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Childhood Friend of the Zenith (Web Novel) - Chapter 1133: The World of Ascension (63)
Chapter 1133: The World of Ascension (63)
This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl
"Fool."That was what his father had said to him when he was beaten for trying to protect his nanny.
"A tool should be used as a tool. Even if you are only half-blooded, you still carry the Namgung name. How could you act so disgracefully?"
She had been kind to him. Whenever he skipped meals, she would worry and prepare food for him, regardless of the time.
On cold winter days, she would ask if he was freezing and bring him warm clothes and blankets.
If he so much as showed signs of illness, she would place her hand on his forehead with concern.
Even if he had never spoken the words aloud, he had considered her a mother.
Whenever she was punished for failing to serve her master properly, he had stepped in to take the blows in her place.
Each time, she had simply smiled and stopped him.
"It’s fine."
"As long as you’re not hurt, young master, it’s fine."
He didn’t care about the insults he endured while protecting her.
"As long as you’re here, that’s enough."
He didn’t care about the mother who abandoned him or the family that treated him like a fool.
As long as she was there, he could endure.
That was how his days went on.
Until one day.
"...Nanny?"
Namgung Hyung called to the woman in his arms.
No response.
"Nanny, answer me. Please, say something..."
She was growing cold. The warmth that had still lingered was fading, leaving only an unbearable chill.
"Ah... Ahhh..."
All he could do was let out a quiet, broken wail.
His body trembled as the last words of his nanny echoed in his ears.
"Young master... You must eat well..."
Her lips had trembled as she spoke those words, but in the end, she lost all signs of life.
"AAAAAHHHH—!!!!"
A scream tore from his throat. Tears streamed down his face, but he didn’t bother to wipe them away.
And then, someone spoke to him.
"I told you, didn’t I?"
Before him stood the man he called father and the one he called brother.
"A tool should be properly maintained. Tsk, tsk."
His father spoke while holding the sword that had killed his nanny.
"If you weren’t such a fool, she wouldn’t have attempted to poison you."
"...That’s impossible."
His eyes, red with rage, locked onto his father.
His father had killed his nanny. The reason? He claimed she had attempted to poison him.
There had been poison in his food. The very food he ate every day.
Using that as justification, his nanny was executed.
But—
"And I’m supposed to believe that...?"
She wasn’t that kind of person. If anyone knew that best, it was him.
In this rotten, wretched place, she was the only one who had ever protected him.
And yet, he was supposed to believe that she had tried to kill him?
"Even if she did..."
If that were true, it would have been a better way to die.
"Then why—!!!"
His screams shredded his throat. His body shook uncontrollably.
"Why... Why did this happen...?"
"My son. I dealt with the one who tried to kill you. Why are you acting like this?"
"Don’t make me laugh. She would never do that."
"Hmm."
At his words, Namgung Jeohwi shook his head slightly.
His father’s gaze was filled with nothing but disappointment.
"I see. That’s possible. But tell me."
Then, a smile spread across his face.
"Even so. What exactly do you think you can do?"
"......"
"Don’t entertain foolish hopes. As long as you bear the Namgung name, your choices are limited."
Namgung Jeohwi turned his back.
The sword in his hand gleamed in the light. The very sword stained with his nanny’s blood.
"Stop thinking unnecessary things. Just stay where you belong. That’s all you’re meant to do."
And with that, Namgung Jeohwi disappeared.
Left alone, Namgung Hyung clutched his nanny’s cold body and swallowed his sobs.
His father was right.
Whether his nanny had really tried to poison him—
Or whether his father had simply wanted her dead—
It didn’t matter.
Because what could he do?
As long as he bore the Namgung name, he was powerless.
That name was both his shackle and his curse.
"Ah... Ahhh..."
Even his cries turned to ragged breaths.
Beyond that, Namgung Hyung gagged, his stomach twisting in despair.
This place was hell.
TAP—! TAP, TAP—!!
He ran through the forest. His expression was grim as he sprinted, pushing his body to its limit.
