Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Chapter 698

This is closer to oral tradition and folklore than history.
Such is the story.

In a very distant past.

When a goblin committed a sin out of longing for his home.

Because of his sin, the framework of the world was crushed, and dimensions became distorted.
From within that, beings that defied the laws began to pour out.

In an instant, a single act destroyed the rules.

The broken rules began to dismantle the laws set by the world.

As a result, countless lives perished.

To call it a punishment feels misplaced.
It would be more accurate to describe it as an accident.

Yes, it was an accident.
An accident born of ignorance.

But.
The incident that unfolded because of that accident was all the more serious.

—Kyaaaaah!!

—P-Please save me!!

Screams ran rampant.
The world was drenched in blood.

—Monsters!

Unidentifiable beings appeared and devoured humans whole.
The world was colored with death.

Upon seeing this, the goblin shed tears filled with fire.
Because he had crushed the world with his own hands.

The world, too, was enraged.

Not because innocent people were dying.

It was because the laws it had established were collapsing; that was why the world’s god grew angry.

The established rules were broken, and the world began to crumble.
Upon seeing this, the world spoke.

A broken world is of no use.
So, it will begin again.

That was the world’s final judgment.

Thus, the goblin thought.
As things stood, he could neither return to his home nor do anything but watch the world fall apart.

Then what should he do?

The goblin thought once more.

First, he needed to close the door that had been pouring out these beings.

He would close the door and plead with the world for mercy.

Since he had committed the sin.
He would plead for leniency.

Having made up his mind, the goblin ultimately closed the door.

Closing the door was not difficult.

Enduring what came after closing it was another matter, but as for literally shutting the door, that itself was not so difficult.

Thus, after closing the door, the goblin sought out the world.
He resolved to fix what he had done, pleading for mercy, no matter what it took.

And in that moment of desperate hope.

To the goblin’s surprise, the world listened to his plea.

Rather than erasing the world immediately, it would grant him a chance.

The world spoke to the goblin, telling him this:
It would give both the goblin and the world an opportunity, but the goblin must bear a single sin.
If the goblin accepted this, the world would give them a chance.

That was the condition.
And as the goblin had no other choice from the beginning, he accepted without hesitation.

Fortunately, the world did not speak lies.

As it had said, it granted him a chance.

The problem was.

The condition that the world imposed on the goblin, which was called a punishment, turned out to be far crueler than he had expected.
And even if the goblin came to regret it later.

This sin was something he could never relinquish of his own will.

   ******************
   

Tap-tak—! Swish—!

The spectacle of Qi unfolded before me.
A flow of pitch-black energy, as if scorched, danced through the air.

Even in the forest veiled by night, the Qi was darker still.
Amid that alien scene, I gazed at a small back.

Wearing the familiar martial robes of the Gu family, black long hair fluttered in the wind.

The gaze that met mine was as beautiful as someone I knew.
And within the violet eyes, I saw something both hateful and beautiful, evoking a contradictory thought.

Cheonma (Heavenly Demon).

I frowned as I looked at the back of the woman who, in my previous life, was called a calamity.

It was a small, delicate back.

In the past, that back had seemed so immense. But now, it looked so very small.

“What are you?”

When I asked with a shaken voice, Cheonma glanced at me briefly before turning her head again.

She stared straight ahead.
Before her stood the man claiming to be my grandfather.

“Hmm.”

Though flames obscured my vision, making it hard to recognize him, he had taken the form of a human and introduced himself as my grandfather.

Even if he hadn’t, just the resonance of Nine Flames Firewheel told me enough.

Those flames themselves were the flames of Nine Flames Firewheel.

Recalling how he tried to take Nine Flames Firewheel from me only added weight to his claim as my grandfather.

‘How he could have taken it is a mystery.’

But ultimately, it was clear. This was a very dangerous situation.

At that moment—

Chirrrrrp.

The sound of insects reached my ears.
The silenced noise began to return.

The wind brushed against my cheeks.

My vanished senses gradually came back. What was happening?

Had my grandfather loosened his power?

Or did Cheonma’s appearance cause some kind of disruption?
As questions sprouted in my mind—

“That’s right.”

My grandfather muttered as he looked at the newly arrived Cheonma.

“So you were here. I had almost forgotten for a moment.”

The tilt of his head reminded me of someone.
Annoyingly enough, it resembled my own behavior.

Or rather, did I resemble him?

“The Qi of the inhuman. It has been a long time. Have you been well?”

“...”

At my grandfather’s words, Cheonma extended her left hand.
Then—

Shiiiiiik—!!!

The black energy suspended in the air began to gather in Cheonma’s hand.

