Chapter 162
Chapter 162
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 162
Chapter Title: An Untimely Consultation
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I glanced at the still-frozen Chief Steward Zhuge, who couldn't move a muscle, and flicked my finger to knock his sword away.
- Ting!
The sword slipped helplessly from its master's grasp with just a single flick to the forehead and clattered across the floor.
Along with it, I released the bindings of my energy, freeing Chief Steward Zhuge.
"Urk...?"
The old man staggered but barely managed to steady himself, looking up at me with trembling eyes.
"Th-that just now... was that you, young hero?"
"Yes, that was me."
After giving a perfunctory answer to Chief Steward Zhuge's question, I checked on Zhuge Geun-yeong's condition.
Her body, which had been desperately holding her stance with sword in hand, had long reached its limit. The moment the tension broke, she collapsed powerlessly.
I slung one of her arms over my shoulder to support her.
"Are you okay?"
"...Yes. I showed you an unsightly sight."
Supporting Zhuge Geun-yeong on my shoulder as she replied weakly in a bitter voice, I led her down from the sparring platform.
From behind me came the old man's raspy voice.
"...Hold on."
Turning around, I saw Chief Steward Zhuge had already picked up his sword again and was staring at me.
I gave a sidelong glance at the blade in his hand.
"What, you want to fight me this time? I wouldn't recommend it. I have no particular reason to go easy on you, Chief Steward."
I implied that fighting me wouldn't end in simple defeat, and after a moment of silence, he let out a strange sound.
"...I wondered what that young master of yours was relying on to act so boldly, but it was you all along."
"Who knows. The branch chief doesn't seem like the type to start trouble just because he has some backer. Is that the kind of branch chief you know, Chief Steward?"
His eyes twitched at my question implying that he knew her better. Turning away from him, I looked back at Zhuge Geun-yeong and asked.
"I still don't get the situation. How did this happen?"
As I said earlier, I'd come here because I was worried about Zhuge Geun-yeong not returning even after quite some time.
She hadn't told me exactly where she was going, so I'd been wandering the manor searching for her when sharp metallic clashes echoed from a secluded corner.
Following my gut instinct, I'd arrived to see Chief Steward Zhuge about to slice off Zhuge Geun-yeong's arm.
It was a moment where hesitation could lead to irreversible consequences.
I immediately stepped forward with True Footwork, binding Chief Steward Zhuge's movements.
I'd stopped it, but why on earth were the two of them crossing blades?
"It's just..."
After hearing the full story from Zhuge Geun-yeong, who stammered it out, I let out a sigh and turned to Chief Steward Zhuge.
"Take it by force... Nice and simple. So, if I win, you'll hand over the ledger?"
"......"
"Joking."
I smirked at Chief Steward Zhuge's furrowed brow.
Even if I won, he probably wouldn't hand over the ledger anyway.
To get the ledger, I needed to shatter that old man's stubbornness and show him that what they called effort and sacrifice was just pointless nonsense.
And as far as I could see, there was only one way to do that.
"Here's a proposal."
"...A proposal?"
I nodded at Chief Steward Zhuge, who responded with a suspicious look.
"Yes. Give us a little time."
"Time? What kind of time?"
I raised my index finger to the still-baffled Chief Steward Zhuge.
"Exactly one day. I'll make sure the branch chief can beat you within that day."
"......"
"......"
At my words, Chief Steward Zhuge forgot to furrow his brow and stared at me in utter disbelief.
The funny part was that Zhuge Geun-yeong, leaning on me for support, wore the exact same expression.
Of course, I pressed on undeterred.
"Tomorrow, right here. Spar again. If the branch chief wins, admit you were fools and hand over the ledger. If she loses, we'll give up cleanly and back off. How's that?"
"...Do you even understand what you're saying?"
His reaction was one of genuine doubt about my sanity.
Compared to people rationalizing their nonsense as being for the clan with all sorts of excuses, he seemed the saner one.
"I understand perfectly, so no worries. So, do you accept?"
"Ha, that ridiculous nonsense..."
"You'd be wise to accept. Otherwise, I'll step in myself."
"......"
Fight me now, or face Zhuge Geun-yeong again tomorrow?
His choice was obvious without needing to see it.
"...Fine. I don't know what you plan to do in a single day, but I'll humor you. It won't change anything anyway."
That's what you think.
I watched Chief Steward Zhuge sheathe his sword and leave the training ground, then hoisted Zhuge Geun-yeong fully onto my shoulder.
"Alright, let's go."
"Wait, young hero Goon! You don't have to carry me like this...!"
"You want rumors spreading about your wrecked state?"
"......"
Realizing belatedly how messed up she looked from the spar, Zhuge Geun-yeong shut her mouth, and we left the training ground.
As we headed to Zhuge Geun-yeong's quarters while avoiding people's eyes, she, quietly slung over my shoulder, asked a question.
