The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 57

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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 057
Guardian Spirit.
As far as I know, it’s nearly the only type of spirit that’s actually helpful.
Most ghosts remain on earth due to lingering regrets or attachments, unable to pass to the afterlife.
But among them, guardian spirits are typically those whose regrets or attachments are relatively intact.
Perhaps they died at someone’s hands and harbor resentment.
Or perhaps they left behind so many unfinished tasks that attachments linger.
But most guardian spirits remain for a different reason—the desire to protect someone.
Because their intentions are so pure and untainted, guardian spirits aren’t classified as demons.
Only when the desire to protect is overwhelmingly strong can a spirit become a guardian spirit instead of a ghost.
Moreover, among those who possess guardian spirits, none are evil.
A guardian spirit cannot be evil by nature, and they even prevent those who carry them from becoming evil.
They’re the complete opposite of malevolent demons.
Therefore, I’d say they’re on the level of mountain gods or earth deities—beings with considerable spiritual power and presence.
‘Look at this.’
I was looking at the entity behind Do-hyeong.
What I believed to be his guardian spirit made me break into a cold sweat.
It didn’t look human. Its form was incomplete, drifting around Do-hyeong’s vicinity like a will-o’-the-wisp.
‘Why is that guardian spirit’s rank so extraordinary…?’
It was the same when I first discovered that entity, but each time I saw it, I was amazed.
Typically, guardian spirits are bound to direct family members.
Usually it’s an orphaned child whose parents have died, or someone’s last living relative.
In such cases, the guardian spirit attached is usually not particularly remarkable.
A spirit can only become a guardian spirit if the desire to protect outweighs its own presence.
Which means.
‘The stronger the spirit itself, the harder it becomes to be a guardian spirit.’
What on earth was that?
I held back a gasp as I looked at the light.
‘That’s at least a mountain god.’
Do-hyeong’s guardian spirit isn’t just any guardian spirit.
I’d never seen a guardian spirit of such magnitude.
At minimum, a mountain god or a general.
Whatever the case, it was absolutely not an entity that should exist as a guardian spirit.
And yet.
‘How is this even possible?’
The entity behind Do-hyeong was making it happen.
Guardian spirits aren’t common, but I’ve seen them before, and not just rarely.
A guardian spirit of that caliber? I’d never seen or even heard of such an individual.
That’s why.
‘I have to take it with me no matter what.’
The moment I spotted Do-hyeong, or more precisely, when I confirmed the presence of that Old Man, my resolve hardened.
I had to bring him along.
By any means necessary.
‘With a guardian spirit of that caliber….’
Wealth and fortune would flow in even without lifting a finger, and one could survive even if the heavens collapsed.
If he were a mountain god-tier guardian spirit, it would be possible.
‘Therefore, that is a miracle.’
A being that would prove immensely beneficial simply by traveling together.
In other words, the greatest lucky charm.
I could not possibly let Do-hyeong slip away.
Shifting my gaze from the guardian spirit, I spoke to Do-hyeong.
“Well then, have you given it some thought?”
….
As I asked with a smile, Do-hyeong nodded with an expressionless face.
Right after I had suggested the Sichuan journey to Cheon Euijin last time, I had immediately sought out Do-hyeong.
The reason was naturally to ask him to go to Sichuan together.
At that time, Do-hyeong had shown a flustered reaction and asked for some time to think.
I had accepted that as a positive sign.
At least it wasn’t a refusal.
“Bangseong-yeon.”
“Yes.”
I responded to Do-hyeong’s words. He had dropped formalities with me, but I didn’t read too deeply into it.
After all, I had entered Sowoldae.
Since I was originally the Sword Saint’s disciple, there could be issues regarding seniority….
‘But Sowoldae doesn’t concern itself with such things, right?’
Sowoldae is different.
Regardless of seniority, rank is determined by the order of entry, or so I was told.
It literally meant: if you don’t like it, enter first.
Honestly, I didn’t care either way.
“Please speak freely, senior.”
My occasional mentions of seniority were merely to navigate the situation, not to actually enforce such distinctions.
At my composed response, Do-hyeong’s eyes twitched ever so slightly.
