The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 459
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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 459
Nokju’s survival.
And the news that the Green Forest joined hands with Pacheongung.
Upon hearing that news, I stared blankly at the letter for a moment.
“What do you think?”
Hoyeon asks me.
“Do you like the information? I prepared it specially for our prince.”
“…This.”
I tore my eyes from the letter and looked at Hoyeon.
“Is it true?”
“That’s a hurtful thing to say.”
At those words, Hoyeon shrugs her shoulders.
“You should trust me when it comes to information, at least. Isn’t that our relationship of trust?”
“You’re right about that. But.”
This seems a bit much to me.
“That Nokju is alive.”
The king of the Green Forest. Until the Celestial Demon appeared, he was the leader of the most numerous heterodox forces.
But.
“This man died at the hands of the Sword Saint.”
The Heavenly Supreme and the greatest of all ages.
Half of the Green Forest was annihilated and its leader Nokju was reported dead by the hands of Sword Saint Yoo Cheon-gil. Yet in such circumstances, Nokju’s survival?
And even cooperation with Pacheongung?
“…Good grief.”
If this is true, this is certainly no ordinary information.
“Are you really giving me something like this?”
The value of this information is burdensome even for me. She said she prepared it directly and grandly, and her words were true.
“I have to give it to you. That way, our prince will have something greater to give me in return.”
“….”
I let out a quiet laugh. What she meant was.
‘If I don’t give something comparable, she’ll find a way to extract it anyway.’
It was truly a fearsome statement. If it were that woman, she would certainly do exactly that.
But.
“Right. That’s how it should be.”
It didn’t matter. What I possess would be worth that much.
Creak. I leaned my body against the back of the chair.
“Hmm.”
I steady my breath as if contemplating. I turned my thoughts over. How should I say this? I recalled that.
“I need some time—”
“Your father is on the middle slopes of Cheonryeong Mountain.”
“….”
Time? I don’t need that. Just speak and be done with it.
“…Heavenly Spirit Mountain?”
“That’s right. It’s a tall, rugged mountain in the Qinghai region.”
“…I’ve never even heard of such a mountain existing in the Qinghai region?”
“If you haven’t heard of it, go find it. It exists.”
“Your Highness.”
Thud. Hoyeon’s finger jabs down in front of me.
“Are you playing games?”
Her eyes were murderous. The air shifted in an instant. It wasn’t a wager. It was the very presence that the human being herself emanated.
“I made a bet with you. This won’t do here. No matter how much of a prince you are, right?”
“Aha.”
I laughed. Before Hoyeon could contort her expression at my laughter.
“Did you forget what you said just now?”
I wiped the smile from my face.
“Regardless of anything else, you must trust information. Isn’t that our relationship of trust?”
I repeated Hoyeon’s own words back to her. At those words, she bit her lip.
“I told you what you were looking for. Heavenly Spirit Mountain. What you seek is there. Isn’t that enough?”
“…If that statement isn’t true.”
“Then do as I said before.”
Kill me within a fortnight.
“Do as you please. I haven’t uttered any lies.”
It’s not a lie. Of course it isn’t.
Because the source of this information.
‘Is myself.’
The spiritual energy rippling behind Hoyeon right now. Faint, yet present. I can see the gaze of someone standing with hands clasped behind their back, staring directly at me.
-Heavenly Spirit Mountain. The New Moon Dungeon.
At the quietly whispered voice, I shifted my gaze. The New Moon Dungeon. I had no intention of revealing that much. This was already the best I could manage.
“Anyway.”
I rise from my seat, taking the letter she had delivered.
“I’ve done what I needed to do, so find the rest yourself. If there’s any problem, come find me.”
“…Your Highness.”
As I stood, Hoyeon grabbed me.
“I’m telling you clearly. If this is a lie, you’ll really die by my hand.”
“I’ve heard that many times.”
How many times have I heard it by now.
“But I’m still alive.”
The fact that I could say that and still be alive testified to the credibility of this information.
“…Ha, fine.”
Hoyeon clicked her tongue and spoke.
“…I just hope it’s the same this time.”
“That’s a good mindset.”
Of course it should be.
My own life was precious to me as well.
I took the letter and stepped outside. It wasn’t even noon yet.
“Sigh.”
I exhaled deeply, finally able to catch my breath now that I was outside.
“Damn, that was terrifying.”
She’s a woman I really didn’t want to get entangled with, but she’s so useful that I can’t just discard her.
‘A chicken rib.’
Both she and I are like chicken ribs.
We’ve always had that kind of relationship.
* * *
After escaping the Haowen Branch, I headed toward the mountains. Naturally, I was aiming for the altar I had visited before.
I intended to settle this before nightfall. If it got too late, it would become troublesome in its own way.
“Ugh.”
I squeezed my way into the dungeon. It was the same space as before—damp and dark, with an altar constructed at its center.
Looking at it now, I could tell it was made roughly and crudely. That was only more apparent since it had been built with a child’s body.
The memory of fumbling around with my tiny hands came back to me.
“I’ll have to fix it up later.”
If I had time, I’d bring materials and do some repairs.
While I was thinking such thoughts and cleaning the altar.
“Do you have anything you’d like to say?”
I asked quietly. No one was here, but there was someone listening.
[Tsk tsk.]
A sound came from the sword. The Celestial Demon. It was the voice of the Celestial Demon who had been silent until now.
[Why do you think that way?]
