Childhood Friend of the Zenith-Chapter 663: Villain and Hero (3)

Upon hearing Pildo-ma’s words, the first emotion I felt was disappointment.

‘What the hell?’

I thought something significant was about to happen, but... what exactly?

‘The revival of a White-Rank Beast?’

It was an unexpected turn—and not in a good way.

No, under normal circumstances, I might have been somewhat surprised, but...

‘Now, it doesn’t feel like much.’

Perhaps it was because I’d just experienced so many strange occurrences that, even though it seemed like a massive revelation, it didn’t leave much of an impression.

‘It’s an incredible story, though.’

A beast sealed beneath the lands of Hanam, with Pildo-ma planning to revive it. Just hearing about it made it sound monumental.

‘What a mess.’

Why do these things always hide in such places? If they were sealed across regions, why not just say so outright? My head started to ache.

‘If what he’s saying is true.’

Why was it buried there? How did he know about it? And how would he revive and use it? All of it raised questions.

But even beyond that...

‘I must remind myself this wasn’t something that happened in my previous life.’

After all, Pildo-ma himself was a survivor of the Jegal clan. The fact that they were preparing something like this in Hanam at this time was entirely unforeseen.

‘In my past life, Pildo-ma was just another martial artist from the unorthodox sects.’

An ascetic whose name was slowly gaining prominence. An old man who made a dramatic debut by assassinating two leaders of the Meng to showcase his strength.

After that, he entered under Cheonma’s command and took control of the Cheonra Black Scourge.

‘Looking back now, it’s strange.’

The idea that he dreamed of avenging the Jegal clan and reviving it from Hanam had never even come to light.

Even if it had existed, it wasn’t revealed, which means...

‘It failed.’

Pildo-ma hadn’t succeeded in his goals.

‘Then, does that mean what he’s trying to do now will also end in failure?’

I wasn’t sure.

Too many things had diverged from my past life. Moreover, Pildo-ma’s current actions might have even been caused by my interference.

Nothing could be said with certainty.

‘It’s not simple.’

While I seemed to have handled things well enough, what Pildo-ma was attempting felt ambiguous.

I had thought he might be planning something using an exotic power like sorcery, but...

‘To think he intends to use a beast.’

Of course, if it’s a White-Rank Beast, assuming it’s true, it would undoubtedly cause significant upheaval.

‘The story of the North Sea likely hasn’t reached them yet.’

Currently, the North Sea was at war, and the strongest force there, the Palace Lord, was in a weakened state. That was classified information.

If such news were to spread, the Meng’s reaction would be unpredictable.

Naturally, any accounts of a White-Rank Beast appearing in the North Sea wouldn’t have reached them either.

This content is taken from fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm.

‘And Zhongyuan is already in chaos because of the Red-Rank Beasts.’

It had been three years since the Red Demonic Gate, which hadn’t appeared for centuries, had erupted.

The Meng was barely maintaining a façade of peace amid the aftermath, trying to hold things together.

But if a White-Rank Beast were to appear now?

It would undoubtedly plunge everything into chaos.

‘Could that be their plan?’

Given the timing, it seemed plausible that Pildo-ma intended to revive a White-Rank Beast.

By doing so, he could shatter the fragile peace the Meng had forced into place.

‘Then why didn’t he do it in my previous life...?’

The earlier emergence of the Red-Rank Beasts, which should have coincided with Cheonma’s appearance, had already caused disruptions.

With disasters like the one at Shinryong Pavilion shaking the Meng’s foundation, it seemed clear that Pildo-ma had seized this moment to act.

‘In that case, this also ties back to my involvement.’

I glanced at the old man behind the mask.

For some reason, he seemed more tense as he looked at me. While I’d aimed for that reaction, he appeared even more on edge than I’d anticipated.

Why? I hadn’t done anything unusual today.

Could it be because of the barrier or whatever I’d torn apart? If so, that would make sense, but...

‘...Who would’ve guessed it’d be torn apart so easily?’

Who would’ve thought it could be dismantled so effortlessly?

It had to be due to the incompetence of those who made it, right? Yes, that must be it.

‘Anyway.’

The situation we were in wasn’t entirely unrelated to me.

‘When has anything not been my fault?’

I didn’t feel guilty about it.

No, I was actively trying not to.

[...A dragon, you say? Something like that exists beneath the lands of Hanam?]

