The World’s Greatest is Dead - Chapter 65

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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 065
That gaze is terrifying.
The murderous gleam in those eyes made my body stiffen involuntarily.
‘This is insane. What is that?’
I managed my expression with all my strength.
The sweeping gaze was saturated with yin energy.
It was so intense that the entire room felt frigid.
‘I’m losing my mind.’
The feeling was wrong from the start. I couldn’t examine it closely, but it was definitely a ghost.
And at that.
‘…Considerably powerful.’
Not just any ordinary ghost—its presence was overwhelming.
The corporeal form was relatively distinct, and so was the yin energy radiating from it.
The only saving grace was that it didn’t seem to be a Demon—
[Is this the one? That dog of a student of Yoo Cheon-gil’s?]
It didn’t seem that way. It appeared to be a Demon after all.
Damn it….
I swallowed hard, desperately concealing the cold sweat.
Then, gazes from both sides fixed upon me.
Do-hyeong and Cheon Euijin were staring at me. What? Why are they looking at me… Oh, right.
Dang Gyeong-ak had asked who the Sword Saint’s successor was.
“….”
I deliberated for a long time. There was no reason to hesitate, yet I couldn’t answer.
[That dog of a man, Yoo Cheon-gil.]
How could I speak when that Demon was searching with such gleaming eyes?
‘…What exactly did he do?’
What had that damned old man done? What could he have possibly done to make that ghost growl so menacingly?
All manner of questions crossed my mind, but….
“It’s me.”
Yet I couldn’t simply remain silent.
As I spoke and stepped forward, I felt the gazes of both the human and the ghost.
Dang Gyeong-ak looked at me with eyes asking if it was me.
The ghost behind him.
[So it’s you.]
It rushed right up to my face and thrust its visage before me.
Damn, that’s terrifyingly grotesque.
I nearly let out a scream at its sudden approach.
But.
[…You’re the one?]
The ghost examined me from every angle, its voice tinged with doubt.
It was painfully obvious that I couldn’t comprehend what was happening.
Something felt inexplicably wrong.
“So you said his name was Bang Disciple Bangseong-yeon?”
“Yes.”
I nodded at Dang Gyeong-ak’s words.
“You’re telling me this disciple is the successor to Elder Yoo?”
“That is correct.”
“Hmm.”
Just as the demon had done, Dang Gyeong-ak also examined me from every angle.
After a brief moment passed, Dang Gyeong-ak slowly rose to his feet.
“Dang Gyeong-ak of the Dang Clan pays respects to the predecessor of the Sword Saint.”
“…!”
He performed a proper bow. The Heavenly Supreme bowed his head to me.
I reflexively froze for a moment.
I never expected the Poison King himself to show me such courtesy. Do-hyeong and Cheon Euijin were equally shocked by this unexpected gesture.
It was like before. I couldn’t remain stiff like this.
I quickly returned the bow.
“…I am Bangseong-yeon of the Yeolyeongbangga Clan. It is an honor to meet you, Lord of the Clan.”
Before, I had identified myself as Bangseong-yeon of Cheonwol Gate, but this time I spoke the name of Yeolyeongbangga Clan.
This was also a way of signifying that I was meeting the Lord as the predecessor of the Sword Saint.
Dang Gyeong-ak’s demeanor reflected the same understanding.
He had shown me respect not as Bangseong-yeon of Cheonwol Gate, but as the predecessor of the Sword Saint.
[Hmmmm… Hmmmm….]
Meanwhile, the demon clinging to Dang Gyeong-ak still wore an expression of clear dissatisfaction.
Of course, I had to ignore such things.
After the exchange of bows, I showed Dang Gyeong-ak the wooden coffin I was holding.
“…This is my master’s possession, as I mentioned in my letter.”
“This is….”
As I lifted the box containing Manwol, Dang Gyeong-ak slowly extended his hand toward it.
Seeing him move as if to touch it, I quickly pulled the coffin back into my grasp.
“…?”
“Huh.”
Both of these capable men flinched at my action.
Their faces showed disbelief—what was I doing to the Poison King?
I understand. Even I would have thought this was madness.
