Childhood Friend of the Zenith Chapter 133: Don't Touch Him (2)

༺ Don’t Touch Him (2) ༻

Around the ti we arrived at the lodge in Hanam, it had beco dinner ti already.

‘Bacheonmaru, huh.’

A single glance from the outside was enough for to realize that it was a gigantic building.

There was a good chance that this was the largest lodge in this area.

‘The Murim Alliance really went out of their way.’

They also provided with a lodge back when I went to the Dragons and Phoenixes tournant in my past life.

However, they usually provided lodges based on the reputation of one’s clan, so there were so instances where people had to pay for their own place to stay.

Of course, Gu Clan always received good rooms to stay in, as my clan was not one to be looked down upon.

In front of the building, a person, who seed to belong to the Murim Alliance, stood while checking in the young prodigies.

“You may enter.”

However, the man let Tang Soyeol and Namgung Bi-ah in right away, as if they didn’t need to be checked in the first place.

I’d have to assu it was because of the unique appearance associated with their respective clans and the symbols embroidered onto their attire.

After all, the four noble clans held their exalted status for a reason.

“Gu Yangcheon of Shanxi’s Gu Clan… You are all checked in. You may enter.”

Despite letting in, I felt him stare at strangely.

Unlike how he stared at Tang Soyeol and Namgung Bi-ah with dirty eyes, he stared at peculiarly.

｢Is it because you look that weird?｣

‘…I think it’s more likely because a son of Gu Clan ca here.’

It was probably because I was the son of the Tiger Warrior and the brother of the Sword Phoenix.

I also showed him my recomndation letter written by the Dishonored Venerable, a docunt I’d acquired through the second elder, but he didn’t seem to check it.

It was probably because I already had an invitation letter.

‘That’s gonna beco a problem later, though.’

It would be nice if they didn’t check it till the end, but…

Even if Murim Alliance did a shitty job, they would check the recomndation letter later for sure.

This precaution was warranted, as the realm not only housed many maniacs with great strengths, but there were also those who would erupt like flas if they didn’t accomplish in spreading their nas.

“You may use the fourth room on the Grand Silver Floor.”

With the staff’s guidance, I headed to the room I’d be staying in.

I was able to see that the quality of the rooms improved as I went up more floors.

I’d assu that the two young won who had entered before probably went to the top floor.

‘If it’s Silver, it is not bad at all.’

I was content as long as I had a place to sleep and I would’ve honestly been happier if I got a room on a lower floor, given its proximity to the dining area.

Gu Jeolyub, who ca with , had to show his recomndation letter, as he didn’t have an invitation letter.

When they saw that my father was the one who wrote him the recomndation letter, it beca comical to see how the man kept glancing at and Gu Jeolyub, back and forth.

“We’ll be unpacking now.”

“Thanks, I’ll leave it to you.”

Hongwa and Wi Seol-Ah began to unpack as soon as they ca into the room.

While they were doing so, I took the ti to go downstairs and look around.

Even though the tournant was a week away, it didn’t seem like I was the only one who ca early, as others had also co ahead of schedule.

“…Hmm?”

Among the people, there was a uniform that caught my eye.

They were young n with rough-looking expressions, wearing dark yellow uniforms.

They seed like they were from the Hwangbo Clan.

They were the first people I saw in this life who weren’t from any of the four noble clans.

‘Now that I think of it, how strange is that?’

Since there were so many people from the noblest of clans around , I couldn’t get to see anyone from other clans.

“Who is it?”

Who was the young prodigy from Hwangbo Clan?

I started to think.

They probably did have one prodigy. After all, although the Hwangbo Clan was not among the four noble clans, they were still certainly ranked fairly high.

Not long after, I was able to think of soone.

“Was the Silent Fist from that clan?”

The new and outstanding expert martial artist that would be called the Silent Fist in the future. This was a person who slaughtered many demonic humans with their fist and spread their na at a young age.

In contrast to the person’s endless hate and rage against demonic humans, their fist was quiet instead of excessive, hence why they were called the Silent Fist.

‘Though he ended up becoming a demonic human.’

I rembered that person because they were under my command.

Was Hwang Bosun their na?

