The World’s Greatest is Dead

I opened my eyes.

As soon as I did, I straightened up my upper body. Crack! The sound of bones cracking echoed as I stretched.

“Ouch.”

It felt refreshing. My body felt unusually light. Was it thanks to sleeping in a comfortable bed? It felt like all the stiffness that had plagued me throughout the journey was gone.

“… I finally feel alive.”

Even my usually grim face seemed to have brightened.

With my exhausted body rejuvenated, everything seemed alright.

I felt good. It had been a long time since I felt so cheerful, and waking up in a cozy bed added to the feeling.

Today seemed to be off to a somewhat good start.

Feeling this way, I got up and opened the door.

Click.

“Oh my, good morn-”

Click – Thud.

“…”

I opened the door, saw something I shouldn’t have, and closed it again quickly.

Weird.

“Am I still half-asleep?”

It seemed so. I rubbed my eyes with the back of my hand and opened the door again.

Click.

“Why are you clo-”

Ah, I hadn’t seen it wrong. I tried to close the door hastily.

Click – Thud!

“Is something the matter?”

This time, I couldn’t close the door because a hand was blocking it.

Screech.

I tried to close the door somehow, but it didn’t budge.

As I felt yesterday, this woman’s strength was no joke.

“It’s a good morning, isn’t it Young master?”

Tang Yelan said with a bright smile.

Despite everything, her grip was as strong as ever.

“Yes. Until just now, it was indeed a good morning.”

No longer, though.

“Oh my, did you have a nightmare?”

“Maybe I did.”

It even seemed like I was still having one now.

Anyway, “So, what is it you want?”

I asked while applying more force to close the door.

But it still wouldn’t close.

“Oh, it’s nothing like that.”

Tang Yelan spoke, displaying her distinctive healthy laugh.

“I told you yesterday, didn’t I?”

“….”

“That I wanted to marry you.”

At her words, I felt a sudden pang in my head.

“Wasn’t that a joke?”

“Oh? I don’t make jokes.”

If it wasn’t a joke, it was even more problematic.

What on earth was her intention in bringing up such an outrageous thing? It was an absurd statement, both yesterday and today.

“I already answered you regarding that.”

Tang Yelan asked with slightly widened eyes.

“Oh, did you say no?”

“Yes.”

The answer had already been given.

Though I had stammered, surprised by her unexpected statement, the answer wouldn’t change.

I had turned her down.

To this, Tang Yelan responded.

“Why?”

She asked, baffled, as if she couldn’t understand, much like I had when she had proposed that ridiculous idea.

“Why, you ask?”

I felt more taken aback. Why?

“…Do you like me?”

Just in case, I asked, but Tang Yelan waved her hand dismissively.

“Oh no, of course not.”

Her response was way too candid.

What is that…? What is she trying to do now?

“Then why are you doing this to me?”

“Young master, marriage doesn’t always happen because people like each other. Especially for someone like me.”

“…”

It was a brutally rational statement. True enough.

For those called prestigious families in Central Plains, it was inevitably like that.

But, “Just look at my parents.”

“Pardon?”

Why on earth was she suddenly bringing up the Poison King?

Feeling a sudden ominous premonition.

“Look at my mother. She’s still infatuated with your father, Young master Bang, even though she married my father…”

“Enough.”

I let go of the door and covered Tang Yelan’s mouth.

“Mmph…”

What on Earth was she talking about?

It was a blood-curdling statement.

Hastily, to prevent anyone from overhearing, I blocked her mouth when she said,

Lick.

I recoiled, pulling my hand back in disgust from the wet sensation on my palm.

“Are you out of your mind…!”

I stared at my palm in shock.

I could see a faint trace of moisture.

Of course, it wasn’t water.

“Your hand tastes saltier than I expected.”

“…Are you insane?”

“No. I’m quite sane. Don’t I look it?”

Would I be asking if you did?

“Why are you doing this to me? We’ve only just met.”

“Today’s the second time.”

“…Do you know how old I am?”

“Nope. Should I? Age doesn’t matter.”

I’m going to lose my mind. Truly, I am.

“……What kind of person is this?”

It was my first time encountering such a person in my life.

Even while conversing, my mind was filled with a sense of alienation.

I didn’t just come up abruptly; I even said, “Marriage?”

It would be understandable if she had fallen for me. But proposing marriage without that was simply absurd.

“Haah.”

I let out a deep sigh. Simultaneously, I organized my dizzy thoughts and spoke.

