The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 43

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The Heavenly Supreme Has Died – Episode 043
While everyone stood frozen by Seom Seong-gyeong’s sudden action.
My eyes remained fixed solely on Cheonhye-in.
And they were deeply furrowed.
‘What is this irritating thing constantly needling me?’
I was far more exasperated with Cheonhye-in than with Seom Seong-gyeong.
‘Can’t she just moderate herself? Why does she keep acting like this?’
That was the situation.
Seom Seong-gyeong suddenly inserting himself? He wanted to see the Old Man’s sword through me?
It wasn’t even amusing.
‘His very expression betrays it.’
Seom Seong-gyeong was constantly watching someone’s reaction.
The problem was.
‘The center of his attention isn’t Wol Seon-geom or Sochul Daeju.’
It was a matter of who Seom Seong-gyeong was watching so intently.
And I believed the cause was Cheonhye-in.
‘I already confirmed it at the restaurant.’
From her reaction, I had determined that the person I’d placed behind me was Cheonhye-in.
I had merely intended to remain vigilant without thinking too deeply about it.
‘But she keeps being bothersome.’
The way she was acting so irritatingly was slowly kindling my annoyance.
‘This shouldn’t happen.’
If she kept scratching at me like this.
‘My old nature will emerge.’
The temperament I’d been suppressing surges to the crown of my head. This couldn’t happen. If it did….
‘I’d live like my past life.’
I could end up doing things I’d resolved not to do in this lifetime.
Sssshhh.
The stars scattered across my body trembled briefly, as if synchronized with my emotions.
It was dangerous.
I glared at the expressionless Cheonhye-in for a moment, then turned my head away.
[Ah, child.]
The Old Man speaks.
[Kill your expression. Right now you look like you’re about to cut down a few people. How do you even manage to make such a face when you look so incompetent….]
Being told I looked incompetent was something I’d never heard before in my life.
“Bangseong-yeon.”
At Wol Seon-geom’s voice, I lifted my head. Seeing his face, I nearly let out a hollow laugh.
‘He’s insane.’
His face showed he was amused. Even those around him looked similar. Everyone except Sochul Daeju had that expression.
‘…As expected.’
I was certain of it.
Cheonwol Gate was a mess of an organization with nothing but a pretty name.
They ignored legitimacy and allowed some outsider to meddle—and this was their reaction?
I was so dumbfounded I couldn’t even speak.
[But honestly, it’s kind of entertaining.]
An oblivious fool barges in.
‘And whose fault is this happening because of? Which side are you taking?’
Damn it. It seemed like nothing in this world ever went right.
“Sigh.”
A breath escaped me without my realizing it.
Then.
“Bangseong-yeon.”
Wol Seon-geom called my name for the second time. Come to think of it, I hadn’t responded.
“My apologies. I had quite a few distracting thoughts for a moment.”
“Is it over now?”
“Thanks to you.”
Wol Seon-geom had already let it go. Was he trying to treat me as an outsider even during the test?
It didn’t really matter to me.
“Your disciple speaks of their heart in such a way—what of yours?”
“Does my answer change how this proceeds? It seems this test is quite an important tradition.”
“That’s true. But.”
Wol Seon-geom smiled wickedly.
“I think traditions can sometimes be broken.”
That was one of the things a true Moonju should never say.
[하하하하하하하—!!!]
Yoo Cheon-gil burst into raucous laughter as if he approved.
A pair of lunatics.
“Of course, if you’d rather not, we can proceed as planned without issue.”
“Would there be any disadvantage to me in that case?”
“There wouldn’t be.”
I asked just to be sure.
Naturally, there shouldn’t be.
‘There shouldn’t be, at least.’
Just that those around me would be disappointed. And I’d gain some prejudice, whether warranted or not.
Was that what Cheonhye-in wanted? Or did she have something else in mind for me, doing this?
It didn’t seem like she was simply trying to make me suffer.
‘Consider every possibility.’
I turned it over in my mind again and again. No matter which path I took, refusing this qi clash would be to my advantage.
From a rational standpoint, anyway.
‘This is irritating.’
I was fed up.
‘Why does everything have to involve me? I just wanted to live quietly.’
I simply wanted to pass through this life smoothly.
