[{"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-947":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},1240697,1667,"Chapter 946","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-947",947,"\u003Cp>\"What do you think I am?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I asked what he thought my identity was, the leader reacted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body was still trembling, and most notably, the way he looked at me had changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, his gaze had been one of mockery, as if subtly belittling me.But now, it was entirely different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes held not only confusion but also a deep, profound doubt and an unidentifiable fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sudden shift in demeanor was strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Was what I just did so shocking?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I had to guess the reason for his change, it was probably what I’d just done.But I didn’t quite understand it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s so special about this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At best, it seemed like a power similar to Dragon Speech.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Dragon Speech itself is an unusual power.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just speaking words with infused energy to restrict someone’s actions—that was strange enough.But for the leader to react this strongly, there had to be a deeper reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wanted to understand, but—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t know, do you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, I needed to take advantage of the present moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You won’t figure it out.”“…What are you…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The leader was flustered. This wasn’t a moment to waste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you remember what I said earlier?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I poured out my words, one after another, without giving him time to process.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you want to stay where you are? Or… do you want to climb higher?”“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The leader didn’t answer.But that didn’t matter.I knew his ears were wide open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I told you, I know people like you all too well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eyes filled with desire.People who didn’t care about methods or morality to achieve their goals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it meant defying heaven’s order or breaking their own beliefs,people like that wouldn’t care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And to me, this leader seemed to be one of those people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If that weren’t the case, he wouldn’t have let me stand here unscathed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no need to gauge or calculate further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he truly doubted me—he would’ve already reported me to Yusa or Mongmong, or at the very least, thought I was a threat and dealt with me by now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He didn’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t do any of that.Which meant—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He has expectations of me, or…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’s determining whether I’m someone who could help him achieve what he wants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant the leader had desires of his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I knew it when he dealt with Gubong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His so-called son was lying sprawled on the ground, and another had escaped.Yet the man who called himself their father didn’t even glance at them—his focus was entirely on me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though I’d just wrecked one of his sons, he still watched me and even mentioned giving me the position of the next leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is he insane?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought he was genuinely crazy. Of course, since this was another world, I wondered if it might be some cultural difference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bullshit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by Gubong’s reaction back then, that wasn’t the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just that this man was strange.He had desires and didn’t care about methods to achieve them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, I came into the picture.To this leader, it seemed like I had something he needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that situation—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What if I show him something more?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I showed him something beyond what he’d anticipated—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What would the leader’s reaction be?I already had a faint idea of the answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You already know the method, don’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At my confident words, the leader’s brows furrowed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…That…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the right answer.Even though I’d just thrown out the words as a guess, his reaction confirmed it for me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How far do you want to climb? Show me your ambition.”“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The leader’s gaze wavered.The confusion lingering in his eyes faded, replaced only by hesitation born of ambition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now was the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Listen carefully.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Screech.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I leaned closer, meeting his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is me giving you a chance. Not just throwing you a lifeline.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So you couldn’t avoid it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m offering you the opportunity to walk beside me. To be by my side.”“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grrk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I infused my energy into my heart, causing it to pulse slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just any energy—I had moved my demonic energy, and my eyes were probably glowing violet by now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The leader didn’t answer. The silence was uncomfortable, but for now, this was enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I leaned back, stepping away from him, and added,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The choice is yours. But.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t forget to smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I won’t give you much time to think about it. Make your decision by the next time we meet. Then…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Srrrk.I turned around and walked toward the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll tell you how I can make what you want happen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grasping the doorknob without hesitation, I pulled it open.Cheonma stepped out as if she had been waiting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The people waiting outside looked startled and peeked inside the room, but—since nothing seemed to have happened, it didn’t become an issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door slowly closed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as it shut, the leader remained frozen, his expression rigid, silently staring at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Click.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The door closed completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, I let out the breath I’d been holding.At the same time, I withdrew the energy I had scattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good thing it didn’t get noticed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d spread my energy everywhere, just in case something happened.It was a relief I didn’t have to use it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If things had escalated—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It would’ve been a nightmare.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just troublesome, but a complete mess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With a General nearby, too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mongmong.Or Yusa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ruler of Yahwol must be somewhere nearby.If things went south, I’d have been the one in trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I managed to get through it somehow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t my original goal.But the outcome wasn’t bad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The leader was now deeply mired in thought, which was a win. And besides—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Judging by his face, the answer’s already clear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was almost certain of what choice he’d make.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You could tell just by looking at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, I’ll prepare just in case… but still.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would he really choose differently?I didn’t think so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For now, I need to plan carefully.