[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-childhood-friend-of-the-zenith":3,"chapter-childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-318":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Childhood Friend of the Zenith",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1240294,1667,"Chapter 318: Ironclad (2)","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-318",318,"\u003Cp>I was stunned for a moment after hearing him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did this guy just say?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I just wrap my head around why Cheol Jiseon chose to tell me this in the middle of our meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Meteor Sword had asked him for help in his mission to kill me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it was Cheol Jiseon who decided to confess this to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Jiseon had invited me to eat, which was unexpected. I’d even canceled my plans with Moyong Hi-ah to come here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, I didn’t expect this to happen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I sat there, I wondered,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t that I didn’t already know about Jang Seonyeon’s plan. It was that I never expected Cheol Jiseon to snitch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did he choose to?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tried my best to think of a reason, but nothing made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was already informed from Pe Woocheol about how Jang Seonyeon approached Cheol Jiseon a few days ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he hadn’t, I would’ve expected it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jang Seonyeon trying to come up with a plan to harm me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CGiven what happened in my past life, it was inevitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only difference was that, last time, his target had been the Water Dragon, not me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, unlike the Water Dragon, who didn’t react to him in my past life, I wasn’t going to just sit back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That difference made it more likely for Jang Seonyeon to act sooner than he had before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t entirely sure he’d act the way I expected, but judging by his attitude, I was confident it wouldn’t take long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I prefer that anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wanted him to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was hoping he’d make his move sooner rather than later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For that to happen, it required Jang Seonyeon to approach Cheol Jiseon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the key to everything lay in Cheol Jiseon’s hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was why I was confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t understand why Cheol Jiseon would betray Jang Seonyeon and tell me all of this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked with confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you telling me that…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because we are friends…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His response made me smirk inwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Friend huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did he really think we were friends just because I called him that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Funnily enough, I was sure neither of us actually believed that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I kept him close because I needed him, but did he really think of me as a friend? Unlikely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right, we are friends.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I chewed on a side dish and glanced back at Cheol Jiseon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His pupils were trembling, and I couldn’t read the emotions behind them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But that’s not enough reason for you to tell me this, you know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You seem to have a better reason for it. I wonder what that is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Jang Seonyeon approached Cheol Jiseon the same way he had in my past life, then Cheol Jiseon must’ve had a good reason to take his side. Though I didn’t know what he was offered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So why would he throw away that offer and tell me everything?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just because we were “friends”?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m notsome naive fool with flowers in my head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was hard for me to fully believe him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Jiseon’s pupils trembled as my question sank in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He must’ve thought long and hard before telling me this, but that didn’t mean I could go easy on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I was about to question him more,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…When you heard from me,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Jiseon’s nervous gaze locked onto me as he spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You didn’t ask why that was happening, but instead why I told you this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That felt a bit out of nowhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s almost like you already knew this would happen…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those words were critical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I opened my eyes wider in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was a mistake on my part.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was my mistake, but now I was starting to think differently about him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This bastard?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did I underestimate him too much?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How can you be so sure?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not. It’s just my thought. But…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His pupils slowly calmed down as he spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It feels like what I’m thinking might actually be true.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Woah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You… hated the Meteor Sword. You despised him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why do you think that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There isn’t anyone in the Academy that doesn’t know that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The whole Academy knew about the time I caused a scene with Cheol Jiseon’s group and argued with the Meteor Sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of that, rumors spread—nonsense about me feeling guilty toward the Meteor Sword or being jealous of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How nonsensical it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though, one thing was true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I hate that bastard. But what’s wrong with that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There isn’t anything wrong with it. However, it does help me in my current decision.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Decision”, that’s what Cheol Jiseon said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hating him isn’t enough of a reason for you to rat him out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Snow Phoenix.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That caught my attention immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Poison Phoenix… Sword Dancer, Water Dragon, Sword Dragon…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you- “\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The descendant of the Sword Venerable… and even the Dragon Warrior.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strange, cold energy seemed to radiate from Cheol Jiseon’s fidgeting fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s the people around you. Just having one of them as a friend is already an incredible achievement, yet you stand in the center of all of them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It sounded like he’d done some background research on me, but he was just pointing out what he observed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, why was he bringing this up now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Jiseon’s pupils had steadied by now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All rumors about you make you seem terrifying and cruel. Your face too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, did you have to mention my face there? Do you want to die?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Sorry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That comment irritated me for a second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But despite that, everyone around you is pure and impressive…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what? You think it’s weird that they’re around me, even with all those shitty rumors?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, very.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what do you want me to- “\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s strange that those rumors even exist, considering the people around you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tapped the table repeatedly, watching me with a strange look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“On the other hand, the rumors about the Meteor Sword are oddly strange when it comes to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Cheol Jiseon kept speaking, his demeanor shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was somewhat getting colder, and a bit more serious as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The biggest thing… is that you keep me by your side.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I crossed my arms and responded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…From the entrance exams until now, you’ve been keeping me close.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How amusing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d only ever thought of him as a bastard with some special powers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since when did he become so observant?