[{"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-768":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},1240568,1667,"Chapter 767","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-768",768,"\u003Cp>Three days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had been three days since the attack on Hanam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And those three days had been filled with turmoil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Murim Alliance had hosted a grand festival to celebrate peace and a new era.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the peak of the New Dragon Martial Tournament, held to select a new Dragon Commander—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man appeared, declaring himself the leader and cult master of the Demonic Cult—Cheonma (Heavenly Demon)—and turned Hanam into a wasteland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using sinister sorcery, he immobilized the greatest martial artists present and led a massive force to ravage the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The aftermath of the attack was devastating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The forces of the Demon Lord, Cheonma, proved overwhelming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the most formidable masters bound by dark magic, they were unable to mount a proper defense, and Hanam was left in ruins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Buildings were reduced to rubble, and countless people lost their homes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that wasn’t all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The damage extended far beyond physical destruction—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lives were lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three of the eight division leaders of the Murim Alliance died in the attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the greatest tragedy of all—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Zhou, the Blade King, head of the Hebei Peng Clan and one of the Six Thrones, was killed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attack began in the midst of the martial tournament.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Zhou, the Sword King and head of the Hebei Peng Clan, had just finished his match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While moving with his son, the Peng Woojin, they were suddenly ambushed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They attempted to resist alongside the Murim Alliance—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the situation spiraled out of control when the Demonic Cult’s lieutenant—Demon Spear—escaped captivity and intervened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Demon Spear, a master who annihilated the entire Ilryong Division during his escape,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Killed the Blade King and left both the Flying Saint and the Alliance’s warriors gravely injured before disappearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that was how Peng Zhou, the Blade King of the Six Thrones, met his end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Demonic Cult—the group that led the attack on Hanam—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had slain both division leaders and a king-level martial artist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The loss of a king was a devastating blow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Zhongyuan, kings were known as the Six Thrones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not all of them were martial artists—some wielded influence through power, wisdom, or politics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In essence, the title of king wasn’t just about martial skill—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was symbolic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kings were figures who shaped their era.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was the Sword King, the Blade King, or the Demon Sword Queen—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were leaders who influenced the world through martial prowess, philosophy, or political power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peng Zhou, as the Blade King and head of the Peng Clan, symbolized the pinnacle of blade mastery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, that symbol had been shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With one of the Six Thrones gone, chaos should have erupted—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But surprisingly, most people were calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because two new kings had emerged to fill the void.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first was the head of the Hwangbo Clan, Hwangbo Yeolwi—also known as the Fierce Tiger Nine Fists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumors had long circulated that he had grown weaker with age and illness,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But during the attack, Hwangbo Yeolwi proved those rumors wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With unmatched strength, he overwhelmed his enemies—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stronger and sharper than even in his prime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some speculated that his absence wasn’t due to illness but to seclusion for enlightenment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regardless, his performance earned him the title of Tiger King (호왕).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Hwangbo Clan’s reputation soared—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reviving its glory after a century, when its previous king-level leader had been the Fist King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, despite the Tiger King’s rise,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of the attention wasn’t on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, it was on the other new king.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The seventh king.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This man had thrown himself into the chaos,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saving hundreds of people during the initial attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only did he rescue refugees,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he also hunted the Demonic Cult’s curses and the terrifying White-Rank beasts—disasters that breathed death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after exhausting himself, he rushed to the Alliance headquarters,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breaking the spells cast over the halls alongside the Pungryong Commander.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the monstrous Demon Lord Cheonma emerged—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A foe who defeated the Tiger King in a single strike and withstood Cheonjon’s lightning without flinching—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This man earned the Demon Lord’s acknowledgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of these accomplishments, Hanam couldn’t stop speaking his name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hero in times of chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A savior sent by heaven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless titles and praises surrounded him—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And officially, the Murim Alliance named him the seventh king.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A martial artist who reached king-level status at the youngest age in history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man who stood above the current generation, surpassing even the New Dragons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They named him the Star King\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as people chanted his title, showering him with admiration—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This so-called Star King—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Star King.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you enjoy your meal?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Star King, why are you silent? Do you dislike my voice? Oh no! It seems I’ve offended you somehow, Star King—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…For fuck’s sake… Please, just stop….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—was being mercilessly teased from morning until night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two days had passed when I first heard the news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must’ve been around that time since I’d barely managed to pull myself together and regain consciousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the first thing I heard after waking up—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was that I’d been named a king-level martial artist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, when I first heard it, I didn’t think much of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Youngest this, youngest that—it was all empty praise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was far past the point of caring about such things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given the chaos I’d caused, I’d already expected some sort of recognition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe not king-level, but at least something noteworthy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But they actually gave me the title of king.