Duke’s Son: Re

Chapter 58

“Po, potion! Supreme-grade potion!!”

“Supreme-grade potion isn’t just a dog’s name from next door, what in the world…?”

A search party member, scolding the fussing Park Jubong, pouted his lips.

“He’s not even that injured.”

He wasn’t entirely wrong.

Jaehyuk had only suffered severe fractures in both hands.

Seeing his uniform, shredded around the waist area, and his blood-soaked white shirt, they worried he might be at death’s door, but surprisingly, he wasn’t.

However, words could be tricky.

“Where does this look like it’s not serious? Just a little delay in treatment and he could have been crippled for life.”

Yujin protested to the person who was casually pouring a mid-grade potion onto Jaehyuk’s hands.

But it didn’t seem to get through at all.

“We arrived in time to take action, so it’s nothing major. What, should I give you a pat on the back? Players getting injured, what’s the big deal about that?”

The military forces of the Lion’s Castle were all elites.

They weren’t the type to be swayed by mere students.

The person pushed Dahui aside, who was busy wiping Jaehyuk’s sweat and blood, and got to the point.

“Student Kang Jaehyuk? What were you doing here?”

The Troll Lord Dungeon.

A zone restricted from students, even faculty members.

Only the military forces who were authorized to raid could enter.

Especially since the Troll Lord took three months of maturation to gain significant value and military around it was high.

Seeing the dead body of the Troll Lord naturally led to an interrogative tone.

Dahui was getting upset at the way he was pressing Jaehyuk, who was injured.

“He must have come by chance while running away from a Death Knight.”

“It isn’t a place you reach by chance. You’ve experienced how tough it is to get here, haven’t you? Ah, what a bother. Professor Park Jubong, take them out.”

When the search party member frowned, Jaehyuk began explaining.

“I thought there would be an military force here to guard, so I came to ask for help. But there was nobody, as if they’d gone for a meal, and as you can see, I ended up being chased all the way here, nearly becoming a meal for the Death Knight along with the Troll Lord.”

His words, mixing truth and lies skillfully, were persuasive.

A freshman deliberately targeting a Troll Lord for a raid?

And in such a situation, being chased by a Death Knight?

Even if it was just birthed, the Troll Lord’s level was 59.

There was no way a freshman, two months into the Lion’s Castle, could stand a chance.

Moreover, the Class A students testified that the Death Knight was a named-class entity.

Jaehyuk’s explanation was hard to refute.

The other military members, who were examining the Troll Lord’s body, supported Jaehyuk’s words.

“Externally, it seems relatively intact, but internally, it’s completely mashed. The blade thrust through the collarbone appeared to have destroyed the heart and organs in one strike.”

“A lightning-attribute attack… It is extraordinary, befitting a named-class Death Knight. What trick did the Class A students use to survive against such a creature?”

“Fortunately, Silla Kyung was present, you know? That kid said the Death Knight wasn’t interested in the students from the start.”

“Well, seeing that child also survived…”

“Luck was the ally.”

Meanwhile, those who had been pursuing the Death Knight returned to the scene.

“Lost it, damn.”

“It just ran away without looking back. Keeping the students alive and all, seems it doesn’t plan to clash with humans yet.”

“Named-class are clever. It has its own idea of the opportune moment.”

“But I didn’t know there was a named-class in the Lion’s Castle? When did it start hiding?”

“The captains would know. Let’s hurry and report this.”

As they withdrew their attention from the scene, the armed members collected the Troll Lord’s corpse.

“I’ve never seen a boss monster’s body in such pristine condition. We’ll pocket quite a bit of money.”

“What’s the use of money? The lord’s value lies in the crown or the skill book. Thinking of the captains of Assault Team 2 and Assault Team 5 losing their tempers, I’m already scared.”

“Ah, the raid rights were with the association faction, right?”

“It’s a stroke of luck for Lady Seol Soo-ah.”

Once people left and the commotion quieted down.

“Let me ask you one last thing.”

The search party member interrogating Jaehyuk posed the most crucial question.

“Why did the Death Knight chase you in particular? Judging by the circumstances, it wouldn’t have been odd if it had pursued Professor Park Jubong.”

According to the A-class students, the Death Knight moved while pursuing someone known as the ‘sword-obsessed specter’.

And then, it pursued Jaehyuk right afterward.

Could there be some connection?

As the search party member wore a suspicious expression, Jaehyuk was about to use the answer he had premeditated.

“That’s probably because Student Kang Jaehyuk saved my life.”

Park Jubong explained.

“I was destined to die after being ambushed by the Death Knight, having sustained severe wounds. The one who struck me would know that best. But since I revived moments after meeting Student Kang Jaehyuk, it’s not strange that the Death Knight took an interest in him.”

In original raids, supporters often unintentionally attracted the boss’s attention.

The search party found merit in Park Jubong’s claim and raised a new question.

“How did Student Kang Jaehyuk treat you?”

“With a top-grade potion.”

“…!”

Yujin and Dahui were incredulous, and the search party member’s eyes widened.

A top-grade potion was the pinnacle in the potion realm.

As long as a target’s life hadn’t fully ended, it could unquestionably heal even the most grievous wounds.

However, it was so challenging to obtain that even famous powerhouses rarely stocked it up.

