[{"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-846":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},1240651,1667,"Chapter 845","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-846",846,"\u003Cp>After causing chaos at the Azure Dragon Division, my next destination was naturally my quarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was late, and I wasn’t in the best condition physically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Plus, I had things to discuss with Song Hojung, so I began heading back with my men following behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I walked, something caught my attention—it felt off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking around, I heightened my senses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there was nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dimly lit lanterns illuminated the night, and the faint rustle of insects in the area was the only thing breaking the silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So what felt wrong?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the quiet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why is there no one here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just a while ago, I’d seen men stationed at various checkpoints along the paths. This was the time when patrols should’ve been visible, yet there wasn’t a soul to be seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frowning at the peculiarity, I turned and called out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The men behind me flinched as if startled. All I did was call out, so why were they so on edge?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scanning the group, I focused on Song Hojung, who stood closest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where is everyone?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I-I’m not sure… I’ll check immediately!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Hojung looked genuinely perplexed. To be fair, he had been with me at the Azure Dragon Division, so there was no way he could know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he moved to investigate, I stopped him with a raised hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What the hell is going on? Where did they all disappear to?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I walked forward, frowning at the absurdity of the situation. My men were supposed to be working—so where were they?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As we neared my quarters, I finally sensed something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The faint presences I had been searching for appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They’re all gathered there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scattered presences I couldn’t feel earlier were now concentrated at one place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And not just anywhere—my quarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What the hell are they doing at my quarters?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sheer absurdity of the situation made me wary. I didn’t know what they were planning, but I hoped it wasn’t something trivial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it was, I feared my temper might flare. That scared me more than anything else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking deep breaths to calm myself, I finally arrived at the entrance of my quarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carefully, I peeked inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scene that greeted me made my eyes widen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just unexpected—it was baffling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What the hell is this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My irritation was temporarily replaced by surprise. The scene before me was so absurd it froze me in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind me, Song Hojung, curious about my reaction, came closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Captain, what’s—what the…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like me, he trailed off mid-sentence, unable to process what he was seeing. The others reacted no differently, staring blankly at the bizarre sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was no wonder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why are they like that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I… I don’t know, sir.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The men who were supposed to be on patrol were instead kneeling before my quarters, their foreheads pressed firmly to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They trembled visibly, yet their posture remained firm and unwavering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bizarre scene left me sighing incredulously as I stepped closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ugh...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nngh...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They must’ve been there for a while—the sweat soaking their clothes and the faint groans they let out were proof enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s going on with you lot?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At my words, the man kneeling at the front shot up like a spring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Reporting for duty, sir!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t care about that. What the hell is this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As per your orders, sir, we gathered here and waited as instructed!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait, what?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Orders? What orders?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I cut myself off mid-sentence, looking closely at the soldier’s face. I recognized him—he was one of my men, after all. But then it clicked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This guy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was the one who had informed me about Song Hojung being sent to the Azure Dragon Division.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with that, memories of a certain command surfaced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did I tell him to gather everyone in front of my quarters?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It hit me like a bolt of lightning. I remembered issuing the command when I’d been irritated by their lack of discipline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something like:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you keep slacking off like this, the next time I say ‘gather,’ plant your faces on the ground and wait there. I’m not joking, so remember it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had been a warning, one I’d growled out in frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Goddamn it. They actually listened to that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d completely forgotten about it until now, but looking at this scene, it was undeniably my fault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sigh...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Letting out a heavy breath, I decided to put an end to the madness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, get up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the command, the men sprang to their feet as one. Soaked in sweat, they looked utterly drained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Uh…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, I’d intended to assert some authority over them, but seeing their pitiful state, I lost the will.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Forget it. You’re dismissed. Go back to your posts.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But what about—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What? You’re eager to stay and hear more? Then get back down on the ground.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"N-No, sir! Understood!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At my words, they scurried away, leaving behind a lingering stench of sweat and dampened ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Next time, I’ll choose my words more carefully.