The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 17

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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 017
Destroy Socheongeom.
When I heard those words from the Old Man, my first thought wasn’t about how it could be done.
Setting aside the question of possibility, what truly mattered here was justification.
A reason to destroy Socheongeom.
There was no way I could simply approach Namgung Seong and ask, ‘I need to break you a bit—would you permit it?’ It would never work.
I want to test my skills through a duel. Would Socheongeom ever agree to that?
He wouldn’t. The reason being.
‘Those who possess much are easily frightened.’
Namgung Seong. His very surname belongs to one of the Five Great Families that comprise the Martial Alliance.
The alias Socheongeom that he earned, combined with the fact that defeat in battle would cost him far more than just one or two things.
In such circumstances, would Socheongeom fight me?
‘Against an opponent whose strength remains unknown?’
Unless the other party were those fanatics obsessed with martial arts, Namgung Seong was far removed from that category.
If anything, he was closer to my type.
A fight where victory yields little gain and defeat brings only loss—Namgung Seong would be unlikely to accept such terms.
So I had devised something.
‘Rather than making him consider accepting, I would force him to accept regardless.’
I needed to arrange the board so he couldn’t even deliberate—and fortunately, various pieces had fallen into place.
‘Thanks to that, the work became easier.’
If there were threads to weave, I simply wove them together.
If it was a lie, I added to it until it became truth. The circumstances simply needed to fit the narrative.
This was the board I had constructed that way.
[When did you gather all these onlookers…]
The Old Man spoke as though amazed, but I couldn’t answer. Namgung Seong stood before us, and warriors of the first rank and above had keen ears.
‘When, you ask… roughly before Namgung Seong arrived.’
I had spread the word beforehand.
I had visited the members and told them, as though it were a secret only they should know, that I would soon engage Socheongeom in a friendly duel.
‘Only you should know.’
No words were less trustworthy than these.
They would absolutely not keep it to themselves alone.
And indeed.
‘This is how it turned out.’
Onlookers spread thickly around the Dueling Arena.
I took a quiet breath beneath the weight of countless gazes fixed upon me with interest.
It wasn’t easy. Being observed by so many eyes.
That was truly not an easy thing.
‘Tsk.’
What a sight this was. Life truly is something you think you understand, yet never do.
I had planned to earn what I needed and retire peacefully, yet here I was, entangled in such strange affairs.
‘The Demon didn’t possess only Namgung Seong. She’s definitely taken hold of me as well.’
If that wasn’t a Demon, then what would be?
Damn old bastard.
[Those are the eyes of someone cursing up a storm internally.]
‘….’
The Demon was sharp-witted too.
I suppressed a sigh and shook my head.
Thud.
I placed my hand on the sword hilt and stared straight ahead.
Before me stood Socheongeom. An insufferably handsome face, and tall to boot.
He glared at me as though he wanted me dead, yet immediately resumed his composure.
From a cold impression to the warmest expression imaginable.
‘Impressive.’
That’s a skill worth learning.
I should remember that.
While I was observing Socheongeom with such thoughts.
“I never expected so many distinguished guests to gather.”
Socheongeom suddenly opened his mouth, glancing at the crowd.
“I merely hoped we could enjoy a casual gathering amongst ourselves….”
I suppressed a sneer as I listened to his words.
‘Look at him laying the groundwork.’
His words were laden with meaning.
‘I never expected so many distinguished guests to gather.’
-I never announced this.
‘I merely hoped we could enjoy a casual gathering amongst ourselves….’
-Just a light sparring match. I have no intention of showing my true strength.
‘Tsk.’
With so much to lose, he attempts all manner of wordplay while feigning courtesy.
It didn’t matter.
I’d known he would come at me like this from the start.
“How embarrassing this is… but since there’s nothing secretive about it, I do hope you’ll all enjoy this turn of events with good hearts.”
-You beasts, recognize this once more. This is just a casual duel.
Every phrase was packed with hidden meaning.
Whether people understood it or not, they would inevitably come to think this way.
Such was his eloquence.
It was a trivial thought, so I dismissed it quickly. Then I glanced to the side.
The Old Man stood beside me, and this was a signal. A signal to stop watching and do what needed to be done.
The stage was already set, so now it was the Old Man’s turn.
“I, however, do not regard this as such a light duel.”
I continued the conversation, speaking as though addressing Socheongeom.
“Bang Disciple…?”
At my words, Socheongeom’s expression hardened for a moment, but he quickly shifted his demeanor as before.
“Haha. I didn’t mean to suggest we should take this lightly.”
“But didn’t you just say we’d engage in light camaraderie?”
I seized upon Namgung Seong’s words and pulled out the contradiction.
“I have no intention of taking this lightly. Please be sincere.”
“….”
Namgung Seong fell silent for a moment upon hearing my words.
“…I apologize for the misunderstanding, Bang Disciple.”
I responded with a laugh to his accusatory tone. Remarkably, he managed to wear a bitter expression throughout.
