Childhood Friend of the Zenith - Chapter 40

EP.40 The way back. (3)

On the way back (3)

“…why are you here?”

As soon as I entered the building, I frowned at the sight.

To be honest, I hoped for a while that I might have misunderstood the presence, but it was nothing.

Dang So-yeol, who was carefully picking up a piece of food and eating it, looked at me and turned to stone.

Bia Namgung, who was still using chopsticks with a fierce expression, put somen into her mouth pretending not to know.

In addition, Wi Seol-ah naturally sat down next to him and started eating somen noodles together.

‘…Okay, I can, I can.’

Wiseol-ah is originally like that, so it can be.

It can be because Namgoongbia is tired of knowing how crazy she is, whose behavior is unpredictable.

But sugar fever.

Why is he here?

Even sneakily avoiding his gaze, he sat all the way as if he was a manger seat.

“Dang soo-jeo.”

“Yeah!?”

I just called, so why am I so surprised?

“Why are you here?”

“…just happened to pass by.”

“By chance…?”

What is the probability that the poisonous peak called Geumeumokyeop of the Tang Dynasty will find us by chance and join us?

That’s even without me.

I wondered, I asked Dang So-yeol.

“Are you waiting for me?”

Dang So-yeol answers my question immediately.

“Oh no! Why would I wait here for the old Confucius!”

He even waved his hand and denied it, but given the circumstances, there was no other answer.

“Okay, then why are you here?”

“…”

Dang So-yeol also became confused when I asked him if he had any excuses.

I couldn’t understand why he was doing this.

‘Do you like me by any chance?’

The thought that was inadvertently brushed away quickly.

I didn’t think it would be possible unless I had an appearance that could make a living with my face like Gu Gujeo-yeop or Namgung Cheonjun, and Dang So-yeol didn’t have an extreme special taste.

Even if that were the case…

For a moment, I thought of Dang So-yeol in my previous life, who was tortured by inserting poisonous insects the size of a little finger into my nostrils.

Although I have not been directly subjected to such torture, I remember Dang So-yeol, who had a sour look on his face while undergoing such torture.

I guess this was a bit far-fetched.

Yes, he must have come because he had something to do…

I wanted him to finish his business quickly and leave.

I also asked Namgung Gwangnyeon, who was next to me.

“Namgung Sojeo.”

“…?”

“Why are you here?”

“…hmm?”

what?

Why are you making that face? I could feel the words ‘why are you asking such an obvious thing’ on Namgoongbia’s face.

Please, I hope my interpretation was wrong.

“Greetings…”

“Yes?”

As always, Bia Namgoong’s short answer causes anger.

Even now. what is a greeting? Is that hello?

Or is it an abbreviation for human hunting, as it was in the previous life?

From my point of view, Bia Namgoong was still a woman suitable for human hunting.

Of course, I was trying hard to get rid of that gaze.

So I’m still going to be patient and ask again.

“Hello?”

“I couldn’t… say hello.”

“Uh uh, I was because of that too!”

Dang Soyeol hurriedly interrupted Namgoongbia’s words.

Ah, that’s why you waited here because you couldn’t say hello?

Why?

why?

“I told the head of the party, did you not hear?”

“…I did hear it.”

Dang So-yeol answered with a dying voice, and Namgoong-bia had a face asking what was wrong with that.

‘…but that’s not a problem.’

To be honest, things went well, but I wonder if there is a need to find out the bad intentions.

So in the end, if you look at it, you can’t say goodbye to me, so you don’t have to come and do it.

‘…Yes, good is good.’

Seeing the people who came to say hello, saying they didn’t see you leaving, they showed their dislike, so in a way you could say they’re ruthless.

I didn’t want to get involved with those frighteningly weird women.

Seriously.

“Thank you for coming. It was a good meeting, and please be safe for the rest of your life.”

I said hello with the utmost courtesy, hoping that you would be satisfied.

However, the faces of those who were greeted are strange.

I felt a subtle sway as if something wasn’t right.

What the hell do you want from me?

Putting that aside, I asked while looking at Bia Namgoong.

Because there was one thing I was curious about.

“Namgung Sojeo.”

“hmm?”

“Why are you still here? What about the other Namgung people?”

“Chunjun said he had a job… he had to wait for someone.”

What happened to Namgung Cheonjun in Sacheon? Actually, it wasn’t particularly surprising that he had a job.

I had something, and he could have something too.

What struck me was something else.

“But did you allow me to come here? Are you not following me?”

It is strange that Namgoongbia is here, but Namgung Cheonjun is not there.

“hmm…? They said they’d allow it… but they wouldn’t come if I go…”

‘You said they allowed it?’

I thought that if he was crazy, he would definitely follow me or not give me permission even if he couldn’t, but it was amazing that he told me to go without hesitation.

