The Duke's Son :Re-Chapter 58

“P-potion! A top-grade potion!”

“The top-grade isn’t something common... ”

The search team member scolded the fussing Park Joo-Bong before saying, “He isn’t very hurt.”

They weren’t exactly wrong. Jae-Hyeok had suffered severe fractures on both wrists, which while serious, was better than they expected; at first they had worried about Jae-Hyeok being on the verge of death after seeing the condition of his torn uniform and blood-soaked shirt.

However, words could have different meanings depending on how they were said.

“‘Not very hurt’? If we came any later, he would’ve been maimed for life.” Yoo-Jin protested as she pulled out a middle-grade potion and poured it on Jae-Hyeok’s hands, but nothing happened.

The security member replied, “We arrived on time and took action. What else do you want? Do you want us to pamper him or something? In the first place, it isn’t a big deal for a player to get hurt.”

The security forces of Lion’s Castle were all elites. They weren’t the type of people to be swept away by the words of students.

They pushed aside Da-Hee, who was busy wiping Jae-Hyeok’s blood and sweat, and immediately got to business.

“Student Kang Jae-Hyeok? Why are you here?”

The Troll Lord’s Dungeon was an area where even the faculty weren’t allowed to enter, let alone students. Only the security forces with raid authority were permitted access. And they had always been particularly protective of the Troll Lord since it required a three-month aging period before it reached its full value.

They naturally spoke in an interrogating tone after seeing the Troll Lord’s corpse.

Da-Hee was furious at their attitude toward the wounded Jae-Hyeok. She immediately answered. “He must’ve come here by accident while being chased by the Death Knight.”

The search team member frowned. “This isn’t a place that can be reached by chance. You’ve experienced how rough the path to get here is, right? Ah, this is annoying. Teacher Park Joo-Bong, take these kids outside.”

Jae-Hyeok explained, “I thought there would be security forces guarding this place, and I planned to ask for help. Perhaps they all went to eat, but there was no one present. As you can see, I was driven all the way here and almost fell prey to the Death Knight and Troll Lord.”

His words were a persuasive mixture of truth and lies.

They made sense to the security force members. Why would a freshman target the Troll Lord, especially in a situation where he was being chased by a Death Knight? Although newly born, the Troll Lord was still level 59, and this freshman had only been at Lion’s Castle for two months. There was no way he could win.

Above all, according to the testimonies of the Class A students, the Death Knight was a Named monster that posed a great danger.

It was hard to find a flaw in Jae-Hyeok’s explanation.

The security force members performing the autopsy on the Troll Lord’s corpse supported Jae-Hyeok’s words. “It looks relatively fine on the outside, but its insides are completely destroyed. It looks like a sword was thrust through the collarbone, destroying the heart and other organs in one blow.”

“A lightning attribute attack... That’s truly extraordinary for a Named Death Knight to possess. How did the students of Class A survive against such a monster?”

“Fortunately, they had Shinra Kyeong. He said that the Death Knight wasn’t interested in the students from the beginning.”

“Indeed, seeing that this kid survived... ”

“He has heavenly luck.”

At this time, the Death Knight’s pursuers returned to the scene.

“Dammit, we lost it.”

“It didn’t look back and ran away. Based on how it kept the students alive, it doesn’t seem to intend to mess with humans yet.”

“Named ones are always clever. It must have his own idea for the right timing.”

“By the way, I didn’t know there was a Named existence in Lion’s Castle? How long has it been hiding here?”

“The captains should know. Let’s go and report it.”

Some of the security forces took an interest in the Troll Lord’s corpse as they collected.

“I’ve never seen a boss monster’s corpse so clean. It’s probably sell for a lot.”

“What’s the use of money? The value of a lord is in the crown or the Skill book. I’m already scared thinking about how the captains of the Second and Fifth Squads will go on a rampage when they hear the news.”

“Oh, did the authority for this raid belong to the Association’s faction?”

“Well, that’s good for Her Excellency Seol Su-Ah.”

Most of the people left and the commotion subsided.

“I have one last question.” The search team member interrogating Jae-Hyeok brought up the most critical question. “Why did the Death Knight pursue you? Under the circumstances, it should’ve chased Teacher Park Joo-Bong.”

The Class A students had said that the Death Knight left in pursuit of a ‘sword-crazed demon.’ And Immediately afterward, it chased Jae-Hyeok. The search team member was suspicious. Could there be some type of connection?

Jae-Hyeok was prepared to give the search team member a pre-planned response, but Park Joo-Bong explained for him, “Maybe it is because Student Kang Jae-Hyeok saved my life. The Death Knight seriously injured me. I was going to die, and the one who cut me would know this best. However, I was healed right after meeting Student Kang Jae-Hyeok. It’s no wonder that the Death Knight became interested in Student Kang Jae-Hyeok.”

It was common for support-type players to attract a boss’s aggro, so the search team member thought Park Joo-Bong’s argument had merit. He raised a new question. “How did Student Jae-Hyeok heal you?”

“He used a top-grade potion.”

"......!"

Yoo-Jin and Da-Hee doubted their ears, while the search team member had wide eyes.

Top-grade potions were the pinnacle of the potion world. No matter how deep the wound, a person could be saved as long as they weren’t already dead. However, even with millions of dollars, they were difficult to obtain, and it was rare for famous people to have any in stock.

