Childhood Friend of the Zenith-Chapter 508

"Show me the process and outcome of using the White Demon Stone on Je Gal-hyuk."

This was my demand to the Divine Doctor.

Honestly, I was curious. The White Demon Stone was a miraculous elixir to me, yet that was only because I possessed the power of the Demonic Absorption Art.

To others, it was merely a white stone.

But still...

‘Using that for something?’

The notion of alternative uses for the stone intrigued me. Although, to be clear...

‘I didn’t intend to find out like this.’

I hadn’t planned to learn about it in such a forced way. As I mentioned earlier, this was more about Shin Noya’s wishes than my own.

‘What did he say again?’

Before I sought out the Divine Doctor, Noya had directly instructed me to make this demand.

It was unusual. Noya often found my actions absurd, but he had never given me direct orders like this.

He’d always insisted that it felt wrong for the dead to meddle with the living.

‘This must mean it’s important.’

If it was enough for Noya to act this way, it had to be significant. So, without much argument, I decided to go through with it.

If I were to summarize the outcome…

‘Half a success.’

It was a partial success. That’s how I would describe it.

The reason I call it a partial success is that the Divine Doctor initially refused my request.

He pointed out that even with the White Demon Stone, it would be challenging to act immediately.

Beneath his words, I sensed an unwillingness to trust me fully and discomfort in showing me his actions.

I considered letting it go, but then, remembering that Noya had stepped in, I decided to press further.

I wagered the White Demon Stone, and after a slight falter, the Divine Doctor sighed deeply and fell into contemplation.

It didn’t take long.

Only the time it took me to sip my tea.

After that brief moment, the Divine Doctor presented his conditions.

The first condition was that it must be done in a safe location; the second was that gathering the remaining materials after using the White Demon Stone would take time.

And the third...

‘A binding oath.’

A silence-binding oath. He said he would place it directly on me.

A restriction imposed by a healer. I felt a twinge of curiosity about how it might differ.

The issue was that, at that point, even Shin Noya tried to stop me.

[No further steps are necessary. There’s no need to go as far as placing a restriction.]

Noya told me to stop, but by that point, I had no intention of backing down.

“I’ll do it.”

Ignoring Shin Noya’s words, I responded to the Divine Doctor.

Only then did the Divine Doctor, seeming resigned, give me a tired nod.

That was the end of the conversation.

For a safe location, I could use the family estate. While it didn’t seem especially secure, it was better than anywhere else.

Right after we finished talking, I handed the White Demon Stone over to the Divine Doctor.

It might have been risky to give him the stone before the conditions were fulfilled, but I trusted he wouldn’t take it and run.

Seeing the White Demon Stone, perhaps because it was hard to come by, the Divine Doctor looked at it with a relieved gaze.

Could it have been that important? Important enough to endure this just to get it?

‘Will that really allow Je Gal-hyuk to speak?’

If it truly works, what then? The thought brought back bitter memories of my previous life.

Really...

‘Could I have avoided killing him?’

Je Gal-hyuk was like a crossroads.

He marked the point where I began to recognize that this was a different time and that I was living a different life.

Not killing him held that kind of significance for me.

But still...

‘Is it really okay?’

I couldn’t help but wonder.

Is it really all right, or could Je Gal-hyuk still be a threat in the future?

If there was even a small chance, wouldn’t it be better to kill him now?

The more I thought about it, the colder my insides grew.

“…You.”

The Divine Doctor’s voice quietly called to me.

“You have an unusually wicked nature, and a filthy temperament.”

“…Why are you insulting me all of a sudden?”

The words, piercing like a dagger, made me frown. Was he mocking me for using the White Demon Stone as leverage? As I started to wrinkle my nose in response, he continued.

“But I don’t see you as a bad person.”

“…”

His calm yet firm statement made me pause, as it was entirely unlike the insults he’d just hurled.

“You can’t even keep your own body steady, yet you cling to those around you with an almost desperate care.”

That’s not true. I’ve pushed and driven others hard. That’s how they’ll survive later on.

“You behave horribly toward others, yet you harbor foolish guilt and hesitation within you.”

I’ve never done that. I hit those who needed to be hit and left those who needed to be left alone.

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I’ve never held back, and I was about to argue, but the words wouldn’t come out.

Why?

“It’s because I see all that, I think there must be a reason behind why you acted this way with the White Demon Stone.”

The Divine Doctor believed there was a reason for my actions.

