The Duke's Son :Re
Chapter 95

Chapter 95

Unlike humans, a monster’s life was bound by health points. So while Jae-Hyeok had grown by killing assassins stronger than him, he was still a bit nervous against a high-level monster.

I can’t win if I fight normally.

An ogre was a large, physical-based monster that reached five meters tall, with skin tough enough to use in all types of armor crafting, and muscles tough enough to endure unique-rated blunt weapons.

At the same time, Ogres possessed HP in the tens of thousands.

To kill it, one had to decrease its health by either cutting its skin and muscles or stabbing its vitals. Either way, using a normal blade against an ogre was like fighting with a toothpick.

I’ll need to give it my best, but...

There were too many eyes.

Unlike the members of the Shooting Club, the Jaegyeong Pharmaceutical employees were outsiders, and he’d only met Song Se-Yeong for the first time that day. Jae-Hyeok feared rumors would spread about his sword turning red or him summoning thunder if they witnessed him fight.

So...

Clink!

Jae-Hyeok sheathed his sword while urging Department Manager Gu, “Take everyone and run away right now.” He glanced in the direction Cho Seong-Hyeon had flown off to remind Department Manager Gu to take Cho Seong-Hyeon as well.

Department Manager Gu tried to laugh. "How can I do that? Are you going to stay here alone to buy us time?”

“Yes.”

“Huh?” Department Manager Gu stared at him with a dazed expression.

Amid the crowd, Song Se-Yeong snapped. Now wasn’t the time for idle talk. “Hey, freshman! Stop bluffing and come over here!” They had to focus their strength and break through the orcs’ encirclement before the ogre closed in. That way, at least a few of them could survive.

Jae-Hyeok ignored his words and advised him, “As Department Manager Gu said, the orc mages will use fire magic. Don’t think about fighting back. Use AOE magic to start a counterfire and cause chaos. This is something only a magician like you can do.”

Jae-Hyeok didn’t wait for Song Se-Yeong to reply. He quickly jumped up a tree and made eye contact with the ogre.

How terrifying.

He pulled out an earring with an elongated green gemstone and attached it to his ear, feeling slightly unnerved as he held the monster’s menacing gaze.

An ogre’s strength was colossal. If it got one hit with its club, he would die instantly. Even if he blocked it, broken bones and damaged internal organs were guaranteed.

“In the Player Manager game, I spent a lot of money because of you.”

To reliably kill an ogre in the game, it was necessary to have many tanks resistant to physical attacks and a marksman A-class or higher. Jae-Hyeok shuddered to recall all the money he’d spent in gacha to build that offensive team.

Kuweeeeeoh!

The ogre roared when it saw a mere bug continue to meet its eyes.

People staggered when the wind from the ogre’s roar reached them. The air was as hot as an oven, and the stench of its unwashed breath left many dizzy; they felt as if their skin, nose, and eyes were all being singed.

Meanwhile, Jae-Hyeok faced the ogre standing upright.

“T-this stupid kid really... ” Department Manager Gu sighed when he realized that Jae-Hyeok was serious.

Just the orc army required everyone here to work together. Yet Jae-Hyeok alone was going to buy time against the ogre, an even greater threat?

It was madness.

Does he think he’s an A-class player?

In fact, not even an A-class player would step forward in the current situation; the higher a player’s class, the more they had to lose, so the more cautious they had to be.

He’s being completely reckless, Department Manager Gu concluded. It made sense; Kang Jae-Hyeok was only in his teens, and he’d lived the past eight years alone in a mansion, so it was somewhat understandable for him to be reckless.

I’m sorry, I’ll have to take advantage of that stupidity. Department Manager Gu closed his eyes and turned away from Jae-Hyeok. He had no intention of being killed in a place like this. “We will all join forces to break through the encirclement.”

“Are you really going to sacrifice him to escape?” As he said this, Song Se-Yeong’s curved eyes opened wide, revealing pupils as cold as a snake's. “Is this what an adult should do?”

“What are we supposed to do? He chose to rush off to fight the ogre. Do we have to sacrifice dozens of people to try and save him? Rather than save him, we’ll probably all just die with him.”

“That’s right. He’s the one who rushed off in the first place!” The team leaders also sided with the department manager. They liked Jae-Hyeok—he’d shown them shortcuts, taken the lead in the hobgoblin fight, and even shared his ceremonial drill—but that didn’t mean they shared a loyalty deep enough to risk their lives. And even if they had been loyal, they still wouldn’t have come forward easily. After all, the most important thing for humans was themselves.

“You’re players!” Song Se-Yeong shouted. “It’s your obligation to save people from monsters.”

If all the employees of Jaegyeong Pharmaceuticals were ordinary people, Song Se-Yeong would’ve done his best to get them out. However, everyone present was a player, so everyone should be helping his junior student, not sacrificing him.

The team leaders laughed at Song Se-Yeong, who was gritting his teeth.

“Is that what the oh-so-sacred Lion’s Castle teaches its students? But what can we do? We’re just a bunch of awakened people trying to make money.”

