The World’s Greatest is Dead

“…Oppa.”

As soon as Tang Yelan saw Poison Dragon, her brows furrowed.

Observing that, I sensed a strange atmosphere.

‘What’s going on?’

From what I had heard earlier, Tang Yelan had booked an appointment, but seeing Poison Dragon there meant something had gone wrong.

The moment these doubts lingered in my mind, Tang Yelan spoke to Poison Dragon.

“…What are you doing here?”

Her reaction made it clear. Something indeed seemed off.

In response to Tang Yelan’s question, Poison Dragon continued moving his arm as he answered.

“Can’t you tell by looking? I was training.”

“I mean, why are you doing it now? This time was supposed to be allocated to me, wasn’t it?”

Tang Yelan’s tone turned slightly fierce.

I was a bit surprised by her tone; it was a voice I had never heard from her before.

Poison Dragon glanced at her nonchalantly.

“You had no interest in training anyway, did you?”

“It’s not about interest; I made the report personally.”

“So, is that why you brought an outsider instead of a family member?”

“…”

At Poison Dragon’s words, Tang Yelan paused for a moment.

‘Hmm.’

Seeing her reaction, I sighed inwardly. It looked like bringing us along had been a problem.

“But…”

“Enough.”

As Tang Yelan tried to say something, Poison Dragon cut her off.

“Just as always, you probably intended to flee without doing anything worthwhile.”

Tang Yelan’s lovely forehead wrinkled further at this remark.

Yet, Poison Dragon didn’t stop talking.

“Be ashamed of yourself. How long do you plan to live like this?”

“…”

Tang Yelan said nothing in response to Poison Dragon’s scolding.

Her closed lips showed no signs of opening again. Just moments ago, she seemed ready to argue back, but it ended abruptly.

Seeing this, Poison Dragon clicked his tongue briefly.

“Tch. You’re pathetic…”

Poison Dragon, watching her disdainfully, started to move.

He slowly walked towards her.

“I’ve always told you: whether you indulge in frivolities, forget your duties, or pursue foolish dreams, it doesn’t matter.”

Every time Poison Dragon spoke as he approached, Tang Yelan’s small shoulders flinched.

“But I am truly curious as to how long you’ll continue to disgrace us. Are you following the head’s will?”

“…Well.”

“Of course not. You never did.”

His attitude showed he already knew the answer, even without hearing it.

Or perhaps, he was so disgusted, he didn’t even want to engage in conversation anymore.

And that was not all. Without stopping, Poison Dragon kept firing his words.

“Your indecision, your constant attempt to escape reality — seeing it always disgusts me.”

“…”

“Sister.”

Poison Dragon passed by Tang Yelan softly, lightly tapping her shoulder as he did.

“Understand your place. As you are now, there is nothing you can do.”

“…”

With that cold and strong tone, Tang Yelan glared at Poison Dragon.

Facing her stare, Poison Dragon merely snickered at her.

“What? Don’t like what I said? Then draw your sword. I’ll gladly entertain you.”

He basically dared her to challenge him.

With confidence on his face, Poison Dragon spoke, while Tang Yelan, in contrast, bit her lips hearing his words.

“Hmph. Foolish thing.”

Not getting the reaction he wanted, Poison Dragon disregarded her and continued walking.

Before leaving, he didn’t forget to intentionally bump her shoulder once more.

And then.

Poison Dragon’s eyes landed on me this time.

“…”

Our eyes met.

Just as I knew who he was, Poison Dragon clearly knew who I was as well.

But then.

“Tch.”

He clicked his tongue briefly.

And then.

“Never thought you’d end up trailing behind a woman like this, showing such incompetence.”

He spat out some derogatory remarks. His tone was filled with the same contempt he used with Tang Yelan.

Look at this bastard!

I tilted my head slightly and asked, “Are you talking to me?”

“Who else do you think I’m looking at right now?”

“I’m not blind, so I wouldn’t miss that… I just wanted to make sure.”

I looked into the eyes of Poison Dragon with intensity.

“I believed that someone known as one of the Seven Geniuses of the world wouldn’t be this stupid.”

“… What?”

Poison Dragon’s eyes turned ferocious as he heard my words. His eyes, already sharp, contorted even more.

“What did you just say?”

He reacted as if he had misheard me. Seeing this, I smirked and responded.

“You treated me like a blind man. Is it that you have trouble hearing?”

“… What?”

“Should I repeat it?”

Without breaking eye contact, I leaned in just a bit closer, reducing the distance significantly between Poison Dragon and me.

“Stupid.”

As soon as I uttered the word, the air around us cooled dramatically. Tang Yelan, who had been watching, widened her eyes in shock. Though I couldn’t see him, I could sense Do Hyung reaching for his sword.

The same went for Poison Dragon. His already fierce eyes grew even more menacing, filled with a murderous aura.

“Do you know to whom you’re saying that?”

His cold voice invaded my ears. I found it surprising; I had expected immediate rage.

Indeed, he must be the offspring of the Poison King.

Acknowledging this, I spoke to him.

“I know all too well. But you seem not to.”

“What?”

“Do you even know who I am?”

Poison Dragon’s face twisted into a sneer.

“Aren’t you the Sword Saint’s successor? I came looking for you with that knowledge.”

“You seem well-informed.”

“… Are you mocking me?”

“No, I’m just amazed.”

A smirk spread across my face.

