The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 361

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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 361
I dragged my exhausted body forward, each step deliberate and measured.
Burning embers drifted through the sky like snow, and I watched them fade away before pressing onward.
“Ah, I’m so tired…”
The words escaped unbidden. It had been a long time since I felt this drained.
Not physically, but spiritually.
And my very soul felt exhausted.
I was nearly at my limit, if I was being honest.
[…]
Yoo Cheon-gil observed my condition and followed leisurely behind me.
His expression was laden with unspoken questions, yet he refrained from voicing them.
The reason was an implicit understanding between us.
We both knew we each harbored secrets, so we simply did not pry.
Should one of us ask something first,
‘I would have to answer as well.’
Thus, refraining from unnecessary questions had become a rule that had developed between him and me over our time together.
“Sigh.”
I steadied my breathing. That my body felt fatigued despite being in a spiritual realm meant my soul itself was weary.
Barely enduring this sensation, I pressed forward, and forward still.
‘There it is.’
In the distance, I could see Shin Chang.
He remained cradled within that luminous glow from before.
“…”
I stopped walking upon seeing this. There was no need to go further.
‘As I thought.’
The true nature of the light became clear to me. It was the woman who had taken physical form from the Evil Instrument.
Shin Chang’s former fiancée—the woman Yoo Cheon-gil had stolen away.
And moreover,
‘She was the light.’
The light that had existed within Shin Chang’s very being.
The moment I first laid eyes on him,
I had glimpsed something beyond that distant aura.
‘It did not seem to be a Guardian Spirit.’
Too insubstantial to be called a Guardian Spirit, yet too ambiguous to be called a lingering spirit.
I pondered briefly what to call this thing,
But ultimately, I settled on,
‘The dregs of attachment.’
A rather unflattering term.
An attachment someone had left behind.
Or perhaps,
Something that Shin Chang couldn’t let go of.
Perhaps it was an attachment he couldn’t release.
-My beloved.
A woman’s voice reached my ears.
-Please, stop now.
A tender voice accompanied a gentle hand that caressed his hair.
It appeared as though she were touching him, yet her touch never truly made contact.
“….”
Shin Chang remained on his knees, unable to utter a single word.
-You’re suffering so much. It’s alright to stop now.
The woman continued speaking regardless of Shin Chang’s state.
-I’m truly fine. So….
Just as she was continuing her words.
“How could I possibly do that?”
Shin Chang spoke.
“How could I ever let you go….”
His dying voice trembled faintly.
“I am still far from being able to release you….”
-My beloved….
“So… why….”
Shin Chang lifted his head to gaze upon the woman.
“Why did you leave without even granting me the chance to atone….”
-….
The woman fell silent.
Atonement.
That word lingered softly in my ears.
-I’m sorry.
At her brief apology, Shin Chang’s shoulders trembled.
“…No… That’s not it… You have nothing to apologize for….”
Weathered hands cradled Shin Chang’s face.
“…It is I who have failed. It is because I am worthless and contemptible….”
-That’s not true… My beloved….
“So….”
The hands that had been cradling his face carefully reached for her wrist. Yet they could not grasp it. Naturally, they merely passed through. Shin Chang’s pupils wavered at the sight.
Had I seen it wrong? Moisture seemed to glisten faintly upon his palms.
“…Please, do not go yet… Not yet… Not yet… Just a little longer….”
-….
A profound and earnest attachment.
Witnessing this, I scratched at my cheek.
“I normally wouldn’t pry, but….”
Unable to hold back any longer, I asked Yoo Cheon-gil.
“What is that situation?”
[….]
Yoo Cheon-gil was also gazing at the two of them with deepened eyes.
“No matter how I look at it, it doesn’t seem like the Old Man simply took something and plucked out eyes or anything like that. Am I wrong?”
[Everyone has their circumstances.]
“So. You’re telling me not to ask? It feels like I should know so I can help or something. If we leave it as is, he won’t be able to escape.”
He was buried in regret. That was Shin Chang’s state.
If left alone, nothing would be accomplished.
“Right now, that woman is sustaining Shin Chang’s life, but ultimately, she will be the one to consume him.”
A body rotting away due to the Evil Instrument.
The reason he survived without dying even in that state was not merely because Shin Chang was a strong martial artist.
‘She was sustaining his soul.’
That woman.
The lingering attachment remaining in Shin Chang’s body.
It must have been barely stretching out his lifeline.
Only, that too was now reaching its limit.
‘If this continues, the woman will disappear.’
That attachment will soon vanish as well.
If that happens, Shin Chang will awaken, that much is true.
