The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 147

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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 147
A murmur of voices echoed through the arena.
-The Protagonist and the Heavenly Supreme are dueling…?
-I never thought I’d witness something like this.
-Who do you think will win?
-Well, obviously-….
I closed my eyes carefully against the rising noise.
‘…Good grief.’
I exhaled an inward sigh and steadied my breathing.
Closing my eyes did nothing to silence the crowd. Everyone was too busy watching this moment with rapt fascination.
I opened my eyes slowly.
Countless spectators surrounded me, their interest undiminished.
A torrent of mixed emotions poured forth from all directions.
Yet my focus remained fixed on the figure before me.
Directly ahead. At a distance of roughly ten paces from where I stood.
There stood a woman.
Her eyes held the blue of the heavens themselves as she stood in perfect posture, wooden sword lowered in her right hand, regarding me with an unwavering gaze.
Noble and aloof.
Her striking beauty paired with that cold expression amplified her otherworldly presence immeasurably.
Even the noise of the crowd could not penetrate the space around her.
A woman who seemed to exist in isolation from the world itself.
‘Wol Muhui.’
Wol Muhui Cheonhye-in.
Daughter of Wol Seon-geom and one of the seven geniuses known as the Sevenfold.
She smiled softly as she looked at me.
“It’s good to see you.”
“….”
An unwelcome greeting indeed.
Hearing those words, I found myself wondering.
‘How did things come to this…?’
How had I ended up in such a situation?
To understand this, I would need to trace back to my conversation with Sochul Daeju.

* * *
‘A condition?’
Sochul Daeju had said there was a condition to lend me strength.
Hearing those words, I felt a question arise.
I had prepared a trump card in case of refusal, yet he accepts it?
This was entirely unexpected.
What on earth did this mean?
I furrowed my brow and asked Sochul Daeju.
‘What condition are you referring to?’
At my question, Sochul Daeju’s lips curled upward as he spoke.
‘Today. Shortly, the Sowol Tournament will commence.’
‘The Sowol Tournament?’
The Sowol Tournament? Hearing the name for the first time, my mind churned. What was that? Just from the name alone, it didn’t sound particularly promising.
Just as I was about to sink into contemplation about it.
‘My condition is simple.’
Sochul Daeju spoke to me.
‘Should you achieve even a single victory there, I shall lend you my strength.’
A single victory in the Sowol Tournament?
I didn’t even know what it was, yet this was the condition.
Should I accept?
Or should I refuse?
Hesitation began, but it didn’t take long to produce an answer.
[What are you waiting for?]
The Ghost behind me spoke.
‘I will do it.’
Bolstered by those words, I gave my answer.
I thought it wouldn’t matter what it was.
I had a Demon unmatched in this field, so it should be fine.
That was my judgment.
‘Damn it.’
And this was the result of that judgment.
‘…Was the Sowol Tournament like this?’
Looking at Cheonhye-in standing before me, I furrowed my brow.
It wasn’t just Cheonhye-in. Countless people surrounded the massive Dueling Arena, watching us.
Not just a few. Martial Artists dressed in the typical robes of the Cheongwol Sect, of course.
Those who appeared to be from Sowoldae occupied one section.
Furthermore.
‘Wol Seon-geom and the elders as well.’
In the place of honor sat Moonju Wol Seon-geom and others.
Behind him was Sochul Daeju, with blue-eyed elderly men positioned extensively on both sides.
In other words, it meant that the Moonju of the Cheonwol Sect and most of the elders were in attendance.
Which is to say.
‘This festival must be quite significant.’
The Sowol Tournament I was about to participate in held considerable standing within the Cheonwol Sect.
‘…Damn it.’
The Sowol Tournament.
Before coming here wondering what this even was, I asked Yoo Cheon-gil about it.
[The Sowol Tournament? It’s nothing special.]
Yoo Cheon-gil answered my question with indifference.
[They just send people up one at a time to fight.]