Won’t even come? What a word.

“But Namgung Sojeo.”

“…?”

“Didn’t we decide not to bother with the terms of the promise we made last time…?”

“hmm…?”

Instead of giving him his name, he promised not to bother.

“I did.”

Bia Namgoong confidently replied with an expression of ‘I remember’.

But you say you remember, why are you here…

“Then Sojeo, why are you here?”

“why…?”

“You said you wouldn’t bother.”

“Didn’t you bother me…?”

oh god damn

Namgoongbia seemed genuinely unaware that this was a nuisance.

The problem was that I didn’t set the terms of the contract in detail

.

“Then respectful words.”

At my words, Namgoongbia hesitated.

He rolled his eyes for a second and said.

“….yo. this.”

“…”

Shall I hit you?

I was sincerely worried.

If this is enough, in fact, wouldn’t it be that he drew his sword first to fight on the side of Namgoongbia?

Talking to him always gives me a headache.

How did you survive in your previous life?

Ah… I just didn’t have a conversation.

‘…a wise guy.’

I guess that was the correct answer.

Dang So-yeol, who had been listening quietly, hesitated as he wrapped up his pounding hair.

He seemed to have something he wanted to say, but he didn’t want to ask, so he stayed still.

If you pretend not to know in moderation, wouldn’t it take care of it?

“There.”

Sure enough, Dang Soyeol hesitated and spoke to me.

“yes?”

“If I go back to Sega now… when will you come to Sacheon again?”

“well…?”

Do I have to come back to this distant place…?

No, it will come someday, but not soon.

If not, it may take several years.

He also answered Dang So-yeol in the same way.

“I can’t… I think it’s too long.”

After thinking about my answer for a long time, Dang So-yeol opened his mouth again.

“By any chance… do you have a favorite poison?”

“…What did you say?”

“Or do you practice daggers…?”

“Why are you hitting that…?”

Did you hear me wrong?

I think you just said poison.

Dang So-yeol is startled when he sees my reaction.

“W: I guess this wasn’t a bit too much. I thought my older brother would work…”

“That’s a lot… Are you sick?”

I think my head hurts a little, especially… and that’s quite a lot.

At this time, taking advantage of the complicated situation, I saw a hand aiming for dumplings.

Pair the back of your hand right away! As I hit it, I hear a short scream.

I didn’t even have to check who it was.

“Did you finish yours?”

“…yes.”

Wi Seol-ah replied while stroking the back of her hand.

No, then you can order one more. Why are you trying to eat mine

?

I didn’t have any taste in my mouth, so it was fine.

Wi Seol-ah picked up the dumplings and started eating them.

Namgoongbia’s chopsticks slipped in from the side, so I hurriedly blocked it.

“Please order another one. Don’t steal it.”

Namgoongbia looks at me with blind eyes.

It seemed that the focus that seemed to be missing in the gaze that was looking at me had returned slightly.

“I have questions.”

“Why are you suddenly saying honorifics…?”

“That… how did it…?”

Namgoongbia quietly pointed to my dantian side.

Like Muyeon, Namgoongbia also noticed my abnormality.

Dang So-yeol didn’t seem to care about that, but Namgung-bia didn’t seem to care.

“I just had some work.”

The only possible answer was this.

I had to say that when I first found the remark of a gold naturalist in Sacheon, a large snake inside spit out a breath of air….

Hmm.

‘I don’t know if he’ll just believe it straight away…’

When I saw it, I thought I’d just believe it, but I didn’t have to say it anyway.

Namgoongbia nodded at my answer.

Then, the eyes light up a little.

That was a bad sign.

It was because most of the words that Bia Namgung brought out when she opened her eyes like that were fixed.

“Then fight with me…”

“I won’t.”

Namgoongbia’s eyes widened at my quick refusal.

“why…!”

It was Namgoongbia’s loud voice that I hadn’t heard in a long time.

What are you doing…?

Why is this guy who was only interested in the swordsman suddenly doing this to me?

It was a really unpleasant interest.

“I can’t stay here long because time has already been delayed. I don’t think I can do sparring.”

As I said that, I felt Muyeon’s resentful gaze from behind.

Yes, I know it was delayed because of me, so please don’t look at me like that

…

I coughed once and got up from the table.

I had finished eating and had to start moving before the sun went down.

I had to go back as much as I came, so it will be an arduous trip again.

….just imagining it was boring.

As I was about to leave, Dang Xiaoyeol hurriedly took something from his bosom.

“Please accept this…!”

What Dang So-yeol handed over was a finely folded letter and a small unknown bottle.

“What is this?”

“It’s an invitation to the party general meeting next year…”

“Why do you want this… to me?”

