The World’s Greatest is Dead

The World’s Greatest is Dead – Chapter 148

The battle was entirely different from when confronting the Poison Dragon.

The disparity in skill levels was starkly apparent.

‘It seemed like I could defeat the Poison Dragon, though.’

In fact, I did win. However, that sense was absent against Chun Hye-In.

*Thud!*

I strengthened my footing.

My rising sword was imbued with qi.

As the tip of the sword raised, there was precisely something I could use.

Though my stance was somewhat disheveled, the angle was sufficient.

Night seeped into the sword I held aloft.

I then swung the sword, lowering the night upon her.

Blue Moon Sword Dance.

Night Moon.

The descending night hurtled towards Chun Hye-In.

“Humph.”

At that sight, Chun Hye-In snorted.

*Swish!*

“!”

She elegantly twisted her body.

Her movements resembled that of a snake, and it felt as if her wielded sword was bending too.

The intertwined swords altered the angle of Night Moon.

At the skewed angle, my sword, which was initially directed at her, ended up striking the floor.

*Thud!!*

The sword blade made a direct impact on the stage.

Having struck the ground, the sword ought to have bounced back with the shock, but it didn’t.

“Damn it.”

It was because Chun Hye-In was stepping on the back of my sword.

Her alabaster calves immobilized the sword.

Realizing this, I saw her foot piercing towards me.

I twisted my head, narrowly avoiding the tip of her toe grazing my nose.

Barely evading, I reclaimed freedom for my seized sword as I moved backward.

“Damn.”

Next, an unbelievable sight appeared in my Moon Eye.

Chun Hye-In approached me, revealing countless pathways.

The blue lines were more than just one or two.

All those were potential trajectories she could launch at me.

“…… Damn.”

I grit my teeth.

Thus began an intense exchange.

No.

A grievous exchange commenced.

* * *

*Thump! Tap Tap! Thud!!*

Endless dull sounds resonated.

*Whoosh! Crash!!!*

Shockwaves erupted at the sword tips cutting through the air, with energy exploding in the emptiness, creating shock.

A cycle of attack and defense ensued.

The two wooden swords fiercely clashed, continuing their battle.

At a glance, their duel seemed evenly matched.

Yet, truly, it only seemed so at a quick glimpse.

Most present there couldn’t fail to notice how skewed the battle was toward one side.

“…… Overwhelming indeed.”

“I didn’t expect such a stark difference.”

Someone from the Small Moon Division murmured as they observed.

“Little Sword Saint, Little Sword Saint. Given all the talk, I wondered, but it seems he can’t hold his own against the young lady Chun.”

“I heard he easily surpasses the Seven Geniuses, but it doesn’t appear so.”

The Little Sword Saint was rumored to be astounding enough to easily defeat the current illustrious Seven Geniuses.

It became evident now that those were mere rumors.

“Though the tale of defeating the Poison Dragon seems true, the young lady Chun is beyond his reach.”

“True enough. Even if he is the Sword Saint’s successor, Chun Hye-In is a prodigy comparable to the Sword Saint.”

“Rumors are never fully trustworthy, are they?”

Those watching the duel chimed in agreement.

It was inevitable.

The fight was ongoing, yet the result was as clear as day.

“He can’t even get close.”

*Thud! Tap!!*

The Little Sword Saint.

Bang Sung-Yun, the new youngest member of the Small Moon Division and known as the Sword Saint’s successor, swung his sword with tenacity.

The wooden sword that swiftly cut through the air formed sword paths more than dozens of times.

The power contained within was remarkable.

Though it might appear raw, the strength carried by it compensated to some extent.

Even when compared in skill level, it seemed decent enough.

“The opponent is the problem.”

The opponent of such a Bang Sung-Yun was the issue.

*Swish! Tap!*

Showing light footwork, she dodged or diverted Bang Sung-Yun’s every attack.

Any attempt at establishing a sword path was intercepted.

She disrupted footwork occasionally, causing it to become entangled.

Using every trick conceivable, destining the opponent to lose composure.

Delicate, cunning, and incredibly beautiful.

