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Childhood Friend of the Zenith (Web Novel) - Chapter 1082: The World of Ascension (12)
Chapter 1082: The World of Ascension (12)
This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl
A Sword Queen.The woman who introduced herself as Sword Peak — there was no doubt.
She was the Plum Blossom Sword Queen I knew.
...This is unexpected.
Not only was she someone I recognized, but she looked almost the same as I remembered.
Of course, given her high cultivation level, it made sense that she aged slowly.
But even so—there was barely any difference.
“Was she here from the very beginning?”
I had known she had ties to my father, but I never realized they were both in Azure Dragon Squad.
“Is something wrong?”
I had been staring too long.
Sword Queen—no, Sword Peak Soi—tilted her head slightly, looking at me with curiosity.
It took me a moment to respond.
“Ah, I apologize. You resemble someone I know.”
“Oh... I see.”
She hesitated slightly, her expression turning somewhat awkward.
Why is she reacting like that?
Before I could figure it out—
“Oh, come on. I get that our senior is beautiful, but isn’t throwing flirtatious glances the moment you meet a little too fast?”
Do Yun.
That damn guy smirked as he whispered beside me, clearly entertained.
And suddenly, it clicked.
Ah... damn it.
Soi probably thought I was flirting.
If that’s why she reacted that way, it made sense.
“No, that’s not what I meant—”
I hurried to explain.
But—
“It’s fine. I don’t really care.”
Soi cut me off before I could even begin.
...Oh.
Did I just ruin my first impression?
It seemed like our first meeting was already off to a bad start.
Time Skip
After everyone had been assigned to their sword squads, we followed our respective seniors to our new quarters.
That included me.
A total of six recruits, including myself, followed Soi toward the Azure Dragon Squad's residence.
From what I knew, Azure Dragon Squad was the second-largest and most influential squad within the Martial Alliance, right after Divine Dragon Squad.
As such, their residence was massive.
So large, in fact, that it was located a bit away from the main headquarters.
“...The location is different.”
In my previous life, Azure Dragon Squad had been much closer to the main complex.
But now?
It had been moved.
As I pondered the change, we finally arrived.
“This is it.”
Soi gestured toward a large building complex.
“This will be where you’ll be staying from now on.”
It was huge.
Large enough that someone unfamiliar might even mistake it for a minor noble clan’s estate.
And on its massive wooden gates—
The Azure Dragon Squad emblem was engraved.
“Most of our members are currently out on missions, so there aren’t many people here at the moment. But for now, let’s go inside.”
Soi stepped in first.
The rest followed nervously behind.
“Wow... I still can’t believe it... I actually got into Azure Dragon Squad.”
Do Yun, of course, didn’t shut up.
“Father... your son has made it.”
I sighed.
“Baek, don’t you think so too?”
“...What?”
By this point, he had already dropped the formalities.
After we became squadmates, Do Yun had insisted on speaking casually, and I hadn’t bothered to refuse.
“What do you mean, ‘what’? We just officially joined the Martial Alliance! Our clans will be so proud! How can you be so indifferent?”
“......”
Was it really that big of a deal?
Not just Do Yun—the other recruits also looked deeply moved.
“I guess the Martial Alliance really is prestigious at this time.”
For these people, just entering the Alliance was considered a monumental achievement—something that could change their entire lives and reputations.
Of course, for me, it meant nothing.
This wasn’t my world.
And even if it were, I would never admire the Martial Alliance.
I despised it.
That was why I simply stood there, indifferent.
And naturally, Do Yun noticed.
“Well, I suppose simply entering the Martial Alliance wouldn’t be enough to impress you.”
“...Hmm?”
“I mean, you rejected Paejon’s offer to be his disciple.”
“......”
“If that’s the case, you must be aiming for something far greater.”
Why did he look more proud than I did?
Then, as if struck by inspiration, Do Yun leaned in slightly.
“...Just curious, but—”
“What?”
“Are you one of those people with a tragic past? Like, were you fueled by revenge or some hidden family secret?”
“......?”
Where the hell did that come from?
“I mean, I heard you defeated the examiner in combat. That level of skill—and yet no one knew who you were? It’s odd, don’t you think?”
“...Hmm.”
Well, I did make a scene when I took down Beomdong.
The rumors probably spread far and wide.
“Nothing like that. I just trained alone and came out a little late.”
“Damn... so you’re just a natural-born genius?”
He suddenly gasped, eyes wide.
“Wait... does that mean—”
He moved in even closer. His voice lowered.
And then, he glanced toward Soi.
“...Are you strong enough to rival the Six Dragons and Five Phoenixes?”
The Six Dragons and Five Phoenixes.
I turned my gaze toward Soi.
So that title was already in use?
I remembered that during this era, the Rising Star Generation hadn’t even emerged yet.
“Not sure. I don’t really care.”
“You don’t even care about the Six Dragons and Five Phoenixes?”
“......”
Of course not.
I had long surpassed the realm of young prodigies.
Soi’s current strength...
Somewhere between peak-level and advanced peak-level mastery.
Considering she hadn’t yet reached her thirties, that was very impressive.
However—
“She still falls short of the real monsters.”
The true geniuses of our generation.
Compared to people like Namgung Bi-ah or Wi Seol-ah, she was still a step behind.
Even the ones I only saw briefly—
The leader of the Moyong Clan, the Sword King...
Their skills were exceptional for their era, but—
Compared to the true monsters I knew?
Like that bastard Woo Hyuk, or that damn monk?
They were still lacking.
