The Duke's Son :Re
Chapter 94

Chapter 94

He looks like a kid who was born and raised here.

Song Se-Yeong followed Jae-Hyeok and admired him several times. This first-year aristocrat had a perfect grasp of the surrounding geography: whenever he took a rough road, their travel time was greatly reduced, and whenever he took a safe route, they avoided danger.

Even though the group arrived at the herb gathering point several times earlier than usual, none of the Jaegyeong Pharmaceuticals staff members were tired or injured.

His actions are rough, but his consideration is deep.

Kicking him off a cliff, grabbing him by the collar and throwing him into a forest of thorns, stepping on his back, and being swept up in a torrent... during this short period, Song Se-Yeong had suffered from Jae-Hyeok’s violent tendencies and cried several times. However, he couldn’t retaliate with violence; every time he looked back after being hit or thrown by Jae-Hyeok, he discovered that he’d avoided some sort of environmental trap or monster ambush.

Is he a support?

With how much faster Jae-Hyeok could detect danger compared to him, his Insight stat had to be very high. And considering his school year and age, he seemed to be a genius in the world of supports.

There are actually aristocrats who take the lead with their own efforts and personal abilities.

Song Se-Yeong’s parents worked and lived in the mansion of a viscount. Due to this, he’d witnessed the attitude of the aristocracy from an early age and hated them. Those people only believed in their innate status and power—they were the absolute worst.

However, Jae-Hyeok felt different.

It was clear that his care was genuine just by seeing how he studied the island’s geography to provide the employees of Jaegyeong Pharmaceuticals with a fast and safe route.

You learned the geography while training?Did you think such a blatant lie would work on a second-year student?

Song Se-Yeong knew how complicated and rugged the terrain in this area was. Clearly, Jae-Hyeok had studied hard despite only acting as a substitute for a day.

An aristocrat who is both hardworking and humble... It was the first time Song Se-Yeong had seen anything like it.

Cho Seong-Hyeon saw that Song Se-Yeong couldn’t take his eyes off Jae-Hyeok’s back and said, “Isn’t he amazing? The world only speaks badly of the Kang family, but every time I see him, I wonder if that is really the truth.”

“Well, it’s only right to look at the family and the individual separately.”

Song Se-Yeong’s aversion toward the aristocracy was severe; usually, whenever he encountered news about the aristocracy in the Community or the media, he skipped it before it could affect his mood. But news of the Kang family producing two terrorists had been too famous. He, of course, knew about it.

No matter what type of person Kang Jae-Hyeok was, he had no intention of giving the Kang family a good evaluation.

In fact, he might be hiding his true nature and acting to improve his family’s reputation. Thinking as much, Song Se-Yeong’s eyes regained their sharpness.

Meanwhile, Jae-Hyeok was scolding Department Manager Gu and the team leaders.

“Why are you sweating? You’re already tired from walking just this distance?”

“I drank too much the day before.”

“...You picked a terrible excuse.”

“......”

Song Se-Yeong hesitated. Was Kang Jae-Hyeok acting? He... seemed too rude to be acting.

“Let’s take a break to eat,” Jae-Hyeok said. Department Manager Gu and the team leaders were powerful people representing Jaegyeong Pharmaceuticals—as B-class players, their sweat was a sign that the rest of the employees were likely also tired.

And as expected, at Jae-Hyeok’s words, the staff members started spreading their mats as if they’d been waiting to do so.

“If you don’t mind, can we watch the ceremonial drill?”

Cho Seong-Hyeon and a few others approached Jae-Hyeok not for the first time that day.

When Cho Seong-Hyeon had witnessed Jae-Hyeok’s ceremonial drill the last time, he had fallen into a trance and his talent exploded, with his swordsmanship increasing by several levels. Since then, he trained the Kang family’s ceremonial drill daily. However, it didn’t feel like he was improving on his own, which only intensified his thirst for meeting Jae-Hyeok again. He wanted him to check his skills and give some advice.

So that’s why he came to see me in person. Jae-Hyeok read the desire in Cho Seong-Hyeon’s eyes. He nodded. “Okay.”

Honestly, Jae-Hyeok didn’t want Cho Seong-Hyeon to be here, as Cho Seong-Hyeon was someone in a similar position to him: he was under the threat of assassins, so being in an isolated area inside a gate was extremely dangerous—tamed monsters could attack like last time, or there might be an even bigger crisis.

However, Jae-Hyeok suppressed what he wanted to say. He wouldn’t turn away from someone who desired to be strong. It was just like how he wouldn’t turn away from Da-Hee, Do-Jin, and Hae-Rin.

Not to mention, this guy is refusing to bring up the matter of trading potions no matter what. It seemed he was afraid Jae-Hyeok would leave after trading the potions.

“Alright, let’s get started.”

***

The gorgeous yet disciplined style of the Kang family’s ceremonial drill naturally drew people’s attention.

The employees of Jaegyeong Pharmaceuticals, who’d been watching Jae-Hyeok and Cho Seong-Hyeon while eating lunch, soon got up from their seats and joined the drill.

Even Department Manager Gu and the team leaders joined in.

The situation became the same as the day when they’d first learned the ceremonial drill from Jae-Hyeok.

“Why am I doing this?”

“It’s strangely difficult and I’m tired, but I don’t want to stop. It’s fun.”

“Is my swordsmanship naturally compatible with this? The more I understand and get used to this ceremonial drill, the more I have a vague sense that I can use my sword better.”

