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Childhood Friend of the Zenith (Web Novel) - Chapter CH.1099: The World of Ascension (29)
Chapter CH.1099: The World of Ascension (29)
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When it came to the duties of the Sword Division, their primary focus was, of course, hunting down beasts.
That was only natural. The very reason the Sword Division had been established was to fight against beasts—to train in techniques and strategies specifically meant for countering them.
Because of this, various sects, martial families, and even trading companies had formed their own Sword Divisions.
In an era when beasts were rebelling—
An era that wore the guise of peace but was, in reality, filled with lurking dangers—the Sword Division held considerable influence.
And the same applied to the Martial Alliance.
The Sword Division of the Martial Alliance had established itself as a significant force within Zhongyuan.
Perhaps that was why—
‘I did receive missions that had nothing to do with hunting beasts from time to time.’
It had been a while since the Sword Division’s duties expanded beyond just dealing with beasts.
They were no longer just a force created to fight against them; they had essentially become enforcers handling the affairs of the entire Martial Alliance.
They had practically merged with the warriors of the Alliance itself.
So it wasn’t unusual for the Martial Alliance to assign them various missions.
But—
“Division Leader... what exactly is going on here?”
Neither Soi nor I could quite make sense of the current situation.
“A mission, you say?”
“That’s right. It’s a mission.”
“No, but...”
As Soi questioned him with a frown, the Blue Flame Sword Master picked his nose absentmindedly before responding.
“What? It’s not like receiving a mission is anything out of the ordinary.”
“That is true. However, the personnel involved don’t match protocol.”
“What do you mean?”
When the Blue Flame Sword Master asked again, Soi bit her lip before answering.
“Including recruits who haven’t even been in the Alliance for a month in a mission—doesn’t that go against the Martial Alliance’s regulations?”
As she spoke, she gestured to her side.
Where she pointed, both Do Yun and I were standing.
Just as she said, we were newcomers who hadn’t even been here for a full month. Not even a full week had passed since our enlistment.
“You’re not wrong.”
The Blue Flame Sword Master nodded in agreement.
Seeing that, Soi’s expression brightened slightly.
“Then—”
“But.”
The Blue Flame Sword Master cut her off and spoke.
“If it’s an order from the Sword Master himself, wouldn’t that be a little different from standard protocol?”
“......!”
At those words, Soi’s eyes widened.
“...You’re saying this is a direct order from the Martial Alliance Leader ?”
“That’s right.”
“But why...”
The fact that the Martial Alliance Leader had issued an order that violated protocol—
That seemed to shock Soi quite a bit.
‘What the hell? What’s going on here?’
I felt the same way.
Being suddenly assigned a mission was strange enough.
But the fact that the Sword Master himself had gone out of his way to break protocol for it—that was even stranger.
Just as I was wondering what was going on—
“You’re right. It is true that recruits who have been here for less than a month shouldn’t be assigned missions.”
The Blue Flame Sword Master lowered the hand he had been using to pick his nose and grabbed a scroll.
“But.”
Then, he handed the scroll to Soi.
For a moment, she looked reluctant, but she obediently took it.
“That only applies to regular recruits.”
The Blue Flame Sword Master smiled as he {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} looked at us.
“You two aren’t regular recruits, are you?”
“......”
“......”
At those words, both Do Yun and I instinctively stiffened slightly.
Though, to be precise—Do Yun tensed up even more than I did.
‘This guy.’
It seemed like the Blue Flame Sword Master had already realized that Do Yun was hiding his strength.
Well, considering his level, it was only natural that he would notice.
‘He’s exceptionally strong—even among Sword Masters.’
This was my first time seeing the Blue Flame Sword Master, but my initial impression of him was quiet admiration.
I had met many Sword Masters before, and they had all reached the Hwagyeong level of martial mastery.
But this guy—
‘He’s even stronger than them.’
The Blue Flame Sword Master stood out, even among the elite Sword Division leaders.
I wasn’t sure if all leaders in this era were this powerful or if he was just exceptional.
Either way, it made sense that someone like him would see through Do Yun’s façade.
“Right?”
The Blue Flame Sword Master asked, as if seeking confirmation.
But Do Yun remained silent.
And I simply scratched my cheek, saying nothing.
Given the situation, I was beginning to understand.
‘So that’s what this is about.’
I had been wondering why they were grouping me and Do Yun together for this mission.
‘...Are they trying to keep an eye on us?’
Was this their way of observing how we acted?
That thought crossed my mind.
“Anyway.”
“The mission will begin in two days. Make sure you’re prepared.”
“......Division Leader.”
“I won’t accept any further objections. As I already told you—”
“This is an order directly from the Martial Alliance Leader.”
“......”
Soi finally fell silent at those words.
Because, if nothing else, it was a command issued by the Sword Master himself.
And in the entire Martial Alliance—
There was no one who could defy his orders.
**********
After the conversation ended, we stepped outside. Though the sky remained bright, none of our expressions looked particularly pleasant.
“Haaah.”
Soi’s expression, in particular, was a sight to behold.
Her frustration and irritation were palpable.
Should I say something to her? I was contemplating it when—
“...See you in two days.”
