The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 424

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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 424
Several days had passed since arriving at Hanam.
Nothing particularly significant had occurred in that time. There was no reason for anything major to happen just yet.
I had spent those days training under the Sword Emperor, and as always, I was struggling to teach the Dang Clan’s reckless fool the Manceon Hwau.
Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat!!!
“Oh.”
A brilliant cascade of projectiles scattered outward. Watching them rain down, I let out a small exclamation of admiration.
“Seems like he’s got it.”
Unprecedented progress. What stubbornly refused to work finally came together. Of course, it wasn’t perfectly executed yet.
But he had grasped the essence of it.
“…Huff…. Hah….”
Dok-ryong breathed heavily, exhausted. He’d been hurling projectiles for nearly half an hour—he had every right to be tired.
“…Last time you couldn’t even grasp the feel of it, but now you finally have.”
The Manceon Hwau I’d barely manifested when fighting that Peng Clan Member. I’d performed well then, but lost the sensation, only regaining it after several months.
‘Is that why they say not to disturb someone during enlightenment.’
The moment I lost that feeling, it became like this—I finally understood why they warned against interference.
“You can’t continue, can you?”
“…Huff…. Y-yes…. I c-can’t….”
Dok-ryong wiped away the sweat dripping from his chin as he answered. He was right—I could see he’d reached his limit.
“Then we’ll stop here for today.”
“…Thank you….”
Dok-ryong collapsed to the ground. The sight of him drenched in sweat and trembling was slightly amusing. Still, he’d worked hard, so I should be gracious about it.
I chuckled and walked away. It wasn’t mockery. When I trained under the Sword Emperor, I looked exactly like that.
‘I’m hardly in a position to mock anyone.’
With that thought, I moved forward.
“Wash up then. I’m heading out first.”
“Y-yes….”
Dok-ryong barely managed a response before collapsing flat on the training ground. Seeing this, I turned to leave.
Cheon Rijin-an had summoned me, so I couldn’t linger long.

* * *
I arrived at Cheon Rijin-an’s office. Making my presence known with a light sound, I entered—and sure enough, letters were stacked all the way to the ceiling.
“I heard you called for me.”
At my words, a gaunt old man peered out from behind the pile of correspondence, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly.
“You’re late.”
“…I came as quickly as I could?”
Late? Nonsense. I’d arrived far sooner than when he’d summoned me. Exasperated, I spoke, and Cheon Rijin-an replied.
“I know. I simply wanted to pick a quarrel with you.”
“…”
His shamelessness left me speechless. Why did this old man only tease me like this? He didn’t seem to do it to the others. He was always needling me.
“Sit.”
“Where?”
There was still nowhere to sit. I wondered if he meant for me to squat on the floor.
“Right there in front of you.”
“…You can’t mean this?”
Cheon Rijin-an pointed somewhere. Between the scattered letters covering the floor, I could make out a table and a teacup.
I’m going to lose my mind.
“Couldn’t you organize this a bit? I can barely see anything.”
Despite his neat appearance, his office was a complete disaster—truly puzzling. As I voiced this observation.
“I simply have no time to organize.”
“…Then couldn’t you at least have someone else do it?”
At my suggestion, Cheon Rijin-an chuckled softly.
“Do you think I’d let someone else handle documents of such importance?”
“…Hmm.”
That was a fair point. But then.
“How can you possibly leave such important documents scattered on the floor like this?”
I spoke with reason, but Cheon Rijin-an simply stared at me intently.
“Sit.”
“…Ah, yes.”
His tone made clear he would tolerate no further argument. It seemed I had nothing more to say anyway. I’d been about to press further, but I clamped my mouth shut.
I squeezed myself between the documents and sat. Looking at the tea before me, I spoke to Cheon Rijin-an.
“You seem quite fond of this tea.”
Mentioning the tea I’d drunk every time I visited, Cheon Rijin-an approached and spoke.
“I’m not fond of it.”
“…Then why do you keep drinking it?”
“The reason I called you today is something else entirely.”
“…”
Enough. I should stop talking. Everything I say gets cut short. So I gazed at the old man with indifference.
“You’re aware that the Demonic Cult arrives today, aren’t you?”
“…Yes, I am.”
I couldn’t help but shift my focus to a matter demanding my full attention. I scratched my cheek and straightened my posture.
Five days.
Exactly five days had passed since I arrived at the League, and according to Shin Chang, the Demonic Cult would arrive in Hanam five days later.
That meant today was the day.
“We’ve confirmed the delegation is coming, but we don’t know exactly how many will arrive.”
Cheon Rijin-an’s face was sharp as he spoke—far more so than usual. His discomfort was written plainly across his features.
“We’re preparing to receive them with assigned personnel, but we can’t afford to let our guard down.”
“That would certainly be the case.”
“We don’t know what they’ll do, and frankly, I dislike the very idea of bringing such dangerous elements into Hanam. But if that’s the League Leader’s will, there’s nothing to be done about it.”
Though he spoke at length, Cheon Rijin-an’s words ultimately conveyed that he would never have done this himself, and that he disapproved of Shin Chang’s insistence.
“I’ve assembled the personnel.”
….
At Cheon Rijin-an’s words, I clicked my tongue inwardly. The fact that he’d specifically summoned me to say this made his intention clear.
“Do I need to go?”
….
This time, Cheon Rijin-an fell silent. Yes, that reaction was answer enough.
“It seems I do need to go.”
“That’s right.”
I had to go meet the Demonic Cult members. It meant I was part of the personnel he’d assembled.
“Since this carries symbolic weight, someone of significance from our side must step forward. You understand that.”
“How unfortunate that it’s me.”
…Tsk tsk.
Perhaps my comment about being unfortunate amused him. Cheon Rijin-an let out a laugh.
“That’s right. For now, you’re our greatest symbol.”
….
I didn’t deny it. I knew it myself.
The hero of Sichuan and the savior of Hanam.
Not only did I cut the Sword Demon in two, but I also stood against the Demonic Cult’s forces and saved Shin Chang.
I was no longer called a Disciple, and my position within the current sect was nothing short of a symbol.
A symbol of the younger generation.
Though it left me feeling oddly unsettled to be called such.
So I didn’t deny it and simply chose to accept it cleanly. Denying it wouldn’t change anything anyway.
“I received a letter.”
Cheon Rijin-an handed me a document.
“In one hour’s time. After that, the Demonic Cult will arrive at the entrance.”
“…One hour.”
Not much time remained. I scratched the back of my head vigorously.
“Is there anything I need to prepare?”
“Nothing.”
“Understood. I suppose I just need to prepare myself mentally.”
“….”
At my words, Cheon Rijin-an stared at me intently. What kind of look was that? As I met his gaze in confusion.
“If you wish, you need not go.”
“…Pardon?”
An unexpected statement.
“I don’t have to go?”
“That’s right.”
“…Yes.”
In that brief moment, my mind raced. I needed to understand the meaning of his words and calculate whether it was truly acceptable.
By the time my calculations were complete.
“It seems I must go, doesn’t it?”
I reached the conclusion that if I didn’t go, it would honestly be problematic.
“…Wouldn’t it?”
“It could be troublesome. However, it’s not a problem we cannot manage. The League currently has personnel who can substitute.”
“Mm.”
His words weren’t wrong. The replacement personnel he spoke of were indeed abundant right now.
‘…Just the Celestial Demons alone.’
Including Shin Chang, there were three.
Of course, the Sword Emperor and Sword Empress couldn’t step forward at the moment. But they still existed.
‘And there’s the Paewang.’
One of the Five Supreme Kings of All Heaven existed.
Even without me, there were those who overwhelmingly surpassed in prestige.
“I’ll go regardless.”
I declined Cheon Rijin-an’s proposal.
“That seems right.”
It was correct for me to go now. Dangerous and inconvenient as it was, the circumstances demanded it.
‘After all.’
They were people I had to face. Two days from now would be the same. In fact, that was more important.
‘The negotiations.’
Negotiations between the Orthodox Faction and the Demonic Cult. Just hearing the name was shocking.
“…I’ll head out for now. I need to begin preparations.”
“Very well.”
I rose to my feet. As I turned toward the door.
“Be careful.”
“….”
At Cheon Rijin-an’s words, I glanced back slightly. He was already holding a letter from the floor, his gaze not directed at me.
I wondered if I’d misheard, but seeing the letter he held, I confirmed I’d heard correctly.
“Grandfather, you’re holding the letter upside down.”
“….”
Cheon Rijin-an silently flipped the letter he’d been holding. Seeing that, I barely managed to suppress a smile.
“Thank you for your concern. I’ll be on my way.”
Creak, click.
I closed the door and stepped outside.
“Ah. The weather is remarkably fine.”
Looking at the sky, not a single cloud was visible. Certainly, it appeared to be pleasant weather.
‘Something.’
I felt oddly unsettled. Ominously so.

