The World’s Greatest is Dead

The situation was on the brink of explosion.

Poison Dragon seemed ready to stab me in the neck with his dagger at any moment. He emanated a terrifying aura and looked extremely angry.

“Hmm…”

I scratched my cheek while looking into his eyes.

What should I do with this guy? I pondered for a moment.

“What is there to think about?”

The answer was already clear. It wasn’t something I would handle myself, but—

『Someone needs to put him in his place…』

Yu Chun-gil, muttering with blazing eyes from behind, was the one to do it.

“Sigh…”

It seemed like he was planning to use my body to create another mess. 『Move aside quickly.』

I looked at Poison Dragon with a reluctant expression. It had been some time since I last lent my body, so this time the duration might be longer. Yu Chun-gil’s insistence translated to—

‘He’s confident.’

If he borrowed my body, it meant he believed he could even defeat Tang Chun-il. The real problem was, ‘If we actually win, will that be alright?’

A short but crucial dilemma. What benefit would I get from defeating Poison Dragon here? Poison King said we could fight if we wanted to, but—‘Right now, we’re in a transactional relationship.’

Currently, I had something to gain from Poison King and I had something to offer him. Would fighting Poison Dragon in this situation be a wise decision?

‘It probably wouldn’t be.’

As my emotions cooled down, rationality returned. Even though his words were infuriating, fighting wouldn’t bring any benefits—at least, not now.

I subtly raised my hand, looking around. Apart from Poison Dragon, only a few from the Tang family were present. Perhaps only Tang Yelan?

Just as I was about to step back,

“Stop it.”

Someone intruded between Poison Dragon and me. It was Tang Yelan.

“What are you doing in front of our guest?”

She faced Poison Dragon with an unusually stern expression.

“Step aside.”

Poison Dragon tried to push Tang Yelan away, but—

Thud!

“Huh?”

Tang Yelan grabbed Poison Dragon’s hand.

Poison Dragon’s eyes widened.

“What are you doing?”

“I should be the one asking that.”

“Did you not hear him insult our grandfather? Ignoring this as a family member insults the entire Tang family.”

Poison Dragon glared icily at Tang Yelan, and for a moment, she hesitated.

“Don’t you realize that your actions are bringing shame to our family?”

“What?”

“The head of our family personally invited him. And yet you’ve been acting unjustly. How is that not tarnishing our honor?”

Oh.

I clapped my hands at Tang Yelan’s words. She was saying exactly what I wanted to say. The Tang family’s head invited this guest, and he had significant backing. Acting recklessly was of no benefit to the Tang family.

“And this is coming from a direct descendant.”

The reason I called Poison Dragon foolish was because of this, and Tang Yelan pointed it out directly. Yet, Poison Dragon only responded with a sneer.

“Honor?”

It was fascinating how well mockery suited him.

“If you value those things so much, why are you still living that way?”

“…..”

“The family head finds you most bothersome. Do you even have the right to speak to me like that?”

“That’s…”

“The one acting against the family’s interests is you.”

Tang Yelan shut her mouth again, just like before. Even when enduring Poison Dragon’s verbal abuse, she remained silent.

Poison Dragon leaned his face closer to the silent Tang Yelan.

“If you’re hanging on to unattainable hopes, just breathe.”

“…..”

“Do nothing. Just breathe. Instead of giving me pointless advice.”

Poison Dragon passed by Tang Yelan as he spoke.

It was the same situation as before.

As Poison Dragon passed by, he added with a glare,

“Next time, I’ll tear your arrogant mouth apart, so wait for it.”

Thud-! Poison Dragon bumped my shoulder as he walked past.

I quietly observed him.

In my heart, I wanted to retort, “Who do you think you’re talking to?”

But feeling the tremor in my arm, I couldn’t bring myself to do so.

I looked at my left hand and said, “It seems he’s gone now, so could you please let go?”

The cause of the trembling was none other than Tang Yelan’s hand.

Her delicate hand was clutching my sleeve, trembling.

“Ah…”

Realizing it, Tang Yelan quickly withdrew her hand in surprise.

At that moment,

Clink.

There was a sound from behind. It was Do Hyung sheathing his sword.

‘… That guy too.’

Was he ready to fight if necessary?

As I adjusted my released sleeve, I looked at Tang Yelan.

“Are you alright?”

“… Yes? Ah, yes… I’m fine.”

“You don’t seem fine.”

“Really, I’m fine. Really.”

Her forced smile and words didn’t seem convincing at all.

“I apologize on behalf of my brother…”

Tang Yelan said, bowing her head to me.

Seeing this, I scratched my cheek.

“It’s alright. I don’t think I handled it well either. I apologize for mentioning Elder Poison Sovereign.”

It was a mistake to mention Poison Sovereign in anger.

I hadn’t been rational. I should have realized that arguing with Poison Dragon only caused more harm.

Hearing my apology, Tang Yelan gave a bitter smile.

“Thank you… And.”

Her eyes looked pitiful.

“Please don’t hate my brother too much…”

I frowned at her words.

‘What is this?’

Was she trying to defend Poison Dragon? Even after what happened to her?

