The World's Greatest is Dead

The sun was high overhead.

A busy, grinding morning had passed, and it was noon.

On a clear day with not a cloud in the sky, I slipped into Iron River for a bit, burying myself in the heat.

This was the place Tang Yeran had used to restore the Divine Sword, the room that supposedly only the Iron River Master was allowed to use.

Once I got there, I picked up a sheet of paper lying on the floor.

It was the talisman I’d written and stuck on Tang Yeran’s back.

“...Hmmm.”

I picked up the fallen talisman and examined it. It was a blood talisman traced in my own blood.

The spirit-qi that had been soaked into it was already completely gone.

Seeing that, I tilted my head slightly.

Has it been that long?

Normally, there should have still been spirit-qi left for at least another three days.

But not even two days had passed, and the spirit-qi was already burned out.

Feeling a strange sort of impression, I turned the talisman this way and that, looking it over, when—

[What is that?]

Yoo Cheongil asked me, sounding intrigued.

“It’s a spirit talisman.”

[A spirit talisman?]

“Yes. Strictly speaking, it’s a blood talisman, but at its root it’s still a spirit talisman.”

[......What’s it used for?]

“As for its use... the sentimental name for it is ‘Bond’ or ‘Continuity.’”

That had been the name my grandmother used in my previous life, but I’d never liked it.

It sounded too sentimental for something that was almost never used for anything good.

This time was the only exception.

“I’ve always just called it a Little Ghost Line.”

[Little Ghost Line?]

“Yes. If you stick this on someone’s back, for a very short while they can hear the voices of the ghosts around them.”

[What?]

At my words, Yoo Cheongil’s eyes widened.

“Just so you know, it’s not something anyone can use. The conditions are kind of picky.”

There were several prerequisites.

First, the most important thing was how powerful the spirit-qi of the one making the talisman was.

Second came how desperate the ghost was.

Third, what relationship the one receiving the talisman had with that ghost mattered.

Normally, if you’re not blood, it doesn’t work.

Blood ties blood and carries the soul.

It would’ve been better if that blood had been Tang Yeran’s.

Given the situation, I couldn’t exactly ask Tang Yeran for blood, so I’d cheated a little.

I used my own blood to trick the soul.

The process was awkward, but it wasn’t impossible.

Annoyingly enough, I was pretty damned talented in this line of work.

[...Blood kin, huh...]

After hearing my explanation, the interest faded from Yoo Cheongil’s eyes.

Apparently the “blood kin” part was the snag.

[So you used that to connect that girl and Poison Sovereign, did you?]

“I didn’t connect them, exactly. I just stuck my nose in where it didn’t belong.”

At most, it would’ve been a brief instant.

A few words at most. Depending on Poison Sovereign’s desperation, it might’ve varied, but it couldn’t even really be called a conversation.

“Isn’t that right?”

CRUMPLE.

Crumpling the talisman in my hand, I looked back. Poison Sovereign was there.

When I asked if I wasn’t right, he silently looked at me.

Then he said:

“Thank you.”

A sudden thank-you out of nowhere. I froze for a second at that.

I scratched my cheek with an embarrassed expression.

“What’s that all of a sudden?”

“You eased this harsh heart of mine with a bit of grace you didn’t owe me. I ought to at least say what I can in return, shouldn’t I?”

“...Ahem.”

[Would you look at this brat. Is that you getting embarrassed? Your face looks like shit.]

“......”

Snicker, snicker.

As Yoo Cheongil snickered at me, the heat boiling in my chest cooled in an instant.

...If anything, maybe that was a good thing?

Thanks to that, my mood settled down. It perversely helped.

Just then—

KIIIIIK—

The door opened and someone came in.

“Hm.”

A big, muscular old man—the Iron River Master.

He narrowed his eyes at me.

“Hello, sir.”

“What brings you here?”

“Ah, I had something to ask about Full Moon. There was something I left behind, so I dropped by.”

I slipped the crumpled talisman into my clothes again. I’d have to burn it later.

“Ahh—Full Moon.”

“I was wondering when I might be able to receive it.”

“It’s a Special-grade piece, so it’ll take some time to grind the edge. It should be ready sometime within the next three to five days.”

“...Five days at the latest, huh.”

Did that mean I had to stay here at least another five days. It wasn’t exactly welcome news.

I kinda wanted to bolt as soon as things wrapped up.

Being forcibly stuck here this long... yeah, I wasn’t thrilled.

I was rubbing my chin, thinking that, when—

“That it?”

The Iron River Master spoke to me. That what? Wondering what he meant, I followed his gaze.

He was looking at the sword at my waist.

“I’m asking if that’s the one Rani made.”

“Ah. Yes, that’s right.”

So that’s what he meant. I nodded at his words.

“...Can you show me?”

SHRNG.

At that, I immediately drew the sword.

Same as before. The moment I gripped the hilt, that clinging sensation wrapped around my hand.

The black-iron blade slid out into the world—

and the Iron River Master’s eyes went as wide as lanterns when he saw it.

“Heh.”

I turned the hilt around and held it out, and the Iron River Master took the sword and looked it over from every angle.

Then—

“...It’s incredible.”

He let out a heartfelt exclamation.

At those words, I couldn’t help but feel relieved.

I didn’t know swords, and Yoo Cheongil was just a martial artist—so I’d been wondering if this sword was really all that great.

When an old man called one of the greatest craftsmen in all the Central Plains said that, I could finally relax.

“She really pulled this off, did she.”

“Seems that way. Is the sword any good?”

“Yes...”

The Iron River Master nodded as he spoke.

“At the very least, it’s Special-grade... She’s created a masterpiece.”

In those rough, burnt eyes, I could see clear pride.

