The Duke's Son :Re
Chapter 91

Chapter 91

Is this a dream?

Roh Jun-Yeop and the Shooting Club members couldn’t believe what was happening in front of them, so much so that they couldn’t help but doubt if they were poisoned and hallucinating.

It was simply too unrealistic to see a first-year student block an active player’s attack and then succeed in a counterattack.

Does this make sense?

The Shooting Club members had acknowledged Jae-Hyeok’s skills, but that was for archery. Although the Kang family was famous for their swordsmanship, the Jae-Hyeok that they knew was an archery genius. No one had expected him to use a sword-drawing technique to destroy a core in a single strike or to injure an active player with his sword.

Not to mention, the opponent is far from a regular player... The members of the Shooting Club had clearly witnessed Yeon Ho-Ryeong’s blue aura. It was distinctly tangible even without using a Skill, which was the trait of an A-class player.

At that moment, the name of one fallen aristocratic family was strongly etched into the minds of the club members.

The Kang family!

It was one of the three major families that had once supported South Korea.

Most of Kang’s great deeds and history had been forgotten, but their martial force had been passed down intact. The proof was in the boy standing before them.

“What’s your name?”

Yeon Ho-Ryeong asked while using mana to stanch his wound. His voice trembled with murderous intent.

“Kang Jae-Hyeok.”

Jae-Hyeok didn’t bother hiding his name. He would be suspected either way.

“Hmph. You’re impersonating a guy who was level 10 not long ago? Brat, you got a taste of blood through sheer luck, and now you think I’m a joke?”

In fact, as soon as the other person’s sword-drawing technique had hit him, Yeon Ho-Ryeong had thought of the Yaksha’s son.

He suspected that the guy in the helmet really was Kang Jae-Hyeok at first. However, it didn’t make sense no matter how he thought about it. Kang Jae-Hyeok had been level 10 during his re-examination not long ago.

In less than two months, how could he have grown to the point where he could fight on equal footing with an A-class player? Such a feat would’ve been impossible for even Kang Jae-Hyeok’s father, let alone Kang Jae-Hyeok.

Whoever it is, it’s clear they’re targeting Kang Jae-Hyeok.

He had been suspicious since hearing about a sign praising Kang Jae-Hyeok at the sushi restaurant causing huge losses to his chain stores.

It didn’t make sense for someone who avoided attention and lacked the skills to be behind the Shooting Club. Besides, why would a member of the Kang family be so crazy as to join the Shooting Club? If anything, Kang Jae-Hyeok should be struggling to join the Swordsmanship Club.

“Forget it. I’ll take off that helmet and see who you are myself.”

“Then do so.” Jae-Hyeok snorted.

Ever since his re-examination had been aired live across the country, he predicted that the forces who grew from seizing the property of the Kang family would be watching him.

Ocean was one of them.

But, so what if they watch me?

After eight years of hard work, Jae-Hyeok had awakened an Initial Skill superior to the Kang family’s Bloodline Skill, giving him an unpredictable growth beyond other people’s expectations. This allowed him to distort information.

Just look at the current situation.

If his growth were within Yeon Ho-Ryeong’s expected range, his identity would’ve been revealed the moment he’d used the sword-drawing technique.

I could’ve told him my name a hundred times, and he still wouldn’t believe me. ‘How dare you play tricks on the Ocean Guild’ is probably all he would say.

He, who had proudly revealed the truth, and Yeon Ho-Ryeong, who insisted on deceiving himself—the boy and the young man prepared for their next clash.

“......”

Jae-Hyeok put his hand on the hilt of his sword and leaned forward, staying still. Meanwhile, Yeon Ho-Ryeong moved around restlessly, trying to measure the distance.

A master of the sword-drawing technique...getting close to him is tricky.

He would get cut the moment he fell into range.

Yeon Ho-Ryeong had experienced the helmet-wearing person’s Agility and Strength firsthand. They were comparable to his own, so he was reluctant to go head-to-head.

He’s still young, so let’s mix it up with a fake.

Bang!

