The World’s Greatest is Dead

The gaze felt terrifying.

The chilling stare made my body stiffen involuntarily.

‘What the hell. What is that?’

I struggled to maintain my composure.

The gaze felt full of yin energy.

It was so intense that the room felt cold.

‘This is driving me insane.’

From the beginning, it felt ominous. I couldn’t examine it closely, but it was indeed a ghost.

Moreover,

‘… It’s extremely strong.’

It wasn’t an ordinary ghost; its presence was overwhelming.

Its body was relatively clear, and the yin energy emitting from it was quite strong.

The only fortunate thing was that it didn’t seem to be an evil spirit, or-

『Is it this guy? Yu Chun-gil’s dog-like disciple?』

It didn’t seem so. It was likely an evil spirit.

Damn it…

I tried to hide my cold sweat and swallowed dryly.

At that moment, the gaze from both sides turned toward me.

Do Hyung and Chun Uijin were staring at me. What? Why are they looking… Oh, right.

They had asked who the Sword Saint’s successor was.

“…..”

I pondered for a long time. I should’ve answered without hesitation initially but couldn’t bring myself to do so.

『That dog-like Yu Chun-gil.』

How could I say a word when this evil spirit was glaring for him?

‘What on earth did he do?’

What did this damned old man do? What had he done to make this ghost growl so fiercely?

Countless questions crossed my mind, but…

“It’s me.”

I couldn’t just stay silent.

As I stepped forward after speaking, I felt the gaze of a human and a ghost in front of me.

Tang Gyung-ak looked at me with eyes asking if it was me.

And the ghost behind him…

『So it’s you.』

It came right up to my face.

Wow, damn it, this is terrifyingly scary.

Caught off guard by its sudden approach, I nearly screamed.

But then.

『This guy?』

The ghost scrutinized me closely and then doubted my identity in its voice.

It seemed to find it utterly incomprehensible.

Something felt strangely unpleasant about that.

“You said you are Bang Sung-Yun, the young hero?”

“Yes.”

I nodded in response to Tang Gyung-ak’s words.

“You claim to be Yu Elder’s successor?”

“That’s correct.”

“Hmm.”

Like the ghost, Tang Gyung-ak also scrutinized me thoroughly.

After a brief moment, Tang Gyung-ak stood up quietly.

“I am Gyung-ak of the Tang family, and I bow to the Sword Saint’s successor.”

“…!”

He showed his respect. One of the Five Great Kings of the martial world bowed his head to me.

I instinctively froze for a second.

I never expected the Poison King to show such respect to me. It was an unusual event, and even Do Hyung and Chun Uijin showed signs of surprise.

Like before, this was not something to stay frozen over for too long.

I quickly returned the courtesy.

“I am Bang Sung-Yun of the Bang family. It’s an honor to meet the head of the clan.”

Previously I was introduced as Bang Sung-Yun of the Blue Moon Sect, but this time I mentioned the Bang family.

It was purely to signify meeting him as the Sword Saint’s successor.

And Tang Gyung-ak’s attitude reflected that as well.

He addressed me not as Bang Sung-Yun of the Blue Moon Sect, but as the Sword Saint’s successor, which was why he showed such respect.

『Hmm… Hmmm…』

Meanwhile, the ghost attached to Tang Gyung-ak still seemed displeased.

Naturally, I had to ignore it.

After the formalities, I showed the wooden box I was holding to Tang Gyung-ak.

“This is the item from my master, which I mentioned in the letter.”

“This is…”

When I lifted the box containing the Full Moon, Tang Gyung-ak slowly reached out his hand.

Judging by his movement, he intended to touch it, so I pulled the box back.

“…?”

“Ugh.”

Do Hyung reacted with a flinch to my actions.

He wore an expression that seemed to question what in the world I was doing against the Poison King.

I understood. If I were him, I would have also thought it was sheer madness. But there was a clear reason.

I looked at Tang Gyung-ak and spoke.

“Sect Leader, you haven’t stamped the seal yet.”

“……”

Upon hearing this, Tang Gyung-ak’s eyes narrowed slightly.

I worried whether he would be uncomfortable with my remark, but it had to be said.

“My apologies.”

Fortunately, Tang Gyung-ak immediately apologized.

“I was so thrilled thinking about the Elder’s items that I committed a grave discourtesy. I apologize.”

“It’s alright. I think it’s an understandable reaction.”

As soon as I finished speaking, Tang Gyung-ak took a letter off the desk. Judging by the official emblem of the Tang family on it, it was clear.

Seeing it, I nudged the side of Do Hyung, who was next to me.

Only then did Do Hyung take out a letter from his bosom. This one bore the Blue Moon Sect’s emblem.

We exchanged letters.

“As the head of the Tang family, I accept the Blue Moon Sect’s request.”

“As the representative of the Sect Leader of the Blue Moon Sect, I confirm the Tang family’s acceptance.”

We spoke, stamping our respective seals on the letters.

It was the moment when the official acceptance of the request was confirmed.

After confirming that the letters were put away, I handed the wooden case back to Tang Gyung-ak.

He received it and gently opened the case.

“……”

After quietly checking its contents, he closed the case and said to us.

“I’ve confirmed the item. I shall order Iron Workshop as requested.”

Hearing that, everyone nodded in relief.

‘Iron Workshop…’

I recall hearing that it was the space where the Tang family handled their metalwork. The renowned weapons of the Tang family.

It was said they were so extraordinary that even with money, they were hard to procure.

“It must have been a long journey, so I assume you’re tired. Would you like to rest today and meet again tomorrow?”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

Do Hyung courteously responded without saying more.

