The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 243

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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 243
와아아아아아—!!!!
I won.
Waaaa–!!
Protagonist-! Protagonist-!
I steady my breathing amid the torrent of cheers.
I look as though I could collapse at any moment, yet somehow I manage to remain standing.
“Haaah-”
The breath I exhale carries the weight of lingering tension.
The tension that had gripped my body gradually begins to dissolve.
As the heat fades and fades further, my body trembles slightly.
“Ah-”
A single exclamation escapes me.
“Did I… win?”
I actually won this?
My eyes widen as I gaze upon the fallen Heuk Taedo. He lies there, defeated.
How did I win this? Even in victory, I’m bewildered. How did this even happen?
‘Did I really win?’
Did I actually defeat that monster? It’s incomprehensible. How is this possible?
I was swinging my blade frantically, and somehow it came to this.
Moreover.
‘I thought I was losing at the end.’
My strength had been depleted; I could no longer continue fighting. And yet.
‘He came and helped me up.’
Heuk Taedo approached and lifted me to my feet, then simply collapsed.
‘…What is this? Did he intentionally lose?’
I wondered if he fell on purpose, but given his nature, that didn’t seem right.
Why did he grasp my hand and lift me up?
I cannot fathom it. I cannot understand, yet Heuk Taedo has long since lost consciousness.
“…”
With weary eyes, I regard the fallen man.
Someone rushed over and was placing Heuk Taedo onto a stretcher.
They appear to be martial artists of the Peng Clan. Heuk Taedo is being carried away.
No—Peng Dojun’s face still wore a smile.
One of absolute satisfaction.
I won the martial contest, yet why does he appear more satisfied than I?
Truly.
“He’s a strange man…”
Words that had been lodged in my chest slip out unbidden.
Haha.
As words spilled from my lips, laughter flowed out. Was I laughing because it was over, finding relief in the emptiness? No, that doesn’t seem right. This emotion isn’t simply that. This is.
‘Satisfaction.’
I’m satisfied. Strangely satisfied now that the match has ended.
I’m enjoying this. Yoo Cheon-gil told me to acknowledge that I was enjoying myself.
It seems his words were correct.
‘…I’m enjoying this.’
I do enjoy martial matches.
I hated pain and despised moving my body with an almost maddening intensity.
Yet during the fight, I didn’t concern myself with any of that.
Even when my body was cut and blood flowed so heavily that dizziness overtook me, it was the same.
I simply found it exhilarating to cross blades.
Drip, drip….
“Ugh….”
Something flows from my body. Blood. The bandages I’d wrapped to stop the bleeding come loose, trickling down steadily.
Because of this, I stumble and nearly collapse.
Thud-!
Someone catches me and supports my weight. I turn my gaze toward the steady hands.
“…Geombong?”
“….”
It’s Geombong. I don’t know when she appeared, but she was supporting me with somewhat vacant eyes.
“…What is this.”
When did she come up here? As I stare in bewilderment, she tightens her grip on my arm.
Moving slowly, I’m pulled down from the arena.
Soon I reach the waiting area.
The moment I settle into a seat safely, others approach. They appear to be a Physician.
“Please excuse me for a moment.”
The Physician asks permission and examines my body. After checking my wounds here and there, she quickly retrieves bandages.
As the Physician treats my body, she explains to me.
“First, allow me to congratulate you on your victory in the match. The wounds are not deep at the moment… however, your body has accumulated considerable fatigue.”
Her expression grows somewhat serious.
“You should prepare for the next match, but in this condition, I would recommend forfeiture… what are your thoughts on this.”
She recommends forfeiture. I must face the next final match immediately.
This time it’s not the next day—the match happens the same day.
So if my body is in this state, rather than forcing myself into the match, I should withdraw.
‘…Forfeiture.’
She’s right. For now, forfeiture is the correct choice. It’s obvious who my next opponent would be.
‘Geombong.’
That woman who supported me as I descended.
That woman watching me with expressionless black eyes.
Looking at the matchups, it’s obvious Geombong will win, and ultimately the final will be between Geombong and me.
‘Can I win?’
I don’t know. Even with perfect preparation, this is an opponent whose victory or defeat remains uncertain.
Stepping into a martial contest in this condition means certain defeat.
I knew that plainly enough.
“…It’s fine. I’ll do it.”
