Childhood Friend of the Zenith Chapter 1244

“…….”

“…….”

Unable to say a word while making eye contact. That was the moment. How could I not be shocked?

The woman, whose face was covered in blood and wearing a fierce expression, immediately softened her face as soon as she recognized me.

Who would have known that an unexpected human would pop up here?

Especially.

‘Why is Dokbong here…?’

It was even more so because there was someone who didn’t attend the Sword Dance Festival. If the person inside had been there, it wouldn’t have been strange. She hadn’t attended, though.

“……Why are you here—.”

Just as I was about to ask, holding back my confusion.

“Lord Baek…!”

Whoosh-!

Dokbong suddenly jumped into my arms. Ugh, damn it. The blood touches my body. This is extremely uncomfortable.

“I never thought I would see you here…! Is it fate?”

“First, let go… No, why are you tightening your grip?”

My bones feel like they’re about to break. I tried to twist my body and barely managed to get free. Dokbong made a face as if disappointed.

“Sorry. I’m just so happy to see you.”

“…….”

Hearing that, I looked back. Until just moments ago, the space had been filled with explosions. Looking around, I saw that the demonic beasts had already collapsed, lifeless, on the floor.

It seemed like Dokbong had taken care of them. Judging by the state they were in, it looked like she had cut them down in one strike.

‘……As expected.’

Seeing that, I looked at Dokbong.

‘This side is stronger.’

Dokbong, the former Poison King, and now the current Poison Dragon, Dangcheongi. Compared to the person who would later become the Clan Head, Dokbong feels stronger.

I was certain of this when I saw her last time.

“Are you alright, Young Master Dang?”

“Me? I’m fine…”

As Dokbong was speaking, she rolled her eyes.

“……I think I’m a bit tired. Ah, dizziness…”

“Then you’re alright.”

“……Ah, yes.”

I quickly stopped her from doing anything weird.

“Ah… Anyway, it’s dangerous here. Should we move?”

“Move?”

“Yes. I’ll take you to a safe place.”

Her eyes widened in surprise. That meant she had already prepared a hiding place.

‘How did she do that in such a short time?’

It hadn’t been long since she regained her senses. Even if there was a time difference, could she really have already set it up? As I watched Dokbong in awe.

“Then I’ll leave it to you.”

It was important to see things with my own eyes.

* * *

After following Dokbong for a while, it seemed like she was very familiar with crossing the forest.

She walked through the forest as if she had been here many times before, and I followed her, still wondering about her footwork.

Before long, we arrived at the hiding place she had mentioned.

‘A cave?’

It was a cave located on the edge of the forest. It didn’t seem very deep.

“Is this it?”

“Yes, this is it.”

Dokbong spoke as she entered first. I followed her in.

Inside, it was dark, but Dokbong, once again, moved downward with ease.

I wondered how she was able to navigate without any lights.

“If I light a fire, the demonic beasts might react,” she explained to me. Upon hearing this, I narrowed my eyes.

Something was strange.

The longer we talked, the more odd it felt.

“Over there.”

Just as I was about to ask something.

“We’ve arrived.”

Dokbong informed me that we had reached our destination.

I paused, scanning the inside. I looked at the space that had been inside. When I opened the wooden door, I finally saw the light.

There were several lights on the wall, and the beds that were placed indicated that more people were probably here.

“Right now, everyone is out, but they’ll be back soon.”

“…….”

“Would you like to sit for a while?”

Dokbong pulled over a chair. It looked rough, but it was a chair.

“Thank you.”

After sitting in the chair, I looked at Dokbong.

“Ah…”

She blushed and avoided my gaze when I looked at her.

“If you look at me like that, I…”

“……Young Master Dang.”

“Yes… Yes.”

She spoke up, breaking the silence. Dokbong stopped but still looked into my eyes.

Her eyes were filled with subtle emotions. Watching her, I asked her.

“Perhaps…”

“I like you too.”

“……What?”

“Huh?”

What’s this sudden “I like you” all about? I froze at her strange words.

“Ah. Isn’t it that?”

“……What’s that?”

“……No, nothing.”

It wasn’t nothing. What’s going on here?

I was about to say something but stopped. I had something more urgent to ask.

Just then, someone entered.

“Senior. We’ve returned…”

Dangcheongi appeared in the doorway. As he entered, he froze when our eyes met.

“……You…”

“Oh…”

Dangcheongi was here too. Fortunately, they seemed to be together. I was about to greet them with joy when—

Swish-!!!

