The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 458

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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 458
A back alley where the sunset was beginning to fall. A location not far from the academy.
Of all places, it was where the escape route was blocked. Seeing the person waiting for me there with arms crossed, I swallowed hard.
‘Damn it.’
I had forgotten. I had forgotten something I shouldn’t have. Right. The fact that I was returning to Yeolyeong.
‘That means I’d see her.’
It meant I would see that woman again. Muyong Youngsoon. I had momentarily forgotten this. Ah, what a fool I am. There are things I should never forget.
Gulp.
I swallowed. My throat was parched.
The air was cold. It didn’t seem to be because of spring. In that chilly atmosphere, I asked.
“…Why are you here?”
“What?”
At my words, Muyong Youngsoon let out a hollow laugh as if exasperated.
“Why am I here?”
Had I asked something wrong? Her eyes blazed with fury.
“Because someone decided to abandon their duties and run off, so I’ve been managing things in their place instead. You infuriating bastard.”
“…”
Ah, that’s right.
‘She’s the academy manager…’
It should have been me originally, but with my schedule and especially lacking funds, I was uncertain how to handle it. Then the Muyong clan itself began supporting the academy. The reason was undoubtedly Muyong Youngsoon’s influence.
“I had a hunch.”
Muyong Youngsoon walked forward. Seeing that, I stepped back.
“I heard you had arrived. So I thought, where would you go first? You hate your own home, so you wouldn’t be cooped up inside. So there’s only one place it could be.”
“…”
“And sure enough, here you are? My little raccoon came from here, after all.”
She smiled. In that smile, I felt a thick murderous intent.
“And you didn’t come straight to me.”
“…That’s because…”
Shing—! With a sharp sound, my body moved.
Clang—!!
“Gasp—!”
A blade embedded itself in the spot where I had been standing. It was Muyong Youngsoon’s sword.
“…Why are you carrying a sword again!?”
Where were her guards? I was shocked that she was carrying a blade herself.
“Why carry one? I’m a martial artist too. And.”
Clang—! The sword pulled free. It extended toward me immediately.
“I need to carry it if I’m going to slice you up.”
“What kind of terrifying thing is that to say?”
I desperately dodged the blade. The eerie trajectory was no joke. The speed wasn’t overwhelming. I could evade it. Even in this cramped space.
The problem was.
‘She’s serious?’
Muyong Youngsoon’s sword is serious. She utilizes the space perfectly. The alley is narrow and escape routes are scarce, so she uses that to corner me.
“Wait… just wait a moment.”
“You’re not even a rat. Why do you keep dodging?”
“If I don’t dodge, I die… so I have to dodge!”
Screech! The blade comes flying again. I’m going to lose my mind.
“Calm down a bit. Why are you so angry?”
“Why am I angry…?”
She stops at my words. But she wasn’t calming down. I was terrified by the look in her eyes. It felt like I’d touched something I shouldn’t have.
“…Eighteen in total.”
“Huh…?”
What? What number is she talking about?
“The letters I sent you. Eighteen… and twenty.”
“Ah.”
“How many of them did you not read?”
“…I don’t know?”
“Don’t know my ass. All of them. Got it?”
“No… that’s…”
I felt a bit wronged.
“I didn’t read any of them!”
“How bold of you.”
I didn’t read letters from anyone. Would it be different just because they’re from Muyong Youngsoon? I didn’t read the ones from the kids at the academy either.
“And you said you were coming back without even giving me a hint?”
“…I didn’t tell anyone else either.”
“…Is that supposed to be an excuse?”
Muyong Youngsoon’s face contorts. Seeing her reaction, I clicked my tongue inwardly. Ah, this isn’t good.
I thought it was just venting, but it seems it’s not.
“You really…”
“I had no need to send a reply… nor any reason to give Moryong Sojeo a hint.”
I changed my tone.
“…”
At those words, Muyong Youngsoon’s eyes harden.
I had to draw a line. The thick line I drew stopped even her approaching footsteps.
“…You’re really something. Making someone who came all this way have nothing to say.”
With a somewhat bitter expression, she turns her back. Her sword returns to its sheath as it is.
“…I’ll visit tomorrow. It’ll be for work then, so please see me. I already got permission from the Younger Master.”
“…Understood.”
Muyong Youngsoon leaves after speaking. Gungwi, who had been watching from the side, speaks belatedly.
“She’s of the Moyong clan. The young one has a sharp edge.”
It was an assessment. At the precious words the Celestial Demon offered, I let out a soft laugh.
“You’re being quite generous with your assessment.”
“Your realm isn’t particularly high, but the way you utilize it is exceptional. If you had greater martial talent… you would have risen to tremendous heights.”
“That’s likely true.”
It was a fair observation. Muyong Youngsoon was intelligent, but her martial talent wasn’t exceptional. Better than me, though.
This was an evaluation I heard often.
“Anyway. Is it really fine to let her go like that?”
“Then what, should we perform a sword dance together?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Gungwi clicks her tongue, regarding me with a look of disappointment.
“No. I suppose not.”
She starts to say something more but closes her mouth.
“I was mistaken.”
“About what?”
“You couldn’t possibly not know.”
“….”
Those words brushed against my heart.
“You’re pretending not to know.”
“I felt it before too,”
Her intuition is unnaturally sharp. Irritatingly so.
“Why are you doing this? You seem like talent worth coveting.”
A name laden with meaning. Muyong Youngsoon. She was right.
Beautiful, exceptional, radiant. Perhaps destined to shine even brighter.
“Are you saying you yourself deem her a waste?”
“No.”
Me? That’s absurd.
‘All I have are these eyes and this cursed karma.’
Ah, I suppose I have a decent face too. That matters, but beyond such things, there’s no reason to evaluate Muyong Youngsoon differently.
Simply.
“Desire.”
You have it.
I have it.
It was nothing but desire. Different in meaning for each of us.
“…Hmm.”
Gungwi’s expression turned strange upon hearing my answer.
“You share that trait with someone.”
“…With whom are you speaking?”
“There is one. A pathetic bastard.”
“….”
I faltered briefly at her intense tone. I never expected such words from those delicate lips.
“Do as you see fit. I’m simply curious. Whether what awaits you at the end is regret or relief. I wish to see it. If possible, I hope you’ll regret it.”
“…Why? That’s a twisted taste.”
Wanting to witness someone else’s misfortune—is this truly a hero? I stared at her in disbelief.
“I’m curious. I should have witnessed that ending myself, but I didn’t. So you experience it and show me.”
“…What do you mean?”
She hopes I’ll regret it, yet wants to see it happen?
Gungwi spoke those words, then moved forward with her expression wiped clean.
“Let’s eat. I’m hungry.”
“…”
I spoke while watching her small back walk forward so confidently.
“How can you say that so boldly? You don’t even pay for meals, you parasite. You’re shamelessly audacious.”
“…”
Gungwi didn’t answer to this remark, but from her reddened ears, I could tell she felt embarrassed.