Team Leader Seol and Team Leader Baek were people who’d taken corporate jobs precisely because they hated the Association and guilds' supposed obligations. What bullshit about a player’s duty? They didn’t care at all. Only their own wealth and glory mattered.

Kuweeeeeoh!

The ogre roared again.

The sight of it reaching out to uproot the tree that Jae-Hyeok stood on had the employees of Jaegyeong Pharmaceuticals turning white.

“S-Student Jae-Hyeok!”

The team leaders urged the employees, “Stop looking back and follow us through encirclement! Whoever hesitates can stay with that boy!”

Many people hesitated due to their conscience, but their lives were at stake. Besides, didn’t Jae-Hyeok tell them to run away first? We don’t have the ability to help anyway.

In the end, they made up their minds and started running after the team leaders.

Only Song Se-Yeong ran the other way.

“Hey! Freshman!”

Magic rose from his hands as he prepared a spell for the ogre that was ruthlessly swinging its club toward Jae-Hyeok.

“Why can’t you listen like the rest?” However, Jae-Hyeok’s actions were faster than the speed of Song Se-Yeong’s casting—he used the help of the Wind Spirit Boots to dodge the ogre’s club; then he approached Song Se-Yeong at speed, drawing his sword.

“Eek!”

Song Se-Yeong was hit and flew in the direction of the Jaegyeong employees before landing among them. What was with Jae-Hyeok and sending people on his side flying?

Meanwhile, Jae-Hyeok glared coldly at the panicked crowd. “Run.”

“W-wait!”

This time, it was Department Manager Gu who called out instead of Song Se-Yeong. Having just met Jae-Hyeok’s cold gaze, he realized, This kid... isn’t reckless. He understands the seriousness of his situation...

“Why do this? I’m sure you’re afraid, too, so why?!”

Why stand against that monster alone? Department Manager Gu couldn’t bring himself to speak those final words. He’d felt relieved after hearing the boy tell them to run, so speaking such nonsense now would only stir his guilt.

Jae-Hyeok smiled when he saw the other person’s crumpled expression.

“Calm down. You don’t have to feel responsible.”

This is the duty of an aristocrat. Reminding himself of his vows, Jae-Hyeok turned his back.

Boom! Boom! Crackle!

The orc mages’ downpour of fireballs arrived, and the spreading smoke and blaze quickly filled the surrounding forest.

The boy’s figure disappeared behind the rising flames.

***

I have to prove it.

The ogre was ferocious. Its back was to the flames as it rushed at Jae-Hyeok, swinging its club at random.

I have to prove that all my hard work hasn’t been in vain.

Jae-Hyeok stepped forward, pressing off the ground hard as he shot toward the club instead of avoiding it.

Baaaaang!

The moment the club hit the ground, Jae-Hyeok arrived under the ogre’s wrist. The club had barely brushed past the top of his head.

In the next moment, Jae-Hyeok emerged from the club’s shadow.

Rise. He followed Mr. Song’s advice and clearly imagined Iyarugt while drawing his hwando from the green scabbard. Immediately, the hwando transformed into a blood-red longsword.

The divine weapon, Iyarugt, carved a red line on the ogre’s thick, green skin.

But that was all.

Kuweeeeeoh!

The ogre’s health gauge remained full. Jae-Hyeok’s attack was precise, but it only angered the ogre; it didn’t inflict a serious injury.

Feeling no threat, the ogre swung its club again.

It ignored Jae-Hyeok’s repeated dodges and counterattacks without concern. Even if it was cut dozens of times, the ogre believed it needed only one hit to kill its prey.

It’s convenient that Iyarugt is double-edged, Jae-Hyeok thought.

A diagonal slash while moving forward; an upward slash while retreating sideways; a vertical slash while stepping back before advancing again with a horizontal slash—thanks to Iyarugt’s dual edge, Jae-Hyeok’s strikes changed freely.

He felt less restricted using the sword compared to the hwando.

Slash!Slash slash slash slash!

Like a tree being sawed, the split in the ogre’s skin gradually widened.

[You have struck the same spot at least five times.]

[The ogre’s weak point is exposed. Every time you attack the weak point, you will always get a critical hit.]

[You have struck the same spot at least five times.]

[The ogre’s weak point is exposed...]

[You have struck the same spot at least five...]

......

...

Many weak points were exposed all over the ogre’s thick wrists.

Grruk?

For the first time, the ogre felt pain and grew agitated. It activated its Berserk Skill, and its green skin turned red while its attack speed increased rapidly.

Bam!

Suddenly, amidst the ogre's wild swings, it delivered a swift kick that caught Jae-Hyeok.

There was the sound of leather ripping, and Jae-Hyeok flew through the air. His eyes became bloodshot, and a large amount of blood poured from his mouth and nose.

That one hit had left him seriously injured.

Kuweeeeeoh!

The ogre seemed pleased. It swung its club toward Jae-Hyeok, who was still tumbling through the air overhead.

This would be the end of the boy’s short life.

Baaaaaaaaaang!!

A roar louder than thunder penetrated the battlefield.