Dangcheongi drew his short sword and pointed it at me.

“How are you here?”

“……Huh?”

Why am I here, you ask?

“She brought me here.”

“……What?”

I explained, and Dangcheongi quickly turned to look at Dokbong.

“Senior…?”

When their eyes met, Dokbong awkwardly smiled.

“Hehe…?”

“…….”

Dangcheongi looked dumbfounded for a moment, his expression completely blank. It seemed he couldn’t believe it. Behind him, other people began to appear and took a look at me.

“Poison Dragon. What’s going on?”

“Is there a problem…?”

There seemed to be more people than I expected, and some unfamiliar faces appeared, eyeing me.

“Hello, I—.”

Just as I was about to greet them.

Clink-!

The warriors immediately drew their swords. The blades were somewhat dull, but there was a strong energy surrounding them.

“……Intruder?”

“Damn it. Has it already been revealed this far?”

There was clear hostility. The tension and wariness were palpable.

“How did you find out about this?”

“……Like I said earlier…”

“Wait, that face…?”

One of the warriors looked at my face and shouted.

“Blood Battle Dog…!”

“What? Blood Battle Dog?”

“If it’s Blood Battle Dog, then it’s that guy. The one who made Chuyeongyeon piss his pants.”

“Is that Blood Battle Dog? Wasn’t it Dog Fight Dog?”

“Right now, the alias doesn’t matter!”

“……Blood Battle Dog, Dog Fight Dog, they’re all just damn dogs.”

My head throbbed. The fact that the aliases still hadn’t been unified was quite interesting.

The one who recognized me reacted, but it wasn’t a very pleasant reaction.

“……Blood Battle Dog, how could you…”

“You just called me Blood Battle Dog.”

“Blood Battle Dog. How could you…”

“……Ah, well. It’s nice to see you’re quick to adapt.”

I was grateful for the fast response.

I sighed and spoke again.

“Is it a problem if I’m here?”

“What matters is your affiliation.”

“Affiliation…?”

“Or maybe you’re not human at all.”

One of the warriors spoke, pointing his sword, and I furrowed my brows.

“Not human?”

“What do you mean, not human?”

“Aren’t you pretending not to know? If you’re doing that, it’s already too late.”

“No, I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Shut up-!”

He told me to shut up after talking like that. It was a bit hurtful.

It seemed like we weren’t going to be able to communicate for now. I looked at the tip of the sword in front of me and lightly scratched my nose.

The warrior’s gaze shifted to my hand. At that moment.

Wham-! Boom-!!

“Ugh!?”

I snatched the sword from his wrist and subdued him.

“L… Let go of this…!”

“Of course…! So I was right… the intruder…”

“Damn it…!”

He made a grim face, so I said with irritation.

“Stop talking nonsense and explain things. I only grabbed you because you kept waving your sword in front of me.”

“How are we supposed to believe that?”

I let go of the hand I had restrained and freed the warrior.

“Ugh…”

The freed man looked at me with a shocked expression.

“If you’re thinking of swinging that sword again, don’t. Next time, I’ll pull your shoulder out.”

“…….”

Hearing my warning, the warrior flinched. Luckily, he seemed to understand and didn’t draw his sword.

The tension was still there, but it felt a bit duller than before.

It was now or never.

“I’ve been wanting to ask something.”

I shifted my gaze from the others to Dokbong. She had already gripped her dagger, but there was something different about hers.

‘……It feels like she’s aiming at the other side, not me?’

It seemed like she was aiming at the opponent, not me.

It’s probably just a misunderstanding, right?

It must be.

I let it go for now. I organized my thoughts.

The situation here, as well as the reactions of those people, felt very strange.

This was a situation far more unusual than I first thought.

Now, I could finally ask what I had been wanting to.

“Young Master Dang.”

“Yes?”

“I’d like to ask.”

I looked at her as I spoke.

“How long has it been since we arrived here?”

“Huh? What do you mean…?”

“How long has it been since everyone arrived in this world?”

“……Uh….”

Dokbong rolled her eyes. She seemed to think for a moment, rolling them around.

“I’ve never counted, so I’m not sure.”

Soon.

“Probably a little over a year.”

She gave the bad answer I had expected.

“……A year?”

“Yes.”

Hearing that, I bit my lip. The cave, the people, the reactions—everything felt different.

‘The time I arrived is different.’

It had been a year.

The others had arrived in this world much earlier than I did.