The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 24

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

The Heavenly Supreme Has Died – Episode 024
-이 새끼가—!!!
A booming voice echoed through the quarters.
It was a shout from the handsome man who appeared limping.
Seeing that, I made a disgusted expression.
“Why are you shouting right in front of someone? It’s so loud.”
My ears were practically ringing. I wondered why he had to yell like that.
Drip, drip.
As I wrung out the towel in my hand, water streamed down. It was all sweat.
“Phew…”
I wiped away the remaining sweat from my forehead. My limbs trembled. The aftermath of training was no joke.
Had I trained that hard after such a long time?
[Hard, my ass… You ran a few laps around the Training Hall and you’re satisfied with yourself?]
I easily ignored the Demon’s mocking words. By now, ignoring her wasn’t even that difficult.
The problem was.
“This damn bastard-!”
The idiot contorting his face at me—that was the problem.
The handsome fool approached me with heated fury, limping slightly as if something was uncomfortable.
Seeing that, I asked.
“What’s this about since morning? I haven’t even eaten breakfast, and you’re ruining my appetite.”
As I clicked my tongue slightly, he suddenly approached and grabbed my collar.
“Do you truly wish to die?”
“…How terrifying.”
I meant it. I hadn’t sensed his approach the moment he grabbed my collar. Despite limping, he was this fast.
‘…As expected.’
Though he seemed somewhat incompetent, he was certainly formidable.
“…How dare you…!”
His trembling fingertips. A faint aura of killing intent emanating from them.
Without realizing it, I felt fear creeping in and nearly swallowed hard. But I held back.
I couldn’t let it show on the surface, no matter what I felt inside.
“Why are you like this?”
I asked while maintaining a nonchalant demeanor, and Namgung Seong ground his teeth.
“Are you asking because you don’t know?”
“Then, you suddenly appear from early morning and pull this nonsense, so how would I know?”
As I spoke, I looked Namgung Seong up and down. My gaze was nakedly deliberate.
Namgung Seong had to be aware that I was scrutinizing him.
“Especially for someone whose body isn’t in good condition.”
Where wasn’t his body in good condition? Namgung Seong soon realized that my gaze lingered relatively long on a particular spot.
“You–!”
As anger surged, his grip on my collar tightened.
‘Ugh.’
I felt as though my breath was being squeezed from my lungs.
But I couldn’t simply brush this aside.
I forced a mocking smile and spoke to him.
“Ah, why are you like this?”
“You… Do you truly believe you can act this way and walk away unscathed?”
“Threats on such a fine morning. How refreshing.”
He was clearly furious. Normally, he would have cared about the eyes watching around us, but not now.
That’s what made it truly terrifying—lost in his emotions, there was no telling what he might do.
Still.
“How dare you, making a fool of me, Namgung Seong?”
“Making a fool?”
I had no intention of backing down out of fear.
“I showed you consideration, and this is how you repay me with your words?”
Since I’d already decided to teach him a lesson, I might as well see it through.
“What? Consideration?”
“Of course it was consideration. Didn’t your sister explain it properly to you?”
I thought I’d conveyed my meaning clearly enough, but it seemed Namgung Seong’s comprehension was somewhat lacking.
If that was the case, I’d have to spell it out for him.
“You lost the martial contest, so technically I didn’t even need to give you anything. Yet I took the trouble to wrap it nicely and return what you wanted. How is that not consideration?”
“You bastard…!”
“Why do you keep calling me that? Am I your bastard?”
I clicked my tongue and narrowed my eyes, watching Namgung Seong’s face flush crimson. Honestly, I wanted to provoke him further, but…
‘This might get dangerous if I push any harder.’
If Namgung Seong lost control and exploded, that would be its own problem.
“Let’s set this aside for now and talk, shall we? If someone comes, it’ll be awkward for you too.”
“…”
At my words, the corners of Namgung Seong’s eyes wavered.
Indeed, having already raised his voice, people could arrive at any moment.
Seeing the situation, there was nothing good in it for Namgung Seong, so he subtly loosened his grip.
Only then did my breathing become slightly easier.
I barely suppressed the urge to cough immediately, when he spoke to me.
“Do you truly believe you can mock me and live to tell of it?”
“Mock you? Hardly.”
I patted down my torn clothes and answered.
“You asked for it, so I gave it to you. Why do you keep making a fuss?”
“Ha.”
At my cheeky response, Namgung Seong exhaled sharply.
“Did you think I came here to trade words with you?”
“Then what else are you going to do?”
“What?”
“I get that you came here upset. So what are you going to do about it?”
Since he kept dropping formalities, I did the same. There was no point in maintaining courtesy when he approached me like this.
“To anyone watching, you’d look innocent. But who was the one trying to use your own sister to pull off something foolish?”
