Duke’s Son: Re

Chapter 74

『Bullseye.』

“Wow…!”

Exclamations of admiration echoed from all around.

For the first time, Baek Dojin, who some might suspect had ADHD, had hit a perfect bullseye.

This was a result achieved just half a day after Jaehyuk had begun his coaching.

It was a significant accomplishment, especially since Noh Junyeob had failed to achieve this even after ten days of effort.

“Is Jaehyuk’s talent genuinely of a Expert Archer-level?”

“In some ways, it’s beyond that. Think of Jang Yeonju. Even the best archers cannot teach someone without talent.”

“I’d like to learn from Kang Jaehyuk too…”

The fellow members of the Ocean Shipping harbored a budding respect for Jaehyuk, who had transformed a mad dog into a person.

Having felt a certain fondness towards him due to the Dark Tuna incident, their hearts had inclined towards him readily.

“I’ll kill you… I will definitely kill you, Lauren!!”

“He, he might have taken some illegal substances or something…”

Around that time, members began to cast suspicious looks at Dojin, who was exuding a constant murderous aura with eyes turned over.

Ding-ding!

Jaehyuk’s phone buzzed.

“Was everything wrapped up well, Steward Hwang?”

A bright expression spread across Jaehyuk’s face as he received the call.

“That’s good. I’ll be waiting at the gate.”

***

“I can’t leave?”

Jaehyuk found himself unable to pass through the gates of Lion’s Castle.

“A student needs a leave permit to exit the gate. Haven’t you even familiarized yourself with the basic school rules? What a pitiful guy.”

“I’m not trying to go into town, just to meet someone at the entrance briefly. In such cases, can’t you apply some flexibility?”

“Kids these days have no manners. Talking about flexibility with adults, of all things.”

The military force wasn’t particularly friendly towards students.

Depending on their affiliation, they might even harbor resentment.

To understand the reason for this, one first needed to understand the structure of Lion’s Castle.

Firstly, 『Lion’s Castle』 was part of 『Pearl Island』.

Although Lion’s Castle was a national academy, ‘White Night Foundation’ was actually the majority shareholder of the gate known as Pearl Island.

As the name White Night suggests, it was Seol Soo-ah who founded and operated the foundation.

Seol Soo-ah was, in fact, the true owner of Pearl Island.

However, due to a law stating that ‘any gate of B-rank or higher existing on the Korean Peninsula must be under the management of the Korean government’, pearl Island gained a public institution characteristic.

This was why Seol Soo-ah had to sell 49 percent of the shares to the government, thereby securing her position as the director of Lion’s Castle.

The government found itself in a predicament during the shares acquisition process, compelled to entrust Lion’s Castle to Seol Soo-ah.

While they managed to share Pearl Island, the outcome was Seol Soo-ah monopolizing greater power.

The government hurriedly dispatched the military to Pearl Island and sold some of the shares it held to associations and guilds.

This was to effectively counterbalance Seol Soo-ah and her foundation by opening an arena of competition.

The government, the military, associations, and guilds demanded the right to resources and the operation of Lion’s Castle based on law and shares.

Under the pretext that the environment on Pearl Island posed a threat, they dispatched elite agents.

This was why there were as many as nine military organizations within the educational institution known as Lion’s Castle.

Though they shared the stage of Pearl Island, each of the nine military forces belonged to different competing factions.

And the military itself was one of these forces.

It sprang into being thanks to the government’s endorsement of the association’s claim that the scouting team operated by the White Night Foundation wasn’t sufficient to secure the students’ safety.

Pretending to maintain order, they were essentially the eyes and ears of the association, keeping a close watch on the forces loyal to Seol Soo-ah.

In their view, students were thoughtless troublemakers entering hazardous zones, either causing chaos or pilfering monsters—little more than bandits.

If anything, their disposition was to dislike students rather than be hospitable.

‘Besides, this one….’

A military guard who recognized Kang Jaehyuk’s face frowned.

Jaehyuk was the younger brother of Kang Daesung, who had assaulted the Association President and caused the reputation of the Korean Player Association to plummet.

Even seeing his face was enough to irritate him.

‘For a filthy bloodline to hold its head high, the world sure has come to a sorry pass.’

It was said that luck had netted him the Leech King’s ring, not to mention Seol Soo-ah providing him with high-grade elixirs, wasn’t it?

The guard, barely suppressing his growing hostility, waved his hand dismissively.

“No need for chatter. Unless you’re bringing a leave permit, get lost.”

Jaehyuk gave them a brief, silent gaze before calling Kim Jinmyung.

“Professor, I’d like to get a leave permit. Where are you right now?”

“Hmph.”

The guards snorted derisively.

When students encountered unforeseen accidents outside, the greatest responsibility fell upon the professor who had granted their leave.

It was inconceivable for a professor to recklessly issue a leave permit to a freshman just three months into the school year.

“…….”

As expected.

Kang Jaehyuk couldn’t even explain the reason for his outing to the professor before his call was abruptly ended.

He was flatly rejected.

The corners of the military guards’ lips twitched with amusement.

Seeing that Jaehyuk’s face bore a slight resemblance to Kang Daesung’s confused expression brought them an odd sense of satisfaction.

But, ten minutes later.

“Jaehyuk! Have you waited long? Huff, huff.”

“No. I said I’d come, yet here you are.”

“…….”

The faces of the guards hardened.

Kim Jinmyung, the 1st-year Class B professor who had run all the way panting, handed over a leave permit.

Permission for Kang Jaehyuk to leave was written on it, albeit with no specified timeframe.

It was essentially a free pass.