“If you know all that, why are you acting so stupidly?”

Crack.

Poison Dragon clenched his fist so tightly that I could hear the sound.

“If you keep running your mouth, it’s going to get you in trouble. Do you even understand where we are?”

“That’s what I’m saying. Running your mouth carelessly can get you in trouble, so why do you keep doing it?”

Both of us had dropped formalities long ago. I was trying to be patient, but he kept provoking me for no reason.

With a look as if he couldn’t understand, I told him, “You can handle the chaos in your sibling’s relationship as you please, but why drag me into it? Are you bored?”

“You…!”

“Otherwise, it doesn’t make any sense. No matter how immature someone is, there’s a limit. Acting like a child.”

『Step back.』

Interrupted by a voice, my body moved before I finished speaking. I stepped back with my left foot and leaned my upper body backward.

At that moment.

Whoosh-!

Something grazed past my neck. It was Poison Dragon’s hand. He had tried to grab my collar.

Seeing his attempt fail, his eyes filled with surprise. It seemed he hadn’t expected to miss.

Then I spoke, “This is ridiculous.”

Though I spoke disdainfully, I was equally astonished. I hadn’t seen his hand move. If Yu Chun-gil hadn’t warned me, I might have been caught.

That meant his hand was incredibly fast.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

I demanded, but Poison Dragon just stared at his hand. Then, changing his expression, he addressed me, “Have you been hiding your strength?”

“…”

I didn’t have any strength to hide. It seemed he had misunderstood something based on my recent actions.

“So, defeating the Young Azure Sword was not just empty talk.”

Thinking to himself, Poison Dragon’s eyes gradually cooled down.

“Why? Are you going to change your attitude just because you think there’s something special about me?”

Even though I said this with a smile, Poison Dragon just stared at me and then began to speak.

“My grandfather used to say.”

He suddenly brought up a story about his grandfather.

“It was a regret that he couldn’t have a proper duel with the Sword Saint.”

“… Hm?”

『What?』

At the words of Poison Dragon, not only I, but even Yu Chun-gil who was watching from behind, reacted with odd expressions.

“… What do you mean all of a sudden?”

“He lamented countless times that it was unfair they never had a proper conclusion, even after fighting hundreds of times.”

“…”

If a hundred battles didn’t yield a result…

Does that mean it was fifty-fifty?

Glancing at Yu Chun-gil at that, he seemed visibly disturbed.

『Hehe… Hahahaha…?』

His condition did not look very good. Especially when he laughed like that, it was the most dangerous.

And indeed, as expected.

『What? No proper conclusion?』

Grrng! He growled, his expression turning sinister and his body trembling.

『What nonsense is this crazy fool spouting? No proper conclusion, my ass—!!』

Wooo!

As Yu Chun-gil raised his voice loudly, my shoulders tingled.

『That guy has never beaten me even once in a hundred fights, and now he spreads rumors and croaks!?』

Yu Chun-gil flailed, seemingly unfair.

『That good-for-nothing who always got beaten and crawled on the ground…! What kind of nonsense did his tongue spew!』

With that huge figure thrashing about in the air, it drove me crazy.

“… Well… um.”

I collected my thoughts and spoke to Poison Dragon.

“What I heard was a bit different.”

“… What’s different?”

“Poison Sovereign never won even once against the Sword Saint. He always just collapsed on the ground without being able to do anything, they said.”

『Exactly. That’s correct.』

At my words, Yu Chun-gil clapped his hands approvingly.

He seemed quite excited, which was quite unseemly, but for now, I had to use it.

So, I spoke up with that intent.

“… Right now.”

Sssss.

‘… Wow.’

I almost rubbed my arms without realizing it.

A sudden chill seemed to be creeping in from somewhere.

When the chill reached its peak.

“How dare you—!”

Poison Dragon reacted, almost exploding.

“How dare you insult my grandfather—!”

“I didn’t insult him, I just said what I heard…”

“You’ve finally crossed the line.”

“…”

It seemed my words weren’t reaching his ears anymore.

Who was hopping over the line from the start, anyway?

Srrk.

Suddenly, Poison Dragon grabbed something in his hand. It looked like a dagger.

“You seem quite arrogant after defeating Young Azure Sword, but know your place.”

“… Hmm…”

I scratched my head.

Indeed, Namgung’s guy and Poison Dragon were different.

You could tell right from the aura emanating from him.

Seven Talents.

The term used to refer to the greatest geniuses among innumerable young martial artists.

Young Azure Sword was also called an outstanding genius, but he wasn’t among the Seven Talents.

In comparison, Poison Dragon in front of me was different.

‘Seven Talents.’

A guy called a genius for the ages alongside Moonlit Delight.

“Draw your sword immediately. I’ll make you take responsibility for your words.”

Such a man, with a face filled with rage, faced me.

Normally, I would have been scared out of my mind, thinking I was screwed.

“… Ah, that’s not good.”

But strangely, I wasn’t scared.

It felt different from when facing the Poison King.

“How about reconsidering?”

“Why? Are you scared now?”

“… No, rather.”

I was saying this out of genuine concern.

But it seemed Poison Dragon didn’t understand.

Right then.

『Child.』

With a seething voice, Yu Chun-gil spoke to me.

『Step aside quickly. I think I have some urgent matters to discuss with that brat.』

Hearing that, I sighed.

It seemed, once again, peace was out of the question.