The Duke's Son :Re-Chapter 186

No matter what I prepare and plan, things never go as planned.

Jae-Hyeok had a simple reason for enrolling in Lion’s Castle: survival.

Jae-Hyeok had always known that others would come for him. Not long ago, he’d naively thought that training inside his family’s estate without stepping outside could shelter him. He was surrounded by the watchful eyes of protestors, after all.

He was wrong.

Jae-Hyeok awoke from his delusion after a sword demon stormed his home.

In the aftermath of that day, he remembered Seol Su-Ah’s invitation.

Lion’s Castle...

For others, it was a school; for Jae-Hyeok... Lion’s Castle had become the closest thing to a safe haven.

The gate was a chance to grow in relative peace, to quietly build his strength while planning his next steps after graduation.

Whether to revive his family, to get his revenge, or simply to live as a normal person—Jae-Hyeok hadn’t wanted to stand out to the public.

However, talent reveals itself inevitably. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Through various incidents, Jae-Hyeok grew at a speed that exceeded all his expectations. The stronger he became, the bolder he became. And the bolder he became, the more hardships he took on while defending his principles and pursuing his goals.

Name: Kang Jae-Hyeok.

Level: 82

Mana: 2,770

[Strength: 277], [Stamina: 277], [Agility: 232], [Magic: 277], [Insight: 232]

Skills: [Noble Chivalry], [King’s Roar], [Empty]

It’s time to show off.

It’d only been four days since the start of vacation, but Jae-Hyeok had achieved explosive growth. It wasn’t enough that he’d gained a Legendary achievement from killing Jeong Jae-Uk. He’d also gained 11 levels at once, killed Railmaru and the dark elves in the World Tree Outskirts gate, and passed judgment on Heo Myeong-Hwi...

Jae-Hyeok was now an A-class player based on his level—be it South Korea, the United States, or anywhere else, A-classes were prized elites. But if that weren’t enough, Jae-Hyeok was a genuine irregular. His true strength far exceeded the parameters of his level. However, no one knew the depths of Jae-Hyeok’s value—including the Association members, despite knowing that Jae-Hyeok had killed Heo Myeong-Hwi not long ago.

They scoffed.

“This kid wants to be evaluated as a National Treasure candidate?”

“How ridiculous.”

“That stupid Heo Myeong-Hwi must’ve filled your head with ridiculous dreams.” Kwae Myeong-Su, a player on the cusp of S-class, fixed his glove back on while shaking his head. His purple suit signified belonging to the Association’s Enforcement Department, and he adjusted the collar while whispering a piece of advice to the boy, who seemed to know nothing about the world:

“The world is unfair. Where some struggle all their lives and never get the Skill they want, others awaken a transcendent Skill and use it to level far faster than others. Heo Myeong-Hwi belonged to the latter category.”

The lower the Insight and Agility, the harder it was to react to Heo Myeong-Hwi’s Rune Skill. Thanks to that, Heo Myeong-Hwi had been swept through lower-grade gates as a young man and grown at a terrifying speed. Along the way, he was doubly blessed to come across Crane Sword, which he then relied on to reach S-class.

Kwae Myeong-Su saw Jae-Hyeok as the same type of person as Heo Myeong-Hwi. “Heo Myeong-Hwi was an idiot who only reached S-class by raising his level. Even his ending was insignificant, killed by a brat with better luck than him.”

Kwae Myeong-Su shook his head. Jae-Hyeok was a young monster, yes, but it was obviously the product of his absurd luck.

“You were lucky enough to be born into the Kang family; inherit the Kang sword talent and Bloodline Skill, which perfectly complement each other; and have Seol Su-Ah, the White Night herself, as your personal guardian. In your sixteen years of life, you’ve enjoyed benefits that others can’t imagine. Maybe that’s why you think the status of National Treasure candidate is something easily gotten. But reality isn’t so kind. It isn’t something that you or people like Heo Myeong-Hwi can aim for.”

Kwae Myeong-Su kept his voice low. He didn’t want the name ‘Heo Myeong-Hwi’ to reach the reporters Jae-Hyeok had gathered to increase his reputation.

“That is Kwae Myeong-Su! He belongs to the Association’s enforcement department!”

“Player Kwae Myeong-Su! Is it true that the Yaksha’s youngest son is challenging the examination to become a National Treasure candidate?”

The reporters swarmed closer. The Association members held them back, but they stuck out their microphones and shouted a barrage of questions.

Kwae Myeong-Su smiled gently and shook his head.

“No. In order to be considered a National Treasure candidate, sufficient qualifications must be proven. Kang Jae-Hyeok’s participation in the Leech King and rescue of his peers is admirable, but that level of performance is far from enough. It’s too early to challenge the examination.”

“That’s right.”

“Wasn’t that Leech King raid something that happened at the beginning of the semester? He must not have accomplished much since then, if that’s his crowning achievement.”

“I knew this would happen. Who would believe that Kang Jae-Hyeok could challenge the National Treasure candidate exam? The tip-off was absurd from the start.”

“Player Kwae Myeong-Su, do you know who reported the tip?”

“It was Kang Jae-Hyeok himself.”

“Such an idiot. Does he think reporters are jokes?”

The reporters frowned and began jotting notes in their notebooks or on tablets, criticizing Kang Jae-Hyeok and the Kang family.

Kwae Myeong-Su looked at them happily, but inwardly his heart was burning with anger. This sly bastard got the public’s attention. It’ll be hard to touch him for a while.

“Are you qualified to discuss my qualifications?”

Meanwhile, Jae-Hyeok took Traces of Thunder Tribulation out of his inventory and threw it.

