The World’s Greatest is Dead

“You bastard—!!!”

A loud sound resonated around the quarters. It was a shout from the handsome man who appeared, limping slightly.

I grimaced at the sight.

“Why are you yelling when you’re right in front of me? It’s annoying.”

My ears were ringing. What was he yelling about?

Drip.

When I wrung out the towel in my hand, water flowed down. It was all sweat.

“Hoo…”

I wiped the remaining sweat from my forehead. My limbs were trembling. The aftermath of the training was no joke.

It had been a while since I trained so intensely.

『Intensely, my foot… You ran a few laps around the training ground and you look so satisfied.』

I ignored the evil spirit’s words that always seemed determined to ruin the moment. Ignoring it wasn’t that hard anymore.

The real problem was…

“You damned bastard!”

A man, glaring at me with a twisted expression. That was the problem. The handsome yet pathetic man approached me, seething with anger. He seemed uncomfortable as he limped over.

I asked as I watched him.

“What is it so early in the morning? I haven’t even had breakfast yet and you’re ruining my appetite.”

As I clicked my tongue slightly, he came right up and grabbed me by the collar.

“Do you really wish to die?”

“Oh, scary.”

I was genuinely scared. When he grabbed me by the collar, I couldn’t sense his presence. Even while limping, he was that fast.

‘… As expected.’

He might have seemed pathetic, but he was undeniably amazing.

“You dare…!”

His trembling hands exuded a faint killing intent.

I felt like I might swallow dryly in fear any moment now. But I held it in.

No matter what I felt inside, I couldn’t show it on the outside.

“Why are you doing this?”

I asked with a sly smile, and Namgung Sung ground his teeth in frustration.

“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”

“Well, if you burst in like this first thing in the morning, how am I supposed to know what it’s about?”

As I spoke, I looked Namgung Sung up and down. My gaze was intentionally obvious.

Namgung Sung needed to know that I was sizing him up.

“Especially someone who doesn’t seem to be in perfect condition.”

I lingered my gaze on a particular spot for a bit longer, and Namgung Sung soon realized it.

“You—!”

Furious, he gripped my collar tighter.

‘Gulp.’

I felt like I might suffocate.

But I couldn’t push him away.

Forcing out a mocking smile, I spoke to him.

“Ah, why are you doing this?”

“Do you really think you can get away with this?”

“Threatening me so early in the morning, that’s refreshing.”

He must have been extremely angry. Normally, he’d be more conscious of his surroundings, but he was completely disregarding them now.

That made it even scarier. In his emotional state, who knew what he might do?

However,

“You little punk, you dare to humiliate me, Namgung Sung?”

“Humiliate you?”

I wasn’t about to back down out of fear.

“When a person goes out of their way to show consideration, you talk like this.”

Since I had decided to mess with him, it was only right to do it thoroughly.

“What? Consideration?”

“Yes, consideration. Didn’t your little sister tell you properly?”

I had clearly conveyed the message, but it seemed Namgung Sung’s comprehension was lacking.

“Then, I suppose I should explain.”

“You lost the duel, so technically, I didn’t have to give it to you in the first place. But I went out of my way to even wrap it up nicely and return it to you. If this isn’t a consideration, then what is?”

“You little punk…!”

“Why do you keep calling me names? Am I your punk?”

Tsk! Clicking my tongue and squinting my eyes, Namgung Sung’s face turned red. Honestly, I wanted to provoke him a bit more…

‘If I go any further, it might get dangerous.’

If Namgung Sung couldn’t hold back and exploded, it would be a different problem.

“Why don’t you put me down and we talk? If someone comes, it’ll be troublesome for you too, right?”

“……”

At my words, Namgung Sung’s eyes wavered.

Certainly, after making such a loud noise, people would soon come. Looking at the current situation, there was nothing good for Namgung Sung, so he slowly loosened his grip.

Only then did breathing become a bit easier.

Suppressing the urge to cough immediately, I spoke,

“Do you really think you can survive after making a fool out of me like this?”

“Who’s fooling who.”

I answered while adjusting my disheveled clothes.

“You asked for it, so I gave it to you. Why are you making such a fuss?”

“Hah…”

Namgung Sung let out a puff of air at my snappy reply.

“Do you think I’m here to exchange wordplays with you?”

“Then what are you going to do?”

“What?”

“I get that you’re pissed off. So, what are you going to do?”