Without saying anything else, she resigned herself to the situation and turned to leave.
Her steps were slightly hurried, her back radiating a clear message: Don’t talk to me.
So I simply watched her go.
“Hmmm.”
Now what?
As I stood there pondering, I turned to Do Yun and spoke.
“Let’s head to our rooms first.”
“Huh? Oh... sure.”
My casual remark seemed to catch Do Yun off guard.
He looked genuinely surprised that I had spoken to him.
The reason I suggested going to our rooms was simple.
Now that our official enlistment was complete, the Azure Dragon Division had assigned us living quarters.
“Where’s your room?”
“Left-side building.”
“Same as mine.”
There were two buildings, and it seemed Do Yun had been assigned to the same one as me.
And as if that wasn’t enough—
“...We’re even in the same room?”
We had been placed in the same dormitory room.
Judging from the noise inside, the other recruits had already moved in their belongings.
Training was over for the day, and since we had been instructed to spend the rest of the day in personal training, some were taking the chance to rest.
So, Do Yun and I quietly began unpacking.
Honestly, there wasn’t much to unpack.
‘At most, just some clothes.’
I barely had any belongings. I simply took out the clothes I had been wearing and left it at that.
I was debating whether to just lie down on the bed when—
“Hey.”
“Hmm?”
Do Yun, who had been unpacking, called out to me.
“...How did you know?”
“Know what?”
“That I was hiding my strength.”
“Oh.”
So he decided to bring it up himself.
Ssshhh—!
The moment he spoke, something settled over the room.
A Qi Barrier .
It was Do Yun’s doing. He had casually put up a Qi Barrier, sealing off our conversation from eavesdroppers.
‘So he’s done hiding now?’
That level of Qi Barrier was far beyond what a first-rate martial artist could produce.
He wasn’t even trying to conceal his abilities anymore.
I responded indifferently.
“How did I know? I just saw it.”
“...You saw it?”
“If you’re going to hide it, hide it properly. The Sword Master already knows, you know?”
“......”
“Looking at this whole situation, it’s clear it was all intentional.”
Assigning us to the same mission.
Placing us in the same room.
All of it was planned.
“So, whatever it is you’re trying to do, either hide it properly or do it properly.”
“...Aren’t you going to ask what I’m trying to do?”
“Why would I?”
I frowned.
He seriously expected me to ask?
Why the hell would I do that?
“It’s obviously annoying. I don’t want to get involved. And besides, it’s not hard to guess.”
There was no way his reason for infiltrating the Alliance was the same as mine.
So what was it?
“Revenge? Or infiltration? Doesn’t feel like infiltration, though.”
“And why is that?”
“If it were infiltration, you would’ve tried something with me.”
Now that he knew someone had noticed him, he would’ve acted.
But Do Yun hadn’t made a move.
And besides—
“If you had tried anything, I would’ve already killed you.”
“......!”
My cold remark made Do Yun freeze.
It was a warning.
If he was thinking about trying something, he’d better not.
“Baek Comrade... just who are you...?”
He stiffly asked, his voice laced with caution.
I scoffed.
“I’m not joking, but don’t get too tense. As long as you don’t mess with me, I won’t do anything.”
“...What if I were a remnant of the Unorthodox Faction ? Would you still leave me alone?”
“If that were the case, the Sword Master or the Martial Alliance Leader would deal with you. Like I said, as long as you don’t cause me trouble, I don’t care.”
“...Are you not part of the Orthodox Faction?”
“That’s a harsh thing to say.”
I let out a dry chuckle.
“I mean, officially, I am. If I see Unorthodox bastards, I kill them.”
“......”
“Are you Unorthodox?”
“No.”
“Then we’re good.”
Thud.
I flopped onto my bed.
I had no interest in whatever reason brought Do Yun here.
‘Though I’ve already gotten tangled up in this mess.’
It couldn’t be helped.
I had already drawn attention.
As long as I didn’t get involved beyond this, it would be fine.
‘Besides, I don’t even know his name.’
A hidden master disguising himself as a mere recruit.
Unlike me, who had been whispered about as the Baek Clan’s secret weapon, Do Yun might actually be a Daoist secret weapon.
And yet—
‘What even is Taoism?’
I had never heard of a Daoist martial family in Shanxi.
And I certainly had no knowledge of any masters born from such a sect.
Which meant—
‘Whatever he tried to do, he failed.’
Either history had erased him, or he had remained unknown.
‘So there’s no reason for me to get involved.’
As I lay there thinking—
“You’re right.”
Do Yun finally spoke.
“My goal is revenge. That’s why I joined the Martial Alliance.”
Seemed like he had something he wanted to say, even though I hadn’t asked.
‘As expected.’
So it was revenge.
I wasn’t surprised.
This was a world filled with people seeking vengeance.
‘Now I really need to avoid getting involved.’
I was about to cut him off, telling him not to speak any further—
“Enough of that—”
“Shanxi’s Gu Clan. Gu Cheolwoon. I came here to take revenge on him.”
“...What?”
Hearing his words, I bolted upright.
What kind of insane bullshit was this?
My mind instantly snapped into focus.
