The World’s Greatest is Dead

I continued staring at the guy without paying him any mind.

“…… Prepare for the next search.”

The family head, who had approached, gave an order and then slowly moved away.

Since it was not in that room, it seemed they were planning to search for the next one.

‘If it’s not there either, it could essentially be considered nonexistent.’

It was obvious at a glance that this was a room where secretaries gathered.

If there was no trace of the Sky Filling Flower Rain yet in even that place, it seemed reasonable to give up.

Nevertheless, the Poison King did not seem to have that intention.

‘Hmm.’

But I couldn’t exactly say that the Sky Filling Flower Rain didn’t exist.

‘I hate the idea of searching while carrying this heavy thing.’

The Full Moon on my back was also troublesome.

‘It’s not easy.’

Putting aside the good rewards, pretending not to know something I was aware of was always an uncomfortable task.

I let out a sigh only I could notice and prepared for the next phase.

But then.

“…… Family head! In here……!”

Everyone focused on the voice from within.

‘Huh?’

Watching that, my eyes widened.

The one who spoke was none other than the guy I had been paying attention to.

“There is something in here……!”

At his shouted words, the Poison King reacted.

What was it? Was there really something?

There couldn’t be…… could there?

There was no way what the Poison King was looking for would be there.

As I kept staring in certainty.

“What are you talking about?”

The Poison King approached him.

Suddenly, the guy’s eyes shone brightly.

*Swish!*

The guy who spoke suddenly took out a dagger and aimed it at the Poison King.

‘What the hell, this lunatic.’

I was only momentarily shocked by the unexpected ambush.

*Swoosh!*

“Ugh!!”

The Poison King not only blocked the attack effortlessly but also severed the wrist along with it.

The severed wrist rolled on the floor.

Before I knew it, the Poison King had a dagger in his hand, yet I hadn’t realized it until he cut off the assailant’s hand.

“Father……!”

Tang Yelan, shocked by the Poison King’s ambush, rushed forward.

The Poison King raised his hand to stop her.

His gaze remained fixed on the assailant who had ambushed him.

“What’s this about?”

His voice remained unchanged despite the ambush.

However, hearing it sent chills down my spine.

*Wham!*

The Poison King grabbed the guy’s neck and lifted him.

Seeing him lifting an adult man effortlessly made me feel involuntary intimidation.

“Du Yeong-Chun. What is the meaning of this?”

The Poison King’s voice conveyed utter confusion.

The assailant’s name seemed to be Du Yeong-Chun.

“Gghhh……”

Clearly in severe pain, Du Yeong-Chun uttered stifled moans while glaring at the Poison King.

Seeing that, the Poison King asked again.

“Who ordered this?”

He seemed certain Du Yeong-Chun didn’t act alone.

“You surely didn’t think such a foolish trick could harm me. What’s your true intention?”

As ambushes went, it was quite crude.

There was almost zero chance of success, yet he acted on it, suggesting there was a purpose.

Considering that, the Poison King inquired.

“Hehe…… hehehe.”

Du Yeong-Chun laughed at his words.

It was eerie.

He was bleeding and in pain, yet he laughed.

An intensely eerie sight.

At that moment.

“All…… all of it……”

Du Yeong-Chun spoke to the Poison King.

“…… for the Broken Sky……”

With those words.

*Creak!*

*Thud–!!!*

The door to the room where the Poison King had entered was shut.

“What?”

“Family head!”

“What is this–!!”

Upon the door shutting, the martial artists outside reacted.

My mind raced as I watched.

I rolled my eyes.

“Ah.”

At the same time, I controlled my breathing and surveyed my surroundings.

At that moment.

*Creaking creaking creaking.*

I heard the sound of some mechanism moving from somewhere.

『Oh. They’ve come.』

At that sound, Yu Chun-gil responded as if he had been waiting.

*Creak creak-! Creaking creak.*

*Thud!*

*Crash!*

As soon as the noise ceased, another wall swung open.

At that very moment, everyone’s gaze turned towards it.

*Tap. Tap.*

Footsteps echoed.