“….”
The moment I brought up Namgung Hyeon, Namgung Seong’s face twisted.
“You were willing to sell out your own sister to make me look bad, and now you’re angry because you’re the one who ended up looking foolish? That’s not right. It’s pretty pathetic, actually.”
“Tch.”
His expression contorted further as his words caught in his throat. I was curious how much more it could twist, but my attention shifted elsewhere at the same time.
Specifically, behind him.
Namgung Seong hadn’t come alone—he’d arrived with members of the Namgung Clan.
Among those who followed him, I could see Namgung Hyeon as well.
The moment our eyes met, she turned her head away.
‘Hmm.’
The atmosphere was peculiar. They all looked like martial artists, but their expressions of wariness toward me were unmistakable.
‘I see.’
They seemed concerned that I might draw my blade and fight Socheongeom.
I was someone who had defeated Socheongeom. In their eyes, I must have appeared like a dangerous person who could lose control to emotion.
‘This is rather amusing.’
To think I’d be treated as a threatening presence by the Namgung Clan.
It was an unusual feeling.
“And bringing all these people here to do this—isn’t that a bit embarrassing?”
When I pointed this out directly, Namgung Seong bit his lip hard. It seemed he was embarrassed about it too.
But then.
“Hah.”
He let out a short sigh before quickly composing his expression.
“You seem to be under some misunderstanding.”
I watched this with interest.
“You don’t realize this isn’t a situation where you can treat me so carelessly.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Have you forgotten? After the martial contest ended, you used an assassination technique on me.”
“….”
I tilted my head at his words.
“What assassination technique did I use?”
“Ha. Now you’re going to play dumb?”
A smile crept across Namgung Seong’s face.
“I could never forget. You definitely did it after the martial contest ended.”
“After it ended?”
“I….”
He stopped mid-explanation, falling silent. It was unfortunate. I wanted to hear him say it directly.
“Ah, ah. Could it be that?”
I smiled and finished the words he couldn’t speak.
“Are you talking about how I crushed your groin to pieces?”
“I….”
“You even passed out back then. How is it? Feeling better?”
I fixed my gaze clearly on his lower body as I spoke.
“Seems like you’re doing fine. That’s a relief. I was a bit worried, you know. Though, still.”
I reattached the sneer I’d wiped away onto my smile.
“Given how little sensation there was to begin with, I figured you’d be alright.”
“이놈이—!”
Finally unable to contain himself, Namgung Seong reaches for his blade.
If this continued, his true sword would threaten my life.
[He’s here.]
Thanks to the Old Man’s words, I could suppress my anxiety.
Just then.
“Stop!”
With a loud voice, someone steps between Namgung Seong and me. It was Cheon Euijin.
“Young Master Namgung. What are you doing?”
Cheon Euijin blocks Namgung Seong while scattering his aura, and seeing him, Namgung Seong’s expression crumbles even further.
“Heavenly Supreme.”
“I asked what you’re doing.”
As if refusing to back down, Cheon Euijin draws up his power while facing Namgung Seong.
“Don’t interfere. This is a personal matter between him and me.”
Unwilling to face Cheon Euijin as well, Namgung Seong keeps his gaze fixed solely on me.
But.
“That’s impossible.”
Cheon Euijin shows no intention of backing away, merely blocking Namgung Seong.
“…haa….”
Seeing this, Namgung Seong lets out a low sigh.
“Both of you keep getting on my nerves.”
The tone in his voice is so cold that I nearly brushed my arm across my skin to suppress the chill.
“Heavenly Supreme. There are times to interfere and times not to. Do you not know this?”
“I do know. And it seems to me that this is a matter I must involve myself in.”
“Ha. By what authority does the Heavenly Supreme claim this?”
Namgung Seong glares at Cheon Euijin.
“That man is of the Namgung Clan—and a direct bloodline at that. He threw an assassination attempt at me. This is no different from a challenge to the Namgung Clan itself.”
Since his words weren’t wrong, I didn’t particularly deny them.
“Moreover, just now he showed no remorse and even insulted me. Yet you block my way, Heavenly Supreme? Should I assume you’re also hostile to the Namgung Clan?”
“No.”
“Then step aside quietly. I have business with that man….”
“If the Namgung Disciple’s words are correct, then conversely, wouldn’t it be fair to say that the Namgung Disciple is also disrespecting the Cheonwol Gate?”
“…What did you just say?”
The words tumbled from Cheon Euijin’s mouth. Namgung Seong froze momentarily upon hearing the mention of the Cheonwol Gate.
“…Why is the Cheonwol Gate suddenly being brought up here? There’s no connection.”
“On the contrary. How could there be no connection?”
