Duke’s Son: Re

Chapter 13

“Young master, how have you been? I’ve been unable to sleep, worried about you.”

‘Steward Hwang, really.’

It was the first weekend since Jaehyuk entered the Lion’s Castle. He woke up early in the morning, saw the text message, and smiled contentedly.

Only six days had passed since leaving home, yet the steward missed him to this extent? Unable to sleep due to worry?

‘He really likes me too much. Does he think I’m his own grandson?’

I should definitely support him for the rest of my life.

Jaehyuk’s gradually deepening smile disappeared as if it were a lie.

“I lie awake every night, worrying if the young master might be using violence against fellow students, or if you’ve fallen out with the teachers. I have no expectations that you will excel in your studies. Please, just maintain good relationships with your peers. Even the first young master you criticized so much had at least one friend during his school days.”

“The food here is incredibly delicious. Thanks to that, I don’t miss Steward Hwang even a bit. Take care.”

Jaehyuk sighed with an ‘ugh’ sound after quickly scrolling through and replying to the long message.

“Why did you suddenly bring up Kang Daesung?”

And not expecting me to do well in my studies?

Steward Hwang doesn’t really know me.

“Steward Hwang, starting late isn’t a shortcoming. It’s something that can be overcome with effort. I’ll obviously be at the top in studies as well.”

Being ‘number one’ in studies was a somewhat more accurate determination.

There was no assurance that an heir from the Silla family would be good at studying as well.

“And me, going crazy to bully classmate or argue with a teacher… huh?”

Huh? Am I already doing that?

Indeed, Steward Hwang…

He knew me too well. That must be what his deep affection for me meant.

Feeling good again, Jaehyuk washed his face and changed his clothes.

Usually, he would have rushed to the dining hall…

“The second-year dorm is on the fourth floor, right?”

Jaehyuk ascended the stairs instead of heading to the lobby.

“Uh? Yes, that’s correct.”

A second-year student respectfully nodded.

They did not expect the unfamiliar person who was speaking informally within the second-year living quarters to be a first-year. They assumed he was a senior student from another building.

“Then what’s Baek Dojin’s room number?”

“Baek Dojin…? He’s in Class B, so he’s probably on the sixth floor, but the room number…”

“Where should I go to find out? Oh, can you check it for me?”

“Yes…”

Shouldn’t you just go to the warden’s office?

Even though the students exchanged puzzled looks, they complied with Jaehyuk’s request.

The standing of a third-year student in the Lion’s Castle was extraordinary.

Since most of the curriculum focused on hunting, their experience and levels were no different from active players.

Indeed, many third-year students were skillful enough to get dispatched to guilds or associations, so underclassmen tended to perceive third-years not just as students but as professionals.

“What? What’s up?”

At the warden’s office in the main building of the male dormitory.

Having students swarm in right in the morning startled the man who was shaving.

His name was Lee Gibuk.

Despite looking like a typical person in their 30s, he, too, was a fresh student.

Not saying he just looked young, but in reality, he was a second-year student in his 30s.

“A third-year senior is looking for Baek Dojin. They wanted us to find out the room number.”

“A third-year?”

With breakfast time approaching soon, he could have just met him on the way to the dining hall, yet he went out of his way to come to the main building.

“The senior must have been in quite a hurry to make such a valued visit. Baek Dojin, that fellow…”

Baek Dojin must have caused trouble again.

What else could a third-year looking for Baek Dojin be about?

‘Kicking up a fuss in the main building would only be a headache for me.’

Lee Gibuk pondered and decided to take action personally.

“I’ll guide you, so you all can go now.”

“Yes…”

The students exchanged glances with each other.

It seemed like it might turn into an interesting situation.

Why is the third-year looking for Baek Dojin?

It’s obvious they intend to beat that mad dog up.

Lee Gibuk could not just stand by and watch.

Creating a commotion inside the dormitory would earn the warden a demerit, making it a sensitive issue.

‘Maybe Gibuk hyung is about to have a showdown with a third-year…’

Due to his age, Gibuk was naturally placed in Class C.

And Class C students were generally divided into two categories.

First, those who lived normally and engaged in regular, albeit leisurely, training as a hobby, which eventually allowed them to bloom their first skill late in life.

Second, those who ‘intentionally awakened late’ to acquire the desired skills.

The latter managed to develop two to three first skills and then awoke with one they chose. These were those who endured great hardship for decades, not leaving their lives to mere chance.

Lee Gibuk belonged to the latter group.

Moreover, he turned the mana gauge red, indicating potential as a superior player.

That was why he became a dorm warden, a position only available to students with top grades.

Even if it was an upperclassman, one would not let such behavior slide within their own domain.

‘Being followed by the students was stressful for Lee Gibuk.

His plan was to negotiate the issue and get the upperclassman out of the dorm, but with so many eyes watching, he was in a predicament.

‘I don’t ever want to show these young students a submissive side.’

Lee Gibuk endured over 20 years of hardship with the sole determination to become a superior player.

Fortunately, his effort paid off, earning him good results, but it was undeniable that he started later than others.

Thus, he cherished the three years at the Lion’s Castle more than gold.

His ambition was to establish a guild after graduation, by leading and building a solid network of younger classmates.

This meant maintaining a good public image.