*Swish!*

Upon hearing it, swords were drawn from every direction.

I did the same.

However, there was one slight difference in my approach.

*Sshk!*

*Thud!*

“Guh…!?”

I didn’t simply draw my sword; I swung it towards a Murim warrior approaching Tang Yelan from behind.

The warrior, stabbed in the neck, collapsed, bleeding.

The onlookers were horrified by what they witnessed.

“Young master Bang…!?”

“Bang Sung-Yun! What are you—?”

Chun Uijin and Do Hyung yelled at me, but there was no time to respond.

“Uijin, the second one to the northwest. Senior, the one on the bottom right. They’re enemies.”

“…!”

As soon as I spoke, Do Hyung’s gaze changed.

And then.

*Sshhhh—!!*

The targets of my words swiftly swung their swords.

*Clang—! *

Do Hyung and Chun Uijin hastily blocked the attacks.

“What the…!”

Meanwhile, Tang Yelan’s eyes widened at the sudden turn of events.

The situation rapidly shifted. Sharp tension stormed through the space.

I squinted my eyes and looked at Yu Chun-gil.

Yu Chun-gil, with a beaming smile, was staring towards the entrance.

‘Is this.’

Is this what you wanted? In the midst of the perplexing situation, I glanced at Poison Sovereign.

Despite his uncomfortable expression, Poison Sovereign remained silent.

‘… What are you doing?’

Clearly, something serious was happening. I looked at my hands.

*Tremble.* My fingertips shook. At the same time, I looked at the person who had fallen to the ground.

I didn’t know his name or age. I only recognized him as a man.

‘Damn it.’

I had killed another person. Because of that, my hands kept trembling.

*Sigh.* I repeated deep breaths to suppress my emotions.

At that moment.

*Clang! Clang clang!*

Sharp sounds rang out. Do Hyung and Chun Uijin were engaged in combat.

Should I join them?

As I hesitated.

“Interesting.”

A heavy voice echoed from somewhere.

At the same time.

*Slash—!*

“…!”

The necks of the combatting enemies suddenly flew off and rolled on the ground.

Seeing that, Do Hyung quickly raised his sword in defense.

*Bang—!*

A rough sound and a shockwave emanated from Do Hyung’s sword.

“Ugh.”

Do Hyung grimaced and withdrew.

“Oh. Blocked?”

With apparent amusement, someone approached.

It was him.

‘The owner of the footsteps.’

The owner of the footsteps I had been hearing.

The one who had made my entire body bristle with tension.

It had to be that person.

“Phew… Phew.”

The calm I’d managed to achieve shook again. It wasn’t just me; everyone here seemed similarly affected.

All eyes were fixed in one place.

*Tap. Tap.*

Though many footsteps could be heard, only one echoed distinctly in my ears.

Not long after, figures appeared from the opened entrance.

About a dozen.

All wore black martial robes and masks.

Only one person wasn’t masked.

A man, nearly eight feet tall, with broad shoulders and an imposing figure flaunted his long hair.

Seeing him, cold sweat ran down my cheek.

I knew immediately.

He was the cause of my heightened alertness.

“Hmm.”

The giant exhaled quietly.

Then, lifting the corners of his mouth, he grinned broadly.

Showing his yellow teeth, the giant laughed heartily at us before speaking.

“Nice to meet you.”

“… Who are you?!”

Do Hyung asked cautiously, staring at the giant.

“Me?”

The giant pointed at himself with his thick finger.

“I doubt little brats like you would know even if I told you.”

He chuckled.

The giant man let out a chuckle, causing my heart to pound. The killing intent embedded in that small laugh was chilling.

“This man here is called Pal Du-Hyeok. Do you happen to know him?”

“…!”

Upon hearing the name Pal Du-Hyeok, Chun Uijin reacted immediately.

“Demonic Spear…?”

“Oh.”

The giant man clapped his hands in response to Chun Uijin’s words.

“You know me.”

“How is it that you’re…?”

‘Demonic Spear?’

