The World’s Greatest is Dead

Late at night.

The sky was particularly cloudy, hiding the moon and stars when a young woman clung to the wall, bowing her head in one of Henan's most famous shaman houses, known as Fortune House.

"Ugh---!!"

She repeatedly heaved as if in pain.

Her body was trembling violently, and just like her shaking pupils, it showed how unwell she was.

This woman was called Fortune Maiden.

She was the most famous shaman in Henan at the moment.

The reason she became like this was due to the spirit she served.

"Dear... Dear... Please... Why."

She looked into the void with a dry voice and spoke.

There, in that space.

『Ughhhhh... Aahhh--!!』

The child spirit she served was floating, clutching its face in fear.

『Aahhhh---!!!』

The waves of spiritual energy emanating from it directly affected Fortune Maiden, whom the spirit attended.

It rattled her bones and repeatedly contracted her muscles.

Her body, receiving spiritual descent, was swaying according to the spirit's emotions.

"Hick!!"

What was happening here? It wasn't unusual for the child spirit's emotional changes to be frequent, but...

'This is...'

It was the first time this had happened.

Since receiving the spirit and coming to serve it. It was the first time it reacted so violently.

As a result, she had to abruptly stop the fortune-telling she was doing and close the doors.

'What on earth is this...?'

As she tried to find the cause, Fortune Maiden recalled what happened during the day.

If she were to pinpoint a cause, it was only one.

'... That fellow.'

The two visitors who came here during the day.

The woman wearing a veil and the young man who wasn't.

As she recalled them, Fortune Maiden clenched her teeth.

'... It was definitely him.'

The reason the child spirit was so afraid was because of him.

'They said the woman was from the Murong family...?'

Even among the five great families, it was said she was from Murong.

To have the power to bypass a reservation, she must have been a direct descendant of the family.

The other one was...

The young man with a very handsome face. The problem was...

'Blue eyes.'

The young man's eyes were dyed blue.

The woman knew what those eyes implied.

'In this land, when it comes to blue eyes...'

He was either a seer of the Moon Eye, or...

'A person from the Blue Moon Sect.'

A hero who saved the world and a member of the sect of the World's Greatest.

There was a high probability he was someone from the Blue Moon Sect.

'... To such a fellow.'

Why was the child spirit terrified?

Fortune Maiden could not understand.

After meeting that young man, the child spirit became like that.

It refused to listen to her words and was having seizures all day.

『Ugh-!』

"Huff."

The reaction of the seizures was solely upon her.

Such was the karma for those who received spirits.

In this unbearable pain, Fortune Maiden could do nothing.

And thus, it was even more puzzling.

'... What is he harboring?'

What was the young man hiding?

The child spirit was terrified of the young man.

She knew it was being overwhelmed by something. However...

'... I couldn't see it.'

The Fortune Maiden couldn't see it.

For a shaman bearing a god to be unable to see something meant...

'... The level is too high.'

Even comparing it to a god, there was a disparity of dimensions.

It was not permitted to gaze upon a high-rank god lightly.

Or...

'A higher ghost.'

If it wasn't a god, it was a ghost, and either way, it was an entity that couldn't be treated or seen lightly.

But...

'Why is such a high-rank god...'

Why was it there with the young man?

'Judging by the reactions, it seemed the young man couldn't see it?'

No matter how the child spirit reacted, the woman and young man seemed unaware.

That meant they did not possess spiritual energy. Furthermore...

'It didn't show up to my eyes either.'

Even with her eyes, she couldn't detect spiritual energy from the two.

In such a case, even if they possessed spiritual energy, it was possible to hide it, but...

'... That's nonsense.'

That really was an impossibility.

Decisions made by the spirit at birth.

Spiritual energy was different from the qi used by warriors. Controlling and hiding it voluntarily was impossible.

Or to be precise, not impossible.

'... It's something only that entity could do.'

She believed it was impossible to reach such a level otherwise.

