Duke’s Son: Re

Chapter 3

“Sir, most importantly, health is paramount. Please make sure to study and spend money in moderation. Rest assured that I will take good care of His Excellency.”

“Has the old man forgotten the family motto in his senility? What does ‘in moderation’ even mean?”

At any rate, it was a relief that he seemed to have recovered well.

Jaehyuk checked the message from steward Hwang and smiled with satisfaction as he unpacked his belongings.

His luggage consisted merely of a sword, dozens of lead weights, a dumbbell, a humidifier, family photos (with the faces of his brother and sister removed), a gaming console, underwear, socks, a mask, sunglasses, sunscreen, a variety of first-aid medicines and nutritional supplements, several books about making friends, black hair powder…?

“What the heck? Who stuffed all this in here?!”

No wonder the bag felt heavy.

The handbook stated that the school would provide textbooks and daily necessities without limits, and steward Hwang had confirmed this himself, yet here it was in this state.

‘Our steward Hwang becomes more anxious with age.’

Jaehyuk gathered the black hair powder he had tossed into the trash bin.

He recalled that this was a favorite of steward Hwang. He planned to store it safely in a drawer to return it later.

‘His hair will probably be more sparse in three years…’

Jaehyuk flopped onto the bed, his expression somber.

For the first time in his life, he was leaving home for a three-year journey.

His heart was restless.

One positive point was that the director seemed amicably disposed towards him.

Judging by her attitude, she seemed to have a connection with his father.

Though Jaehyuk couldn’t trust her completely.

“It’s clear she needs me, so I’ll remain cautiously vigilant.”

In short, he had secured three years’ worth of time.

“At least she promised to block external threats.”

He wouldn’t have to deal with someone brandishing a sword and threatening him out of the blue.

“These next three years would be an unprecedented opportunity for me.”

Jaehyuk had high aspirations.

Becoming a National Treasure.

To track down and punish all the domestic and international figures involved in the East Asia Gate conference eight years ago, he needed overwhelming power and authority.

On the other hand, the most urgent thing was gaining the qualification to operate in S-rank and higher level gates.

The elixirs and herbs that extreme bosses occasionally dropped.

The 『Elixir』, which could be concocted from these, was the only clue that could promote his father’s recovery.

“Before graduation, I must at least become an A-rank player. I must generate enough buzz to draw public attention to me as a shield.”

An underage dreaming of becoming an A-rank player?

Anyone and everyone would laugh at him, calling him a crazy fool with far-fetched dreams.

Because it was impossible.

This was a structural problem of the player system.

Yet, Jaehyuk trusted himself. He had sufficient grounds.

“Wow,” he sighed, looking out the window.

Two moons rose in the starry night sky.

The first night in the gate was, contrary to expectations, beautiful.

The fact that this world was not Earth struck him.

Seeing the two moons together made him think of his mother and father.

The brightest star beside them was him.

The next star, closer, was steward Hwang.

A tiny star, very distant, was Kang family.

Nearby were faint stars that seemed about to flicker out: Kang Daeseong(na), Kang Hyun-ah….

“Gosh… The mood just got ruined.”

Jaehyuk frowned as he opened his status window.

Name: Kang Jaehyuk

Job: Player awakening conditions not met.

Level: Player awakening conditions not met.

Stats: Player awakening conditions not met.

Skills: 『Empty』, 『Empty』, 『Empty』

The way to awaken as a player was simple.

Either kill a monster or fill the first skill slot to fully activate the 『System』.

Rumors had it that killing a otherworlder could turn someone into a player, but that was merely gossip.

Non-awakened individuals hardly had any opportunity to encounter otherworlders.

They never set foot on Earth. They lived solely within the gates where their safety was guaranteed.

“Otherworlders… The term can also refer to people.”

They spoke a different language and had a different culture, but otherworlders weren’t much different from Earth’s humans.

Depending on the factions they belonged to, some were hostile toward humanity, but mostly they were known to have interacted normally.

Awakening as a player by killing a otherworlder could be a condition, but who would become a madman killing otherworlders for no reason?

“I wonder what my current stats are.”

Jaehyuk deliberately postponed his player awakening.

That’s why he hadn’t personally killed the troll that attacked the mansion a few days ago.

The reason for delaying the awakening was simple.

To have high stats from level 1, he needed to hone his body, mind, and skill maximally before awakening.

Assuming an average Level 1 player had a total stat of 10, Jaehyuk planned to start with a stat of over 30.

