The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 303
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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 303
Fear.
It was only an instant, yet the fact that Maehua Daeju experienced such an emotion caused his energy to surge forth like boiling water.
Kuguguguung-!!!
The residence trembled. The collision of their overwhelming auras shook the very air.
“Ugh…!!”
“Kugh!!”
The martial artists nearby swallowed hard and dropped to their knees.
“Your gaze is sharp, Gwima. So you truly wish to see blood spilled.”
“You were the one who crossed the line first. Isn’t it rather petty to blame me now?”
Even under Maehua Daeju’s pressure, Gwima did not yield an inch.
Witnessing this, a flicker of surprise crossed Maehua Daeju’s eyes.
‘What in the world.’
Who is this man? The question had plagued him since learning Gwima’s identity.
He had participated in the Demon Slayer Tournament himself, and though he had never met Gwima directly, he had heard rumors about him.
But.
‘What exactly is this young man?’
Every time he looked at Gwima before him, bewilderment struck him.
‘It’s not Reverse Reincarnation.’
Merely maintaining a youthful appearance was not a consequence of Reverse Reincarnation.
At first, he had assumed the transformation came from Reverse Reincarnation, but now it seemed otherwise.
‘He is strong.’
A strength felt instinctively.
Gwima before him had reached the realm of an absolute master.
This was absolutely impossible if he had undergone Reverse Reincarnation.
Physical degeneration. In pursuit of youth, one loses far too much.
The enlightenment pursued as a martial artist remains, but the energy gained from it, the strengthened body accumulated over years, and the vessel that formed its foundation—all are normally lost.
‘How does Gwima.’
Maintain such power while preserving this youth? What is the reason?
At least, it was impossible by Maehua Daeju’s understanding.
In that moment.
“Stop changing the subject.”
Kiiking-kik.
Piercing through Maehua Daeju’s pressure, Gwima took a step forward.
“Answer the question I asked first.”
As if such pressure meant nothing, his eyes burned with madness, fixed solely upon Maehua Daeju.
“That information you just mentioned. How did you come to know it?”
“That reaction—it seems safe to assume my words were correct?”
“Aha ha.”
Kugugugeuk–!!!
Gwima laughed and unleashed his aura. It was a terrifying killing intent.
“Are my words not reaching your ears? Answer what I’m saying first.”
“I asked the question first, Gwima. You’re the one who should answer.”
“Damn, you’re really getting on my nerves.”
The outpouring of energy did not cease. Yet it did not intensify further. Gwima’s face twisted as he spoke to Maehua Daeju.
“If you don’t answer properly, there will be no more cooperation between us.”
“What did you just—?”
“I’ll make sure you can’t accomplish any of what you’ve been trying to build.”
“Ha. Are you trying to threaten me?”
“Yes. A threat.”
“If that happens, you’ll suffer great losses too, won’t you?”
“Perhaps you will. We can simply leave this place and be done with it. Besides, the information from this side has already been passed to the other side anyway. What would we have to fear?”
“….”
Maehua Daeju closed his mouth.
“So choose wisely. It would be better for you to speak truthfully. Otherwise… my lips might become loose too.”
I could easily pass your information to Hwasan. That was the meaning behind my words.
“…This is absurd.”
Upon hearing that, Maehua Daeju actually smiled.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Information far beyond that is already being passed along. And now you try to threaten me with this? Could it be you?”
“What do you mean—”
“The double agent Wol-hyeop mentioned. Is it you?”
“…What?”
At Maehua Daeju’s words, Gwima’s face twisted.
Watching Gwima’s reaction, Maehua Daeju continued.
“Wol-hyeop told me.”
Wol-hyeop. At that name, something inside Gwima trembled slightly.
“That he’d planted a double agent within Patcheon Gung. Moreover.”
Water seeps into the thoughts blooming in Gwima’s mind.
“Your true reason for coming here was to find the Celestial Demon’s bloodline.”
“….”
From Gwima, who heard those words.
‘Surely not.’
Suspicion bloomed so gently.
* * *
“Hmm.”
I returned to my residence and loosened my muscles, my thoughts drifting.
‘I wonder if it’s happened by now?’
After completing the initial investigation and returning, Maehua Daeju disappeared, claiming he had something to look into.
It wasn’t simply a disappearance, at least not from my perspective.
‘He went to meet with the Patcheon Gung faction.’
I could tell from his reaction. The Celestial Demon’s bloodline—information I’d learned from Seongheon. When Maehua Daeju heard this, his expression was far from ordinary.
‘He didn’t know.’
He wouldn’t have been aware of information at that level. That’s why he reacted that way.
‘What matters here.’
Is that Maehua Daeju didn’t even suspect me upon hearing it.
Setting aside the matter of double agents, the fact that he reacted that way upon hearing about the Celestial Demon’s bloodline meant something.
‘His trust with the Patcheon Gung faction isn’t that deep.’
The situation became clear. By now, he was likely quite shaken.
‘Of course, it could be otherwise.’
But the possible paths had narrowed. These were things I could be certain of.
‘Patcheon Gung and Maehua Daeju are collaborating, but their bond isn’t deep.’
Furthermore.
‘If this is the case, Maehua Daeju’s objective might be….’
Slightly different from Patcheon Gung’s objective.
This made things easier.
‘Even a slight shake could cause significant collapse.’
Even a small disturbance could crush what lay within.
Perhaps this was that critical moment.
‘I hope it goes well.’
But it might not, so I needed to devise a backup plan as well.
Just as I was about to turn my thoughts to that.
Crack—!
“Ugh!”
I took an impact to my forehead and was driven backward.
“Your mind wanders too much.”