‘I don’t see that person amongst those guys, though.’

I didn’t know much about their background, but I did rember that they were from a branch clan.

I guess I could say this was fortunate.

eting the sa individuals from my previous life wasn’t always advantageous for .

“Young Master! We have finished unpacking!”

I turned around after I heard Wi Seol-Ah’s shout from the room.

“Thanks.”

“Yup!”

“How long do you think it’ll take for you to unpack your stuff?”

I asked Hongwa.

“Hmm… I don’t think it would even take 15 minutes as we don’t have that many things to unpack.”

“Then co down after you’re done, let’s eat together.”

“Oh… um.”

I looked at Hongwa since she started to smile awkwardly.

“If we were to join you at the table, then it might attract so unwanted attention towards the Young Master. So we will just- “

“After all this ti?”

“Pardon?”

“You are starting to care about such a thing now? It’s just having a al together.”

It was a place where many noble clans gathered.

And thanks to the staff visibly treating us as one of the noble clans, there may indeed be people staring at us.

It might not be perceived well by others for , the Young Master, to dine with the servants, but…

“I’ll take care of it, so don’t worry.”

In the end, Honghwa nodded after hearing my words.

From the servants’ perspective, I guess it might make them uncomfortable.

And to be honest, ever since my resurrection, my behavior to the servants was closer to my own selfish stubbornness than anything.

｢So you are admitting that your actions were sowhat self-centered.｣

‘Yes. That would be right.’

｢It is a sin when you yourself know that you are being selfish.｣

‘I know that as well.’

｢…Hmph.｣

Elder Shin didn’t continue after hearing my response.

His sudden silence seed to imply that he wasn’t pleased, but I should just proceed as I saw fit.

After Hongwa had left, I opened all the windows in my room.

While letting the fresh air in, I watched the snow outside.

Even with all the snow covering the surroundings, the streets remained bright.

This place prided itself on being the safest, hence the extensive street lighting everywhere.

“Safest place, my ass.”

Since I was aware of its impending destruction in just a few years, I found such a title almost comical.

“I want so alcohol.”

I craved it rather badly today.

I may not have drank a lot in my past life, but I did enjoy doing so.

｢Then why refrain from drinking?｣

“I gotta hold back.”

Recognizing that my body was not in a completely normal state, I had decided not to bring anything into my body that could disrupt the flow inside.

As such, I was going to hold off on alcohol for now.

“…Perhaps I should request so pungent tea from Tang Soyeol.”

Wouldn’t they be sowhat similar?

With that delusional thought, I went downstairs.

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

Like I said earlier, I still had a week before the tournant began.

As such, not too many people had arrived here yet.

There was no way individuals from noble clans enjoyed waiting, which was why the people that were already here were either from far-off places or had business matters to attend here.

Thanks to that, it wasn’t too rowdy.

anwhile, I was chewing on sothing with a frown on my face.

“How is it?”

Wi Seol-Ah asked after bringing a dish filled with food.

“…It’s not bad, but the dumplings I had back in the carriage were better.”

After serving first, she proceeded to plate her own food before indulging herself.

Her face broke into a smile after her initial bite.

“It’s good though…”

“It is good. I’m rely drawing a comparison.”

“Do you want… tea?”

“Hmm? Yeah sure, thanks.”

Was it because Namgung Bi-ah was asleep the entire ti? All she was doing was sipping tea without a single bite of food.

“Where is Lady Tang?”

“Sis Soyeol said that she’d take so ti! Apparently, she has to redo her makeup.”

“Um… she said… to not say that…”

“Oh.”

Wi Seol-Ah quickly covered her mouth in horror after hearing Namgung Bi-ah, but the damage was already done since I heard it all.

Makeup huh…

Does she really have to bother when all we are doing is eating?

When I pondered as such, Elder Shin started to speak as if he was mocking .

｢That’s what it ans to be a woman.｣

‘But these girls don’t do that though.’

｢…That’s because they’re at a level where they don’t need to, hence why I despise you so much.｣

‘Last ti you said you didn’t like , but now you say you despise …’

Isn’t his hatred for increasing a little too fast?

I turned my gaze to a different direction after eating another dumpling.

