The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 423

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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 423
[Hm?]
The Celestial Demon uttered a brief response. Hearing that, my brow furrowed.
‘What?’
What kind of reaction was that? The conversation was directly about him, yet he acted as though he didn’t understand.
“A covenant with the Celestial Demon, you say?”
The words tumbled from Shin Chang’s lips. My reaction upon hearing them was no less bewildered.
“…You mean to say you made a covenant with the Heaven of the Demonic Cult?”
None other than the source of calamity itself. The Great Demon Lord who had sought to ignite war and drench the Central Plains in blood.
You accepted negotiations with the Demonic Cult because of a covenant with him?
‘Does that even make sense?’
Such words could never have come from the mouth of one from the Celestial Demon who saved the world.
And yet.
[I don’t understand what you’re saying.]
The man himself claimed ignorance. That made it even more absurd.
‘He doesn’t know about it?’
The Celestial Demon who supposedly made the covenant claims not to understand. Then what is Shin Chang now?
“That is correct.”
Shin Chang affirmed my words.
“…How could such a thing be possible?”
I asked him cautiously about it, and with a creaking sound, Shin Chang rose from his seated position.
As the eight-foot Giant stood, he nearly obscured the window entirely.
“….”
“….”
What did he intend to say with that look in his eyes? Just as I was about to swallow hard.
“I cannot speak of it.”
“…Pardon?”
Words that deflated the tension came forth. He couldn’t speak of it?
“Such is the nature of the covenant.”
“…No.”
After building up the entire atmosphere, he couldn’t speak of it. This was ridiculous.
‘Could it be.’
Had Shin Chang also fallen under the influence of Patcheon Gung’s power? I narrowed my eyes and stared, but no aura was visible.
Whether he was aware of my gaze or not, Shin Chang calmly looked down into my eyes and spoke his piece.
“The negotiations will take place seven days hence. At noon, within the Alliance. The Demonic Cult’s people will likely arrive here within five days.”
“….”
“Be prepared.”
“…Understood.”
Five days. The Demonic Cult.
The Young Master.
I turned those words over in my mind and clicked my tongue inwardly.
“Understood.”
There was nothing more to discuss with someone unwilling to speak. I bowed respectfully to Shin Chang and turned to leave.

* * *
Returning to the quarters provided by the Bang Clan, I pondered deeply.
‘What could it be.’
What kind of agreement would manifest like this? Or did such an agreement even exist in the first place?
If it truly did exist.
“Why don’t you know about it?”
I placed the Divine Sword before me and asked.
[Who knows.]
The Celestial Demon responded.
[It’s not in my memory.]
“Do you not remember it, or did it never happen?”
The answer would depend on the circumstances.
[Who knows.]
“…No, why do you answer so vaguely?”
A simple yes or no would suffice, but “who knows”? Exasperated, I pressed further.
[Because it cannot be known.]
“Pardon?”
[It’s not in my memory, but it’s ambiguous to say it never happened. My memories are not intact.]
“Your memories are not intact?”
[At least, I have no memory of the final moment. It may have occurred then.]
The final moment, you say.
“When you died?”
[Yes.]
“…Doesn’t the situation seem strange for an agreement to have been made then?”
It was the moment of death itself. I didn’t even know if Shin Chang was present, and it made no sense to claim an agreement was made with him at that moment.
It was problematic enough that it was supposedly with Shin Chang, not even with Yoo Cheon-gil.
‘So wouldn’t it be more reasonable to assume no such agreement existed.’
As I was thinking this.
[I might have done so.]
“…Hmm?”
[That’s why I cannot give you a definite answer.]
“…That’s quite an ambiguous statement.”
I rubbed my stiffened neck. I couldn’t trust that one’s words. If I couldn’t trust Yoo Cheon-gil, why would I trust the Celestial Demon?
‘…Looking at it plainly.’
Based on what I just heard, the Demonic Cult’s conference would be seven days away. The Demonic Cult would arrive in five days.
‘This agreement stems from a secret accord between the Celestial Demon and Shin Chang.’
Because of that, Shin Chang couldn’t utter a word.
He had even pushed forward despite the obvious opposition from the Maeng Sect’s Elders and upper management.
‘While relinquishing his own position, no less.’
I pressed my brow. How was I supposed to make sense of this?
“Tch.”
First, I rose to my feet. There was someone I needed to find.
The table in front of me. The letter on it was the cause of all this.
‘Convenient timing—I have questions to ask anyway.’
There was someone here who would be perfect to ask.

