The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 431

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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 431
That Marin is Gungwi. I don’t know how she came to wear the guise of a Marin, but I was certain of that much.
-Child of Cheongwol Sect.
The spirit language reaching my ears wasn’t the problem. Beyond that, I needed to grasp the true nature of what stood before me.
‘An aura fundamentally different from the Death King.’
I sensed something deeper and more distant than what the Death King possessed. Perhaps the real problem was that I noticed it at all, when ordinarily I would have remained oblivious.
Or perhaps.
‘I myself was the problem.’
-I know you’re listening.
-Or perhaps.
My eyes trembled at the voice.
-Should I say you’re watching instead?
Shhhhh.
The shadow moves. Did you know?
‘Was it because the Celestial Demon moved.’
The Celestial Demon checked the Death King and Gungwi. It’s ambiguous to say I realized it because of that.
‘…No. This transcends all that.’
The moment I saw Gungwi, I knew.
‘I simply perceived it.’
Something was amiss. Even wearing that incomprehensible guise, I could tell. The spiritual aura Gungwi possessed was extraordinary.
‘Which means.’
There was no longer any need to be cautious.
Ignoring the words reaching my ears, I extended my hand.
Grrk.
I seized the shimmering eye before me. Then I clenched my fist and crushed it.
Crack-!!
The eye scattered into mist. At that, laughter brushed against my ears.
-Haha.
Gungwi laughed as though something amused her greatly. My brow furrowed at the sight.
-How curious.
Interest was evident in her voice.
-To think that child, the Jeonin of that one… actually possesses such precious eyes.
-So it was you who removed what I attached to that child.
She mentions Yoo Yul. It was indeed I who eliminated what burst forth from his shadow. It seemed Gungwi had only just realized this.
Then what should I do?
There was no need to deliberate long.
-Yes.
-Huh?
I answered. In the same manner.
It had been a while since I’d done this, so I stumbled slightly, but it wasn’t particularly difficult.
-That would be correct.
I answered openly. There was no point in concealing anything further.
If she had already noticed, it was over anyway.
Besides, I no longer felt any need to hide.
-Are you Gungwi?
-Haha.
She laughed at my question.
-You’re quite perceptive… Or perhaps you saw. Most likely.
-Yes. I saw. You never intended to hide it in the first place.
-That’s true.
Had Gungwi wished to conceal herself, she could have done so effortlessly. From what I could tell, she possessed more than enough power to manage it.
Yet she chose not to.
‘Because she had no will to do so.’
Simply because she had no intention of hiding. And moreover—
‘She wanted to show me.’
She clearly wanted to reveal herself to me instead.
-This is amusing. Hani, I’d like to speak with you at greater length.
-….
-If you wish to speak now, then do so. Or would you prefer not to?
This was coercion of the highest order. Speak now, in this situation? It was absurd.
-…Let us do this later.
-A wise choice. I’ll come find you tonight.
-….
Those were ominous words. Of all times, she had to visit at night….
‘Tsk.’
I narrowed my eyes and gripped the sword at my waist.
Uuuuung. I needed to calm the Divine Blade, which trembled as if possessed by madness.
‘Why are you doing this?’
It would be better if she simply appeared and expressed her anger. Why this display of intimidation?
‘What troubles me—’
Whether Gungwi knew that the Celestial Demon dwelled within this Divine Blade. If she did, I couldn’t predict what reaction she might show.
As I pondered matters concerning Gungwi—
“My intention is as follows. I will provide what I can give and do what I am able to do, so I earnestly hope you will accept these conditions.”
The Young Master’s words continued their course.
“Reconciliation is what the world desires. There is no need to maintain this distorted peace any longer, is there?”
“And you fail to recognize that you yourselves created this distortion?”
“That is not the case.”
The Young Master denied my words.
“It was created by the previous Heavenly Supreme.”
“…Ha!”
At those words, Cheon Rijin-an let out a hollow laugh.
“Have you already forgotten the attack on Hanan?”
“As I mentioned, that was done by those from Patcheon Gung—”
The conversation stalled. Watching it drag on, I was beginning to feel frustrated.
“Then perhaps we should do this instead.”
The Young Master smiled brightly and spoke.
“Wouldn’t it be more appropriate for the representative of this current assembly to make the decision?”
“…Representative?”
“Yes. Isn’t that the very position this was created for?”
The Young Master’s gaze turned toward me. Meeting those crimson eyes, my own narrowed involuntarily.
Representative? Ah, now that I think about it.
‘That was me.’
I had forgotten that I attended this assembly as the representative of the Orthodox Faction. It was probably because Cheon Rijin-an and Shin Chang were both present.
“You haven’t said a single word. Isn’t it about time you spoke up?”
“…I didn’t think my opinion mattered in this situation.”
“It matters. We’re talking about Wol-hyeop of all people.”
Wol-hyeop, my foot. What was I supposed to do with such a weighty title?
As I thought this and glanced around, everyone was indeed looking at me. What was with these stares?
“What is it? Are you really that curious about my answer?”
Why were they staring at me so uncomfortably? My eyes felt like they were about to roll back.
“Do you have something you wish to say?”
Even Cheon Rijin-an was speaking, and I faltered. So they were really handing me the right to speak here.
‘In this situation.’
I licked my lips. What should I say?
‘A meeting with the Demonic Sect.’
It was strange that they wanted it from that side, and the conditions they had set for it were equally odd.
‘Though I don’t know how important it truly is.’
From Shin Chang and Cheon Rijin-an’s reactions, I could tell it was something quite precious. If it weren’t, they wouldn’t be acting like this.
‘That’s right, this gathering is probably maintained in the first place because of that man’s statement.’
The conditions I had set.
Those were likely what kept this assembly going.
‘So.’
Whether this gathering should proceed or not—they needed my answer?
‘This is absurd.’
How was I supposed to decide such a thing? Even as I thought this, my mind raced. That sharp-edged Cheon Rijin-an couldn’t even give a proper answer.
And then there was Shin Chang’s reaction.
The Young Master’s oddly unwavering confidence.
‘He even said he’d come with his neck on the line as collateral.’
What was his intention? A meeting between the Demonic Sect and the Orthodox Faction? Did he truly desire it? That couldn’t be.
‘If he were that kind of person.’
He wouldn’t have wandered around bearing an Evil Instrument like that. So it was safe to assume that man’s intentions were false.
Well then.
‘What scheme is he plotting?’
The matter concerning the Celestial Demon’s corpse was also important. There was a high likelihood that the Patcheon Gung he’d supposedly traded with were Heretics. Did those bastards take the body?
‘They’ll attempt something revolting just to look at.’
I had no idea what they’d do, but it was clearly no ordinary matter.
So then.
“…Very well.”
There was only one thing to use in a situation like this.
“Grant me just one more day to think. Either way, discussing it now won’t yield any answers.”
At my words, the Young Master’s eyebrows wavered.
“There’s no need to draw swords over this now, is there?”
“….”
One day.
All proposals had already been exchanged—now was the time to decide.
At those words, the Young Master shrugged his shoulders.
“I have no objections.”
“….”
At my words, Cheon Rijin-an expressed his displeasure.
“Get up.”
Shin Chang rose to his feet as if affirming my answer.
One day.
I had bought more time.

