The World’s Greatest is Dead

The Mountain Sky Demon.

He was known to be past the age of forty, and there was not much detailed information about him.

It was surprising that there was no information about him until that age, but it was true.

The reason he came to be known so late was due to an incident that occurred at the Namgung family estate.

During that time, he had killed a martial artist of the Namgung family during an operation for some reason.

Thus, for the past half year, he had been fleeing, evading the Namgung family’s attempts to capture and kill him.

A huge man with a height of seven feet and black hair.

A martial artist with scars from using a longsword.

This matched the description of the Mountain Sky Demon.

“Hmm.”

A man’s voice echoed faintly in the cave.

That sound gave me goosebumps.

I sneaked a glance to the side.

Someone had died.

It was the senior who always belittled me and the guy who annoyed me a lot last night.

‘He’s dead.’

He had his throat slit. It all happened in an instant.

Gulp.

I swallowed dryly.

“Haaa…”

The Mountain Sky Demon let out a quiet sigh.

Even that small action made my body react involuntarily.

“How could this have happened? This wasn’t supposed to be part of the plan…”

The Mountain Sky Demon muttered with a languid expression and then took a step forward.

Thud-!

As soon as he moved.

Clang-! Srrng-!

All the members drew their swords.

“You… are you the Mountain Sky Demon?”

The squad leader’s voice trembled as the Mountain Sky Demon slightly grinned. The yellow teeth and the smile he revealed were enough to send chills down anyone’s spine.

“Then, who do you think I am? Yes, I am the one you call the Mountain Sky Demon.”

“Ev- Everyone, battle sta-!”

As the squad leader adjusted his stance upon the Mountain Sky Demon’s confirmation.

Siiing–!!

The sound from earlier echoed again.

Bang-!

“Ugh!”

Soon after, a groan leaked from Yu Hyung-In’s mouth. He had raised his sword to block in front of the squad leader. Did the Mountain Sky Demon attack, and he blocked it?

I didn’t even see it happen.

This meant only one thing: we were done for.

‘… A strong opponent whose attacks couldn’t be seen.’

If I were the one receiving that attack, I would have had my neck cut off like Dong Baek-Woo.

“I didn’t expect a dog of the Murim Alliance to already know about this place. This changes things a bit… How did you find out?”

The Mountain Sky Demon remained relaxed despite our large numbers.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. I need to take care of you all anyway.”

He gripped his long sword as he said that.

“Huff… huff.”

Yu Hyung-In was breathing heavily after deflecting the attack.

At the same time, he stepped forward to lead.

“Squad leader, you must go back and call for reinforcements.”

“What…?”

“Otherwise, we will all die…!”

“Got it.”

“Junior Bang! You too, hurry…!”

Just as Yu Hyung-In spoke harshly, and the squad leader responded with a trembling voice and tried to speak to me.

“Do you think I’ll just let you leave?”

“…!”

With lightning speed, the Mountain Sky Demon darted toward us. Yu Hyung-In quickly swung his sword, blocking the long sword.

But, Bang-!

“Ugh!”

He failed to completely block the attack, and the force pushed him back, creating an opening.

The Mountain Sky Demon charged straight at the squad leader.

“Eek!”

The squad leader frantically raised his sword to defend himself, but could not block the sword like Yu Hyung-In.

“Gah!”

Bang-!

Though he narrowly avoided being slashed, the squad leader was flung far against the cave wall in comparison to Yu Hyung-In.

“Cough!!”

The squad leader collapsed, vomiting blood. The Mountain Sky Demon turned his gaze back to me.

“Let’s finish this quickly. It’ll be troublesome if it gets even noisier.”

That eerie stare directed at me.

‘Shit…’

I needed to move fast.

Bang-!

“…!!”

Before I could even react, a sword appeared before me. It wasn’t me who blocked the attack.

“Ugh!”

The one who shielded me from the attack was none other than Yun Sochun.

He used all his strength to block the Mountain Sky Demon.

“What… what are you doing…!”

Yun Sochun said urgently to me.

“Quickly…! Join the fight! Now is no time to hide…!”

His tone was urgent.

And in that moment, I realized.

That guy still believed I was hiding something.

“Hmh?”

