Duke’s Son: Re

Chapter 20

A foreboding was just a foreboding after all.

“Ha-aap!!”

Just as a promising prospect drawing significant interest from the association, Park Shiwoo had impressively proven his skills.

Traversing past the muddy swamp, where three leeches moved quickly and stealthily, he took only 12 minutes and 36 seconds.

“Huff, huff, huff…!”

Climbing onto the opposite side of the swamp, Park Shiwoo, panting heavily, vomited up filth incessantly.

He had rolled here and there in an attempt to avoid the leeches’ ambush, inevitably consuming the swamp’s muddy water.

“Waaaaah!!”

“Incredible! As expected from a red-ranked evaluee!”

Excited students from Class C cheered.

Meanwhile, the reaction from Class B students was rather ambiguous.

‘Is that really fast?’

‘He must have had to move more cautiously because there were monsters involved, right?’

‘But wasn’t the leeches’ movement larger than expected? Whenever they moved, ripples spread out, and I think one could sense that well enough?’

‘True enough. Kang Jaehyuk’s kicks are much more discreet than those leeches.’

The Class B students whispered among themselves.

Not wanting to spoil the celebratory mood of Class C.

The Class C homeroom teacher adjusted his glasses and smiled.

“Seeing how quiet our Class B friends are, they must be quite tense. There’s no need to worry. Shiwoo is one of the top students within our class. Even if any of you score lower than Shiwoo, no one here would mock you.”

“Ah, yes…”

Was he really one of the top-ranking students in Class C?

Class B students glanced over at Jaehyuk curiously.

Their looks bore silent questions: What exactly are you?

The Class C homeroom teacher misinterpreted their stares.

“Perhaps the Class B students are anticipating Jaehyuk to step up first?”

Indeed, who would favor Kang Jaehyuk?

Once illustrious, this noble now merely survives on pension. Worse, his siblings were criminals who led a coup d’état.

Given his poor conduct, it was not surprising that many students saw Jaehyuk as an eyesore.

“Kang Jaehyuk.”

Kim Jinmyung spoke bluntly.

“Go and show off.”

“The stage is a little too lackluster for a show.”

Jaehyuk replied indifferently as he stepped up to the edge of the swamp.

The swamp area where leeches were released spanned approximately 300 meters.

However, once stepping onto such a swamp, the body would sink deeply, making free movement impossible. Enduring that powerful resistance and moving through it was no easy feat.

The Class C homeroom teacher smirked slyly.

‘The average time for our students to cross the swamp is 16 minutes.’

And that was without monsters.

With three leeches released, it would take over twice the time to cross.

But Park Shiwoo had crossed in just 12 minutes.

The next student to go would inevitably face comparison and humiliation.

And Kang Jaehyuk wouldn’t withstand it.

He’d fly off the handle, claiming that the order was set like this to embarrass him.

“Heh heh heh…”

“Teacher Gu?”

‘Contributing to the expulsion of Yaksha’s son could open doors for a debut at the association’s headquarters. It could position one in the most advantageous spot on many fields.’

“Teacher Gu?”

“…?”

Snapping back to reality, the Class C homeroom teacher found himself staring into Kim Jinmyung’s eyes.

“Who’s going next for Class C?”

“Ha, is there a need to determine that so early?”

Kang Jaehyuk would likely take at least 40 minutes to return, plenty of time to watch leisurely and call for volunteers… huh??

The teacher’s jaw dropped.

At the opposite end of the swamp, Jaehyuk already stood there.

Unlike Park Shiwoo, still covered in muck and gasping for air, Jaehyuk was pristine and calm.

“Jaehyuk has already arrived.”

“No, no way!”

Did he finish while I wasn’t even paying attention?

This couldn’t be real.

Though inclined to vehemently deny it, the teacher kept silent, noticing the half-dazed reactions from the Class C students.

“Isn’t that more like hopping than the leeches themselves? With each jump off a leech’s head, he covered 60 meters—how is that even possible?”

“Is that the proper method to cross the swamp?”

“Yeah, right. Don’t randomly copy him. You’ll be drained out by leeches and end up as a mummy.”

‘Damn, was Kang Jaehyuk’s low-level skill a movement technique by any chance?’

“Teacher Gu? You don’t seem well; should we proceed with Class B first?”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

Following that, the Class B students crossed the swamp with remarkable ease. Despite the relentless interference from the three swamp leeches, they averaged 10 minutes.

In particular, Park Haerin reached the destination in just 6 minutes, successfully leaping off the back of a leech.

“Oh, that’s quite something.”

Even Kang Jaehyuk praised Haerin, being generally kind to her. She had no particular faults.

However, others like Jinsung and Baesoo misinterpreted his compliment.

“That devil actually acknowledges appearances.”

“Well, Park Haerin is pretty. Comes from a good family too.”

“I’m pretty too, aren’t I?”

“Huh? Chun Hyeji, you… um… ouch! Why did you hit me! Are you turning into Kang Jaehyuk?!”

With an atmosphere full of banter, class B thrived.

In contrast, class C felt as somber as a funeral gathering.

The mute homeroom teacher stood as stiffly as a statue, while Park Shiwoo grinded his teeth in humiliation.

Under such circumstances, few students could demonstrate their abilities effectively.

The Class C students, diving into the swamp without any advice or encouragement, struggled helplessly, facing danger from the leeches and repeatedly giving up.

“It’s never the students’ fault; it always falls back on the teacher.”