* * *
After the Marins dispersed to their respective quarters, I made my way to Cheon Rijin-an’s office.
“What’s your impression?”
The moment I arrived, he posed the question, and I responded with an awkward smile.
“Well, it seemed odd to me.”
Odd. That word captured it perfectly.
“I’m uncertain of their intentions.”
The Demonic Sect’s intentions appear murky, yet the truth concealed within eludes me.
“The very act of infiltrating is problematic. The League Leader couldn’t possibly be unaware of it.”
Cheon Rijin-an shared my sentiment. However.
‘His resistance runs far deeper.’
A figure who endured the Righteous-Demonic War firsthand. A hero who witnessed and repelled the blood calamity wrought by the Celestial Demon.
Yet now, a meeting with the Demonic Sect? It defied all logic.
“I cannot fathom what you’re thinking.”
“What of your own thoughts, Scholar?”
At my question, Cheon Rijin-an’s eyes grew cold.
“If he offered his neck willingly, the proper response is to sever it. Especially in such a favorable circumstance.”
“….”
His words held truth. A perfectly opportune moment. He had offered his neck of his own accord—the Young Master, who appeared to be the enemy’s leader.
Yet.
“That’s precisely why it troubles me. They couldn’t possibly be ignorant of this.”
There exists a way to infiltrate enemy territory and survive. Both Cheon Rijin-an and I perceived it thus, and if there were a difference between us.
‘Whether one knows of Gungwi’s existence or not.’
That might be the crux of it.
‘Whether the Young Master would employ Gungwi in such a manner remains uncertain.’
From my perspective, Gungwi represented the greatest variable. I cannot gauge how far her presence—or absence—will influence events.
‘The Death King exists as well.’
That old man poses little threat. In terms of martial prowess, perhaps, but his spiritual essence itself requires no particular scrutiny.
‘…The real problem lies elsewhere.’
I recalled Gungwi.
‘What is it?’
A more visceral sense of danger. The discomfort emanating from her spiritual essence itself prompted me to brush my forearm. Her state was such that viewing her as a spirit rather than a human being would be more accurate.
“You mentioned observing for another day. Whether that holds significant meaning is questionable.”
“…Yet you agreed to it regardless. The fact that the League Leader proposed it and you did not refuse suggests this is a matter you too must contemplate, does it not?”
“….”
Cheon Rijin-an offered silent affirmation.
“Were his conditions truly so enticing?”
“I won’t deny it. If his words hold truth, it is indeed a compelling proposal.”
“Even in this situation?”
“Yes.”
Impressive. It seemed the Young Master had good reason to come forward so confidently.
Then.
“What are your thoughts on this?”
Cheon Rijin-an posed the question.
“…Should I accept it or refuse, sir?”
“Yes.”
“I must confess, I cannot fully grasp how sweet those conditions truly are….”
I deliberated. Whether I should accept that time bomb of a man.
Whether accepting him would actually benefit me.
Once I considered that.
“I believe I will accept for now.”
“Your reason?”
“Rather than leaving an enemy outside and fretting anxiously, it’s better to observe him from within. And.”
I glanced out the window.
“…If whether he remains outside or inside amounts to the same futile scheming, then it’s better to deal with him from within. I believe I possess that much capability.”
“….”
Cheon Rijin-an’s eyes deepened upon hearing my answer.
Seeing that, I lowered my head.
“Since the hour grows late, I shall take my leave first.”
Rather than a verbal response, Cheon Rijin-an waved his hand dismissively, glanced at the Expulsion Decree, and turned away.

* * *
I returned to my quarters. The atmosphere felt dark and cool in the depths of night.
“….”
There was much to reconsider from my conversation with Cheon Rijin-an.
Yet I had no time to dwell on it.
“You’ve arrived.”
A far greater matter awaited me instead.
Upon the veranda of my quarters, someone sat waiting.
Or rather, it would be more accurate to say no one was there. Because that was the reality.
‘…Hmm.’
I narrowed my eyes upon seeing the translucent woman.
A master of the Celestial Demon. A foreigner from the Northern Sea and the woman known as the most beautiful under heaven.
Gungwi greeted me in her spectral form.

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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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