‘Fight?’
[Yeah, fight. It’s held once a year. Only Sowoldae members can participate.]
‘…So.’
In other words.
‘It’s a martial tournament held between Sowoldae members?’
[Exactly.]
‘….’
My head was already pounding.
The Sowol Tournament (小月戰). It was exactly what the name suggested.
Sowoldae martial artists were sent to the arena to compete.
Here, the martial artists of Sowoldae had to demonstrate to the elders and Moonju how much they had grown since the previous year.
Sowoldae martial artists away on missions could not attend, but those within the sect were absolutely required to participate.
It was said to be an important event held exactly once a year.
‘…But of all things.’
It was being held just days after my return.
‘And of all things.’
My opponent was.
‘…that woman?’
Wol Muhui Cheonhye-in.
She was to be my opponent.
Recalling that, I looked toward Sochul Daeju.
He stood behind Wol Seon-geom, watching me with a smile on his face.
‘That cunning bastard knew all along.’
That the Sowol Tournament would be held.
That my opponent would be Cheonhye-in.
He must have set those conditions knowing everything.
‘That sly fox.’
This was ultimately his way of saying that if I wanted to reach the Moonju position, I had to defeat Cheonhye-in, my rival, and prove my worth.
‘….’
I shifted my gaze from Sochul Daeju and looked toward Cheonhye-in.
She gazed at me with those captivating eyes of hers.
“…Heavenly Supreme… Did you perhaps know about this beforehand?”
“Know about what?”
“That I would be dueling you today.”
“Of course I knew. It was a match I personally requested, after all.”
“…What did you say?”
I furrowed my brow at those words.
This was something Cheonhye-in had personally requested?
“I came by this morning to tell you about it… but unfortunately, I ended up missing you.”
“…”
Ah.
So that’s why she came by at the crack of dawn…? She did mention having business to attend to.
“I’m quite thrilled. I finally get to cross blades with Bang Disciple, or rather, my junior.”
“That doesn’t seem like something worth getting excited about…?”
“Is that so? I’m not sure about Bang Disciple, but there are many here who wish to duel with you, junior. Don’t you see?”
At Cheonhye-in’s words, I glanced around.
She was right.
‘Why are they looking at me like that?’
The Sowoldae martial artists staring in my direction.
Every single senior was regarding me with eyes burning with competitive fervor.
Then.
“A complete warrior who has inherited everything the Sword Saint left behind.”
Cheonhye-in explained to me.
“The Protagonist who unleashed brilliant sword force and vanquished an absolute master of the heterodox sects… there are countless who wish to taste the blade he wields.”
“…”
Only after hearing the explanation could I understand.
Because of the rumors spreading like wildfire, they were showing interest in me.
‘This is truly bothersome.’
At first, they showed only moderate interest. Now it’s exploding like this—what am I supposed to do?
There’s no time to even get accustomed to it.
“Sigh.”
I exhaled heavily. The annoyance rushed to the top of my head.
“Bang Disciple.”
Cheonhye-in spoke to me.
“If you wish, you may forfeit.”
“…”
I looked at her upon hearing those words.
“I wouldn’t mind such things. Though I would be somewhat disappointed, I suppose.”
The way she smiled and spoke was truly grating.
“It sounds like provocation… but honestly, if I had my way, I’d really like to forfeit, you know?”
Do you think I’m standing here because I want to?
“…But?”
“But unfortunately, I can’t do that. I have my own circumstances too.”
What was this Sowoldae business anyway?
I had no interest in being the center of attention like this.
‘Sochul Daeju is problematic, but Wol Seon-geom is a strange one too.’
When I reported my mission, he only mentioned the Yongbong gathering.
He didn’t say a word about Sowoldae.
‘Did he deliberately keep his mouth shut with me too?’
It seemed highly likely.
‘Tsk.’
I clicked my tongue inwardly and gripped my sword.
“So you’re saying you won’t forfeit?”