I thought the sibling relationship was a mess, but looking at Tang Yelan’s expression made me reconsider.

Her face showed worry and concern.

“If there’s a problem, it’s all my fault…”

“…”

I could tell just by her words.

‘There must be a story.’

There was clearly something going on between the two.

However, “Yeah, I’ll try.”

I didn’t bother asking about it out of curiosity.

I hated being involved in troublesome matters.

I brushed off dirt from my body and looked at Do Hyung and Chun Uijin.

The expressions on their faces weren’t good.

It seemed our conversation with Poison Dragon had really bothered them.

Seeing this, I chuckled and said to them, “Let’s go. It seems today’s training is over.”

With that, I pulled the two along.

As we walked, I glanced back at Tang Yelan.

She stood still, looking at the floor.

I couldn’t see her expression.

But I assumed it wasn’t good.

Should I console her, asking why she felt that way?

I considered it briefly but shook my head.

‘It’s not worth it.’

We weren’t close enough to warrant such actions.

So, leaving her alone was probably the right decision.

The only thing I regretted was, ‘… Coming all the way for training but wasting time.’

Not being able to train.

That was disappointing.

Watching Tang Yelan standing there quietly, “Let’s go.”

I walked outside as if leaving her behind.

* * *

After coming outside, I finished my training.

Since it wasn’t appropriate to use the clan training grounds due to the atmosphere, I headed to the originally assigned place.

After finishing my training, I was drenched in sweat.

I quickly washed up and fanned myself as I walked.

At the same time, I kept an eye on Yu Chun-gil.

Yu Chun-gil was angry at Poison Dragon, and I was worried he might cause a scene since we didn’t spar.

『Hmmm.』

Contrary to the worries, Yu Chun-gil didn’t particularly get angry. He seemed calm throughout the training and even at that moment.

Instead, he looked contemplative, his eyes filled with deep thought.

What is this?

I watched, worried, as he seemed to be plotting something again.

『This is strange.』

Yu Chun-gil muttered, looking as if he couldn’t comprehend something.

“Why do you say that?”

Do-hyung and Chun Uijin were nowhere around. They said they needed to train more, so I came out first.

『Why is it so quiet?』

Who could he be talking about? From his words, it seemed like Tang Yelan.

“So, who are you talking about…?”

『If it were me, I would have folded him up like a fish, I don’t get it.』

“……”

It was vicious.

There was no need to look deeply to understand who he was talking about.

It seemed he was referring to the verbal abuse spat by Poison Dragon and Tang Yelan.

‘Fold him up? What nonsense.’

How could Tang Yelan possibly fold up Poison Dragon?

There must be a power difference between them.

As I thought of this and chuckled to myself.

『I’m puzzled as to why she’s pretending to be weak.』

‘… Huh?’

At Yu Chun-gil’s words, I looked up.

Pretending to be weak?

“… Who is doing that?”

I looked at Yu Chun-gil with a puzzled expression.

Yu Chun-gil, as if questioning what I didn’t understand, looked at me and spoke.

『That girl from the Tang family.』

“What is it about Miss Tang…?”

『What ‘what’.』

Yu Chun-gil spoke calmly in response to my question.

『That girl-child. She’s more than capable of folding up her brother, but she’s pretending to be weak. Why on earth would she do that?』

“… What?”

My eyes widened in shock at Yu Chun-gil’s words.

Tang Yelan was stronger than Poison Dragon…?

It was an astonishing statement.

* * *

In Sichuan, not far from the county.

It was a place not far from the main county, yet the mountain was hard to climb and the cliffs were rough, making it sparsely populated.

There should have been only the presence of wild animals or the chirping of birds.

But at that moment, even those were silent.

All that was felt was silence.

This vast forest seemed strangely eerie in its stillness.

The reason the forest was so silent was because even the animals and insects were holding their breaths.

Deep inside the forest.

A village, the only one likely around this mountain.

Naturally, there should have been sounds of harmonious living, but…

For some reason, it was dreadfully quiet.

No sign of human life was felt, just like the forest.

A faint scent of blood mixed with the passing breeze.

Following the scent deeper into the village.

Thud, thud.

People in black clothing were searching for something there.

All around them were mutilated corpses and puddles of blood.

A woman who died embracing her child.

A man’s neck, severed in terror.

Even an old man who died while wailing.

Ignoring the death that surrounded them, they busily searched a cave at the corner of the village.

And then.

One of them, searching for quite some time, found something and froze in place.

“… I found it.”

With those words, everyone around gathered to the spot.

It was in an instant.

“You found it?”

“Yes, I found it.”

“Step aside.”

The man, seemingly their superior, approached the spot.

He touched the cave wall.

At that moment.

Buzzz-!!

A faint vibration was intensely felt on the man’s ring.

Confirming this, he immediately withdrew his hand from the wall.

“It’s real.”

As he fiddled with the ring, he took off his mask, revealing a wide grin and yellow teeth.

“…Contact the division leader immediately.”

His voice was filled with excitement.

“Tell him we’ve finally found the trap.”

With palpable thrill.