The World’s Greatest is Dead

The World’s Greatest is Dead – Chapter 108

I was guided straight to the location. The destination was a banquet hall, and by the time I arrived, many people had already gathered.

Because of the letter I received from Murong Yeongsun, I couldn’t manage my expression well. Entering the hall only made it worse.

“Oh my.”

“……”

As soon as I entered, I saw a face that shouldn’t be there. An immensely beautiful woman with a cold aura—Murong Yeongsun—was sitting right there.

She smiled slightly at me, and I had to deliberately ignore her smile.

‘Why is she here again?’

Seeing her during the day was ominous enough. I never expected to meet her here. While I was bewildered by the situation, the only available seat was next to Murong Yeongsun.

I glanced around but, eventually, I had no choice but to sit there. Dragging my heavy feet, I took my seat.

“Are we meeting again?”

“…… Yes.”

Murong Yeongsun greeted me warmly, and naturally, I had to make a grudging face.

Why had things turned out this way? As the question crossed my mind, “Young master Bang…”

From my left side, opposite Murong Yeongsun, someone spoke to me cautiously.

“Are you feeling better…?”

“Oh, yes. I am fine, but…”

I glanced around and then spoke softly to Young lady Tang.

“…… Young lady Tang, shouldn’t you not be here?”

“Pardon?”

“It seems your family members are on the other side.”

The direct descendants of the Tang family were sitting at the head table with the family head, her mother, and the young lord.

‘Why is that guy glaring at me like that?’

A fierce-looking youth, Poison Dragon, was glaring at me savagely from the front.

‘He really has a terrifying face.’

It wasn’t easy to look at him. His naturally fierce look paired with a killer stare gave off an extraordinary aura of intimidation. Additionally,

『…… That brat…?』

Floating in mid-air, looking identical to Poison Dragon, or rather, someone Poison Dragon was known to resemble, Poison Sovereign was also glaring at me.

『How dare he be near our precious Yelan… And who is this sharp-looking girl?』

『Both are lovely. But if I had to choose, I prefer the one on the right.』

『Are you crazy? Are you saying Yelan is less than that one?』

『Respect people’s tastes. You’ve grown narrow-minded in your old age. Tsk, tsk.』

“……”

I rubbed my temples at the old man’s muttering. I wished they’d just keep quiet. Seeing my distress, Young lady Tang tried to speak again.

“…… Young master.”

“Leave him be.”

Murong Yeongsun interrupted Young lady Tang.

“When he’s like this, he must be deeply in thought. Don’t disturb him.”

“……”

Murong Yeongsun, as if accustomed to it, sipped her tea calmly. Young lady Tang narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly at those words.

“…… It seems you two are quite familiar with each other?”

Surprised by Young lady Tang’s words, I couldn’t help but widen my eyes. There was an inexplicable discomfort in her voice.

Murong Yeongsun chuckled at Young lady Tang’s reaction.

“Of course. We know each other very well.”

“…… Young lady Murong, please.”

I tried to stop her but she continued like a ghost.

“How well? We were even engaged, weren’t we?”

“…… Damn it.”

I was about to tell her to be quiet.

“…… Engaged?”

“Engaged?”

As expected, murmurs arose around us.

“The Little Sword Saint was engaged to the Murong family…?”

“I’ve never heard of such a thing…?”

The situation was getting out of hand. I quickly raised my hand.

“…… It’s not like that. Please calm down. There seems to be a misunderstanding. It was a ‘former’ engagement.”

The engagement had been annulled long ago, at least five or six years ago.

I tried to continue explaining.

“By whose decision?”

Murong Yeongsun looked at me and spoke.

“I never said I agreed to the annulment.”

“…… Young lady Murong.”

Annoyed by her response, I said, “The annulment was decided by both families long ago, and you know well there’s nothing you can do about it even if you dislike it.”

Due to the broken engagement, I had received substantial compensation.

It wasn’t just anyone but the prestigious family who demanded the dissolution. My father, a money-devil, received quite a hefty sum in connection with this matter.

‘I don’t know where he spent it all, though.’

Anyway, what’s received is received, and since it was received, the engagement was indeed terminated.

Eventually, ‘It was you who wanted the engagement broken.’

It was all because of Murong Yeongsun’s desire.

She said she didn’t like me. She said not to come near her. Thus, the engagement was broken.

“……”

Mentioning this, Murong Yeongsun’s expression suddenly hardened, and then.

“…… So that’s how it is.”

She spoke coldly with a rigid expression.

“I shouldn’t have done that.”

“……?”

Just when I wondered why she was saying this with such a weary tone.

“Then, you mean you’re not on good terms with each other.”

“Huh……?”

“What?”

Murong Yeongsun’s face changed at Tang Yelan’s interjection.

Her eyes sharpened almost murderously as a chilling atmosphere surrounded him.

“…… Young lady Tang. What did you just say?”

“Oh, it’s nothing really.”

Tang Yelan’s reaction was even stranger despite Murong Yeongsun’s menacing attitude.

“If you have broken the engagement, then it means you’re not on close terms, doesn’t it? Right, Young master Bang?”

“…… Yes? Uh…… Yes, that’s correct.”

“Correct what? Can’t you speak properly?”

“…… Ugh!”

Suddenly, Murong Yeongsun pressed her chopsticks into my thigh. I almost cried out in pain.

How much clearer should I speak?