“It seems like something needs to be confirmed, so I will ask you to a duel.”

The legendary-tier gauntlet thunked on the ground.

Kwae Myeong-Su blinked, then smiled. “I must say, I didn’t expect you to cut off your own way out. It must be Heo Myeong-Hwi’s fault that a kid like you doesn’t know your true abilities. Blame him when you wake up in the hospital.”

Kwae Myeong-Su picked up the gauntlet.

A string of System messages appeared before Kwae Myeong-Su’s and Jae-Hyeok’s eyes.

[Confirming willing consent...]

[Confirmed.]

[The duel between Player Kang Jae-Hyeok and Player Kwae Myeong-Su will begin.]

[Victor's reward: opponent's Community points.]

He must be feeling confident because I am only A-class, alas... heh.

Kwae Myeong-Su was a sword demon. He was nothing like Heo Myeong-Hwi, who relied on Skills as a crutch.

His swordsmanship was the real deal.

I will make you regret it. Huh? This glove...

Heo Myeong-Hwi was checking the System messages when he suddenly became surprised.

The white gauntlet in his hand was unusual.

A genuine item? Its rating seems quite high...

In the fleeting moment when Kwae Myeong-Su was distracted, Jae-Hyeok had already sheathed his sword.

“?”

The reporters were dumbfounded. They couldn’t understand why Jae-Hyeok was sheathing his sword.

The Association members and Guardian members were also confused.

A sword had to be drawn before it could be sheathed, yet no one had seen when Jae-Hyeok had drawn his sword.

The same was true for Elder Gu Suk.

In fact, the Elder was cursed, but even if he weren’t, he wouldn’t have seen Jae-Hyeok’s sword draw just now. The gap between an S-class player in the early 100s and those well beyond level 100 was like the difference between heaven and earth. And Jae-Hyeok’s stats were easily above those of an early S-class.

Blood gushed from Kwae Myeong-Su’s shoulder.

Then his arm flopped to the ground, the hand of which still clutching Traces of Thunder Tribulation.

“Ugh! W-what?”

Kwae Myeong-Su’s face turned pale as pain set in.

He had no idea when he’d been cut.

How was this even possible?

What type of trick did he use?

Despite his efforts to deny it, a chill crept slowly up Kwae Myeong-Su’s spine as an old rumor came to mind, having circulated during the Yaksha’s prime.

‘Those cut by the Yaksha don’t even know how they’ve died.’

“Ah... uwaah... ”

Kwae Myeong-Su couldn’t even think about using a potion. He stumbled back before collapsing, looking like he’d seen a ghost.

“Y-Yaksha... ”

“Yaksha?”

“The Yaksha!”

Kwae Myeong-Su’s pale expression and the way he murmured ‘Yaksha’ while staring at Jae-Hyeok shocked everyone.

The Yaksha.

For the first time in eight years, the overwhelming presence of the strongest National Treasure in East Asia, which had been forgotten, once again dominated the scene.

***

“The National Treasure candidate exam will be held soon.”

Why did Kang Jae-Hyeok show mercy? Was he simply aware of the reporters’ gazes, or is he surprisingly kind? Kwae Myeong-Su wore a confused look while reattaching his arm with a potion. I thought he saw human life as no more valuable than a fly’s.

Killing during a duel was justified, and Jae-Hyeok had even killed Heo Myeong-Hwi by beheading him. He’d imagined Kang Jae-Hyeok as a psychopath who killed without hesitation. Yet Kang Jae-Heyok had not only spared him but left his arm in a complete state to be reattached.

Jae-Hyeok saw his confusion and explained simply, “Heo Myeong-Hwi insulted the Kang family.”

“Ah... ”

To study Jae-Hyeok’s skills, Kwae Myeong-Su had received a recording of Jae-Hyeok and Heo Myeong-Hwi’s fight, but it lacked the audio.

Now that he knew the complete context, he felt even greater shame. He muttered, “...What I said earlier.”

“?”

“I said you were just lucky. I apologize.”

As a sword demon, he sensed Jae-Hyeok’s towering sword mastery just from the way Jae-Hyeok had sheathed his sword. However, only now was he calm enough to reflect on and admit it.

“Even though I was well aware of the state of the Kang family... ”

It was a genuine apology from one swordman to another; Kwae Myeong-Su didn’t raise his head.

Jae-Hyeok whispered, “Someday. If you later have nowhere to go, come to the Kang family. Originally, the Kang family was a sacred place for swordsmen.”

“Cough... I will be going now.”

Kwae Myeong-Su belatedly came to his senses and hurriedly left.

Kang Jae-Hyeok’s skills might be beyond imagination, but the Kang family had still fallen, having lost so much of its foundation that it could never recover.

More than anything else...

There’s no way he will survive the National Treasure candidate exam.

The Association president’s hatred for the Kang family was never-ending, as if the president’s only purpose in life were destroying the Kangs. Naturally, Kwae Myeong-Su was uncomfortable discussing the future with Kang Jae-Hyeok.

Nevertheless, he repaid the favor with a favor.

“Be careful during the examination. The tea and food prepared by the Association... No, don’t even drink bottled water. If the waiting room is closed off, I recommend that you hold your breath.”

He gently touched his right hand, which he’d thought he would never feel again, and saluted Jae-Hyeok. Then he shouted to his subordinates in the distance. "Let's go back."

“......”

The Association members left, followed closely by the horde of reporters.

Only Jae-Hyeok’s friends and the players of Guardian were left in the spacious lobby. There was a moment of silence. Then—

"Waaah!"

The whole floor erupted in cheers.