If we could rest, he must have wanted to. I felt the same way.

Since we had handed over the Full Moon as planned, it was time to rest a bit.

Thinking so, I was about to step out the door.

“Ah, could I have a word with Young master Bang?”

“Yes?”

I stopped at Tang Gyung-ak’s words.

Me…? I was already feeling burdened with the ghost glaring at me from behind, and now this?

With all my heart screaming that I absolutely did not want it, I looked at Tang Gyung-ak.

“It’s related to the request.”

“…”

He provided a reason I couldn’t refuse.

With a dying expression, I turned to the two others.

“I’ll see you later.”

It felt like being dragged to a slaughterhouse.

* * *

After Do Hyung and Chun Uijin left, I was alone with Tang Gyung-ak in the room.

Feeling like I might choke at any moment, I nervously swallowed dryly.

“I’m sorry to keep you when you must be tired.”

Tang Gyung-ak said.

“Not at all. It’s an invaluable experience to have a private conversation with the head of the Tang family. Please, do not worry.”

Indeed, where else would I experience this?

I never thought in my lifetime that I would have a personal meeting with the Tang family head.

Especially.

『Something seems off no matter how I look at it.』

Particularly with the ghost poking its face at me since earlier.

『This kid is that guy’s disciple?』

It was distracting. I wished it would stop circling around me.

『No way… There’s no way that guy’s disciple would be this normal. That crazy guy wouldn’t have such a sane-looking disciple.』

Such strong conviction. I almost agreed.

What was this ghost? Suddenly feeling relatable?

Could it be a decent ghost? No, it seemed too hasty to decide based on just this—

『Moreover, he’s pretty good-looking, unlike that guy.』

It was certain. This ghost was a good ghost.

“Young master Bang.”

“… Ah, yes, Sect Leader.”

I snapped back from my daze.

“Do you know why I asked you to come here separately?”

Did I know the reason?

Well, it was probably…

“As you mentioned, I believe it is because of the Full Moon.”

“Correct.”

Creak. The coffin in front of me opened again by Tang Gyung-ak. He grabbed the Full Moon from inside.

『… Ha… This is dreadful.』

The ghost, upon seeing it, spoke angrily.

『What kind of person, exactly, treated it in such a way to leave it like this?』

The ghost seemed quite furious, visibly gritting its teeth as it approached the Full Moon.

I wondered what it was so angry about.

『After going through all that trouble to make it, this is how it’s treated? That person deserves to be torn to shreds.』

“…!”

Upon hearing this, I involuntarily tensed up. Otherwise, I might have sprung up in surprise.

‘Made it?’

The ghost made the Full Moon?

It was unexpected information.

Come to think of it…

‘Didn’t they say that the old man’s snack warehouse in the Blue Moon Sect was also built by the Tang family?’

Yes, I definitely heard that.

Could this be a coincidence? I didn’t think so.

‘Should I have brought him along if this was going to happen?’

Unfortunately, Yu Chun-gil wasn’t with me. As soon as we arrived in Sichuan, he disappeared, saying he had something to take care of.

What kind of ghost was so free-spirited?

He went wherever he pleased, making it hard to consider him a proper ghost.

‘Or is it perhaps better that he didn’t come along this time?’

Who could have predicted that the Poison King would have a ghost attached to him?

Given the situation, perhaps it was better that he wasn’t here.

Anyway, I decided to focus on the Poison King in front of me.

“Do you remember the condition set by the Tang family when they agreed to repair this sword?”

“… Yes, I remember.”

Of course, I remembered it since it was the reason I was here.

“The condition was for the Sword Saint’s successor to personally deliver the Full Moon. Isn’t that right?”

“Exactly.”

How could I forget, when it was because of that damn condition that I came all the way to Sichuan?

But why bring it up now? I looked at the Poison King with questioning eyes.

“The reason the Tang family specifically wanted to see you was due to the last will of the former head.”

He seemed eager to explain to me.

“The last will, you say?”

“He said he wanted to see the Full Moon, his greatest masterpiece during his life, one more time. And he made a promise with Elder Yu.”

I felt a bit uneasy hearing that.

The former head created the Full Moon. That was strange enough, but wasn’t there someone who supposedly made it standing right in front of me?

“May I ask what the will was about?”

“It was to have a duel between the disciples of both of them, if they ever took on disciples, to see which was stronger.”

“… Wow.”

What a crazy promise. Indeed, an utterly annoying one.

“Is that why you called me here…?”

“Although both of them have passed away, I still felt that we ought to honor the will. What do you think, Young Hero?”

“…”

I came all the way to Sichuan, and now they wanted me to duel someone I didn’t even know because of a will?

And… in the Tang family’s place?

‘Hmm.’

Just imagining it made me shiver.

I didn’t want to do it at all. Naturally, I needed to refuse.

But how would I refuse?

After thinking briefly, I spoke to Tang Gyung-ak.

“… I can do it, but I have one condition.”

“Hmm?”

Tang Gyung-ak’s expression crumpled at my words.

A condition? What condition out of the blue?

“Young Hero Bang, what are you…?”

The Poison King had a perplexed look as he spoke.

Since they called me here with good intentions to repair the Full Moon, I wasn’t really in a position to set any conditions.

Yet here I was, doing just that, visibly displeasing them.

However, Tang Gyung-ak’s reaction changed when he heard my next words.

“I can’t lend you the Full Moon.”

“… What?”

“You need the Full Moon right now, don’t you?”

“…”

『Haha.』

The ghost, who had been silent until now, reacted to my bluntness.

『What’s with this guy?』

Saaa–!!

With those words, a chilly, heavy air swept through the room.