“Ow….”
It was the Sword Emperor. He’d struck my forehead with his wooden sword.
“My apologies.”
I grasped my forehead as it slowly began to swell and spoke.
It throbbed painfully.
“….”
The Sword Emperor, observing me, narrowed his eyes and retrieved his wooden sword.
“Let’s stop for today.”
“What? But….”
“Continuing further won’t help you focus. Return.”
“….”
I had nothing to say—he was right. My mind was too cluttered with thoughts from what had happened during the day.
“…My apologies.”
“….”
The Sword Emperor paid no mind to my apology. After all, I was the only one losing anything from this.
Just as I was about to end this training session.
“Um. Sword Emperor.”
At my call, the Sword Emperor stopped and turned to face me.
He said nothing—a gesture inviting me to speak.
“Do you perhaps know anything about Gwima-”
The moment I began asking in response to his silence.
A chill swept through the air.
‘…Ugh.’
I shuddered. The Sword Emperor’s expression upon hearing the name Gwima was far too menacing.
“I see. You mentioned being entangled with that man.”
“Ah, yes….”
“Do not entangle yourself with him.”
“What?”
The Sword Emperor spoke with unmistakable firmness.
“Do not entangle yourself with that man.”
“But… why?”
“He is repulsive and filthy.”
“….”
I was taken aback. For the Sword Emperor to express himself so decisively.
‘It’s not as though I wanted to be entangled with him in the first place.’
As I stood there scratching my cheek with that thought.
“Now that we’ve confirmed that man’s presence here, refrain from involving yourself further if possible.”
“What?”
“It is time for me to move as well.”
“…You mean the Sword Emperor will take action?”
“Indeed. Now that I know Gwima is here, there must be something he intends to accomplish in this place.”
“….”
The Sword Emperor’s demeanor was sharp and cutting.
“…You will move directly?”
With Patcheon Gung’s involvement confirmed, the Sword Emperor would act.
His words gave me pause.
‘If he becomes involved… will things turn out alright?’
Something felt like it would go awry.
I couldn’t be certain whether this unexpected turn of events would benefit me.
‘If they handle it on their own, it would certainly make things easier for me.’
The root of my doubt and concern was….
‘The Heretic.’
The Heretic’s curse techniques and possession rituals that I had identified.
That was what troubled me.
‘Tsk.’
As I swallowed a silent sigh, the Sword Emperor moved his feet.
“….”
The conversation ended there.
“Hmm….”
After watching the Sword Emperor’s back, I moved as well. His matter was his matter, but.
‘First, I need to verify something.’
Now was the time to complete the remaining verification.
* * *
As the night deepened, I emerged from my residence with Sochul Daeju.
Thud-thud-thud-!!
Moving quietly, we reached our destination. It was that cliff we had visited during the day.
“You intend to enter this place again?”
Sochul Daeju’s expression suggested he questioned the necessity, but.
“It has to be done now.”
I was resolute.
“There are no watching eyes around, correct?”
“…I don’t sense any.”
I nodded at Sochul Daeju’s words. It meant no one had followed us.
This was precisely why I had deliberately moved openly with Sochul Daeju.
The message was clear—don’t bother following since I’m moving with the Daeju.
Thus we descended the cliff. Naturally, Sochul Daeju carried me down once more.
Just as we were about to enter the cliff.
“Well then. Disciple, go back up and keep watch for me.”
“Pardon?”
Sochul Daeju was taken aback by my words.
“You want me to go back up?”
“Yes. Keep guard for me.”
“That’s rather dangerous, Master.”
He was essentially asking if I knew what might happen inside and was going alone.
“It’s fine. Hurry.”
“….”
“It’s better to keep watch from outside anyway. There’s only one entrance. I’ll just verify something and come right back out. Please.”
I was resolute. Sochul Daeju began to protest but stopped himself.
“…Understood.”
“I’m counting on you.”
I succeeded in sending Sochul Daeju away.
As he said, there was only one entrance, so it was true that the outside would be easier to guard.
But even if that weren’t the case.
‘There’s nothing here worth showing anyone.’
What I was about to do was not something meant for others’ eyes.
I entered through the same path I had taken during the day. Since I had already disarmed the traps, there were no problems.
“…Phew.”
The damp and humid space. Upon reaching it, I pressed my hand against the ground again.
Uuuuung.
That sensation from before returned. I moved, searching for a spot with a denser presence.
After moving about for a moment, I finally discovered the location I had been seeking.
‘Here it is.’
A place where vitality felt unusually concentrated.
Sensing that spot, I gazed down at the earth.
“…”
Without hesitation, I drew the sword from my waist.
The Divine Blade—a premium weapon crafted by the Dang Clan.
Using it.
Thwack!
I dug into the ground.
Thwack! Thwack thwack!
I wondered if it was right to dig earth with a blade bearing such deep history and such a hefty price.
“…It digs quite well.”
It was more satisfying than expected. Whether it was because the blade was exceptional or the earth was damp, I couldn’t say.
Either way, I was quite pleased.
Thwack! Thwack thwack!!
I dug for a considerable time. Digging and digging, and as the pit gradually deepened.
Clink!
“…!”
Something hard struck the blade’s tip.
This was it.
I sheathed the sword and clawed at the earth with my hands.
Before long, the soil cleared away, revealing the stake I had seen at the abandoned house before.
I lifted it.
The shape, size, and texture were identical. However.
‘…This one.’
Several sheets of paper resembling talismans were affixed to the stake.
“Ha.”
The moment I saw it, I exhaled sharply.
The reason was simple. This talisman.
“…Insane.”
It was identical to the talismans those Heretics used in my past life.
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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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