Kang Jaehyuk became increasingly smug.

Needless to say, the “teacher” in reference was himself.

The reason behind Class B’s superior skills was, in his view, completely attributed to his own influence.

Even the Class B students readily admitted as much. They had come to realize through joint training that Jaehyuk’s usual harassment had been remarkably beneficial.

Class C’s homeroom teacher’s pride was thoroughly crushed.

‘Am I, someone from the association, inferior to a guild-affiliated teacher?’

His frustration turned towards Park Shiwoo.

The look he gave him was direct—those piercing eyes practically screamed that Park Shiwoo’s failure to start things correctly had led to this disgraceful outcome.

That contemptuous gaze lit a fuse.

“I won’t accept this!”

Park Shiwoo shouted angrily.

“If I’d known from the start that it was allowed to use monsters as stepping stones, there’s no way I’d fall short of you, Kang Jaehyuk!”

“Lee Jinsung.”

“Yes?”

“What was my record time?”

“1 minute and 7 seconds…”

“…”

Park Shiwoo’s jaw dropped wide open.

1 minute and 7 seconds?

Was that a record a student could set? Even an A-rank student would find it challenging.

No, if that guy could do it, then so could I.

Using leeches as stepping stones seemed straightforward enough.

Even if, by some rare chance I can’t break Kang Jaehyuk’s record, I’d certainly be quicker than other students in Class B.

‘There’s no loss in trying again.’

“Move out of the way!”

Just as Park Shiwoo attempted to enter the swamp again, an urgent shout came from the forest.

Everyone turned their attention toward the source and witnessed the alarming sight.

A massive swarm of swamp leeches was surging toward them!

“Oh.”

Finally, was this the real start of the proper training?

While Jaehyuk’s eyes gleamed with excitement, the other students screamed, fleeing in panic. Park Shiwoo was no different; in his astonishment, he stumbled and fell into the swamp.

“Sa-save me…! Urgle!”

“What a piece of work.”

While Jaehyuk watched Park Shiwoo with disdain,

Splash!

Kim Jinmyung dashed into the swamp. Reflexively throwing himself in to rescue the student trapped in the murky waters. Seeing this, the hesitating Class C homeroom teacher began evacuating with other students.

“Get a hold of yourself! Climb up quickly!”

Kim Jinmyung barely managed to pull Shiwoo up.

Though his own large frame sank deep into the swamp due to exertion, driven by the sole focus of saving the student, he paid no attention to his own plight.

“Th-thank you…!”

Grasping onto jutting rocks, shiwoou laboriously extricated himself from the swamp.

His quivering pupils betrayed hesitation.

With a swarm of leeches approaching,

Reaching out to Kim Jinmyung recklessly might result in being bled dry.

In that case…

“Ugh…!”

Shiwoo, squeezing his eyes shut, hastily fled.

But then, suddenly.

“…!”

Unlike other students scrambling to escape, standing still in place, Kang Jaehyuk locked eyes with him.

“… Damn! I should prioritize survival! If I die, Kim Jinmyung’s efforts will be in vain!”

Park Shiwoo shouted desperately.

Raising his voice loudly seemed to cast aside his shame and guilt.

“Who said anything?”

Jaehyuk didn’t fault Park Shiwoo.

Helping others is the privilege of the strong.

For a weakling to step up prematurely isn’t a noble sacrifice, merely a futile death.

And Park Shiwoo was a weakling.

So was Jaehyuk.

In the absence of even awakening, battling a swarm of dozens of monsters lied far beyond the realm of possibility.

However.

‘Giving up like that leads nowhere.’

Jaehyuk knew no such word as surrender.

For eight years, he transcended his limits every day.

To avenge his father.

Because it was natural as a noble.

A noble.

He was one with strength who stood above others.

As a noble, Jaehyuk bore the obligation to become strong,

“Kang Jaehyuk! What in the world are you waiting for instead of fleeing?”

Even if still weak at the moment, he had to shoulder the responsibilities that came with authority.

“You best make your escape.”

Jaehyuk extended his hand to Kim Jinmyung, who struggled up the cliff heavily immersed in the swamp.

Despite the sensation of countless leeches drawing near, Jaehyuk’s dark eyes were eerily calm.

“What are you doing not grabbing it?”

“Don’t be ridiculous! What teacher in this world would endanger a student while accepting assistance?”

“Consider me the duke’s son instead.”

“… What?”

“I have the duty to protect the citizens.”

Having lived off the pension, it was time to earn his keep.

Splash!

Seeing Kim Jinmyung unyielding, Jaehyuk jumped into the swamp.

Swish-!

Before Jaehyuk landed, three streaks of swordlight detached leeches clinging to Kim Jinmyung’s body.

“Kang Jaehyuk…! You foolish brat…!”

“I know. But what can we do? This is all I learned from my father.”

Rescuing people in danger.

This was an instinct deeply ingrained into Jaehyuk’s very being.

Ironically, his realization only struck him just now.

Even he couldn’t help but find amusement in it, smiling wryly while lifting Kim Jinmyung onto the precipice.

And at that moment.

Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom!

A massive shadow loomed over Jaehyuk, and dozens of leeches crashed down upon the swamp.

『Duty, justice, and Sacrifice are added to your path of penance.』
『They represent ideas contrary to Hatred, Killing Intent, and Vengeance, which previously drove your penance.』
『They have a significant impact on the unveiling of a new First Skill.』