Duke’s Son: Re

Chapter 60

『Have you run here just because someone touched Yaksha’s son? You’ve grown quite strong, yet you’re still acting as Yaksha’s lackey—it’s amusing.』

“Quite strong? Theodor, then and now, you have never had the right to assess my power.”

『Kuhaha! This brat doesn’t understand her place! Once I regain the strength of my prime, I could easily handle both you and Yaksha…』

“But you can’t regain it, can you?”

『… Tch, enough of the jeering, just kill me cleanly.』

It was a time long past, in Theodor’s prime.

Back then, Theodor had fought against the army of the gods.

Even a few National Treasures could not handle him at his peak.

But reclaiming his past strength was impossible in the present.

Pearl Island.

He had long since become the specter of this small island where the Lion’s Castle stood.

His soul was pinned and there was no way to escape.

He was continually killed without a chance to regain his power, losing the strength he had gathered, only to die and lose again in a cyclical plight.

Yaksha was supposed to have been the solution to escape that plight…

Just as Theodor smacked his lips in regret, Seol Soo-ah asked a surprising question.

“Why didn’t you kill Jaehyuk and instead opted for a single-match duel?”

Theodor looked weary.

『Were you spying while in hiding? Stalking Yaksha and then his son—still the same creep, aren’t you? Even if you search the entire universe, perverts like you are rare.』

“It’s a misunderstanding. I’m simply a guardian.”

『A guardian…? He seems to have grown up on his own, though.』

Theodor tilted his head, his purple eyes narrowing.

He did not see any structured system in Jaehyuk’s swordsmanship.

It wasn’t based on forms meant to lead scenarios, but rather a style of swinging the sword in response to the situation.

Jaehyuk’s swordsmanship was founded purely on knowledge and talent.

The knowledge might have been implanted, but the swordsmanship itself was akin to self-learning.

Reaching what could be called ever-changing.

“He hasn’t been in my care for very long. Being a guardian doesn’t necessarily mean being a master.”

『Good to know.』

Theodor grinned.

『The reason I spared him is simple. He is bound to become stronger, and I expect he’ll fulfill a ‘promise’ in place of the specter who’s forgotten about me because he’s obsession on swords.』

“…….”

Seol Soo-ah’s face, which usually held a bright, radiant smile, hardened for the first time.

She didn’t know the specific promise Yaksha and Theodor had made.

But she understood why Yaksha hadn’t come back for Theodor.

It wasn’t because he had forgotten the promise, but rather he was unable to move.

Realizing Yaksha’s situation once more weighed her heart.

But it was bearable.

The boy named Kang Jaehyuk gave her comfort.

“… I’m looking forward to it too.”

Crack, crackle!

As Seol Soo-ah released her white magic power, Theodor’s body froze instantly.

“Until then, I’ll protect your person.”

***

“Is Jaehyuk okay?”

“Yeah, fortunately, it seems he’s not in critical condition. They say the senior instructor risked his life to protect him.”

“To give one’s life for a student… I was a fool for dismissing the instructors as has-beens.”

“But how do you get kidnapped by a monster while leaving early? That’s one unlucky guy.”

“There was a reason why the Military force strictly blocked the danger zones.”

Within a day, the rumors had slightly(?) become exaggerated.

The narrative told that a named-grade monster, which almost annihilated Class A, had kidnapped Jaehyuk as it happened to pass by nearby.

Consequently, a senior instructor who was killed by Jaehyuk was being hailed as a hero who protected the students.

“Don’t you all look good?”

In the noisy classroom, Jaehyuk entered.

As he said, the students of Class B looked quite well.

The previous day.

After Jaehyuk left early, hunting cats, they had managed to raise at least 2 levels each.

Except for Park Haerin, who somehow had dark circles beneath her eyes, all the students of Class B were full of energy.

“Hmph, my face has always been good?”

Chun Hyeji snorted.

Brushing aside her vibrant blonde hair, a subtle curl formed at the corner of her revealed mouth.

She was happy to see Jaehyuk safe and sound.

Other students felt the same.

Who would have thought Jaehyuk, supposedly kidnapped by a monster that killed a senior instructor, would show up at school the next day?

They were relieved to see he seemed fine, contrary to their worries.

Thud.

Haerin hit her forehead on her desk and immediately fell asleep.

Having not slept a wink all night, coming face to face with Jaehyuk relaxed her instantly.

“Silence, silence.”

About 10 minutes later, Kim Jinmyung entered the classroom.

Spotting Jaehyuk sitting casually among the students, he showed a complex expression.

When he saw Haerin lifting her head like a zombie, he flinched and then said,
“As you all know, there was a major accident yesterday.”

Kim Jinmyung arranged a time to mourn the deceased senior instructor.

All the bowed students sincerely offered a moment of silence.

Do Baesoo, who was quite sensitive, even shed tears.

Jaehyuk, however, seemed indifferent.

‘That scumbag got lucky with his reputation.’

Unlike his great father, who lost his honor.

Once the lengthy moment of silence ended, the class began.

It was on magic power.

Unlike Lee Soyoung, Kim Jinmyung didn’t have much to teach.

However, he generously shared the know-how he had accumulated during his active years.

