Duke’s Son: Re

Chapter 23

“It’s fast…!”

Kim Jinmyung and the homeroom teacher of Class C felt their hair stand on end.

They were both B-rank mages. Their physical abilities were weaker, but that was only compared to players of the same rank.

Their level had surpassed 60, meaning their agility had also exceeded 60 considerably.

However, Jaehyuk was gradually catching up to them from behind.

“Is he at level 1 with stats similar to ours?”

Of course, stats and physical ability weren’t directly proportional.

Even if two people had similar strength, the one with the correct posture could lift heavier weights. Similarly, depending on how stats were utilized, efficiency varied.

But when there was a several-fold difference in stats, utilization method and efficiency became meaningless.

“How intense was his training?”

Kim Jinmyung received a big shock, realizing that Jaehyuk’s stats were higher than expected.

Images of a young Jaehyuk silently brandishing a sword next to his comatose father flashed in Kim Jinmyung’s mind, filling him with pity.

On the other hand, the Class C homeroom teacher regained composure quickly.

He misunderstood Jaehyuk’s skill as a movement technique.

“Is it the 『Sprint』 skill judging by his stamina?”

The reaction of Class A students was similar. They believed Jaehyuk’s speed compared to them was solely due to his skill.

They found it absurd.

“… What can he do by himself anyway?”

“Why did that weirdo even follow us?”

“He’s just useless.”

The students sneered, but their expressions suddenly froze.

They had just encountered dozens of students who had fled from the raid site.

All of them looked ragged, like defeated soldiers.

“What happened? Where are the others and why did only you escape…”

“W-We were the only ones who ran. The teacher told us to run!”

“Silla Kyung and Lauren didn’t help at all, so we had no choice…!”

“Damn!”

The group hurried, using skills to cut through the forest obstacles, sprinting full speed toward the direction of the battle.

There they saw it.

Jaehyuk, who had arrived at the scene a moment earlier.

“Is that guy nuts?”

Ha Kyungsoo frowned. Already bothered by losing points because of Jaehyuk, he found Jaehyuk more and more irritating.

“Why does a B-class brat keep showing off… huh?”

Ha Kyungsoo’s mouth dropped open.

Spar-!

Jaehyuk’s hand seemed to blur as a flash of light struck the Leech King’s head several times instantly.

『You have consecutively struck the weak point 5 times!』
『The target’s weak point armor weakens.』

“Fireball!”

“Chain Lightning!”

“Sky Sword.”

The teachers, who had joined forces with the Class A homeroom teacher, seized the opening created by Jaehyuk.

In the brief moment when the Leech King staggered, they unleashed their skills.

Thanks to their combined attacks, the swelling, overinflated body of the Leech King shrank like a deflated balloon.

『The explosion of has been thwarted.』
『Following its failure, ‘s vitality and defense decrease.』

The acidic substance that was meant to pour like rain dissolved within the Leech King’s body.

The toxic swamp area did not expand further.

“Thankfully, I don’t need to awaken now.”

Relieved from putting out the urgent fire, Jaehyuk grinned slyly at Dahui.

“For a runner-up, you can hold your own, huh?”

The leech monster possessed one mouth attached to the sucker on its head, which was everything there was about the creature’s organ.

There wasn’t a part that could be identified precisely as a weak point.

Yet, the Leech King was exposing an artificial weak spot now.

“You’ve crafted a nice weak point.”

Jaehyuk guessed from the form of the wound that it was Dahui’s handiwork.

There was no one else here wielding a polished sword technique like hers.

“E-Er, yes?”

Dahui was not in her right mind.

Enraptured by Jaehyuk’s precise swordplay, she hadn’t even realized they had escaped death. The beautiful scenes spun before her mind couldn’t be shaken off.

In the middle of a battle, to intrude and instantly spot and attack the weak points? That too, consecutively without delay?

It was a skill even she couldn’t achieve.

Even the instructors couldn’t match it.

The marks made by their attacks diverged significantly from the weak points.

In such an urgent situation, maintaining composure and targeting weak points was extremely difficult.

“Son of Yaksha…”

Swallowing dryly, the three instructors fixed their gazes on Jaehyuk, like nails driven into him.

***

“My body feels heavier again.”

Jaehyuk accurately realized that something was wrong with his body.

He was weary after exerting mana furiously while running at full speed.

However, this was different from simple fatigue or bad condition.

“I felt this way when fighting those leeches earlier.”

He had already noticed these strange symptoms.

“It seems my stats drop when I fight monsters… I’ve never heard leeches have such an ability, could it be a curse?”

Lion’s Castle was a gate, maintained for 200 years.

It wouldn’t be surprising if a volcano suddenly erupted in the meadow, or if a double gate appeared abruptly before his eyes.

Jaehyuk had wandered through many places seeking suitable training grounds. It was reasonable if he had unfortunately stumbled upon a curse somewhere.

“This might be a good omen.”

The existence of a distinct cause for the curse.

It was likely related to a quest.

“A quest undiscovered by anyone for 200 years.”

Jaehyuk’s heart raced intensely. Gripped by a powerful longing, he dodged the headbutt of the Leech King and struck back fiercely.

His pant legs were being burnt by the poisonous swamp, but he persisted relentlessly.

『You have surpassed the physical and mental limits for 2,960 consecutive days.』
『Your body and mind boasting resilience and perseverance are highly noble.』
『Resisting inferior altered states.』

Somehow, he wasn’t poisoned.

“Is this for real…?”

He jumped around the contaminated swamp as if it were flatland, and withstood the poison of a C-rank boss thanks to his resilient body.

Students mesmerized by Jaehyuk’s performance earnestly pondered if they were dreaming.

“Even fallen, he’s a duke’s son, isn’t he? He probably consumed rare elixirs frequently.”

