Childhood Friend of the Zenith - Chapter 63

EP.63 It’s not yours. (2)

It’s not yours (2)

I thought I’d go straight up after arriving at Hwaeum-hyeon, where the volcanic waves are located.

When we arrived, it was already late at night, so we quickly found a place to stay.

Perhaps because it is Hwaeum-hyeon, where the Hwasan faction is at the center, when a literary man dressed in plum blossom clothes appeared, not only Jeom So-yi, but even the hostess appeared and welcomed her, saying, “Welcome.”

Thanks to that, I was able to get a comfortable room.

After finding a good place to stay, Shinhyeon and his party went up to the volcano, leaving behind a few Ewha students who said they would pick them up tomorrow.

When I asked if it would be better to go right away because of the ghost, he said it was safer.

I don’t know what that means, but I told him to do it first, so I replied that I knew it.

I was tired, but I didn’t have the confidence to climb that high mountain, so I decided to close my mouth and rest.

“The dumplings are here!”

As we sat down at the table, the food we ordered began to come out little by little.

I filled my stomach first without having to look at this and that.

As I was eating and chewing a couple of dumplings, Wi Seol-ah next to me handed me a glass of water.

These days, he seems to be working hard on something.

“Thank you, but you can eat some too.”

“I am full.”

“…?”

When I looked at her as if I was telling a ridiculous lie, Wiseol-ah puffed out her cheeks.

It was so funny that he pressed Wi Seol-ah on both cheeks.

Boo-! It made a funny noise.

I laughed out loud at the sight, and Wi Seol-ah quickly pouted.

“Chi…Chi!”

“I’m sorry, I won’t do it anymore.”

It was a lie.

Of course, I have to do it again next time. It’s fun like this.

While I was teasing Wi Seol-ah like that, someone appeared next to me with food and sat down.

It was Youngpoong holding somen noodles.

“…I’m sorry. I should have recommended a better place.”

Are you talking about the place that has the best taste of dumplings in the island?

It was honestly regrettable, but it didn’t matter because I wanted to finish it quickly and go back.

“Is it okay if we don’t go up together?”

When Shinhyeon and the others climbed the volcano first, Youngpung volunteered to stay by his side.

I wanted to be able to do that because nobles are important, but I didn’t seem to notice something like that.

“It’s okay…”

Unknowingly, I felt an uncomfortable feeling in Youngpoong’s eyes.

I didn’t think it was something to ask deeply, so I pretended not to know at first.

When I felt my stomach was full, I saw Wi Seol-ah, who was still putting something in her mouth.

Bia Namgoong, who was watching it, secretly put something on the bowl, and she snorted, ‘Huh!’

It’s been a while since I’ve been feeling like this.

The problem is that after doing it, I secretly look at Namgoongbia as if I’m sorry.

If that’s the case, why would she do that…

Wiseol-ah pretended not to like it and then ate the food on the bowl.

It looked like something was messing around.

There seems to be something I don’t like, so I’m trying hard to pretend I don’t like it.

Because of his weak heart, he seemed unable to do that properly.

[Rather, isn’t it cute? It’s obvious.]

‘…Hmm.’

Seeing that something didn’t work out as I thought, I unconsciously put my hand on my head.

Actually, what I said earlier is an excuse, and I just wanted to touch it.

When I touched her hand, Weiseolah flinched.

I wonder if it’s something I don’t like, so I’m going to take it out right away.

snap!

Wiseolah stopped my hand from slipping out with her hand.

‘…Does this mean you want me to do it?’

I thought it wasn’t that I didn’t like it, so I stroked it lightly.

As she touches her soft hair, a wide smile appears on Wi Seol-ah’s face.

[Looks like a boy.]

‘What are you talking about all of a sudden?’

[Are you pretending not to know? Despite that, your heart is honest.]

When I focused on Shinnoya’s words, my heart was beating faster than usual.

Apart from the head, is the body accepting it differently?

As I tried to ignore it and touch my hair, I could feel their gaze somewhere.

“…huh?”

Namgoongbia is looking at me with blank eyes, sticking her head out from the side.

To be precise, it was as if he was looking at the hand stroking Wi Seol-ah.

“Why do you look like that?”

“…”

Namgoongbia did not answer the question.

I’m just quietly watching my hands.

It was quite burdensome.

Namgoongbia slowly lowers her gaze.

Then, naturally, the head went down and the top of the head was visible.

[…That’s it.]

Shinnoya exclaimed for some reason.

“What are you doing…”

I looked at it quietly and suddenly thought, ‘Are you saying that I want to pet you?’ I wanted to

I don’t think so, but there was no reason to suddenly say no.

‘Oh no way.’

I wondered if that was the case, so I stretched out the hand that had been stroking Wiseol-ah toward Namgoongbia.

I hesitated for a moment, but I was curious.

“Ah…”

Weiseolah made a sound as if regretting it.

By the time his outstretched hand touched Namgoongbia’s head.

“Who is on the second floor?”

We heard someone coming up the stairs towards us.