As fast as he could, as far as he could.
He had to escape this hell.
Just as he was forcing himself to move, squeezing every last bit of strength from his core—
"You fool."
A voice echoed in his ear.
"Control your energy. At this rate, you’ll collapse before you even get anywhere."
"I can handle it myself."
Namgung Hyung snapped, his tone curt.
The voice came from the sword at his waist.
It was the voice of Noe-a (Thunder Fang).
After his nanny’s death—
After being confined to a crumbling, broken-down chamber—
He had discovered a hidden passage.
That passage had led him to the Namgung family’s sealed storage, where he had found this sword.
Later, he learned the truth.
The wretched place where he had been locked away—
It was once the home of Noecheon Ilgeom (The One Thunder Sword), the hero of Namgung, the man who had prevented a bloodbath.
Why that place had been left to rot, he didn’t know.
And as for the voice—
"It’s him."
Noecheon Ilgeom.
The absolute master of Namgung, the hero who had stopped a massacre.
His spirit remained in Noe-a, speaking to him.
"Tsk... What possessed you to do this? You could’ve stayed in Namgung and managed just fine."
"I told you. I’d rather die than stay in that place."
Namgung Hyung scowled and pushed himself to run even faster.
"And besides. Didn’t we already agree to this?"
"...Tsk."
A disinterested reply.
Leaving Namgung behind clearly didn’t sit well with the old man.
Of course it didn’t.
After all, the old man’s goal was the revival of Namgung.
What had he said before?
"Restore Namgung’s lost swordsmanship."
The family’s techniques had degenerated over time. He wanted Hyung to restore them.
Of course, he had no intention of doing that.
"Why the hell would I do that?"
If swordsmanship was so important, his father or brother could do it.
That’s what he had said.
But—
"You must be the one to do it."
Noe-a’s voice could only be heard by him.
That was why, the sword insisted, he had to be the head of Namgung.
"Disgusting."
Namgung Hyung had no intention of becoming Namgung’s leader.
He would rather bite off his own tongue and die.
He would leave this place.
That was the only thought that had kept him going his entire life.
Of course—
"Without this, it would have been impossible."
If not for Noe-a, escaping wouldn’t have even been an option.
His departure had been an agreement between him and the old man.
There was no other choice.
"I had to break free from the curse."
As a direct descendant of Namgung, the restriction was embedded deep within his body.
The Namgung Patriarch.
Or—
"Grandfather."
The previous head of Namgung.
He had to obey their orders.
That was the rule.
Because of that, even death wasn’t something he could choose for himself.
"Running away would’ve been impossible too."
Escaping this wretched place had been unthinkable.
"But thanks to this, I could leave."
The sword at his waist—Noe-a.
It suppressed the restriction.
"Don’t forget our contract, descendant."
"...I know."
The fact that he was the only one who could hear the voice—he used that to his advantage.
He made an offer.
He would restore the Namgung family's swordsmanship and pass it down to them—so long as they helped him escape.
If they refused, he would ignore the fact that he could hear Noe-a’s voice. He wouldn't lift a finger to restore their lost techniques.
Under that threat, Noe-a finally relented.
That was how he was able to suppress the restriction and leave.
That was why he had searched for the sword and ventured into the sealed chamber.
"I’m out."
A smirk crept onto Namgung Hyung’s lips.
He moved under the cover of night.
Finally, he had escaped Namgung.
Unlike his brother, Namgung Jin, he had never been allowed to leave.
But now, he was outside.
Now—
"I can go anywhere."
Anywhere.
He could do anything.
That was the only thought on his mind.
"For now, I need to hide."
Now that he had Noe-a, he had to move carefully and stay out of Namgung’s sight.
That was his only concern.
As he relished his newfound freedom, nothing else mattered.
But then—
"Descendant...!"
Suddenly, Noe-a called out to him urgently.
"What’s wrong—"
"Run."
"What?"