The fact that he was still doing this even now was something else.
“Yes. That’s right. A duel should always be approached with sincerity.”
For some reason, cold sweat trickled down my back. Without thinking, I squinted at Namgung Seong.
Could I tell him now not to say it’s not the case?
Even if it’s a bit ugly, this seems better.
Swish.
Before I could even speak, Socheongeom drew his sword.
It wasn’t a real blade—it was a wooden sword.
However.
‘…Oh boy.’
The air felt heavy. That was my immediate impression.
The moment Socheongeom gripped the sword and pointed it at me, I felt the atmosphere around us shift dramatically.
My skin prickled with tension.
I recalled the killing intent he had unleashed earlier.
This was different. Far more intense and profound.
‘Is it because he’s holding the sword?’
Could such a simple difference bring about such a transformation?
Gulp.
I swallowed dryly without anyone noticing.
[Heh heh. That Lightning Sword bastard. His bloodline luck is remarkably good.]
It was the Old Man’s intuitive assessment of Socheongeom.
He merely held the sword. That alone made the pressure overwhelming.
If I were my original self, I would have fled long ago. No, original self or not, honestly, I wanted to do that even now.
‘The problem is that I can’t.’
Life.
Suppressing the urge to cry, I wiped my face slightly.
[Now draw it. You’ll need to prepare.]
Oblivious to my current state—or perhaps aware of it—the Old Man issued his command with perfect composure.
Was it even possible to defeat such a martial master with this body of mine?
The question lingered, but there was no way around it.
‘Hah.’
Like Socheongeom, I drew out a wooden sword.
Whether I believed or not wouldn’t change anything anyway.
I would simply trust through action.
[Well then, shall we begin?]
With the Old Man’s casual tone, that very instant, strength drained from my body.

* * *
Socheongeom Namgung Seong.
Twenty-three years of age.
Direct bloodline of the family head, born into the Namgung Clan.
He was known to possess both the appearance and talent resembling the Sword King, the family head, and was renowned as a promising successor due to such talent.
He was famous for being considerate and attentive to those around him.
Many judged that when he ascended to family head, the Namgung Clan would shine even more brilliantly.
There were plenty who thought so.
In reality, Namgung Seong was quite different from the rumors.
The differences were so numerous it was difficult to pinpoint any single one, but if I had to name the greatest difference, it would be the hidden depravity that dwelled within him.
Namgung Seong was aroused by women screaming.
From childhood, after witnessing a maidservant suffering from scalding hot water, he began to feel sexual arousal at the screams of women in pain.
It would have been better had he merely felt lust, but Namgung Seong could not control it, and at fifteen years old, he committed an act.
He violated one of his own maids.
He inflicted pain to make her scream, and watching such a woman, Namgung Seong felt exhilaration.
And in the end, he strangled her to death.
Thus, five years passed.
Until reaching his prime, Namgung Seong violated several more women after that first victim, and erased the evidence, living as though nothing had ever happened. But then.
‘How on earth did he find out?’
Someone had discovered Namgung Seong’s secret.
[Fair skin. A single mole on the bridge of the nose. Hair in a short bob reaching to the shoulders. Age around nineteen.]
The first passage from the letter he received and unfolded.
He was so startled upon reading it.
Though he could barely remember the others that came after, he could not forget her.
The appearance of the first woman he violated. His former maid.
‘How is this possible?’
Eight years had already passed.
The corpse had rotted away beneath the earth, and only an extremely small number within the clan knew of it. Rather, he believed no one knew.
Because.
‘I eliminated everyone who knew the secret.’
Both witnesses and accomplices had already lost their lives by his hand.
Thus he had lived believing it to be a perfect crime.
‘Who in the world is this person?’
How could he have discovered my secret?
Namgung Seong stared at his opponent with narrowed eyes.
Before him stood a young man. A frame not particularly large, with a somewhat lean build.
A face closer to that of a boy than a youth. Bangseong-yeon, the successor of the Sword Saint.
This man knew his secret.
‘What is his true identity?’
The investigation was already complete. A man who had risen from a rural backwater of a ruined great family.
He had brought a letter of recommendation, but it appeared he had exhausted all of his family’s wealth to do so.
Under normal circumstances, he would have been someone who couldn’t even meet his gaze.
‘How could such a man become the successor of the Sword Saint?’
Everything had changed simply because the name Sword Saint was involved.
Namgung Seong found it utterly unbelievable that such a man could have become the Sword Saint’s successor.
‘Could there be some secret hidden within the Yeolyeongbangga Clan?’
Bangseong-yeon’s family, a fallen great clan—could there be some secret concealed there?
Such suspicions had arisen for good reason.
‘Damn it.’
Namgung Seong cursed inwardly. The Yeolyeongbangga Clan, Bangseong-yeon, and this duel itself were all problems from the start.
‘…I must act quickly.’
I needed to end this duel and handle matters. I had to discover how he learned my secret.
And I had to reclaim Cheongryong Gu. If only that could be accomplished.
