’s office.

As soon as I arrived—

“Come in.”

His voice called out the moment I reached the door.

I had deliberately made my presence known.

Hearing his response, I immediately grabbed the door and pushed it open.

Creak.

As the door swung open, I saw the Azure Dragon Division Leader seated inside.

“Take a seat.”

I stepped forward, pulled out a chair, and sat down.

And at that moment—

Kuwoooong—!!

A powerful pressure radiated from his body.

“Baek Yangcheon.”

“Yes.”

I could feel the full weight of his aura. I didn’t resist it—I simply took in the energy he was unleashing.

“Do you think you can take me lightly?”

“I do not.”

“I fail to understand. You call this not taking me lightly?”

A chilling sensation ran down my spine.

‘…He’s strong.’

The Azure Dragon Division Leader was undeniably powerful. The First Sword I knew—the pathetic bastard—wasn’t even on the same level.

This man… he was the Division Leader? He seemed leagues apart from the others.

Or maybe the Division Leaders of this era were simply far stronger than before.

“I was lenient with you the first time you caused trouble. Was I not?”

“You were.”

“I overlooked it because your value warranted it. However… this is becoming problematic.”

Sssssss.

A heavy pressure constricted my throat. The Division Leader was exerting considerable force.

“At this rate, your actions will affect the entire division. Why did you clash with Wi Seok? You don’t strike me as someone foolish enough to be unaware of the consequences.”

“…”

I scratched my cheek.

To be honest, I had just gotten pissed off and beat him up. I had no desire to keep suppressing myself here any more than necessary.

“He reminded me of someone I despise.”

Someone I wanted to kill.

Someone I did kill.

And the thought of that bastard as a child? It pissed me off beyond reason.

“…That’s all?”

“That, and he tried to break my spirit. I may have overreacted a little. I’ll apologize for that.”

“I don’t think I’m the one you should be apologizing to.”

“No, I am. I don’t feel particularly sorry toward him, so I’ll apologize to you instead.”

“Ha?”

“I understand that I have to accommodate the division to some extent, but I’m not patient enough to let that kind of nonsense slide. If something like this happens again, I probably won’t hold back then, either.”

I stated it outright—I had no intention of enduring bullshit.

“I won’t be the one to start anything, but if someone comes at me, I won’t just sit there and take it.”

“So, what? You’re planning to cause another incident next time?”

“If no one provokes me, there won’t be a next time.”

“And you think I’ll let this slide so easily?”

“If you don’t… then that’s unfortunate, but what can I do? I’d have to leave the division.”

“…Ha?”

I had no problem leaving if things didn’t work out.

Hearing that, the Division Leader’s expression twisted into something fierce.

But even as I met his glare, I didn’t feel pressured.

If someone accused me of underestimating the Main Alliance—

‘It really is just that insignificant.’

Even in my past life, I never placed much value on the Martial Alliance. And in this world? It was even less meaningful.

There was only one reason I had entered this place.

‘To resolve unfinished matters.’

To uncover what I needed to know.

To meet my father.

That was all.

‘Even if I leave now… I have other means.’

I had already secured the necessary connections. If I walked away, I’d just find another route.

Besides, with that man—the Sword Master—already keeping an eye on me, staying here was starting to feel more dangerous for me than beneficial.

If it came to it, I could simply leave.

The real question was—

‘Would they even let me go?’

I had a feeling the Main Alliance wouldn’t just let me walk away.

And sure enough—

“Hahahahahaha—!!”

The Division Leader suddenly burst into laughter. At the same time, the crushing aura he had been directing at me vanished.

“…Now this is interesting.”

The pressure disappeared, but my body remained tense.

‘…Damn.’

This man…

‘He’s using Sword Will?’

A chilling sensation crawled up my spine.

It felt as if the tips of countless blades were hovering all around me, poised to strike.

The Azure Dragon Division Leader had drawn his mental sword.

“I must say…”

He spoke, his tone shifting.

“I like people who understand their own worth. No matter who they are.”

“If that’s a compliment, should I say thank you?”

“No need for that. Just answer one question.”

“Go ahead.”

“Are you an enemy of the Martial Alliance?”

A question I didn’t expect.

What was his intention?

I considered it for a moment, but the answer was already clear.

“I wonder… At the moment, I am not.”

“Hooh? At the moment?”

“Yes. It depends on the circumstances.”

“And what would those circumstances be?”

“The same as always.”

I ran a hand through my hair.

There was only one way the Martial Alliance would become my enemy.

“As long as they don’t mess with me, I won’t consider them my enemy.”

If they left me alone, I wouldn’t have a reason to retaliate.

It was as simple as that.

“Hmm.”

The Division Leader tilted his head, as if considering my words.

And then—

“It’s not the most satisfying answer, but it’s not bad, either.”

With a small smirk, he pulled something from his robes and handed it to me.

“…What’s this?”

“A punishment, of course. Whether or not you understand your worth, consequences must be given. This is your punishment.”

“…”

I took the letter and unfolded it.

Punishment? What kind of punishment?

As I read through it—

“You’re going to Shanxi. Cause some trouble for a while. The Vice Leader will be supervising you, so I suggest you don’t pull anything unnecessary.”

“…”

It was an assignment. A mission related to Shanxi.

“…Understood.”

He called it a punishment, but in reality, this was proof that my father had secured something from his discussion with the Sword Master.

‘This guy…’

The Azure Dragon Division Leader was well aware of it, too.

‘Hmph.’

I nodded slightly to myself.

One way or another, my journey to Shanxi had just been decided.