Controlling spiritual energy voluntarily was only possible for the entity she served.

"Cough."

Fortune Maiden wiped her mouth with the back of her hand after a dry cough.

Though blood didn't come out, her insides were stirred, and she wasn't normal.

Swollen and sore hands posed a problem.

"...... Those wretched things."

At the moment of uttering words to expel the youth due to the child's fright, the woman beside him transformed into an evil spirit and lunged at him.

It was a level of ferocity beyond belief.

The chilling tone had made the once proud Fortune Maiden tremble in fear for the first time in a long while.

"...... What should I do?"

As a result, she had to close the door.

It seemed impossible to proceed until the child returned to its original state.

This would definitely cause a problem.

"My plan has hit a snag."

The affairs that were supposed to be carried out here would be thrown off course.

The Fortune Maiden dragged her distant mind and walked over to the desk.

She needed to send a message.

Especially concerning that young man.

"...... There is something."

Something of a level so high that even she couldn't perceive it.

Whether it was a ghost or a god, she couldn't tell.

But something unfathomable must have been hovering over that young man.

What's more.

"If the young man is unaware of it."

It was deemed a good opportunity by the one she revered.

With trembling fingers, misa Fairy wrote down the words.

The first words read,

- To the Great Lady of the Inner Chambers.

* * *

It had turned to the morning.

I rubbed my weary eyes and sat up.

It was completely morning after the dawn had passed.

By then, I washed my face, changed clothes, and stepped outside.

By the time I awoke, the bed beside me was already empty.

This meant Do Hyung had left for training early.

"...... Such a quick person."

How could he move without missing a single day?

I had tried to beat him once, but I never managed to wake up earlier than Do Hyung.

I clicked my tongue in disappointment.

Feeling the morning breeze, I walked.

At that moment, I heard noises at the entrance of the Blue Moon Sect.

I glanced over to see a carriage preparing to depart.

It was a large, luxurious carriage. The flag atop clearly indicated its owner.

"Is it the Murong family's carriage?"

It belonged to one of the Five Great Families, the Murong family.

Their carriage was preparing to leave.

It was obvious who would be riding it.

With a nonchalant expression, I watched the carriage.

『Aren't you going to see it off?』

Yu Chun-gil spoke to me.

"There?"

I asked back as if I didn't understand, and Yu Chun-gil casually replied.

『Didn't you say that Yungsun would leave?』

"That's right. She should be leaving now."

『But aren't you going to see her off?』

"...... Hmm."

I scratched my cheek and looked at the carriage. Murong Yungsun wasn't in sight.

She was probably already in the carriage.

"It's fine."

I decided not to go.

"We said our goodbyes yesterday."

If there was anything to say, we had said it yesterday. There wasn't a need to do more today.

『Really?』

"Yes."

『Hmm......』

Yu Chun-gil seemed a bit unconvinced, but I didn't mind.

"There is no point seeing her off."

What was there to be gained from saying goodbye again? We did everything yesterday, so it didn't matter now.

"We even talked."

Murong Yungsun had mentioned she was leaving early in the morning, and I told her I wouldn't see her off. She nodded as if she expected that.

That was enough.

At that moment.

『Then why are you, who claimed not to care, out here watching?』

Yu Chun-gil questioned, and with a frown, I responded.

"Why do you say that? I just happened to wake up early and came out."

『Sure, just like that.』

"...... I'm serious."

I had simply woken up by chance in the morning, yet Yu Chun-gil smirked, staring at me with amusement.

This old man......? He's making me angry.

I didn't know what he was thinking, but it was definitely annoying.

Not that it would change anything. I continued to watch the carriage before deciding to move on.

There was no point in standing there uselessly.

Though I didn't agree with Yu Chun-gil's words, I did question what I was doing there.

"Let's head for training."

It was morning training time. Any longer, and it would feel like wasted time.

With that thought in mind, I was about to step forward when—

Creak.

"Huh?"

『Hmm?』

Something popped out from the carriage.