The Mountain Sky Demon looked at Yun Sochun curiously, then suddenly smirked.

“Ah, that’s right. You must be… Blue…”

While he was mid-sentence, Yu Hyung-In charged in, swinging his sword. It was a surprise attack.

One, Mountain Sky Demon, used a footwork technique to evade the attack.

Because of that, their positions changed.

Now, Mountain Sky Demon blocked the entrance of the cave.

“Surprising. There are two first-rate warriors here… Could it be you?”

Mountain Sky Demon pointed his chin toward Yu Hyung-In.

“Are you the one?”

“What are you talking about?”

Yu Hyung-In frowned as he spoke.

Mountain Sky Demon tilted his head at the reaction.

“No… From the feeling of that trash, it doesn’t seem like it…”

The squad leader lay collapsed against the wall.

Mountain Sky Demon was talking about him.

Then, he turned his gaze toward me.

“That guy’s even more of a trash.”

“……”

I frowned at the sudden judgment.

“After all, you’re the only one left… Hmm.”

It sounded like he didn’t understand something.

What exactly was he talking about?

Just as the question was rising in his mind, Yun Sochun spoke to him in a tense voice.

“… These corpses. Did you do this?”

“Hmm?”

The floor was littered with the bodies of Namgung sect members.

Looking at them, Yun Sochun continued.

“What happened? Why are Namgung’s warriors here?”

“Well… This is the place you were searching for. And also.”

Crack-!

Mountain Sky Demon added as he flexed his body slightly towards Yun Sochun.

“What you’re looking for is also here.”

“…!”

Yun Sochun’s eyes widened at Mountain Sky Demon’s words.

So Namgung’s people came here searching for something, and he killed them all?

Moreover, the thing Yun Sochun had been looking for was also here?

‘What is this?’

What could he possibly be searching for that made Yun Sochun react this way?

Questions swirled in his mind, but there was no time to ponder.

“Is that answer enough?”

Mountain Sky Demon, seemingly out of words, lunged forward aggressively once more.

“Then you must die now.”

Whoosh-!

The wind exploded as the weapon moved.

It was incredibly fast.

Clang-!

Yu Hyung-In blocked it again with his sword.

This time, he wasn’t pushed back.

While Yu Hyung-In was fending him off, Yun Sochun joined the fray.

Every time Yun Sochun swung his sword, it left a trace in the air.

Sword Qi.

So, that was Sword Qi.

It meant that Yun Sochun was a first-rate warrior?

‘I can’t see it…’

The battle started, but it was hard to catch a clear view.

It was all happening too fast to follow.

Clang-! Clank-! Grind-! Boom-!

In the darkness, there were only sounds and sparks flashing continuously.

The fierce offense continued for a while.

Boom-!

“Ugh!”

With a loud noise, Yun Sochun barely landed after being thrown back.

My eyes widened at the sight.

His previously neat martial arts uniform was now a mess, covered with injuries.

Drip.

Yun Sochun wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

Then he looked at me.

“What are you doing…?”

“…Excuse me?”

“Why are you not stepping in during this situation…!”

“Well, member Yun, it’s not like that…”

At his reproachful words, I pressed my lips shut.

I wanted to say I couldn’t step in because I lacked strength.

And criticize him, saying it was his mistake for misunderstanding.

But I couldn’t utter a word. Yun Sochun was the one fighting right now.

As I stayed silent, his expression twisted further.

“… Damn.”

Grind-! Clang-!

In front, Mountain Sky Demon and Yu Hyung-In were still fighting.

Even in the one-on-one situation, Yun Sochun had been overpowered, so Yu Hyung-In likely wasn’t in good shape either. While watching that, the guy opened his mouth cautiously.

He had a look on his face like he hated to say it, even if it killed him.

“… Pungyeon. Please help.”

He was calling for someone.

Then.

Tap.

Someone emerged from the darkness.

Dressed in black martial clothes and even masking his face.

With that person’s appearance, the battle in front of us stopped.

“Yes, Young master. I heed your command.”

From the voice, it was apparent he was a man.

He calmly walked towards Mountain Sky Demon and Yu Hyung-In.

“Who is that…?”

I muttered out of confusion, and Yun Sochun quickly responded.