Yet here I was, entangled in strange affairs.
Everyone around me itching to scratch at me.
This situation right now.
I disliked it all.
No matter how hard I tried to suppress my emotions, it wasn’t easy.
“….”
I turned my head and stared directly at Yoo Cheon-gil. Openly.
Normally I wouldn’t look at him like this.
[Hmm?]
I spoke to Wol Seon-geom while meeting his blue eyes.
“I will do it. I will.”
“Ho.”
It appeared as though I was answering Wol Seon-geom, but in truth it was a warning directed at Yoo Cheon-gil.
I would accept this, so you’d better do your part correctly.
Otherwise.
‘This time I’m really done.’
Everything—the work, all of it—would be finished.
Speaking with such a warning embedded in my words.
[Haha.]
Yoo Cheon-gil laughed. I stopped looking at him.
“Seom Seong-gyeong. To Bangseong-yeon’s position.”
At Wol Seon-geom’s command, Seom Seong-gyeong rose from his kneeling position and stepped forward.
Simultaneously, the other martial artists retreated backward. A considerable space was secured.
Sochul Daeju stood at the center. He appeared to be the judge.
“We will now begin the Cheongwol-mu.”
“I have a question.”
Sochul Daeju looked at me.
“Must I win?”
“….”
At my question, the surroundings fell silent for a moment. I could feel it—a sense of bewilderment.
“…There is no such necessity. The evaluation is Moonju’s responsibility, and defeat does not mean disqualification.”
“I see.”
So recognition was what mattered. That seemed to be what he meant.
But.
“Then if I win, I’m guaranteed to pass?”
If defeat didn’t mean failure, then victory meant certain success.
At my question, Sochul Daeju’s brow furrowed this time.
“Is that correct?”
“…Yes, if it were possible.”
“Mm.”
My question seemed to have displeased him considerably.
I’d known from the start that he didn’t particularly care for me.
‘The atmosphere around us isn’t great either.’
The Sowoldae members who heard the question reacted similarly.
Had I said something that offended them?
I considered apologizing, but decided against it.
Once Sochul Daeju confirmed I wouldn’t ask further questions, he took a step back.
“…Prepare.”
Shing.
Seom Seong-gyeong and I drew our blades at his command. Seom Seong-gyeong wore a peculiar expression as he looked at me.
Watching him, I sighed inwardly.
‘…Is he thinking he won’t help me again this time?’
Last time I trusted him and went through with it, only for him to refuse to help. What if he does the same this time?
‘What can I do? This is truly the end.’
Even if I had to bite my tongue and die, I’d simply abandon everything.
Just as I was steeling myself with that resolve.
[Don’t worry.]
Yoo Cheon-gil spoke to me. His voice came from close by.
[I won’t do that this time.]
‘…Isn’t this basically reading my true thoughts?’
I wondered how he always responded when I only spoke internally.
In any case, I was relieved he would help.
My only concern was….
‘The possession time will be short. Will it be alright?’
Since only a few days had passed since last time, it seemed the duration would be mere tens of seconds at best.
As if reading my heart, Yoo Cheon-gil answered.
[It doesn’t matter. It would have been a problem if this were any earlier.]
Along with his words, I felt something slowly entering my body.
[But now.]
“That fleeting moment is sufficient.”
Yoo Cheon-gil took control of my body. And simultaneously.
“Begin.”
Sochul Daeju announced the start of the martial contest.

* * *
‘This is absurd.’
Sochul Daeju recalled the words Bangseong-yeon had spoken.
‘So if I win, I’m guaranteed to pass?’
Crunch.
Sochul Daeju’s fist clenched involuntarily, strength flooding into his hand.
‘Arrogant bastard.’
How dare he…!
Fury rose within me.
‘Speaking of victory?’
His realm was at best that of a second-rate martial artist. Sochul Daeju could discern Bangseong-yeon’s level the moment he saw him.
Normally, one would question whether he could even qualify for entry into Cheongwol Gate.
For such a man to speak of victory before the elite of Cheongwol Gate? It was preposterous.
‘Truly, he knows his place not.’
Even setting that aside, those who had entered Sowoldae through victory in Cheongwol Gate’s history could be counted on one hand.
