The World’s Greatest is Dead

A day had passed.

By the time I barely managed to wake up at dawn, I emerged immediately from my quarters.

The dawn air greeted me.

It was refreshing.

“…Oh, I’m so tired.”

Yet I felt tired again.

“My back is sore.”

Maybe it was because my sleeping arrangements changed, but I didn’t sleep well.

‘No, it wasn’t because of the sleeping arrangements…’

『What will you do today?』

It’s because that damn evil spirit had been giving me nightmares every night.

“What do you think? I just want to rest today.”

『Boring…』

Boring? How could anyone think of amusement in this place?

“Let’s just take it easy for a day. Anyway, there’s nothing to do until the Sect Leader reacts.”

『Hmm…』

The old man frowned like he didn’t like something, but he didn’t say anything more.

He didn’t have anything better to do either, I guessed.

‘Well then, let’s see…’

I thought about taking a walk around.

The Blue Moon Sect was vast.

Much wider, perhaps several times wider, than the Anhui branch where I had stayed before.

Simply put, walking around to sightsee would take ages.

‘Honestly, there isn’t much to see, though.’

I had spent some time wandering around, but nothing really caught my eye.

I wondered why they built it so grandly if there was nothing to see.

“Did they just have too much money?”

As soon as I voiced this fundamental question, an answer came at once.

『They have plenty. The Heavenly Justice Merchant Guild belongs to the Blue Moon Sect, after all.』

The Heavenly Justice Merchant Guild was one of the top merchant guilds in the Central Plains.

Moreover, the Blue Moon Sect likely received mad amounts of donations, so of course, they’d have plenty of money.

‘… So envious.’

I was utterly envious.

At home, my father and my brother ruined the household, so we didn’t have a cent to our name.

If only we had money, I wouldn’t be in this wretched state.

“Tsk.”

Feeling despondent, I started walking again.

Come to think of it, where was breakfast?

I was hungry. I thought someone would come to inform me, but there wasn’t a servant in sight.

So I looked at the old man and asked, “Do you know where the dining hall is?”

I needed something to eat, so I asked the old man for help.

『…』

For some reason, the old man said nothing.

What was this about?

“Sir…”

『There are many eyes watching.』

“…”

I closed my mouth instantly and surveyed the area.

I didn’t sense anything. Which meant there were presences I couldn’t detect.

『Two on the left.』

“…”

『Behind the bushes by the stone statue.』

Following his words, I turned my head to check the location.

Indeed, behind the statue, bushes grew thickly.

I frowned as I gazed there.

I couldn’t see anything. What could be there? I didn’t understand but…

‘There must be something.’

There had to be. There was no way the old man would mess with me in this situation.

‘Damn it.’

I had already spoken. I’d look foolish just standing there.

I adjusted my response and spoke while looking at the location the old man mentioned.

“Can you hear me? I asked you.”

I forcefully calmed my trembling breath.

“Do you know where the dining hall is?”

There was still no response. But I didn’t step back.

“If you don’t know, you can just say so. Why give me a dirty look and stare secretly?”

By now, I was slightly shaken.

Could it be that it didn’t exist? Maybe it’s just an old man trying to tease me?

『It came.』

“… I apologize.”

‘Wow, damn.’

The voice came from beside me, not in front.

If Yu Chun-gil hadn’t warned me, I would have been startled.

I turned my head. A man was standing there. I didn’t know who he was.

Judging by his clothes, I could tell he was a warrior from the Blue Moon Sect.

Feeling this, I asked the man.

“Do we know each other by any chance?”

“Yes?”

The man changed his expression as if taken aback by my question. Watching him, I continued.

“Well, you were sneaking glances. I thought maybe we knew each other. Otherwise, there would be no reason to watch me so intently, would there? It’s quite rude.”

“…!”

As I indirectly criticized him, the man’s face immediately twisted.

“Otherwise, never mind.”

“If I offended you, I apologize.”