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A passing comment, thrown out in anger, had spiraled into this ridiculous mess. Clearly, I needed to be more mindful of what I said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that things had calmed down, I turned to Song Hojung.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Send the rest of the men back to their posts.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After dismissing the remaining soldiers, I motioned to Song Hojung and Mun Do-hyuk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You two, come inside with me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had a lot of questions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>******************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After entering the quarters, I took a seat, leaving the two men standing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t bother pouring tea, only keeping a single lantern lit as I began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Song Hojung.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Yes, Captain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Explain the situation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No need for long introductions. He already knew why I had summoned him. As expected, he began speaking calmly, lips pressed tightly together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It started with a message from the Azure Dragon Division.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What was the reason?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They proposed sharing information….\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sharing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded slightly at his words. Sharing information, at first glance, didn’t sound problematic. Considering the Azure Dragon Division was a support unit and we were in the middle of a mission, it seemed reasonable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But still—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If that’s all it was, why did you go to the Azure Dragon Division in person?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What I wanted to know wasn’t the content of the message. That was fine. What bothered me was why he went there on his own. That was far more important.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Hojung didn’t answer immediately, so I pressed him further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You were planning to refuse their proposal, weren’t you? Isn’t that right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Yes, that’s correct.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had intended to refuse the Azure Dragon Division’s offer. That much was clear from the brief exchange earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which only made me more curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then why did you go?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I asked in a calm voice. Song Hojung hesitated for a long moment before finally answering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I went there to refuse them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He went to the Azure Dragon Division just to turn them down. The absurdity of it made me chuckle involuntarily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They brought up the idea of sharing information, but you decided to personally go there to refuse it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you a complete idiot?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sharpness of my words made Song Hojung’s eyes waver. It was a clear insult, but I didn’t stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They didn’t intend to share anything, did they? It was more like they expected you to hand over our information. Am I wrong?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His lips trembled, and he swallowed hard. His silence confirmed my suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It wasn’t sharing—it was a demand. You obviously wanted to refuse, didn’t you? Yes or no.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes… but—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shut up. I’m still talking.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He swallowed again, falling silent as I continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Save your excuses for later, if you can even manage to come up with one. Got it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Understood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tension in the room was palpable, his nervousness written all over his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Judging by what I’ve seen, they must have pulled some crap about being superior, having higher authority, and expecting you to follow orders. Is that right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t hard to deduce. The Azure Dragon Division’s behavior made it clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And on top of that, they ordered you to come to them, didn’t they? I know they disrespected you. Fine. I don’t like how you handled it, but let’s set that aside. Do you know what pisses me off the most?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I leaned forward slightly, locking eyes with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why am I only hearing about this now? Why didn’t I know any of this until the situation exploded? That’s what pisses me off the most. Understand?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the captain of this division, I was only learning the full story now. That was the most infuriating part.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now, explain. Why didn’t you report this to me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stared him down, but Song Hojung only opened and closed his mouth, struggling to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I said explain!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pressed him again, and he finally managed to stammer a response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The request came yesterday….\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Speak clearly. It wasn’t a request; it was a demand.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…They made their demand yesterday, while you were away, Captain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And then?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So I thought it would be best for me to handle it on my own—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I interrupted him, raising a hand to stop him. There was something I needed to clarify.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why would you think it was your place to handle it? Why did you make the decision yourself?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I wasn’t around, you should have waited and reported to me before doing anything. Why did you act on your own? Do you outrank me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…No, sir.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then you should have reported to me and asked for permission first. Why the hell did you act on your own?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m sorry… My judgment was poor at the time. Please punish me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s not about punishment… Hah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I rubbed my temples, frustration boiling over. His explanation wasn’t cutting it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Song Hojung.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It wasn’t poor judgment. You knew exactly what you were doing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"N-No, that’s not true. I-I really—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t bother running your mouth. You just didn’t trust me, did you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes widened in shock at my words, as if I had struck a nerve.\u003C\u002Fp>",1682,"2026-06-05T15:10:19.687Z",1,"novelbin.me","9b40735be51ce5ff19e18a4759e18aee5b7964107ffb520bd5b142905440f2bd","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-906","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-905",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]