“This voice…”

Youngpoong trembled beside him.

Thinking someone was coming, I retrieved my hand and Bia Namgoong turned her head toward the stairs.

Judging by Youngpoong’s reaction, he wondered if he knew someone?

The clothes of those who climbed the stairs were familiar.

It was the same clothes as Yeongpoong.

‘Are they from the volcanic faction?’

Can the literati of the Volcanic Sect come down the mountain at this late hour?

I don’t know about the munpa, but I thought it might be a problem.

“…what? Who else besides us…”

The young man who was leading the climb saw us and hesitated.

To be precise, I stopped when I saw Youngpoong sitting next to me.

Youngpoong saw him as well and immediately stood up.

“…execution.”

‘hmm.’

Seeing that Yeongpung said it was the death penalty, it seemed like they were the same three great disciples.

Except for Youngpoong, he was the first of the three disciples he had ever seen.

Looking at it this way, he is definitely a young man who looks relatively young compared to the disciples of Lee University.

“…Young Poong.”

The young man looked confused for a moment when he saw Youngpoong. I met the same writer, so why are you so flustered?

“Why is the death penalty like that?”

“I wonder who is there…”

The literary men who follow him also hesitate when they see Young-pung, just like the young man.

What is this atmosphere?

While the strange atmosphere continued, the young man asked Youngpoong.

“…Did you finish your work well?”

“Yes…”

“Where are the other teachers?”

“I went up first because I had work, and Sasuk Shinbyeok and Sasuk Shinseok are on another floor.”

“I see…”

“…”

“…”

The conversation is cut short just like that.

Even if I didn’t notice it, I knew that this was a very uncomfortable situation.

[…I knew you weren’t paying attention to the world.]

‘…God No.’

Youngpoong hesitated for a moment, then looked at me and quickly came to his senses.

“Ah, this is Gu Family’s Guyangcheon Small Cooperative. You are an important guest of the volcano.”

At Yeongpoong’s words, the young man finally looked at me.

No, to be precise, after seeing Bia Namgung and seeing Wi Seol Ah, he saw me.

This child…?

“That’s right…. I’m called Young-seong, the third great disciple of Hwasan.”

Spiritual voice trembles.

In particular, Youngpoong was seen in the way he glanced at Namgoongbia.

[Don’t just look at that kid, look at your fiancée.]

‘Yes?’

At Shinnoya’s unexpected words, I looked at Via Namgoong and saw that Via Namgung was glaring at Young Seong.

…stare? That bastard is staring at someone?

very subtle

Still, you can notice the change in expression after seeing it for a long time, but it was a small change that a person seeing for the first time would not know.

Still, it was clear that he was staring.

Young-seong coughed for a moment, perhaps realizing his ugliness, then opened his mouth again.

“There must be a reason why the masters entrusted you with guests…. Yes, there are also masters, so we should go say hello too.”

“Yes…”

“Let’s go first. Rest in peace.”

I also greeted in line with the embrace of spirituality.

As soon as the greeting was over, the appearance of the writers moving immediately seemed to contain several meanings.

You could also feel it in Youngpoong’s expression, looking gloomy next to him.

It was only then that I remembered what Yeongpoong had said to me earlier.

‘Other disciples don’t enjoy dancing with me very much.’

I remember Youngpoong talking to me with a shadowy face. Are you being bullied? The volcano’s sword dragon…?

As if reading my thoughts, I heard Shinnoya’s voice.

[…it’s because he’s so talented.]

‘…yes?’

[There’s no way you can easily mix in just because a dragon appeared in a lake where carp and fish used to swim.]

It wasn’t that I didn’t understand what he was saying.

Judging by Youngpoong’s age, he would be almost the youngest.

Since they obtained the plum inspector position at a much younger age than themselves, they would not feel burdened or jealous and not look good.

Is that why you are suffering from bullying?

Tsk tsk I hear Shin Noya’s tongue clicking.

[No matter how it is, it looks like that. There’s no way the superiors don’t know this. It wasn’t like this when I was…!]

‘Why do you always go round and round and come back that way?’

[Eh… Tsk tsk]

Even as he clicked his tongue, regret was hidden in Shin Noya’s words.

Seeing that, I sighed inwardly and secretly glanced at Youngpoong.

Again, the color of the face seems to have darkened a little.

Yeongpoong smiled awkwardly, perhaps noticing what I was looking at.

“Let’s finish eating!”

It was a voice trying to speak brightly, but the meal ended quickly afterward.

I ate enough to eat in the first place, and I was full.

Namgoongbia tended to eat less.

Wi Seol-ah is also on the sensitive side, so the atmosphere became strange and he stopped eating.

After the meal, Young Poong left for the disciples of Lee Dae.

I also got up and moved my feet to go to the room, but Namgoongbia stopped me in front of me.

“Sojeo Namgung?”

I called because I wanted to know what was going on, and Namgoongbia kept looking at me as if she had something to say, but hesitatingly didn’t say anything.

[Kid, just stretch out your arms.]

‘Yes?’