But there was a clear reason for it.
I spoke to Dang Gyeong-ak.
“Lord of the Clan. You have not yet affixed your seal.”
“….”
At those words, Dang Gyeong-ak’s eyes narrowed slightly.
I was concerned he might feel uncomfortable hearing the criticism, but it was something that needed to be said.
“Oh, my apologies.”
Fortunately, Dang Gyeong-ak offered an apology first.
“I became excited thinking it belonged to an elder and committed a grave discourtesy. Please forgive me.”
“Not at all. I believe your reaction was entirely understandable.”
The moment I finished speaking, Dang Gyeong-ak withdrew a letter from the table. It bore the official seal of the Dang Clan.
Seeing this, I nudged Do-hyeong beside me with my elbow.
Only then did Do-hyeong produce a letter from his robe as well.
This one bore the emblem of the Cheonwol Gate.
They exchanged the letters with each other.
“As Lord of the Dang Clan, I hereby accept the commission from the Cheonwol Gate.”
“As acting Moonju of the Cheonwol Gate, I confirm the Dang Clan’s acceptance.”
As they spoke, both sides pressed their seals onto their respective letters.
It was the moment the commission was officially confirmed as accepted.
Only after confirming they had tucked the letters away did I return the wooden coffin to Dang Gyeong-ak.
Dang Gyeong-ak, receiving it, opened the coffin slightly to inspect it.
“….”
After quietly verifying its contents,
“The item is confirmed. I shall issue orders to Cheogang according to the commission details.”
He closed the coffin again and spoke to us.
Hearing this, everyone nodded in relief.
‘Cheogang, then….’
From what I understood, it was the space within the Dang Clan where they worked with steel.
The weapons of the Dang Clan, as they were commonly called.
Even with money, they were not easy to obtain—extraordinary items that all came from that place, or so I had heard.
“The journey must have been long, so I imagine you are fatigued. I thought perhaps you could rest well today and we might meet again tomorrow…?”
“I appreciate your consideration.”
Do-hyeong offered a respectful bow without further words.
He would have wanted to rest if given the chance.
I felt the same way.
Since I had handed over Manwol as promised, let me rest a little now.
With that thought, just as I was about to leave the room,
“Ah, might I have a brief word with Bang Disciple?”
“Yes?”
I had to pause at Dang Gyeong-ak’s words.
Me…? The ghost behind me was already glaring at me, making me uncomfortable enough to die, and now he’s holding me back?
I looked at Dang Gyeong-ak with absolute reluctance,
“It concerns the commission.”
“….”
He presented a reason I could not refuse.
Upon hearing those words, I spoke to the two of them with an expression as if I were dying.
“…See you later, then.”
I felt exactly like a cow being dragged to the slaughterhouse.

* * *
In the room where Do-hyeong and Cheon Euijin had left, I remained alone with Dang Gyeong-ak.
I could feel my stomach about to turn at any moment, swallowing dry saliva repeatedly.
“You must be exhausted, and I apologize for keeping you.”
Dang Gyeong-ak spoke.
“Not at all. A private audience with the Lord of the Dang Clan? This is a precious experience one cannot have anywhere else. Please, do not concern yourself.”
Right. As if I’d ever want to experience this anywhere.
I never imagined in my entire life that I would have an audience with the Lord of the Dang Clan.
And I never wanted to imagine it.
Especially.
[No matter how I look at it, something is off.]
Particularly because of the ghost who has been thrusting his face at me since earlier.
[That madman’s disciple?]
It’s maddening. I wish he would stop spinning around like that.
[That can’t be right… There’s no way a disciple of that lunatic could be this composed. There’s no way that madman would have taken on a disciple this sane.]
It was an absolute conviction. I even found myself agreeing with it.
What is this ghost? Suddenly it’s really hitting home?
Is he actually a decent ghost? No. Just because of this much—
[And he’s even handsome. Unlike that madman.]
It was certain. This ghost was a good ghost.
“Bang Disciple.”
“…Ah, yes. Lord of the Clan.”
I snapped my wandering mind back to attention.
“Do you know why I have kept you here separately?”
Do I know the reason?
