Chapter 144
Chapter 144
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: Zhuge's Darkness
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“Are you talking about this, by any chance?”
I lifted up the sword—y’know, the one Hwa-ryeon had given me before as a thank-you for going along with her whims.
She’d definitely said it was a spare sword, right?
My own sword was identical to hers in length, shape, and everything else.
Well, the only real differences were the color of the guard and hilt.
Mine was red, and Hwa-ryeon’s was blue.
“But what’s this about?”
I shot my master a look that said, *What the hell are you talking about?* and got an exasperated voice in return.
“No way… Lady Hwa-ryeon didn’t say anything to you?”
“…She said it was a sword she was going to use as a spare.”
“Ah….”
My master rubbed his forehead like it was giving him a headache.
Judging by his reaction, it looked like Hwa-ryeon’s claim that this was just a spare was a flat-out lie.
“So what the heck *is* this sword?”
“…Doesn’t seem like something I should explain. Ask Lady Hwa-ryeon yourself later.”
When I pressed my master about the sword’s true nature, he just told me to ask Hwa-ryeon and clammed up.
His reaction was only making me more curious.
Was it some legendary sword of incredible quality or something?
The only other real sword I’d ever used besides this one was that junk from Cheon-gwang-dae that I’d snatched briefly, so I didn’t have much to compare it to.
“Ahem, anyway! If you get tangled up in something weird and make Lady Hwa-ryeon cry, I’ll tear you apart, got it?!”
“Yes, yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”
I gave a half-hearted reply to my master’s unnecessary threats—which didn’t need saying anyway—and brought up the most pressing and urgent issue we were facing right now.
“So, where are we sleeping tonight?”
“…….”
My master fell silent.
I hadn’t really expected an answer, and it was the reaction I’d half-anticipated, but it still left me feeling deflated somehow.
No way, but… did we have to pull an all-nighter here? Ugh, I didn’t even want to imagine it.
I had no desire to spend the night shivering in the chilly wind, so I unfolded my legs and stood up from my spot.
“Just in case, let’s go look for an empty room somewhere.”
“…Fine.”
And so, in the dead of night, we began wandering the Zhuge family manor in search of an empty room.
At first, I thought it wouldn’t be that hard.
In a huge estate like this, there had to be some spare rooms lying around.
But it didn’t take long for reality to prove how short-sighted I’d been.
“…This place too?”
“Yeah. At this rate, we’ll end up at an inn.”
We’d combed through the entire inner compound, but there wasn’t a single empty room to be found.
As I grumbled under my breath and kept walking,
-What do you…!
-B-Brother, please…!
Voices arguing came from not far off.
What were they doing, fighting in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?
Half puzzled, half curious, I drew closer, and the voices grew clearer.
-How dare some wife act like that in front of her husband?! Unless you’ve lost your mind!
-Sh-She’s *my* wife. Don’t insult her…!
Passing through a side gate, the two brawlers finally came into view.
“…Huh?”
Two hulking figures who clearly looked like brothers.
But their faces seemed strangely familiar.
“…Have we met somewhere before?”
“Who’s there!?”
As I tilted my head and muttered, the one dressed like a bandit in leather armor whipped his head toward me.
A massive axe slung on his back swayed, asserting its presence.
Hulking build. Axe.
“Ah.”
It hit me.
Im Chun-i.
The two giants resembled Im Chun-i from the ronin band.
*
“I’m sorry you had to see that unsightly display….”
“No, no. We’re the ones barging in uninvited, so what’s there to apologize for.”
The man scratched the back of his head and apologized awkwardly.
He introduced himself as Im Chun-sam, and despite his massive frame, he had a timid air about him.
“What’re you sorry for? What’d we even do wrong?”
Meanwhile, the other giant standing beside him grumbled.
Leather armor, tiger pelt draped over it, and as mentioned, that huge axe on his back.
He looked like a textbook mountain bandit.
“So, who’s this next to you…?”
“Ah, this is my big brother. Brother, say hi.”
“…Im Chun-il.”
Im Chun-il, Im Chun-sam’s older brother, gave a curt nod by way of greeting.
I stiffened as I started to return it.
Im Chun-il?
Why did that name sound so damn familiar?
It wasn’t just because it was similar to Im Chun-i’s.
I’d definitely heard that name before.
-There’s a bandit den called Gwang-san Bandits near Hwang-cheon County. Their leader’s a guy named Im Chun-il, pretty infamous for his terrifying divine strength and domineering martial arts. They say he’s already cut down several experts from Pae-cheon Castle.
The Dark Heaven Squad that ambushed us when we snuck into Gun-gang County.
Wasn’t it that bandit leader, Im Chun-il, that Merchant Leader Bang Jin-myeong had framed us for wiping out?
My gaze naturally turned to my master.
His expression was indescribable—probably thinking the same thing I was.
