The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 478

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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 478
Heavenly Supreme. At those words, Gungwi’s face becomes worth watching. Her eyes are filled with worldly irritation.
“Why would I even mention that stubborn old man?”
….
Ah, I see. A bitter connection then. Just from her expression, I can tell well enough. The relationship between these two isn’t good.
Gungwi sets down the rice bowl she was secretly eating from. Seeing that, I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.
“Why are you sneaking into the kitchen and eating like this?”
…Hic.
At my observation, Gungwi’s ears turn red. She clearly knew she was being shameless.
I really don’t understand this. She’s the Heavenly Supreme, after all.
“It’s not like you’re a thief or anything.”
“A thief…!? Who are you calling a thief…!”
“Just look at yourself right now. If this isn’t thievery, what is?”
…Ugh….
Gungwi grinds her teeth. Then she glares at me. What, as if glaring will change anything.
“This is all because of you….”
“What do you mean?”
“Chongwan…. That old man Chongwan only provides meals at mealtimes!”
“…Well, that’s only natural. Do you think our house is an inn or something?”
Where food comes out immediately whenever you order?
“Because of you…. My body has become so frail that I can’t do anything. But why is this delicate body always so hungry…!”
Grrrrowl.
“So it seems.”
“Damn it!”
Gungwi slams the floor with her small hand. With such a tiny fist, there’s no strength behind it, so it barely makes a sound.
“…Curse it…. I’m so hungry….”
A voice filled with despair. Watching her, I felt even more pathetic. How did she end up like this? And I’d heard she was a Celestial Demon, no less.
‘…A descendant of the North Sea’s Gungju, they said.’
Regardless of what I know, she must be from an extraordinary family, yet here she is reduced to this state merely because of hunger.
‘Hmm.’
I gazed at her quietly.
“Then would you like to make a promise with me? If you do, I’ll make sure to feed you well.”
“…What?”
At those words, Gungwi’s eyes turn fierce.
“You think I’d sell my pride and cling to you just for something as trivial as food….”
“If you don’t want to, then forget it.”
“Let me hear what it is first.”
….
“What’s with that look?”
“Nothing. You’re just more honest than you appear.”
A person of utter transparency.
“Nothing major. The Heavenly Supreme is looking for you right now.”
“…What?”
Gungwi falters at my words.
“The Heavenly Supreme…? Why would the Heavenly Supreme…? No, that’s not it. How do you even know the Heavenly Supreme in the first place? That monster from the previous generation…?”
“We’re not exactly close. I just happened to see her while passing by… something like that. Anyway, that grandmother said she’d bring you along.”
“Grandmother? You’re calling the Heavenly Supreme a grandmother right now…?”
“The fortunate part is that the Heavenly Supreme doesn’t think of you as Gungwi.”
“…”
Looking at her current state, who would ever think she was Gungwi?
“If it gets revealed that I’m Gungwi, it’ll become quite troublesome for me too. I was hoping we could align our stories if possible.”
“Stories?”
“Yes. Just pretend you’re not Gungwi. Act as though you’ve been my attendant all along. If you could play along a bit, it would be ideal.”
“Ha!”
Gungwi lets out an exclamation upon hearing the request.
“Absolutely insane! You want me to fawn and grovel before that cursed Heavenly Supreme just for food?!”
“So. An attendant, then?”
“Yes… I’m from the North Sea, and my name is Seolhyang…”
“…”
Watching Baek—no, Seolhyang—bow her head demurely before the Heavenly Supreme, I had countless thoughts running through my mind.
‘Is it really just about food?’
What could food possibly be that she’d go this far? For someone once so proud to fall apart like this… I truly had nothing to say.
“Seolhyang, you say…”
The Heavenly Supreme.
The Dean stares intently at Gungwi. She seemed to be contemplating something upon hearing the name.
‘She absolutely refused to be called Baek, pleading so desperately that I gave her the name Seolhyang instead.’