* * *
“It’s been a while.”
“…Hello.”
When I arrived at the location written in the letter, a figure greeted me.
She was a woman of refined appearance. Though her age seemed comparable to mine, the years within her were anything but.
“I bow before the Sword Empress.”
The woman’s identity was the Sword Empress—one of the Celestial Demon and currently in a weakened state due to the Banro Hwandong.
“I apologize for calling you so suddenly.”
She spoke to me with a smile.
“Not at all. I actually had questions for you as well, Sword Empress.”
“Oh my, is that so? How fortunate.”
The Sword Empress poured tea into a cup before me. A gesture inviting me to sit.
“Now that I think about it, the child has been looking for Bang Disciple quite often.”
“…What?”
It was startling news. If the Sword Empress was referring to someone as “the child.”
‘…Not my sister?’
It had to be Bang Seo-jin, my sister. That lunatic was looking for me?
“Why…?”
“…You have quite the wary expression.”
“…It doesn’t seem like it would be for any normal reason.”
“Fortunately, it was a perfectly reasonable one. She was worried whether you were eating well.”
“…You’re lying, aren’t you?”
I asked, grimacing at the absurd claim.
“…Ha ha…. You two siblings have quite the good relationship.”
The Sword Empress spoke with amusement at my reaction.
“It’s not a lie that Seo-jin searches for you often.”
“So the concern part was the lie?”
“That’s the main point, actually.”
“…Why are you avoiding…”
Answering. I had wanted to say that, but held back. I already knew it was a lie anyway. That madwoman wouldn’t worry about anyone’s meals.
“The reason I’ve called upon you, Bang Disciple, is because I have a request.”
“…A request, you say?”
“Yes.”
A request from the Celestial Demon. Before the Sword Empress could respond, I asked.
“First, I must inquire.”
“Yes?”
“…Am I permitted to refuse?”
Every request from these people has been utterly unreasonable. So I asked first whether this was something I could refuse.
“Of course. Feel free to decline without worry.”
“Ah. Then I’m relieved.”
“Yes. It’s truly a trivial matter.”
“Then I shall listen carefully.”
If I could refuse, I should refuse. The moment I thought that.
“Could you perhaps return something your master took?”
“Damn it all.”
“Yes?”
“…Ah, my apologies. It slipped out.”
Crude words escaped my lips without my knowing.
‘This accursed old man.’
By now, it had become a familiar refrain. Every request was about retrieving something Yoo Cheon-gil had taken.
‘What else did he steal?’
From the Demonic Cult, he stole a sword and wood.
From Paewang, he took an armband, and from Hwasan, he even traded away a robe for no good reason.
‘At this point, isn’t he just a thief?’
What hero of the world? He’s nothing but a thief’s spawn.
My teeth ground together.
“…Isn’t this a request I cannot refuse?”
I wasn’t accusing the Sword Empress, but I asked with confusion.
“No. As I said, you’re free to decline.”
“However…when you say an object.”
“It’s not something terribly important. I simply wondered if you might know of it.”
“…What sort of object?”
“Just an ornament.”
“An ornament?”
I tilted my head. An ornament?
“Yes. It’s something he took. Do you happen to know of it?”
“…No, I’m afraid not.”
Among the things I saw in Bigo, there was nothing resembling an ornament. At least, that’s what my memory told me.
“…I see.”
The Sword Empress’s expression reflected disappointment at my words.
Her reaction was subtly different. It felt distinct from the others.
“If you don’t remember, that’s fine. You needn’t worry about it. So, what does Bang Disciple wish to discuss with me?”
I smile again. Even after undergoing half-reincarnation, the passage of time still shows in one’s expressions and gestures—there’s no helping that.
“Ah, well… I’m simply asking.”
I wet my lips slightly before posing the question to her.
“By chance, do you have anything to say regarding Gungwi?”
Clang—!
“…Huh?”
The moment I finished speaking, a sound erupted. Where did it come from? As my gaze shifted, I realized it was none other than the Sword Empress’s hand.
The cup she’d been holding shattered. Completely pulverized, in fact.
“…Sword Empress?”
“Oh my, I apologize. This cup must be quite fragile.”
She smiled brightly and pulled out cloth to wipe away the water and debris.
Was it a misperception? Her expression just now…
‘…Damn, that was terrifying.’
It didn’t seem like a misperception. Her eyes were smiling, but her mouth was not.
It was entirely different from the affectionate face she’d shown moments before.
“…Sword Empress… are you… truly alright?”
“Don’t concern yourself. It seems cups these days are much more fragile than they used to be.”
“…”
That couldn’t be right. This cup shouldn’t be that fragile…
“So, about that… no, about Gungwi—what exactly did you wish to ask?”
“…Well, I was curious about what sort of person she is, so I wanted to inquire a bit…”
“…What sort of person, you say.”
The Sword Empress’s expression vanished at my words. Even the smile in her eyes disappeared.
“Why are you curious about that?”
Her voice had grown frigid. Brrr, it was cold. The very air seemed to freeze.
“Well, it’s not anything else… I simply need to learn about her, but there’s no one I can ask.”
“You need to learn about Gungwi? If that’s the case…”
The Sword Empress’s eyes narrowed, focusing on something.
“There should be one person around you whom you could ask.”
“…”
Was she referring to the Sword Emperor? Of course, since they were colleagues, she would naturally know he was by my side.
“I’ve already attempted that.”
I’d tried long ago. While training with the Sword Emperor, I’d casually probed for information.
‘You dare speak such a filthy name. If you value your tongue, keep your mouth shut.’
‘Yes, sir.’
I was thoroughly shut down with a warning that would never be repeated.
‘…I’ve never seen the Sword Emperor dislike something so intensely.’
Though the Sword Emperor was naturally cold-natured, I’d never witnessed him harbor such contempt before.
“…Mm.”
The Sword Empress nods at those words.
“An expression, you say. There’s nothing particularly apt about it…. If I had to choose one.”
The Sword Empress speaks while looking at me.
“Someone you must not become entangled with. That would be the most fitting description.”
“Someone I must not become entangled with….”
“This is merely an expression, but it is also the counsel I can offer you.”
“Counsel?”
“Yes. Counsel. Do not become entangled with her. Should you become entangled by misfortune.”
The Sword Empress speaks with a grave expression.
“That end will be destruction.”
“….”
“I pray you remember my words.”
It was a warning that made my heart ache. But what could I do?
‘…No matter how I look at it.’
Once things reach this point, entanglement is inevitable.
My cursed misfortune was telling me exactly that.
Bitterly so.

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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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