"The old monster is on the move. The one who never even glanced this way before. Now that the balance has broken, he's stepping forward. Disgusting bastards."
"What are you talking about all of a sudden?"
"Your grandfather is coming."
"...!"
At those words, Namgung Hyung’s eyes widened.
The moment his instincts kicked in and he gathered strength in his legs—
KUUUUUURRRRRUUUUNG—!!!
"Too late."
Thunder roared, and the world flashed white.
Crackle—
Sizzle—
A sound like the earth itself melting filled the air.
And then, standing at the heart of the forest—
A man.
Draped in flowing blue robes.
With white hair and piercing blue eyes.
"......"
At the sight, cold sweat ran down Namgung Hyung’s back.
How many times had he seen this man in his life?
Probably only a handful of times.
But even so, he knew exactly who he was.
The very essence of Namgung.
"...For someone so important, you certainly came to see a lowly creature like me."
Forcing a smile, Namgung Hyung spoke.
"Grandfather."
"......"
At those words, Heavenly Lord, the Namgung Patriarch, turned his gaze toward him.
"My grandson."
"......"
"You’ve been quite mischievous. Do you even know what you were trying to take with you?"
How did he get here?
Namgung Hyung didn’t even think about that.
He already knew how incomprehensible this man was.
One of the Three Masters.
A man said to have reached the pinnacle of martial arts.
An existence so overwhelming that calling him abnormal wouldn’t even do him justice.
"Of course I know. It’s just an antique."
"Hahaha. An antique, is it?"
"What else could it be? My father doesn’t use it. You don’t use it. It’s just a piece of trash. I just thought I’d take it off your hands."
"Trash?! You brat—!"
Noe-a flared up in rage, but he ignored it.
The only thing that mattered was his grandfather’s reaction.
The old man’s gaze fell on the sword at Hyung’s waist.
"You heard it."
"...It’s light. Easy to hear."
"You heard Noe-a. And you overcame the restriction."
"Yes."
"I see. Then you will become the next head of Namgung."
"...What?"
The words were spoken so casually.
"Return. I will give you the position of Young Lord."
"......"
GRIT.
Just because he had Noe-a, he was being offered the position of Young Lord.
Just like that.
So nonchalantly.
It was infuriating.
"I refuse. I left because I despise that sickening family and that disgusting position. Why would I ever go back?"
"Hmm..."
At Namgung Hyung’s words, Heavenly Lord narrowed his eyes.
"I see."
"Even if I die, I’m never—"
"Then die."
CRACK—!
Lightning fell.
The moment he spoke, a bolt of thunder descended upon Namgung Hyung’s head.
He couldn’t dodge.
By the time he registered it, it was already too late.
He was going to die.
The moment that thought crossed his mind—
CRACKLE—!!!!!
Noe-a roared.
CRACK—!!!
The sound of shattering lightning thundered in his ears.
His eyes squeezed shut.
But—
There was no pain.
There was only sound.
That was strange.
Carefully, he opened his eyes.
"...What?"
His eyes widened.
The lightning had clearly struck—
But it was frozen in place before him, flashing but unmoving.
His grandfather, too, was staring at him.
No.
Not at him.
At something standing in front of him.
"Who are you?"
Heavenly Lord asked.
In front of Namgung Hyung—
A figure had appeared, blocking the lightning.
The thunderous strike of Heavenly Lord, the Namgung Patriarch.
Yet this person had caught it with a single hand.
And was standing there as if nothing had happened.
FLUTTER—
A towering man, nearly eight feet tall.
Draped in a black robe, his long hair flowing in the wind.
CRUNCH—!
CRACK—!!!
He clenched the lightning in his hand and crushed it.
Sparks exploded in all directions.
And then—
"It’s been a while, old monster."
A deep voice rumbled through the forest.
"You’re asking who I am?"
The man looked at Heavenly Lord and spoke.
"I am—"
And then—
"Cheonma."
FWOOOSH—!!!
Darkness erupted, swallowing the sky.
The moon above vanished.