Of course, it was easier said than done.

While players secured 『Stat Points』 through level-ups and quest clearances and continued to grow endlessly.

An ordinary human had physical limits.

Just because you exercised didn’t mean your strength or stamina grew infinitely.

The range of increase itself was limited too.

Mental strength had its limits.

While awakened players grew at an enormous rate, enjoying vast wealth and fame, was he alone to endure endless hardships?

Even hermits practicing rigorous discipline in mountains would find it hard to stay still.

Hence, most people seized the opportunity and awakened as a player without delay.

Jaehyuk’s situation was different.

To do the same as others would result in him not surviving.

He was on the brink of being assassinated before reaching adulthood.

Whether it rained or snowed.

Even when tormented by fever and his hands and feet were blistered, he continued training his body and skills simply to survive.

Limit?

He met it every day.

And every day, he broke through.

He always wielded his sword one more time today than yesterday.

With a single-minded determination to survive and repay all the suffering he experienced.

“One day… certainly.”

Jaehyuk once again resolved himself as his gaze settled on the empty skill slots.

When was the first time 『First Skill』 initially bloomed?

He didn’t remember exactly, but it was likely around the time he swung his sword over 10,000 times a day.

Feeling a deep sense of betrayal towards fellow citizens who criticized his father.

Burning with vengeance against the government and the association that defamed his father.

Harboring murderous intent towards his siblings who ruined the family in their emotional haste.

As he swung his sword until he collapsed from exhaustion every day, Jaehyuk rapidly bloomed first skills at a rate unimaginable to others.

Over the past eight years, he had bloomed a staggering 25 first skills.

While ordinary people struggled for 10 years to bloom a single first skill, he managed to bloom one approximately every three months.

Yet, Jaehyuk was not satisfied.

The first skill formed the player’s foundation.

It could only be possessed in the ‘first skill slot’ and only one could be equipped permanently upon activation.

Unlike the second and third skill slots, which allowed ‘attachment/detachment’ using commercially available 『Skill Books』, its importance was on a different scale.

“What if the desired skill doesn’t appear within three years?”

As for stats, exceeding three times the average would suffice. Pursuing more would be inefficient.

He felt confident about his strength and stamina to the extent that he wondered if he had already reached his target.

But skills belonged to a completely different domain.

The domain of luck…

“Again, again. When the body relaxes, the mind drifts to gloomy thoughts.”

Jaehyuk, weighed down with lead weights, took his sword and headed out of the dormitory.

He crossed roads lined with all sorts of conveniences and climbed a nearby hill.

“Sigh…”

Anxiety, fear, sorrow, anger…

His breathing, bestial and growling as he struggled to restrain the roiling emotions, calmed quickly. Blending into the silence of the late night, he rendered his surroundings utterly tranquil.

Shwing!

He perfected the entire sword-drawing to sheathing motion.

Only then could he acknowledge it as ‘one swing’.

Jaehyuk swung his sword through the night until he had not a single ounce of strength left to move even a finger.

First skills lie in the domain of luck?

Very well.

Then he would work even harder.

He resolved to keep striving until the ultimate skill bloomed, continuously, relentlessly, endlessly!

He would secure the desired outcome without giving the slightest opportunity for mere luck to intervene.

『The player candidate breaks the limits of the body.』
『The player candidate breaks the limits of the mind.』
『The player candidate’s skills deepen further.』
『The player candidate breaks the limits of the body for 2,951 consecutive days.』
『Stat bonuses acquired.』
『The player candidate breaks the limits of the mind for 2,951 consecutive days.』
『Stat bonuses acquired.』
『If the current state is maintained successfully for an additional 49 days, a new hidden skill will be activated.』

System messages unheard due to not being a player.

Thus, the boy’s world remained silent.

He was unaware of the compensation he was receiving.

Nevertheless, he continued shedding sweat and blood without pause.

Unable to sleep unless he was utterly exhausted.

Trusting his solid physique inherited from his father beyond anything else in the world.

Plop!

With a final drop, Jaehyuk’s body fell, emanating heat waves.

The heat generated while wielding the sword evaporated the sweat quickly.

Dawn was breaking. The world gradually turned into hues of sunset.

“A gate unchallenged for 200 years…”

The majestic scenery of the Lion’s Castle, where modern and otherworldly civilizations coexisted, graced his view, and Jaehyuk’s expression grew increasingly resolute.