“You probably already know… but he’s my bodyguard.”

‘Bodyguard?’

“Since Pungyeon is here, I understand why you aren’t stepping in… It’s an unavoidable situation.”

No, I didn’t even know he was here…?

To begin with, having a bodyguard is—

‘Wait.’

“A bodyguard?”

The moment I heard the words, my head went cold.

The man named Pungyeon was slowly approaching Yu Hyung-In and the Mountain Sky Demon.

So, it meant reinforcements.

This also implied that Mountain Sky Demon had been monitoring his surroundings without noticing him.

He was a strong one. Could he subdue the Mountain Sky Demon?

If he was a bodyguard for a first-class warrior like Yun Sochun, he must be incredibly strong.

Then, it meant they could survive for now.

“But there’s something…”

As I watched, something seemed off.

A sense of unease started to build.

My mind raced quickly.

“Yun Sochun’s objective. Bodyguard. Namgung family. Mountain Sky Demon. Cave.”

They were words that seemed entirely unrelated, yet they began to string together, forming connections.

“……”

So, in the end.

Thud-!

I reached a conclusion.

The man named Pungyeon was almost upon them. The moment I noticed it, I shouted.

“Senior! Move away! That person…!”

Yu Hyung-In turned his head at my shout.

Stab-!

“Guh…!?”

Pungyeon had already struck with his sword. The sword wasn’t aimed at the Mountain Sky Demon but at Yu Hyung-In.

“… Pungyeon!?”

Yun Sochun cried out in surprise at the sight.

“Arrgh… Guh.”

Yu Hyung-In, whose abdomen was pierced, fell, coughing up blood.

Pungyeon pulled out the embedded sword and immediately kicked Yu Hyung-In away.

Thud-!

Yu Hyung-In helplessly flew away and rolled on the ground.

“Senior…!”

Seeing this, I rushed over.

“Senior! Stay with me!”

“Arrgh … cough!”

I pressed down on Yu Hyung-In’s wound immediately with my hand.

Too much blood was spilling out. I had to stop it somehow first.

“Senior…!”

No response, only flowing blood.

Shing.

“I am really curious.”

I felt a sword at the back of my neck.

“How did you know?”

Pungyeon’s voice came from behind.

“Pungyeon! What is the meaning of this…!”

Yun Sochun, with a shocked face, started to speak.

Slash-!

“Ahh!”

But before he could get an answer, the Mountain Sky Demon pounced on Yun Sochun.

The battle continued.

“I’m really curious. Young master. How did you know?”

“……”

How did I know Pungyeon would attack Yu Hyung-In?

And also, how did I know Pungyeon would betray us?

Sweat ran cold down my back at the question.

Should I explain? I didn’t have much time to decide.

I had to buy some time, whatever it took.

“… Mountain Sky Demon had said it.”

I spat out words, continuing to think. I needed to find a way out of this situation.

“All the information was in his words.”

“Hm?”

Pungyeon was perplexed, but indeed, all the answers were in Mountain Sky Demon’s words.

‘This wasn’t in the plan.’

That was what Mountain Sky Demon muttered when he saw them.

Plan. That he was here meant it was all part of a plan.

‘Things are different. How did you know?’

His next words.

It implied that someone had been providing information and that their information had changed. So, it hadn’t been long since they had heard about them.

Also, ‘Unexpected. Didn’t expect two first-class warriors. Was it you?’

The surprise at two meant he had expected one. Seeing others besides Yun Sochun meant he had information regarding him.

At the same time, wandering without knowing exactly who they were implied he lacked detailed information.

And lastly, ‘What you seek is also here.’

He said that with certainty to Yun Sochun. It meant that the enemy knew what Yun Sochun was looking for was there. From Yun Sochun’s reaction, it was evident it was true.

Now, summing it up.

‘Mountain Sky Demon knew a considerable part of Murim Alliance’s plan.’

Yet, he didn’t know everything, implying he didn’t frequently meet the informant. Moreover, he must have been inside the Alliance.

Furthermore.

He had grasped the activities of important members.

He had information on Yun Sochun but relatively little about the rest of us.

‘On the contrary, it might even be the opposite. If they specified Yun Sochun directly, the intelligence office must have a deep connection with him.’

