The Duke's Son :Re-Chapter 221

The day had been a long one. From the morning’s National Treasure candidate exam until now, it seemed like several days had passed.

Following Wilhelm’s departure, the remaining undead abruptly collapsed into ash, and Jae-Hyeok’s friends sagged in both relief and exhaustion.

“I-I survived...”

“It’s really over this time... right?”

Many of them had tears in their eyes.

“Ahhh! Mom!”

... And some, like Cheon Hye-Ji, wailed loudly.

Although they were players, they were still students and only children. The day’s chaotic experience was more than any of them could bear:

One moment, they’d been preparing a pleasant barbecue at Jae-Hyeok’s house, while in the next, they were caught, half-frozen in a transcendent villain’s grand Blizzard Spell.

And that was just the beginning.

Not even the Shinra family was safe. There, a group of transcendent mages had then welcomed them with a belly full of poison and a house full of flames. They narrowly escaped on the Jae-Hyeok bus—only to stumble upon a full-scale war.

That was when the true horrors began.

The clash between the undead army and the Shinras was like hell on Earth—In fact, however the children had imagined hell before, it proved tame compared to what they saw there, on a real battlefield.

Punctuating all this chaos was the Head of the Baus family, Austria’s grand necromancer—Wilhelm. His arrival had frozen their hearts with dread. Even now, although he’d left, the crushing feeling of his aura lingered like a phantom pain.

I thought I was going to die.

The children stole glances at Jae-Hyeok.

Jae-Hyeok was no older than they were, but he faced every situation calmly, always took the lead in fighting, and always led them to victory. It became difficult for them to see Jae-Hyeok simply as a friend. Respect and awe sparkled in their eyes.

He’s been through situations like today many times before...

How is he still alive?

As expected. It’s no fluke he became a National Treasure candidate. This must be a normal Friday for him.

The children had ears. Having heard adults describe his life as hell, they assumed Jae-Heok’s daily life was full of explosions, grand-scale fights, and covert wars with foreign nobility.

It isn’t to that extent... Sensing the burning gazes, Jae-Hyeok started sweating as he greeted the Thunder Emperor.

“Thank you, Thunder Emperor. It hasn’t even been a day, and this is the second time you’ve helped me.”

In Reinhardt, the Thunder Emperor had been a dependable colleague in Reinhardt’s agricultural fields. But it didn’t change the fact that on Earth, he was a giant among giants, with few worthy of even standing in his shadow.

Despite his lofty status, the Thunder Emperor had personally flown to Korea to observe Jae-Hyeok’s candidate exam. Not only that, he had stepped in when Ji Cheon-Myeong had been angling to incite the public against him.

How could Jae-Hyeok not be touched?

With soft eyes and a gentle tone, Jae-Hyeok said, “I was a bit sad when I thought you left without saying a word, just like when you suddenly came to visit. Yet in fact, you kept watching over me.”

The Thunder Emperor scoffed. “Who’s watching you? I just happened to pass by at the right time.”

Jae-Hyeok’s eyes softened further, and he nodded. “To think you happened to see me in need and immediately dropped what you were doing to help... I’m touched.”

“When did I help you? I... Ugh—that so-called president of the Association was talking nonsense. I shut him up because it was annoying. And the reason I sent Wilhelm back just now was due to the rules that we National Treasures should abide by.”

The Thunder Emperor added coldly, “Don’t try to twist the atmosphere after deceiving me. I have no intention of helping you.”

Jae-Hyeok turned serious. “What do you mean? When did I deceive you?”

“Didn’t you hide the fact that you are the Yaksha’s son?”

The Thunder Emperor glared at Jae-Hyeok, who stared at the Thunder Emperor in bewilderment.

“Uh, I never hid it...”

“Did you ever reveal that you’re the Yaksha’s son?”

“Well, no. But you never asked. Why would I mention it?”

Based on the context alone, it might seem like the Thunder Emperor was being unreasonable. However, that wasn’t the case—

“Can you really say that after seeing this scar?”

The Thunder Emperor growled and pointed to the large, lightning-shaped scar on his chest. He’d come away with this wound after suffering the first and only defeat of his life. Everyone in the industry knew about it, and everyone knew that the one to inflict it was the Yaksha.

Everyone knew...

Well, everyone except Jae-Hyeok.

Jae-Hyeok squinted his eyes before tilting his head in confusion. “What about it?”

“Hah!” Thunder Emperor scoffed in disbelief. He snorted and raised his voice, “Your father left this scar on me! You didn’t know that?”

“How could I know that? Was it on the news?”

“No! Argh... That damned Yaksha must’ve bragged a lot. He probably laughed while recounting my defeat every day around the dinner table... that bastard... bastard!” ”

Jae-Hyeok blinked. “He never did that.”

The Thunder Emperor froze.

“... Really?”

Jae-Hyeok nodded. “Really.”

As any National Treasure, the Thunder Emperor could easily distinguish truth from lies by reading others’ subtle physiological changes, such as micro-expressions, breathing patterns, and heart rate.

He naturally knew that Jae-Hyeok was telling the truth.

Rachel quietly observed the situation and chuckled softly. “Knowing you, if you had beaten the Yaksha back then, you would’ve been bragging every night. Isn’t that right?”

“... Bullshit!”

The Thunder Emperor cried out in embarrassment and was about to change the topic when Jae-Hyeok eagerly interrupted.

“Can you tell me about your fight with my father? Actually, any stories you have about my father, I’d like to hear.”

“......”