Yeon Ho-Ryeong smiled and rushed forward confidently. He stepped within range, and the helmeted person drew his sword—just as Yeon Ho-Ryeong dashed back.

Slash!

Inexperienced people are naive. As expected, his opponent had fallen for it and overextended.

Yeon Ho-Ryeong was filled with pleasure and charged forward. He bent low before exploding up at the last moment, driving his shoulder like a battering ram into his opponent’s chest.

Baaaang!

The body of the person wearing the helmet flew through the air. All his ribs were shattered, and he spun like a paper doll, while the dark-tinted helmet became even darker due to the blood splatters from within.

“Hahaha! That’s right. This is why brats should act appropriately!” Blue mana rippled from Yeon Ho-Ryeong’s outstretched hands.

“Ah!”

The blue mana left on the helmet-wearing person began to burn bright, lighting up the sky like the sun had risen. Even Yeon Ho-Ryeong was amazed.

He was thrilled; it seemed he’d succeeded in learning Ocean Heavenly Step, something he thought he would only master after becoming S-class.

I gained a new enlightenment without realizing it!

He’d thought his younger brother had taken all the talent, but it turned out that fate was fair. Shortly after becoming an A-class player, his talent was really starting to shine. He needed to tell his father about this and get back on the proper track.

“Uh?”

Suddenly, Yeon Ho-Ryeong flinched and tried to touch his chest. However, he felt nothing.

He looked down and saw blood gushing from his chest.

He reached out again to try and stop it, but again, nothing changed. He was clearly moving his hands, so where were they?

“What...?”

Yeon Ho-Ryeong looked around in confusion, only to become speechless.

Two arms were rolling around on the ground. That tattoo was...? Yeon Ho-Ryeong’s eyes rolled back and he collapsed.

Having lost both arms and received a deep chest wound, Yeon Ho-Ryeong was suffering from severe blood loss. Jae-Hyeok thought, It’s true what they say: Confusion is a status condition that’s no less scary than Stun. He caressed the elongated green gemstone dangling from his ear.

[Earring of Confusion]

[Rating: Legendary

Every time the earring shakes, there is a normal probability of confusing targets within a one-meter radius.

* Reduces the cooldown time of Skills by 10%.

* The wearer is also subject to the confusion.]

As a legendary earring, the power was immense. Yeon Ho-Ryeong had become confused the moment Jae-Hyeok took off his helmet, and even had hallucinations.

Thank you, Blake.

Jae-Hyeok expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the merchant before suddenly looking up.

Byeon Seok-Gu and the other players averted their eyes in surprise. Even under the helmet, that person was wearing sunglasses and a mask. His face was hidden so thoroughly that it scared people.

Who was he that he needed to conceal himself so tightly?

Is he really the Yaksha’s son? Byeon Seok-Gu also thought it was unlikely that the boy was Kang Jae-Hyeok. It was a matter of common sense.

“Um... ”

Meanwhile, Jae-Hyeok lowered his red sword and fell deep in thought.

He had gained three achievements today, and two of them were legendary—as an E-class player, he had destroyed the core of a C-grade gate and had won a battle against an A-class player.

Both feats indeed deserved their legend grade.

I just don’t know if killing Yeon Ho-Ryeong will give me a Miraculous achievement. Having already gained a legendary achievement from him, there was little chance of getting another achievement for killing Yeon Ho-Ryeong.

Let’s keep him alive. After weighing the risks against the uncertain rewards, Jae-Hyeok put his sword away. It’s a shame to miss out on the experience, but it’s important not to cross the line.

Half killing someone and killing someone were two completely different things. It would be a natural disaster from Jae-Hyeok’s perspective if Yeon Ho-Rang moved against him now.

“I-I won’t tell anyone what I saw today.”

Byeon Seok-Gu and his companions hurriedly said when they saw the boy putting on his helmet again. They were afraid that Jae-Hyeok’s sword would point at them.

“For your sake, you had better heal Yeon Ho-Ryeong.”