But a mere student had it?

‘No, not an ordinary student. Even though it declined, he’s of Kang family blood. Given the Kang family’s past glory, it’s understandable for this child to have a top-grade potion. However….’

The search party member wore a baffled expression.

“Why did you use such a precious thing on someone else?”

“Do you need a reason to help someone?”

“Uh…?”

“My father would say I used the potion rightfully and be proud of me.”

Jaehyuk refrained from mentioning Jaekyung Pharmaceutical by name.

Explaining the circumstances under which he received a top-grade potion from Jo Sunghyun would mean revealing everything that happened that day.

It also allowed him to uphold his father’s honor.

Dahui and Park Jubong wore expressions of touching admiration while Yujin shook her head, unconvinced, and the search party member’s reaction was not far from hers.

“… I see.”

But actual noblesse oblige often deviated from common sense.

The search party member, who stood up and bowed slightly to Jaehyuk, said,

“Thanks for answering sincerely despite the difficulty. I feel fortunate that you came out alive. Go and rest well.”

“Amazing….”

After he left.

Yujin, who had been standing in a daze with wide eyes, started exclaiming in excitement.

“The military force bowed to a student! They’re known to be so arrogant that they often disregard professors too! Isn’t that right, professor?”

“Uh…? Ye, yes.”

“Kang Jaehyuk, you’re truly something! An elite who even keeps his head high and criticizes our homeroom professor, who’s at least thirty years older, bowed to you!”

“I may not look it, but I’m not that old…”

“Both of you, stop talking and help Jaehyuk!”

Park Jubong didn’t find a chance to argue about his aged appearance.

***

“Jaehyuk!!”

Once he was supported by Park Jubong and Dahui and emerged from the dungeon,

“Are you alright?! Did you get seriously hurt?!”

Jaehyuk met Kim Jinmyung.

Drenched in sweat and taking deep breaths, it seemed he had rushed over in a hurry after hearing the news belatedly.

Jaehyuk took advantage of the moment when Kim Jinmyung was off guard.

“I’m fine since I received timely treatment. However….”

“Ah….”

When Jaehyuk trailed off, the instructors following Kim Jinmyung sighed.

They realized the reason why the senior instructor wasn’t visible.

Before they could ask detailed circumstances, Jaehyuk preemptively took the lead again.

“I’ve already testified to the military forces about the incident.”

“…….”

With the acknowledgment that he had testified to the military forces, what could the low-ranked instructors do?

At a loss for words, they willingly made way for Jaehyuk.

***

Returning directly to the dormitory, claiming he needed rest, Jaehyuk opened his inventory first.

Then, an emerald green book and a beautifully crafted red sword appeared before his eyes.

These were the skill book and the Yaiaruths drop from the Troll Lord.

〈Iyarugt〉

Grade: Legendary

A divine object bestowed upon a loyal knight by a god in his human days.

Currently soulless, but it is a rare exquisite sword.

The more consecutively wielded, the stronger its power becomes, slicing enemies through with their armor.

*Attack power increases with successive attacks on the same target.

*Very low probability of activating 〈Blade of the Abyss〉 during consecutive attacks.

*Unable to be damaged.

★To exhibit its true power, the soul must be found.

Just as Theodor speculated, yaiaruth was in an incomplete state.

Yet, it was so powerful.

Feeling a brief shiver, Jaehyuk soon focused on another detail.

‘God in his human days.’

It was a familiar phrase.

The lion statue’s words came to mind.

-Though later consecrated by the inscription of 5 seconds of legend by a god during his human days…, I sometimes miss the distant past.

A god who turned the Lion’s Castle into a sanctuary.

Who could he possibly be?

And could the ancestor have been a knight of this god?

‘A knight.’

The memory of his awakened moment flashed in his mind.

The third princess of Reindhart, Iris.

That mysterious transcendent mentioned looking forward to the chivalry Jaehyuk was about to pen.

Was she possibly related to a god too?

‘It’s pointless to agonize over this now.’

The fact that Reindhart was a real place was verified through the community.

Also discovered was the information was challenging to procure.

In other words, there was no reason to be anxious and immersed immediately.

Reindhart, the third princess, the progenitor, the god.

All these were likely to naturally confront him as a player as he advanced.

This applied to Iyarugt’s missing soul as well.

Since no quest related to it had emerged, worrying about it now would only waste his mental energy.

‘Rather than that, I’m curious how my sword ended up becoming Iyarugt.’

Jaehyuk revisited his childhood memories.

Among the dozens of swords displayed in the armory, did this one, handed by his father, stand out for some reason?

Was this sword the same one given to him by his father as a gift at the time?

His life with his siblings.

The careless Kang Daesung didn’t bother with trivial issues, and during practice, it was common for swords to get swapped unknowingly.

‘That damned guy.’

Everything about him was distasteful.

Clicking his tongue, Jaehyuk unsheathed the sword.

‘I must find a new scabbard, was there a blacksmith in the Lion’s Castle? Or should I ask Steward Hwang…?’

To gauge Iyarugt’s exact dimensions, Jaehyuk tried fitting it into the scabbard, and his eyes widened in surprise.

Clink!

Iyarugt slid precisely into the scabbard as if it belonged there.