Ha Kyungsoo put forth his own interpretation.

It sounded plausible.

For a duchy, one of only three in Korea, their treasury could be stocked with rare elixirs.

Kyaoo!

Enraged by Jaehyuk and the teachers’ persistent attack, the Leech King spewed a swarm of leeches from its mouth.

At that moment, Jaehyuk’s jet-black pupils darkened.

Concentration honed to extremes.

Instantaneous observation of the leech’s posture, position, and trajectory falling from above.

Thud-!

Leaping mightily, Jaehyuk proceeded by stepping on the leeches, closing the distance with the Leech King.

It was as if he was ascending a staircase made of leeches toward the sky.

“Huh… is he really a freshman?”

“Not even in Class A…”

The trio of instructors gasped with exclamations.

Though they didn’t cease their relentless attacks, at this juncture, the protagonist of the raid was undeniably Jaehyuk.

The Leech King’s aggro fixated entirely on Jaehyuk was testimony.

***

Tsukakakakakack!!

Sword Draw was merely one motion in the swordsmanship style.

Proficiency in sword-drawing suggested unsurprisingly high mastery in swordsmanship.

Standing atop the Leech King’s head, Jaehyuk swung his sword simply.

Sharply, smoothly, swiftly, heavily.

An endless series of variable sword paths seamlessly merged, repeatedly slashing and stabbing at the Leech King.

Kyaaa!!

Despite the Leech King thrashing about violently, Jaehyuk was persistent. He unstintingly adjusted his balance with careful steps. Never once did he fall off.

『You have struck the same point over 5 times exactly. The weak point of is exposed.』
『Striking the same spot exactly more than 5 times…』
『Again at the same spot…』

Now, the Leech King had weak points not just in one location.

Numerous clear weak points emerged on its head.

“Incredible… a sword ghost level…?”

Class A comprised of students hailed as exceptional talents from across the nation.

One by one, they realized Jaehyuk’s swordsmanship had already reached the master’s level.

Even Ha Kyungsoo, previously consoled by claiming it was due to rare elixirs, was at a loss for words.

Skill honed to the utmost despite its diminutive stats.

The swordsman felt a sense of awe.

“Intense.”

The fiercer the Leech King struggled, the more worn-out Jaehyuk felt.

Clinging to the slippery monster’s body drained his strength and mental fortitude, forcing his muscles to repeatedly convulse. It was approaching his limit.

Nevertheless, he gritted his teeth and endured.

The looming threat of falling and getting crushed could not deter him.

Trusting himself who wielded the sword to exhaustion every day for 8 years, he pressed on.

“Ultimately, I just have to endure.”

Boss monster.

Shielding more than ordinary monsters at the same level with overwhelmingly more health.

The C-rank boss indicated its level was between 40 and 60.

Unawakened, landing an effective hit was challenging for Jaehyuk.

“Currently, my role isn’t that of a dealer.”

A tanker and supporter.

Jaehyuk was involved in maintaining the Leech King’s aggro and boosting the ally’s firepower. His contributions significantly lowered the raid’s difficulty.

Without interference, teachers and students poured their skills uninterrupted.

Kyaaaa!

As the attack focused on the multiplied weak spots, the Leech King inevitably shrieked.

Things were looking favorable. Once Dahui’s party recovered and joined, the firepower would overflow.

The key was to endure until they recuperated.

“Kang Jaehyuk!”

… No, there was no need to endure any longer.

Class B students swarmed over.

“What are you guys doing here?”

“What are you doing up there?”

“Wow, this guy… now he’s even standing atop the boss.”

“Seems like he’s tired of being on Jinsung’s back.”

Class B students were at level 1.

Their attack remained weak, and their mana allowed only 2-3 skill uses.

But that was sufficient.

A full-scale assault from a group of 40 people!

Unable to withstand the accumulating damage, the Leech King collapsed with a moan.

『You have slain the .』
『Miraculous Achievement!』
『Player ‘Candidate’ ranked 1st in C-rank raid contribution.』
『All stats increase by 5.』
『You are under the Lion’s Curse.』
『Remarkable achievement!』
『Achieved ranking 1st in C-rank raid contribution with stats halved.』
『All stats increase by 2.』
『Due to the Lion’s Curse, you failed to gain experience.』

『Failure to gain experience prevented the fulfillment of awakening conditions.』

Boom…!

As the massive body of the Leech King crushed the forest, a rumble ensued.

“Woohoo!”

Some shouted in joy, others stumbled to their knees. Students cried tears of relief.

Dahui immediately approached Jaehyuk.

First and foremost, she wanted to express her gratitude.

“Ah…”

Dahui abruptly stopped.

Standing on the Leech King’s corpse, Jaehyuk.

His form resembled the great nation’s duke she had seen in her childhood.

“Now that I think about it.”

She had been indebted to both the Duke and his son in succession.

Was this fate?

“… No.”

Both the Duke and his son.

They simply sought to help people.

As long as the Kang family existed in Korea, numerous second and third Chae Dahui’s would be born.

Her connection with them was by no means special.

“Thank you.”

I, too, will become like them.

Firmly recommitting herself, Dahui bowed deeply to Jaehyuk.

“My friends and I received immense grace. I will not forget this grace today and I will surely repay it.”

Little by little, everyone’s gaze turned toward Jaehyuk.

Hero of the raid.

And the savior of Dahui’s party, everyone waited in anticipation for his words.

“Hmm? Oh, sure.”

Jaehyuk replied awkwardly, his attention absorbed entirely by the ring that the Leech King dropped under his boot.

“That’s yours anyway.”

Kim Jinmyung, edging closer, whispered in Jaehyuk’s ear, finally easing his tension.