My mouth utters foolish words that contradict my reason.
“…Are you certain?”
“Yes.”
The Physician reacts with surprise. Even hearing that, I gave the same answer.
Then the Physician said nothing more and began applying medicinal salve to my wounds.
He didn’t speak further. As a Physician, he must be accustomed to this.
This foolish choice that martial artists make.
“Huuuh….”
I breathed, regulating my respiration. The heat still hadn’t subsided.
The aftermath of my fight with Heuk Taedo.
And moreover.
Zzzzzt-!
‘…Damn….’
The muscle soreness coursing through my entire body.
A side effect of Wol Cheon. Like before, every muscle in my body screams in agony.
Yet I didn’t open my mouth about it.
I felt it when I first used Wol Cheon, but Physicians don’t recognize this muscle soreness.
If I complained of pain, they’d only think my condition was worse.
So I simply kept silent and endured.
As I was rolling my eyes with weary gaze.
Tap.
Someone approached.
It was Geombong.
“…Why.”
I asked, looking at her.
“Don’t you have your next match?”
Geombong nods at my words.
“Then why are you here? Go prepare.”
“….”
She doesn’t answer. She simply stares at me intently.
What kind of gaze is that? I looked at her quietly. I couldn’t quite discern the emotion.
But, given the situation….
“Don’t tell me you’re worried?”
“….”
Geombong didn’t answer this time either, but somehow I felt certain that was the right answer.
I let out a soft chuckle.
“If you’re so worried, just let me win next time.”
“….”
Surprisingly, Geombong shook her head.
“You’re worried, but you won’t let me win?”
A nod.
“…What is that supposed to mean? Just go prepare for the match then. I need some rest.”
“….”
Geombong slowly retreated at my words, as if she would obey.
And with that, Geombong disappeared.
‘Ugh….’
My entire body aches.
Feeling that pain, I laughed. I’m enduring this stubbornly.
It would be simple to quit if it hurt, to abandon it if it were difficult.
Yet here I am, doing something so foolish just to persist. It’s absurd beyond measure.
‘This is all because of that old man.’
He needlessly breathed life into me.
He instilled this strange fervor into someone who was content living in ignorance.
I was certain it was all his doing.
‘Where did he even go?’
After barely managing to overcome this, where has Yoo Cheon-gil disappeared to?
It’s always like this.
When I need him, he’s never there.
This time is no exception.

* * *
While the Dragon Phoenix Conference was in full swing.
In the mountain range behind the venue, several figures gathered with stern expressions.
The garments they wore all bore a pale blue hue.
This attire marked them as members of the Martial Arts Alliance.
Among them, a middle-aged man who appeared to be the highest-ranking spoke to his subordinates in a grave voice.
“Disperse and search. Proceed with haste.”
Whoosh!
At his command, the personnel scattered in an instant. Not a moment of hesitation.
After the subordinates departed to carry out their orders, the man himself moved through the mountain range with a hardened expression.
‘Where could he have gone?’
The man was one of the Daeju who existed within the Martial Arts Alliance.
He was the Daeju of the investigation unit managed by Cheon Rijin-an, and he was moving through the mountain range to execute orders that had come directly from the strategist.
The content of the order was simple.
-A problem has been confirmed regarding the Baek Clan. The individual currently known as Baekcheon-in of the Baek Clan is suspected to be using a false identity and is presumed to be a remnant of the Demonic Cult.
-Upon discovery, subdue immediately and transport to the Martial Arts Alliance.
A mission combining investigation and suppression.
Moreover, a remnant of the Demonic Cult?
The Daeju’s brow furrowed at the thought.
‘The Demonic Cult…’
How could those beings, whom he thought had already vanished, resurface now?
And moreover.
‘In Hanan, the very center of the Orthodox Faction?’
It was unbelievable. Those vile creatures appearing once more.
For a Daeju who had experienced war in his childhood, this was utterly incomprehensible.
Thus, he would handle it by any means necessary.
According to these orders, Baekcheon-in was undoubtedly evil.
He had to capture him no matter what.
‘The last place he was spotted is here.’
Baekcheon-in, who had disappeared shortly after the conference ended.
Yet the last location where he was seen was precisely this mountain range.
The mountain range was patrolled ceaselessly by Martial Arts Alliance personnel, as if they were establishing a siege.
