The World’s Greatest is Dead

The World’s Greatest is Dead – Chapter 48

I ruffled my hair while looking at the deep wrinkle on her forehead.

Hoping the scene in front of me was a nightmare, I already knew it wasn’t, as the sunlight revealed the harsh reality.

“Ah…”

My head throbbed with what felt like exhaustion.

Damn it, just as expected.

‘It’s the aftereffects of the nightmare.’

Although I had slept, it felt as though I hadn’t. The fatigue, headache, and dazed mind that came as a result were all sensations I despised the most.

Irritation welled up within me. The face in front of me only added to my frustration in this already unpleasant situation.

“Seriously, this bad mood first thing in the morning…”

“Do you even realize there’s someone in front of you?”

Chun Hye-In spoke with an incredulous expression.

“Of course, I’m talking to be heard, so naturally, you heard it.”

I wasn’t crazy enough to mutter such things to myself.

It was absolutely meant to be heard.

“So, what business do you have this early? No manners or etiquette, I see?”

“Actually, I was assigned to guide Young master Bang today… oh, my mistake, assistant Bang.”

Her words made me narrow my eyes.

“I waited for quite a while, but since you didn’t come out, I had to visit in this discourteous and inappropriate manner.”

Chun Hye-In added, as if not bothered by my sarcasm at all.

With that, I got up from my seat.

“I don’t think that’s true.”

“Pardon?”

“You weren’t assigned. You arranged it yourself.”

“What are you talking about?”

Where was my uniform? Wanting to change my clothes, I looked around and found it folded neatly on the desk.

I grabbed the uniform and spoke to Chun Hye-In.

“You didn’t get assigned; you pulled some strings, didn’t you?”

“What are you—”

“Wasn’t my guide supposed to be Do Hyung? It was arranged that way because he’s the youngest and we’ve already met.”

I rubbed my neck. The sensation from the dream made me particularly sensitive. Moreover, I felt thirsty. Was there any water around? I looked but found none.

“In such a situation, someone I dislike coming to me means you clearly pulled some strings.”

I clicked my tongue briefly.

“If you’re going to lie, at least put some effort into it. Don’t treat me like an idiot.”

“…”

“Oh, found it.”

I finally discovered a water bottle I had left unfinished the other day. It had been there for a while, but it should be fine, right?

Once I managed to quench my thirst, I felt a sharp gaze on the back of my head. Turning around, I saw Chun Hye-In glaring at me.

Oh, maybe not glaring.

‘… Looks like she’s smiling.’

Wow, she’s got a terrifying look. Must be tough to smile so frighteningly with such a pretty face.

“Do you, Young master Bang, dislike me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Was she asking because she really didn’t know?

“I have no reason to like you, and you’ve given me plenty of reasons to dislike you.”

“Why wouldn’t you find a reason to like me?”

Chun Hye-In formed a coquettish smile and made a flower pose with her hands.

“I’m incredibly beautiful, you know?”

She indeed radiated beauty. She was annoyingly pretty.

However,

“Yes. But I’m incredibly handsome, too.”

“… Wow.”

Chun Hye-In’s face briefly showed disgust at my remark.

“Did you just say that yourself?”

“Didn’t you praise yourself with your own mouth?”

It was one of the few advantages I had received from my useless, godforsaken father.

A good-looking body with a handsome face.

Although my eyes were somewhat gentle and soft, objectively, I was handsome.

However,

“Nothing is more annoying than being pushed by looks. You’ve heard about my father, right? Growing up seeing that sight, I tend to hate such things.”

“……”

When I brought up my father, Chun Hye-In paused. The subtle smile that had still lingered disappeared.

“You’re certain, aren’t you?”

“Certain about what?”

“That I know about your father.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

I wondered what she intended to ask.

“You must have done a background check on me by now.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because I would have done the same.”

“……”

At my confident answer, Chun Hye-In was at a loss for words.