The moment I sensed it, a sharp tingle surged through me.
It was an immense power.

The compressed, concentrated Qi began to change form at Cheonma’s fingertips, taking on the shape of a sword.

I knew this power well.

It was a strength Cheonma often used in my past life.

Back then, she never gave it a name.
The orthodox faction had attached the ridiculous name Cheonma Divine Sword.

Then again, calling it a divine sword wasn’t entirely wrong. With a single swing of that sword, she could alter the very terrain.

Saaaah—.

The sword was soon complete.

Cheonma pointed the tip of that sword at my grandfather.
And she spoke.

“Disappear.”

“...”

“This is not a place for you.”

“Haha.”

At Cheonma’s words, my grandfather chuckled.

“Well, now….”

At that moment—

Wuuuuung—!

“Urgh…!”

My heart began to pound violently.
The Nine Flames Firewheel I had retrieved from my grandfather started to convulse.

It was hot.
The flames spread through my meridians, coursing throughout my body.

Chi-i-iik—!

As the heat poured out of me, it caused tremendous pain.

“Mere dregs dare to command me to leave?”

For some reason, my grandfather’s voice carried a hint of anger.

Was that why the flames were reacting?

“Anyone in this land could tell me to leave. But you lot? Never.”

Step.

With a single step, the air around us rippled violently.

Whoosh—!

Simultaneously, the temperature soared.
It felt as if the forest itself was catching fire, and my skin burned with searing heat.

“Disgusting.”

Kuuuuu—!!

The surging Qi suffocated me.
I struggled to suppress the rampaging energy within me.

But it refused to listen.

‘This is so damn annoying.’

I gritted my teeth.

Meanwhile, my grandfather continued his slow approach toward Cheonma.
Cheonma, in turn, began to move her sword.

Were they really going to fight?

‘Damn it.’

The absurdity of the situation left me cursing under my breath.

My so-called grandfather had appeared out of nowhere, Nine Flames Firewheel was acting up, and the Cheonma I once despised now held her sword as if to protect me.

Was she trying to defend me? Cheonma?

‘Who does she think she is?’

It was ridiculous.

The situation itself was utter chaos. Could it get any worse?

I clenched my fist tightly.

Then I struck my chest with all my might.

Kuuuuung—!!!

Paaah—!

“Mm.”

“...!”

At the rough sound of impact, Cheonma turned to look at me.
The force of my strike had released a shockwave from my body.

Cough.

Drip.

Blood trickled out.
I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.

“Wow, fuck... That hurts like hell.”

In my hurry, I hadn’t controlled my strength.
I rubbed my chest. Damn. My ribs were broken.

I sighed, though even that hurt.

I should have hit myself more gently.

The only relief was that, by hitting myself, the Nine Flames Firewheel had stopped its convulsions.

Better broken ribs than this chaos.

Cheonma and my grandfather looked at me in surprise.
Ignoring them, I walked forward.

As I did, I grabbed Cheonma by the shoulder and pulled her back.

“...!”

Cheonma widened her eyes in shock, but I didn’t look at her.

“Step back. Don’t interfere.”

This was a family matter.
An outsider had no place here.

As I caught my breath and stepped forward, my grandfather reacted with surprise.

“How did you escape?”

The convulsions of the flame.
He looked at me, puzzled at how I had overcome it.

“Did you endure it because you became inhuman and could handle my flames for a moment—.”

“This isn’t your flame.”

I spat on the ground. It was all blood.

“It’s mine.”

This flame, which I had nurtured my whole life, taming and enduring it, belonged to me.

“Don’t overstep. Do you know how much I suffered to master this?”

“Haha.”

Ignoring my battered body, I asked my grandfather,

“A man who claims to be my grandfather—shouldn’t he be giving something to his grandson, not trying to take it away? Have you got your head stuck up your ass?”

Politeness had already been thrown out the window.
If he didn’t respect me, I had no reason to respect him.

He could try to reclaim the flames.

Though the unfamiliarity of it unsettled me, I refused to bow.

“If you want to take it, go ahead and try.”

“My child, you seem to be mistaken. If I so desire, I can take the seed any time….”

“If that’s the case, I’ll just drop dead right here.”

“…!”

At the mention of death, my grandfather fell silent.

“What did you say?”

“If you take it, I’ll die.”

“...”

As expected.
When I held my life as leverage, his demeanor changed.

It was just as I thought.

‘I’m necessary to him, aren’t I?’

Whether it was my body, me as a person, or the boy set to become the next Young Lord, it didn’t matter.
The point was, I couldn’t die.