“If we cannot resolve that attachment, his mind will be gone when he awakens.”
Even if not absolutely certain, the probability was high.
At least from what I could see.
[Are you saying you can help with that.]
Yoo Cheon-gil asked. I shook my head at those words.
“I don’t know. But I’m saying it might help.”
[….]
An ambiguous answer, but nothing more certain than this existed. I could unconditionally help? That was nonsense.
After hearing it, I had to decide whether I could or couldn’t.
After saying that, Yoo Cheon-gil maintained silence before finally opening his mouth.
[Do you know which clan that man Shin Chang belongs to.]
“Calling him ‘that man Shin’ sounds really strange….”
[Just answer.]
It seemed like a very important part, and Yoo Cheon-gil urged me to answer.
“The Sanseok Clan…. I know roughly.”
I didn’t know the details. I only knew roughly that Shin Chang’s clan was the Sanseok Clan.
[Yes. It is that man’s clan. And.]
Yoo Cheon-gil continued speaking with calmed eyes.
[It is also a clan that dreamed of rebellion.]
“…What?”
Bewildering words spilled from my lips.
Treason?
“Treason, you say?”
[At that time, the Lord of the Clan of the Jek family—this man’s father—joined hands with the Demonic Sect. It was to depose the League Leader of that era and become the League Leader himself.]
“I see….”
This was the first I’d heard of it. Such a massive incident had occurred, yet history knew nothing of it?
[It wasn’t known because it was hidden by any means necessary.]
“How was that even possible?”
[Because the Cheongwol Sect wanted to conceal it.]
“What?”
The Cheongwol Sect wanted to hide this?
[That era was an age of warfare. A time far more chaotic than now. If it became known that a prestigious clan had joined hands with the Demonic Sect and dreamed of treason, the circumstances would look far too damaging.]
“….”
[In the debate over whether to make a public example through complete execution or to conceal the scandal, they chose the latter.]
“…So they chose to conceal it?”
[Yes. The Lord of the Clan could be dealt with by severing his dantian. And the Younger Master would be handled the same way, after which they planned to install one of the Jek family’s illegitimate sons as the new Lord of the Clan.]
“….”
Rather than erase the family entirely, they would install a puppet and continue using the Jek family.
[And among them, the Younger Master was this man.]
An existence that should have disappeared alongside the Lord of the Clan, his dantian severed.
That was Shin Chang.
“But….”
Then how is he still alive?
[Originally, his dantian should have been severed and he should have been disposed of. I should have done it.]
“…!”
My eyes widened at those words. It meant that Yoo Cheon-gil was the one who should have executed Shin Chang.
[Yes, that’s how it should have been.]
He chuckled softly. Seeing that smile, I narrowed my eyes.
[I received a request, that’s all.]
“A request?”
[It was the earnest plea of some woman, begging me to spare that worthless man’s life.]
At those words, my gaze naturally turned toward Shin Chang.
“…So you deliberately acted differently?”
I’d heard he’d stolen his fiancée. This meant he hadn’t stolen her at all.
[She asked me to spare his life and give him a reason to live.]
“Then why pretend to steal his fiancée?”
He could have simply tried to keep him alive. Why go so far as to make it look like he’d stolen his betrothed?
To that question, Yoo Cheon-gil answered.
[He said he would die soon anyway.]
“…What?”
[Only a few months remained, after all. If I was going to die anyway, I thought I should become the reason he lived.]
“…Is that so?”
[Blinding him was the best I could do at the time. I needed justification for myself as well.]
I couldn’t seal his dantian, and since there was a mission, all I could manage was rendering one eye useless?
Hearing that, I let out a short laugh.
[Why are you laughing?]
“If you weren’t going to tell the whole story, you should have kept quiet from the start.”
There’s a limit to how much I can overlook the gaping holes in your words.
“Old Man.”
[What is it?]
“What did you give up?”
[….]
Yoo Cheon-gil falters at my question.
“If the Jek family truly dreamed of rebellion as you say, and you were secretly trying to prevent it, then a single eye wouldn’t have been enough.”
He took away his fiancée and blinded him.
Could that be forgiven?
“No.”
Absolutely not. Yet Shin Chang survived.
He not only survived but rose to the position of League Leader.
Perhaps his status as a war hero played a role, but would that alone have been sufficient?
‘Never.’
The fact that he could rise despite such a background meant someone had completely concealed it.
“You must have sacrificed quite a lot, Old Man. Isn’t that right?”
[…Be quiet.]
Yoo Cheon-gil clicks his tongue and turns away.
He gave something up. Yoo Cheon-gil must have done something for Shin Chang.