What seemed like exchanging blows was actually closer to one side merely toying with the other.

Moonlit Delight of the Seven Geniuses.

Chun Hye-In deflected Bang Sung-Yun’s sword with an expressionless face.

The smile she had maintained had long vanished.

She continued to move her sword without losing a single breath.

“Hoo-ah!”

The only sound heard was Bang Sung-Yun’s heavy breathing.

It signified the extreme difference in stamina.

The sword could not reach, nor could he even come close.

The onlookers came to the same realization.

Moonlit Delight was stronger than Little Sword Saint.

And overwhelmingly so.

It was a perfect duel to fill such an impression.

And then.

‘Just as expected.’

The Small Moon Division Leader could not hide his smile while observing the scene.

‘His arrogance ends here.’

Bang Sung-Yun, unable to touch Chun Hye-In at all.

Just seeing him made the Division Leader smile involuntarily.

‘Tried to challenge me, huh.’

He recalled the time when Bang Sung-Yun had conversed with arrogance, using his distinct sleepy eyes and wordplay.

‘What did he say?’

That he wanted to become the Small Sect Leader and asked for his strength.

‘It was laughable.’

The Division Leader immensely disliked the audacity of such a bold statement.

‘How dare…’

Did he even know what position he was trying to climb to?

And to ask him, of all people, for his strength?

‘Utterly impossible.’

It was inconceivable.

Moreover, ‘Choosing him over Young lady Chun is unthinkable.’

Faced with such a radiant possibility, there would never be a choice to opt for someone clueless.

‘Even if he somehow knew about it.’

When he heard the news that the Sword Saint’s successor had appeared.

The Small Moon Division Leader had contacted the Beggar Sect to request their assistance.

The request was to prevent the news from spreading until the situation was fully understood.

Fortunately, the Beggar Sect agreed to it.

Just as he had requests for the Beggar Sect, they, too, had things they wanted from him, making it possible.

As a result, a task arose, but he could endure that much.

‘He cannot tarnish the Sword Saint’s name.’

Compared to disgracing the great Sword Saint’s name, this was something he willingly endured.

‘Sword Saint’s successor? What nonsense.’

Even if by some chance it were true, he could not acknowledge him.

Bang Sung-Yun could never be recognized as fit to bear the illustrious name of the Sword Saint.

‘He is sly in dealing with people and treacherous.’

Unworthy compared to the one deemed a hero and gentleman.

He was a depraved man who beguiled with sweet talk.

And what about his supposed power?

‘Even if the Sect Leader acknowledges him and he performed Radiant Moon Annihilation.’

He could not be called the Sword Saint’s successor.

Even if he used the Sword Saint’s martial arts and held his mementos.

Even if all scenarios pointed to Bang Sung-Yun being the Sword Saint’s successor.

The Small Moon Division Leader could not accept it.

‘I cannot acknowledge it.’

He refused to recognize him. He could only speculate what methods Bang Sung-Yun used to acquire those relics.

‘He supposedly accomplished a great feat in Sichuan.’

By killing a high-ranking member of the Evil Faction and saving the Tang family, he had acquired the title Little Sword Saint.

‘Did something happen within the Tang family?’

Even this, the Small Moon Division Leader did not believe.

‘Whatever fortuitous encounter he had before leaving, he might have gotten stronger.’

But that was all.

‘Save the Poison King with that level of strength? Ridiculous.’

With the strength he perceived in Bang Sung-Yun, he could never save the Tang family or the Poison King.

‘Surely, he must have employed some other trick.’

He likely did not accomplish it with brute strength, but with those cunning wits of his.

‘… All while carrying the Sword Saint’s name.’

It was truly displeasing.

Had the Sword Saint been alive, he would have boldly forged ahead and proven himself with power rather than empty machinations.

‘You do not befit that name.’

Bang Sung-Yun, who could not prove the value of his name without power, disgusted the Small Moon Division Leader.

‘The Sect Leader seems pleased with him.’

But even that was only for now.

No, he believed that even that would vanish once the duel ended.

After witnessing this, the Sect Leader could not remain steadfast in his approval.