“You’re not someone who stays quiet, yet you’ve been continuing to do so. It seems like you’re holding back your words.”
[The Heart’s Seat is not such a meticulous being. I simply have no need to ask.]
“No need to ask? Why is that?”
[Because you’ll see it anyway.]
“…I see.”
That was a fair point. I nodded in agreement. After wiping away all the dust I hadn’t cleaned before.
“Let me see.”
I reached toward the altar. I opened what looked like a drawer. Something was visible inside. It was a black stone.
“…Yes. I knew it would be like this.”
The stone was black. Would you believe it was originally white? It’s the truth. What had once been a pure white stone had deteriorated into this dark black.
[What is this?]
The Celestial Demon, who said he wouldn’t ask, was now asking.
“It’s just a stone. White jade.”
It’s just a stone that rolls around on the ground. Among them, one that’s on the cleaner and prettier side. In other words, just a stone of that caliber.
I pull out the white stone I just described from my pocket. Then I sweep away the black stone and lay down a new one in its place.
Thud-!
I toss the black stone carelessly. The moment it hits the ground, what looked so solid crumbles to dust.
Shhhhh-!!! It dissipates like powder. In that instant, the Evil Instrument embedded in the stone grazes through the air.
I watch it scatter on the wind before turning my gaze to the altar.
“…Sigh.”
I exhale slowly. Then I reach my hand toward the altar.
‘Very well then.’
I’ve already inserted the catalyst, so now let’s try again.
‘Let me attempt to restore the thread.’
우우우우웅—!!!
Energy flows from deep within my heart. The soul within my body resonates. Energy gradually pours into the altar.
Uuuung-!!!!
The altar begins to tremble faintly. Splash. Splash. The shallow water spread around it starts to flow little by little.
[Hoo.]
The Celestial Demon lets out a soft exclamation. Then closes her eyes.
Uuuung.
I should be seeing complete darkness, but I’m not. What I’m seeing now is something different.
Blue and white light.
When I see that, I open the eyes I had closed.
“….”
The world has changed. What appears before my eyes now is a profusion of pure white flowers. Flowers covering the ground completely. Far in the distance. Flowers filling the horizon in abundance.
“Ugh.”
I speak with a look of disgust on my face.
“I really hate this.”
Why are there so many flowers like this? Every time I come here, I never get used to it.
Thinking that way, I walk forward. With each step I take, my field of vision changes dramatically. Though it seems like a short stride, each time the distance narrows by several miles.
This means, in other words, that this is not an ordinary world.
There’s nothing surprising about it. I’ve frequented this kind of world often. Besides.
‘At least compared to Yoo Cheon-gil. That old man’s spirit realm is far less peaceful.’
If you ask whether it’s safe, it’s ambiguous, but if we’re talking about peacefulness, this place is better. Here, at least.
‘I have some control over it.’
Since it’s my world, such things are possible. Yes. My world.
‘This place is.’
My world. A world created in the image of my soul.
It’s expressed as the Heart’s Realm. But it doesn’t matter what you call it. You can simply think of it as a land where my spirit takes physical form.
And yet.
‘I’m not sure why it takes the shape of flowers.’
I don’t know why this became such a desolate flower field. But that’s how it is.
“Is it around here?”
I stroll leisurely, searching for my destination. I used to find it easily, but it’s been so long since I’ve visited that it’s proving difficult.
After turning my head about for quite some time, I finally discovered it.
“There it is.”
In the center of a white flower field, a towering pillar comes into view. I wonder why such a pillar exists in this place, but surprisingly, this was my destination.
Heart’s Seat.
A place where the heart comes to rest.
That’s how one describes it. I approach closer to the pillar. As I draw near, it appears even larger. A broad, thick, elongated pillar.
Painted white like fresh snow, what stands there is a chair.
The chair attached to the pillar is modest in size compared to the pillar itself, but that doesn’t matter. After all, I only need to sit.
I approach toward it. I can see it now. The chair attached to the pillar. And.
“It’s been a while.”
I could also see something sitting there.
At my words, what was sitting raises its head. I laughed the moment I saw it.
“Wow. You’ve changed too.”
-….
The face revealed as it lifted its head was, surprisingly, my own face. That impression altered through a complete metamorphosis.
The difference, if any, was that it bore an oddly expressionless countenance, devoid of any emotion whatsoever.
“Are you upset? I hope not. I’ve been quite busy lately.”
-….
There is no response. It was never particularly talkative to begin with.
It sat in the chair, bound by chains. Yet most of what should have been ten chains binding it had already come loose.
“That was close.”
A single strand of chain barely clinging on. Truly precarious. If that one snapped as well, it would have been catastrophic.
“…Well, shall I bind it again?”
Whoooosh.
A chain materializes in my hand. It was identical to the one bound there. I pick it up and approach.
The closer I get, the more intently the seated figure stares at me.
Seeing those eyes, guilt washes over me.
“Don’t look at me like that. I have no choice in this. That’s just how life is, isn’t it?”
-….
“Just wait a bit. If I can free you, I will.”
“When will that time come?”
“That depends on how much I’ve accomplished…?”
Huh?
Whoosh—! At the interjecting voice, I turn my head. A voice here? I spin around in alarm.
There stood.
“Tsk tsk tsk.”
“…What?”
A giant with snow-white hair and terrifyingly fierce blue eyes.
“It’s been a while.”
“…Old Man?”
Yoo Cheon-gil.
He stood before me with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze fixed upon my face.
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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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