“What, ignoring me after I said hi?”
“N-No, sorry. Your name just sounded familiar. I’m Goon Ja-seong.”
I hurriedly answered Im Chun-il’s snide remark, and he snorted shortly.
“Well, Chun-il’s a pretty common name.”
R-Right?
There’s no way the bandit leader from Honam would be here.
Probably just a coincidence with the same name.
It’s not good to assume someone’s a bandit just because they’re dressed like one….
“S-Sorry for my brother’s rudeness. He’s been living in the mountains lately, so he’s forgotten his manners.”
“…Mountains, huh. Which mountain have you been staying at?”
“What, you gonna rat me out if I tell ya? I was at a place called Gwang-san, near Hwang-cheon County in Honam.”
“…….”
That sealed it.
The man in front of me was *that* Im Chun-il we knew.
Plus, my gut screamed that this guy who should’ve been in Honam showing up out of nowhere in Hobuk had something to do with the frame job we’d pinned on him.
I looked at my master again.
His eyes were shaking like there was an earthquake—totally unlike him.
I was probably making the same face.
*‘W-What do we do?’*
*‘…Play dumb for now. We don’t know anything.’*
We exchanged a silent conversation with just our eyes.
It felt as clear as if we’d transmitted it with a technique we’d never even attempted to master.
“What’s with turning your head all the time when I’m right here?”
“B-Brother…!”
Im Chun-il snapped irritably at me for keep glancing away right in his face.
Im Chun-sam fidgeted at his brother’s words, and I gave an awkward smile as I made an excuse.
“Ah, sorry. You two just look a lot like some people we know.”
“Look like who? Our names might be common, but we’re not the kind of faces you see everywhere.”
Fair point—no way hulks a head taller than my six-shik height were dime a dozen.
Under Im Chun-il’s suspicious stare, I had no choice but to mention Im Chun-i’s name.
“I ran into a guy named Im Chun-i before… a big guy who used an axe….”
“Chun-i!?”
“Ch-Chun-i, our brother!?”
“…Huh?”
Their explosive reaction came out of nowhere.
When they rushed me for details, the topic shifted before I knew it.
From the conversation, I learned I’d unwittingly gotten tangled up with three brothers who’d been separated by life and death.
Honestly, it gave me chills.
What kind of insane connection was this?
To think stuff like this actually happened….
*
Maybe because I’d shared news of Im Chun-i.
The two giants treated me and my master a lot friendlier (though the brother kept grumbling).
Thanks to that, I could ask them to guide us more comfortably.
“Zhuge Geun-yeong… you mean your brother-in-law’s place?”
“Yeah. Looks like we’ll have to impose on him for the night.”
No empty rooms anywhere, so I figured we’d crash with someone we knew.
Fortunately, Im Chun-sam led us to Zhuge Geun-yeong’s quarters without complaint.
But along the way, Im Chun-il tagged along like it was the most natural thing.
Im Chun-sam tried to hold his brother back.
“Brother, wait in my room. I’ll guide these folks and be right back.”
“In an empty room? Nah. Use that time to show your wife around. I’ve got some choice words for her.”
“B-Brother…!”
Wife?
He’d called Zhuge Geun-yeong his brother-in-law earlier, so Im Chun-sam must be married to his sister.
Were things rough between her and her husband?
Im Chun-sam glanced at my puzzled look and tried to peel his brother off, but Im Chun-il wouldn’t budge.
In the end, Im Chun-sam sighed in resignation and started trudging ahead.
We followed quietly, but Im Chun-il sidled up next to me slyly.
Considering what we’d done to him (well, not me personally), it felt awkward dealing with him, but he ignored my vibe and started prying.
“Got a sec?”
“Ah, sure. What’s up?”
“Nothin’ much. That Chun-i punk. What’d he look like?”
“Look like… how?”
Im Chun-il mulled over my question, mouth flapping silently, then continued in a low voice.
“I mean, was his complexion bad? Looked half-starved or somethin’?”
His roundabout words.
Spotting the worry for his brother underneath, I thought he was a dishonest sort and answered.
“Didn’t look sick or anything. Didn’t seem like he was starving either.”
I recalled the bulging, furious muscles in the arms that had swung that massive axe, and relief showed plainly on his face.
Despite his words, his honest expression made me chuckle softly.
“Looks like you can relax now.”
“Wh-What do you mean relax…! That little shit can drop dead anywhere for all I care!”
“Brother. It’s the middle of the night, so keep it down…!”
He barked unnecessarily, got scolded by his brother, and shut up.
Before long, we arrived at Zhuge Geun-yeong’s quarters.
“H-Here it is. My brother-in-law’s room… Huh?”
“What’s wro—hm?”
Following Im Chun-sam’s startled voice, I saw a figure in night clothes slipping out from inside Zhuge Geun-yeong’s pavilion.