Without that, this situation would never have come to pass.
Moreover.
‘That woman as well.’
The woman Shin Chang could never let go of must have done the same.
So that’s how it was.
-Jek Lang….
“…I am a sinner….”
-No, you are not. You have no sin.
“No…. Ignorance is indeed a sin.”
The sin of knowing nothing.
Seeing this.
‘Shin Chang seems to know the circumstances.’
I don’t know when he found out, but he seemed to know as well.
-Don’t carry sins you did not commit in your heart.
The woman smiled gently as she watched Shin Chang.
-You’ve worked so hard all this time.
“…Atonement has no end.”
-….
Atonement. At that word, the woman’s brow furrowed slightly.
-My love.
Her voice gained an edge of resolve.
-Atonement for what purpose?
“What….”
-If it’s atonement only for your own feelings… then nothing can ever be accomplished. Do you truly not understand?
“….”
-Don’t live for those who have been forgotten… Such things hold no meaning.
‘Hmm.’
Watching her, I ran my tongue across my teeth inside my mouth.
At the same time, I confirmed the limit within me.
‘…Perhaps once more.’
Once more ahead. It seemed barely possible.
Uuuung.
With barely mustered strength, I manifested a talisman in my hand.
I immediately grasped it and crumpled it.
Crackle.
The talisman crumpled and vanished.
Shhhhh—!!
Light flowing from my feet enveloped the woman.
-…Ah.
The woman’s eyes widened as she felt something.
Then.
Swiftly.
“…!!”
My hand fully touched Shin Chang’s cheek.
Feeling the warmth, Shin Chang urgently wrapped his hand around my wrist.
“Ah….”
I could feel it. He seemed deeply moved.
-My love.
The woman spoke.
-I won’t ask you to forget me. I cannot do so myself, so I don’t wish to burden you with the impossible. But.
The woman smiled once more.
-Could you not find happiness for my sake? Show me that smile I once cherished.
“…I….”
-This place is too cold and dark. Because someone as warm as you exists here, it becomes such an unbearable place. So now, please rise.
-Don’t live for atonement. Live for me. That’s what I wanted.
“…Ah….”
-I’m sorry.
The woman apologized.
-I’m sorry for leaving first. I’m sorry for not speaking. It was something I truly wanted to say.
“…Don’t apologize…. It’s more my fault for not knowing….”
-Will you forgive me?
“I have never resented you.”
-That’s right. You’re that kind of person.
The woman’s hands gently cupped Shin Chang’s cheeks.
-So am I. I do. I’ve never resented you either.
“….”
-Be happy for me. That’s all I need.
Shin Chang lowered his head.
-Can you do that?
The woman asked once more.
“…I… will do so…. I… shall do this.”
A voice trembling with tears could be heard.
-Thank you.
Upon hearing his answer, the woman’s form began to change.
Light grew stronger and gradually began to scatter.
-My love.
“Ah… Ah…. Don’t go…!”
Shin Chang desperately tried to hold her, but instead she nestled into his embrace and wrapped her arms around his neck.
-I love you. From the beginning, and now as well.
At her whispered words, Shin Chang’s body stiffened.
His eyes closed at those words.
“…I love you too.”
After hesitation, the words he spoke seemed to satisfy her. The woman nodded.
-I’m truly happy.
Along with words she repeated countless times.
Whoooosh.
The woman scattered away.
As I watched that happen, the woman’s gaze suddenly turned toward me.
Her delicate features and modest lips curved into a smile toward me.
Thank you.
It seemed she had said exactly that.
Whoooosh.
Finally, she completely scattered and vanished.
“….”
I watched Shin Chang, who now stood alone, with my gaze.
His head lowered gradually until his chin touched the ground.
His face, cradled in both hands, seemed desperate to hide his expression.
As if channeling his master’s emotions.
A soft, prolonged sound escaped him.
The world was gradually turning white.
“…It’s over.”
The white world announced its end and arrived.
I surrendered my body to sensation and closed my eyes.

* * *
When I opened my eyes again, a familiar ceiling greeted me.
I lifted my body.
Sunlight streaming through the window frame made my eyes squint.
“…Mm….”
Rubbing my eyes as I rose.
“You’re awake.”
A voice came from beside me.
I turned my head.
A large Old Man was gazing down at me quietly.
“…Ah, yes.”
I asked awkwardly upon seeing him.
“You’ve awakened.”
The same question.
At those words, the Old Man spoke.
“Yes.”
As the Old Man spoke, Shin Chang smiled faintly.
“It seems you’ve finally awakened.”
His expression was that of someone waking from a very long dream.

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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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