Chapter 367: The World's Best (5)

Cale, being a good servant, immediately sprang up from his seat.

“Oh, our—”

Our crown prince and Miss Rosalyn!

But he couldn’t finish his sentence.

– Human, the crown prince and Rosalyn look a little… careless.

Yes, that was true.

What’s with those filthy clothes?

Alberu and Rosalyn were approaching, looking so dirty that even Cale and Choi Han, who had been through all kinds of rough places, could only sigh and shake their heads.

They really looked like siblings reunited after being dragged through a battlefield.

“I’m hungry.”

“I’m starving.”

And instead of a proper greeting, the first thing the two said when they saw each other was—

Cale’s face turned blank.

“…It doesn’t suit you.”

He muttered dryly at the blunt comment the crown prince made while eyeing his golden-blonde hair and blue eyes.

“Hmm.”

Cale’s face stiffened even more, scrunching up in visible displeasure.

The two facing each other had different features, but both had blonde hair and blue eyes—anyone seeing them would easily mistake them for real siblings.

“Well, anyway, have a seat.”

The moment Cale opened his mouth with his usual expressionless face—

“Ugh!”

A sharp groan escaped him.

Bang—!

A loud crash echoed through the room.

“Urgh!”

Cale collapsed face-first onto the dining table.

The one who’d tackled him down was—

…Choi Han!

It was Choi Han.

He had leapt to guard Cale’s back—but in doing so, he’d slammed into him, knocking Cale over.

What the hell?

Cale wanted to lift his head and assess the situation, but—

– Human, someone almost stabbed you in the back!

At Raon’s urgent words—

Stay down.

Cale obediently kept his face buried in the table.

Bang! Bang!

Explosions rang out in rapid succession.

Crack! Craaackle!

The ceiling groaned as it began to cave in.

What in the world is going on?

– Human! Just stay down and let Choi Han handle it!

For the first time in a while, Cale wholeheartedly agreed with Raon’s advice.

“Ugh!”

A groan rang out—

“Ugh!”

“Urgh!”

Then two more.

Wait a second.

Weren’t we dealing with just one assassin?

Cale’s eyes widened against the wood of the table.

No one told me there were multiple!

Cale was starting to feel genuinely nervous. No, actually—

Hic!

“…Ugh.”

On the second floor, everyone seated—Cale and his group, Ghost Sword, and the Knight of Abundance—gasped or flinched in alarm.

Swish—!

A dagger sliced through the air, aimed straight at one of them.

“!”

It was so fast, the target couldn’t even scream.

Clang!

The dagger deflected off course with a metallic ring.

“…!”

The warrior’s eyes darted to the person in front of him.

A blonde knight, holding a lance with practiced ease, had subtly moved to intercept it.

“Gra—thanks—!”

The knight smiled back at him with dazzling brilliance.

“You’re welcome.”

Of course, he was still filthy.

“Ugh.”

“…Ugh!”

Five assassins lay sprawled across the dining room floor.

“…….”

Ghost Sword quietly stared at the five, then shifted his gaze.

“…….”

Kim Hae-il.

The Heavenly Demon remained seated, unmoved.

But—five chopsticks were missing from the container on his table.

Right when Kim Hae-il’s servant had stood to greet those approaching—

Shhk!

Daggers rained down across the second floor.

They came from the ceiling, the floor, even the windows.

But the bodyguard and the lance-wielding warrior moved without hesitation.

With ease, they intercepted every flying blade.

“–––!”

Not even a sound—no gust of wind, no warning.

Only a faint shimmer.

A blur—an afterimage.

Even Ghost Sword couldn’t catch the full motion.

All he saw were brief, indistinct traces.

Every time Kim Hae-il’s hand moved, that faint afterimage followed—

—and another assassin collapsed with something embedded in their body.

He only realized it afterward—after the chaos had passed.

Those were chopsticks.

Five chopsticks.

And each one had struck a lethal pressure point.

…Was it even possible to wield chopsticks like throwing daggers?

A chill ran down Ghost Sword’s spine.

Kim Hae-il.

That guy…

No—who exactly is that man?