“Of course, I’m offended. It’s common courtesy, isn’t it?”

“…”

“Oh, I didn’t mean to make you feel bad.”

I waved my hand with a smile. Of course, I meant to make him feel bad.

『Wow… Your skill at pissing people off is improving day by day. Is that a talent?』

Yu Chun-gil remarked with admiration. I lightly ignored him.

“So, who are you?”

I belatedly attempted an introduction. The fact that he appeared before me meant he at least intended to reveal himself.

After hesitating for a moment, the man answered.

“I am Seom Sung-gyeong, the second disciple.”

Even hearing it, it didn’t ring a bell. Who was he? I racked my brains but couldn’t recall anyone by that name.

‘It means he wasn’t someone worth remembering.’

I had already memorized the notable figures, their names, nicknames, and ages. The fact that he wasn’t in my memory meant he wasn’t very famous.

“Should I also introduce myself?”

“… No need.”

“Alright.”

There was no need for a formal introduction since he probably already knew who I was.

“So, what’s the business?”

“….”

“Why were you watching me?”

There must have been a reason if he was watching.

When I asked, the man replied.

“… I heard the Sword Saint’s successor had arrived… so I was curious…”

“Oh, I see.”

I smiled lightly. My mind was working fast in that instant.

“Got it. That’s understandable.”

“That…”

“That’s enough… May I ask you something?”

“Yes?”

“I’m hungry. Do you know where the dining hall is?”

“…?”

His expression turned funny, presumably because of the unexpected question.

“I asked earlier, didn’t I? Do you know where the dining hall is?”

“… Well…”

“You don’t know?”

“… If you go straight that way, you’ll find it.”

“Oh, is there food available now?”

“Ah… yes…”

“Thank you.”

I walked in the direction he indicated, leaving the man standing there astonished.

Is he really going this way? The man stared at me with such an expression.

I stopped for a moment and spoke.

I didn’t turn my head.

“Oh, and do relay my impressions to your superiors who were so curious about me…”

I sensed the man flinch.

It wasn’t over yet.

“And also tell the other person who was secretly watching me from the side.”

“…!”

“Tell them to show their face next time.”

He walked on, ignoring the startled man’s reaction.

He had to do his best to conceal his cold sweat amidst the silence where no words could be heard.

* * *

After walking for a long while, I finally came to a stop.

I turned my head and looked at Yu Chun-Gil.

The elderly man glanced at me, chuckled, and shook his head.

“Phew…!”

Only then did I bend over, letting out a deep sigh.

“… That was really scary.”

Breathing heavily, the sweat poured down as if it had been waiting for this moment.

I had never felt like this before.

‘I didn’t even notice.’

I hadn’t realized that someone had been watching me.

Even though I knew their location and had been staring right at them.

‘What if they had attempted an assassination?’

I might have died without even properly noticing it.

Realizing this, the truth of the situation hit me. No matter how many times I heard people saying I was the “Sword Saint’s successor”, it didn’t change anything.

‘I am still just a nobody.’

If I had been overconfident, I could have died in an instant.

‘… I need to stay focused.’

I pulled my briefly distracted mind together.

I wiped the sweat off my forehead.

‘Who could it be?’

My body heated up as my mind cooled down.

For a moment, the previously hot body now felt cold.

‘Who could it be?’

Whose orders were behind the person gazing at me? I pondered.

A few individuals immediately came to mind.

Three people who had shown strange reactions during an interrogation disguised as a conversation.

‘The elders who looked like they were from the Nine Great Sects. Or maybe the Sect Leader.’

Other than that, two others who had looked suspicious.

‘The strange woman I met yesterday.’

The eyes of the odd woman I encountered the previous day floated in my mind.

Thinking about each person of interest, I clicked my tongue.

It was complicated. But more urgently than that…

“I need to fill my stomach first.”

『Ha ha.』

Yu Chun-Gil let out a hollow laugh at my reaction.

Did it seem odd to eat first even after being so terrified?