This meant that.

The traitor knew a lot about Yun Sochun.

In this case, since even the head of the sect did not know the information, it meant that only the branch manager who brought him in knew.

‘If the branch manager were the traitor, they should know much more information.’

So, excluding the branch manager, who was left?

“Someone deeply related to Yun Sochun and knowledgeable about the internal affairs of the Alliance. Someone who couldn’t send too much information too frequently, only vague snippets…”

Vague words about who it might be. When gathered together.

“…You only made it clear by showing up.”

“Oh…”

Pungyeon exclaimed in admiration at his words.

“But, it’s not a certainty.”

Exactly.

It was not a certainty.

It was just a convenient hypothesis, that was all. Even I knew about that…

“But it never hurts to be careful.”

Even if it wasn’t certain, it was wise to be cautious if there was even a slight risk.

“…Ha ha ha…”

Pungyeon laughed at my response.

“Well… this is quite something.”

His laughter contained a hint of killing intent.

Cold sweat trickled down my chin.

The blade at his neck cut into my flesh.

Blood began to flow down.

At that moment.

“This isn’t good.”

Swish-! Slash-!

“Argh!”

The pain in my back caused me to roll on the ground.

My back had been slashed by a sword.

“…Guh… Urgh…”

The wound on my back hurt like crazy.

It felt as if it was burning up, the pain rendering me speechless.

As I trembled and curled on the ground, Pungyeon tilted his head at him.

“Young master Bang, you’re much more troublesome than I thought. I’m glad I found out in advance.”

Chwak-!

Pungyeon shook the blood off his sword.

“I wasn’t certain either… but now I’m sure, seeing this.”

His downward-looking gaze was filled with ridicule.

“Young master Bang. You are weak, aren’t you?”

“…”

I glared at Pungyeon, biting back my scream.

“Weak. Very much so…”

I had to grit my teeth at those words.

“…Damn it. …Why is everyone losing their minds…?”

When did I ever say I was strong?

They deceived themselves and now acted all crazy.

‘Good grief… Life is truly…’

I looked like I was really going to die.

One should never get involved in such ridiculous matters. These damn Murim folks didn’t know that.

That’s why accidents like this happened.

“Hoo… Hoo…”

I panted heavily. The wound hurt terribly.

Thankfully, I was not hit in a vital spot. Pungyeon must have deliberately avoided it.

“…So, it was a coincidence back then… No, that qi was definitely….”

Muttering incomprehensibly, Pungyeon shook his head slightly and spoke to him.

“Never mind. It doesn’t matter if you are not someone worth paying attention to.”

As the interest left his eyes, all that remained was contempt.

Swish-!

Thud-!

“Argh!”

A dagger pierced my thigh. Unable to endure it, I let out a scream.

“Stay right there. I have urgent business to attend to. It would be better if you died alongside that worm.”

Pungyeon spoke those words and walked away.

He was moving towards Yun Sochun.

“Hnn…”

He had ensured I couldn’t escape and was now leaving?

“…Damn.”

It was truly a dire situation.

Since the morning, things had been weird, entangled beyond measure.

Was I really going to die like this?

‘Die like this? In this kind of state?’

After regaining the memories of my past life, I couldn’t die like this.

I had hoped to live a different life from my past, but I couldn’t die like this.

‘Isn’t there a way? Isn’t there?’

I tried to think, but nothing came to mind.

The situation was that dire.

Yu Hyung-In was barely alive but almost at the brink of death, and Yun Sochun’s condition was similar.

All the members who came along were dead, except for the squad leader.

‘Support…?’

I bit my lip.

Not knowing the location of the cave, what kind of support could there be?

At this rate, it wouldn’t be surprising if it took days.

Was there no hope at all?

Seeing Pungyeon approaching Yun Sochun, I thought so for a moment.

『Nyororong~』

“…!!”

The sound that reached my ear made me jump in shock.

I barely managed not to scream.

I looked to the side.

“Huh…?”

There was a familiar face, surprisingly.

It was the person—or rather, the ghost—who had messed with me and disappeared last night.

『Nice to see you, child.』

The large, blue-eyed old man was looking at me.

TL’s Corner:

Old man is such a troll, with the MC dying, he still has time to prank.