Cold sweat started to trickle down my back. Why on earth were things getting heated from both sides?

“……”

“……”

Tang Yelan and Murong Yeongsun exchanged silent looks. Though they didn’t speak, a tremendous aura was evident from their exchange of glances.

“…… Young lady Tang.”

“Yes, Young lady Murong.”

“It’s been years since we saw each other. You’ve become quite resilient in such a short time?”

Long time no see. Your temper worsened?

“…… Oh, really? You seem even more beautiful than before, Young lady Murong.”

You were temperamental then. Now, you’re worse.

“……”

“……”

‘Wow.’

I felt my throat tighten. It had been long since I experienced such a lethal battle of nerves.

Why are they suddenly fighting? And why am I caught in the middle?

I raised the back of my hand to wipe off the cold sweat that was ready to flow.

“Things are getting rather noisy.”

A heavy voice interrupted their tense atmosphere.

The intensity of their staredown vanished as Murong Yeongsun adjusted her expression and posture.

The voice belonged to the Poison King.

“…… I’m sorry.”

Murong Yeongsun, assuming a proper posture, apologized. The Poison King, without a glance at Murong Yeongsun, sipped his tea.

“Is the head of the Murong family well?”

“…… Yes.”

“I haven’t seen him for some time, and I was curious about his news. It’s fortuitous to meet Young lady Murong in this manner.”

*Tak.*

The Poison King set down his teacup, and with the sound, a slight breeze stirred.

Feeling it, I clenched my fist. My body hair stood on end.

This was a warning.

This place required no further reckless action.

“I heard noble guests have arrived, and although the Tang family is not in a favorable situation, we have done our best. I hope you will receive our efforts graciously.”

“…… Thank you for inviting us despite the circumstances.”

Even though the situation was chaotic, they treated us as guests.

If you push further, you will die.

That was the hidden message, and knowing this, Murong Yeongsun no longer flaunted her courage.

She had always been a woman with an exceptional knack for reading the room. There was no way she would fail to grasp this.

“Then.”

The Poison King paused to catch his breath and spoke.

“From now on…… let’s begin the banquet.”

At his words, the servants moved in unison and laid the food on the long table.

Although the atmosphere was far from pleasant, no one dared to point it out.

* * *

The banquet’s atmosphere remained quite subdued.

While it wasn’t uncommon for Tang family banquets to be this restrained. This time, it was even more so.

‘Hmm.’

Whether they were reading the atmosphere or matching the Poison King’s mood, everyone remained silent and simply ate their food.

This included Chun Uijin and Do Hyung, who had been summoned together, as well as the blood relatives of the Tang family.

I also just stuffed food into my mouth, figuring I might as well fill my stomach.

‘Is he not planning to say anything important?’

I had thought he would say something if he went to the trouble of summoning me.

‘Why is he just sitting there?’

The Poison King did not say a word. He was literally just eating his meal.

‘Hmm.’

The situation felt peculiar to me. It was unlikely that he merely called us to eat.

‘Is he probing?’

It seemed there must be some underlying intention, but I couldn’t grasp what it was.

So, I subtly observed the Poison King’s state out of the corner of my eye.

‘He looks quite tired.’

Normally, the Poison King didn’t have the best complexion, but now he looked exceptionally pale.

‘He hasn’t been seen for a few days. Has he been moving non-stop?’

Considering it was an issue within his own family, especially related to the Secret Vault, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Poison King had been working tirelessly.

‘And despite that, he organized a banquet.’

Inviting us to a banquet as soon as he arrived, despite his worn-out state?

‘There’s something going on.’

This indicated there was a peculiar element to the current situation.

‘Hmm.’

What could it be? As I pondered while lifting my chopsticks, suddenly—”Try this.”

Food was placed on my chopsticks. It looked red and seemed quite spicy.

“… Sorry?”

“It’s… delicious.”

The person offering the food was Tang Yelan.

“Oh, yes… Thank you. I’ll try it.”

As I awkwardly lifted the chopsticks to my mouth—”Not that, try this.”

The food was quickly snatched away. This time it was Murong Yeongsun. She replaced it with a different dish, which was much lighter in color.

“You don’t handle spicy food well, right?”

“…”

She was right. I couldn’t handle spicy food.

“That dish was extremely spicy. If you ate that, it would’ve messed up your stomach. Try this instead.”

“Oh, right. Thank you.”

Just as I was about to eat it, finding it hard to respond—”If you can’t eat spicy food, how about this?”

Tang Yelan intercepted once again, bringing another dish.

“…”

I had to suppress a sigh at the ever-changing food.

‘What is going on?’

Was this intentional harassment? Having experienced much of it during my school days, it felt somewhat familiar.

What did I do back then? I used a recorder and a ghost to deal with the bullies, if I recall correctly.

‘I can’t exactly do that here.’

In the current situation, that method was impossible. All I could do was endure quietly.

“No, try this instead.”

“This one is better…”

“Or maybe this.”

The chopsticks had already long left my hand while I observed the situation quietly, placing my chopsticks beside me.

The back and forth showed no signs of ending. So, reluctantly, I sighed and spoke.

“Can you please… just stop…”

*Bang!*

“Huh?”

A loud noise came from the table, drawing my attention.

“What the…”

The fiercely looking young man in front, known as Poison Dragon, was glaring at me.

“Hey. Follow me. I’ll beat you to a pulp.”

“…?”

Why was this guy suddenly acting up…?