Hearing that, the thorns in my heart seemed to prick sharper than ever. I swallowed the pain and replied to the Divine Doctor.

“You’re overthinking it. I’m just a wicked person. You’re adding unnecessary reasons.”

Whatever my motivations, they didn’t matter. Responsibility for my actions lay solely with me.

I wasn’t acting to gain his understanding.

Everything was for me to bear.

That was the proper way.

At least for me.

The Divine Doctor’s gaze held a strange sympathy as he looked at me.

The thorn lodged in my heart grew.

I ignored it, swallowing hard. Just a few seconds we met eyes.

The moment passed, and the Divine Doctor turned away, speaking to me.

“If that’s how you feel, then so be it. If our conversation is over, you may go.”

I carefully rose to my feet. Our talk was done, and whether or not I would take him to the family estate was a matter for later.

The sun was setting, and night was falling. It was time to head back to my room.

‘…Father must be waiting.’

Ah, I don’t want to go. The thought flickered through my mind.

As I walked out of the Divine Doctor’s quarters with a grim expression, he spoke one last thing.

“This is a warning to you, you miserable soul.”

“…Excuse me? A warning?”

“The Celestial Master. That old man is here. Be cautious.”

“…”

The Celestial Master is here?

I showed a slight hint of surprise at the unexpected revelation.

After hearing him, I barely managed to stifle a laugh.

“Divine Doctor, isn’t that more concern than a warning?”

“Get out of here!”

“Yes.”

With a bitter smile, I opened the door.

Before leaving, I gave a slight bow of respect to the Divine Doctor.

Creak. Slam.

After the door closed, I made my way back to my quarters.

The sun had set, and lamps were lit along the path.

Maybe it was our last conversation.

It felt as though a stone was lodged in my chest.

‘…Tsk.’

It was as if the Divine Doctor had forcibly dredged up my buried emotions. The feeling of whether to kill Je Gal-hyuk lingered, leaving a murky taste.

Smack-!

I slapped my cheek hard. It stung so much I tasted blood, so I wiped it off with my sleeve.

“Get a grip, you idiot.”

Ever since my body changed, I felt something was mentally off.

All the more reason to keep my focus.

I can’t let myself fall.

‘Remember who you are.’

Not in some philosophical sense of finding meaning in existence.

The scoundrel of the Gu family.

That simple, clear nickname is all I needed to remember.

[Young one.]

‘Don’t call me that. I’m fine.’

Shin Noya’s voice was laced with worry, but I asked him not to fuss.

I won’t fall to this.

Not because I’m strong.

Because I can’t allow myself to.

As I walked on, I maintained my composure, focusing on staying calm.

By the time I reached my quarters, I was stable enough.

Then…

I froze.

The moment I entered my quarters, I stopped in my tracks.

I could feel it.

‘It’s warm.’

The room felt noticeably warmer.

As I sensed the heat, I stepped forward cautiously.

The attendants outside greeted me, but their faces were tense with anxiety.

The Tang Clan’s guards who were supposed to be watching over the place… were nowhere to be seen. But this wasn’t the time to worry about that.

Ascending the creaky stairs, I grasped the door handle and opened it.

The room was dark, yet it felt oddly bright.

I saw two teacups on the table, and someone sitting calmly in a dignified posture.

Even in the dim shadow, I recognized him from his red eyes.

Father.

With that realization, I took a step forward.

Then—

Whoosh-!

The room brightened instantly, as small flames ignited in the air. They were small, yet remarkably bright.

Bright enough that I squinted slightly.

Bearing the brightness, I looked toward my father.

Without glancing at me, he suddenly took something out from his robes.

“…!”

The sight of it made me catch my breath. What he pulled out was none other than a Night Pearl.

Why does he have that…? Shocked by its unexpected appearance, my eyes trembled.

Then, my father turned and looked at me.

Facing his crimson gaze, I felt my body stiffen involuntarily.

Swallowing dryly, I watched as he spoke.

“Sit down.”

“…”

That command compelled my stiffened body to slide into the seat in front of the table.

Before I knew it, I had knelt, hands folded demurely.

Then, my father took a sip from his teacup.

The Night Pearl sat ominously between us, setting a tense atmosphere.

Thud.

After sipping his tea, my father set the cup down and spoke.

“Explain.”

“…”

Hearing that, I realized…

I should have run away ages ago.

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

"Explain."

I didn’t have much to say in response to Father’s command.

I spoke as slowly as possible, taking my time with each word.