‘I will eliminate him.’
Bangseong-yeon would be disposed of. Regardless of what he knew, he was certainly a thorn in my side.
He had to be dealt with. By any means necessary.
Creak.
Namgung Seong pointed his wooden sword at Bangseong-yeon. He then examined him from every angle.
An indecipherable emotion lingered in his eyes. His expression seemed somewhat fearful, and there was an air of unease about him.
‘Is it truly possible that this man killed the Sanchen Gwiin?’
The more I observed, the more unbelievable it seemed.
A master capable of slaying a peak martial artist. No matter how I looked at it, he didn’t appear to possess such skill.
Judging by his momentum alone, at best he was second-rate.
Just a young man of that caliber.
One could tell from his stance alone.
His sword hand lacked strength, and his core was unstable.
His shoulders were misaligned, creating abundant openings.
A single exchange.
Namgung Seong judged that one clash would be sufficient to subdue Bangseong-yeon.
That was how riddled with flaws he was.
‘…’
Namgung Seong recalled the conversation the two of them had shared.
As he did, his eyes hardened with resolve.
If he were truly nothing, he wouldn’t have engaged in conversation like that.
There’s something there. Perhaps this too is a ploy to lower my guard.
That’s what I thought. But regardless, Namgung Seong didn’t care.
Watching Bangseong-yeon, his momentum gradually intensified.
‘…Don’t be mistaken.’
Sanchen Gwiin and a guardian of Cheongwol Gate.
Just because he killed a master at the peak doesn’t mean he’s on the same level as me.
Whatever his intention in challenging me to a duel, it’s an act of disrespect toward me.
‘How dare he.’
Did he judge that he could defeat me and challenge me to a fight?
That ridiculous arrogance will block your path forward.
Namgung Seong steeled himself with those thoughts.
Guuuuu-!!
Still such a pathetic display.
Seeing that, Namgung Seong carefully tried to take a step forward.
Whoosh.
Then, Bangseong-yeon moved—
Scrape—
‘What?’
Sensing something amiss, Namgung Seong grabbed his neck and froze.
His neck had just been cut. Or at least, it felt like it had been.
With alarmed eyes, he covered his neck, but strangely, Namgung Seong’s neck remained intact.
‘What is this…?’
An incomprehensible occurrence. Was it an illusion? In that very instant—
“You’ll lose if you’re distracted mid-fight.”
A voice came from ahead. Bangseong-yeon was walking toward him as he spoke.
But then—
“…!”
Namgung Seong’s eyes widened as he looked at Bangseong-yeon again. The man approached with measured steps.
Though he looked exactly the same as before, Namgung Seong swallowed hard at the sight of him.
It was different.
Something had changed drastically.
‘…No openings?’
The openings that had existed until moments ago had vanished.
Even as he walked, there were no openings.
Power had returned to his previously twisted stance.
With each step Bangseong-yeon took forward—
Flinch.
Without realizing it, Namgung Seong took a step back.
“Hm?”
Bangseong-yeon tilted his head at the sight.
“Scared?”
“…What…?”
“I haven’t done anything yet, so why are you trembling?”
Namgung Seong’s brow furrowed at the sight of him laughing as though amused.
“Looking at it that way, you really are alike. Should I perhaps praise you for having such keen instincts…?”
“What are you going on about?”
“While I’m at it, let me give you a reward as well.”
Bangseong-yeon gestured, ignoring Namgung Seong’s words.
“Come first. I’ll concede a couple of moves for you.”
….
Grrrk.
Concede? He was going easy on him? Namgung Seong’s pride shattered at Bangseong-yeon’s words.
To think he’d hear such words from that arrogant fool.
‘Fine.’
How far could that arrogance take him? Namgung Seong twisted his face and drew his sword.
‘I’ll accept your concession.’
He would end this in a single strike using his full power.
That way, he’d make sure to bring him to his knees no matter what.
Namgung Seong slowly channeled his energy into his blade.
Using this, he would employ the secret technique of the Namgung Clan….
Whoosh—! Crack—!
“Cough!?”
Before he could.
A wooden sword suddenly flew at him, striking Namgung Seong across the waist.
The blow was so powerful his body nearly folded in half.
Thud.
“Ugh… Cough… Hack….”
Namgung Seong fell to one knee on the dueling arena floor, drooling.
It was the price of taking a direct hit.
“Gasp… Huff… Hack.”
With saliva dripping from his mouth, Namgung Seong lifted his eyes. He stared at Bangseong-yeon standing before him, his gaze questioning.
Why did you strike when I hadn’t done anything yet? His eyes conveyed such resentment.
“Hah.”
Bangseong-yeon let out a scoff and spoke.
“Damn fool. You actually believed that?”
….
“Anyway, that’s what’s wrong with you young people these days. Letting your guard down by trusting your opponent’s words… Tsk tsk.”
“You…!”
Hearing those words, Namgung Seong made a resolve.
By any means necessary, I would kill that bastard.

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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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