“I’ve thought about it for a day, but I still don’t understand.”
“What part is unclear?”
“Why me?”
There are far more senior disciples. So why ask the youngest one, himself, to come along?
Do-hyeong seemed unable to comprehend this.
It was a reasonable question, truly.
“Well, you see, when the senior and I first met last time….”
I had prepared an answer for this part long ago.
“Do you remember?”
“Yes.”
“….”
“….”
After exchanging a few words, I became certain.
‘This guy isn’t easy to deal with.’
It was the same when he proposed we go together last time—this man speaks far less than I expected.
The fortunate part was that it didn’t feel like he disliked me and was refusing to speak.
“…Back then. Did you perhaps… find my presence comforting?”
“…?”
Do-hyeong tilted his head as if he didn’t understand.
His expression screamed: My presence was comforting? That couldn’t possibly be true.
‘Damn it.’
This man certainly had a sharp sense of self-awareness.
Someone like that was even more troublesome to deal with.
“…I don’t understand.”
“…Well. It would be more accurate to say it was somewhat easier.”
“Easier how?”
“Both the Heavenly Supreme and you were practically the only ones who didn’t discriminate against me.”
“….”
“Isn’t that right?”
Do-hyeong’s eyes narrowed at my words.
What I said was true.
In reality, only Cheon Euijin and Do-hyeong had never treated me strangely, and they alone had treated me normally….
Wait.
‘…Thinking about it that way, it feels a bit sad.’
An inexplicable sorrow welled up, but I forcefully suppressed it.
If I considered that Cheon Euijin at least harbored good feelings toward me because of the Anhui incident, and that Do-hyeong seemed like a decent person because of his guardian spirit….
‘…What about everyone else?’
At that fleeting thought, I nearly wiped my face without realizing it.
It was sadder than I expected.
Anyway.
“Since I’ve already received the mission… I wanted to go with people like that if possible… Is that too selfish of me?”
“….”
“Ah, no… If it burdens you or you dislike it, Senior Do-hyeong… I’ll try to find someone else.”
I spoke to Do-hyeong with a rather sorrowful expression.
“Though if another senior comes instead… they would naturally dislike me… making this a gloomy mission, but I’m fine with that….”
“….”
“I’ll be nervous the entire mission, unable to eat properly, unable to use the restroom, unable to sleep, but truly I’m fine wi-”
“…Stop….”
Do-hyeong raised his hand to stop my words. Then he said,
“…I will.”
“Thank you, Senior.”
The moment I heard Do-hyeong’s answer, I broke into a smile.
Just as I thought.
‘All humans who possess guardian spirits are inherently good.’
In other words, they’re easy to manipulate.
Every human with a guardian spirit I’d met so far had been exactly like that.
Do-hyeong was no exception to this pattern.
“I will report immediately that you’ve agreed to participate in the mission, Senior.”
“…Are you truly certain? It’s a long-distance mission, and I doubt they’d allow it without seniors accompanying us….”
“It’s fine. As I mentioned before, I’ve already received permission.”
This was what Wol Seon-geom had conveyed. At those words, Do-hyeong’s mouth sealed shut.
What could he say when the highest authority had already approved it?
‘As Do-hyeong said, there is some unease….’
But it’s fine without seniors. That was precisely why I intended to bring Do-hyeong along.
A Mountain God-tier guardian spirit? With that alone, there’s nothing to fear. I was certain of it.
If Do-hyeong desired it, even if the heavens split in two, he would obtain what he sought.
Even if his body were bound to a cliff and falling, miracles would occur.
That was the nature of such a guardian spirit.
‘…I must keep him close at all times.’
Not only keeping him close, but binding him well to my side would be optimal.
“In any case… since you’ve given your permission, I’ll see you once the schedule is set.”
“….”
Do-hyeong nodded with that same strange expression as before.

* * *
After concluding my conversation with Do-hyeong, Yoo Cheon-gil asked me as we moved forward.
[Are you really that pleased about traveling with that fellow Do-hyeong?]
I answered with a smile at his words, which carried a tone of incomprehension.
“Yes. I am quite pleased.”