Even as I spoke, I had to mix various thoughts internally.

Although I’d prepared excuses beforehand, I had to be careful not to make mistakes as I delivered them.

‘But still, they’re just excuses.’

Damn it.

Of all things, I didn’t expect him to bring the Night Pearl that I had handed over to the Baekhwa Trading Company.

When did he even go there?

Because of this, I had to quickly adjust my story as I explained.

So, the explanation (excuse) I gave Father was this:

First, I accidentally fell into a lake and discovered a secret vault of the Tang Clan.

There, I managed to obtain a stock of Night Pearls and Dokcheon Pills. After consuming the Dokcheon Pills, I went through a rebirth.

I took the Night Pearls with me and sold them through the Baekhwa Trading Company.

But then, an issue arose.

In the vault, I discovered information suggesting that the Tang Clan was up to something unusual.

Since it seemed like my comrades might be in danger, I tried to inform the Poison King to stop it.

“…”

As I narrated, I realized I’d made a mistake.

The story was full of contradictions and gaps.

For one, consuming the Dokcheon Pills wouldn’t easily lead to a full rebirth. And why did I go all the way to Dokcheon Lake just to fall in?

Additionally, how did I manage to find a hidden vault after falling into a lake?

And how did I uncover evidence of the Tang Clan’s secret activities in a vault of unknown origin?

The more I spoke, the more I felt the weight of my blunder.

From Father’s perspective, he must have thought, “What kind of nonsense is this?”

On top of that, admitting that I sold the Night Pearls I found in the Tang Clan’s vault was essentially confessing to stealing.

‘…Damn it.’

I had never expected Father to come here, and if I had known it would turn out like this, I would’ve taken more time to come up with a different approach.

‘What now?’

Finishing my story, I carefully observed Father’s reaction.

He listened to me in silence, not interrupting once throughout the explanation.

Only when I finished did he take a sip of his tea.

After wetting his lips, he narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at me, ready to speak.

At that moment, I felt every muscle in my body tense up.

I was probably about to be scolded. I hadn’t been hit by Father since our last sparring session, but it looked like I might be due for another round.

I shifted my gaze, hoping that if I was hit, it wouldn’t hurt too much.

"How’s your body?"

“…Pardon?”

The words from Father’s mouth were unexpected.

He was asking about my body?

“I heard you underwent a rebirth. How is your condition?”

“…Well.”

The unexpected question caught me off guard, and I stumbled slightly.

“…The Divine Doctor… performed a diagnosis and said I’m in good health.”

It wasn’t a lie. The Divine Doctor had, indeed, examined me just before.

“I see.”

Father seemed satisfied with my answer, nodding as he relaxed his previously narrowed eyes.

The problem was, this was only momentary.

Thump.

I felt a pressure on my heart, as if it was being squeezed. The air around me shifted.

As I widened my eyes, trying to make sense of the strange sensation, he spoke.

“So, it’s true that someone poisoned you.”

Father stated.

“Third son.”

“Uh… Yes.”

“It was good judgment to inform the Poison King to handle things with justification, but…”

Creak.

My shoulders felt heavy, as if something were pressing down on me.

The intense pressure from Father bore down on me.

‘…Damn it.’

I thought I had grown stronger, yet here I was, biting my lip, unable to withstand a single wave of pressure.

“I’ll have to reprimand you for trying to ingest poison yourself.”

“…I apologize.”

Ah, so I’m going to get scolded anyway.

That thought crossed my mind, and just as I swallowed down the nervous lump in my throat—

Swoosh.

Father suddenly stood up. I looked up, thinking he was about to strike me.

"However."

Father’s gaze wasn’t on me but on something beyond the door.

“It seems there’s someone who needs to be punished first.”

“…Patriarch?”

Sensing something unusual, I called out to him, but he didn’t respond and silently stepped toward the door.

Whoosh-! Without anyone touching it, the door swung open.

Creak.

Father took a step outside, and—

Whoosh-!

“…What?”

Light flooded in.

I could clearly see it.

In the dark, moonlit sky, it had momentarily turned into a bright, blue sky.

The sun.

At this hour, it should have been resting, yet it had suddenly appeared in the sky.

The sight was so nonsensical that I couldn’t find the words to react.

“Wait here.”

Father looked back at me with his familiar expressionless face.

Whoosh.

Father’s black hair slowly turned the same red as his eyes.

It was a battle stance I had never seen him take, not even in my previous life.

“I’ll return before the tea gets cold.”