She said she’d rather bite her own tongue than be called Baek. So I gave her a beautiful name.
She herself seemed satisfied with Seolhyang.
The Heavenly Supreme looked Seolhyang up and down.
“An attendant?”
“Yes.”
“How did you end up taking a North Sea native as an attendant?”
“…I picked her up.”
“Ha… A North Sea native? Speaking of it as though you’d picked up some trivial object.”
“But I really did just pick her up.”
To be precise, she followed me on her own. But that’s neither here nor there.
“You picked up a North Sea native? And one that…?”
The Dean’s cold gaze pierces through Seolhyang.
“A pure-blooded North Sea native at that?”
“Pure-blooded?”
“White hair with such vivid blue eyes—that’s their mark. But you? What are you, Sword Saint? What did he do to end up like that? It’s far from what he was born with.”
“…That’s true enough.”
“But why pick up a pureblooded North Sea native? You’re speaking words that would make the North Sea rise up.”
“…Is there a problem with that?”
“There is. A serious one. If Gungju finds out, the North Sea’s armies will march straight into the Central Plains.”
“….”
That’s terrifying.
“If she’s truly a pureblooded North Sea native, there’s nothing strange about Gungju taking action. That’s what makes this suspicious.”
The Heavenly Supreme turned toward Seolhyang.
“Young girl.”
“Y-yes…. Yes….”
“Tell me—are you truly from the North Sea?”
“…What?”
Seolhyang’s eyes widened as if she couldn’t comprehend the question. He’d just been talking about pureblooded North Sea natives, and now this?
While both Seolhyang and I stood confused, the Dean spoke.
“He’s asking whether your parents are Gungwi and the Sword Saint.”
“What the hel—”
Seolhyang raised her voice, but I grabbed her wrist.
“…I don’t understand what you mean.”
“Hmm…. No matter how I look at her, she resembles Gungwi. That shameless woman, exactly.”
“I-I know nothing of that.”
“…Then Gungju must have used some power in his later years. But that shouldn’t be possible. What could it be?”
“…That’s something you’ll have to figure out yourself. Dean, I’ve shown you what you wanted. Isn’t that enough? The child gets frightened easily.”
“…Hmm.”
Though her displeasure was evident, she nodded in agreement.
“Very well. I had a suspicion, but it seems I was wrong.”
“Wrong about what?”
“I wondered if perhaps the one you’re keeping might be Gungwi.”
“…!”
I was startled. So she had been suspecting this all along.
“I thought perhaps she’d undergone a rebirth and was plotting something. But that doesn’t seem to be the case.”
“There’s no way to verify such a thing, is there?”
“There’s no aura about her in the first place. Even with a rebirth, one cannot completely drain their essence like this. Besides.”
The Dean spoke with an indifferent expression.
“You wouldn’t know, but that prideful woman Gungwi acting so tremulous in this young form? I doubt she’s fallen that far.”
“….”
“….”
I grabbed Seolhyang’s arm again. She was trembling so violently she looked ready to burst at any moment.
“Now that I’ve confirmed it, you may go.”
“Yes. Until next time.”
“Fine then. Oh, wait.”
The Dean grabbed me just as I was leaving.
“What is it?”
“Listen, if you can help it, keep that young girl hidden as you travel.”
“…What?”
“I know you like to meddle in these affairs, but the moment word spreads that a pure-blooded child from the North Sea is in the Central Plains, everything I mentioned earlier could come to pass.”
“…I see.”
So Gungju would lead her armies into the Central Plains?
“Yes. I understand.”
I nodded.
“Good. Now get out.”
“Your manner of speech really….”
I stepped outside, watching the Dean puff on his long pipe.

* * *
The academy grounds were quiet. The Dean had apparently sent the students outside to speak with me.
As I walked in silence for some time.
“…Damn…. Damn it….”
“….”
I pretended not to hear Seolhyang’s quiet muttering.
