The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 455

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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 455
“…You’re enshrining someone who isn’t a deity? What do you mean by that?”
Gungwi reacts as though she doesn’t understand. Naturally, she wouldn’t—that’s simply how altars work.
But.
“I mean exactly what I said. I built this altar to enshrine myself.”
“…Why?”
“Why? Because I needed to.”
“That requires explanation.”
“Explanation?”
I let out a soft laugh at those words.
“Why should I provide that for you?”
“….”
Gungwi falls silent. Even she knows my point is valid.
Ignoring her words, I wiped the altar clean with cloth. It was damp. I should have maintained it better.
‘I’ve been rather busy lately.’
Busy doesn’t even begin to describe it. I haven’t had time to wipe things down or do much of anything.
Better to do it now than never.
“…What exactly are you?”
As I diligently cleaned the altar, Gungwi asks my identity. What am I?
“You’ve already figured most of it out. Why ask? I’m exactly as you know me to be.”
Originally, I was merely the third of the Yeolyeong household.
But now I carried many titles.
The hero of Hannam and Sacheon.
Wol-hyeop of Sowoldae and the Deputy Moonju of Cheongwol Sect.
And various other designations besides.
“You know full well that’s not what I’m asking.”
Gungwi furrows her brow and extends her hand. Her fingertip points toward the altar.
“You’re enshrining yourself? Don’t be absurd.”
Her expression was wrapped in inexplicable shock.
“A human soul couldn’t possibly emanate such presence…. It’s a level rarely found even among deities. You’re telling me you enshrined your soul there? Do you truly believe that makes sense?”
At those words, I regarded Gungwi with an intrigued gaze. Well, well.
‘Better than expected.’
Sharp perception, isn’t it? I thought her sensibilities in that regard might be somewhat lacking, given how fearlessly she manifested as a spirit form. But it seems I was wrong.
‘How interesting.’
It was refreshing to see her perceive such things with those eyes.
“If it doesn’t make sense, what of it? That’s simply what I am.”
“…Even if what you say is true, why go to such lengths?”
“Lengths? The reason is already contained in what you just said.”
“…What?”
“A soul too vast for a human vessel to contain. So I set aside what couldn’t fit.”
“…You’re saying you set aside a portion? How is that even possible?”
A human’s soul isn’t food—you can’t just cut it up and store it somewhere else.
When I was asked about this, my answer was simple.
‘It’s possible.’
It is possible. At least, I managed it. Baek Manager used to say I was doing something insane, but look at the results.
‘Success is what matters.’
I divided it into precisely the right size so it wouldn’t harm the soul.
The process required doing some extraordinary things, but ultimately, I succeeded.
“Nothing is impossible. Since it’s possible, I did it.”
“That’s absurd…!”
“I never said you could ask questions. What’s your game, asking without any reciprocal exchange?”
I clicked my tongue at Gungwi.
“Now it’s my turn to ask.”
I looked at Gungwi and asked.
“How did you follow me? I didn’t sense any presence at all.”
“…Hmph.”
Gungwi turned her head away. She had no intention of answering.
“See? People are so damn petty. Are all the Celestial Demons like this?”
There’s not a single normal one among them. I was shaking my head when—
“Ahhae. You’re not in a position to show that kind of attitude right now, are you?”
Gungwi narrowed her eyes and continued. My attitude?
“What’s wrong with my attitude?”
“I don’t know how you divided your soul and left it here, but I’ve discovered that a portion of it exists in this place. It would be troublesome if I were to touch it, wouldn’t it?”
“Ah, I see.”
So that’s what she meant.
“You’re threatening me?”
“You catch on quickly.”
She could touch the altar if things came to that. She knew where it was.
“Haha.”
I laughed.
“Because it’s ridiculous.”
I laughed briefly, then wiped the expression from my face.
“Go ahead.”
“What?”
“Try it.”
“…What.”
My demeanor was confident. If you’re upset, go ahead and touch it.
“Dividing my soul doesn’t make it important. It’s not like I divided food. You should know that when the vessel breaks, a spiritual entity naturally returns to its original location.”
“….”
“The fact that I left it here in the first place should tell you that much.”
Even in a place where few people ventured, it remained a mountain where travelers passed through. Had I truly wanted to hide something, I would never have left it in such a location.
“Try it if you wish.”
Go ahead and attempt it.
At my words, Gungwi’s brow furrowed visibly.
“…The more I see, the stranger you become. What exactly are you?”
“If we’re discussing strangeness, you’re hardly innocent either. Who are you to judge whom?”
Looking at that body alone—it’s like a dog covered in filth lecturing a tree. And she dares question me after becoming such a peculiar thing? It’s not even amusing.
“I’ve seen enough. Let’s go.”
“…You’re leaving?”
“Yes.”
“Didn’t you come here for a reason?”
“That reason has just been fulfilled.”
A lie. There was something crucial remaining, but it was something I couldn’t do in front of Gungwi.
‘Tsk.’
How bothersome. I need to complete the seal soon, but if I leave now, I’ll have to return another time. Suppressing a sigh, I stepped outside.
Gungwi stared at me intently before following shortly after.
“Why? Won’t you try touching it?”
“…I saw.”
“Yes. Try touching it next time after you’ve seen it.”
I’m curious, truly curious about what would happen if Gungwi actually touched the altar.
‘I’ve certainly prepared something.’
For an ordinary person, it wouldn’t matter, but if someone who knows how to handle spiritual entities were to touch it, complications would arise. I wonder what would become of Gungwi in that process.
‘Nothing good would come of it.’
Given Gungwi’s current physical condition, that much was certain.
‘…For now.’
Whether Gungwi touches it or not is of no concern to me.
‘I’ll need to return tomorrow night.’
I’ll come back unnoticed. With that thought, I descended the mountain.