* * *
After about an hour had passed, the time that Cheon Rijin-an had mentioned drew near.
I changed into fresh clothes and arranged my appearance neatly.
“…Oh….”
The servant who had been adjusting my clothes let out an exclamation.
“You look absolutely magnificent.”
“…Thank you.”
I smiled awkwardly. Praise was pleasant, but I found it difficult to respond appropriately.
Even I had to admit I looked presentable. The transformation I’d undergone had clearly improved my appearance considerably.
“…Well then.”
With my clothes on, it was time to depart. Thinking thus, I stepped outside.
After walking a short distance through the interior, I reached my destination. The personnel were already assembled.
“Wol-hyeop.”
“Greetings.”
I saw the Daeju who belonged to the League. They appeared to be the personnel Cheon Rijin-an had assembled. And furthermore.
“You’ve arrived, junior.”
“….”
The Eunwol Sword and Sochul Daeju were present. They too seemed to be included in the group.
“All personnel have assembled. You may depart whenever ready.”
With the Daeju’s report, I moved forward. I was leading the way, after all.
‘Ah, this is burdensome.’
There was no helping it, but the weight of their gazes was truly uncomfortable. I led everyone outside toward the entrance.
“…They’re from the League.”
“Was that rumor actually true…?”
“It’s Wol-hyeop…?”
The eyes of everyone in Hanam turned toward us.
Interestingly, one in ten gazed with curiosity while nine in ten looked anxious. From their stares, I could sense a pervasive emotion.
‘They know.’
That the Demonic Cult was coming today.
That’s why they were so uneasy.
“Still, if Wol-hyeop is here….”
“And Sochul Daeju and the other Daeju….”
“Why on earth would the League Leader….”
Perhaps this was precisely why he deliberately positioned me at the forefront as a symbol.
‘Merely me.’
Could I truly bear the weight of their anxieties? The burden felt suffocating.
I pressed forward, deliberately ignoring the emotions and gazes around me.
[Oh ho. Who’s this?]
“….”
I froze.
The chilling spiritual transmission stopped me dead in my tracks.
“Wol-hyeop?”
[I had my suspicions. So it really was you.]
‘Damn it all.’
That insufferable voice. The spiritual energy saturating it was so overwhelming it felt as though my insides were being turned inside out.
How could this be.
‘…Why is that ominous old man here?’
The Death King was present in this place.
My brow furrowed involuntarily.

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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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