“That…. That cursed bastard…!!”
Thump! She struck the ground repeatedly with her small feet. Fury radiated from her. Her face and ears were completely flushed.
“Grrr….”
“Control yourself. The Heavenly Supreme might hear.”
“Damn it…. For heaven’s sake…. How did I end up….”
“It’s your own doing, after all.”
“…You….”
“Stop being angry and eat. You’ve been noisy since earlier.”
“….”
A growling sound reached my ears. At the mention of food, Seolhyang quieted for a moment. I dragged her into a nearby inn.
“Bring us a few dishes, quickly.”
“Right away!”
The Waitress took the money and moved swiftly. I paid extra since she needed to eat soon.
“Sigh….”
Seolhyang still hadn’t calmed down, just sighing. I asked her a question.
“What happened between you and the Heavenly Supreme?”
It didn’t seem like a simple grudge. The Heavenly Supreme hadn’t even participated in the war against the Demonic Sect.
A master from the old days. Now, few even knew of her existence.
What was the connection between her and Seolhyang?
“A bitter enmity.”
“You’ll understand once you see it.”
Who wouldn’t know that and ask anyway?
“Where in this world would you find someone without a karmic connection to you….”
“…What?”
“Ah. My apologies. So what kind of relationship do you have?”
My true thoughts slipped out. Oops.
“….”
Seolhyang glared at me, but I couldn’t hear what came after. A brief moment passed.
“The Heavenly Supreme once visited the North Sea in the past.”
“The North Sea?”
What business would she have in such a distant place? Ah, but that grandmother’s travels are legendary anyway.
“…There were some circumstances at that time. That’s all.”
“Hmm.”
She’s clearly trying to change the subject. Well, I don’t need to dig deeper either.
“Then, what about Gungju?”
“…What?”
“If Gungju truly learned about you… would she bring an army to invade?”
“Ha, this is absurd. Do you think the North Sea is some barbaric wasteland?”
“Right? I suppose it wouldn’t come to that-”
“Not an army, but she’d personally lead an invasion.”
“….”
Hmm.
‘This is giving me a headache.’
Not barbarians, she says. This woman.
‘So I have to hide her no matter what?’
Seolhyang’s existence had to be concealed. At least until I returned to my original body.
“So hurry and restore me to my original body as quickly as possible.”
“No, I already told you it just takes time.”
“How long?”
“I don’t know that.”
Could I undo it directly if I tried? But waiting safely for time to pass seemed like the better option.
That was my judgment anyway.
“You think time will just solve this? I altered the body itself to prevent the flesh from burrowing in.”
“An alteration?”
“Similar to sealing it so the flesh can’t penetrate. Because of that, this body became what it is now…. To undo it, it’ll take at least a year.”
“A year?”
Damn, it takes that long? That’s quite a while.
When I realized that.
“When you say you sealed it so it wouldn’t penetrate- you’re saying you altered the body that received the flesh?”
“Yes.”
“…So to undo the flesh seal, she’d have to return to her original body, and that takes a year?”
“Yes! That’s exactly why I said it was a problem!”
“This is insane. Why are you telling me this now!?”
A year.
Seolhyang couldn’t return for at least a year. And only then could she remove the seal.
‘Here.’
The moment word of Seolhyang’s existence reached Gungju’s ears.
‘Would Gungju come storming in?’
That’s what it meant.
“Send a letter quickly then. Explain what happened. Tell her not to misunderstand.”
“I can’t send one.”
“Why not?”
“…Our relationship isn’t good right now.”
“With Gungju? Why…?”
“I may have stolen something from her. Just know that.”
“….”
At those words, I wiped my forehead. Why did all these Celestial Demons go around stealing things?
“…There’s no normalcy here. This is rotten.”
In this increasingly troublesome situation, I steadied my resolve.
I mustn’t end up like that when I’m old.
It was the moment I made that vow, watching Seolhyang eat food of unknown origin.

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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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