Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Chapter 755

“Damn it….”

A secluded residence, somewhat distant from the main city.
A lake adorned with autumn-tinted maple leaves and koi fish glistening with beautiful scales.

Beneath the expensive mansion, an old man let out a heavy sigh.

A distant, overwhelming energy lingered in the air.
Melodies formed, weaving through the atmosphere as if to sustain that energy.

Others might not have noticed it, but the old man saw the sinister scene with perfect clarity.

‘…Head of the family, just what in the world are you doing?’

It was undoubtedly the power of sorcery.
Not just any sorcery—something meticulously prepared and intricately calculated over a long period.

Imagining the sacrifices needed to fuel such a spell was impossible.

Chilling.
What kind of madness could have led someone to create such a thing?

‘...’

Wiping the cold sweat from his brow, the old man, Divine Doctor, scowled.

Should he go down there? Should he head into the city even now?
His body was closer to that of an ordinary man.
The distance was too great to hear anything, but his instincts screamed at him.

Pain and screams—they resonated in his soul.

People were being wounded, crying out in anguish.
And their suffering echoed as his own.

He had to go.
What could an old body like his do? Such hesitation was a luxury.

Hadn’t he known this from the moment he cast aside his family name?

‘I am a physician.’

Even when he lamented his life and sought to escape it,
The Divine Doctor had never abandoned his convictions.

Though his aging body clung desperately to life, he would not forsake his duties.
With that thought, his feet began to move toward the city.

—Elder, please don’t forget.

“...”

Suddenly, he froze.

—No matter what happens today, close your eyes and cover your ears. Please stay here, just for today.

It was that wretched brat who had worked him half to death under the guise of training.

—What are you talking about?

—I know you’ll try to get involved, Elder. That’s why I’m asking you to restrain yourself.

—Stop spouting nonsense. Speak clearly so this old man can understand.

—...

The damn brat had hesitated for a moment.

That troubled look of his was unsettling.
Unfortunately, the Divine Doctor had no talent for fixing faces, so there was no helping it.

Anyway—

The brat, after a brief hesitation, had tried to convince him.

—Just trust me and stay put. If that doesn’t work, I’ll have to resort to threats, so can’t you just trust me?

—…?

He’d thought the brat had lost his mind.

Threats if he didn’t listen? What kind of lunatic said something like that?
And the worst part was knowing that the brat was serious.

Truly, an unapologetic madman.

—…I’ve never met anyone like you in my life.

—Well, it’s my first time meeting someone like me too.

—Enough with the jokes. What exactly do you expect me to do?

The funny thing was, no matter how aggravating the brat’s words were,
He had a strange way of making people listen.

As infuriating as he could be, he had never once broken his word.
Even if he ended up taking the fall himself, he never dragged others down with him.

The problem was… his solutions always involved breaking himself to fix everything else.

It was—sacrifice.

Sacrificing his own body to shield others.
Calling him a saint was absurd, but for just a moment, the thought had crossed the Divine Doctor’s mind.

He wondered if he might be losing his sanity too.

—It’s simple. No matter what happens, just stay here today.

—What’s going to happen?

—Just know that. Don’t leave, and everything will be fine.

The brat’s words carried a finality that left the Divine Doctor silent.
When he spoke like that, it always meant something serious was coming.

—What a ridiculous brat.

The Divine Doctor scoffed.

—If something big happens, I’ll have to pack up and run. Are you telling this old man to die here?

—I know you won’t run. That’s why I’m telling you.

—...

The brat’s eyes were resolute.

—You’re bound to step in with that frail body of yours, and that’ll just make things harder for me. So please, just stay here.

—Hah…! You really are—

The Divine Doctor had begun to show his displeasure at the brat’s audacity, but—

—Please.

The brat had looked him in the eye and spoken.

—Nothing will happen. I’ll make sure of it, no matter what it takes.

—...

There was desperation in his voice.
Faint but unmistakable.

Perhaps it was because of that—

Despite not understanding,
The Divine Doctor’s final answer had been a reluctant agreement.

It wasn’t anything else.

Nothing will happen.
I’ll make sure of it.

Leaving aside the desperation in the brat’s eyes and the atmosphere he created—

He had believed his words.
That was all.

And yet—

“This… this isn’t right.”

This wasn’t right at all.
A sky darkened with thick clouds and a nearly completed sorcery array.

Just looking at it sent chills down his spine.

What kind of medium had been sacrificed to create that spell?
And what would happen once it was complete?