“…Ha….”

Hearing my words, my grandfather let out a hollow laugh.
I took that as my cue to act immediately.

“What, you think I can’t do it?”

I tilted my head slightly and grabbed my neck with my hand.

“If you want to take it, go ahead and try.”

“...”

To lose the flames.

My grandfather had spoken to my father, and while I didn’t know the details of their conversation, the mention of a one-year grace period implied something significant.
For a year, he intended to seal away Nine Flames Firewheel.

If that happened—

‘Everything will fall apart.’

All of my plans would collapse.

Even the cultivation I had painstakingly built, meticulously calculated into my strategy, would be ruined.
If Nine Flames Firewheel were sealed, it would all be over.

‘I can’t let that happen.’

I would rather die here than let that occur.
With that resolve in my voice, my grandfather paused and looked at me.

For a moment, we exchanged gazes.
Calling it “gazes” was strange, though.

After all, he was nothing but flames.

A brief silence lingered.

“…Haha.”

Suddenly, my grandfather burst into laughter.

“Hahaha—!”

Wuuung—!!

With each burst of laughter, the air vibrated violently.
It wasn’t the pressure of Qi.

It was something subtly different.

“How amusing. That child has raised his son well.”

By that child, did he mean my father?

So, saying he raised me “well” was an insult, wasn’t it? From where I stood, it definitely sounded like one.

“To think you’d try to negotiate with your own life as leverage.”

“Negotiate? That’s a kind way to put it. To be precise, I’m throwing a tantrum and threatening you.”

I clicked my tongue in disdain.

“You even resemble your father in that aspect.”

My grandfather spoke as if recalling a similar incident.

Then he looked at me again and said,

“Very well. In recognition of your resolve, I will not take the flames.”

He declared that he would not take Nine Flames Firewheel. That was a relief.

But I didn’t breathe a sigh of relief just yet.

“However.”

Because my grandfather’s words weren’t finished.

“The period is still one year.”

“…So, you want me to come to Shingang within that time?”

“Yes. More precisely, you must come after taking your rightful position.”

“And why would I do that?”

“Because that is our burden.”

Hearing those words, I scowled.

Our burden, my ass.

“And what exactly is there that I have to go for?”

“The Gate.”

“The Gate?”

“To guard the Gate. That is our duty.”

The Gate.
What did he mean by that?
I didn’t bother to think deeply about it.

I didn’t have the luxury to do so.

“One year.”

My grandfather repeated the time frame as if to ensure I wouldn’t forget.

“Before that time ends, ascend to your position and come.”

Take the position of Young Lord and find Shingang.
That was what my grandfather wanted.

So I asked,

“And if I don’t?”

What would happen if I didn’t comply?

At my question,

“Do as you wish.”
He answered with an indifferent tone.

“If you can, that is.”

“…Damn.”

That was even worse than telling me not to.

It was clear in his words: I couldn’t escape, no matter what I tried.

Grinding my teeth, I clenched my fists tightly.

Just then,

“And also, take good care of that one.”

My grandfather’s gaze shifted from me to Cheonma behind me.

“She is a precious key to us.”

“A key?”

“Yes, a key to lock the Gate forever.”

I frowned.
A key? Cheonma was?

“You mentioned leaving her with Gu Heebi. What’s your intent?”

My grandfather had brought Cheonma and entrusted her to Gu Heebi.
Where had he found her, and why? I couldn’t help but ask.

My grandfather tilted his head in a manner disturbingly similar to my own habits.

“It was out of necessity. Precious things are best kept in plain sight.”

Out of necessity.
What caught my attention more was his last statement.

“Kept in plain sight.”
So that was why he entrusted her to Gu Heebi? That irked me.

“As I have seen your face today as I wished, I will leave now.”

Cutting off the conversation, my grandfather glanced somewhere.
It was at the empty void.

“It seems I have a guest arriving.”

As he fixed his gaze there, he continued speaking to me.

“Child, remember this well. As long as the flames exist, I will always be watching you.”

And so—

“Let’s meet again.”

With those words, my grandfather—

Fwoosh—!

—turned into flames and vanished.

“...”

The spot where he had stood, beneath the lush forest, was now scorched black.

As the air quickly cooled, I bit my lip.

“This is so damn annoying.”

It was ridiculous enough that he had shown up out of nowhere, only to vanish after spouting all that nonsense.

‘What was it? A dignified lunatic?’

Recalling Paejon’s description of my grandfather, I shuddered.

‘Dignified, my ass. He’s just insane.’

How could anyone call that dignified? If that was dignified, the world must have gone mad.