“Yes. I can’t and I won’t. And.”
Whirling the sword in a circle, I loosened my wrist slightly, then pointed the wooden blade’s tip at her.
“There’s no need to.”
“No need?”
“I’m going to win anyway, so why bother?”
“…!”
At my blunt words, not only Cheonhye-in but the murmuring crowd around us fell silent in an instant.
A manufactured silence wrapped around the surroundings.
I wondered if my words had been that shocking.
[Guffaw, guffaw, guffaw—!]
In the meantime, Yoo Cheon-gil’s rough laughter echoed in my mind.
[Your talent for needling others never ceases to amaze me.]
I couldn’t tell if it was praise or insult.
[The girl’s got a look like she took a hit.]
Cheonhye-in stood frozen with wide eyes for a moment, then her expression shifted again.
It was similar to before, but I could tell.
A single wrinkle had formed between her delicate brows.
“…So you’re being arrogant, huh?”
Gently.
The tip of Cheonhye-in’s sword swayed softly.
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Watching that, heat rose unbidden in my body.
Wariness filled me without my realizing it at her small movement.
At that moment.
I caught sight of Wol Seon-geom raising his hand calmly from far away.
“You should be someone who can back up what you say. Otherwise.”
And then.
“Because I think I’m going to get really angry.”
-Duel. Begin.
With Wol Seon-geom’s words.
Whoosh-!
Cheonhye-in’s figure vanished before my eyes.
My eyes tracked the movement.
My Wol An, infused with energy, followed her trajectory.
Though I lost sight of her form, the threads of energy she wove as she moved traced her path.
I gripped my wooden sword and angled it.
Crack-!!
‘Ugh!’
Her wooden sword dug into the blade I’d turned to my left.
It was Cheonhye-in’s sword. She pressed forward swiftly, launching her assault against me.
“Oh.”
Cheonhye-in let out an exclamation, seemingly impressed that I’d blocked her attack.
In that moment, my body lifted slightly as I defended. I’d been pushed back by Cheonhye-in’s strength.
This was absurd. What kind of power did she possess?
[Excellent-!]
Yoo Cheon-gil cried out loudly, apparently delighted by Cheonhye-in’s assault.
Look at that crazy old man. Who exactly is he rooting for right now?
I gritted my teeth and moved with greater force.
I shifted the angle of my blade slightly. Cheonhye-in’s sword, which she was using to block, slid along the new angle.
I reversed the force coming at me to collapse her stance.
Her sword slid downward toward the ground.
Seeing this, I twisted my lower body.
Wolrang.
The crescent moon strike flew toward Cheonhye-in-
Bang-!
‘Insane.’
The tip of my wooden sword shot skyward. Cheonhye-in had somehow corrected her stance and struck my blade upward in one fluid motion.
[하하하하하하하하—-!!!! 이 고얀 것 보게!?]
Yoo Cheon-gil laughed with a wild cry.
The reason he was so delighted was simple.
‘This is what that old man was doing.’
Countering Wolrang.
I had used this in the duel with the Sowoldae martial artist known as Seom Seong-gyeong, borrowing my body.
And Cheonhye-in had replicated it exactly.
However.
‘It’s somewhat different from that.’
The Wolrang that Seom Seong-gyeong used was not a variation that Yoo Cheon-gil had created.
There was a clear opening visible, and if I had exploited that gap, I could have broken through.
‘This is simply my lack of mastery.’
My Wolrang was a sword that Yoo Cheon-gil had evolved.
Yet the fact that Cheonhye-in could break through it stemmed purely from my insufficient skill.
I needed to be faster. My application of energy needed to be more seamless.
But because I couldn’t achieve that, a gap emerged, and Cheonhye-in had perceived it.
Moreover.
‘In the very moment I used it.’
In that brief window as I activated and Wolrang was being cast.
‘This monstrous human.’
A hollow laugh escaped me.
It was a moment when I understood why people called Chilgeol a genius.

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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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