It was terrifying to even imagine.
The Divine Doctor had no doubts about that.

And yet—

“…What is he thinking?”

What was that brat thinking?
Did he really believe he could handle this?

It was impossible to trust.
And yet, absurdly, that brat’s words had kept him rooted.

“...”

His chest felt tight.
His breathing quickened.

He had to go.
Request or not, he had to go.

Just as the Divine Doctor prepared to step forward—

“…Stay.”

“…!”

Someone stopped him.
Turning quickly, he saw a woman with a tired expression standing behind him.

“How did you get out?”

Pale white hair and fair skin.
Sharp eyes that softened slightly due to fatigue.

Walking temptation.
A face that seemed sculpted from flowers.

She clutched a martial uniform—the brat’s clothes.

The Divine Doctor frowned.

“I told you not to leave your bed. No one listens to this old man.”

“...”

The woman ignored his scolding.

She always had.
Except when it came to that brat.

Step.

She sniffed the uniform and then—

“…The smell is too strong. I can’t… sleep.”

“…What…?”

“I’ll be back. Stay here.”

“What? No, I—”

“Stay.”

“…!”

Her sharp gaze froze him in place.

Then—

She vanished.

“…Dammit.”

Before he could react, another man—pale hair, missing an arm—placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Sorry, Elder. My niece takes after me.”

“What the hell…”

And he vanished too.

The Divine Doctor scowled at the two absconders.

“…Damn Namgung brats.”

   ******************
   

For a long while, he soared through the air.
Finally, his feet touched the ground.

—Thud!

—Clang! Clang!

Sharp, piercing sounds echoed from various directions.
The area was relatively deserted.

It was only after arriving that the young man,
Gu Yangcheon, turned to look behind him.

“Cough.”

An old man, coughing repeatedly, stood there.

It was Pillduma.

“Huff… Huff.”

Gu Yangcheon looked at him and spoke.

[You look like a mess.]

“...”

Drenched in sweat, his appearance was pitiful.
Pillduma seemed to realize this as well, his expression slightly awkward.

“…I’ve shown an unsightly appearance before you, Cult Leader.”

[Yes, very unsightly. But it was somewhat amusing.]

“…I hadn’t anticipated Lord Hwangbo’s sudden appearance.”

Not only had he appeared, but his martial prowess was also far beyond expectations.
It was a strength that far exceeded predictions.

[Hmm.]

A hint of dissatisfaction lingered in Gu Yangcheon’s voice.
Noticing it, Pillduma quickly added,

“H-However, there’s no issue with the plan.”

What mattered was the plan. As long as it proceeded without complications, everything would be fine.
That was the implication behind his words.

And Gu Yangcheon agreed with that point.

[Yes. As long as there are no problems with it.]

Swish.

The masked figure turned his gaze toward the sky.

The dark clouds had grown even darker than before, and the lines forming the array were nearly complete.

[Is that what you were talking about?]

“Yes, it is.”

Pillduma nodded.

“It’s a formation activated using six mediums.”

Even as he spoke, he carefully watched Gu Yangcheon’s reaction.

No response.
It was a signal to continue explaining.

“Once all the lines are connected… the disaster I mentioned earlier will be unleashed.”

[So that’s how it is. Ah, by the way.]

“Yes, Cult Leader.”

[I have a question for you.]

“Please, go ahead.”

[That formation—can it activate without you?]

“That’s… what do you mean…?”

[Answer me.]

Momentarily caught off guard by the sudden question, Pillduma hesitated before continuing.

“Since it’s already been activated, it won’t stop unless the mediums are located and destroyed.”

[You’ve hidden the mediums, of course?]

“Yes. Even if the Wind Dragon Daeju himself were to step in… he wouldn’t be able to find and dismantle them within today.”

[Good.]

Hearing this explanation, Gu Yangcheon smiled.
Even if the Wind Dragon Daeju acted immediately, it would take him at least a day. Otherwise, several days.
That meant there wouldn’t be any problems.

In addition—

The violet eyes behind the mask fixed themselves on Pillduma.

[That’s truly fortunate.]

“Cult Leader…?”

Something about his gaze caused Pillduma’s back to tingle with unease.
He tried to shake off the feeling and form a coherent thought when—

Thud.

A faint presence made itself known.

Pillduma immediately turned his head and spotted someone approaching.

A figure dressed in yellow clothing, with their face completely covered.

“This can’t be!”