Cheon Euijin continued speaking to Namgung Seong, his hand gripping the sword hilt.
“I acknowledge that the Bang Disciple displayed excessive conduct during the martial contest. However, all matters have their proper procedures, do they not?”
Ah….
I couldn’t help but admire Cheon Euijin’s words internally. I’d taken him for a handsome fool the way he stammered earlier, but he seemed far more eloquent than I’d given him credit for.
“If the Namgung Disciple wishes to take issue with this matter, then raise your objection directly with the Cheonwol Gate. Wouldn’t that be the proper course?”
“This is absurd. Why do you keep dragging the Cheonwol Gate into that bastard’s affairs….”
Namgung Seong spoke as if bewildered, then suddenly fell silent.
It seemed he’d caught onto something strange. His gaze turned toward me.
“…You couldn’t possibly…?”
Before Namgung Seong could finish his reaction, Cheon Euijin added his words.
“If you ask why the Cheonwol Gate is involved in the Bang Disciple’s affairs, it’s quite simple.”
Cheon Euijin’s voice carried an unmistakable confidence as he spoke.
“The Bang Disciple has been officially recognized as the successor of Sword Saint Yoo Cheon-gil and formally belongs to the Cheonwol Gate.”
“….”
At Cheon Euijin’s words, Namgung Seong’s expression twisted into something bitter. This was the first request I’d made of Cheon Euijin.
One was.
‘To return Cheongryong Gu to the Namgung Clan in the name of the Cheonwol Gate.’
If it happened this way, Namgung Seong wouldn’t be recovering Cheongryong Gu—the Cheonwol Gate would be graciously sending it to him.
‘Whether Namgung Seong lost Cheongryong Gu directly or the Namgung Clan simply sent him to retrieve it, I couldn’t say.’
Either way, this would create a problem for him.
‘If he lost it directly, the clan head would learn of it before he could even clean up the mess. If the Cheonwol Gate sent it, the situation would already be officially exposed.’
Even if it turned out that the Namgung Clan had sent him to retrieve it.
‘Regardless, Namgung Seong failed to find it, and now the Cheonwol Gate has found it and sent it instead.’
No matter what scenario played out, Namgung Seong was finished.
Especially if he was currently engaged in a struggle for the position of clan leader, this would only compound his problems.
This was why I’d asked Cheon Euijin to send Cheongryong Gu in the name of the Cheonwol Gate.
And the second request was.
‘To have me officially registered as belonging to the Cheonwol Gate.’
This should have happened long ago anyway, given that I’d become the successor of the Sword Saint and had acquired the cursed Moon Eye.
Simply.
‘It needed to happen quickly.’
If it had to happen, I needed to accelerate the process as much as possible.
‘I have no backing to rely on.’
Being affiliated with the Martial Alliance was merely temporary at best, and my family was nothing more than a rural clan on the verge of collapse.
Under these circumstances, if the Namgung Clan applied pressure, I would have no way to endure it.
That’s why I needed backing, and quickly.
‘I obtained that backing by asking Cheon Euijin.’
Fortunately, the method was right in front of me.
Cheon Euijin, the direct descendant of the Cheonwol Gate’s master.
I asked him to acknowledge me as a member of the Cheonwol Gate.
And his answer to my request?
It was naturally predetermined.
“…This bastard.”
Namgung Seong trembled as he stared at me.
Now that I’d become affiliated with the Cheonwol Gate, and Cheon Euijin himself had verified it, Namgung Seong found himself in quite a predicament.
No matter how much trouble I’d caused, since we now represented forces with their own affiliations, the Namgung Clan would need to go through verification procedures.
“Do you have time to glare? You should be leaving quickly.”
Namgung Seong didn’t have time to wait for that.
“The Cheonwol Gate’s gift will arrive soon. Are you planning to stay trapped here?”
Once the Cheongryong Gu reached the Namgung Clan, all hell would break loose.
Crunch, crunch.
Namgung Seong ground his teeth as if he meant to shatter them.
There was nothing he could do.
It meant he had to return to the clan even a day sooner.
Caught between a rock and a hard place—a phrase that seemed made for Namgung Seong.
As I smiled broadly watching his rotting expression, he spoke.
“…I have one question.”
Namgung Seong asked me with a face flushed red with rage.
“…When did it start?”
“What?”
“When exactly did you orchestrate all this?”
It couldn’t have been done in just a day or two. He seemed to have realized this was a trap I’d prepared in advance.
Indeed, he wasn’t completely without perception.
So I answered as if offering praise.
“Why ask?”
Because it was obviously….
“From the very beginning.”
From the moment I saw the blue orb called the Cheongryong Gu.
And from when I saw the Demon behind him and his companion.
This plan had been set in motion from that moment.

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