Now he spoke of burdens and a one-year deadline, dragging forward something I had been putting off.

‘One year?’

I thought about the time frame my grandfather had given me.

‘Maybe I should just run.’

I was already strong enough to leave the Gu family if I wanted.

With the Blood Calamity to deal with, taking on the role of Young Lord was the least of my priorities. I could simply leave.

[Do as you wish.]

His words echoed in my mind, swirling around my thoughts.

The certainty that I couldn’t escape grated on me, leaving a sour taste in my mouth.

“Hah….”

Letting out a heavy sigh, I ran a hand down my face.

Throb—!

A sharp pain flared in my chest.
I clicked my tongue. My ribs still ached from earlier.

‘This’ll probably take three days.’

Considering my improved regeneration speed, three days should be enough.

I could leave it alone, but it wouldn’t hurt to seek out the Divine Doctor.

Turning around, I found myself staring into violet eyes.
Right. I had completely forgotten about Cheonma.

“...”

Cheonma was holding her shoulder with one hand, staring at me with an unreadable expression.

Why was she holding her shoulder?

‘Is that where I grabbed her?’

The spot I had yanked earlier to move her aside.
Had I grabbed her too hard?

‘I didn’t think I pulled that roughly.’

As I watched, wondering if she was exaggerating,

“Are you leaving?”

Cheonma spoke to me.

“Are you going?”

“Yeah. I’m getting out of here.”

I had originally come to see Gu Heebi and Cheonma, but now I wanted nothing more than to leave.

As I turned to walk away,

Grab.

Cheonma grabbed my arm, stopping me.

“What now?”

I glared at her irritably.

“Food.”

“…What?”

“Eat before you go.”

“What kind of bullshit is this?”

Why the hell would I eat with her?
I would choke for sure.

After everything that just happened, how could I even think about food?

As I tried to pull free and leave,

“Unni is waiting for you.”

At that, I paused instinctively.

“Why would my sister…?”

“She said she was coming to fetch you.”

She mentioned me when she left?

“…Hah.”

“Unni made something delicious. Let’s go.”

Mentioning Gu Heebi, Cheonma tugged me along.

I wanted to go back immediately, but hearing Gu Heebi’s name drained the strength from my legs.

‘Might as well.’

Since I was here, I might as well deal with everything.

With that thought, I closed my eyes.

 
   ******************
   

At the midpoint of a towering rocky cliff.

An old man sat there.

He wore only trousers, leaving his upper body bare.
Though his appearance suggested age, his body was covered in muscles and scars.

Thick white hair and a wrinkled face.
A battle-hardened body that did not match such features.

And.

The long horn protruding from his forehead made it clear that he was no ordinary human.

“...”

After a long while, the old man opened his closed eyes.

His blazing red pupils came into view.
He quietly rolled his eyes around before a faint smile curved his lips.

“Keuk keuk.”

It was as though he tried to stifle his laughter, but it wasn’t easy.

The reaction was clear, as if he had just witnessed something amusing.

How long had it been?
It was an occurrence that hadn’t happened in the old man’s countless years.

As the old man chuckled for a while—

Tap.

Someone appeared behind him.

“It seems you’ve found something entertaining.”
The figure asked, staring at the old man’s back.

The old man turned his gaze toward the newcomer, erasing the smile he had worn.
The earlier grin vanished entirely, leaving only a chilling gleam in his eyes.

“It was a moment steeped in sentiment.”

He had already sensed the presence of the figure.
Because of that, he had been forced to hastily retrieve the flames.

“The world’s hound has come to interfere needlessly.”

Hearing those words, the young man addressed the old man.

“My apologies. However, we are in somewhat of a rush on this side as well.”

Despite the old man’s simmering anger, the young man smiled nonchalantly.

“Good to see you again, Gatekeeper. I’ve truly missed you.”

At that smile, the old man muttered in response.

“I’ve just come from meeting one of your remnants.”

Even at the old man’s words, the young man—

The Blood Demon—did not erase his smile.

He was simply amused.

“It’s been far too long since I let go of such trivial matters.”

What was Qi? What was a body?
To the Blood Demon now, none of it mattered.

“More importantly, there is something I want to ask.”

The Blood Demon—no, Dokgo Jun—asked the old man, his blood-red eyes widening.

“Gatekeeper.”

He, too, wiped the smile from his face.

“Where is the Gate to the Divine Realm?”

At that moment—

Fwoooosh—!!

As the question was asked, the old man’s horn flared red, burning intensely.

Dokgo Jun’s pupils split vertically, radiating a piercing light.

Kwaaaaa—!!

An explosion erupted on the spot.