The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 104

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Heavenly Supreme Has Died – Episode 104
[Hmm….]
Yoo Cheon-gil, who heard my words, lifted the corners of his mouth.
His rigid expression softened, returning to his usual appearance.
Yet I still had to maintain my stern face.
[Reputation, you say?]
He asked.
As if he didn’t understand what I was saying. Hearing that, I let out a hollow laugh.
“The incident at Dokujon’s Dungeon. You know everything about it.”
That we had headed toward Dokujon’s Dungeon.
Along with the accidents we experienced there. Could Yoo Cheon-gil not have known the process? No, I didn’t think so.
“You knew everything, yet you didn’t tell me.”
He had known.
That they would come to the Dungeon.
He knew, yet he didn’t tell me.
“Isn’t that right?”
[…Hmm.]
Yoo Cheon-gil’s eyes narrowed further.
An attitude that revealed neither denial nor affirmation. I found that expression truly irritating.
Just as I was about to contort my face and add more words to Yoo Cheon-gil.
[Why do you think so?]
Yoo Cheon-gil asked me a question.
Why did I think that way?
Well.
“It was in the attitude you showed when you stopped me.”
At every moment when a situation was about to unfold, there was Yoo Cheon-gil, restraining my actions with words.
Such a thing could not happen without knowledge.
Yoo Cheon-gil had known the incident would occur.
Then, knowing it, he still stopped me. That’s what it meant.
Why did he do that?
I didn’t focus on the fact that Yoo Cheon-gil had taken such action.
What mattered was always the reason.
‘So why did Yoo Cheon-gil do that?’
The reason he took such action despite knowing the reason.
I wanted to grasp that. And regarding it, I could realize it not long after.
Because there was already a reason in what Yoo Cheon-gil had told me in the past.
‘He.’
Had told me to become the Heavenly Supreme.
Then, did becoming the Heavenly Supreme simply mean he wished for me to grow stronger?
‘No.’
That couldn’t be it.
If he’d wanted something so simple, none of what had transpired so far would have made sense.
‘If that were the case, he would have just put me through training.’
Why orchestrate all this trouble?
Yoo Cheon-gil clearly had something he wanted to accomplish through me.
This situation must be connected to that purpose.
If that’s true.
‘Among the possible connections, which one comes closest to the truth?’
He deliberately let me know about the enemy’s weakness and did nothing.
He remained silent even as the battle unfolded.
Only at the final moment did he possess me to face the enemy.
Was there any real need for all this?
‘No.’
If I had somehow warned Dokuou in any way.
Or if I’d known beforehand, I could have at least minimized the damage, even if I couldn’t prevent it entirely.
Yoo Cheon-gil didn’t tell me.
Why?
I considered several possibilities regarding his reasons, but ultimately arrived at a single conclusion.
“You were trying to give me a reputation, weren’t you?”
[….]
Reputation.
Or rather, a name worth its weight.
That must have been Yoo Cheon-gil’s intention.
‘I need to become the renowned master of Cheonwol Gate.’
Before becoming the Heavenly Supreme, this was what Yoo Cheon-gil demanded of me.
To become the renowned master of Cheonwol Gate.
It was my immediate objective, if nothing else, but what truly mattered was.
‘I didn’t have enough to become that master.’
I lacked far too much to claim such a position.
The opening of Wol-an’s eyes?
The successor to the Sword Saint?
The qualifications existed, but they alone weren’t sufficient.
The most critical factor was.
‘My insufficient presence.’
A meager presence and reputation, too weak to be called the Sword Saint’s successor.
Compared to the other candidates for renowned master, I had appeared late, and I possessed the shallowest reputation of them all.
Defeating Socheongeom?
That was merely a late-stage achievement, not even reaching the seventh rank.
It was comparable to the seventh rank at best, but meaningless unless I surpassed it entirely.
Beyond that.
‘Known as the successor of the Sword Saint.’
I’m aware that rumors are gradually spreading thanks to Yoo Cheon-gil’s reputation.
Yet even so, progress remains slow.
Even if word spread completely, it would be meaningless without demonstrating actual strength.
Which is why.
‘So, is that why he’s doing this?’
Could Yoo Cheon-gil’s actions be attributed to that very reason?
‘To gain renown more quickly.’
Palduyeok, was it? At first glance, he was clearly no ordinary master.
If he captured such a formidable opponent and word spread, his rise to fame would accelerate dramatically.
If he truly orchestrated this with that intention in mind.
“…You. What exactly are you?”
I had to reconsider the nature of Yoo Cheon-gil’s existence.
“What is your true purpose?”
I could understand orchestrating such an affair for the sake of renown.
Though I don’t understand it, I could attempt to.
But.
“Those men were connected to your death.”
Pacheongung had directly mentioned Yoo Cheon-gil’s death.
He must have heard it clearly.
“Why are you just sitting there?”
Why was Yoo Cheon-gil reacting like that?
As though he didn’t care at all—his demeanor was serene and unguarded.
It seemed the only thing he cared about was me.
How could he be like that?
“You clearly asked me to uncover the truth about your death.”
The truth regarding his own demise.
Yet his request to investigate it seemed hollow.
“So why do you show no interest?”
Yoo Cheon-gil appeared almost completely indifferent to the matter.
Even now.
His gaze was like that of someone listening to another’s tale.
His attention fixed solely on me, interested only in my words.
I found that deeply displeasing.
“What is your true purpose? You never cared about your own death in the first place, did you?”
He held no interest in his own demise.
Recalling this, I posed the question.
[Tsk tsk tsk.]
Yoo Cheon-gil suddenly let out a laugh.
