The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 185

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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 185
A space so densely packed with arranged letters that not a single gap was visible.
From within that cramped space, Jegal Jin spoke.
“Sit.”
Hearing those words, I asked.
“…Where should I sit?”
Where on earth was I supposed to sit? At my question, Jegal Jin glanced down at the floor.
Then he pointed to a spot with his hand.
“There. Clear that spot and sit.”
“Is it alright if I just tidy it up roughly?”
“Yes.”
Following his instruction, I folded the letters scattered on the floor and arranged them haphazardly before sitting down.
There was at least a small table, so it seemed I was meant to sit centered around that.
But wasn’t he going to offer anything?
‘There’s not even tea.’
I thought if he summoned me, he’d at least offer something to drink, but there was nothing. My lips were drying in this desolate atmosphere.
As I was pondering what to do.
“There’s something to drink on the right side of the shelf on your left.”
“….”
At Jegal Jin’s words, I got to my feet. It seemed he meant for me to help myself.
His hospitality was quite something.
‘Or perhaps he’s not treating me as a guest at all?’
That could be it. I was summoned here, but he didn’t seem to be treating me as a guest.
‘Right side of the shelf on the left.’
I walked to the location. Opening the shelf, I could indeed see several tea leaves inside.
As I caught a whiff of the aroma, something caught my eye.
‘This is here?’
A tea I hadn’t seen in a long time.
It was the tea I used to drink often at the Bang clan.
“May I drink any of these?”
“Do as you wish.”
“Yes.”
At his curt response, I casually took out the tea.
‘Hot water is…’
Over there.
I placed the tea leaves inside and steeped them slowly.
Before long, a subtle fragrance spread throughout the room. I waited for the tea to fully steep.
“…Why did you choose that one?”
A voice came from nearby. When I turned my head, Jegal Jin had approached without my noticing.
“Yes? What do you mean?”
“I asked why you chose that tea.”
“Oh, this?”
It was called Suryeong Tea—tea leaves made by drying suryeong grass that grew around the valleys.
Though it had a somewhat bitter taste, I enjoyed it because of the subtle sweetness mixed within.
“I chose it because I drink it often at home. Is there something wrong with it?”
“….”
At my response, Jegal Jin’s brow furrowed slightly.
What’s this? Is it not allowed? He told me to pick anything, so I did.
Just as I was wondering if I should remove it now.
“No, do as you please. I was merely curious why you would choose something so peculiar to drink.”
Jegal Jin spoke curtly before sitting down across from me.
Seeing this, I asked him a question.
“Would you care for some tea?”
“No need. I don’t drink tea without flavor.”
“Ah, yes.”
Then why did he bring it out? I didn’t understand, but I didn’t press the matter.
I slowly poured the steeped tea and carefully took a sip.
‘Mm.’
It was a tea with quite polarizing tastes, but I enjoyed it.
Even after all this time, it still tasted wonderful.
After savoring a sip, I carefully set the teacup down.
Tock.
A soft sound echoed, and I opened my mouth to speak to Jegal Jin.
“I heard you were looking for me, but I believe it would be proper to introduce myself first.”
“Not necessary.”
“Understood.”
I nodded at his firm words. If he didn’t want it, then so be it.
“Then… ah. So how should I address you?”
At my next question, Jegal Jin let out a slight laugh.
“Why? Do you want to call me grandfather?”
At those words, I narrowed my brow and spoke.
“No…? I have no such intention, but is that what you wish to hear?”
“I have no memory of having a grandson like you.”
“Then I shall address you as Strategist.”
I spoke matter-of-factly and asked again.
“So, Strategist, for what reason did you summon me…?”
Tension rose within me. I couldn’t help but worry whether something terrible was about to befall me.
‘My opponent is Jegal Jin.’
A genius of the Heavenly Realm. Among non-martial artists, he wielded the greatest influence in the Central Plains at present.
Setting aside the blood that connected us, it would be far too easy for him to dispose of me if he so wished.
‘He’s not just a strategist—he’s the current Lord of the Jegal Clan.’
Lord of one of the Five Great Families.
Though Jegal Jin himself was said to be no martial artist, those beneath him were not all lacking in martial prowess.
Judging by the Sega’s influence alone, the Jegal clan stood at the apex.
There was nothing good about drawing the ire of such a figure.
‘Damn. A useless man.’
My very existence was positioned to displease him—there was no way around it.
That was the most infuriating part.
In any case, my father had never been of any help.
‘How on earth did he manage it?’
How had he seduced the Jegal clan’s daughter and fled with her?
My head was already pounding.
Then.
“How fares that dog of the Bang clan?”
“….”
Jegal Jin posed the question in an eerie tone.
That dog of the Bang clan.
I didn’t need him to spell out who he meant.
“…Well… Yes… He’s… managing… Yes.”
I couldn’t bring myself to say he was doing well.
It seemed like the wrong thing to say right now.
He simply draws breath and lives on. That’s what I found myself saying.
“He shouldn’t even be breathing. A pity.”
“…Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.”
An even more sinister remark reached my ears. Oh, what do I do?
‘Is my father going to die soon?’
That seemed quite likely. In fact, I’d always found it remarkable that he still drew breath at all.
“Hmm.”
Jegal Jin, having spoken, gazed at me quietly. The sharp eyes within his wrinkled sockets turned toward me.
I found myself tensing without meaning to.
‘His eyes.’
The old man’s eyes held the Heavenly Realm itself.
His pupils, black as Go stones, seemed at first glance like the night sky, yet the heavens contained within them were striking.
‘Like my grandmother.’