* * *
The next day arrived. As soon as morning broke, I stepped outside. I wanted to leave at dawn if possible, but there were too many ears around, so I left as quietly as I could.
‘It seems she’s not following me today.’
Gungwi is nowhere to be seen.
Yesterday, as I left, I gave her strict instructions. Not to follow me this time. That it was bothersome and distracting.
If she did follow me.
‘I would do something worse.’
Something more severe than sending needles her way. That’s how I warned her.
I wasn’t sure if it would work, but fortunately, she doesn’t appear to be following.
If she had followed me again this time.
‘I really would have had to do something.’
I disliked falling behind on my work, so I considered doing something harsh to Gungwi. I can send things more dangerous than needles. It’s just somewhat risky.
But she didn’t follow, perhaps sensing my warning was sincere.
Honestly, I’m a bit disappointed.
‘If she had followed.’
It would have been a perfect excuse to teach the great Gungwi a lesson.
‘Hmm.’
Even as I recalled that.
‘Whether what you experience will be regret or relief. I really want to see. I hope it’s regret, if possible.’
The words I spoke yesterday linger, oddly vivid in my memory.
‘I want to see…’
Despite saying I wanted to see, I already knew the answer.
I simply chose not to express it.
Watching the rising sun, I entered the alley.
“Please, come in.”
Like yesterday, I found Haowen, and unlike before, the Gatekeeper opened the door easily upon seeing me.
Creak. Unlike the outside, the interior was dark. Someone sat inside with their legs crossed.
It was Hoyeon.
“Welcome. Busy since morning?”
“I knew you’d come around this time anyway.”
I approached and took a seat. The moment I sat, Hoyeon handed me several documents. There was no conversation—we’d already finished all unnecessary exchanges yesterday.
“The information you requested. Details about the Sammi Sect and the series of incidents that occurred recently. I’ve organized it all.”
Rustle. I examined the documents instead of responding.
‘The Sammi Sect.’
Near Yeolyeong. A bandit faction operating in the periphery rather than Yeolyeong itself. If anything, they belonged to the Nokju category of outlaws.
‘Nokju, huh…’
I’d heard of them. Like the Beggar Sect, they operated across the entire nation. Among them.
‘Perhaps the largest force.’
By now it was past tense, but it had been so until just before the Orthodox-Demonic War. Just as beggars and bandits are plentiful throughout the world.
In terms of power, they might have been the greatest faction.
‘Their numbers dwindled when the Orthodox-Demonic War erupted.’
Nokju had allied with the Demonic Sect. When the Orthodox-Demonic War ended in the Orthodox victory, their numbers decreased dramatically.
As a result, Nokju, who had once been called the supreme master of the faction, perished.
Consequently, Nokju began its gradual decline.
By now, they were reduced to attacking merchants and caravans, or so I’d heard.
‘Yet Nokju-affiliated bandits are still active.’
Even engaging in human trafficking and kidnapping.
Rustle.
‘Their strength isn’t high. The Sammi Sect’s leader-class member is… O Yeonchou…’
His realm was between first-rate and peak. Quite strong for a Nokju faction member.
They’d been formed about five years ago. Though they claimed to be a faction, there was scant information about their actual activities.
‘As for the other incidents…’
I narrowed my eyes reading the documented recent events. Over the past few days and spanning two months, disappearances and the discovery of women’s bodies had occurred.
‘The factions in the vicinity are weak, and there’s no evidence suggesting involvement in these matters.’
So the Sammi Sect was acting alone?
And daring to do so in Yeolyeong, where the Moyong Clan exists?
They must have lost their minds.
‘From the information.’
Baekwang already knew and was preparing a cleanup operation. Haowen was aware of even that.
“Does it satisfy you? I prepared quite thoroughly.”
“…It’s not bad—”
Good. Just as I was about to say that, I saw the final page and froze.
“This information should please you greatly.”
There it stated:
-Confirmation of Nokju’s survival, previously believed dead.
-Nokju has allied with Patcheon Gung.
-Upon identifying their objective.
“For the sake of our prince….”
-It seems she desires the downfall of the Moyong clan.
“I’ve prepared something quite grand.”
The information written there was utterly nonsensical.

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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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