Seeing that, my eyes narrowed involuntarily.
[Ah, child.]
A laugh escaped, yet only the corners of my mouth rose—my eyes remained cold and lifeless.
It was unsettling.
A thought that often surfaced when I looked at him.
[For a martial artist, death is something that always exists nearby.]
A chilling scent.
The fragrance of death.
Unlike what I felt as a ghost already dead.
It was a sensation I naturally felt whenever I looked at Yoo Cheon-gil.
He had always walked close to death.
Just like me.
[The weak perish. My death is no different. If I died, it was because I was weak.]
“…Ha….”
I died because I was weak.
A hollow laugh escaped at that simple, unambiguous conviction.
“So then, you were never interested in the first place?”
[Why would I have no interest?]
Yoo Cheon-gil clicked his tongue briefly and continued.
[It is merely that its importance has been pushed back slightly.]
“….”
Something more important than the truth of my own death.
“What on earth could that be?”
What could possibly make him act this way?
I asked, grinding my teeth in frustration.
[Ah, child.]
Yoo Cheon-gil spoke, looking at me.
[Have I not told you before? You must become the moon.]
“…The moon?”
[Yes, the moon. As my sword, you must bloom the moon.]
It was incomprehensible.
The Cheonwol Sword Dance, crafted from the moon of the night sky.
Was he telling me to master it and grow stronger?
I could not understand.
Then.
[It matters not if you do not understand.]
As if he already knew my heart, Yoo Cheon-gil continued speaking.
[You already know, do you not?]
Yoo Cheon-gil’s gaze burned—hot enough to ignite.
[I have something I must accomplish using you. And you, under the pretext that I hold your life in my hands, seek to gain something. I know this.]
“….”
Words that pierce deep into one’s weakness.
It was a truth we both recognized, even without speaking of it.
[Listen, you gain what you can through me. I shall do the same.]
“…Will such things happen again in the process?”
Like in Dokujon’s Dungeon, situations where I find myself in direct danger, contrary to my own will.
He was asking if such circumstances would occur again.
[Haha.]
Yoo Cheon-gil laughed with genuine sincerity. It was a true laugh, different from before.
[Were you afraid?]
His voice carried a savage edge.
Just as I was about to respond.
[You already knew all of this yourself.]
“….”
[How amusing, pretending to realize it only now.]
I had to close my mouth at Yoo Cheon-gil’s words.
Because he was right.
I had already been aware of this matter.
Even if I hadn’t known that such a formidable enemy would assault us from Dokujon’s Dungeon.
I knew that Yoo Cheon-gil was scheming something in Dokujon’s Dungeon.
‘When he made his move against Dokuou.’
I knew something greater would unfold.
Yet I deliberately chose not to delve deeper.
Why?
Let me be honest about this.
‘It would be of some benefit to me.’
Whatever his actions led to, they had always served my interests.
The matter of the Great Restoration Pill was just one example, and there were countless others besides.
This time was no different.
‘If he was scheming something.’
I believed it would benefit me.
So I had largely chosen to observe quietly for a time.
In other words.
‘I’m no different from him.’
No different from Yoo Cheon-gil. I understood that well.
So rather than asking why he had orchestrated such an affair….
‘I asked what his purpose was.’
Yoo Cheon-gil, who showed no concern for his own death.
That was what seemed strange to me, so I asked.
[Listen.]
Yoo Cheon-gil calls out to me.
[Don’t waste your strength on trivial matters. You’ll get what you want, and so will I. That’s all there is to it.]
“…So, don’t bother asking further. Understood?”
[Tsk tsk tsk…. No, that’s not it.]
Yoo Cheon-gil drew closer, stepping right up to my face.
[It means not yet.]
I’ll tell you someday, so keep your mouth shut for now.
That’s what he meant.
“So you’re saying I should accept it since you’ve given me what I wanted?”
[A sharp mind, I see. It’s convenient when you understand so quickly.]
Pat, pat! Yoo Cheon-gil’s massive hand tapped my shoulder twice.
Since he was a ghost, he didn’t actually touch me. He was merely going through the motions.
[Even if you want to know, hold back. In any case.]
“….”
[You’ll find out soon enough.]
After saying that, Yoo Cheon-gil walked past me.
I simply stood there in silence, saying nothing.
Then.
[Ah.]
Yoo Cheon-gil paused briefly and spoke to me.
[Congratulations. For a first attempt, it wasn’t half bad.]
“…?”
I looked toward Yoo Cheon-gil with a puzzled expression at his sudden congratulations.
But by then, Yoo Cheon-gil had already vanished from sight long ago.
“Bang Disciple?”
All that remained was Dang Yeeran, who watched me with concern.
“…Are you alright?”
“…Yes.”
I had to compose my expression carefully as I answered her question.
Of course.
“I’m fine.”
Even with the effort to compose myself, I couldn’t quite manage a natural expression.
“Let’s go. The walk seems…to have ended anyway.”
I spoke to Dang Yeeran while concealing my unease.
She nodded while regarding me with concern.
‘What was he congratulating me for?’
What exactly was Yoo Cheon-gil congratulating me about?
I pondered this as we walked.
But the meaning of those words became clear before even a day had passed.

* * *
As the sun dipped below the horizon and evening descended.
“…What?”
I paused mid-bite and spoke to Cheon Euijin.
“What did you say about me?”
When I asked with a bewildered expression, Cheon Euijin seemed delighted as he told me.
“The Lesser Sword Saint. That is what people are calling Bang Disciple now.”
“…”
It was still early in the night.
Suddenly, I had acquired an epithet.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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