Entering might have been possible, but leaving would not have been easy.
This meant.
‘He is hiding somewhere within this mountain range.’
For whatever reason, he was keeping himself within the mountains.
I had to find him.
‘Where could he be?’
Traces of the Demonic Cult. In that war, the Daeju’s parents had also perished, and the war itself had been utterly horrific.
This peace was forged by enduring such a devastating time.
Unable to return to that moment, Daeju moved with relentless determination.
After moving for quite some time.
-Daeju.
A voice transmission reached my ears.
-We’ve discovered a trace.
*Screech.*
I halted my movement and immediately changed direction.
-Order all disciples to assemble.
-Understood.
After issuing further commands, I rushed toward the location where the voice transmission had come from.
After running for quite some time.
“It’s here.”
A disciple crouched on the ground.
I approached and surveyed the situation.
“…This is.”
Not footprints or any obvious traces.
“There are signs that the traces have been erased.”
Traces of something that had been deliberately concealed. Understanding this, I immediately unleashed my Gigam into the surroundings.
My sharp Gigam scattered meticulously across the area.
“…Found it.”
I finally located a specific position.
That’s the place.
-We move.
My voice grew quieter. It was closer than expected, so I lowered my tone.
As I led the group forward, a cave came into view.
Obstacles were scattered throughout, making the interior difficult to see clearly.
Yet it could not escape the investigation team’s notice.
-What should we do? Should we contact the combat unit….
A disciple spoke cautiously, but I shook my head.
-I don’t intend to engage in combat, but we’ll continue the investigation. Chung Ho, go to the main alliance headquarters and report this location.
-I receive your orders.
The man called Chung Ho turned back.
After sending him off, I pushed my body into the cave.
The cave was wider than expected.
I walked forward gradually, and soon the end of the passage came into view.
A rounded interior chamber. Someone stood within it.
I flinched at the sight.
‘What is this?’
I was taken aback. They weren’t even hiding.
They simply stood there.
The problem was.
‘I couldn’t sense their presence.’
Daeju couldn’t sense the presence of the figure standing before him. That was the problem.
In that moment.
“A visitor?”
“…!”
The standing figure turned his head and looked at Daeju.
Upon identifying the figure, Daeju immediately drew his sword.
Shing—!
“Baekcheon-in. We’ve received intelligence that you’re a remnant of the Demonic Cult. To verify this, you’ll need to come with me to the Alliance headquarters. Don’t cause unnecessary trouble—surrender peacefully.”
Daeju spoke, brandishing his sharp blade.
Then the standing figure, Baekcheon-in, laughed.
“…Amusing words indeed. Where did you obtain such information…?”
“I’ll hear your explanation at the Alliance headquarters.”
“…Sigh.”
Baekcheon-in furrowed his brow as if exasperated.
“Look here.”
Then he spoke, gazing beyond the darkness.
What is this?
‘Is someone there?’
While I was puzzled.
“I said this was becoming troublesome.”
At Baekcheon-in’s continued words.
“How amusing.”
“…!!”
The response came from directly behind Daeju.
Daeju spun around with startled eyes.
“What…?”
He saw figures collapsed on the ground. They were members of the investigation team he had brought.
All of them lay with their throats severed.
“What is this—”
At the sight, Daeju flinched.
Slice.
“Huh?”
Despite his body becoming rigid, his vision moved of its own accord.
It slowly twisted downward toward the floor. Only then did Daeju understand.
Ah.
My throat has been cut.
He realized.
Thud-thud-thud—
Daeju’s head drops to the ground, and his body collapses limply.
Daeju, called the Martial Arts Alliance’s greatest force, meets death without resistance.
Thud.
The figure who swiftly eliminated so many walks toward Baekcheon-in from the darkness.
His blue eyes gleam as he speaks to Baekcheon-in.
“Confirmed. The Young Master’s words appear to be correct.”
“….”
At those words, Baekcheon-in furrows his brow.
But the figure’s words do not cease.
“Begin the festival at once.”
The figure.
The Gungju sheathes his sword as he speaks.
Clang.
The blade enters its scabbard. With that sound, the Pacheon Gungju speaks.
“From this moment, I will kill Shin Chang and the Protagonist.”
At those words.
-Yes.
-We obey.
The darkness spreading in all directions responds.

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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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