“What is the reason?”

Finally, upon asking clearly while staring at her, Tang Yelan hesitated for a moment.

“Any further will be discourteous. If you don’t provide a reason, it’s impolite.”

I tidied up my disheveled clothes.

It was a gesture to calm myself, and thanks to it, my mind was gradually cooling down.

“Hmm…”

“Is it because I found out about Miss’s hobby?”

It was hard to believe that was the reason, but Tang Yelan had changed since I mentioned it.

Upon bringing it up, Tang Yelan’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.

It was a look of discomfort.

“Before I explain, there’s something I need to say.”

“I’m listening.”

“First of all, what I do is not a hobby.”

“It’s not a hobby?”

Blacksmithing as a hobby? I looked at her with curiosity, and Tang Yelan continued.

“It’s my dream and goal.”

Tang Yelan, who was speaking, had erased the usual smile from her face and wore a blank expression.

“……”

A dream and a goal.

I pondered after hearing those words and looked into Tang Yelan’s eyes.

Soon, I reached a conclusion.

“I apologize.”

“……!”

When I corrected my posture and offered an apology, Tang Yelan’s eyes widened.

“No, I didn’t particularly ask for an apology…”

“No, it’s correct that I underestimated your intentions, so I must apologize for that.”

“……”

When I spoke with utmost courtesy, Tang Yelan, who didn’t know what to do, also corrected her posture.

For a moment, an air of a notable family’s lady emanated from her modest posture.

“I accept. Thank you for telling me.”

It was a bit surprising that she could also show such a side.

“So, are you saying Miss’ goal is related to the current situation?”

“……Yes.”

“Why?”

“……”

When I asked the reason, Tang Yelan hesitated for a moment.

I waited for a while until she answered. Then.

“Earlier, you said it would be impolite if I didn’t provide a reason.”

“Yes.”

“Then, how about just considering me an impolite person and marrying me…?”

“Why would I marry an impolite person?”

“Well, true.”

Tang Yelan nodded her head awkwardly while smiling wryly.

“Still, isn’t my appearance quite pretty? Couldn’t you just live with me?”

“……”

I felt like I had heard that somewhere before. People who knew they were beautiful must feel the same way.

The Blue Moon Sect’s Moonlit Delight was like that too.

‘Didn’t I dress up really beautifully today? Can’t you look at me more kindly?’

“……”

I also thought of someone who stubbornly insisted unnecessarily.

I shook my head slightly and spoke.

“It’s not about just living together; It’s a proposition for a marriage.”

It seemed inevitable.

“……That is also correct.”

Tang Yelan did not deny it.

“Still, can’t we find a way…?”

“I’ll take my leave first.”

“Aah.”

Although Tang Yelan tried to say something, I ignored it and stood up.

I could tell that she felt uncomfortable to speak openly.

‘Then there’s no need to listen.’

There was no point in listening any further.

‘A bother since morning.’

Even though Tang Yelan tried to say something, I ignored her.

“I’m going to change clothes. Leave.”

“N-No…”

“If you don’t want to, then just watch.”

I ignored and unbuttoned my clothes. I thought she would leave at this point.

“…Wow…”

“……”

But she looked more intrigued.

…This was unexpected.

I glared at Tang Yelan with narrowed eyes and spoke.

“…Are you really going to watch?”

“Oh…! I-I’m sorry.”

Only then did Tang Yelan snap back to reality and leave.

It seemed like she had been in a daze rather than actually wanting to watch.

“…Phew.”

Finally, I was alone again. As I slowly changed into martial arts attire.

『A man should be bold. Tsk tsk.』

The evil spirit who had been watching the whole time spoke.

It was Yu Chun-gil, who had appeared again late last night.

When I asked where he had been all day, what did he say again?

A long walk?

It was an equally meaningless answer as before.

『It’s the hero’s way to accept a woman who comes, without refusal.』

“That’s the kind of thing my father would like.”

Accepting every woman who approached me? Ridiculous.

I knew well enough from my father what the outcome of such a life was.

『Look at the young man avoiding. Tsk tsk. This is something to enjoy while one is young. Back in my day…』

“…… When she was little, do you want to say you met her?”

I preemptively blocked nonsense from being spoken.

Supposedly, Tang Yelan had met Yu Chun-gil when she was little, too.

Would he want to say such a thing to the child he saw back then?

『I’ve seen her.』

Yu Chun-gil smirked as if recalling something.