The 6th Moonju and 7th Moonju of distant past had done so, and the current Moonju, Wol Seon-geom, had as well.
All of them had defeated Sowoldae’s youngest member during their entrance trials and claimed victory.
Especially.
‘The Sword Saint….’
He had crushed his opponent effortlessly, of course.
It was famous that immediately after claiming victory, he had expressed disappointment, calling it a tedious match.
His opponent had barely withstood ten exchanges.
He was twenty-three years old.
The youngest Sowoldae passer before Cheonhye-in appeared.
Monsters like that filled the ranks, and Bangseong-yeon would add his name among them?
It wasn’t even funny. Besides, his opponent wasn’t even the youngest.
‘Seom Seong-gyeong is formidable.’
Mid-tier among the current Sowoldae members.
His growth had slowed for some reason lately, but even so, he was a powerful martial artist in Sochul Daeju’s assessment.
The probability of Bangseong-yeon winning was virtually nonexistent.
If by some miracle Bangseong-yeon were to win?
‘It would go down in history.’
A new legend would be born, surpassing the history the Sword Saint had created.
In other words, it would never happen. That’s what Sochul Daeju thought as he watched Seom Seong-gyeong.
‘Show him.’
Show that arrogant whelp the terror of Sowoldae.
While thinking thus.
Bangseong-yeon nodded his head. Seeing this, Sochul Daeju felt something strange.
‘…What is this…?’
Something was different.
Nothing should have been different, yet somehow it felt wrong.
And though I couldn’t identify what that wrongness was,
Sochul Daeju found himself growing wary of Bangseong-yeon.
A wariness so intense that his hand moved to his sword without his own awareness.

* * *
The moment the martial contest began.
Seom Seong-gyeong and Bangseong-yeon observed each other in silence.
It was Seom Seong-gyeong who moved first.
“I’ll yield the first strike to you.”
Seom Seong-gyeong spoke to Bangseong-yeon.
“Mm.”
Bangseong-yeon simply stared at Seom Seong-gyeong after hearing his words.
Then.
Whoosh—!
A blade cuts through empty air.
Bangseong-yeon suddenly swung his sword lightly.
“There. I’ve made the first strike. Satisfied now?”
“…!”
Seom Seong-gyeong’s eyes widened at his words.
“What are you—”
Seom Seong-gyeong tried to speak to Bangseong-yeon, but.
“Stop spouting nonsense and draw your sword.”
Bangseong-yeon cut him off with an irritated tone.
“Don’t come crying later about how you were caught off guard. Fight properly.”
“….”
Seom Seong-gyeong felt offended by those words, but he didn’t show it.
He couldn’t afford to.
Gulp.
He swallowed hard.
As he watched Bangseong-yeon, cold sweat beaded on his back.
Why did he feel this way? Before the question could fully form, Bangseong-yeon continued speaking.
“Normally I’d like to show you more depth, but time is short.
Bangseong-yeon lowered the sword he’d been holding.
“And frankly, this whole situation has gotten under my skin too.”
“…What are you saying right now?”
“Draw your sword.”
Bangseong-yeon moved as he spoke.
His movements were leisurely. So slow they seemed almost drowsy.
‘…This is too slow?’
Something felt off. If I had detected Bangseong-yeon’s presence in addition to sensing my own aura, I would have expected him to conceal his power or devise some stratagem.
‘Was it a misunderstanding?’
Yet his approach had been far too slow for that to be the case.
‘If it was a misunderstanding, that’s actually fortunate.’
There would be no unnecessary danger, and complying with Cheonhye-in’s coercive request would be far simpler.
Perhaps I could simply engage him appropriately and be done with it.
Even Cheon Sama would overlook that much.
Such were Seom Seong-gyeong’s thoughts.
Yet as he gazed forward, his eyes widened.
“What?”
Bangseong-yeon had already closed the distance and stood before him.
He had clearly been approaching slowly from far away moments before.
His perception lagged against this unforeseen development.
It was then.
“Your head. Block it.”
Bangseong-yeon’s voice rang out, and Seom Seong-gyeong instinctively raised his blade upward.
In that instant.
싸아아아아—!!
Night itself fell upon his head.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————