“Why aren’t you eating?”

“…I am.”

I asked Gu Jeolyub, who was barely eating.

“I went out of my way to call you so you could eat, so why are you only nibbling? Are you looking down at the products of the farrs’ blood and sweat?”

“N, No, sir. I just didn’t expect that you would call for to such a spot.”

“It’s not like it’s a grand spot or anything.”

Why does everyone make such a fuss about dining with ?

After a brief hesitation, Gu Jeolyub spoke.

“Don’t you dislike ?”

“Yeah.”

“…”

“But what does that have to do with this? Just eat.”

If I had to answer whether I liked or disliked him, I would undoubtedly choose the latter.

I wouldn’t have cared much if he only bothered .

However, he just happened to pursue Wi Seol-Ah, which was a significant issue.

To be honest, because of that, I wanted to use and abuse Gu Jeolyub even more, but…

I felt a little bad after rembering what the Second Elder told .

– Go a little easy on this child since he’s a poor one.

That one irkso remark had managed to occupy a space in my mind.

Tsk.

I, too, had a similar experience of being pressured by the people around , so I did feel a little bad for Gu Jeolyub, even if I didn’t take his personality and thoughts into account.

‘I’m still going to use him a lot, though.’

I then asked Gu Jeolyub, who was carefully putting food into his mouth.

“What did he say? Your grandfather.”

“Huh?”

“What do you an, ‘Huh?’. Look at this guy acting clueless. Telling you to observe is obvious, but besides that I genuinely can’t tell what is the true purpose of you being here.”

“He didn’t really tell to do anything to .”

Yeah, sure he didn’t.

You should’ve at least said that after hiding your shaky eyes.

How is everyone around so bad at lying all the ti?

If soone were to ask if Gu Jeolyub was a nuisance to …

I didn’t really feel that he was.

After all, he wasn’t a guy that could be a nuisance in the first place.

But I guess I could say I felt a little bad for him.

He had the talent, a handso face, and his background wasn’t too shabby either, but…

He simply got unlucky.

‘It’s not that a man of greed is scary,’

It was just scary how everything around them rotted away.

That’s what I saw in Gu Jeolyub.

“You do you. Try to be as inconspicuous as possible. If I catch you doing sothing fishy, I swear I’m going to break your arm for real this ti.”

“F-Fishy, of course not.”

He was still a kid.

He was treated like a young man, but he hadn’t even reached the age of twenty. At most, he was a boy that worked hard.

And it seed like the First Elder was the only one who didn’t seem to realize that.

While in the middle of staring at him, I was suddenly caught off guard by sothing brushing against my lips, so I quickly backed off.

When I checked what it was, I found Wi Seol-Ah trying to put food into my mouth.

“Young Master, you need to eat your veggies too.”

“…”

“See, you ate everything except the vegetables… Young Master, are you a baby? Grandpa told only babies are picky with their food.”

“…I was going to save them for last.”

“Liar! I have almost never seen Young Master eat any vegetables!”

As always, Wi Seol-ah treating like a kid was sothing very new and uncomfortable to .

In the end, I received all the vegetables into my mouth, admitting defeat against her.

｢Hehe, weren’t you the one who continued to treat her like a child?｣

‘…Life is really exhausting.’

Even while filling my stomach, I made sure to continue looking around.

If I had learned anything from the experiences of my past life, it was that sothing was always bound to happen in a building like this.

Because when people considered to be fairly strong were gathered up in one area, there would always be that one guy who couldn’t resist showing off.

This was especially the case for young prodigies.

‘Therefore, I gotta be careful so the shitstorm doesn’t co my way.’

I couldn’t afford to stir up trouble right away. If I were to, it’d have to be after a week.

So I had to pray that nothing happened to till then.

“Young Master, Young Master.”

“Hmm?”

“Over there…”

As expected, nothing ever went the way I wanted it to.

When I looked in the direction that Wi Seol-Ah was pointing at, people were gathered around a giant figure wearing a dark yellow uniform.

He possessed an impressive physique, though not quite as much as the Second Elder.

‘Hwangbo Clan?’

It seed like they were a young prodigy from the Hwangbo Clan that I saw earlier.