I was lost in thought, staring at Soi when—
“Oh, look at you.”
“...Huh?”
“You’re staring again. You like her, don’t you? Not surprising—Sword Peak is beautiful.”
“...No, that’s not it.”
“But I’m afraid you’re out of luck. Haven’t you heard the rumors? Sword Peak has already given her heart to the Divine Dragon.”
“...What?”
My expression immediately darkened.
CRACK!
“AHHHH!!”
A sword energy slash struck the ground right in front of Do Yun’s feet.
He jumped back in terror, looking up to see Soi glaring at him, coldly.
“You talk too much. This is neither the time nor the place.”
“...S-Sorry.”
She heard everything.
Of course she did.
At her level, no matter how quietly we spoke, she would still pick up every word.
Soi sighed, shaking her head, before turning back toward the residence.
I cautiously followed her inside.
And finally—
The Azure Dragon Squad’s base came into full view.
“Whoa...”
“Wow...”
The new recruits murmured in awe.
A spacious training hall.
Neatly arranged living quarters.
This... was our new home.
The weapon storage was neatly organized, and the sheer amount of resources invested into this place was impressive.
"This is nice."
Without realizing it, I nodded in approval.
The others also seemed pleased with the facilities.
And then—
“Well then.”
Soi turned to face us, smiling softly.
She looked amused by our reactions.
Until—
"Everyone, get down."
The smile vanished.
“...Huh?”
“...What?”
“Senior...?”
Everyone's eyes widened.
Had we heard her wrong?
“Did your ears stop working?”
Soi’s expression turned cold.
"I said, get down."
Fwoosh—!
A sudden surge of aura.
The pleasant scent of flowers was quickly overtaken by an icy chill.
The sharp, oppressive force was enough to make everyone instinctively drop to the ground.
I followed suit.
Once we were all prostrated, Soi slowly walked around us, her voice laced with scorn.
“You think passing the test makes you some kind of big shot? The way you’re holding your heads up so high, do you think you’re here on vacation?”
The gentle and elegant woman from earlier was nowhere to be found.
Instead, a fierce, battle-hardened warrior stood in her place.
"Are you not going to answer?"
“N-No, ma’am!”
“We’re sorry, ma’am!”
Discipline snapped into place in an instant.
Even as I lay face down, I couldn't help but feel impressed.
"Wow..."
I had never known this side of Soi.
To my knowledge, she had always been known as graceful and kind.
But apparently—
She knew how to break in recruits.
“Entering the Alliance and this is what I get? This is a disgrace.”
Her voice was cold as she continued.
“Listen carefully. Until your seniors return, you will remain in this position. And—”
BAM!
“ARGH—!!”
One of the recruits crashed into the ground after being kicked by Soi.
"Guh...!"
He coughed violently, gasping for air.
“If anyone tries to use their internal energy, I will personally beat them within an inch of their life. Understood?”
Apparently, someone had attempted to cheat and was immediately punished for it.
“Y-Yes, ma’am!!”
Everyone shouted in unison.
“Wh-What is this...?”
Do Yun muttered in disbelief.
Meanwhile, I swallowed hard and thought—
"Ah... this isn't going to be easy."
Something told me this was only the beginning.
**********
Hours Later
“Ugh... guh...”
“...Ahh... my arms...”
Groans and strained breathing filled the air.
The once-bright daylight had faded, replaced by the colors of the setting sun.
And yet, as Soi had commanded, we remained prostrated in the same position.
With no use of internal energy allowed, everyone was drenched in sweat, their expressions twisted in agony.
“Straighten your posture.”
“I-I’m sorry... ma’am...”
Even now, Soi continued to walk among us, correcting postures with ruthless precision.
The recruits were a complete mess at this point.
“Huuh... huuuh... I-I think I might actually die...”
Even Do Yun was visibly trembling, his arms shaking like leaves in the wind.
“Baek... aren’t you struggling...?”
“...Yeah.”
Of course, I wasn’t.
If this was enough to make me struggle, all of my past training and hardships would have been a waste.
“You don’t look like you’re struggling...”
Do Yun’s skeptical gaze landed on my completely dry and relaxed posture.
“...Ugh... I think I might actually collapse...”
“Just hold on a little longer.”
“I don’t think I can...”
“Seriously. Just a little more.”
“What...?”
“They’re coming.”
Do Yun looked at me in confusion.
Who’s coming?
And then—
Soi suddenly straightened her posture and called out.
“Everyone, on your feet.”
The recruits scrambled to stand.
“Gah...!”
“Hngh... my arms...”
“F-Finally...”
They all gasped for air, relieved that the torment had ended.
But.
“Silence.”
At Soi’s single word, everyone froze.
Their discipline had already been hammered in.
“Fix your posture. The seniors are arriving.”
“...!”
At her warning, the recruits immediately stiffened.
She was right.
They were coming.
Far in the distance, a powerful presence was approaching.
I shifted my gaze slightly—
BOOM—!
The gates swung open.
The first thing I saw was a man leading the group.
Who is that?
I wasn’t sure.
But—
He was strong.
"A Hwagyeong-level master."
At the very least, his cultivation level had reached Hwagyeong.
"So, this must be the Squad Leader."
The leader of Azure Dragon Squad—that was most likely him.
But I wasn’t interested.
I turned my gaze to the person walking behind him.
The moment I did—
My full attention was drawn in.
“...Father.”
Divine Dragon Gu Cheolwoon.
My father was following closely behind the squad leader.
His gaze locked onto mine.