His sincere hope that his students would become even a little more skilled in mana technique was palpable, keeping the students deeply engaged in the class.

Regrettably, the class wasn’t of much help to Jaehyuk.

He had long mastered the Kang Family’s mana technique.

Unless they taught a new mana technique, neither Seol Soo-ah nor Lee Soyoung could fully impart knowledge to him.

“Why are you shaking your hips when I tell you to move your dantian? Don’t you know where your dantian is? Do I have to teach you even this?”

“Ooof….”

Jaehyuk had somehow become a teaching assistant.

He expertly pinpointed students struggling to keep up with the class and poked knife sheaths into their stomachs.

As a result, the classroom filled with groans and screams, and the students sweat profusely.

Lee Jinsung and Chun Hyeji, who were following along with their eyes closed, almost lost their concentration and sustained internal injuries at the sight of Jaehyuk’s ghost-like face.

And they immediately became targets.

“Why do you guys never improve? You remind me of our utterly stubborn dog Bokshil at home. He’s dumb because he takes after Kang Doona, you know? Don’t you wonder who’s dumber, you guys or him?”

“Why are you pulling out a blade, you crazy bastard!”

“T-teacher! Please stop this lunatic!”

Why have you returned like this?

Just a few minutes ago, students were delightedly welcoming Jaehyuk back, now suddenly full of begrudging thoughts.

***

“Snowy field adaptation training has been indefinitely suspended.”

After the morning class ended.

Kim Jinmyung presented a new training location to the students.

The jungle.

Compared to the swamps or deserts, it was indeed a more challenging area.

With marshes as a base, filled with toxic plants and insects, it required significant time to adapt.

Above all, the greatest danger was the monsters lurking in the undergrowth and atop trees.

Yet, it seemed easier compared to the snowy field.

Students had started adjusting to the snowy field setting.

They didn’t want to lose their momentum due to a sudden change in the schedule.

“I heard the named monster left the snowy field? Couldn’t we just finish the snowy field training?”

Students considered the snowy field a breeze.

The only monster they encountered yesterday was the Snow Flower.

Snow Flower.

As the name suggests, it’s a plant-type monster covered in snow.

Unable to move, it couldn’t join the monster migration, making it easy for the students to defeat and accumulate a large amount of experience, consequently leveling up quickly.

They certainly had reason to underestimate the snowy field.

However, today’s snowy field was entirely different from yesterday’s.

Due to the death of the Troll Lord, the monster migration phenomenon had disappeared.

The students couldn’t take a step into the snowy field without being attacked by monsters tearing through the blizzard.

Kim Jinmyung was about to explain this when Jaehyuk quietly raised his hand and spoke.

“I’d also prefer if we finished the snow training first. The kids are full of confidence; I’m curious to see how well they’ll handle it.”

“Besides, wouldn’t it be easier to adapt to the jungle if we tackled the snowy field training first?”

“Hmm….”

Kim Jinmyung knew Jaehyuk’s character.

A noble carrying the duty to protect the populace.

He wouldn’t deliberately endanger the students.

So suggesting they go to the snowy field…

‘Does he intend to take the burden upon himself?’

Kim Jinmyung already felt indebted to Jaehyuk.

Knowing the pace of Class B’s lessons was too slow for Jaehyuk.

It was only beneficial for Jaehyuk if the students grew quickly.

‘If I and the instructors thoroughly protect the perimeter, it might work out?’

How much effort had the students put into adapting to the snowy field?

Kim Jinmyung also felt reluctant to postpone the snowy field training.

Most importantly, he trusted Jaehyuk’s abilities.

After contemplating for a moment, he finally nodded.

“Teaching them the real danger of the snowy field isn’t a bad idea. Everyone, change into your winter gear.”

“Whoaaa!”

The students of Class B cheered with joy.

The main reason they wanted the snowy field training.

‘Today will be different.’

‘Kang Jaehyuk, he’ll have to taste ice this time?’

They believed it to be an opportunity to get back at Jaehyuk.

They thought the skill gap had narrowed since Jaehyuk hadn’t participated in the day-long snowy field training while they did.

One hour later.

“Eek, eek! I was wrong! Just spare me once… Ahhh!!”

Students of Class B who had arrived at the snowy field were soon wailing.

It was nothing short of hell as Jaehyuk forced them onto sleds (?) or summoned yetis from nowhere to toss around.

His figure, running across the ice as if it were a grassy field, bullying the students left the instructors speechless.

‘Why doesn’t he slip?’

‘How does he navigate the snowstorm on his own…?’

‘Is he from Antarctica?’

That evening.

When the training was over, the Class B students, entering the cafeteria, all wore faces of despair.

With their shoulders slumped and look of dejection, it seemed as if only their world was in an apocalypse.

On the contrary, Jaehyuk, who followed them, was beaming.

He appeared neat, as if he was the only one who’d taken a bath.

Naturally drawing all the students’ attention, a tall girl approached him.

With hair the hue of the sky, she was a striking beauty.

She was Jang Yeonju, granddaughter of the Bow Saint.

“I compiled the request list you wanted.”

She whispered as she casually picked up a tray.

“I have other things to talk about too. Can you come to the club room after dinner?”