The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 46

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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 046
“So, what did you make of it?”
As night began to fall, Wol Seon-geom spoke from where he sat on the veranda of the residence.
The one listening was naturally his bodyguard and the Daeju of Sowoldae, Sochul Daeju.
“I’m not certain what you’re asking, sir.”
At Sochul Daeju’s response, Wol Seon-geom let out a faint chuckle.
It was such a subtle laugh that one might easily miss it if not paying close attention.
“That’s unlike you. Surely you already know what I’m asking?”
“….”
Sochul Daeju fell silent at Wol Seon-geom’s words. He was right.
In truth, Sochul Daeju already knew what Wol Seon-geom was asking about.
He simply didn’t wish to answer.
“You’re asking about Bang Disciple, aren’t you?”
It concerned what happened at Cheongwol-mu during the day, and what Wol Seon-geom had witnessed of Bangseong-yeon then.
“What was your assessment?”
Wol Seon-geom asked without hesitation, and Sochul Daeju fell silent for a moment.
How should he answer? He pondered this, but… no matter how he thought about it, only one answer came to mind.
“…He possesses remarkable talent.”
Sochul Daeju acknowledged it. He possessed something far superior to what he himself had.
And this was something Wol Seon-geom also recognized.
How could one not acknowledge it?
“If he’s eighteen years old, he would be the youngest in Cheonwol Gate’s history.”
“…Yes.”
The previous Moonju, Yoo Cheon-gil, was twenty-three.
Cheonhye-in, who until recently was called the youngest, successfully entered Sowoldae at twenty.
Bangseong-yeon, who entered at eighteen, could truly be considered the youngest age.
Moreover.
“He even achieved victory at Cheongwol-mu, which in some ways makes it a more impressive achievement than the elder’s.”
Recalling how Yoo Cheon-gil at twenty-three had defeated a Sowoldae member and risen through the ranks, Bangseong-yeon could be seen as superior.
Especially since he wasn’t even the youngest member, but rather an active elite operative.
However, there was one thing that troubled Sochul Daeju.
“…But sir, had it been Do-hyeong instead of Seom Seong-gyeong, the outcome might have been different.”
Had they sent him against Do-hyeong, who was truly the youngest, the match might have gone differently—that was his thought.
Do-hyeong was a special existence even among the current Sowoldae members.
Hearing this, Wol Seon-geom suddenly let out a laugh.
“Sochul Daeju.”
“Yes.”
“Are you truly certain the outcome would have been different?”
“….”
Sochul Daeju did not answer. Seeing this, Wol Seon-geom took a sip of tea and added his words.
“At the very least, I cannot say with certainty.”
“…Moonju.”
“The sword he displayed possesses worth equal to itself. You cannot deny this, can you?”
“….”
Sochul Daeju finally closed his mouth.
At the same time, I recalled the sword Bangseong-yeon had unfolded.
The blade he had drawn vertically downward toward Seom Seong-gyeong.
Yawol.
It was the second form of Cheongwol Swordsmanship, expressing the moon rising above the night.
A single strike imbued with spirit possessed such overwhelming presence that it obscured the opponent’s vision.
Those who faced it at that moment felt as though night itself had engulfed them.
And the blade approaching through that darkness resembled a crescent moon, they said.
Thus was born the name Yawol.
“That was certainly a perfect sword capable of reaching him.”
“…Moonju. That statement is too….”
“Do you not think so?”
“The sword Bang Disciple displayed was remarkable, but no matter how exceptional, it cannot be compared to the Old Man, I believe.”
He is none other than the Sword Saint.
How could one compare the being who saved the world and became the symbol of Cheonwol Gate with a youth not yet twenty years old?
‘No matter how much he may truly be the Old Man’s successor.’
Sochul Daeju could not accept that much.
Certainly he could not accept it.
‘…Yet that sword then.’
I acknowledged that the Yawol Bangseong-yeon had unfolded was an exceptional sword.
The same held true for his words.
‘Contemplate what manner of moon you shall unfold within yourself. Pursue it ceaselessly and with utmost dedication.’
Words the Sword Saint had worn his lips thin speaking in life.
Master swordsmanship and refine it—yet pursue the moon?
Unable to comprehend his meaning, the disciples had often expressed their confusion.
‘Now I understand.’
Barely. Only just barely.
Only after ascending to this height and elevating my level did his words begin to make sense.
‘…He seemed to already know.’
Bangseong-yeon appeared to already comprehend the Old Man’s meaning.
Otherwise, he could not have unfolded such a sword.
‘Truly exceptional talent.’
It was questionable why one possessed of such talent remained in the second rank.
But seeing it directly, I understood.
‘The rumor that he defeated Socheongeom was no mere hearsay.’
Regardless of the heights of their respective realms, the presence Bangseong-yeon displayed made defeating Socheongeom seem entirely plausible.
‘If he were Socheongeom’s older brother instead, things would be different, but he’s still undeniably exceptional.’