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t expected that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The title of king was a symbol—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A living embodiment of power and influence in an era.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the Murim Alliance to grant that title to someone as young as me—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I almost wondered if they’d lost their minds after the attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tsk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They just couldn’t resist adding an insult, could they?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew the moment I heard the name they gave me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Star King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first glance, it didn’t seem like there was anything wrong with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Damn bastards.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone who understood the meaning behind it would know it was anything but flattering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The current generation of martial artists was called the Meteor Generation—prodigies likened to stars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So being named the Star King made me their representative.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They’re calling me a king, but only of the younger generation.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was their way of saying, “Don’t get cocky.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unbelievable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why bother giving me the title at all, then?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the name made it clear they didn’t want to give it to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, they still went through with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They must’ve been desperate.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t have all the details yet—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d only been conscious for a day, but even with limited information, I could tell why the Alliance made this move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They’re trying to distract the public.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were probably scrambling right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just because of the attack, but because—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The state of public opinion.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by how quickly they handed me the title, things weren’t looking great for the Murim Alliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t new.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When public morale hit rock bottom,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Alliance always dangled something flashy to divert attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why do you think they held the New Dragon Martial Tournament?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was meant to make people believe Zhongyuan was at peace,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And to strengthen ties between the Sword Saint and the Murim Alliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the tournament’s focus on the New Dragons served that purpose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the tournament ended in chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hanam was attacked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t hard to imagine how the Alliance was faring after that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And now—’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap. Tap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I drummed my fingers on the table, smirking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘You’re using me this time?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Alliance’s usual tricks had now turned to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The youngest king-level martial artist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The representative of the Meteor Generation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They gave me a flashy title and shifted the public’s attention toward me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But honestly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I don’t hate it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the outcome I’d hoped for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t ideal, but it was something I could work with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s the kind of cover I needed.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A crown, a title—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed that kind of influence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t care if they were using me to draw attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I don’t plan to stop here.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I’d intended to settle for this, I wouldn’t have done any of this in the first place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I planned to use this position to my advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, there was one annoying part—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, the Star King smiles.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That must mean he’s happy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Perhaps the tea is to his liking? For a tea that can satisfy the Star King’s tastes, it must be extraordinary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh my, I brewed that tea myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh-ho….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chatter grated on my ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I scowled immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can’t you two just leave?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to keep my composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh dear, has the Star King grown angry?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My, my. How could we, mere mortals, offend you so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For fuck’s sake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t even curse out loud and just rubbed my face instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ones sitting across from me were Paejon and Moyong Hee-ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And most of their conversation revolved around mocking me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The teasing started the moment they heard about my new title.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Already irritated, I’d spent the entire day enduring their nonsense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, I turned to Moyong Hee-ah and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Didn’t you call me here to eat?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I did.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And you expect me to eat like this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why not?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because every time I tried to take a bite, they kept teasing me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t touched my food and had only sipped tea out of frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We just thought you might feel lonely and wanted to keep you company….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Can you stop already?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is it the tea? Maybe it wasn’t to your liking—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I’m getting mad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine, fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hee-ah immediately dropped the act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She must’ve sensed I was at my limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, she answered the question I’d asked earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The healer said there’s no major issue. Wi Seol-ah’s wounds reopened slightly, but her regeneration is strong, so she’ll recover quickly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-ah had already been injured during her fight with the New Dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d been worried about her fighting again in that condition,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it seemed there wasn’t much to worry about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for Tang So-yeol, she’s fine. Namgung Bi-ah pushed herself too hard, though. She’s suffering from Qi exhaustion, but it’ll resolve with rest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Qi exhaustion, huh….