At first, he thought he might be a former master hidden deep in the underground world of the Five Great Factions.

He looked young, yes. But maybe his real age was far older than he appeared.

No. That wasn’t it either.

This wasn’t just the Five Great Factions.

It was something… beyond that.

Could he be a secret heir of the Kingdom of Lan?

No. That couldn’t be.

According to the intel Ghost Sword had, the current Queen Tamahi didn’t possess the capabilities to produce such a successor.

So then—who are you?

Kim Hae-il. Just what are you?

Ghost Sword—or rather, Phantom Sword—wanted to ask him. But he couldn’t.

“…”

Because they were strangers.

In the Kingdom of Lan, it wasn’t uncommon to die in a fight at any time, in any place.

Even if this was a game, Phantom Sword lived inside it as though it were real.

Clack.

Just then, someone stood up.

“!”

Ghost Sword’s brow twitched slightly.

The Knight of Abundance.

She had risen abruptly from her seat.

“Hmm.”

Phantom Sword immediately understood why.

The Knight of Abundance.

A foreigner among foreigners.

In this New World, where holy-type users were so rare, she had clawed her way up the rankings—currently sitting at rank 12 as a paladin.

She had every reason to stand.

“How dare you—”

The Knight of Abundance. Her eyes had gone wild.

“Oh!”

Cale, who had crouched slightly and turned to glance at the Knight of Abundance, was startled.

Her eyes!

– Human, that knight is seriously crazy!

No, really—her eyes were insane. Or rather, they had changed.

The alignment of her sclera and iris shifted unnaturally, and a golden glow began to radiate from her pupils.

“How dare you draw blood—draw a sword!—in such a sacred and precious place where food is served!”

Thump.

She knelt down and picked up a plate that had fallen during the commotion. Carefully, she gathered the spilled food and placed it on the ground with great reverence. Then she gestured slowly, a prayer from the Order of Abundance.

“…”

“…”

A strange atmosphere settled over the room.

Even the wounded assassins, writhing on the floor, seemed to hesitate and look around—momentarily pacified. Or at least too confused to move.

“In essence, the dining table is a sacred place—a zenith of all abundance.”

The other diners—the real guests—began glancing at each other uneasily.

“Those who defile it with violence… do not understand the value of abundance. May mercy be upon them.”

The waiter and the owner, who had rushed up to the second floor in panic, now stood frozen, holding their breath.

The Knight of Abundance’s actions carried a strange sense of holiness.

Even Kim Hae-il watched her in silence.

Now’s the time…

One of the assassins, thinking the attention had shifted, tried to quietly slink away.

But at that moment—

The Knight of Abundance opened her mouth again.

A broad smile stretched across her face.

She had just finished a solemn prayer:

A place where food is shared is sacred, for it is where the blessings of abundance are gathered. Those who defile it show no understanding of its value. May they be shown mercy…

She said with a smile.

“Oh, God of Abundance. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to execute them.”

Hmm!

Cale’s eyes widened.

– Human, she’s really crazy!

Raon thought the same thing as Cale.

Swoosh.

The Knight of Abundance swiftly drew her sword and swung.

It was at that moment—

“Enough.”

The calm voice of the Heavenly Demon rang out.

Clang!

Her sword was stopped.

“…….”

The smile vanished from her face. Her sharp, golden eyes shifted to Choi Han, who now stood before her, his expression utterly impassive.

A clean block.

Phantom Sword’s eyes sparkled with awe.

That simple movement—so fluid, yet filled with the deep philosophy of Wu.

A profound strike. So effortless, and yet…

But it won’t be easy to stop that crazy woman.

The Knight of Abundance.

Or rather, the Madness of Abundance.

There was no better term. “Fanatic” didn’t even begin to describe her. She was a fanatic in the purest sense.

“…”

Her gaze turned slowly past Choi Han—to the man seated behind him.

The Heavenly Demon.

Still sitting, still smiling.

His voice was relaxed, but a strange weight pressed down with every word.

“They are mine now.”

He was referring to the assassins.

“You have no right to execute them.”

Hmm.