“Do you need more answers?”

“……Haha.”

A low laugh brushed against my ears. For some reason, it sent chills down my spine.

“……Really intriguing. Just where did you fall from? You keep making me curious.”

“I can hear you.”

“I said it loud enough for you to hear.”

“Then I didn’t hear it.”

“Should I say it again?”

“That’s not necessary.”

I had no idea what kind of conversation this was.

It felt like my energy was getting drained completely.

‘Damn it. Not even dealing with a maiden ghost was this exhausting.’

The evil spirit that had once been a maiden ghost, overflowing with yin energy.

I hadn’t been this tired even when exorcizing that ridiculous entity.

Just having a conversation with this unusual woman made me feel like I was going insane.

“Hey, can I ask you something?”

“No, you can’t.”

“Why don’t you say anything to me?”

“I said no, damn it.”

I genuinely wondered if everyone in this sect acted so impulsively.

“What do you mean, say something?”

“It seemed like you had a lot to say but weren’t saying anything.”

“So, you know, huh?”

Over the past few days, Chun Hye-In had annoyed me several times, and it was surely her who had created the mess just the day before.

Of course, there was no concrete evidence, just my strong suspicion, but I felt confident.

And, Chun Hye-In must have known I was certain, which was why she asked such things.

“It’s not forgiveness, I’m sure. You aren’t just letting it go either… What is it?”

“Why do you think I wouldn’t just let it go? I might be magnanimous enough to overlook it, you know.”

Even though the opponent had annoyed me greatly, perhaps I was a person magnanimous enough to let it go. But, contrary to that belief, Chun Hye-In’s eyes held a firm belief that I would never do such a thing.

It oddly stung. I wondered why she thought that way when she suddenly said,

“Because I wouldn’t have done that?”

‘Wow.’

I almost expressed my admiration unconsciously. Using that phrase in such a way.

“Was that an answer you liked?”

“……About seventy percent?”

“What about the remaining thirty percent?”

I hadn’t thought that far.

As I stayed awkwardly silent, Chun Hye-In pretended to know nothing and shifted the topic.

“So, I came to ask because I was curious about what you could do for me.”

“……Haha.”

A hollow laugh escaped me.

“Being curious is one thing, but did you really think I would tell you even if you asked?”

“I don’t care if you don’t want to. Actually, I just wanted to see your face once more.”

To an outside listener, it might have sounded kind and exciting, but to me, it wasn’t even remotely funny.

“Ah… How annoying.”

The emotions I had barely managed to hold back began to boil over.

“Hey.”

“Hey?”

Chun Hye-In’s eyes narrowed at my changed demeanor.

“Stop being such a nuisance.”

In the end, my old temper flared up.

“No. If you’re just being a nuisance, I could let it slide as harmless playfulness.”

I stared straight into her eyes and approached her.

“But don’t cross the line. This is your last warning.”

“Hmm…”

At my words, Chun Hye-In’s eyes curved seductively.

“And what happens if I ignore your warning?”

There was a hint of amusement in her voice. She didn’t seem to care at all.

“Then I won’t treat you as a person.”

“Oh? So you’ll treat me as an animal or something? I didn’t know you had such tastes…”

“Lady Chun.”

“…”

When I called her name quietly, Chun Hye-In fell silent for a moment.

“Stop while I still see you as a person.”

I was sincere.

It was for this reason.

“There isn’t anything I’m not willing to do to those who aren’t considered people.”

“That’s… a scary thing to say?”

“The reason I’ve been watching you quietly isn’t because I find your antics cute.”

Even if it was irritating and annoying, I endured it because she was human.

A living being, sharing the same world.

So.

“Don’t cross the line.”

I looked at Chun Hye-In and said, “This is your last chance.”

“…”

“If you’re done talking, get out so I can change.”

I grabbed her by the shoulder and pulled her toward the door. She followed weakly.

I pushed her out and slammed the door shut.