Well, that would be….
“As you directly mentioned, I suspect it is because of Manwol.”
“Correct.”
With a creaking sound, Dang Gyeong-ak opened the wooden coffin before my eyes once more. Then he reached inside and pulled out Manwol.
[…Ugh…. This damned thing.]
The moment I saw that, the ghost spoke with a sharp edge to his voice.
[How did that dog of a man use this thing to end up in such a state?]
Apparently quite angry, I could see him approaching Manwol and grinding his teeth.
I wondered what could make him so furious.
[I crafted this with such care, and he treats it like this? That bastard deserves to be torn to shreds…!]
“…!”
Upon hearing those words, I forced my body to remain still. Otherwise, I feared I would jump up in shock.
‘Created her?’
Created Manwol?
That ghost…?
It was information I had never anticipated.
Now that I think about it.
‘Wasn’t it said that the Dang Clan also constructed the Old Man’s snack warehouse at Cheonwol Gate?’
Yes, I was certain that was the case.
Could this be coincidence…? No matter how I looked at it, it seemed unlikely.
‘I should have asked him to come along.’
Yoo Cheon-gil was not by my side now. The moment we arrived in Sichuan, he had vanished, claiming he needed to attend to something briefly.
I found it absurd how freely that ghost moved about.
Going wherever he pleased—what kind of ghost behaves like that?
‘Or perhaps it was better that he didn’t come?’
Who could have known a ghost was clinging to the Poison King?
In a situation like this, perhaps his absence was a blessing.
In any case.
Setting such matters aside for now, I focused on the Poison King before me.
“When you agreed to undertake the repair of this blade, do you recall the condition the Dang Clan imposed on Cheonwol Gate?”
“…I remember it well.”
Of course I remember—I came here because of that very condition.
“That the Sword Saint’s successor would personally bring Manwol. That was it, was it not?”
“Indeed.”
How could I forget, when that cursed condition brought me all the way to Sichuan?
But why was he bringing this up now? I stared at the Poison King with questioning eyes.
“The reason the Dang Clan specifically wished to see the Bang Disciple was because the previous Lord of the Clan left behind a final wish.”
He explained to me as if he had been waiting for this moment.
“A final wish, you say?”
“He wished to see Manwol once more—the greatest masterwork of his lifetime. And it is said he made an agreement with Elder Yoo regarding this matter.”
Upon hearing those words, unease crept over me.
The previous Lord of the Clan had created Manwol. That was strange enough, but wasn’t the very being who created Manwol standing right before me?
“May I inquire what that wish entailed…?”
“Should the two of them each take on disciples in the future, they agreed to hold a martial contest to determine whose disciple was stronger.”
“…What?”
What an absurd promise. Utterly ridiculous.
“Surely… you didn’t summon me for that reason…?”
“Since both parties have already passed away, there is no need to press the matter… however, as it was their final wish, I thought it only proper to honor it. What are your thoughts on this, Bang Disciple?”
“….”
I traveled all the way to Sichuan only to be told I must face someone unknown in a martial contest because of a dead man’s wish?
And moreover… at the Dang Clan?
‘Hmm.’
The mere thought of it sent chills down my spine.
I despised it—truly despised it. Of course I should refuse, but how could I possibly do so?
How should I decline?
After pondering this briefly, I spoke to Dang Gyeong-ak.
“I’m willing to do it, but there’s one condition.”
“Hmm?”
At my words, Dang Gyeong-ak’s expression crumpled.
A condition? He was suddenly imposing a condition?
“Bang Disciple, what do you mean by—”
The Poison King spoke with an ambiguous expression.
They had summoned me out of goodwill to repair Manwol, so I was hardly in a position to set conditions.
The fact that I was now attaching such demands to this situation clearly displeased them.
However, Dang Gyeong-ak had to reconsider his response to what I said next.
“I’m afraid I cannot lend you Manwol.”
“…What?”
“Isn’t that what you need right now? Manwol.”
“…”
[Heheheh.]
At my blunt words, the spirit who had been silent reacted.
[What is this guy?]
Whoooooosh—!!
With my words, a suffocating chill swept through the room.

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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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