When he’d declared he’d have her thrown out of Iron River if she botched it, his eyes had been terrifying.

Now they were the eyes of a grandfather thinking of his granddaughter. Yeah.

They were very much like the eyes Poison Sovereign had when he looked at Tang Yeran.

******

I left Iron River and went straight on. The place I headed next was the residence where the Tang Clan Head stayed.

“Excuse me.”

When I stepped inside, Poison King was already seated, waiting for me.

I’d asked for permission to see him in the morning, so it wasn’t hard to get an audience.

“Hello, sir.”

At my greeting, Poison King looked at me.

“Welcome. I heard a big incident took place this morning.”

I had to click my tongue inwardly at the words he opened with.

He was talking about the duel I’d had with Tang Cheonil.

News travels fast around here.

I hadn’t thought there were that many eyes watching, but he’d already heard all about it.

“...Yes. There was a bit of a situation.”

“Is that so?”

Poison King nodded at my answer.

“......”

“......”

And that was the end of it.

As if to prove what he’d said before, Poison King didn’t blame me and didn’t ask anything more.

No matter what happens, as long as no one dies, I won’t intervene.

He was keeping his word that he didn’t care whether I beat Poison Dragon half to death or not.

“And I hear the sword has been completed as well.”

“Ah. Yes, that’s right.”

Just as I’d done with the Iron River Master, I showed the Divine Sword to Poison King this time.

His eyes widened slightly as he looked at it.

“It’s a sword Young Lady Tang made.”

Strictly speaking, it was a repair job, but considering she’d pretty much made the blade entirely new, calling it just a repair felt off.

“......”

Poison King quietly stared at the black-iron sword.

I wondered what kind of expression that was. It looked almost expressionless, but there was definitely emotion seeping through.

“The Iron River Master said it’ll be at least Special-grade.”

“...I see.”

After a moment, Poison King finally spoke and turned his gaze away.

Seriously.

That’s it?

Why was it that everyone around here had such a hard time being honest?

Was it the surname Tang that was the problem?

Maybe it was.

SHRNG. After sliding the drawn sword back into its scabbard—

I spoke to Poison King again.

“Since the sword is finished... as I said last time, I’ll remove {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} one sword from the conditions.”

This was something I hadn’t told Tang Yeran.

But since we had to use black iron, I had to give up part of the compensation I was supposed to receive from Poison King.

That was the Special-grade sword I’d been promised as part of the reward.

In the end, it wasn’t a loss, so it’s fine.

I gave up one sword and ended up getting a different one.

That part couldn’t be better.

But is this really okay?

Honestly, I wasn’t sure.

...He gave it to me to use, but is it really okay for me to use it?

I’m still an orthodox disciple, after all.

The Demonic Cult that had started a war and fought the orthodox in open conflict.

And the Heavenly Demon at the head of that Demonic Cult.

This was the Divine Sword that man had wielded.

Even now, I wasn’t sure if it was right for me to use it.

...And the one who told me to use it is an even bigger problem.

Sword Saint Yoo Cheongil, the hero and living history of the current orthodox world.

That old man was telling me to use the Heavenly Demon’s sword.

It’s ridiculous.

The Sword Saint’s successor using the Heavenly Demon’s sword—if the world found out, they’d all faint dead away.

On top of that—

Why the hell did she carve this into the blade.

On the ink-black blade, the characters for “Sword Saint” were engraved nice and big.

It had to be something Tang Yeran had done.

Hahh...

I felt something I couldn’t even put into words.

Is this really okay...?

Is this really okay?

Is it really okay for me to use this sword? I had my doubts, but the answer was the same.

Of course I’ll use it.

It’s a Special-grade sword, for god’s sake. Where else am I going to use something like this. So what if the Heavenly Demon used it.

It’s not like anyone knows, right?

We’d practically made it from scratch, so no one would.

I comforted myself with that thought.

I had to. Right now wasn’t the time to let my mind get shaken by this. It was time to hold it steady and keep talking.

“Anyway.”

I spoke again to change the subject. At that, Poison King’s eyebrows twitched faintly.

He probably knew what I was about to bring up.

“I think I should finally say what I couldn’t say last time. If that’s all right with you.”

“I’m listening.”

There was a lot I had to discuss with Poison King.

Things about Heaven-Breaking Palace, the items I was supposed to receive from the secret archive, the things he’d declared he’d give me as compensation.

I was planning to bring them all up, one by one, and get every last one.

I’d take everything I could before I left Tang Clan.

But before that—

I redirected my thoughts inwardly. At the same time, I turned my head.

Sneak.

[Hm?]

When I looked over at Yoo Cheongil beside me, the old man gave me a puzzled look.

His eyes said, Why are you staring at me?

Seeing that, I gave him a big, bright grin.

[...What’s that smile supposed to mean?]

At my smile, Yoo Cheongil’s reaction was oddly subtle.

It was the first time I’d seen that old man looking uneasy.

Had he picked up on the meaning in my smile? Yoo Cheongil’s face was something else.

[Boy. Why are you smiling, I said.]

The old man asked urgently, but I ignored him.

“The thing is, Clan Head Tang.”

“Speak.”

“I wanted to ask you something, just in case.”

I looked straight into Poison King’s eyes.

“The thing you’re looking for—is it Myriad-Flowers Rain?”

[What!?]

The moment I mentioned Myriad-Flowers Rain, Poison King’s gaze changed.

At the same time, Yoo Cheongil stared at me like I’d lost my mind.

That look was downright thrilling.

How’s that, old man.

I’d been pissed at him for screwing me over every day.

“So if it is, I think I might be able to help you out a little.”

This time, I thought I might finally get a chance to screw the old man over in return.