Duke’s Son: Re

Chapter 28

Labor, study, exercise.

No matter what one did, if done diligently and consistently, it was judged as having undergone ‘hardship’, and the First Skill would blossom.

Like a child beginning to talk and take first steps, it was an exceedingly natural phenomenon.

Indeed, it was a world where anyone could become awakened.

Statistics showed that over 70% of the population were players.

Of course, not everyone engaged in related businesses just because they were players.

The vast majority remained at level 1 until their death.

This was because the kind and grade of the First Skill varied.

For example, there might be 100 people jogging the same distance every day.

Some maintained a pace matching their stamina from start to finish, some sprinted at full speed from the middle, while others pushed themselves from start to end.

One person might jog five days a week, another six, or even every day of the week.

The period of maintaining that consistency might be a year, three years, or five years.

After five years, there was a distinction between those who worked harder and those who did not.

These differences categorized the grade of First Skills.

Those who endured intense hardship for a long time would typically blossom with the highest grade of First Skills.

However, the type of skill that blossomed was arbitrary.

Someone who jogged every day might acquire a movement-related skill, while another obtained a completely unrelated skill.

That’s why amusement as it is known came about, likening it to a third-rate lottery game overly reliant on luck.

“But life is not all about luck.”

Among the few S-rank players in Korea, there was the Association President, Ji Chunmyung, who was over level 150, an experienced veteran.

He had claimed it for a long time.

Great players were made, not born.

“Everyone has an aptitude. If twin brothers jogged the same distance every day, but one acquired a movement-related skill, while the other, who had no interest, acquired a magic-related skill, it’s not luck. It’s a natural difference in inherent qualities.”

This was a fact acknowledged by many nations.

However, knowing and applying it were entirely different matters.

Observing each citizen for an extended period to understand their aptitude and provide education accordingly was an impossible feat even for a communist state.

But nobility achieved it.

Like the families that defended the nation during the upheaval 200 years ago, earning dukedoms.

They had data accumulated that perceived and exploited talents embedded in their bloodline.

“That’s why the Kang family can’t be disregarded.”

Ji Chunmyung rubbed his side.

The ribs broken by Kang Daesung eight years ago sometimes throbbed even nowadays.

It wasn’t just that.

Thinking of the Kang family twisted his intestines.

“And now they claim Kang Daesung’s younger brother was judged mere green? Nonsense. If he consistently trained in that damn sword technique, he must have inherent potential for sword skills. High chances are he blossomed with high-grade related skills.”

*Crack!*

To endure the pain, he gritted his teeth and broke the armrest of his chair.

“I believe the Kang family has a hidden gate passed down through generations. Kang Jaehyuk probably matured alone there before entering the Lion’s Castle.”

After receiving the principal’s report, Association President Ji Chunmyung verified Kang Jaehyuk’s gate use records.

Once.

Kang Jaehyuk had no traces of using gates besides the Lion’s Castle.

Despite this, Ji Chunmyung readily accepted Seol Soo-ah’s bet.

It was physically impossible for a level 1 to make significant contributions in the Leech King raid.

Had Kang Jaehyuk been in his 30s, he might have hesitated for a second.

Twenty years of hardship might have resulted in significantly high stats even at level 1.

Yet, Kang Jaehyuk was merely a 16-year-old kid.

The likelihood that he experienced supreme system-approved limits-breaking was nonexistent.

Complete exhaustion of stamina and mental strength.

The system described the limit as something extremely brutal.

In such a state, even a high-grade player could hardly lift a finger.

There was no energy to move, so how could he move at all?

From there, it was purely an aspect of sheer will.

The domain of S-rank players, who solidified their ideation after countless near-death experiences.

An ordinary kid reaching a systemic recognition of the limit, and continuing training from that state to break through was categorically impossible.

“Should he happen to be a genius surpassing Kang Daesung, mastering Kang family swordsmanship at that age would be surprising.”

“That’s what I think as well. If Kang Jaehyuk were truly a genius, he wouldn’t have been abandoned by Kang Daesung. His talent level must only be moderately adequate.”

The secretary, bringing a new chair, concurred.

Nodding, Ji Chunmyung broke another armrest and commanded,

“Leak that the youngest son of Yaksha faces allegations of fraudulent admission and will be reassessed. Let’s drag the Kang family’s honor down to the Earth’s core through this opportunity.”

“Baekya wouldn’t stay silent.”

“If that fool doesn’t remain silent after being fooled by a 16-year-old kid’s antics, so what? That woman is already at a point of no return. Trying to block a flood tide would only bring loss, so she must quietly remain in place.”

Foolish Seol Soo-ah.

She probably intended to protect at least Yaksha’s youngest son by entering him into the Lion’s Castle, but what now?

It appeared to have caused an even greater disaster.

A thick smile spread across Ji Chunmyung’s lips.