The Thunder Emperor, red with embarrassment; the smiling Rachel; and the onlookers, watching the situation with interest—everyone’s expressions abruptly stiffened.

They remembered.

Jae-Hyeok, despite his monstrous achievements, was only sixteen this year. He had been an eight-year-old when his father had fallen, so he knew little about him.

The Thunder Emperor hesitated briefly before sighing and saying, “I was defeated with a single strike. You know. I’d long heard about your father’s swift sword-drawing technique, but I never imagined I wouldn’t be able to react at all. That’s how I got this beauty—” The Thunder Emperor gestured to the gnarly scar peeking from his collar.

Before now, he’d never spoken about what happened back then. He hadn’t intended to keep it a secret for the rest of his life; he just lacked the courage to revisit the reality of his defeat.

The Thunder Emperor’s face changed several times, but eventually he swallowed and said, “Your father was an outstanding swordsman. He bested me, and I bet, in a short-term battle, even the Sword Saint would be defeated by him.”

The words “bested me” made the Thunder Emperor want to spit blood.

For a time, the Thunder Emperor had thought that only after defeating the Yaksha would he be able to admit his past defeat. But unexpectedly, Jae-Hyeok’s expectant eyes had been all it took.

Jae-Hyeok was bold and upright. As a warrior, the Thunder Emperor couldn’t help but respect him after having endured hardships side by side in Reinhardt.

Jae-Hyeok wiped a tear from his cheek and raised his head with a bright smile.

“Thank you.”

What did it mean to be mature? Certainly, it was more than just living long. From the moment he had first stepped outside of his house, Jae-Hyeok had dealt with many petty and greedy adults, so he felt this deeply.

“I really respect you.”

Thus, Jae-Hyeok was even more awed by the Thunder Emperor’s maturity.

Thus, Jae-Hyeok found himself even more captivated by the Thunder Emperor’s maturity. Here was a person who honestly confessed his failures to comfort others. It was a truly admirable form of confidence.

“Cough...”

The Thunder Emperor scowled. The fierce arch of his brows made him seem furious, as if he might call down lightning at any moment. But Rachel knew the truth.

He is embarrassed... if only he could be a bit more honest—oh well, luckily, he has me.

Rachel grabbed Jae-Hyeok’s hands and smiled kindly, “We came here to see you. After your exam, we sensed some suspicious movements and came over to protect you.”

She explained the situation on behalf of the tight-lipped Thunder Emperor. Her smile suddenly became business-like. “I hope the Kang family won’t forget our goodwill.’

She was careful to specify the Kang family. As a young National Treasure representing the United States’ interests, she saw the Kang family, not the country, as a target of diplomacy.

This was the result of evaluating the value of Jae-Hyeok.

In ten years, he might be a candidate for the world’s strongest. Of course, it is alongside me.

Rachel felt a deep sense of rivalry toward Jae-Hyeok, and fighting spirit burned in her blue eyes.

“Don’t worry. The Kang family never forgets kindness.”

Jae-Hyeok’s attitude was like facing a cute animal or a younger sibling. He smiled gently and cupped her hands in his.

Rachel blushed and yanked her hands away.

“I’m older than you. Show some decorum with your Seniors!”

“Yes, yes. Pardon me.”

They exchanged a few more words, and the atmosphere finally settled down.

The Shinra family tended to their wounded and cleaned up the scene. Then Shinra Hyeon suggested hosting a meal for Jae-Hyeok and the Thunder Emperor.

“I refuse. The food in this country doesn’t suit my taste.”

“On the contrary, he already overate because he likes it.”

“...Rachel, no one will miss you even if you don’t speak.”

The Thunder Emperor scolded Rachel, who was trying to lighten up the mood. Then he warned Jae-Hyeok.

“After what happened today, your name is going to spread far outside of Korea. But don’t get cocky just because you’re skilled. You should always practice being alert—or don’t. It’s up to you.”

Having been exposed by Rachel, the Thunder Emperor no longer bothered hiding his concern. Jae-Hyeok’s sincere appreciation had also helped to loosen the Thunder Emperor’s mood.

“It would be best to try and win an opportunity to visit there again. By the time the next World Raid takes place, you’ll probably be selected to represent Korea, so you need to improve your skills as much as possible.”

That place, Reinhardt.

Among the people present, only Jae-Hyeok and the Thunder Emperor knew about it. Their eyes shared a secret understanding, and Jae-Hyeok bowed, grateful for the Thunder Emperor’s guidance.

“I will keep that in mind.”

By the time Jae-Hyeok lifted his head, the Thunder Emperor and Rachel were gone. Perhaps he would’ve sighed, but he wasn’t given the chance—

“Food! Food! Give me foooood!”

Do-Jin’s chanting provoked a laugh from Jae-Hyeok, and Shinra Hyeon smiled. Unlike his scholarly demeanor during the day, Shinra Hyeon seemed much less reserved and more like a bold hero.

“I will tell people to prepare a banquet.”

***

At the same time, in a Korean military prison.

“What if Kang Jae-Hyeok demands Kang Hyeon-Ah’s release?”

“General Cha has already reached out to me and told me that I can ignore it.”

“The general himself...!”

“Even a National Treasure can’t do anything against the military, let alone a mere candidate. In the first place, that kid won by chance against Ji Cheon-Myeong thanks to the thunder tribulation. Relax. This isn’t a big deal.”

The decaying roots of power in the country began to take notice of Jae-Hyeok. However, they felt no sense of alarm.