An enemy? Pillduma quickly grabbed his weapon and got to his feet.
He hadn’t even noticed the person’s approach—proof of their strength.

He had been startled for a moment, but there was no need to worry.

After all, one of the Three Supremes, Paejon, was by his side—

—Kwahk!

“Guh…!?”

Blood spurted from Pillduma’s mouth as his eyes trembled.
He lowered his gaze to look at something.

His chest.

A hand had pierced through it, emerging from his back.
Creaking, he turned his head.

And there, he saw the one who had attacked him.

“…C-Cult Leader…?”

Drip.

Confusion filled his eyes.
Slowly, his hand reached toward the mask.

Clink.

The mask he grasped began to slip off.

Cracks spread across it before it finally fell away, revealing the face beneath.

“…Huh…?”

Shock spread across the old man’s face.

The violet eyes remained the same, but the face was far younger than he had imagined.

No—his age wasn’t the issue.

What mattered was—

“…Y-You’re….”

The person he believed to be Cheonma had a face he recognized.

“So Yeom—”

“I’m sorry.”

Shluk!

“Guh….”

Thud.

Pillduma collapsed as the hand withdrew from his chest.
Something rolled to the ground beside him.

His heart.

Still faintly beating, it pulsed as if clinging to life.

“Guh…ugh….”

Pillduma desperately reached for it.

Crunch—!

A foot came down, crushing the heart.

“I planned to use you for a bit longer.”

A cold voice rang in Pillduma’s ears.

“Unfortunately, I don’t need you anymore.”

And that was the last thing he ever heard.

The old man who had dreamed of restoring the Jegal Clan died without resistance.

Leaving his cooling corpse behind, Gu Yangcheon walked forward.

Crunch—!

As he strode ahead, a grotesque sound echoed from his body.

His large frame began to shrink.

“...”

With steady steps, he approached the figure from the Hwangbo family who had appeared earlier.

The person was already kneeling before him.

“What’s the situation?”

Gu Yangcheon asked nonchalantly.

“In accordance with your orders, we’re focused on evacuating civilians and avoiding unnecessary killings.”

Srrrk.

The figure spoke while removing their mask.
It was Nahi.

She was dressed in the attire of the Hwangbo family.

“Make sure no one stays near the center.”

“I understand.”

Gu Yangcheon took off his martial robe and handed it to Nahi.
She accepted it naturally and glanced at Pillduma’s corpse.

“What should we do with that?”

The lifeless body.
Her question was whether it should be disposed of discreetly.

“I’ve already informed Lord Hwangbo. He’ll handle it. Just have someone dump it at the designated location.”

“Understood.”

Pillduma’s body would be discovered in some remote mountain.
The story would be that Hwangbo Ga-joo tracked him down and killed him in a struggle.

Gu Yangcheon expanded his senses to assess the situation.

He felt the aftermath of battles everywhere.

‘More than I expected.’

Those resisting the attack weren’t limited to the Hwangbo family.

‘Mount Hua Sect… and a few scattered martial artists.’

He’d expected them to crumble easily, yet there were more righteous people than anticipated.

Was that something to appreciate—or curse?

He wasn’t sure how to feel.

After finishing his assessment, he immediately ordered Nahi,

“Bring in reinforcements.”

“I’ll contact the squads.”

The Iron Night Assassins, who were standing by, would also need to move.

“Go.”

Whoosh—!

At Gu Yangcheon’s command, Nahi disappeared.

Time was running out.

He gazed at the sky, lost in thought.

“...”

What should he do now?

He hesitated—not because he didn’t know what to do,
But because he questioned whether this was what he should be doing.

After a brief moment of reflection—

“…I have to. What else is there?”

It was an inevitable decision.

“Let’s go.”

He tucked the mask into his robes.

It was enough to leave an impression.

He had shown the Alliance that such evil could exist.

It wasn’t perfect, but it was sufficient.

This was an age of chaos.

Even if it was an orchestrated chaos, it was chaos nonetheless.

A chaos that called forth heroes.

Something filled with screams and despair.

He had shown them a glimpse of that possibility.

Now, it was time to move on to the next step.

—Hyaaahh…!

—Please… help me…!

—Daddy! Where are you?! Daddy!!

Chaos always brought heroes in its wake.

Since evil had created this chaos—

It was time for a hero to rise.

“...”

Swallowing down the nausea that welled up, Gu Yangcheon clenched his fists and shot into the air.

“Life really is—”

After playing the villain for now—

“Fucking ridiculous.”

It was time to become the hero.