And yet, this student had owned one?

No, he isn’t just a student. No matter how much they’ve fallen, he is still the blood of the Kang family. Considering the past prestige of the Kang family, it’s understandable that this child has at least one top-grade potion on hand. But...

The search team member looked bewildered. “Why did you use such a precious item on someone else?”

“Do I need a reason to help people?”

“Uh?”

“My father would be proud that I used the potion on someone who needed it.”

Jae-Hyeok didn’t bother to mention Jaegyeong Pharmaceuticals. If he did, then he would have to admit everything that had gone on at Arcane Canyon to explain the top-grade potion Cho Seong-Hyeon had given him.

Da-Hee was thrilled at seeing him take care of his father’s honor. On the other hand, Yoo-Jin shook her head in disbelief, and the search team member’s reaction wasn’t much different.

“I... see.”

I guess it’s true. Noblesse oblige really doesn’t follow common sense. The search team member stood up and bowed slightly to Jae-Hyeok.

“It must’ve been hard, but thank you for answering sincerely. I’m also glad that you survived safely. Go back and get some rest.”

“Amazing... ” After he left, Yoo-Jin stood in a daze for a moment. Then she trembled with excitement.

“A member of the security force bowed to a student! I heard that they are so arrogant that they even ignore teachers! Right, Teacher Park?”

“Uh? Y-yes.”

“Kang Jae-Hyeok is really amazing! An elite member bowed to you when he acted arrogant toward our homeroom teacher, who is thirty years older than him!”

Park Joo-Bong protested, “I might look like this, but I’m not that old.”

“The two of you, stop talking and help Kang Jae-Hyeok!” The security force member shouted, and Park Joo-Bong lost his chance to defend himself.

***

“Jae-Hyeoooooook!

“Are you okay? You aren’t seriously hurt?”

Jae-Hyeok emerged from the dungeon with the help of Park Joo-Bong and Da-Hee and came face-to-face with Kim Jin-Myeong.

Seeing how he was covered with sweat and panting, he seemed to have rushed over the moment he heard the news. Jae-Hyeok took advantage of his breathlessness to speak first, “Don’t worry. I was treated in time so I’m fine. But the senior instructor... ”

Jae-Hyeok’s words trailed off, and the instructors behind Kim Jin-Myeong sighed, realizing why they hadn’t seen the senior instructor. Before they could ask for details, Jae-Hyeok again spoke first, “I testified to the security forces about the incident.”

“......”

He had already testified to the security forces, so what else could the instructors ask? They fell silent and obediently created a path for Jae-Hyeok.

***

Jae-Hyeok told everyone he wanted to rest, headed straight back to his dormitory, and opened his inventory.

A jade-colored book and a beautiful red sword appeared before his eyes. It was the Skill book dropped by the Troll Lord and Iyarugt.

[Iyarugt.]

[Rating: Legendary

A divine relic bestowed by a god during his days as a human to a loyal knight.

It has lost its soul, yet remains a rare and exceptional sword in the world.

The more you swing it, the sharper and more powerful it becomes.

* The attack power increases with every consecutive attack on the same enemy.

* There is a very rare chance to activate Hell Sword with each consecutive attack.

* Indestructible.

★ Find its soul to unleash its true power.]

As Theodore had speculated, Iyarugt wasn’t intact, but it was still so powerful. Jae-Hyeok trembled for a moment. Then, his attention fell on something else.

A god in his human days.

It was a familiar description. He thought of what the lion statue had said.

-Later, the god in his days as a human wrote the legend of defeating an oponent in five seconds, and it became a sacred place since. Still, I sometimes miss the distant past.

A god who turned Lion’s Castle into a sacred place... Just who was he? Also, was the founder of the Kang family a knight of this god?

A knight... The memory of his awakening flashed through his mind.

Iris, the Third Princess of Reinhardt.

That mysterious transcendent being had told him that she was looking forward to the codes of chivalry he would write in the future. Was she also related to this god?

There’s no point in thinking about it now.

Through the community, Jae-Hyeok had confirmed that Reinhardt was a real place, but even that information had been extremely difficult to obtain, given his current level and resources. Since that was the case, there was no reason for him to be impatient yet.

Reinhardt, the Third Princess, the founder of the Kang family, and the god—all these things would likely come to him naturally as he grew as a player. The same was true of Iyarugt’s soul. Since a quest hadn’t occurred, it was a waste of energy for him to pay attention to these things.

Even so... I’m curious about how my hwando became Iyarugt.

Jae-Hyeok thought back to his childhood.

Out of the dozens of hwandos on display in the armory, was the one that his father had picked for him particularly special?

No, in the first place, it must’ve been since his father had chosen it; he just hadn’t considered it before, since he wasn’t the type to focus on trivial matters. When he’d still been living with his siblings, it was common for him to change between various weapons when training with Kang Dae-Seong.

Kang Dae-Seong, that bastard. There was nothing he liked about him.

Jae-Hyeok clicked his tongue and held his scabbard. I need to get a new scabbard. Is there a smithy in Lion’s Castle? Or should I ask Butler Hwang? He tried to put Iyarugt in the scabbard to gauge its length, and his eyes widened.

Click.

Iyarugt had entered the scabbard as if returning to its own home.

Updat𝓮d from freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.co(m)