‘Hmm…?’

As Lee Gibuk neared his destination, he gradually slowed his steps.

He had spotted Jaehyuk.

The boy, clad in civilian clothes due to it being the weekend, had a good build and distinct features, making him appear mature. But upon closer inspection, he still bore the aura of youth.

‘For a third-year, he looks too young… is he a newcomer?’

Considering the exceptional treatment and conveniences Seol Soo-ah provided for Kang Jaehyuk’s admission…

When Jaehyuk moved into the dormitory, Seol Soo-ah instructed that a secretary, not a warden, guide him personally.

This made Kang Jaehyuk’s face unfamiliar to Lee Gibuk.

To begin with, the main building of the male dormitory had over a thousand rooms.

The numerous duties required multiple wardens, and without overlapping zones, students rarely encountered each other regularly.

‘No, he’s not just a little young; he’s very young.’

Of course, many third-year students were also teenagers.

Those who either luckily developed an excellent first skill at once or were satisfied with and awakened an ordinary first skill.

However, most of them were already in their late teens.

“Why did you bring the wrong person when I asked where Baek Dojin’s room was? Who is this?”

“S-Sir, this is the warden. Since the warden oversees the rooms, he will guide you to the room Baek Dojin uses.”

“Ah… like a steward? Then lead the way quickly.”

A new student or a third-year student?

Unsure at first, Lee Gibuk came to a conclusion.

‘He must be a third-year.’

Otherwise, why would he speak informally with such confidence?

“Senior, what business do you have with Baek Dojin?”

“Why? Do I need to report every reason I meet someone?”

With the dorm having a thousand rooms, as one could guess, it was unimaginably vast.

It took nearly 20 minutes for the students to arrive with the warden.

Twenty minutes was more than enough time to swing a sword hundreds of times, wasn’t it?

“Even though I’m starving, I waited patiently, and now you’re asking me about my business? Oh, being too nice is a problem, indeed. The kind ones are always the fools.”

Even at this early hour.

During the time spent waiting in the hallway, numerous students passed by Jaehyuk.

But Jaehyuk didn’t ask them about Dojin’s whereabouts, instead quietly waiting.

Since they had first volunteered to find out Dojin’s whereabouts, he chose to wait and trust them.

Being treated this way, however, he could only sigh in exasperation.

“…”

Lee Gibuk shot a look at the second-year students.

His gaze questioned what kind of debt they owed the guy to be speaking about favors and foolishness.

The students meekly shook their heads.

They all wore expressions of ignorance.

‘Could it be… is he picking a fight on purpose?’

Anyway, it had been a while since he’d seen such an insolent fellow.

Though the hierarchy based on academic year was respected more than age at the Lion’s Castle, Lee Gibuk, being in his mid-30s and having an imposing demeanor, usually received respect from seniors.

Apparently, this guy in front of him didn’t know what it meant to stay within bounds.

‘Regardless of being a third-year, there are limits.’

Lee Gibuk was deeply offended but held his temper.

Despite a third-year’s young look and unruly personality, it might likely signal one thing.

An expert.

Not recognizing the face also meant frequent deployments.

‘Though rare, some extraordinarily skilled individuals get deployed as early as second-year.’

Better not get humiliated by a youngster…

Regulating his breathing, Lee Gibuk politely apologized to Jaehyuk.

“My apologies. I didn’t consider the senior’s standpoint. I’ll fetch Baek Dojin promptly, so please wait outside.”

Is this kid really going to meet the mad dog?

It’d be a mess.

Releasing him from the building as planned was essential.

Although Lee Gibuk quickly made up his mind, Jaehyuk was not cooperative.

“Telling me to wait outside? Why?”

“… Causing tension in the dorm can make other students uneasy. I ask for your understanding.”

“Meeting Baek Dojin causes tension? Oh, what nonsense is this? Are you actually a teacher instead of a steward? Because your actions are just like Kim Jinmyung’s, which is extremely unpleasant.”

‘Oh goddamn.’

Why so many words? And what’s this about a steward?

Looking at his appearance, he seems like someone who should silently pose for a magazine, yet he’s absurdly flippant.

‘Wait? Did he ask if I was a teacher?’

At the Lion’s Castle, the dorm warden was a position for students, not teachers.

But for someone supposedly a third-year to not even know that?

“Kang Jaehyuk? What are you doing there?”

At that moment of unfamiliarity for Lee Gibuk, a little red fellow trotted over from down the hallway.

Thus, the enigmatic ‘third-year student’ grumbled indignantly.

“They’re trying to kick me out instead of allowing me to meet you. Isn’t that outrageous? Early in the morning, a group of them comes to bully one person? Is this any human act?”

“Crazy bastards. A lot of them are punks anyway. Let’s just go eat first. The sooner we fill our bellies, the sooner we’ll start training.”

“Yeah.”

“… Wait.”

Called out Lee Gibuk, his temple veins were bulging, stopping the two boys.

“You… are you a freshman by any chance?”

“Yeah.”

“Then why do you keep speaking informally?”

“Oh, so you are a teacher after all? Sorry, sorry. I thought you were a student.”

“…”

No need for someone like this in the guild I’ll build.

Yes, indeed.

As Lee Gibuk nodded slightly, his gaze turned more malicious.