Who was it? Were they a blood relative of their clan’s lord?

I couldn’t recognize anyone standing around him.

However, I’d assu they were from a well-known clan, considering they ca to the Dragons and Phoenixes tournant.

Then, I saw a woman in the middle of the crowd, seemingly bearing the weight of everyone’s insults.

The dumpling I was about to devour ca to a halt as my eyes settled on her figure.

I couldn’t see her face because of the veil she was wearing and nothing gave away the clan she belonged in.

Her uniform seed beautiful, but it didn’t seem too high in quality.

And I couldn’t see her bodyline, as she had overlapped many clothes due to the cold weather.

However, her earrings were clearly visible.

And those earrings had caught my eyes.

It wasn’t an accessory that symbolized her clan or anything remotely special.

They were rely earrings with a unique shape, but they were the sa earrings a certain woman had worn, even until the end.

‘…That crazy bitch is here too?’

I swiftly threw away my brief hesitation and proceeded to eat my dumpling, as if I hadn’t seen a thing.

That scary woman might notice even the slightest hesitation that I make.

As such, I looked away. There was no need to question if she was soone different from my thoughts.

I was already certain.

I didn’t know why a blood relative from one of the four noble clans ca here so early.

However, one thing was certain. I had no desire to beco entangled with whatever she did.

‘I did expect to see her since it is the Dragons and Phoenixes tournant.’

But actually seeing her in person made think about many things.

Most of them weren’t too positive either.

“What clan are you from? I am Hwangbo Cheolwi. Would you like to have a drink together?”

The man, introducing himself as Hwangbo Cheolwi, extended her an offer to drink. However, the woman gestured towards the glass already in front of her.

“Apologies, but I’ll have to pass for next ti, as I’m drinking already.”

“It might be more enjoyable since you are already doing so. On this chilly night, wouldn’t drinking with the company of others make it warr?”

“I apologize again, but I already have soone to drink with.”

With a beautiful voice, she declined his offer once again.

But it seed like Hwangbo Cheolwi had no intention of backing down, as he pulled out a chair and sat in front of her.

“I’m Hwangbo Cheolwi.”

“…Yes, you told earlier.”

“Do you not know the Hwangbo Clan?”

“I do. They are a great clan, aren’t they? ”

A great clan my ass. Even though they were, there was no chance that they were greater than the four noble clans.

And the woman under the veil was a mber of those very clans.

‘Does that boar-like bastard not have a brain?’

It seed like he already had a drink before this, but he should still be a little more cautious at a place like the Dragons and Phoenixes tournant.

‘How could he just act like that without thinking first?’

It was really shitty as it felt like I was watching myself from the past.

“If you know that already, aren’t your actions a bit…you know?”

“…What do you an?”

“Sheesh… That cold voice of yours, so charming. If it isn’t too impolite of a request, could you please take off that veil?”

“It is impolite.”

I continued to dine, but my ears were attuned to their exchange.

Judging by what I heard, it seed like it was the first ti Hwangbo Cheolwi ca to the Dragons and Phoenixes tournant.

Since no one would approach another so presumptuously without proper knowledge of their background.

Which was why I was worried.

Not for that bitch drinking while feigning ignorance and acting all weak, but for that boar-like bastard, Hwangbo.

He went for a person that he shouldn’t have touched.

How unlucky of him.

‘At least I’m not tangled up in this ss.’

Unlucky as he was, I didn’t care as long as the shitstorm didn’t co to .

“What are you doing!”

Fortunately, soone interrupted, as if wishing to stop this exchange.

It wasn’t like anything good was going to happen to them if they involved themselves in that situation.

Perhaps it was a person who loved helping others.

“…What do you think you’re doing right now?”

But that person happened to be from our party…?

Hwangbo Cheolwi then turned his head towards the voice, which happened to be us.

I realized that the situation went beyond rely bad, judging by his expression that had turned to one of anger.

With a face of bewildernt, I looked up to see the one who shouted these words.

It appeared that he was utterly unconcerned with my gaze at this point.

A young man with eyes that was afla with the determination to help others.

Gu Jeolyub was the one shouting at that boar-like bastard, Hwangbo.

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