My grandmother from my previous life.
Her gaze had been the same, and without thinking, I found myself staring intently.
After a long moment had passed.
“You bear no resemblance to your father.”
Jegal Jin spoke to me, and hearing it, I nodded slightly.
“I hear that often.”
It’s something I’ve heard my whole life—that while I inherited my father’s appearance, I lack the commanding presence of the Bang Clan Lord.
To me, it was a compliment. I had no desire to resemble my father.
When I confidently mentioned hearing it often, Jegal Jin’s brow furrowed.
“Your temperament reflects that as well.”
“Indeed. There’s nothing good about resembling that man.”
“…Ha.”
Jegal Jin let out a hollow laugh, but immediately suppressed it.
“I heard you performed well in the preliminary rounds. Do you possess talent in martial arts?”
“…I was fortunate.”
“Fortune, you say? Truly?”
His dark eyes swept across me. From what I understood, Jegal Jin was said to harbor no prejudices.
Yet his gaze suggested he knew everything already.
It was as though he had already assessed my capabilities.
[Don’t be nervous. That’s a method he uses frequently.]
Yoo Cheon-gil seemed concerned and spoke to me.
Concerned? I wasn’t.
“Yes. It was fortune. Though I did possess some skill as well.”
How many times had I experienced something like this?
Regardless of the eyes he possessed, nothing would change.
I was an expert in this regard.
“Hmm….”
Jegal Jin nodded with an expressionless face.
“It’s a mystery. How exactly did you become the Sword Saint’s Predecessor… and enter the Cheonwol Sect at that?”
“It just happened that way….”
“That’s a rather meager explanation.”
“Well. I mean….”
I scratched the back of my head as I spoke. I was growing slightly irritated.
“You’ve already conducted your background investigation anyway. It will be exactly as written there. There’s nothing more to tell even if you ask further.”
“….”
Upon hearing my words, Jegal Jin’s eyes widened. He hadn’t expected me to speak so bluntly.
“Huh….”
Was he flustered by my audacious words? As Jegal Jin’s eyes grew wider.
“I don’t think I came here to be interrogated. Strategist. Why did you really summon me?”
I decided to be direct as well.
This meeting wasn’t for interrogation. The questions he was asking weren’t truly important.
Unless it was my grandfather’s affection to see his grandson.
Then why summon me?
When I asked about this.
“…You lack even a shred of charm.”
“I’ve already passed that age. If you wish for flattery, I can certainly provide it.”
“Spare me such revolting words.”
“Yes.”
Tsk.
Jegal Jin clicked his tongue sharply and tossed a letter from his breast pocket toward me.
Thump.
I twisted my face upon seeing the letter fall onto the table.
“What the—? A curse?”
“…?”
“Ah, my apologies. It slipped out.”
I quickly apologized as Jegal Jin reacted to my crude language.
But honestly, it was warranted.
‘Why is this coming from that man’s possession?’
The seal embedded in the letter. That crude, hastily crafted form was unmistakable.
How could I not recognize it?
This was the seal used by the Bang clan.
“…Why is this…?”
Before I could even ask if it came from the strategist’s possession, Jegal Jin spoke.
“Read it. Your father sent it to me with audacious boldness.”
“…I’m losing my mind.”
I had even less desire to read it now.
But I had to. I carefully grasped the letter and unfolded it.
Dense lines of text invaded my eyes first.
Still utterly illegible prose, as always.
Gritting my teeth, I read line by line.
“Wow.”
The more I read, the more one thing became clear.
“…What am I supposed to do with this damned man?”
My head was pounding.
[Esteemed father-in-law, I hope you have been in good health. I am Bang Cheon-ho, your son-in-law who is like a son to you.]
From the very first sentence, it was clear this man had lost his mind. This lunatic.
‘He stole another man’s daughter and fled. And now this?’
Not even a romantic tale—he’d fathered three children with different mothers and dared call himself a son-in-law? Absolutely absurd.
I was truly going insane.
[I have heard much of the splendid deeds you have been displaying in Hannam.]
[The reason I am sending you this letter after so long—or perhaps for the first time?—is nothing complicated.]
[I hear my son is currently in Hannam, and I thought, would it not be wonderful for you to meet your beloved grandson even once?]
[I am confident he is a capable lad whom I have raised well, and I am certain he will win your favor.]
[Why not meet him once, taking it as a small gesture of goodwill?]
“….”
Where should I even begin cursing? I had so much I wanted to say, yet nothing came to mind.
‘…It’s not that nothing comes to mind, but rather there’s so much that nothing comes to mind?’
I have no idea where to even begin pointing out the problems.
It was always like this when it came to this lunatic.
Ah, this really gives me a headache.
Do I have to keep reading this?
I keep catching Jegal Jin’s expression. Only now could I understand that look of anger in his eyes.
It wasn’t just a look of anger.
‘He was genuinely angry.’
Yeah, even I would be furious if I received a letter like this.
And the problem is.
‘The person who could relieve that anger is right in front of me?’
That damnable bastard’s son.
And that someone happened to be me.
Shiver.
I suppress my trembling hands and let out a sigh.
I steady my breathing and continue reading the letter.
In the meantime, the content was absurdly lengthy.
As I continue reading the text.
“What?”
I stop mid-read and let out a gasp.
“Wow. This rotten—”
I forget that Jegal Jin is right in front of me and blurt out crude words.
Damn it.
It was the same in the past, and it’s the same this time.
Usually, there was only one reason Father sent letters like this.
“Is he seriously insane!?”
It seemed Father had caused quite a major incident.
A very major one at that.

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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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