The World’s Greatest is Dead

Fortune House.

In Henan, there was a famous shaman who had recently been gaining quite the reputation.

She called herself the “Fortune Maiden” and was well-known for her uncanny ability to accurately predict fortunes and match horoscopes.

She was so famous that not only did the notable merchants’ wives from Henan visit her, but even the wives of famed families came to seek her insights.

To prove her popularity, even during the few times when there seemed to be no one around, the line extended all the way to the end of the street. I wondered how long it would take to get from the end of that line to the inside of the building.

“It would probably take at least four hours.”

Considering the time it took to have one’s fortune read, it would certainly take that long.

“Ugh.”

Just imagining it made me nauseous. Waiting in line for a delicious restaurant was one thing, but this was different.

“Does it make sense to wait in line for a quack’s fortune?”

Waiting for four hours at a shaman’s shrine, which I had realized was run by a charlatan? It was something I could never do.

“Luckily, I don’t have to wait in line.”

As Murong Yungsun had said, thanks to using the name of our family to secure a reservation, we didn’t have to queue. People in line did momentarily show irritation as we walked straight in, but they quickly closed their mouths.

They probably realized something about us too.

“People who have enough influence to bypass the line.”

They were quick-witted. They knew that it wouldn’t be wise to be upset with someone who had enough standing not to queue and still be guided in.

“This is why a name’s value is the best.”

I hated going for a fortune reading, but this was a separate matter.

Should I feel upset thinking it was unfair or dishonest?

“Well…”

I could think that way if I wanted to, but I didn’t feel that it was necessary.

As I had said, I wasn’t that righteous of a person.

“Please wait a moment. The fairy is reading another person’s fortune.”

“Alright. Could you bring us some tea while we wait?”

“I will prepare two cups.”

“No need for me.”

While waiting at the table, tea was served.

Since I had declined, only Murong Yungsun’s tea was brought out. Judging by the aroma, it seemed to be plum tea.

Murong Yungsun took a sip in a composed manner. Watching her, I asked in a breathy voice.

“What exactly did you come here to see?”

Especially going as far as making a reservation.

“I know very well it’s something that would anger the family head if he found out.”

The White King, the head of the Murong family.

Given his temperament, he would extremely dislike using the family’s name for something like this.

Using the Murong family name just to avoid queuing at a fortune teller’s?

Even for his dearly beloved daughter, it would cause him to get angry.

Murong Yungsun, after putting down her tea, spoke to me.

“Then what do you want me to do? It’s obvious you’d have a sour face if we had to stand in line.”

“… Are you saying it’s because of me?”

“I’ll handle getting scolded, so don’t worry about it.”

After saying that, Murong Yungsun gave me a curious look and asked.

“Oh, are you worried?”

“Yes.”

“… Huh?”

She seemed bewildered at my straightforward answer, as if not expecting me to say yes.

I mean, wouldn’t it be concerning?

“If something goes wrong, it could come back to haunt me, so wouldn’t I be worried?”

“…”

Upon hearing my answer, Murong Yungsun’s face instantly crumpled. It seemed she didn’t appreciate my response.

“So what?”

That was my honest feeling.

If she used our family name without my permission for whatever reason and it caused trouble later on.

“He’d likely take it out on me.”

With that guy’s personality, he’d see it as an opportunity to put the blame on me.

Dammit.

“This is why I don’t want to get entangled.”

Being involved with a prestigious family is beneficial only if things go right.

“But that’s not the case here.”

The Murong family, from the head to his daughter, just didn’t sit well with me.

“Ugh. Suddenly I’m parched.”

The bothersome thoughts made me thirsty.

So, I raised my hand, intending to belatedly order a cup of tea.

“Excuse me. Over here-”

I froze.

I stopped speaking and squinted my eyes. An apprentice shaman was bustling around handling things, but-

“Look at that?”

A small deity was attached to her back.

It was a faint trace resembling a child spirit. This was akin to a warning from a deity.

To put it simply, it was like marking territory.

“The message is clear: ‘I intend to accompany this child, so do not dare covet.’

It seemed that before long, divine possession would occur.

‘… Hmm…’

Observing this, I reconsidered my thoughts.

‘Is this not just a mere sham?’

Seeing such apprentice shamans wandering around, perhaps this one wasn’t just any ordinary charlatan.

Having thought that, I continued my conversation.

“… Please bring me a cup of tea here as well.”

“Understood.”

Not long after, a cup of plum tea similar to Murong Yungsun’s arrived before me.

Taking a sip to moisten my throat, I spoke to her.

“Lady Murong.”

“Yes?”

“Are you not on good terms with Young lady Chun?”

“…”

At the sudden mention of Chun Hye-In, Murong Yungsun’s shoulders stiffened as she looked at me with cold, slanted eyes.

“Why is the mention of that… Chun girl coming up here suddenly?”

… Surely, she was about to call her a bitch, wasn’t she? Just from that, I could tell they were not on good terms.

I had sensed their poor relations even when I saw them last morning.

It seemed my assumptions were correct — they were worse than I thought.

“You two were glaring at each other as if ready for a fight, so I was curious about your relationship.”

“If it were you, wouldn’t you know right away that we’re not close from the start?”

“… It doesn’t seem like it’s just a matter of not being close.”

There was nothing surprising if they indeed started biting each other right then and there.