[It means, don’t use your head that doesn’t even roll, just reach out with your head.]

I reached out my hand at Shin Noya’s words.

If I didn’t do as I was told, I would get angry for some reason, so I did as I said.

As I slowly stretch out my hand, Namgoongbia’s eyes widen.

As the hand approached, Namgoongbia even lowered her head.

As the fingertips touch, another hand suddenly comes out and strokes Namgoongbia’s hair.

It was Wi Seol-ah’s hand, white and immaculate.

“…?”

As Wi Seol Ah had just scratched her head, Namgoong Bia showed a hint of embarrassment for a moment, but when she saw that the opponent was Wi Seol Ah, she rather lowered her knees.

I wonder if it seemed pitiful to stand on tiptoe, seeing as Bia Namgung, who is on the large side for a woman, and Wiseol-ah, who is still small.

Wi Seol-ah, who had been touching her for a long time, fell away from Namgoongbia.

Namgoongbia also raised her head again as Wiseolah stepped back.

Wi Seol-ah says something with a proud face.

“I did it!”

Seeing that, Namgoongbia lightly stroked Wiseolah’s cheek.

Namgoongbia looks at me again with a blank expression. Did you really stop to do this?

“…next time…”

Namgoongbia, who was about to say something, shut her mouth.

It seems that there are more words left, but he just walks into the room without taking it out.

I was hoping for something like this

[Did you see the ears?]

Shinnoya suddenly interrupted.

‘Are you?’

[Your fiancée’s ears are red.]

Namgoongbia’s ears?

I couldn’t even look at such a thing because I was too shy.

I’m thinking about what the hell I wanted to do.

“…Sister is good…”

“Huh?”

I hear Wi Seol-ah, who was standing in a daze, muttering something to herself.

“But I won’t give it to my sister.”

It was a firm voice.

He also suddenly seems to be saying something strange, so I’m trying to ask what he’s saying.

Wi Seol-ah quickly shouted ‘Good night!’ to me and ran away.

It must have been going to the room where the attendants were gathered.

“…what.”

Just like that, I stood alone in the space where both of them had disappeared.

It was not easy for them to adapt because their behavior changed little by little as they went on.

After a while, I went to find a room.

It was because I was so tired that my head was not working well.

As soon as you enter, you bury your face in the soft bed you can see.

I’ve come this far

Now all that was left was to finish the work and go back.

Although there were still big things to do, such as going up to return the ghost and seeing my little sister.

He also decided to think about tomorrow.

First of all, you should sleep well.

[Whew.]

Although I could hear Shinnoya sigh. I couldn’t afford to ask why now.

I’ll wake up and watch it….

Thinking so, I quickly fell asleep in the flood of thoughts.

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

Tit! Chirp!

I slowly opened my eyes to the sunlight coming through the window and the sound of birds chirping in the morning.

I was so deeply asleep that I didn’t have the nightmares I usually had every day.

Thanks to that, I was able to wake up feeling refreshed and refreshed.

How long has it been since you slept comfortably like this?

I got up and moved my body around, and I heard a clicking sound at every joint.

“…Oh, it’s refreshing.”

“Did you sleep well?”

It’s a voice I heard in my sleep.

I naturally assumed Shinnoya was asking.

“Did Ye Noya sleep well too?”

“Then, I guess it’s because I’ve grown old and only sleep a lot, so I always sleep well.” “What do you mean

, what kind of sleep do

ghosts…

Something was strange.

Did Shin Noya’s voice sound like this?

It was usually a ringing feeling in my head, not in my ears.

Today, it was especially clear and the voice felt different.

‘…what?’

Because I was not awake, I couldn’t grasp the situation properly, so Shin Noya appeared.

[…not me.]

…?

Noya’s words made me break into a cold sweat.

I turned my head to the source of the sound as the chill ran down my spine.

An old man with a benevolent smile was sitting there.

…in my room.

“who are you?”

The old man smiled lowly at the question.

“I’ve lived for a long time, but it’s the first time I’ve been treated as a ghost…”

The old man’s words and small movements stirred the energy in the Danjeon

[…Oops]

. It felt like the energy of plum blossoms that I had been trying to block was coming out.

Is it an illusion?

The sunlight coming through the window is mixed with the shallow scent of plum blossoms.

The old man calmly brushes his beard.

The more I woke up, the more I started to feel it.

This is not the scent that flowed in from outside the window.

The scent of plum blossoms that filled the room came from that old man.

“Ayy, I heard that Gu-ryun sent you.”

The name of Elder Lee that came out naturally from the old man’s mouth.

He swallowed dry saliva, hiding his cold sweat.

Seeing me like that, the old man smiles slightly.

Then, calmly, he lowered his hand that had been brushing his beard.

It was only then that I could see the plum blossom pattern on the old man’s chest.

Upon discovering it, the pupils shake rapidly as if an earthquake occurred.

Overshadowing my trembling eyes, the old man introduced himself.

“Nice to meet you.

I swallowed in vain at the old man’s words.

…why is this man in my room?