Cale flinched and quickly rose from where he’d crouched near the floor.

He’s angry.

The Heavenly Demon—he’s clearly displeased.

– Human, I think the Heavenly Demon is angry. But why?

Raon was confused.

But Cale understood.

And just then, the Knight of Abundance opened her mouth.

“I know the assassins came because of you. But this is not my will—it is the will of the great God of Abundance. Therefore, do not interfere.”

Her voice rang firm with conviction.

“It is the will of God.”

Oh no…

Cale closed his eyes tightly, then reopened them to look toward the Heavenly Demon.

He’s even angrier now.

And the reason was obvious.

The Heavenly Demon slowly shook his head. His long hair, soft as flowing silk, swayed slightly with the motion.

But his words were anything but gentle.

“That cannot be allowed.”

He was angry.

Not loudly. Not with wrath. But with a chilling, silent fury.

“I already told you.”

The Heavenly Demon—Kim Hae-il—was the living god of the Demon Cult.

“They are mine now.”

His gaze turned to the Knight of Abundance.

And the moment their eyes met—

‘!’

A shiver ran down her spine. Her entire body stiffened.

As if—

Yes.

As if a god had personally issued her a warning.

The assassins behind her remained frozen.

Because standing in front of them, watching without blinking, were the blonde knight with the lance and the impassive bodyguard.

The Knight of Abundance opened her mouth once more.

“The will of God…”

It must never be defied.

She began to speak again—but at the same time—

“Oh, our Young Master!”

Someone suddenly stepped in between them, cutting off the exchange of glances.

‘!’

The Knight of Abundance’s eyes sparkled with another strange glow.

It was the blonde servant.

He quickly stepped forward, and with a mocking smile that didn’t match his innocent-looking face at all, said:

“Yes, yes. Since these people tried to kill us, we should be the ones to deal with them, don’t you think?”

Cale turned his back to the Knight of Abundance, his tone polite—but the expression on his face as he looked at the Heavenly Demon was far from pleasant.

Let it go.

The Heavenly Demon caught that glance.

With a faint smile, he slowly turned his head away.

Cale then turned back and approached the Knight of Abundance, his smile now soft and diplomatic.

“If it’s not absolutely necessary for you to carry out the will of your god, we’d be happy to take responsibility.”

He added gently:

“Shouldn’t we at least uncover who’s behind this? Who exactly tried to kill us?”

Cale’s tone was courteous, his expression warm as he looked around the room.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

It was only logical.

“And if more blood is spilled here, wouldn’t it tarnish this sacred place for those who simply came to enjoy a meal?”

The waiter and the owner nodded vigorously in support.

“We will carry out the will of the God of Abundance in your stead.”

“…”

She didn’t respond.

If she could be swayed by mere words like these, she would never have earned the title of fanatic.

Impossible.

Ghost Sword shook his head.

That servant—he can’t stop the Knight of Abundance.

He glanced around.

There were many others present here, not just ordinary civilians, but individuals who had come to explore, observe, and test themselves.

The fanatic knew that too.

And that’s precisely why she wouldn’t back down.

“Knight. If you don’t trust us, then we’ll hand them over to you later,” Cale offered calmly. “Couldn’t you fulfill the will of the God of Abundance then?”

That was as far as Cale thought the Heavenly Demon would be willing to compromise.

But anyone who knew the Knight of Abundance understood—she never yielded.

Hadn’t it always been like that?

She never gave in.

“You—”

She finally opened her mouth.

“Who are you?”

A heavy silence settled over the second floor.

Hmm?

Phantom Sword’s gaze shifted from the Knight of Abundance… to the so-called servant.

Servant?

That guy certainly didn’t act like just a servant.

“I’m the loyal servant of our Young Master.”

Cale smiled broadly.

But inside, he was sweating.

Don’t tell me…

Did she realize I’m the Most Evil One?

He felt deeply uncomfortable.

The Knight of Abundance was a holy-type ranker. That alone made her dangerous to him.

If she discovered here and now that he was the infamous “Most Evil One,” it could cause real trouble.