Even among second-year students, it was held only by a few top-tier skilled students.

“Jaehyuk is a busy person, so please don’t pick on petty things in the future. You folks aren’t usually interested in the students anyway, so why be so strict… Jaehyuk, I’m heading back to the professor’s office, so have a good time.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Jaehyuk exchanged light greetings with Kim Jinmyung and moved towards the swirling gate beyond the school gate.

His demeanor was both dignified and noble, without even a glance at the guards who had become speechless mutes.

***

『Exiting the gate.』

Passing through the gate brought with it a notably unpleasant sensation.

The dimensional leap taxed both the body and the mind greatly.

‘I need to start using the gate more frequently to acclimate to this nausea.’

“How cute. A freshman, huh?”

Players, high-level individuals monitoring the gate 24/7, glanced at Jaehyuk, who was feeling a little dizzy.

They were known as gatekeepers.

As Jaehyuk unfolded his leave permit to confirm his identity, a few gatekeepers found their interest piqued.

“So, it’s the young lad from the Kang family who has awakened a bloodline skill.”

“Will the Kang family manage to rise again?”

“Even if he becomes a National Treasure candidate, it’ll be tough. The Kang family has essentially lost its foundation.”

Guarding the gate in three shifts was monotonous, naturally.

Though they had a limited operational range, gatekeepers paradoxically had boundless interests.

Their usage of community networks was high, leading to them accumulating a lot of miscellaneous knowledge and, at times, becoming absorbed in conspiracy theories.

Many held a sympathetic view of Jaehyuk, suspecting a conspiracy behind the Kang family’s downfall.

‘There’s no harm in building rapport with them.’

Having analyzed their tendencies, Jaehyuk quickly decided to courteously greet them all.

Screech!

Shortly after, two bikes arrived at the gate.

The gatekeepers were mildly impressed.

“So he was waiting for the head of the Ocean Shipping and the granddaughter of the Bow Saint.”

“For a sophomore, he has quite a decent network already. Being polite must have helped him build connections.”

“Steward Hwang!”

“Master!”

Jaehyuk and Steward Hwang shared an emotional reunion.

“You’ve improved in appearance since I last saw you. Your face looks bright. Have you more outlets for your anger or something, making life more enjoyable?”

“I’m not sure if life is enjoyable, but I am eating well; therefore, I sleep well and recover from fatigue easily. Living away from Steward Hwang is a big boost to my health.”

“It feels like just yesterday you came running into my arms after getting hit by the wooden sword of Eldest Young Master, and now you’ve grown enough to enjoy independent living…”

“Hahaha! Has Steward Hwang finally gone senile?”

“This old back will break. Please ease your grip.”

“Don’t worry. I have potions.”

“…….”

Was their relationship bad?

While Jang Yeonju and Noh Junyeob looked at the two in bewilderment, bewilderment was abound.

“Kang Jaehyuk. The youngest of Daeguk in those early years… Yes, those deep black eyes make me remember.”

The formerly seemingly senile Blacksmith Song now observed Jaehyuk with deeply insightful eyes.

“Those jet-black eyes, gleaming as if polished with lacquer, still shine brilliantly. Though the world must have been cruel to young you, you’ve endured without peering into the abyss. Commendable. Truly admirable.”

Only then did Jaehyuk respectfully greet the Blacksmith Song, having withdrawn his arms from Steward Hwang.

“It’s an honor to meet Craftsman Song Sung-ik, who upheld the glorious days of the Kang family. If my father hears that the craftsman accepted my invitation, he would likely have pleasant dreams.”

Pleasant dreams.

It was a nod to the reality that Yaksha had been diagnosed as brain dead, never to open his eyes again.

Dark shadows crossed the already grim face of the Blacksmith Song.

“Seeing your robust figure, I miss Daeguk anew. I must visit the estate.”

While Jang Yeonju and Noh Junyeob withdrew tactfully and kept an eye on the surroundings, Jaehyuk engaged in lively conversations with the Blacksmith Song.

He was someone who remembered aspects of Jaehyuk’s father’s past that even Jaehyuk didn’t know.

Conversations with the Blacksmith Song often stirred a nostalgic poignancy within Jaehyuk.

“So, have you found the Iyarugt?”

Having endured much hardship escaping from Gurisi, the heavily worn-out Blacksmith Song moved the conversation to the main subject, postponing unfinished talk for later.

“Yes.”

As Jaehyuk drew his sword with a determined air, a blood-red aura burst forth from its scabbard.

Before their eyes, the sword’s shape began transforming in real-time.

The ink-black blade became as clear as red glass, with its single-edge transforming into a double-edge.

The Blacksmith Song shuddered.

“… Indeed, it’s the Iyarugt. Oh, heavens. An old man’s wish is granted before he departs this world.”

The reaction of the Blacksmith Song was more intense than Jaehyuk had anticipated.

With quivering eyes reflecting a nearly shocking array of emotions, Jaehyuk cautiously asked, “Is it perhaps your first time seeing it in person?”

“Of course. You might have assumed it was your father’s favorite sword, but in truth, that’s not the case. The Iyarugt has been missing for nearly 200 years, so it’s possible even your father knew little about it.”

“But then, how does the master know about it?”

“Because of our ancestral whispers passed down in the Song family.”

The Blacksmith Song looked at Jaehyuk with boundless warmth.

“The message was that only the blood of the Kang family, who are deemed worthy to ascend the divine ascent upheld by the Blacksmith God, would reclaim the Iyarugt. Jaehyuk, this old man wishes to hammer iron once more solely for you; may I have your permission?”