Jae-Hyeok nodded and led the Shooting Club members down from the roof. It was only after they left that Byeon Seok-Gu’s group was able to breathe.

“Judging from Roh Jun-Yeop’s attitude, that other boy seems to be a first-year student... Is it Shinra Kyeong?”

“I guess so. There’s no way that Loren would be so fluent in Korean.”

“I heard that Shinra Kyeong is amazing, but I didn’t expect him to be good at illusions.”

“I think it’s an application of the Natural World ability. It has long been known that the potential of the Shinra family is endless. Hurry and heal Yeon Ho-Ryeong. We have to reattach his arms to prevent things from getting out of hand.”

The influence of the Ocean Guild was enormous. If the situation blew up, there would surely be a storm.

Byeon Seok-Gu and the others gulped as they took out their best quality potions and poured them on Yeon Ho-Ryeong’s body. Forget about potion poisoning or whatever. The most important thing now was to save this person.

***

“Uh? You came down earlier than I thought.”

The Shooting Club members left the building and saw Gu Gang-Seon waiting for them. Gu Gang-Seon was the president of Gugang Hotel. He was the client of this mission.

“Why? You thought that we would be late after being scolded by Yeon Ho-Ryeong?” Roh Jun-Yeop said coldly. “You lured the students of Lion’s Castle into a mission just to punish them privately. You will be paying a price for this. Lion’s Castle will make an official complaint soon, so I suggest you be prepared.”

He had heard about it from Jae-Hyeok on the way down; Gu Gang-Seon must’ve known Yeon Ho-Ryeong’s intentions.

He wasn’t completely certain, but judging from Gu Gang-Seon’s words, it seemed true.

Gu Gang-Seon just bowed to the person threatening him. “If there is a price to be paid, I will pay it. I will keep this in mind and reflect on it. I also promise that something like today won’t happen in the future.”

He was a cunning man. Seeing the costs and benefits ahead, he took a humble posture while maneuvering for the next opportunity.

“I hope that the Shooting Club will continue to interact with the Gugang Group in the future. It will be mutually beneficial if you generously give the Gugang Group a chance to pay for our sins.”

“So shameless... ”

Roh Jun-Yeop was too emotional, so Jae-Hyeok stepped forward in his place. Jae-Hyeok said, “I will see how much sincerity you show.”

“...I’m glad for the opportunity.”

For the first time, Gu Gang-Seon’s gaze left Roh Jun-Yeop and fell on Jae-Hyeok.

He thought, I’m sure Bow Saint didn’t come. Was this kid the reason that Yeon Ho-Ryeong hasn’t come down?

Gu Gang-Seon couldn’t guess this person’s identity, but he didn’t care. All that mattered was that there was one more useful person in the Shooting Club apart from Roh Jun-Yeop and the granddaughter of the Bow Saint.

He quickly made some calculations and deposited a commission fee ten times the promised amount into the Shooting Club’s account.

He added, “I hope the day comes when the Shooting Club will represent Lion’s Castle.”

“If you want to get any scraps when that time comes, you should invest more aggressively.”

Jae-Hyeok confirmed the deposit but spoke as if that astronomical amount of money still wasn’t enough. Then he said goodbye to Gu Gang-Seon.

The Shooting Club members following him were half mesmerized.

The strength to overwhelm an A-class player, the bold charisma that entrusted Byeon Seok-Gu’s group to clean up the scene, and the coldness that took advantage of the client’s position to turn him into an investor... Jae-Hyeok’s appearance today was different from when he did the commission for the black tuna.

“...Is your right-hand man position still open?” Even the arrogant Roh Jun-Yeop was completely fascinated by Jae-Hyeok.

Jae-Hyeok started his bike and smiled mischievously.

“Let’s see. I do need someone who’s good with ceremonial drills.”

“Ceremonial drill? I am good at those!”

“M-me too!”

“You unscrupulous bastards! I was the one who asked. Why are you stepping up and interfering?”

The faces of the Shooting Club members were bright as they returned to school, excited about their future with Jae-Hyeok.