In response to those words, Murong Yungsun clicked her tongue quietly and said,

“It’s just a bad fate. Annoyingly so.”

“… Hmm…”

“Why? Are you curious?”

Honestly, there was some curiosity.

But I didn’t want to ask.

Saying I was curious might provoke something unknown.

“It’s fine.”

“Humph.”

“… Why the dissatisfaction?”

It seemed she was planning something using this as an excuse.

Good thing I didn’t ask.

‘Anyway, what matters is that she and Chun Hye-In are not on good terms.’

No matter what happened between them, knowing their bond was negative was sufficient for now.

‘No wonder.’

Recalling the journey from Sichuan to Henan.

As soon as Murong Yungsun learned that Chun Uijin was the son of the Virtuous Moon Sword and Chun Hye-In’s younger brother, her gaze chilled instantly.

‘So that was why?’

Was it because of Chun Hye-In?

‘Hmm.’

Their facial features and temperaments seemed somewhat similar.

Was that why their relationship was strained?

It was an absurd hypothesis, but I entertained it regardless.

“Excuse me.”

The woman who had been moving about approached.

“The Maiden is ready now.”

She slightly bowed her head and gestured towards the door with her hand.

Murong Yungsun stood up.

‘Sigh.’

She clearly didn’t want to go. She approached and tugged at my sleeve.

“Hurry up. We shouldn’t waste time.”

“… Yes.”

While being dragged, I checked my wrist.

It wasn’t my hand but my sleeve.

Since when I said not to hold my hand.

She would grab my sleeve instead, just like now.

* * *

Creeeeak-!

Cautiously opening the wooden door, I stepped inside.

Inside, the distinct vibe of a shaman’s abode was clearly felt.

Feeling it, I frowned deeply.

‘How irritating.’

I had always disliked this sight.

To encounter it again in this life.

With my face scowling, I stepped into the room.

“Hey!”

A loud voice suddenly rang out.

“What wicked thing have you brought here, you rogue!”

Turning my gaze to the sharp voice.

In the direction I looked, there was a woman sitting arrogantly on a chair, staring in this direction.

I couldn’t tell her age.

She wore so much makeup that it was impossible to discern her true face.

“You vile wretch… What exactly have you brought here!”

『Hm? Is she talking about me?』

Yu Chun-gil pointed to himself, sensing he might be the target.

Ignoring him, I turned to look at the woman who kept shouting.

‘Is she laying the groundwork?’

I held back a laugh. This was a unique tactic.

It was a case where sham shamans, upon seeing a visitor, would immediately begin scolding them.

They claimed that something grave had happened to them, or that they were burdened with worries.

Through sweet talk, they intended to arrange ritual ceremonies through trickery.

‘Troubles or worries? Of course. Why else would someone come for a fortune-telling?’

Most of them were indeed such people.

Thus, I suspected this might be another charlatan.

‘Hmm?’

Something seemed off. I glanced behind the shaman with my peripheral vision.

There was something there.

‘What is that?’

It was a god.

Although it was a lower-ranked one, it was unmistakably a god.

‘It looks like a child spirit?’

A young spirit in the form of a child.

The child hung on the shaman’s shoulder.

‘Huh.’

There was a god. This meant that she was not a fraud.

‘Does that mean she’s the real deal…?’

But then why had she spoken to Do Hyung like that?

Pondering this, I continued watching the woman.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to sit down?”

She pointed to the floor with the fan she was holding, with an irritated tone.

I sat without a word. I was worried that her rude demeanor might anger Murong Yungsun, but she appeared calm.

She seemed familiar with this kind of attitude—a remarkable sight that made me follow and sit beside her.

“You.”

The moment I sat, the woman pointed her fan at Murong Yungsun.

“You have some worries, don’t you?”

“Yes, that’s why I came.”

Murong Yungsun responded emotionlessly to the shaman’s words.

The shaman was temporarily taken aback by her distinct cold tone but quickly changed her expression.

‘Oh.’

She was seasoned. Her control over her facial expressions wasn’t bad.

Compared to my grandmother, she was nowhere near as adept, but at this level, it wasn’t bad at all.

“So, what brings you here with your worries?”

“What do you think I’m worried about?”

“… Huh?”

The shaman’s eyes narrowed at the unexpected counter-question.

A brief silence ensued.

The shaman stared intently at Murong Yungsun as if trying to discern something.

“You.”

Just as she seemed to have discovered something and was about to speak—

“About a man—”

『Aargh—!!!』

“!”

“!!”

A sudden scream echoed.

The shaman’s head swiftly turned towards the sound that filled the room.

Murong Yungsun narrowed her eyes at the sudden action.

I stayed still, once again using my peripheral vision to assess the situation.

I had to be sure not to turn my head.

There, I barely managed to catch a glimpse.

‘Damn it. What is that old man doing now?’

In mid-air, Yu Chun-gil was—

『What’s this little rascal staring at? Do you have any complaints against this old man?』

He was holding the child spirit associated with the shaman by two fingers and lifting it.

Not just an ordinary ghost, but a god—doing it so casually.

『Aaaargh—!!!』

The child spirit wailed at Yu Chun-gil’s actions.

At that moment.

Wooong-!

‘Oh no.’

The air trembled.

I’m screwed.

TL’s Corner:
This old man always causing trouble.