Childhood Friend of the Zenith - Chapter 619

Her words made me frown.

"Why is she beautiful?" What kind of nonsensical statement was that?

"You said she wore a mask because of burn scars…!"

Ah.

Hearing Yuri’s words, I finally understood. It seemed Namgung Bi-ah had been wearing a mask.

"At least she followed that part."

Before Namgung Bi-ah left for the North Sea, I had strongly warned her about one thing.

I didn’t know what kind of people she would encounter there, but…

"Your face is a problem, so I told you to hide it as much as possible."

In any world, beauty often attracts unwanted attention. Namgung Bi-ah's face wasn’t just beautiful—it was treasure-level.

I had told her to cover it up as much as possible. Thankfully, it seemed she had listened to that piece of advice.

"Oh."

Namgung Bi-ah tilted her head slightly, as if she understood Yuri's remark, and then casually said,

"That was a lie."

"…What?"

Yuri froze, her face blank at the completely nonchalant confession.

"A lie…?"

"Yes, a lie. Sorry."

Even her apology was delivered in a calm, matter-of-fact tone.

It was an almost comical situation.

"…Let’s just get moving. We can’t stay here."

Watching the two of them any longer wasn’t going to help, so I decided it was time to move.

I reached out and supported Namgung Bi-ah.

"Ah…?"

Before she could react, I lifted her up in my arms.

"…"

"You look like it’s hard to move. Even if you don’t like it, just bear with it—"

"I don’t mind."

"Oh… okay."

Her firm response caught me off guard, leaving me feeling slightly awkward.

"Wait… weren’t you the one who refused to even touch me when I asked for a piggyback ride because it was dirty?"

I ignored Yuri’s incredulous comment from behind and focused on channeling my energy to her.

Whoosh—!

"Ah!"

The energy enveloped Yuri’s body and gently lifted her into the air. Now that my body had recovered, such a feat was possible again.

It was to ensure we could return to the hideout quickly. While confirming the direction, I asked Yuri,

"Before we leave, I need to ask you something."

"Yes?"

"Your brother, the one involved in the rebellion—he called himself Yuseon."

"…What?"

At my question, Yuri’s expression contorted strangely, as though she had just heard something absurd.

Judging by her reaction, was it the eldest?

The likelihood of the Second Gongja leading the rebellion was higher, but this could still make sense.

"Give me any information about—"

"Wait a moment…"

"Hm?"

"Just now, did you say Yuseon?"

"Yes."

I nodded. I had clearly heard him say that name—Yuseon.

When I confirmed, Yuri’s expression became increasingly twisted.

"Are you sure… you didn’t hear wrong?"

"What?"

What was she talking about? Heard wrong?

"If you truly heard that name, then you must have misheard it."

"No, I’m sure of it. He definitely said his name was Yuseon—"

"Yuseon isn’t my brothers’ name."

"Hm?"

Her answer made me frown this time. Not her brothers? What did she mean?

As I stared at her, confused, Yuri spoke.

"That name…"

She paused for a moment before continuing.

"Yuseon is the name of the First Princess of the Ice Palace. My older sister."

The words were completely unexpected.

   ******************
   

Beneath the Ice Palace

The underground chambers of the Ice Palace—an area accessible only to the royal bloodline, specifically the ruler of the North Sea.

Along its dimly lit corridors, Yuseon walked.

Step.

One step.

Step.

Another step.

With every step Yuseon took, subtle changes became apparent.

Her form grew increasingly slender.
The lines of her physique softened, her sharp, cold features transforming into those of a stunningly beautiful woman.

Though she resembled Yuri in some ways, the differences were undeniable.

"Today has been quite the harvest," Yuseon remarked while continuing forward, addressing someone behind her.

Even her voice had changed—a mellifluous, feminine tone now graced her words.

"To think your fixation was not only of the same kin as me but a pureblood. It’s truly remarkable."

As Yuseon spoke with a smile, the person trailing behind her—Woo Hyuk—bit his lip.

"...That person isn’t my fixation," Woo Hyuk said, struggling to deny it.

"Ha."

Yuseon burst out laughing at his words.

"Vioe-gun, you’re unique."

"..."

"And because I know that, I’ll let your lies slide. Are you aware of that?"

The air felt stifling.
Woo Hyuk was momentarily overwhelmed by the sensation.

Yuseon stopped walking.

"Isn’t that right? If that weren’t the case…"

Turning her head, Yuseon looked back at Woo Hyuk, her narrowed eyes curling into a smile that masked her slit-like pupils.

"I wouldn’t have let your lies slide so easily."

"..."

The term "White Fox," referring to Namgung Bi-ah, caused Woo Hyuk to furrow his brow.

Noticing his reaction, Yuseon continued.

"I won’t bother asking why you did it—it’s a trivial question."

Her voice was filled more with amusement than anger.

"After all, I already knew you would act this way."

"…!"

Woo Hyuk’s eyes widened at Yuseon’s statement.

"You… knew?"

The implication rattled him to his core.

"What do you mean? Didn’t you explicitly order me to kill the White Fox?"

"I did. And yet…"

Yet, she had expected things to turn out this way? Woo Hyuk’s gaze wavered.

"This is far more entertaining. I was curious to see whether you would act as I predicted, whether you would truly follow my orders."

Yuseon’s words made Woo Hyuk’s clenched fists tremble.

"Did you honestly think you could act without me noticing?"

Yuseon seemed thoroughly amused by Woo Hyuk’s actions, her smile growing wider.

"There is no one in the North Sea who can evade my eyes."

Here, beneath the Ice Palace, she had overcome the curse and merged with "it," becoming one with her newfound existence.

Having shed her crude mortal body, she had ascended into greatness.

The current North Sea was indistinguishable from Yuseon herself.