***

Russia, Baikal Lake.

Five men and women slowly walked out from the bottom of the world’s deepest lake.

Though all showed signs of exhaustion, the man with long black hair evidenced no disturbed breathing.

Seeing the dragon turtle carcass being dragged in his hand, a middle-aged man gulped dryly and forced a smile.

“Unbelievable. I couldn’t even imagine someone capturing that monster underwater without luring it to land.”

“Yeah, the thing’s weak. Quickly extract the spirit pearl and heart while it’s still fresh. You know what’ll happen if there’s even a scratch, right?”

“Haha…”

To hold such manner towards the master of Russia’s second-largest guild.

Though flinching, the middle-aged man maintained a smiling face, urging his staff just as someone among them yelled.

“Huh? Daesung-hyung, your brother’s in the news? Look at this.”

The youngest member of the long-haired man’s group waved his phone.

“Jaehyuk?”

“He’s entered the Lion’s Castle?”

“Admission reassessment…”

The article contained suspiciously detailed information, almost suggestive of a leak from Lion’s Castle staff.

It stated things like Kang Jaehyuk, having entered Class B due to being level 1, achieved first rank in contribution during an unexpectedly joined C-rank raid, something deemed impossible by field experts who weighed in.

“Isn’t Daesung-hyung’s brother in big trouble?”

“He must have had unavoidable reasons for concealing his level upon entry, yet it seems things have gone awry. It must be troublesome.”

“He might get expelled and dragged around. Should we go to help him?”

The group caused a commotion.

Even from their perspective as players of at least A-rank, Kang Jaehyuk’s performance was significantly suspicious.

“Do you know why I left the clan to Jaehyuk?”

Kang Daesung chuckled lightly.

“That kid swung a sword over a thousand times the day he first held it. As soon as he understood the basic postures Father taught, he fell into Transcendental Focus.”

Though ten years had passed since, recalling that day still sent shivers down his spine.

“Never doubt the rightful successor of the Kang Clan, the young king we shall serve.”

***

“What’s all this…”

“Did it really have to grow to such a scale?”

Dahui and Yujin’s pupils were trembling.

Because of the crowd filling the grand training ground.

Except for festivals like exchanges with foreign schools or team competitions, it was unusual for the Lion’s Castle to admit so many outsiders. There were even dozens of news vans.

It seemed as though every media outlet in Korea was here on the scene.

To this extent, it seemed suspicious that someone might have begged them to come.

Considering that Jaehyuk is Yaksha’s son, it was an abnormal level of attention.

“… There’s malice in this.”

Yujin’s expression turned bitter.

Over the past eight years, she suddenly realized how the media had unfairly slanted regarding the Kang family.

‘Were the claims that the government and association were branding the Kang family with undue stigma true?’

Mere minority opinions discussed in anonymous communities.

She had dismissed them as mere conspiracy theories.

She wasn’t even interested.

To her, the Kang family was just a long-past aristocratic family that once prospered.

But as she experienced the world while being helped by and becoming acquainted with Jaehyuk, those claims seemed far from false.

“Malicious people.”

Dahui too was sporting an unusually cold demeanor.

Having respected Yaksha, she must have felt this unsettling and unpleasant vibe for a long time.

“What’s this? A festival? But why aren’t they selling food?”

Only Dojin appeared not to be bothered by the situation.

“Will Jaehyuk be alright?”

“Um…”

Yujin couldn’t easily answer.

For those who desired the complete downfall of the Kang family.

It was unimaginable how disheartening it would be to stand on stage before thousands of adversaries harboring malevolence.

If she were Jaehyuk, she thought she would’ve had a mental breakdown.

“Jaehyuk is probably thrilled.”

Dojin stated excitedly to the worried Dahui and Yujin.

“Isn’t this a chance to stick it to those bastards in one shot?”

Surprisingly.

Dojin seemed to hold no doubt over any dishonest means in Jaehyuk’s admission process.

It was a confidence even Dahui who defended the Kang family and Yujin, who received help from Jaehyuk, couldn’t completely muster.

“Aren’t you meeting Jaehyuk for the first time here at the Lion’s Castle, Dojin? How can you trust him so much?”

Yujin asked, receiving a bright smile from Dojin.

“That kid’s a super-genius.”

“…?”

“When I use Shunpo, even I don’t know where I’ll pop up, but he knows.”

His eyes, always filled with rage and madness, shone brightly with excitement.

“Even if he entered Class A, he would have eventually ranked first. So leveling down and entering Class B for scores? That makes no sense.”

“Exactly! That’s right!”

“Huh…?”

To discern the location of Shunpo?

To claim he would have ranked first among A-class students with Shin Lakyung present?

And then Dahui believes that too?

While Yujin was bewildered in many ways.

-We now commence the admission reassessment of student Kang Jaehyuk!

The host, taking the stage, announced energetically as if starting a festival.