The sword Bangseong-yeon displayed was precisely that kind of thing.
And because of it.
“He is dangerous.”
Sochul Daeju was all the more wary of Bangseong-yeon.
“Hmm?”
At his words, Wol Seon-geom’s expression turned peculiar.
It was a silent pressure to elaborate further.
“He not only recognizes his own talent, but his conviction regarding his own strength surpasses that of anyone else.”
He is right and you are wrong—that was the impression Bangseong-yeon gave during the martial contest.
“While one might hesitate to call it arrogance when such merit truly exists, with talent of that caliber, he will inevitably become the eye of the storm.”
The world hungers for genius and yearns for it. After the Sword Saint departed from this world, who would ascend to the vacant seat of Heavenly Supreme?
Moreover.
‘Does a genius comparable to Yoo Cheon-gil truly exist?’
That was the matter of interest people currently fixated upon.
The very reason the term “Seven Prodigies” came into being.
In such circumstances, the emergence of Bangseong-yeon, the Sword Saint’s successor….
“The Nine Schools and One Sect and the Five Great Families will certainly move.”
“….”
Sochul Daeju affirmed with silence at Wol Seon-geom’s words.
They would move in whatever manner necessary.
Or perhaps they were already moving.
Which meant.
“Those whose hips are so heavy they nearly touch the heavens—the fact that they would move for Bangseong-yeon speaks to his exceptional nature.”
“Moonju….”
“You said it yourself. Only the unqualified become poison, but his arrogance is merely an expression.”
“Do you truly intend to take in Bang Disciple?”
“Take in?”
Ha ha.
Wol Seon-geom laughed as though bewildered.
“He has already enlisted in Sowoldae. Moreover, did he not say so himself? That he would ascend to the position of Sochul Daeju.”
“However….”
“What I am curious about now is you.”
Wol Seon-geom’s azure eyes turned toward Sochul Daeju, and in those eyes that seemed to hold the moon itself, Sochul Daeju found himself forced to look away.
“What reason does the current Cheonwol Gate have to refuse Bangseong-yeon?”
“….”
“The eye of the storm? Since when have we feared such things? Or do you believe the very act of aspiring to the Sochul Daeju position is wrong? That cannot be.”
Wol Seon-geom laughed, and there was nothing warm in that laughter, forcing Sochul Daeju to swallow hard.
“If one possesses the qualifications, they will seize it. If they lack them, it will be taken from them.”
No matter how exceptional one’s talent, not even one’s own blood held any meaning.
I shall pass it to one more qualified.
Wol Seon-geom spoke as though issuing a warning.
“I respect your rejection of him, but since he has become your subordinate, I hope you will at least examine him rationally. This is not a request.”
“…I shall bear it in mind.”
At the eerie and weighty tone, Sochul Daeju barely managed to nod.
Watching Wol Seon-geom’s expression, I became certain.
‘It’s too late.’
Moonju’s eyes were already fixed on Bangseong-yeon.
There was no point in saying anything more now.
Besides.
‘…There is nothing wrong with what Moonju said.’
Even if Bangseong-yeon was a dangerous existence, there was no reason for Cheonwol Gate to reject him.
Sochul Daeju’s distrust of him was purely stubbornness.
‘…And yet.’
Sochul Daeju was willing to acknowledge much, but there was one thing he could never accept, even in death.
‘I cannot compare him to the Old Man.’
I would never place him on the same level as the Sword Saint, even if I died.
This conviction would never change, even in death.
At the moment Sochul Daeju made this resolve.
“What of the task I commanded?”
At Wol Seon-geom’s words, Sochul Daeju’s eyes widened.
“I had just received word moments ago. I have compiled the information you requested, Moonju.”
There was something I had momentarily forgotten while discussing Bangseong-yeon.
Sochul Daeju hastily retrieved something from his robes.
It was several documents.
“These are documents regarding the Yeolyeongbangga Clan, along with more detailed information….”
Sochul Daeju handed them to Wol Seon-geom and trailed off.
“There was something rather peculiar written in them.”
“Peculiar?”
Wol Seon-geom accepted the documents and immediately unfolded them.
As he read through them slowly,
“…Hmm?”
Upon reading one section, his eyes widened momentarily.
“Regarding the Bang family head and his elder brother, there seemed to be nothing suspicious…but the problem is.”
Sochul Daeju spoke, watching Wol Seon-geom’s widened eyes.
“It concerns his sister.”

* * *
“…I’m going to lose my mind.”
I stared at the risen moon for a long while before the words spilled out.
“I’m going to go insane.”
As I continued repeating the words as if shuddering, the Demon beside me reacted.
[Why are you constantly babbling so loudly? Just go to sleep already instead of irritating people.]
Watching the Demon click her tongue, I glared and spoke.
“And whose fault is that? You’re irritated? You don’t even sleep anyway, so what’s there to be irritated about? And you’re not even human.”