“I smell something on you—”

The moment the Knight of Abundance began to speak—

A single phrase cut through her thoughts.

– Enough.

A cold voice pierced the air.

Sharp as a dagger.

Then, that same voice echoed across the room for all to hear.

“Take care of them.”

The Heavenly Demon gave the order to Choi Han.

Without a word, Choi Han moved.

Thunk! Thud!

One by one, he knocked the five assassins unconscious.

Effortlessly. Precisely.

The Knight of Abundance watched in silence, her golden eyes following each strike.

Then she finally spoke.

“I will accept your will.”

Her words were directed at Cale.

Hmm.

Why is she looking at me like that?

Cale felt a prickle of unease crawl up his spine.

Did she figure it out?

Is she about to kill me right now?

As Cale quietly panicked, the Knight of Abundance rose from her seat without another word and calmly returned to her place.

Then, as if nothing had happened, she began to eat again—with a devout, solemn expression on her face.

But just before lifting the spoon to her lips, she turned toward Cale, who was still staring at her amid the murmuring crowd.

She spoke slowly.

“The Earth is the beginning of all things. The trees that grow from it bear fruit. Everything… is the will of Abundance.”

Then, she resumed eating. Reverently.

– Cale! Cale! Do you think she found out about us?!

Super Rock shouted in alarm.

– I am the tree.

The Glutton Priestess answered dreamily, in her usual slow, relaxed tone.

– I see. She probably sensed me and the Glutton. But how?

While Super Rock was panicking and the Glutton Priestess remained completely unfazed—

Cale let out a deep sigh of relief.

What the hell? I thought she figured out I was the hidden boss or something.

Although he didn’t know the exact reason, it was clear—

The Knight of Abundance had sensed something from the ancient powers that Cale carried.

And it was true.

…It’s refreshing.

She had come here today because of him.

Drawn by the pure scent of the earth.

The fresh aroma of trees.

The clarity in the eyes of someone who carried those things within.

She had followed Cale as if in a trance.

Who is he…?

Earth and trees.

They were sacred—essential—within the doctrine of the Order of Abundance.

But it wasn’t elementalism.

No, it was something far deeper.

More fundamental.

More primordial—

“……”

Her spoon paused midway.

And at last, she found her answer.

…Nature.

Yes.

She could sense the fragrance of nature itself from that man.

In its purest, most untouched form.

The Knight of Abundance resumed eating as if nothing had happened, but her atmosphere had grown heavier—more solemn.

She was about to glance back at Cale again—

But she stopped.

“…”

“…”

The Heavenly Demon was watching her.

Staring silently, his gaze like a sword pressed against her neck.

Enough.

She recalled the silent warning he had given her.

The Knight of Abundance lowered her gaze and continued her meal.

Them…

I need to find out more about them.

She felt it.

A gentle nudge in her soul—like the God of Abundance Himself urging her.

Find out more about them.

And at that very moment…

Choi Han said he would take Alberu and go dispose of the assassins.

Then, the Heavenly Demon looked at Cale and calmly spoke.

“Sit.”

Why?

Cale frowned, his eyes narrowing at the Heavenly Demon in silent protest.

That’s when two voices overlapped in his head.

– Human, that guy who looks like Grandpa Ron still hasn’t moved!

– Those assassins are just decoys.

Raon. And the Heavenly Demon.

What?

Cale’s eyes widened—but then it all clicked into place.

Right. Raon said he looked like Ron.

And Raon wouldn’t make that comparison lightly—just because the guy was an assassin.

No, Raon would only say that… if the man moved like Ron.

– We left him there on purpose.

It was at that moment—

Someone appeared outside the second-floor window.

Meow!

It was Hong.

To everyone else, just a cat.

But among the siblings, it was Hong—not On—who had appeared atop the inn’s roof. On must still be looking after Eden Miru.

Snick.

Cale immediately grasped the situation.

“They found him too?”

Nya!

Hong answered brightly, tapping the window frame with his little paw like he was saying, Leave it to me!

“Raon. You go too.”

Raon caught Cale’s quiet instruction without missing a beat.

“We, hmm... Sir Servant?”