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It happened when someone overused their Qi too quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namgung Bi-ah hadn’t fully recovered,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And using Thunder Fang in her state must’ve pushed her too far.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…I should check on her.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just the kids I was worried about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed to assess the overall situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had done my best to handle things before losing consciousness—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I needed to confirm what had happened afterward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well then, I guess it’s time to get up—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You haven’t finished eating.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How am I supposed to eat in this situation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had no intention of eating to begin with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hee-ah had barged in and practically shoved the meal at me—only to spend the whole time teasing me instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Staying here any longer would probably make me throw up rather than eat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I figured I’d check on my body’s condition and stand up—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When you’re done, Young Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hee-ah suddenly held out a letter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was she giving me this now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if sensing my confusion, she offered an excuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This was actually the reason I came, but… I’m sorry. I got carried away teasing you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her shameless confession left me speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, I guess it’s better than pretending otherwise…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I took the letter and examined it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The seal was familiar—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The insignia of the Murim Alliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I unfolded it immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The message was brief—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was dressed up with layers of polite wording,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the meaning behind it was clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Tch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing. I was planning to head out anyway, but now there’s something I need to take care of.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Right now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hee-ah’s eyes suddenly sharpened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And just where do you think you’re going in your condition?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her glare was intense—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d gotten used to it by now, but every time she looked at me like that, I still flinched a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s how scary her stare was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It’s not like I’ll be out for long. I just have something to take care of.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What could be so urgent that you need to go out right now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who knows.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smiled faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The mighty Murim Alliance has summoned me. I should at least show up, don’t you think?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A summons from the Alliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Somehow, they’d found out I was awake and immediately sent a message asking me to visit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had a few guesses about why—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it didn’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I would’ve gone anyway.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anything, I was grateful they’d saved me the trouble of announcing my arrival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll be back soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I stood up, Moyong Hee-ah hurried to stop me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re still injured—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She tried to point out my wounds—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her words trailed off as the bandages unraveled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scars underneath had already healed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll be back. Paejon, we’ll talk later.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking advantage of her shock, I made my escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hee-ah snapped out of it and lunged after me—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…That man—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But by then, I was already gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Running off again? And in that condition?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching me disappear, Moyong Hee-ah fumed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paejon, sipping the leftover tea I’d abandoned, asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not going after him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, it’s fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hee-ah sighed, then smiled faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, she would’ve chased after me,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Warned me about how reckless it was,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And thoroughly lectured me before letting me go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He needs to learn his lesson.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, she decided to let him suffer the consequences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moyong Hee-ah snorted lightly and left the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paejon chuckled and nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’s not wrong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even he agreed—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I probably needed a lesson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stepped outside the residence and began walking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like I’d successfully slipped away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d probably pay for it later when I got back…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that was a problem for future me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I walked alone without any guards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I never liked having escorts,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And I wasn’t about to start now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I made my way along the ruined streets toward the Alliance—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I heard voices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking over, I saw workers clearing debris.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s the Star King.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Star King is here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?! The Star King?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment they saw me, they lit up and started shouting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What the—?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t even have time to process it before—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Star King—!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Star King!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Star King has arrived!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What the hell?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A crowd surged toward me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as I watched them rush in,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I realized—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something had definitely changed over the past few days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And not in a good way.\u003C\u002Fp>",2458,"2026-06-05T15:10:17.629Z",1,"novelbin.me","42016855a05d0d87012a7a62ac9c8d7cc757a33b8265da2250512c276850b6ae","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-769","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-767",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]