Therefore—

"I knew about your attempt to save your master. I knew about your efforts to protect the White Fox."

Whether it was for Gwiseon’s sake or Namgung Bi-ah’s, Yuseon knew everything.

She had merely indulged in observing those events for her amusement.

Hearing this, Woo Hyuk, his voice heavy with exhaustion, asked,

"…What exactly do you want from me?"

What could this woman possibly want to put him through all of this?

"What I want? A lot."

Whatever Woo Hyuk might have thought, Yuseon wanted far more from him.

"You are far more important than you realize."

Precious. So incredibly precious.

For the future Yuseon envisioned, Woo Hyuk was indispensable.

"Not just you… the White Fox as well…"

Another piece had rolled in all on its own.

Not merely another of her kin, but a pureblood had appeared before her.

This was an opportunity.

An opportunity to gather three pieces.
An opportunity to consume the pureblood and elevate her value.

At that moment—

"First Princess…"

Yuseon froze.

Her sharp gaze fixed on Woo Hyuk as he addressed her.

"Vioe-gun. I’ve told you before."

A cold energy that hadn’t been present before filled the air.

Crack!

Frost spread across the walls.

"I asked you not to call me that. I even pleaded with you."

"..."

"I have shown you great mercy."

She had spared the sibling she loved yet wanted to destroy.
She had extended mercy to Gwiseon as well, allowing him to live.

In such circumstances—

"A simple request like this isn’t too much to ask, is it?"

The chilling aura made Woo Hyuk turn his head away, struggling to endure it.

He couldn’t understand.
Why was she so lenient about everything else but so vehement about this?

It made no sense to him.

"…I apologize, Yuseon-nim."

He had no other option.

"Hmph."

Satisfied with his response, Yuseon smiled and resumed walking. She continued until they arrived at a grand entrance.

A massive iron door loomed before them. Yuseon extended her hand toward it.

And then—

Whooom—!!

The door vibrated with a tremendous force.

Creeeeak—!!

The heavy door slowly swung open, as though pushed by an invisible hand. From within, a wave of icy air poured out.

Inside—

It was a vast, snow-white expanse, as if blanketed by endless snowfall.

And it was enormous.

Large enough to encompass the entire Ice Palace aboveground.

Woo Hyuk stared in astonishment at the space.

Then—

"Congratulations," Yuseon said.

"You’re likely the first non-bloodline individual to set foot in here."

"..."

"What do you think?"

Yuseon gestured gracefully toward the center of the space.

Suspended in midair was a massive chunk of ice. Though small compared to the vastness of the space, it was by no means insignificant in size.

What is that?

As the question formed in Woo Hyuk’s mind, Yuseon spoke.

"What do you think of the Ice Essence ?"

"…!"

Woo Hyuk gasped at her words.

The Ice Essence.

The most treasured artifact of the Ice Palace.
A relic that the bloodline regarded as both a treasure and a curse.

Was this truly that Ice Essence?

Its shimmering, cold presence captivated him. It was unlike anything he had ever seen before.

But as he stared, a question rose within him.

"Why are you showing this to me?"

"Hmm."

At his question, Yuseon moved calmly toward the Ice Essence.

"I just wanted to show you. Isn’t it fascinating?"

This small piece of ice, compared to the vast North Sea above—

"Causing snow to fall across the land year-round."

And moreover—

"Sustaining its life by consuming the bloodline itself as collateral."

"What are you saying…!"

"Would you like to know something truly interesting?"

Startled by her shocking words, Woo Hyuk could barely react as Yuseon continued toward the Ice Essence and spoke to him.

"Vioe-gun, what do you think this is?"

She pointed at the Ice Essence as she asked.

"The Ice Essence?"

"That’s right."

An ancient artifact of the Ice Palace.

To Woo Hyuk, that’s all it appeared to be. Her earlier words had hinted at something deeper, but—

Yuseon smirked and said,

"This is an egg."

"…?"

An egg?

"The egg left behind by the Dragon Emperor. It’s nearly ready to hatch."

"What… are you saying?"

"I believe this is fate."

She laughed—a laugh that didn’t stop.

"Pieces gathering at the cusp of its hatching. A pureblood appearing before me."

The laughter bubbled up uncontrollably.

"Even the fact that I was ‘chosen’—all of it must be destiny."

"..."

An unsettling madness emanated from her.
Woo Hyuk could only swallow nervously as he looked at her.

"This feels like everything is pushing me to move forward without hesitation."

Yuseon thought back to the pureblood dragon she had encountered.

A pureblood .

Not a being like herself, who had bloomed the seed left behind by the Dragon Emperor to transcend her race.

But one who had shattered their vessel and risen to the heavens.

A being with inherent value, destined to stand above other dragons.

A being worthy of the title Dragon Emperor.

Such a being wasn’t supposed to exist in this world—so how had one appeared?

["Let go."]

Recalling his words sent a shiver of delight through Yuseon.

The power to dominate, an innate force born of destiny.

Even though he seemed unaware of his authority, those two words alone had forced her to pause.

A dragon who had completed their evolution yet hadn’t fully bloomed.
And more than that—a pureblood capable of becoming a ruler.

She desired him.

She desired him fiercely.

But she hadn’t devoured him. Not yet.

Because devouring him in that state would have been a waste.

"When the time comes," she thought, "I will crush him in his prime and consume him completely."

That way, she would destroy not just his value but also the very qualifications that made him unique.

Then, it would become clear—

Not him, but she was the one destined to become the Dragon Emperor.

And so, she would claim every piece.

Even the creature yet to emerge from the Ice Essence.

"And so…"

She would ascend higher, beyond all limits, and bring the North Sea its long-lost spring.

That was Yuseon’s goal.