Chapter 30
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Legacy of the Divine Calculator
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Crunch crunch...
Gwang-u had been stuffing his face diligently since morning.
He seemed to have already forgotten about last night's events.
I sat across from him, idly picking at my food with chopsticks, and finished my meal early.
"Hyung, you gotta eat a good breakfast to have a solid day."
That nonsense from him wasn't even worth responding to.
He shoveled down that much rice at breakfast, yet he'd eat even more at lunch and dinner.
I went back to my room and pulled out a parchment from the chest in the corner.
If I showed this parchment as it was, all hell would break loose.
I took out my inkstone and brush, spread out a sheet of white paper,
and copied down only half of the formation diagram written on the parchment before stashing it back in the chest.
"Will this work? She didn't seem like an easy mark."
I rolled up the paper, tucked it into my bosom, and stepped outside, where I could hear Gwang-u doing the dishes.
My mind unsettled, I wandered aimlessly around outside the gate.
Gwang-u didn't know yet, but I was even thinking of leaving this place alone.
As I wandered here and there, I somehow ended up at the spot where I'd buried the corpses.
To think the first thing I'd done upon entering the world was kill martial artists.
It was truly lamentable.
'Of all places, why did my feet lead me here...'
As I turned to head back home, I bumped into an old man of unknown identity.
The old man paid me little mind and headed straight toward where the corpses were buried.
'Who the hell is that old guy?'
Feeling a needless pang of guilt, I followed him and saw him inspecting the area.
"Where are you from?"
The old man ignored my question, continuing to look around as he began clearing the pile of branches on the ground.
My heart pounded at his actions.
Beneath those branches, the corpses were stacked neatly.
"Where are you from, sir?"
I raised my voice a bit, and the old man glanced at me.
"I'm the owner of this land. What's it to you?"
His unexpected response left me flustered.
"Oh, I see. But why are you clearing the branches?"
"Whether I clear branches on my own land or not, what business is it of yours?"
He had a point; I had no retort.
In a panic, I pitched in, helping clear the branches with him.
The old man eyed me for a moment, then spoke in a slightly softer tone.
"I came to see if I could plant some green beans here."
"I see. I'm a hunter living by the river up ahead."
"Ah, so you're the hunter who caught that tiger for Seok Family Head."
"I didn't catch it; my little brother did."
"Either way, I heard you got a hefty sum of silver for it. How much was it?"
"More generous than usual."
Once we'd cleared all the branches, I casually probed.
"Would you consider selling this land to me? Hunting's been scarce lately, so I thought I'd try my hand at farming."
"Farming's no easy task."
"True enough, but I don't want to starve."
The old man eyed me appraisingly, then threw out an absurd price.
"A hundred taels of silver. Then it's yours."
"What? This barren wasteland?"
Offended, the old man turned away with a huff, stirring up the wind.
"Take it or leave it. You think this is my only land? Everything up to that hill over there is mine. A hundred taels for all that isn't bad."
He pointed to a low-lying area flooded by the recent rains.
"But that spot flooded this time around; you couldn't farm it..."
Eh...
The old man stalked off, thoroughly peeved.
I hurried after him.
"Don't go. How about fifty taels? I'll take it for fifty."
The old man halted.
"Ninety taels. No more haggling."
'Damn it...'
I had to buy that land.
Even though I'd buried the corpses deep, if someone dug for farming and something popped up...
"Bring the deed."
The old man grinned triumphantly, as if he'd won a battle.
"I'll be right back. Have the silver ready."
"...This rotten world."
In my hand was the deed to worthless land—or so it seemed.
"You paid ninety taels for the land with corpses buried in it? Hyung, are you an idiot?"
Gwang-u was fanning the flames of my anger from the side.
"H-hey, it was originally worth two hundred, and I got it for ninety."
I forced down my irritation and covered with a lie.
"Oh? Good deal then. So why are you sitting there looking like death?"
Gwang-u bought the lie and worried about me instead.
"Just... the world's a shitty place."
"The world's always like that, hyung. Lighten up."
Innocent Gwang-u comforted me.
"Yeah. Gotta think positive. At least that land's ours now."
Having finished preparing to head out, Zhuge Ji stepped through the door.
She intended to seek out the strange man she'd met last night.
Namgung Hye latched onto her right away.
"Unni, where are you going?"
"Just taking a stroll around the village."
"Perfect timing; I was bored. Mind if I tag along?"
Zhuge Ji found Namgung Hye burdensome.
Not only was she quick on the uptake, sharp-minded, and skilled in martial arts,
but the jianghu even whispered of the Namgung Family having one dragon and one phoenix alongside Ilryong.