Since he continued to speak informally, I dropped the formality as well. Even though I tried to be polite, if he came at me this way, there wasn’t much choice.

“Anyone would think you’re clean. Who was it trying to scheme by using his own sister?”

“……”

Namgung Sung’s face contorted as I brought up Namgung Hyun.

“A guy who tried to mess with me using his sister gets mad when it backfires? That’s a bit much, isn’t it? Really cheap.”

Grrt.

He seemed lost for words, his expression growing even more distorted. Though I was curious to see how far it would contort, I observed something else.

More precisely, behind him.

Namgung Sung hadn’t come alone; he was accompanied by other members of the Namgung family.

Among them, I noticed Namgung Hyun.

As soon as our eyes met, she turned her head away.

‘Hmm.’

Their conditions seemed peculiar. They all appeared to be martial artists, glaring at me with evident caution.

‘I see.’

They seemed wary that I might draw my sword and fight the Young Azure Sword again. I was the one who defeated the Young Azure Sword. From their perspective, I must also seem like a dangerous individual prone to emotional outbursts.

‘This is quite amusing.’

To be treated as a threat by the Namgung family members felt rather unique.

“Bringing people along and doing this, doesn’t it seem a bit humiliating?”

Pointing this out, Namgung Sung bit his lip hard. It seemed even he found it humiliating.

However,

“Sigh.”

He exhaled briefly and soon rearranged his expression.

“It seems you’re mistaken.”

I watched this with interest.

“Do you not realize that you’re not in a position to act recklessly towards me?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Have you forgotten? You used a lethal technique on me after the duel.”

“……”

I tilted my head at his words.

“What lethal technique did I use?”

“Hah. And now you’re feigning ignorance?”

Namgung Sung’s face twisted into a smile.

“You couldn’t possibly forget. After the duel, you…”

“After what?”

“I…….”

Namgung Sung hesitated, falling silent in the middle of his explanation. It felt disappointing; I wanted him to say it himself.

“Ah, is it perhaps that thing?”

I smiled and finished the sentence he couldn’t.

“Are you referring to me crushing your groin?”

“Y….”

“You even fainted back then. How are you? Feeling better?”

I deliberately fixed my gaze on his lower body.

“You seem to be fine, from what I can see. That’s a relief. I was a bit worried, you know. But still.”

I reattached the mocking smile back to my face.

“Given how little there was to feel, I figured you’d be alright.”

“You bastard—!”

Namgung Sung finally couldn’t hold back any longer and tried to draw his sword.

If things continued this way, his real sword could end up threatening my life.

『They are here.』

Fortunately, the old man’s words eased my anxiety.

Then.

“Stop!”

With a loud voice, someone stepped between Namgung Sung and me. It was Chun Uijin.

“Young Master Namgung, what on earth are you doing?”

Chun Uijin, letting out a burst of vigor, blocked Namgung Sung’s path. Anger distorted Namgung Sung’s face even more than before upon seeing him.

“Young master Chun.”

“I asked what you were doing.”

Chun Uijin, too, didn’t back down and raised his energy while facing Namgung Sung.

“Don’t interfere. This is a personal matter between him and me.”

Namgung Sung appeared unwilling to deal with Chun Uijin and kept his focus solely on me.

However,

“No, that won’t be possible.”

Chun Uijin resolutely blocked Namgung Sung, making it clear he wouldn’t step aside.

“……Ha……”

Namgung Sung let out a soft sigh upon seeing this.

“These people… just keep getting on my nerves.”

The cold tone in his voice was chilling. Without realizing it, I almost rubbed my arms to erase the goosebumps.

“Young master Chun, there is a time and place for involvement, and this isn’t it. Do you not understand?”

“I do understand. And, it seems this is precisely the sort of situation I should be involved in.”

“Huh. By what right, Young master Chun?”

Namgung Sung glared at Chun Uijin.

“That guy attacked me, a direct descendant of the Namgung family. This is nothing less than a challenge to my family.”

Since his claim wasn’t wrong, I couldn’t really deny it.

“More so, he didn’t show any remorse just now and even insulted me. If you stand in my way, should I consider you an enemy of the Namgung family too?”

“No.”

“Then step aside quietly. I have business with him….”

“If what you’re saying is true, then conversely, couldn’t it be said that you are disregarding the Blue Moon Sect?”

“……What did you say?”

The mention of Blue Moon Sect made Namgung Sung pause.