[What…? You brat!]
Yoo Cheon-gil bristled and scrunched his face, but this time I couldn’t let it slide.
“If you’ve caused trouble, at least close your mouth, please.”
[Trouble my ass. I went into your body and rolled around solving your problems. What? Close my mouth?]
“That’s not solving anything. I’m just cleaning up the mess the Old Man left behind.”
And it was so much of a mess that no matter how much I cleaned, it seemed endless.
‘Just when I think I’ve finally cleaned it up, more appears.’
Every time I grit my teeth and clean one thing, an even bigger disaster erupts.
At this point, death would be preferable.
“Ah, what exactly are you trying to do?”
I clutched my head. It felt like all my hair would fall out, but I had to do something.
[Why do you keep complaining after eating something so good?]
“…Good? This is serious trouble if it gets discovered.”
The reason I was flailing about like this right after Cheongwol-mu ended was simple.
“Why did you steal what the next Moonju was supposed to eat…!”
The Cheongwol Pill that Wol Seon-geom should have eaten. I’d carelessly devoured it myself.
And worse still.
“What do you mean it can’t be made anymore? That’s insane.”
The Cheongwol Pill I ate was supposedly the last one.
In the past it might have been different, but now production is impossible.
The reason being.
“Only the Old Man knows the formula…? Why? Why?”
The problem was that only this Demon knew the manufacturing method for the Cheongwol Pill.
Hearing my words, the Demon—or rather, Yoo Cheon-gil—picked his nose and spoke to me.
[The formula for the Cheongwol Pill is only ever passed down to the Moonju.]
“But the current Moonju, Wol Seon-geom, doesn’t know it.”
[Of course he doesn’t.]
Yoo Cheon-gil flicked the booger from his nose with his mouth as he continued.
[He died before I could teach him. Hehehehe.]
“….”
After hearing that, I repeatedly wiped my face with my hands.
There’s no mess quite like this mess.
‘That’s something to be proud of, truly.’
Why was she rattling on so cheerfully? I was dying of anxiety right now.
‘If this gets discovered, what happens then?’
I didn’t know for certain, but it felt like it would become troublesome.
Should I claim I found it in that damned Dungeon? That would be the most convincing excuse.
‘As long as it doesn’t get discovered, it’s fine….’
Keeping my mouth shut and staying quiet was the best approach.
As the saying goes, if it’s not discovered, that’s the end of it.
It’s only when it’s discovered that things become seriously problematic.
“…Sigh.”
I exhaled heavily and lay back.
“Ah, my life.”
How did things end up like this?
After my life was saved by the Demon, I came to my senses only to find myself not just admitted to Cheonwol Gate, but promoted to Sowoldae as well.
Everything happened so rapidly, and others might say it’s a good thing, but.
‘It feels like walking on thin ice.’
A position obtained without merit was always unstable and exhausting.
The thought that I could be beaten to a pulp if discovered was giving me a terrible headache.
‘…What do I do starting tomorrow?’
Even if I survive today, how will I survive tomorrow?
No solution came to mind.
‘I did gain an incredible ability….’
Eyes that could foresee an opponent’s sword path in advance.
I didn’t understand the principle behind this phenomenon, but it was truly a tremendous power.
If only I could wield it properly.
“…Tsk.”
The problem was that I could barely manage my own survival.
‘Entering Sowoldae was good and all.’
But one moment of carelessness and I’d be exposed.
Then everything I’d built would crumble without question. For that reason alone.
‘I have to become stronger, even if only slightly.’
I needed to build power.
That way I could create more justification for my position, and avoid situations like what happened earlier.
‘Cheonhye-in.’
I clenched my fists, picturing her face.
‘Damn woman.’
She kept dancing on the line, and now she’d finally crossed it.
‘Cursed.’
With Yoo Cheon-gil’s help, I somehow got through it, but it seemed like she’d keep doing this in the future.
‘What should I do?’
So then, what would be the proper way to move forward?
I tried to contemplate that, but in that moment, exhaustion crashed over my body.
The aftermath of the possession had left my body utterly drained.
Perhaps it was because I lay down on the bedding in such a state—my eyelids kept drooping.
‘…I need to sleep for a bit.’
Plans and all that could wait. I’d think about the rest after I woke up.
After all, any plan I devised now would be hopelessly incomplete without the crucial piece.
What did I need for my current plan?
I’d mentioned it before, but….
‘I need strength.’
Not extraordinary power, but at least some degree of it.
But how could I obtain that?
Was there any way to grow stronger in such a short time?
‘If such a thing existed, I would have used it long ago.’
Unfortunately, I knew of no such method.
‘Life is truly miserably difficult.’
Whether in my past life or this one, I couldn’t fathom why everything was so arduous.
Nothing ever seemed to work out.
With such thoughts, I fell asleep.
When I opened my eyes afterward,
“Where is this…?”
I found myself in an incomprehensible white expanse.

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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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