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Meteor Sword warned me about you, and asked me for help to kill you. Despite that situation, you continued to keep me by your side. This means that I must have some value to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since when? When did you start thinking about this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ever since… the Meteor Sword approached me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So it hadn’t been that long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Jiseon was proving to be much sharper than I’d expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was one thing to read into the situation, but being certain was a different level entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You need me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Jiseon spoke,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right, I do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I didn’t deny him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed Cheol Jiseon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More specifically, I needed the power he possessed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I leaned forward, locking eyes with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you telling me all of this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Because you asked why I told you what Jang Seonyeon said.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All of that is interesting, but it’s not enough of a reason to tell me about your chat with that bastard from Taeryung Clan. There’s something more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All Cheol Jiseon had pointed out was my bad blood with Jang Seonyeon and that I needed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that wasn’t reason enough for him to betray Jang Seonyeon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jang Seonyeon needed Cheol Jiseon too, and he promised Cheol anything he wanted if he joined him. So why choose me over him?.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t even know what Cheol Jiseon wanted, and I had no plans to give it to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Jiseon paused for a moment before responding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…The Meteor Sword didn’t feel good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Feel?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes… Something felt off about him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t feel good?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was a simple way to decide whose side to take.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Cheol Jiseon were as immature as I’d thought, he might have sided with Jang Seonyeon. But he was turning out to be different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed like he was going to add another reason, so I pushed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Also?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Jiseon started trembling again for some reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Starting from his shoulders, his pupils began to shake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t the same nervousness as before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, there was fear mixed inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was he showing such a reaction?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Meteor Sword threatened me, but you…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Me…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I urged him, crossing my arms, Cheol Jiseon answered with his eyes shut tight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed as if he couldn’t look into my eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It felt like you were going to kill me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the midst of the rowdy cafeteria, that chilling phrase left his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were many people walking by, but no one was able to hear it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because I’d set up a barrier the moment Cheol Jiseon started talking about Jang Seonyeon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned his words over in my mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kill you, huh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did he think that way?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I did my best to be kind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was rather shocked by Cheol Jiseon’s answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not because he thought I would kill him, but because,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How did he know?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that I planned to get rid of Jang Seonyeon along with Cheol Jiseon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that he’d figured it out was surprising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought I did a good job hiding it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How did he notice?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…How fascinating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d thought of him as nothing more than a whiny, weak crybaby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unexpectedly, he was way more observant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why did you think in such a way? I had no plan to kill you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smiled as I said it, but Cheol Jiseon didn’t seem convinced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure, I’d killed a few people since my regression, but not so many that killing intent would constantly hang around me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seriously, how did he know?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I guess he’s not going to answer this one though.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine, let’s say I did plan to kill you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But friend,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I slid my chair back slightly, shifting my posture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you think I won’t kill you now just because you chose to take my side?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t think you believe such a thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought highly of Cheol Jiseon’s power, but it came with its own risks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a power that went beyond martial arts, making it hard to control from the start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I might need his power, but the truth was, I planned to dispose of Cheol Jiseon once I got what I needed from him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then, it would make my future easier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Plus, don’t you think that Jang Seonyeon will do the same?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…The Meteor Sword, he will use me until the end.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But not me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How strange. Then you should’ve taken Jang Seonyeon’s side so that you have a higher chance to survive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would make more sense for him to stay alive, even if it meant being used for the rest of his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t understand why he came to me even though he knew that I was going to kill him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Jiseon’s hands shook as he responded to my smirk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s all pointless if you beat the Meteor Sword anyway.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Friend, why do you speak as if I’m going to kill everyone? That’s scary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t think Cheol Jiseon was going to be like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why is he smart? I thought he was fully incompetent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe because his opponent was Zhuge Hyuk?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being compared to the brain of the Demonic Cult probably made him seem incompetent in contrast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, this was becoming a hassle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t think Cheol Jiseon was going to find out about all of this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, he believed I would beat Jang Seonyeon and preferred to take my side rather than be killed along with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But why should I accept you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because I’m useful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How narcissistic of you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You are useful, alright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem was, I didn’t know how to use that yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stared at Cheol Jiseon for a moment, then shifted the conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe I could learn more about the other side now that things had taken this turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There is one thing I keep failing to comprehend.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You said that Jang Seonyeon asked you for help in his mission to kill me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that he even asked Cheol Jiseon this meant…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But how can you help him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant Jang Seonyeon believed he could kill me with Cheol Jiseon’s help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant Cheol Jiseon’s power was dangerous enough to make it possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He didn’t ask me to kill you directly…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Jiseon gave a different answer to my question, but it wasn’t all too different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Jang Seonyeon, the outcome would be the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew what kind of power Cheol Jiseon had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d experienced it firsthand and watched it from a distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, you have that much strength for you to be capable of doing such a thing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked, though I already knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was curious if Cheol Jiseon would answer truthfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what if Cheol Jiseon does actually tell me about his power?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t know then. I’ll have to think about it afterwards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His fingers fidgeted nervously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t sure what he was doing, so I kept watching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheol Jiseon thought for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, I was able to wait for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he actually told me, the silence would be worth it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, Cheol Jiseon clenched his fist and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I’m able to open the gate to Abyss.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the answer I’d been hoping for.\u003C\u002Fp>",2298,"2026-06-05T15:09:39.031Z",1,"novelbin.me","bc26b0eaac361160430616fdd21775bcd149db6625a603cc5b94e87f493a915b","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-319","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-317",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]