“Why does Blue Moon Sect come up here? It has no relevance.”

“That’s not true. How could it not be relevant?”

Gripping the handle of his sword, Chun Uijin continued talking to Namgung Sung.

“I admit that Young master Bang was excessive during the sparring. However, every matter has its due procedure.”

Oh……

I silently admired Chun Uijin’s words. I thought he was just a handsome fool, but he spoke more eloquently than I expected.

“If you have an issue with this, Young Master Namgung, shouldn’t you file a complaint directly with Blue Moon Sect? Wouldn’t that be proper?”

“This is ridiculous. Why do you keep dragging Blue Moon Sect into his affairs?”

Namgung Sung seemed confused for a moment, then fell silent, likely realizing something odd. His gaze shifted to me.

“……You, could it be?”

Even before Namgung Sung could finish his thought, Chun Uijin intervened again.

“If you ask why Blue Moon Sect is involved in Young master Bang’s affairs, it is a given.”

Chun Uijin’s voice, as he spoke, carried an inexplicable confidence.

“Young master Bang is officially affiliated with the Blue Moon Sect because he was recognized as the successor of Sword Saint Yu Chun-gil.”

“……”

Namgung Sung’s expression twisted into a sour look at Chun Uijin’s words. That request was the favor I had asked of Chun Uijin.

One request.

‘Return the Azure Dragon Orb to the Namgung family under the Blue Moon Sect’s name.’

If that happened, it would not be Namgung Sung who recovered the Azure Dragon Orb, but rather the Blue Moon Sect who graciously returned it.

‘Whether Namgung Sung lost the Azure Dragon Orb himself, or it was simply something the Namgung family was sent to retrieve, I don’t know.’

Either way, it would prove troublesome.

‘If he lost it directly, the family head would find out before he could make amends. If the Blue Moon Sect sent it, it would already be a publicly known incident.’

Even if it were the latter, making it something the Namgung family sent to retrieve.

‘Regardless, Namgung Sung failed to find it and the Blue Moon Sect sent it instead.’

In any scenario, it meant Namgung Sung was in serious trouble.

Especially if Namgung Sung was in the midst of a struggle for the position of family head, the problem would only worsen.

That was why I asked for the Azure Dragon Orb to be sent under the Blue Moon Sect’s name.

And the second request was.

‘To officially affiliate me with the Blue Moon Sect.’

This was something that should have happened sooner or later, given that I’d become the Sword Saint’s successor and possessed the strange eyes known as Moon Eyes.

But,

‘It needed to happen quickly.’

If it was inevitable, I had to speed up the process as much as possible.

‘I didn’t have any backing.’

Being briefly affiliated with the Murim Alliance was one thing, but my household was a rural family on the brink of collapse.

Under such circumstances, enduring pressure from the Namgung family would be difficult.

So, I needed backing quickly.

‘I asked Chun Uijin for that backing.’

Luckily, the method was right before my eyes.

Chun Uijin, a direct descendent of the Blue Moon Sect leader.

I asked him to recognize me as a member of the Blue Moon Sect.

And Chun Uijin’s response to my request? It was obvious.

“…… You bastard.”

Namgung Sung looked at me, trembling.

Now that I was affiliated with the Blue Moon Sect and it was Chun Uijin who certified it, Namgung Sung faced complications.

Regardless of any issues that arose, because we belonged to respective factions, the verification process within the family was necessary.

“Is there time to glare? You should hurry.”

Namgung Sung didn’t have time to wait for that.

“The Blue Moon Sect’s gift will arrive soon. Will you stay cooped up here?”

Once the Azure Dragon Orb reached the Namgung family, chaos would ensue.

Namgung Sung ground his teeth as if they might shatter.

There was nothing he could do.

He had to return to his family immediately.

A perfect phrase for Namgung Sung’s situation: “Caught between a rock and a hard place.”

Just as I reveled in the sight of his decaying expression, he spoke again.

“…… Let me ask you one thing.”

His face was flushed with anger.

“…… Since when?”

“Since when what?”

“When did you start planning this?”

Such a scheme couldn’t have been devised in a day or two. He realized that it was a trap I had meticulously prepared.

Indeed, he wasn’t entirely clueless.

So, I answered as though praising him.

“What are you asking?”

Of course…

“From the beginning.”

The moment I saw the orb called the Azure Dragon Orb.

And the moment I saw evil spirits lurking behind him.

It was from then that the plan was laid out.