"Can't I go alone?"
Hmm...
Namgung Hye let out her signature odd hum and flashed a peculiar smile.
"Unni, there's something you're not telling me, right?"
"No, nothing. I just want some time alone to think."
"Whatever it is, tell me. I might be able to help."
Namgung Hye had no intention of letting Zhuge Ji go alone.
"Fine. Come along."
In the end, Zhuge Ji left the Seok Family with Namgung Hye.
As Zhuge Ji headed toward the river, Namgung Hye suddenly felt uneasy.
Last night, she'd sensed something off,
an unpleasant feeling that had vanished as suddenly as it came.
She'd dismissed it as nothing.
"Meeting someone by the river?"
Zhuge Ji stopped and turned.
"Namgung dongsaeng, I promised that person secrecy about this. I'll meet him alone, even if you're with me."
Ho...
Namgung Hye grew deeply curious about this person Zhuge Ji mentioned.
"Not those hunters, I hope?"
Zhuge Ji was inwardly startled.
Namgung Hye was too perceptive.
"Yes, but it's nothing you'd be interested in."
Hoho...
"No way. Anyone catching unni's interest can't be ordinary."
As the house atop the distant hill came into view, Zhuge Ji left Namgung Hye behind and walked on alone.
"Wait here, Namgung dongsaeng."
Left alone, Namgung Hye watched her back, tilting her head.
Why on earth was Zhuge Ji meeting the hunters?
They seemed a bit unusual, but not noteworthy.
'There's something she isn't telling me.'
I watched Zhuge Ji approaching from beyond the fence.
'This has to work.'
"Hyung, whatcha looking at?"
Gwang-u peeked over my shoulder.
"Go inside."
"Oh? That girl?"
"I said go inside, you punk."
Irritated, I snapped, and Gwang-u slunk off, grumbling into the room.
"What a pain."
I sat on the porch, waiting for her to enter.
"Anyone home?"
Moments later, Zhuge Ji's voice came from outside.
"It's open. Come in."
Creeak...
She entered and walked straight toward me.
"Welcome."
I stood to greet her.
"Thank you for last night, Hunter Go."
Hunter Go? No, 'sogo'...
That's a term from the jianghu.
"Just call me Hunter."
"If that's what you want."
I handed her the rolled-up paper from my bosom, and she eagerly unrolled it.
As she read down the page, I caught her eyes trembling violently.
'So far, so good.'
I inwardly cheered and feigned nonchalance, awaiting her reaction.
Her eyes still shook as she carefully rerolled the paper.
"...Why only this? Where's the rest?"
"I don't fully trust you yet, Miss Zhuge, so I only copied half."
"That's..."
She glared, about to rage, then let out a long sigh.
Hoo.
"F-fine. But where did you get this formation?"
"It's been passed down in my family for generations."
I gave the prepared answer.
But she didn't buy it.
"Don't lie. This formation shares many elements with our Zhuge Family's."
"Do you think the Zhuge Family has a monopoly on formations?"
She shook her head.
"Not entirely. But most formations in the world are with the Zhuge Family."
No choice but to bull my way through.
"Regardless, it's my family's. I don't know about similarities to yours."
She stared silently into my eyes.
I met her gaze without flinching.
My reflection appeared in her clear eyes.
Time passed like that for a moment.
Unexpectedly, Zhuge Ji clasped her hands, bowed her head to me.
"I was arrogant. Forgive my foolish assumption."
"Uh... no need for apologies."
The mood felt awkwardly formal.
I was the liar, and the formation was originally Divine Calculator's—Zhuge Family's.
She lifted her head and gave a faint smile.
That smile felt ominous.
"Next time, I'd like the other half. I'll take my leave."
"Ah, goodbye."
Something felt off about the ending.
Maybe I should've handed over the whole thing.
Zhuge Ji turned and exited through the gate.
I quietly watched her go.
"You're late, unni."
Zhuge Ji felt uneasy at Namgung Hye's probing gaze, like she was searching for something.
"Talked about the tiger. Asked if they'd catch one for our family feast like for the Seok Family."
Namgung Hye didn't believe her.
"Guess I'll have to find out myself what about those hunters caught your interest."
'Shouldn't have brought her.'
Zhuge Ji deeply regretted traveling with Namgung Hye.
But the water was spilled.
"Let's go."
"Sure. Which of the two hunters did you meet?"
"B-both..."
Hohoho.
Namgung Hye laughed heartily and wagged her finger.
"Unni, you're terrible at lying. Tell me straight. What's going on?"
Zhuge Ji didn't know what to say.