Cale turned toward the voice.

Rosalyn.

He understood immediately.

“Could I ask you a favor?” he said with a warm smile. “You must be tired.”

“A walk is nothing.”

Rosalyn agreed to accompany Raon and Hong as their guardian.

“Go for a walk, and we’ll continue this conversation afterward.”

“I hope your walk is… peaceful.”

Cale’s words, of course, carried a hidden meaning: Don’t go too far. Stay sharp.

“Of course.”

Rosalyn understood perfectly.

She rose from her seat and gracefully made her way down to the first floor.

– We’re going! The Heavenly Demon will protect you!

Nyaa!

Raon and Hong vanished behind her, leaving only their cheerful voices in their wake.

Cale, now left behind, turned his gaze to the Heavenly Demon.

And the Heavenly Demon met that gaze with a faint smile—then sent him a telepathic message.

– If someone’s trying to end our lives, shouldn’t we at least find out who’s pulling the strings?

Cale, of course, agreed.

* * *

At that moment—

A woman, hidden behind the window of a building across the street from the inn and quietly observing its interior, suddenly let out a groan.

“Ugh!”

Drip.

Blood began trickling from her eyes.

An elder, dressed in assassin’s garb, immediately rushed to her side.

“Honey, what’s wrong?!”

This woman wasn’t just any operative of Dark Abyss.

She was special.

An Evaluator.

A rare existence.

Like a prophet, she could peer into the essence of a person—see through facades and into their true nature.

“Ugh! Ugh!”

The elder’s eyes widened. Never before had he seen her in this state.

Never—had she bled like this.

“Are you alright? Should I call a healer?!”

Though he was an assassin himself, the elder’s focus now was solely on her.

To him, she was more than a disciple.

She was like a beloved granddaughter.

“Ugh… Ugh… No, no.”

Struggling for breath, the woman finally looked up at him, eyes still trembling with fear.

“Master… We need to go to the leader. Right now.”

Her voice was shaking.

“Why? What happened?”

He had never seen her like this.

This woman—the next successor of Black Death, one of the six branches of Dark Abyss.

The one who led their assassins.

His precious disciple.

Still panting, she forced the words out.

“The decoys aren’t the problem. The Wanderer’s threat isn’t the problem. They’ve already discovered us!”

“What?! If they discovered us, we need to run! If we go to the leader now, our identities will be—!”

“No—listen! You have to understand now! We have to go to the leader! We must report who attacked us!”

The woman, half-incoherent from shock, spoke with urgent desperation.

Flash.

She suddenly opened her eyes—eyes that had been shut tight in pain.

Blood still streamed from them.

But now, they were sharp. Clear. Piercing.

“It’s evil.”

“What…?”

“The Most Evil…!”

She had witnessed something beyond comprehension. Something monstrous. Something she couldn’t fully grasp—yet had seen clearly enough.

“It’s a hell we should never approach…”

Her voice trembled.

“Someone who stands at the top of hell…”

Her body quivered as the words left her lips.

“The one who rules over a hell… has arrived!”

The elder stared, stunned.

Then, finally, he managed to whisper:

“…Is it Kim Hae-il? Is he the evil from hell?”

Kim Hae-il—the one who had passed the exam faster than anyone.

They had deployed decoys under orders to assassinate him.

But now—

That wasn’t the issue anymore.

The woman—his disciple—shook her head violently.

“No! It’s not him!”

What?!

The elder blinked.

Then who—

“The servant.”

The servant?

The image of the blonde servant flashed in the elder’s mind.

“The servant—”

She was trembling uncontrollably now.

“The Most Evil… An entity worshipped even by evil itself…”

Something unimaginable had descended upon the Kingdom of Lan.

And she could no longer suppress the shaking in her limbs.

* * *

“Oh, Young Master, it’s delicious!”

And that evil was enjoying his noodles with lots of meat. 

 -----

Translator's Comment:

When chopsticks fly, gods tremble—and even assassins kneel before the 'servant.'

***

If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Yu Ryeo Han]

[Translator – Anowa]

[Proofreader – Mayank]