Childhood Friend of the Zenith

A flicker beyond my sight. My senses gradually returned.

For a moment, only light filled my vision, obscuring everything else. But as my sight adjusted, the world before me became clear.

"…Here again?"

I was standing in the same pure white world.

A place I had visited so many times that I had grown sick of it—my inner world.

Suppressing a sigh, I scanned my surroundings.

‘No one?’

Was anyone here? Every time I ended up in this place, something happened. Surely, I'd see something again.

And then—

Tap.

"…!"

A scent reached me. My head snapped around at the familiar smell.

Burnt flesh. A stifling, acrid stench.

And then, a voice.

"What is it you seek?"

"…."

Someone was sitting there.

Cross-legged on the ground, staring straight at me.

I narrowed my eyes as I took him in.

Fiery red hair, eyes of the same burning hue.

Blood-red irises sharp enough to be mistaken for those of the Blood Demon, but he was not him.

‘Hot.’

Just looking at him made me feel hot. I knew exactly who he was.

"Should I say… it’s been a while?"

"As you wish."

He was my ancestor—the being I was said to be descended from.

And the one who had sent me here.

He watched me with an unreadable expression, clearly unimpressed. I tilted my head slightly as I observed him.

"You look… different."

His appearance had changed. The last time I saw him, he either looked exactly like me or had taken the form of pure flame.

But now, it was different.

He still resembled me somewhat, but something was off.

"That is of little importance."

My ancestor dismissed the notion with an impassive look.

And honestly, I didn’t care about his appearance either.

What mattered was—

"You came to explain, didn’t you?"

An explanation.

That was what I needed.

"What is this place?"

Why was I trapped in this world? It was finally time to get some answers.

My ancestor met my gaze with piercing eyes.

"You already know, don’t you?"

"I'm not asking about something so simple."

A world from my father's younger days.

That wasn’t important.

"You already said this world is fake. I get that. What I need to know is what I’m supposed to do here. What do you want from me?"

"…."

He was silent for a moment.

A brief silence.

"Do as you’ve been doing. You’re doing well."

"…And what exactly does that mean?"

"What you were just doing."

"So you’re telling me to just run around causing trouble? No matter what happens to this world?"

My irritation seeped into my words, and at that, my ancestor let out a booming laugh.

"Hahahahaha—!"

"What the hell? What’s so funny?"

Annoying.

I scowled, but he merely smirked as he stopped laughing.

"I told you before, didn’t I?"

His voice was deep, carrying that same burnt scent, as if fire itself had spoken.