* * *
I descended the mountain toward Hyeon once more. Rather than returning to the inn, I had come down to this town.
The problem was.
“Why are you following me?”
Gungwi had pursued me. She responded to my question.
“Then what am I supposed to do alone?”
“Alone? There are several people inside. Besides, I didn’t bring you here, so why should I be responsible?”
It was Gungwi who had followed me of her own accord. That remained true even now.
“If you don’t resolve what you’ve done to me, I won’t leave.”
“…This is ridiculous. I told you. It will resolve itself with time.”
“How am I supposed to trust in that time?”
“Whether you trust it or not isn’t my concern.”
I had shown her the solution. Either solve it directly or wait until it resolves itself. I had given her those two options, yet it was Gungwi who insisted on following me around.
“Aren’t you busy? What about your disciple?”
“Well. He’ll manage on his own.”
“You seem to be the irresponsible one.”
Her disciple would manage on his own? Her treatment of the Death King was rather peculiar. Could it be that she didn’t even know Gungwi was here?
That was possible.
“So you’ll keep following me around?”
I asked with narrowed eyes. Gungwi snorted and spoke.
“Of course.”
“Fine then.”
“…What?”
At my changed tone, Gungwi’s eyes sharpened.
“What did you just say…?”
“If you’re going to keep following me around, you might as well play the part of an attendant in public too. Then we should at least observe proper etiquette. Those attendant clothes you’re wearing suit the role perfectly.”
“You…!”
I passed by Gungwi as she was about to shout.
“Baek. Let’s go.”
“What? Baek…!?”
“While you’re an attendant, that’s what I’ll call you. If you don’t like it, you can leave.”
“…Grrr.”
Gungwi ground her teeth. Watching her, I laughed inwardly.
She was more fun to tease than I had expected.
‘I wonder if I can just drag her along like this.’
It didn’t matter. If there was a problem, she would handle it herself. With that thought, I entered the alleyways of Hyeon.
Though it was the largest town in Yeolyeong, numerous alleyways existed within it.
As with any place, danger lurked in the remote alleys. Usually it did. Places where people’s gazes rarely fell were naturally that way.
I entered the alley as if accustomed to it. This place was different from others. The moment we entered the alley, all signs of life vanished. The atmosphere felt cold and the darkness became palpable.
“Where are you going?”
Gungwi—or rather, Baek—seemed to sense something, asking me for an explanation.
“Just follow quietly.”
I couldn’t be bothered with explanations. I ignored her and took the lead, walking forward. I began to feel eyes upon me. Though I saw no one, I sensed gazes from all directions.
I’d navigated this correctly. After years away, I’d worried I might have forgotten, but my memory proved reliable.
‘Let me think.’
Left from here. Then left again. This time, right.
I passed through the narrow alleys with ease. At the end of the passages that grew progressively tighter and longer, a building came into view.
It was a structure covered in cracks, and someone stood before it.
The man looked thoroughly disreputable at first glance. Beyond his rough appearance, the sword hanging at his waist marked him as no ordinary person.
Our eyes met. The moment they did, a menacing glint flashed across the man’s gaze.
“Who are you?”
“I have business here.”
“…Business? This isn’t a place for someone like you. If you’re looking for a courtesan, you’d do better heading somewhere brighter.”
I let out a hollow laugh at his words.
“I’m short on time, you see.”
It was pointless banter.
“I figured it out the moment I entered the alley anyway. Just tell the man inside to hurry up.”
“…What?”
My words intensified the man’s demeanor.
“You greenhorn, what are you—!”
He moved to draw his sword. I acted first.
With a single step, I closed the distance to his face.
“…!!”
The man’s body went rigid at my sudden appearance.
“I said I’m short on time. Should I just destroy everything and go in myself?”
As always, I found that martial artists only understood threats.
“Open the door in three counts. If you don’t, I’ll break it down.”
I placed my hand on my sword and continued.
“Three.”
“…Huh?”
The man’s expression shifted. His face screamed confusion—where had one and two gone?
Clang. Just as my blade was being drawn to cut through the door—
Creak—
The door opened.
-Come in.
A voice called from within. Hearing it, I released my grip on the sword.
“You should have done that from the start.”
With an indifferent expression, I entered the space. Though the interior was dark, Wol-an illuminated the contents within.
A single table sat in the room, and someone was seated there.
It was a woman with a long-stemmed pipe held between her lips.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I thought you’d at least send word before coming… but I never expected you to arrive like this.”
A woman with a mole beneath her eye, her smile radiant and captivating.
“Our prince?”
The Branch Leader of Haowen.
It was Hoyeon.

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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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