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the leader made his choice, I needed to have the solution he wanted ready.That—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I haven’t thought of it yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, I had just bluffed my way through.But I’d have to figure it out, starting now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I doubt it’ll be too hard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because in the end—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I already knew the answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I left the Black Clan’s estate and headed outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By then, the sun had long set, and the night was steadily creeping in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The streets lit up as though awaiting the night, lanterns glowing warmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oddly enough, the people seemed even more active than during the day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So these are the ones blessed by the night.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Moonlit Night Tribe—these beast-like humans were called the children of the night.Perhaps they truly longed for the coming darkness.I walked among them, observing my surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Cheonma was with me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glanced at her. While she’d crafted herself ears, she still lacked a tail, forcing her to keep it hidden beneath her cloak.She seemed utterly fascinated by the night market, constantly turning her head to take everything in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Curiosity and wonder.Her eyes were filled with those emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pure and serene. Like…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Wi Seol-ah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wi Seol-ah’s gaze when she looked at me.It was eerily similar, making me narrow my eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tried to ignore it and followed Cheonma’s line of sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What are you looking at?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was she staring at so intently?I followed her gaze and spotted a street vendor in the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Much like the food stalls of Zhongyuan, they were selling all sorts of unfamiliar dishes.The sights were new, but the smells were enticing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After glancing at the stall, I turned my eyes back to Cheonma.She was still staring at it, unblinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Do you want to eat that?”“Yes.”“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her bold response made me run a hand through my hair.Not only did her face resemble Wi Seol-ah, but even her appetite? And now, of all times, she wanted food?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling both annoyed and resigned, I sighed and led her toward the stall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was I even doing this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as I moved, I questioned myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was I acting this way?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The doubts kept surfacing, but my body kept moving regardless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, I thought it was because she reminded me of Wi Seol-ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you want to eat?”“…Can I choose just one?”“Of course. Do you have any money?”“No.”“Then what makes you think you get to choose? Pick one.”“Alright.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But watching Cheonma carefully pick her food, my thoughts began to shift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It feels wrong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt deeply wrong.Just watching her made my insides itch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if something inside me was screaming—telling me this wasn’t the way to treat her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stop it and do it properly.That’s what the voice inside me was saying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the hell does it mean, ‘properly’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How ridiculous.If I were going to do things properly, I wouldn’t be doing this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I should’ve killed her already.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the moment I realized I could kill her, I should’ve taken her out.I should’ve done whatever it took to get rid of her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the hell am I doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was I doing here?In another world, of all places, what was this nonsense?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Buying food for Cheonma, of all people.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who would’ve thought there’d come a day when I’d do something like this for such a proud, arrogant being?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Tch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clicking my tongue at the thought, I saw Cheonma flinch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I’ll pick quickly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She spoke hesitantly, glancing at me as if gauging my mood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma, gauging my mood?The absurdity of it all made me want to grab my forehead and groan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t the time for this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I wonder how the kids are doing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How was Zhongyuan faring?The flow of time might be different, but it was still moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they realized I was gone, I couldn’t even imagine how they’d react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I need to get back as soon as possible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew that, yet here I was, playing some ridiculous game with Cheonma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sigh escaped me, unbidden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheonma finally pointed at something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a skewer with something thick and chunky impaled on it.It looked like meat, but I couldn’t tell exactly what it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That one?”“Yes.”“One skewer, please.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as I spoke, the vendor quickly handed over the skewer.I paid and gave it to Cheonma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She eagerly reached for it, ready to take a bite, but—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Out of the way—!!”“Make way!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shouts echoed from the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was going on this time?Looking around with a puzzled expression, I spotted a flag in the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Squinting, I recognized it.I’d seen it briefly before, when I’d climbed to a high vantage point in Yahwol to survey the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Was it blue? Or another color?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I vaguely remembered it belonging to one of the two noble families, excluding the white and black clans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nobles.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those bastards were nobles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing this, I took a step back.Even if they didn’t notice me, it was better to stay out of sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I waited at a slight distance for the carriage to pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The carriage moved through the crowd and passed by where I was.I watched it curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not a horse?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surprisingly, the carriage wasn’t drawn by horses.Instead, two massive wolves—beasts as large as horses—pulled it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Growl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wolves snorted as they slowly passed, and the carriage seemed about to leave entirely when—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Screech.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The carriage came to a sudden halt right in front of us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I frowned at the carriage that had stopped out of nowhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had a bad feeling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This can’t be good…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My instincts were screaming at me.Something bad was about to happen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak—!The carriage door opened, and out stepped a man with striking blue hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a sharply handsome man, the type that exuded arrogance.The kind of person who’d remind you of Woo Hyuk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he appeared, the surrounding crowd fell to their knees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the hell is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Confused by the bizarre situation, I struggled to make sense of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Woman.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man finally spoke.And he was looking at Cheonma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re beautiful. Become mine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s what he said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And without thinking, the words burst out of me:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the fuck is this bastard saying?”\u003C\u002Fp>",2054,"2026-06-05T15:10:21.117Z",1,"novelbin.me","1f86825245a2ae818308ed59385d292f2d2541ec7faf95d86fe995d20417a0e3","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-948","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-946",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]