“I want to continue the good relationship between the three families! It doesn’t mean anything big…” It’s

an invitation that comes every year, but it has a different meaning when it’s handed over to someone directly by a blood relative of the party.

It’s not something lightly given, it’s because it has the meaning of wanting people to come especially.

I wondered what to think of this burdensome situation.

does he really like me?

“Then… Sojeo, what is this water bottle?”

Could it be a miracle drug?

When I mentioned the water bottle, Dang Xiaoyeol smiled kindly.

“That’s my favorite poison… It’s a gift, so please use it later when you’re practicing solo.”

I nodded my head at Dang So-yeol’s words.

…He’s not normal either.

sure

It was difficult to refuse the letter, so I accepted it first and put it in my pocket.

I was already thinking about what to make next year as a justification for rejecting it.

I will never go…

“Then… I’ll go first. I hope you two have a good time apart.”

“See you again.”

Namgoongbia waved her hand and said hello.

I too was killed with a confused expression on my face.

“Ah yes… see you next time.”

Receiving an uncomfortable greeting, I moved my steps to get into the carriage.

Dang So-yeol also greeted him with a firm gesture, so he also accepted it.

Wi Seol-ah puts the leftover food in a bowl and follows it.

How the hell did all that amount get into your mouth…?

‘Is it over?’

Can I finally go back to Sega?

The vessel grew larger and the internal energy increased, so the body did not feel tired, but mentally it was very tired.

I walked toward the carriage with half-staggered steps.

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

Namgoongbia quietly watched Gu Yangchun’s back as he walked away.

He suddenly remembered what he said to himself.

-Why do you keep talking nonsense?

So…why did I speak plainly to him?

As a result, Yangcheon Gu is younger than her younger brother, Tianjun Namgung.

But that wasn’t a reason to speak rudely.

Even so, strangely, respectful words don’t come out comfortably.

What is the reason?

Namgoongbia herself couldn’t understand, so she couldn’t help but tilt her head.

“Sister…”

is Dang So-yeol’s call.

“huh?”

“Sister… do you like Gongja Gu by any chance?”

“…huh?”

Namgoongbia did not understand Dang Soyeol’s question.

do you like

“What do you like?”

“uh? That’s why…”

Dang So-yeol shows embarrassment at the question.

His face turned red and he closed his mouth.

Seeing that he can’t come up with an answer easily, it seems that Dang So-yeol doesn’t even know.

do like

What do you like?

‘Is it rational?’

If you ask him if he feels love for Yangchun Gu, it seems that he does not.

If you’re interested as a martial artist, that’s right again.

‘It was a completely different person.’

With Gu Yang-cheon at the time when he broke his younger brother’s arm.

Is the Gu Yangchen he just met the same person?

Not sure.

Ironically, it was.

So I wanted to stick with it. I was quickly rejected…….

but if someone asked me if I could beat the current Guyangchun, I could still say yes.

So far.

It was very strange to Namgoongbia herself that she was not sure until then.

Except that it doesn’t stink.

Yangcheon Gu was a person who took away a lot of his attention.

“…If you ask me if I like seeing something like this, is it good?”

The expression of Dang So-yeol, who was next to him, became tearful at the words he spat out.

“what’s the matter?”

“No…”

Dang So-yeol muttered to himself, ‘I don’t have an answer when it comes to unnie…’.

What do you mean there is no answer?

“What about Soyeol?”

“yes…?”

“That you gave it to me.”

“ah…!”

The invitation to the general party meeting given by Dang So-yeol was originally meant to be received by himself.

It has been that way ever since the year I first met Dang So-yeol.

But this time, Tang Xiaoyeol gave it to someone else.

Namgoongbia was curious about the reason and asked Dang Soyeol.

“…that that.”

Dang So-yeol stutters, probably embarrassed.

It seems that the number of times I stutter has increased a lot lately.

‘What is the reason? Where does it hurt?’

The stench of sugar fever is very faint.

You can’t even feel it if you’re not paying attention.

That’s why Namgoongbia was comfortable with Dangsoyeol.

So please don’t get sick.

“I just… want to get to know you better.”

“I see.”

“I’m sorry sister… Were you disappointed?”

“yes I’m fine.”

Even if there was no invitation from a blood relative, he could just come.

Namgoongbia thought that there was no need to feel sad about it.

“Shall we go back now…?”

There was a lot of regret in Dang So-yeol’s voice.

What are you so sorry for?

It is full of unknowns.

“huh.”

Namgoongbia follows Dangsoyeol’s footsteps.

Now that Guyangcheon is gone, Namgoongbia had to go back into the stench.

That’s how I lived in the first place.

Namgoongbia did not have much regret.

Fortunately more than anything.

‘I think we’ll meet again soon.’

For some reason, I feel that way.

And usually, when Namgoongbia felt this intuition, it was almost always fulfilled.