『Even back then, I thought the same, but she grew up splendidly.』

“…… Ugh.”

I looked at Yu Chun-gil with disgust at his words.

『…… Why are your eyes like that? It’s not about appearance.』

Oh, was it not? Naturally, I thought it was.

“…… Then what is it?”

『Seeing that child, I thought the future of the Tang family was bright. While thinking that Poison Sovereign had a knack for having an excellent granddaughter.』

Hmm.

It was a pretty good assessment.

Moreover, ‘Growing up splendidly.’

That meant Yu Chun-gil thought highly of Tang Yelan’s value.

‘Yet he never said such things about the Young Azure Sword.’

It wasn’t bad.

Just about that level.

In contrast, when looking at Moonlit Delight, he called her a remarkable person.

‘Does that mean Tang Yelan is also regarded similarly?’

It was rather ambiguous to assert that.

‘Tang Yelan isn’t one of the Seven Geniuses.’

Despite being famous as Poisonous Flower, it was solely a nickname given to her due to being a direct descendant of the Tang family.

I had never heard that she was particularly strong among the late-stage disciples.

Also, ‘The strong one in poison art is…….’

As far as I knew, it was one of her brothers.

‘His nickname was probably…….’

While I mulled over the vague memory, Yu Chun-gil spoke again.

『The way she’s pleading, wouldn’t it be okay to meet her?』

I clicked my tongue in annoyance at Yu Chun-gil’s remark.

“She’s not even coming willingly; her intent is too clear. Why bother?”

She had clearly stated she didn’t like me.

Yet she stuck to me and insisted on marriage without giving a reason?

My instincts loudly told me something.

‘Getting involved with her would be troublesome.’

She was a living disaster, a walking accident.

I decided not to get unnecessarily involved.

Especially with a woman who seemed strange.

‘Grandma once told me.’

In my past life, grandma had said something to me.

‘Grandson.’

‘Yes?’

‘You have a lot of luck with women.’

‘Oh……. That’s good?’

‘But only crazy ones get entangled with you. And they cling persistently.’

‘Oh……. That’s not good, then?’

‘Be cautious of women who approach you. None of them are normal.’

‘Wouldn’t it be better if you just cursed me outright?’

Not even considering these as mere ramblings, I had experienced such in my past life.

Of course, it might have changed in this life…… but who knows?

‘Better safe than sorry.’

Calming myself, I grabbed the door. Everything was ready, so I had to go.

Chun Uijin and Do Hyung were likely already outside.

Before meeting up with them, ‘I need to see the Poison King first.’

I had an appointment to converse with the head of the Tang family.

Before ending our conversation yesterday, he suggested meeting again around noon today.

‘……Hmph.’

Just thinking about it made my face scrunch up.

I genuinely didn’t want to go.

And after yesterday’s banquet, I hated it even more.

‘I wonder if I might actually die here.’

Though it seemed they needed me for some reason, so I probably wouldn’t die.

But I sensed some danger.

‘……Tsk.’

But I couldn’t refuse to go.

I had things to do here as well.

‘Get it together.’

No more accidents. I moved while seeking peace.

Only doing exactly what I needed to, I thought as I grabbed the door handle and opened it.

“Hmm?”

As soon as I opened the door, there were many people gathered unusually in front. A bunch of warriors who seemed to be part of the Tang family were crowded there.

I saw Tang Yelan, who had gone out earlier, confronting someone.

Her expression was drastically different from when she saw me before.

“…… Brother, what are you doing here?”

She was blocking the doorway as if she would never let him in.

Her face, deeply furrowed, showed desperation and a slight contempt.

Who on earth was making Tang Yelan react that way?

Curious, I shifted my gaze.

“I told you to move.”

‘Ah.’

Seeing the opponent, I instantly knew his identity.

That sneering smile and sharp eyes.

The face resembled both the head of the Tang family, Tang Gyung-Ak, and the Young master, Tang Jun.

‘It’s him.’

It was him. The one causing all the ruckus.

Poison King’s second son and one of the Seven Geniuses like Moonlit Delight.

‘Poison Dragon, Tang Chun-il.’

He was known within the Tang family as the reincarnation of Poison Sovereign, an unparalleled genius.

Why was such a person causing a scene in front of our quarters?

As the question lingered in my mind, he spoke.

“Move aside. I came to see the Sword Saint’s successor.”

‘…… Me?’

I frowned at Poison Dragon’s words.

‘……Me?’

A very ominous feeling washed over me.