Childhood Friend of the Zenith

Whirrrrr---!!!

A spinning sound emanated from a body, specifically not mine, but my father's.

The noise of the ring spinning rapidly. As it spun, a counterforce seemed to react within me.

Sparks erupted from that friction, wrapping around the body.

Whooosh—!!!

A bright, searing red flame engulfed my father's entire body. I swallowed dryly at the sight.

It was different. The flames I had seen before were of a completely different quality.

“This is absurd.”

It seemed he too had been hiding his strength. Now, my father was showing me a completely different kind of flame.

The once dim training ground ceased to exist. It was as if a small sun were in front of me, the light fiercely rebounding.

“...Are you suggesting we fight again?”

I asked, unable to hide my confusion. Fight again? Had we not just exchanged blows?

I frowned, wondering if that was really necessary.

“It's not ‘again.’”

Father spoke in his uniquely heavy and calm tone.

“That time, both you and I had a purpose.”

“...”

I furrowed a brow upon hearing that. It did sound odd.

'Purpose.'

Father’s purpose back then was to prevent Namgung Hyeong's escape. That was why he fought. It should have been the same in our fight.

But.

'To mention a purpose here means...'

The implication of not showing his true intentions, if he really had to stop Namgung Hyeong, meant he should have revealed his sincerity.

Of course, even though the opponent was me, it shouldn’t have been any different.

Surely that was the case, yet to mention having a purpose here without showing his true strength meant.

'Could it be.'

I widened my eyes and questioned my father.

“...Commander, could it be... did you actually help Namgung Gongja escape?”

If father’s purpose was not to capture Namgung Hyeong but something else?