"...Did you mean what you said back there?"
"What?"
"I mean, can I really beat the chief steward in just one day?"
Her question dripped with doubt.
I chuckled and replied.
"It's not 'can you win in a day'—you have to. Otherwise, we'll have to scrap pulling down the Zhuge patriarch and everything."
"...Young hero Goon, I'm asking seriously."
Even asking seriously while slung over my shoulder didn't sound particularly serious, but I answered straightforwardly.
"It all depends on you, Branch Chief. How quickly you pick up what I teach you."
"So..."
"So, can you master it in a day? I think you can. No, I'll make it possible. So relax."
Hearing my firm assurance, Zhuge Geun-yeong finally let the tension drain from her body.
The moment she relaxed, she went limp—clearly exhausted beyond measure.
Come to think of it, from the cave fight last night to sparring Chief Steward Zhuge without proper rest, it would be weirder if she wasn't wiped out.
"Before training, we need rest first. You and me both."
I hurried to Zhuge Geun-yeong's quarters.
But for some reason, it was rowdy inside.
- I said...
-Brother, please...!
...Déjà vu much?
Sure enough, arguing heatedly in Zhuge Geun-yeong's quarters were the Im Chun-il and Im Chun-sam brothers.
Why were these guys fighting again...? No, obvious, really.
"What are you two doing?"
"Oh, perfect timing. You... What!?"
Im Chun-il, who lit up at my voice, spotted Zhuge Geun-yeong draped over my shoulder and jumped in shock.
Im Chun-sam also rushed over in belated alarm at his brother-in-law's pitiful state.
"Wh-what happened to brother-in-law? A-are you... okay...?"
"It happened during the spar. Luckily no serious injuries, so don't worry."
"Yes, brother-in-law. I'm fine."
The two sighed in relief at Zhuge Geun-yeong's clear words, despite her lack of energy.
"We need to lay her down inside to rest, so keep it down."
"Yes..."
"Y-yeah..."
The two burly men flinched—clearly guilty—and replied as I brushed past them into the room.
I laid her straight on the bed.
"Wh-when do we... start training...?"
I chuckled at her question, her voice so weak she seemed about to pass out.
"First sleep it off and recover your energy. Do you have a personal training ground?"
"I use the one right next to my quarters."
"Ah, that one. Then... meet there in three hours."
Leaving those words, I stepped back outside to see the brothers awkwardly keeping their distance from each other.
Sulking at each other?
"...What exactly is the problem with you two?"
"No, it's this idiot...!"
"Brother started it...!"
They started bickering again at my question.
At least they quickly shut up, mindful of Zhuge Geun-yeong inside.
Neither acts their age.
After eyeing the two pitifully for a moment, it hit me: why were they even here in the first place?
"Wait, why are you two here anyway? What about the cave?"
While Zhuge Geun-yeong retrieved the ledger and our group met Hyeok Ri-gwang, the brothers had their own task.
Guarding the cave where the Blood Burst Technique practitioners were trapped.
To prepare for any unexpected visitors, they'd been stationed at the cave entrance with the bandit underlings.
Thanks to Zhuge Geun-yeong disabling the formation around the cave, passage nearby was now possible.
Won't the bandits barge into the cave and cause trouble if the leader wanders around like this?
Im Chun-il waved off my concern as needless.
"No worries there. Left it to Vice Leader Bae, so he'll guard it tight. Annoying and sly as he is, the guy's thorough with work."
"I-I told him sternly not to enter the cave no matter what, so it sh-should be fine."
Dubious as it was, since they were so confident, I decided to trust them for now.
Shrugging, I tossed out the next question.
"So, you dumped everything on your men and came here for what?"
"Not 'came here'—came to stop this fool."
"Stop what, exactly?"
At my retort, Im Chun-il thumped his chest in frustration.
"Argh, this dense idiot says he's worried about that wench and wants to head to the inn!"
"K-keep calling my wife 'wench' like that...!"
"Enough, I get it. Quiet down."
The two finally clammed up.
I couldn't help but sigh.
So, it's the wife issue again, huh?
"...Of all times, now? We have more urgent matters piling up."
I still needed to fine-tune the plan to send the clan's armed forces outside, plus Zhuge Geun-yeong's training.
And now worry about someone else's wife troubles too?
At my reaction, Im Chun-il looked indignant.
"If you wanna nitpick, you're the one dragging me into this mess and causing all these clashes!"
"If we're nitpicking, it's less me dragging you in and more..."
"Whatever! It's not cool using my men and pretending I don't exist!"
...Surprisingly valid point.
In the end, I sighed again and nodded.
"Fine, got it. So..."
Right then, my stomach let out a loud gurgle.
Come to think of it, I hadn't eaten anything yet.
"...Let's eat something first, then talk."