It was a nickname I wasn’t familiar with. Chun Uijin seemed to know, and not just him, but Do Hyung and Tang Yelan also appeared surprised as soon as the name was mentioned.

“Demonic Spear… that’s a person who died ten years ago… Right…”

Tang Yelan stopped herself mid-sentence, her expression tense. At that, the giant man snickered and continued speaking.

“Right. I got a real thrashing from your father.”

“…”

“Well now, it makes me feel quite good that everyone seems to know me. So then.”

*Thunk.*

“…!”

Everyone’s bodies froze. By the time we realized, the giant Pal Du-Hyeok was already standing next to us.

We hadn’t noticed.

He was clearly far away just moments ago; when did he move?

“I have something to ask. Would you be willing to answer?”

*Thunk.* Pal Du-Hyeok placed a hand on Chun Uijin’s shoulder as he spoke.

“Who among you is the Sword Saint’s successor?”

We all flinched at his question. Chun Uijin’s eyes trembled.

“I heard he’s a good-looking fellow… but all you guys have decent looks, so it’s confusing. Is it you by any chance?”

Pal Du-Hyeok asked Chun Uijin, but then quickly shook his head.

“No, not this one….”

Then he turned his gaze towards me.

“Hmm, this guy… this guy is even less likely. Then,”

Finally, he turned to Do Hyung.

“It’s you. You are the most likely one.”

“…”

Confidently, as if certain, Pal Du-Hyeok spoke.

“You are the Sword Saint’s successor, aren’t you?”

Hearing the question, Do Hyung grimaced briefly.

“Yes, that’s right.”

He then admitted it.

However, “I—!”

*Bang—!*

He couldn’t finish his sentence. Pal Du-Hyeok had suddenly disappeared and then swung his fist at Do Hyung.

“Ugh!”

Do Hyung managed to block with his sword, but his body was lifted off the ground and sent flying.

He barely managed to land and reduce the impact, but by then, Pal Du-Hyeok was already standing in front of him.

“You shouldn’t lie when a person asks you a question.”

Then he directed his gaze toward me.

“Isn’t that right, Bang Sung-Yun?”

“…”

Hearing those words, I had to scowl.

It seemed he already knew everything.

Damn it. With a hand still trembling, I brushed my hair back.

Yeah, damn it. I knew something like this would happen eventually.

I should have anticipated this ever since I got involved with that insane evil spirit.

“Is it me you’re looking for, senior?”

I wasn’t quite sure who he was, but I addressed him as a senior.

“Hmm.”

Pal Du-Hyeok looked at me with interest.

“Your appearance does match, but… are you really the successor of that monster?”

“Well, I must admit, I am much better looking than him.”

“Haha.”

*Thunk.*

With a faint sound, Pal Du-Hyeok appeared right in front of me. Was he some kind of thief from the Hong clan or what? Why does he keep darting about like that?

My back was already drenched.

I stared at him, trying to hide the cold sweat.

“I admire your boldness. Every man should have some guts.”

Pal Du-Hyeok laughed heartily. His laughter seemed to shake the entire space, but then he returned to a neutral expression almost instantly.

“But.”

*Boom—!*

“… Ugh!”

An overwhelming energy pressed down on my entire body.

“You should also know the proper time and place for that boldness.”

Killing intent.

I had never encountered such a terrifying killing intent before. The mere presence of it was enough to paralyze my body.

‘… I’m really screwed, aren’t I?’

This is on a different level than any enemies I’ve faced so far.

These monsters that have surpassed the realm of common martial artists.

The aura they exuded was clearly that of an absolute master.

Who on earth is he? Why has someone like him suddenly appeared?

And, ‘What is that old man thinking, watching this unfold without intervening?’

As doubt piled upon doubt.

“It’s truly fascinating. You, who look so unremarkable at a glance… How could he be so interested in you? Could it be that he’s concerned with that monster of a master of yours who’s already dead?”

Pal Du-Hyeok said.

Despite the still overwhelming killing intent emanating from him.

“After all, he erased him personally. Isn’t it laughable?”

“… What?”

The fear momentarily disappeared with his words.