Through a window, a small, white hand appeared. Initially, I wondered why it was suddenly sticking out.

Flit-. Flit-.

The white hand turned its back towards me and gently waved.

Anyone could see it was a greeting.

It was unnecessary to mention who it was directed toward.

『Hahaha.』

Yu Chun-gil, who confirmed this, laughed heartily.

『You're quick-witted.』

"..."

I clicked my tongue shortly in silence.

"... Truly."

I was sure he wouldn't come in the morning.

Could he have anticipated that I might be watching?

It was unbelievable.

"It's really scary."

I couldn't understand why he seemed scarier every time I saw him.

I sighed and finally headed toward the training room.

I didn't see Murong Yungsun's carriage leave.

There was no need to watch it. It was obvious we would meet again soon.

'... Because of the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament.'

Although I had never participated in it since birth.

Murong Yungsun would certainly attend due to her family's status, and she knew it well, which was why she left without hesitation.

『Child.』

As I was walking, Yu Chun-gil spoke to me.

"Yes."

『Lower your lips. It looks unsightly.』

"..."

I immediately checked my lips with my hand. They weren't particularly raised.

『I'm joking. Hahaha! You're checking it again!』

"..."

Damn it.

『Hahaha---!!!』

I frowned at his incessant laughter.

It was undoubtedly an unpleasant start to the morning.

* * *

I arrived at the training ground.

I glanced around. The place I arrived at was distinctly different from the usual training grounds I frequented.

It was dark and damp.

I wrinkled my forehead at the unpleasant atmosphere.

『This place is always unpleasant to see, no matter when you come.』

Yu Chun-gil seemed to share my sentiments, clicking his tongue.

Indeed, as mentioned, this place was different from ordinary training grounds.

Even the name was not 'training ground.'

Moon Ridge Hall.

That was the place where I was standing. Here was...

'A seclusion training facility.'

It was a place within the Blue Moon Sect designed for seclusion training.

"Sss."

I scratched my nose and smacked my lips.

"... Should I not do it?"

Seeing its state, regret surged through me.

The reason I was here was obvious.

"... I think I shouldn't have said I'd do it."

Why else would I come to a seclusion training facility? To undergo closed-door training, of course.

I had requested permission from the Virtuous Moon Sword to use this seclusion training facility.

He had casually agreed.

The rationale was clear.

'I wanted to train for the upcoming Dragon-Phoenix Tournament.'

That was the reason I gave.

My connection with the Divine Spear, who had mentioned me personally, and my status as a representative of the Blue Moon Sect allowed me to obtain permission from Virtuous Moon Sword without much skepticism.

"Ah..."

But did I really have to do this?

"... Do I really have to spend an entire month holed up in there?"

『What? Are you scared?』

"If I say I'm scared, can I not do it? I'm really scared."

『Well, you have to do it while scared, then.』

"Damn it."

I exhaled deeply. Two months remained until the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament.

Considering the distance to the Murim Alliance, I had about a month and a half of free time.

During this interval, Yu Chun-gil suggested something to me.

He suggested trying a month of seclusion training.

'A seclusion training session, huh.'

I had heard that it was a familiar yet daunting term for martial artists.

They said it was an essential process to become stronger.

'To think I'd end up doing it.'

I accepted the suggestion.

The reason was simple.

'Because this old man suggested it.'

It wasn't a command but a suggestion.

There was a subtle meaning in this difference.

'Despite knowing how tough it would be, he suggested it.'

Given how challenging it might be, he made a suggestion, which meant...

'There's a lot to gain from this endeavor.'

If I could endure it, I would be able to secure something significant.

And also...

'... Given what's ahead, I should do it at least once.'

With the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament approaching,

and with the inevitability of my participation in it,

'... It's probably better to do it.'

I believed doing nothing and wasting a month would be worse.

"Whew."

I caressed the sacred sword at my waist.

"Let's go."

Strengthening my resolve, I stepped into the Moon Ridge Hall.