The demanding Department Manager Gu and the bad-tempered team leaders grumbled, but they still focused on the ceremonial drill.

As B-class players, they subconsciously realized the value of the Kang family’s ceremonial drill.

Song Se-Yeong was the only one who didn’t know what was happening and stared at them, dumbfounded. Is this the ceremonial drill they talked about while going through the shortcuts and saving time? Wouldn’t they rather leave work early?

No, why is everyone practicing as a group in the first place? They didn’t come here to do this, did they?They should be collecting herbs!

Song Se-Yeong wanted to say several things, but he swallowed his words as he looked at his forearm.

There were goosebumps.

He was being overwhelmed by the others’ momentum as they gradually became accustomed to the drill with Jae-Hyeok’s guidance. Now, it was like watching an army that had fought together for a long time.

How is this possible?

They’d been unfamiliar with the drill’s movements a few dozen minutes ago, so how could they have adapted so quickly?

“Straighten your back.”

Smack.

“Ack!”

...Of course, it was through force.

Is it really okay for him to do this?

Song Se-Yeong couldn’t help sweating when he saw Jae-Hyeok hitting or poking people whose posture was incorrect with his scabbard.

Suddenly, Song Se-Yeong looked up and used a Skill.

“Anti-Magic!”

A pink shield appeared over the heads of Jae-Hyeok and the employees of Jaegyeong Pharmaceuticals.

Boooom!

The shield disappeared after blocking the fireballs that fell from the sky.

“Enemy attack!”

“Orc mages!”

The employees of Jaegyeong Pharmaceuticals identified the enemies through the thick smoke. They were already armed with weapons for the ceremonial drill, and with a military attitude still fresh in their minds, they reacted swiftly.

“Oh...!”

“Is this the result of our training?”

The employees of Jaegyeong Pharmaceuticals looked at each other with admiration.

“They’re tamed monsters. Don’t get carried away and stay alert.”

This was the second time tamed monsters had attacked them, and since both attacks had only come when Cho Seong-Hyeon was present, it was apparent who the monsters’ master was after.

I thought this would happen. This is why I didn’t want him to come. The department manager clicked his tongue and began leading his subordinates. Dozens of Jaegyeong employees put Cho Seong-Hyeon in the center of their defensive formation.

“Judging by the number of fireballs, there are at least seven orc mages in the forest. We need to pick a direction and break through their encirclement before they set fire to the forest and close in.”

An orc mage was protected by two orc warriors, who led five or more orcs. That meant at least ninety orcs surrounded them.

The Jaegyeong Pharmaceuticals employees realized the seriousness of the situation and calmed down. They were about to step into the forest, only to stop—

Roooooar!

Following the thunderous roar, an area of the ground bulged, and the surrounding trees tilted before being completely uprooted as the ground ruptured.

Something had been waiting for them underground?

A five-meter-tall, green-skinned monster burst from the soil and landed on its feet, shaking the forest.

“O-ogre!”

Such a monster was of a different class than orcs; the appearance of this A-class monster plummeted the morale of the Jaegyeong Pharmaceuticals employees.

“Dammit! What are you doing staring blankly?” Department Manager Gu shouted, but it was too late. Three of the staff members had stiffened and were about to be smashed by the ogre’s club.

“Uwah... ”

The club, as huge as a giant tree, was too fast and ferocious. Those targeted were too shocked to dodge, and no one dared come to their aid, as everyone was instinctively overwhelmed by the monster's size.

“Ice Lance!”

Maintaining some composure, Song Se-Yeong attempted to intercept the ogre from a distance.

As an elite who’d even been dispatched on a mission with a guild as a second-year, Song Se-Yeong was an excellent magician.

His magic accurately struck the ogre’s club, and the force behind the lance resisted the ogre’s swing.

It lasted less than a second.

Considering the difference between Song Se-Yeong and the ogre’s level, to resist the ogre’s swing at all was a great feat. But Song Se-Yeong was anything but satisfied.

Shit!

Horror and frustration filled Song Se-Yeong, knowing he was about to witness the deaths of people he had been chatting and laughing with not long ago.

Then he saw it—the back of a young man leaping over the fragments of his shattered ice lance. It was Cho Seong-Hyeon.

Indeed, he was a good person.

Cho Seong-Hyeon shouted to the employees, “Run away while I buy time!” If it hadn’t been for his selfish choice to come along today, this crisis would’ve never happened. No matter what, Cho Seong-Hyeon was determined to save them.

Grrr!

The ogre’s bloodshot eyes chased Cho Seong-Hyeon. At the same time, its huge club changed its path midswing and fell like a thunderbolt, aiming directly for Cho Seong-Hyeon, who was moving like a fly in front of it.

However, Jae-Hyeok was a bit faster. Appearing next to Cho Seong-Hyeon, he couldn’t help wondering, “Do you have ten lives?” Before Cho Seong-Hyeon could reply, Jae-Hyeok struck him in the side with the back of his blade.

“Keok!”

Cho Seong-Hyeon couldn’t even scream as he coughed blood and went flying like a home-run ball, leaving the battlefield and becoming a star in the sky.

“......?”

“......?”

“Uh, aren’t you on the same side... ”

The employees of Jaegyeong Pharmaceuticals, Song Se-Yeong, and even the ogre and orcs all stared at Jae-Hyeok in bewilderment.