“… Phew.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose with my fingers.

“Tsk.”

I clicked my tongue briefly and grabbed the martial uniform I had found earlier.

As if the nightmares weren’t bad enough, now I felt completely irritated.

Especially the most frustrating thing.

‘Given the situation, where did that old man disappear to?’

Yu Chun-gil was nowhere to be seen all morning.

* * *

In front of Bang Sung-Yun’s quarters.

Chun Hye-In stood stiffly with a strange expression after being kicked out.

“….”

-Hye-In.

A voice, as if it had been waiting, reached her ears, but Chun Hye-In raised a hand to stop it.

“Just a minute…”

Her eyes were wide open as she pondered deeply.

It concerned Bang Sung-Yun, whom she had faced just moments ago.

That young man who treated her with endlessly irritated eyes.

Up to that point, it was fine. Her original intention was just to observe his reaction and make him slightly more confused.

The issue was…

‘Lady Chun.’

“….”

The low voice and piercing eyes that had warned her.

As soon as Chun Hye-In recalled that, she rubbed her arm.

It was cold.

It felt like something was freezing from inside her.

‘What is it?’

What on earth could it be?

How could someone look at another person so coldly?

It was truly terrifying.

The fact that Bang Sung-Yun had spoken informally to her, and even the seemingly indifferent tension between them, none of it remained in Chun Hye-In’s mind.

‘How many masks does he have?’

His usual demeanor. The way he acted during the martial arts competition.

And then the face he had just shown.

The more she looked at Bang Sung-Yun, the more peculiar he seemed.

His usual demeanor was intriguing.

His stance during the competition was shocking.

And just now…

‘It was dangerous.’

An inexplicable sense of crisis. The confidence that he could crush her whenever he wanted, combined with his cold eyes that saw her as less than human.

“Hahaha….”

Thinking about it, Chun Hye-In laughed.

It had been a long time since she felt such emotions.

‘To think I would feel this again.’

When was the last time?

Probably since she met the ‘monster’ of Mount Hua.

So, did that mean Bang Sung-Yun was on the same level as that monster?

‘Not sure.’

Chun Hye-In couldn’t be certain. Their paths were too different to compare.

But the important thing was.

‘No matter which side it is.’

Bang Sung-Yun had completely captured Chun Hye-In’s interest.

“…I want him.”

Chun Hye-In had never failed to obtain what she wanted.

As if to prove this.

Squeeze—!

Chun Hye-In’s face, while rubbing her goosebump-covered arm, was somehow filled with excitement.

At that moment.

Screech—!

The door that had been closed opened, and Bang Sung-Yun appeared. Noticing the presence, Chun Hye-In turned her head.

“….”

Seeing Bang Sung-Yun emerging from the door, she stiffened.

“What is it? Why are you unnecessarily blocking the way?”

The cold eyes from before were no longer there.

His eyes, filled with annoyance, seemed peaceful just like when she first saw him.

It was like looking at a different person from just a moment ago.

“Ah, I’m tired.”

Bang Sung-Yun shrugged his shoulders slightly, and Chun Hye-In stared at him.

The martial arts attire of the Blue Moon Sect’s sub-sect that he wore.

Somehow, Bang Sung-Yun looked quite…

‘Indeed, he’s handsome.’

His appearance was so impressive that she found herself unable to begrudge his self-praise. Bang Sung-Yun looked impressive.

“Let’s go. Where should we head to?”

Despite his handsome face, his behavior was nonchalant as he picked his nose, which was quite surprising.

Chun Hye-In could not take her eyes off Bang Sung-Yun.

“Aren’t you coming?”

He showed an attitude as if he didn’t care about what had just happened.

Seeing this, Chun Hye-In shook her head.

“…No. Let’s go.”

She took the lead. Bang Sung-Yun followed behind her.

TL’s Corner:
I wouldn’t even be surprised if Bang Sung-Yun knows curses.