How could I not be?
[Hmm.]
“To be precise, it’s not Do-hyeong himself, but rather what’s attached to him that makes me pleased.”
[That guardian spirit you mentioned?]
“Yes.”
[Is it really that remarkable?]
“Indeed it is.”
Remarkable beyond measure.
‘I’ve truly obtained an absurdly fortunate talisman.’
Among all the events that have transpired recently—the Cheongwol-dan, the Muk-cheol Sword, and such—this was undoubtedly the greatest acquisition.
“The anxiety I felt has settled considerably.”
[…Heh heh.]
“I suffered so much mental anguish because of a certain demon… but now things are much better.”
[That wouldn’t be me, would it?]
“Why wouldn’t it be? I was truly fed up… phew….”
I breathed deliberately, as though I had barely survived.
[Ha, look at this one.]
At my display, Yoo Cheon-gil let out a hollow laugh.
At the same time, he spoke to me.
[So, are you really fine with it?]
“What do you mean?”
[You were told to be careful not to get entangled with other spirits, yet you seem to walk about quite freely in front of that one.]
“Ah. That.”
I answered while scratching my ear with my pinky, wondering what he was asking about.
“That’s fine.”
[Why?]
“Because a guardian spirit cannot interfere with anything else.”
[Hm? What do you mean by that?]
“Exactly as I said.”
Literally exactly as I said.
A guardian spirit cannot intervene with anything other than the being it protects.
Not even to speak to another existence.
While it can exert its power to protect its charge, it cannot take independent action or initiate anything on its own.
This was precisely why I called it a fortunate talisman.
‘The guardian spirit cannot do anything once it recognizes my existence.’
As long as I don’t express malice toward Do-hyeong, the guardian spirit will likely overlook most things.
Moreover.
‘The moment I actually help Do-hyeong, they’ll view me even more favorably.’
While it might not be an enormous amount of help, at the very least they wouldn’t regard me poorly.
[…Heh.]
Upon hearing such thoughts, Yoo Cheon-gil spoke to me with a somewhat peculiar tone.
[My, what a remarkably unwavering conviction you possess.]
Yoo Cheon-gil’s voice carried a distinct note of skepticism.
I suppose so. Even I found it strange.
But.
‘That’s simply the nature of guardian spirits.’
Just as Yoo Cheon-gil said, I was genuinely certain of this.
Guardian spirits that exist as spirits to protect someone.
And those who receive the protection of such spirits.
Both.
‘Absurdly righteous beings.’
They were those who sacrificed their very lives for others.
At least.
‘That’s what those I’ve witnessed were like.’
Every single one without exception.
Truly….
Not a single one was different.
“….”
I furrowed my brow. Unwelcome memories surfaced.
“Tsk….”
I clicked my tongue briefly and resumed walking.
What mattered was that I’d obtained the fortune charm.
While deliberately redirecting my thoughts to that.
“Ah, that’s right, Old Man.”
[Hmm?]
Something suddenly came to mind, so I spoke to Yoo Cheon-gil.
“I’ve narrowed down some suspicious individuals this time.”
[Hmm? What are you talking about?]
“People who seem connected to your death, Old Man.”
[Ah….]
At my words, Yoo Cheon-gil’s expression became vacant.
[Right. There was that too.]
“…?”
[Heheheh. I’d momentarily forgotten about it.]
‘Wow….’
Have I truly lost my mind?
Forgetting about my own death of all things? It was utterly absurd.
[Well, I’ve been rather occupied lately, you see.]
The old man seemed embarrassed as he spoke to me, but there was no way such words would suffice as an explanation.
[Stop glaring at me and speak up. So what is it?]
His attempt to change the subject was transparent, but I was too irritated to press further.
“…This is merely speculation, but I’ve narrowed it down to roughly four individuals.”
[Hmm.]
Judging by the old man’s demeanor, he seemed reluctant to hear this…
Still, I had to speak.
“Two from the elder ranks. One from within our organization. And finally.”
I spoke with an expressionless face.
“Wol Seon-geom, the Moonju.”
These were the suspects who had killed the Sword Saint that I had witnessed.

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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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