[{"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-965":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},1240391,1667,"Chapter 964","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-965",965,"\u003Cp>I stared at the hand that had stopped me.A pale, slightly thin hand.The touch of Noya's grip made my body tremble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I struggled to move, but in the end, I couldn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Part of it was the sheer strength with which Noya held me.But more than that, I was forcing myself to endure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My bones groaned under the pressure.I repeated deep breaths, struggling to hold myself back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haaah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I barely managed to suppress my instincts.Even so, my gaze remained locked on the figures who had passed behind me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Calm yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noya placed a firm hand on my shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t respond.I only stood there in a daze, staring at the two as they disappeared into the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t until they were completely out of sight that I finally managed to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What was that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned to Noya, my voice barely above a whisper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What I just saw… was it real?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just what I saw—what I felt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I demanded an answer.But Noya, frowning slightly, replied,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you think I would know? I’m just as shaken as you are.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Noya didn’t seem to fully grasp the situation.His expression, unusually grim, made that clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It wasn’t just my imagination.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That sensation—That moment of recognition—It wasn’t a mistake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why was she here?A part of me had hoped it was nothing but an illusion.But if it wasn’t… that made things even worse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tighten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I clenched my hand into a fist, forcing myself to think.I couldn’t meet Mother right now.Not like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I kept repeating that thought in my head.That was likely why Noya had stopped me as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Fuck.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But knowing didn’t make it any easier.Especially when she had passed right in front of me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forget why she was here—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Am I just supposed to let her go?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That thought clawed at me as I stood frozen, staring at the path she had taken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>****************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A woman walking through the streets suddenly stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned her head, glancing back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What was that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something felt… off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She scanned the crowded streets, but all she saw were throngs of people moving about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hesitated for a moment.Should she lift the veil and take a look?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought crossed her mind, but she shook her head slightly and turned forward again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t a good idea to remove it right now.If she did, it would only cause unnecessary trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since it had been a long time since she had come down from her place, she wanted to leave as quietly as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Still… something feels strange.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A lingering unease remained.A fleeting sense that she shouldn’t have just walked past whatever it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What had she just passed by?She had moved through too many people to keep track.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From beneath the veil, her crimson eyes shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like gemstones, they gleamed as they flickered toward the woman beside her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Daughter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The masked woman—Yarang—turned to face her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Have you seen anything… unusual?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At her mother’s words, Yarang remained silent for a moment.Then, she shook her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman smiled, seeming convinced without a hint of doubt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I understand. From now on, you’ll need to be my eyes and ears. Make sure to guide me well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At her mother’s words, Yarang nodded once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However—Her gaze remained fixed on the path they had just walked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a brief moment, she searched through the crowd.But as her mother resumed walking, she quietly followed after her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman glanced around as they moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It has changed a lot since I last saw it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When was the last time she had been here?It had been so long that she couldn’t count the years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, this place had been nothing more than a thicket of trees.To think something like this existed now—it was almost amusing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As always… time moves so quickly, doesn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At her words, Yarang nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time changed in the blink of an eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the time of mortals never aligned with hers.To her, time simply existed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flow of time held little meaning to her.Because of that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘She doesn’t care.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had no reason to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time was endless, so it was meaningless.Meaning only existed in things that were finite—that’s what made them beautiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to her, it was different.That truth had long since faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So even as she gazed upon the transformed Yahwol, she felt no deep sentiment.A mild curiosity, perhaps—but nothing beyond that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She observed her surroundings with those stunning, otherworldly eyes.Yet, the light within them had dimmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was she looking at?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes scanned everything.But nothing seemed to leave an impression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—Perhaps she didn’t want to remember any of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, even if she did, what purpose would it serve?There was no point in giving meaning to things she had no reason to recall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the world she was meant to exist in.The place she had to protect as part of her being.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that was all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To her, this land was nothing more than that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To remember—To hold onto something—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When was the last time she had truly felt that way?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn’t remember.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Memory, huh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did she need to remember anything?Had she ever tried to remember anything?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the woman pondered that thought while walking—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes widened slightly as she caught sight of something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something descended from above, landing with force in a secluded area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A young man with light green hair stood there.The woman gazed at him with a calm, expressionless face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I greet my lord….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yusa, his face tense with anxiety, lowered himself in a formal bow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It has been a long time,” the woman spoke gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing her voice, Yusa swallowed hard and bowed even lower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To think that one as noble as yourself would grace such a humble place….”“Humble?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman let out a soft laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What place on this land could possibly be called humble?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The faint scent of flowers lingered in the air as it passed through Yusa’s nose.He parted his lips slightly, realizing his mistake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Forgive me. I overstepped….”“It’s fine. I wasn’t looking for an apology.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sarak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman stepped forward, closing the distance between them.Her presence—so devoid of any Qi—felt like an absolute void.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yusa shuddered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could someone feel so completely absent?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lift your head.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At her command, Yusa hesitantly raised his gaze—And met the woman’s crimson eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A white hand gently cupped his cheek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is my presence here… a problem for you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…How could it be? There is no place on this land where my lord does not belong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his unwavering words, the woman smiled faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. Then, may I ask you something?”“…I will listen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yusa bowed deeply, lowering himself nearly to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His once-twitching tail had long since stilled, his ears flattened against his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had assumed the most respectful posture possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that, the woman asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard that something… amusing happened recently.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At her words, Yusa’s tail twitched slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not unusual for things to happen… but this is the first time I’m hearing of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It was simply a matter of confirming the details. I planned to report to you once I had gathered all the information.”“Is that so?”“It is—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[“Is that so?”]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A tremor ran through Yusa’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His heart—No, his very soul—Shuddered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A tightening sensation wrapped around his throat—The same feeling as when he received an order from her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It is… the truth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he managed to force out a response, the overwhelming pressure vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Yusa finally manage to breathe properly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So then, you mean to say you will tell me later?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…If you desire, I can tell you immediately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman dismissed his offer without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you say you will tell me when the time comes, I will wait.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Waiting meant nothing to her.As she had already said, time was meaningless to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve heard my answer. I apologize for disturbing you.”“…Not at all….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How long will you be staying here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strange question—After all, this was her own land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there was a reason she asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will depart first thing tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman had left Yusa with certain tasks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see. Then rest well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having said all she needed to, she turned her back to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yusa hurriedly spoke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My lord… are you returning now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm? No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman shook her head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not immediately….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hesitated for a moment, then glanced at Yarang, who stood beside her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think I will go for a little outing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“An… outing?”“Yes. An outing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman spoke lightly, then began walking forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without the slightest hesitation, she left Yusa behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as he watched Yarang silently follow after her—Yusa bit his lip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>****************\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After leaving, the woman and Yarang made their way to the central park of the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A quiet space—One of the few peaceful spots within the otherwise chaotic fortress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking leisurely, she took in her surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After being surrounded by nothing but buildings, stepping into this place felt strangely different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yarang followed behind her, quietly watching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How long.For what purpose.And to what end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could have asked these things.But she didn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn’t ask—And even if she could, she wouldn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, she simply watched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Daughter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman spoke to Yarang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There is something I’ve been thinking about.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice was as gentle and quiet as ever.Words spoken with a soft, deliberate rhythm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what followed—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think… it is time to change the general.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—was far from gentle.\u003C\u002Fp>",1600,"2026-06-05T15:10:22.035Z",1,"novelbin.me","33128ad6853bba4a1578fcb340fdfabd4723992ea1004e2637466676e4bdad67","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-966","childhood-friend-of-the-zenith-chapter-964",974,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fchildhood-friend-of-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]