‘No matter what, I have to eat.’

It was all to survive. I had to eat when I could.

Only by doing so would I have the strength to find a breakthrough.

I started walking again.

I straightened my back and gave strength to my eyes. As I walked a bit further, the smell of food began to waft through my nose.

I was certain this was the place.

But…

‘Can I go in?’

Was it reserved only for martial artists of the sect? Could I go too?

Not having thought it through, I hesitated briefly but decided to go in anyway.

‘If they say no, I can ask Chun Uijin for help.’

With that thought, I arrived at the building. There I saw several people gathered outside.

‘What is it?’

They were young, around my age. They looked to be in their early teens to their twenties.

They stood in front of the restaurant, visibly nervous.

What’s going on?

‘Can’t I eat?’

I was peering at them with curiosity when—

“Enter.”

As the person guarding the entrance spoke, the group surged forward into the restaurant.

“… What the?”

What was going on? As I stood there, momentarily dazed—

“Hey! What are you doing? Didn’t you hear?”

“Yes?”

A man glaring at me with a rough expression shouted.

“Me?”

“Then who else is here but you! Hurry up and get in there!”

He was certainly right. Everyone around had already gone in, and I was the only one left standing.

… Should I go in?

I hesitated for a moment, then took a step forward.

‘What could possibly happen?’

Without giving it much thought, I went inside.

* * *

The interior was cleaner than I had expected. It was evident that it had been well-maintained.

But,

‘Why is that side empty?’

The table on the left was packed, but the right side was vacant.

‘This…’

No matter how I looked at it, it seemed like I should sit on the more crowded side.

‘But there are no seats…’

There wasn’t a single seat available on the left side.

What the hell should I do? Should I sit? Or should I leave the dining hall before it gets awkward?

As I grappled with these thoughts,

Tug!

Someone pulled at my sleeve.

“Hey, hey there.”

“Hm?”

When I turned my gaze, a young man around my age was frantically trying to drag me.

“What are you doing?”

“What are you doing, quickly sit down…!”

“… It’s not that, I…”

There weren’t any seats available, so I couldn’t sit down even if I wanted to.

But his expression was so earnest that I concluded I had no other choice but to sit at the empty table.

“Oh, oh…!”

Just then, the young man gasped and tried to say something.

“Silence! The senior brothers have arrived! All third-generation disciples, show your respects!”

The same person who had spoken to me earlier raised his voice again.

At that sound, other figures started to appear at the entrance.

Screech-!

At that moment, everyone who had been seated stood up abruptly.

The palpable tension in their expressions was unmistakable.

“Ah, damn it.”

Seeing this, I immediately realized I had messed up.

A gut feeling hit me; I now understood why this seat had been vacant.

While everyone stood up, I was the only one still sitting.

As a result, all eyes turned towards me.

“…”

Not just the third-generation disciples on the right, but also those who appeared to be second-generation disciples were staring at me.

‘Goddamn.’

I turned my head and looked at Yu Chun-gil.

『Hehe… Hehehe…』

The old man was covering his mouth, trying to stifle his laughter.

Seeing his reaction, I scowled.

That crazy old man knew exactly what was going on.

He knew all along and didn’t say a word.

As I glared at him with resentment, Yu Chun-gil gave a sly grin and spoke.

『Since you’re doing nothing and resting. Wouldn’t it be good to have some fun?』

‘Fun?’

It would be fun for him, not me. He had kept his mouth shut just for his own amusement.

I was speechless. I wanted to curse him right then and there.

“Interesting.”

The voice from in front of me snapped me back to reality.

I turned my head, startled.

In my line of sight, I saw blue eyes.

“Didn’t expect to see you here.”

There was a beautiful woman with a faint smile.

“Nice to meet you?”

It was Moonlit Delight Chun Hye-In.

“… Bang Sung-Yun?”

Behind her stood Chun Uijin.

“…”

Why were these people here?

I was genuinely curious about that.