“It does.”

[And how did you come to know of it?]

“...It’s part of the information left behind by my ancestors.”

‘Ancestors?’

By ancestors, he meant the Jegal clan, which had already been annihilated.

Given their expertise in formations, it lent a degree of credibility.

‘Verifying whether it’s true is another matter entirely.’

Right now, there were other things to consider.

‘A White-Rank Beast.’

If Pildo-ma’s words were true, the consequences of the beast’s awakening...

And the potential benefits of using it.

‘Pildo-ma isn’t some foolish old man.’

Hanam was under the Meng’s watchful eye.

Moreover, with the Biwu Tournament approaching, countless martial experts were gathering.

The most distinguished families and ancient sects would all be present.

‘Would summoning a beast on such land even matter?’

Having fought against a White-Rank Beast, I knew its strength.

It was undeniably powerful. Its might far exceeded that of a Red-Rank Beast.

But.

‘It’s not unbeatable.’

While my father’s presence had been pivotal in our victory, it wasn’t something unmanageable with a swarm of top-tier experts.

‘There’d be casualties, but it wouldn’t be enough to topple the Meng.’

Unless their forces were particularly exceptional. And beyond Pildo-ma, they didn’t seem to have many formidable fighters.

Pildo-ma had to know this.

He wasn’t oblivious. At least, not in my understanding of him.

‘If he’s proceeding despite knowing this, there must be something more.’

Something that would allow him to push forward after unleashing this chaos.

[Hmm.]

Feigning thought, I propped my chin on my hand.

I noticed a faint tremble in Pildo-ma’s wrinkles as he observed me. His excessive tension still seemed odd.

But.

‘It doesn’t matter. It works to my advantage.’

Having the opponent perceive me as a threat could only benefit me.

‘If Pildo-ma’s plan succeeds and a beast does appear in Hanam...’

Tap, tap, tap.

I tapped my fingers against the table where the liquor cup rested.

Other than that sound, the surroundings were deathly quiet, as if time itself had stopped.

About a minute passed like this.

Tap.

My fingers stilled.

The calculations were complete.

[So.]

I addressed Pildo-ma directly.

[What exactly is it you need me to do?]

The conclusion didn’t seem unfavorable to me.

No.

It wasn’t just “not unfavorable.”

‘It might actually be useful.’

Using this, I could likely accelerate my plans even further.

******************

When I emerged from the cave, it was still night.

Not much time had passed.

It seemed to be thanks to the conversation not dragging on too long.

Step.

I walked through the grassy field, scanning the surroundings.

The sound of insects that had been chirping earlier was now absent.

Perhaps it was due to the aura I had disrupted earlier.

‘Not just the sound.’

Even the terrain seemed subtly altered.

To be precise, it wasn’t distorted—it had reverted to its original state.

‘Did they even disguise what could be seen?’

Had they overlaid an illusion on the terrain to hide its location?

The bizarre method brought memories to my mind.

‘It feels just like what I saw in Sichuan.’

It was during the first year after my regression when I visited Sichuan and saw the secret records of Yeonga.

What I witnessed there was similar to this.

The place had been disguised as a cliff, but once inside, there was a tree with pure white leaves falling from it.

‘...’

As I recalled that moment, I felt the knot in my heart.

‘If this is sorcery, does that mean what I saw in Yeonga was also sorcery?’

At the time, I thought it was too foreign to be a formation. Could it have actually been sorcery?

‘Sorcery is said to have been brought by the dragons. How did Yeonga use sorcery to conceal that place?’

The secret records of Yeonga had been hidden using the power of the dragons.

Its descendants were cursed and became half-dragon hybrids.

How had it come to that?

As I frowned at the strange connection,

“Master.”

Nahi, who had followed me out, spoke to me.

I turned my back to her while simultaneously removing the mask I was wearing.

Crack.

As I did, my bones and muscles twitched violently before the energy withdrew, and my body returned to its original form.

Thanks to my improved cultivation, the duration and precision of my body-altering technique had increased.

Stretching my restored body, I addressed Nahi.

“What is it?”

“...Are you really going to do as that man said?”

“Hm?”

Her words were unexpected, especially coming from Nahi.

Hearing them, I narrowed my eyes.

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t think that man can be trusted...”

I nodded, signaling her to elaborate.