*Kwah-ak!!!*

“Ugh!”

Bang Sung-Yun’s wooden sword shook.

Chun Hye-In had struck it upwards again, causing it to fly.

Then.

*Baa-ng!!*

“Keuk!”

Her wooden sword struck his exposed upper body directly.

Bang Sung-Yun, having been struck by Chun Hye-In’s attack, was flung across the floor.

“Cough!”

He managed to stabilize himself, but blood trickled from his mouth.

It seemed he had been hit directly.

Fortunately, he had not circulated his energy properly, so the impact was minimal.

‘In the end.’

Even taking that into account, the outcome of the match was clear.

‘Not even a scratch.’

Bang Sung-Yun’s sword hadn’t touched Chun Hye-In at all.

There were many stories: how he had saved the Tang family by defeating an Evil Faction master, how he had beaten the Poison Dragon.

But all those stories were disproven by one fact.

‘The young sect leader position belongs to Lady Chun.’

A daunting and distant possibility.

The extraordinary talent possessed by Chun Hye-In.

It was a dazzling potential that captivated everyone and, at times, instilled them with fear.

The Sect Leader seemed to be pondering something while observing Lady Chun, but the Small Moon Division Leader believed the conclusion would ultimately remain the same.

Even the Sword Saint’s successor, Bang Sung-Yun, was powerless against Chun Hye-In.

Given that so many people witnessed it, what would happen next was obvious.

“Hmm.”

The Virtuous Moon Sword let out a low breath.

There was a hint of disappointment visible on his face.

The Small Moon Division Leader swallowed his laugh at this sight.

‘It’s over.’

He nodded confidently.

Then Chun Hye-In began walking toward Bang Sung-Yun to finish things.

Though he couldn’t tell what expression the Virtuous Moon Sword had at that moment, he guessed it was the same as Chun Hye-In’s.

As Chun Hye-In approached Bang Sung-Yun, her face was filled with disappointment.

“… Is this all?”

Her voice held a note of emptiness.

“You seemed so confident, only to be just at this level.”

Her emotions vanished.

“… What was I expecting?”

Disappointment gathered between her brows.

With a furrowed expression, Chun Hye-In raised her wooden sword.

Bang Sung-Yun, bleeding, raised himself.

“Hoo…”

He looked thoroughly exhausted.

The bloodstains were clear at his lips, and his clothes were soaked with the blood that had dripped down.

Then he said, “… Ah, it can’t be helped.”

His voice carried a note of regret.

“It seems it’s not my time yet.”

He spoke in a tone of acceptance and resignation.

Was he acknowledging defeat?

Then Bang Sung-Yun lowered the wooden sword he was holding.

*Swish.*

He gradually relaxed his posture.

What was this?

The Small Moon Division Leader squinted his eyes.

‘He seems to have given up.’

It seemed he thought there was no hope and decided to abandon it.

‘Truly unfitting until the very end.’

This was something that the person in question would never do.

‘Giving up.’

There was no more point in watching.

The Small Moon Division Leader thought so.

And suddenly, Chun Hye-In’s wooden sword moved to finish Bang Sung-Yun.

The duel was about to end.

Everyone thought that was the case at that moment.

“Ha.”

The Virtuous Moon Sword let out a gasp.

*Boom!!*

“Ugh-!!”

Someone collapsed to the ground.

“What?”

“What!?”

Many spectators were stunned.

They had naturally expected Bang Sung-Yun to fall.

But surprisingly, it was Chun Hye-In who had collapsed.

As she rushed forward to finish him, suddenly she let out a groan and fell.

“Ugh–!!”

She even retched painfully.

What was happening?

Everyone was bewildered by the situation.

The Small Moon Division Leader’s eyes widened like saucers.

“What!”

What was happening? What had transpired?

For a moment, he was at a loss.

While the Small Moon Division Leader looked at the duel platform with confused eyes.

“Hahahahaha!”

The Virtuous Moon Sword burst into laughter.

“….”

Seeing this, the Small Moon Division Leader couldn’t hide his surprise once again.

TL’s Corner:
Yep, we knew how this would end. And how he would win.