“There’s something about him... It feels suspicious in many ways.”

“Your reasoning?”

“...The biggest reason is that he hasn’t provided all the information. He’s been twisting it.”

I nodded again after hearing her.

She was right.

Pildo-ma had never given me complete information.

Even though he was intimidated by me and claimed to align his goals with mine, he was clearly scheming behind the scenes.

Nahi had likely deemed this troubling and thus voiced her concern, but—

“I know.”

I already knew.

“I’ve known for a while that he hasn’t told me everything. I’ve also known he might try something against me.”

“Then...”

“It doesn’t matter. I was planning to use and discard him anyway.”

“...!”

At my nonchalant remark, Nahi’s eyes widened.

Was it really that surprising?

“Why?”

“That’s...”

“Did you really think I’d keep that old man around forever?”

“...”

If she had, it would have been disappointing.

“Oh, come on. Seriously?”

I had no such intention whatsoever.

Pildo-ma was an old dog.

An old dog with ambition. Trusting someone like that would be idiotic.

I’d been betrayed and deceived countless times before.

I had no plans to trust Pildo-ma.

For now, he was useful, so I intended to make use of him.

Moreover—

‘Once the work is done, he’ll be dealt with too.’

Before my plans reached their conclusion, I’d kill and dispose of him.

Cheonma had absorbed and utilized him in the past, but—

‘I have no interest in consuming something already rotting.’

I was different from Cheonma.

“Anyway, it’s not a bad thing that you raised the concern,” I said to Nahi.

“But just now, you overstepped.”

“...!”

At my words, Nahi immediately fell to her knees.

Watching her, I continued speaking.

“Since when did you start giving advice on matters not yet discussed? Or are you issuing commands now?”

“...I... apologize...”

Nahi trembled as if terrified, despite me not saying much.

Seeing her like this, I inwardly clicked my tongue.

“Stand up.”

At my command, Nahi promptly rose to her feet. I considered scolding her further but decided against it.

My relationship with Nahi was forged through demonic energy.

I didn’t trust her much either.

I trusted no one.

They were all expendable pieces.

That was the value of the demonic followers I kept.

As such, acts like this held no appeal to me.

Not that it would happen, but if Nahi ever did show loyalty, it would only make me more uneasy.

Ignoring the uncomfortable thought, I pulled a letter from my robe and handed it to her.

“Deliver this to Hyuk. And tell Jiseon to come to Hanam if he has no other matters.”

“...As you command.”

“Oh, and...”

I stopped Nahi just as she was about to vanish after receiving the letter.

“Tell that spear-wielder to come here.”

“...!”

At the mention of someone specific, surprise flashed # Nоvеlight # across her face.

“Shall I relay the message immediately?”

“Yes. Tell him to come by next month at the latest.”

“I understand.”

With those words, Nahi bowed once more and disappeared into smoke.

After confirming she was gone, I scratched my cheek.

It was because of the “spear-wielder” I had just mentioned.

‘Honestly, I’d rather not call him.’

Over the years, I had cultivated a few more demonic followers as subordinates.

The spear-wielder was one of them.

But—

‘He’s a troublesome bastard to deal with.’

Among the group of maniacs destined to go insane or drown in bloodlust, that guy stood out as particularly insane.

It was enough to remind me of the Sword Demon from my previous life.

Perhaps worse, but certainly comparable.

‘That’s why I avoided calling him unless necessary...’

Still, he seemed perfect for the task I had in mind.

‘Besides, it’s about time to gather everyone.’

The demonic followers I had scattered across the land.

It was time to call them all back.

The moment for the plan I had laid out was approaching, and I needed to assemble them.

‘...Will this be okay?’

Given that they were all lunatics, even I felt a twinge of hesitation.

‘There’s no choice.’

I had to proceed.

I needed to see the plan succeed, no matter what.

Swoosh.

‘The plan...’

Just thinking about it made me feel queasy.

Turning around, I saw Seong Yul waiting outside.

Looking at his murky yellow eyes, I spoke.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

As I moved forward, Seong Yul silently followed.

Walking under the crescent moon, I glanced up at the sky.

It was the first night back in Hanam, slowly passing.

There was less than a month left until the Biwu Tournament.

‘...Once that time passes.’

I would become a villain the world feared.

And at the same time—

I would shine brighter than anyone as a hero.