Duke’s Son: Re

Chapter 14

“Let me ask just one thing.”

Even though it was a situation where he could have easily thrown a punch, Lee Gibuk posed a question calmly instead. His curiosity seemed impossible to contain.

“Why did you pretend to be a senior? What’s a freshman’s reason for acting like an upperclassman?”

“Huh.”

Baek Dojin reacted. He had known that Kang Jaehyuk was a crazy guy but he seemed astounded to realize it was to this extent.

“I never did that.”

“You’re denying it now? You didn’t refute when I called you a senior, and now?”

“Oh, that? I figured you called me that out of respect because I seemed stronger.”

He is a complete lunatic.

Having gauged Jaehyuk’s disposition, Lee Gibuk began to loosen his hand.

“Is the reason you keep using informal speech also because you’re stronger than me?”

“No? Don’t students usually speak informally to each other?”

“…?”

“It’s true, isn’t it? All the students in my class speak informally to each other.”

Lion’s Castle was technically a military institution.

They taught and executed lethal skills, such as skill and weapon training, tactical lessons, terrain adaptation training, monster hunting, and lower-tier raid expeditions.

Compared to other military institutions, Lion’s Castle had a higher intensity of lethal training, with the training itself considered an emergency scenario, thus simplifying communication between the different batches.

Simply put, there was a culture of informality among students of the same grade.

The age range was so diverse that creating a hierarchy based on siblings like hyung and nuna would be endless.

Honestly, Lion’s Castle encouraged simplified communication between seniors and juniors, too.

There were times when training overlapped between different grades.

Especially when it came to group training and competitions, grade levels didn’t matter.

But this was South Korea.

Burdened by the blow of hundreds of years of Confucian education, students were obsessed with the hierarchy of seniority and juniors.

The stark difference in skills among grades often led juniors to naturally respect seniors.

“Come to think of it, you’re right. What’s the big deal about students using informal language with each other?”

Baek Dojin, who had been treating Jaehyuk like a lunatic, changed his attitude. There was nothing wrong with Jaehyuk speaking informally to other students.

“Still, pretending to be a third-year… is a bit… crazy?”

“Why are you flip-flopping? I already said I didn’t pretend.”

“Then this is over. We’re off.”

Bang, bang.

As Dojin, who passed judgment, was about to leave with Jaehyuk, Lee Gibuk stopped him.

“No matter what, there should be a hierarchy among seniors and juniors. We were deferential to our seniors all year long, and it’s problematic if the juniors we get act like this.”

Lee Gibuk grabbed Jaehyuk by the shoulder, holding him in place.

Lee Gibuk had enrolled in his mid-30s.

He had given due respect to those youngsters half his age as seniors, and now they suddenly stopped treating him as one?

He was not pleased at all.

“Traditions should be kept.”

“Traditions my ass. Did you bow down to your seniors because of tradition? It was because you were afraid of getting beaten and humiliated by the younger guys.”

“Baek Dojin, you’ve been hostile towards me for a while now, haven’t you?”

“Yeah, I really don’t like you. You pretend to be outgoing on the outside, but you’re actually sneaky. I hate people who are two-faced.”

“I thought it was because you were jealous of my height.”

“Ridiculous. If I reach your age, I’ll be much taller than you.”

“Doesn’t seem likely.”

“Impossible. If I grow taller than you, I’ll be over 2 meters. How is that possible growing 50 centimeters suddenly?”

“Caw!”

As some second-year students started to jump in, Baek Dojin threw a fit.

Kang Jaehyuk grabbed Dojin by the nape to stop him from flailing his short limbs and offered Lee Gibuk a suggestion.

“Let’s call it a day. If you think Turtle Hyung deserves to be treated like a senior, I’ll treat him as one later. Deal?”

“Wrong. That’s not it.”

Boom.

Lee Gibuk’s already thick forearm swelled.

Since he was capable of reasoning, he had dreamed of becoming a player. Perhaps, it was a dream from even before that time.

For over 20 years, he had endured hardships for that singular dream, steadily leveling up since entering Lion’s Castle, placing him among the second-year’s upper echelons.

“I have no intention of accepting you as my junior. From now on, every time you meet me, you’ll be trembling, bowing your head.”

The verdict from the strong was an unchanging prophecy.

Lee Gibuk’s waist swayed fluidly.

The stronger the predator, the more earnestly it approached the hunt.

Thud-!

Lee Gibuk’s fist struck Jaehyuk’s side fast and precisely.

The impact was so great that the framed pictures and potted plants along the hallway slightly shook.

“Gasp.”

He couldn’t believe he genuinely struck a freshman.

Of course, he might have deserved it, but could it still lead to death?

While surprised students worried, Baek Dojin was indifferent.

“You seemed pretty rattled. Guess he hit a nerve, huh.”

‘Of all things.’

Lee Gibuk clicked his tongue inwardly.

His ambush, carrying considerable power, had been blocked by something.

The sword sheath.

Hidden just beneath the thin coat.

“What luck you have.”

Lee Gibuk let out a faint smile as he swung his fist again.

It took merely a second, tops, for his fist to reach its target.

“…?”

In that brief time, goosebumps ran across Lee Gibuk’s skin.

His eyes got caught in Kang Jaehyuk’s gaze.

Indifference, irritation, boredom.

In those pitch-black eyes, which seemed typical of a adolescent boy, something else stirred, one that hadn’t been there before.

What was that…?

‘Ah.’

That was what he had longed for.

Charisma and dignity.

The appearance of someone with authority in his eyes, which the young boy had already possessed.

‘Kang family.’

The name finally flashed across his mind tardily.

Kang Jaehyuk.

Born noble.

Could even the shadows of a fallen family not obscure his shining lineage?

Thud!

Lee Gibuk’s realizing fist was blocked once more by the sword sheath.

“That’s it.”

The sword sheath that slowly pushed away his fist gently touched Lee Gibuk’s chin.

Yet Lee Gibuk didn’t realize.

Lost in the brilliant gaze he had long envied.

“When you look at me, that’s the expression you should have.”

Jaehyuk’s whisper was deep and firm.

Rooting itself so strongly in Lee Gibuk’s heart.

“Remember, I spared you.”

Out of impulse, I could have cracked your head. But those newfound eyes happened to please me.

Jaehyuk shrugged his shoulders, glanced at Lee Gibuk, and urged Baek Dojin.

“Enough, let’s go eat. I’m starving to death.”

“There’s a challenge to see who arrives first.”

“How childish.”

“What? Kang Jaehyuk! You sneaky brat!!”

Clattering ahead, with Baek Dojin hurriedly trailing behind.

They left silence in their wake down the hallway.

Lee Gibuk was half out of it, and other students were dumbfounded as they couldn’t comprehend the situation.

From the perspective of ordinary second-year students, the recent clash wasn’t even a fight.

It merely seemed like Lee Gibuk had struck the sword sheath twice. It looked more like an older senior giving a gentle scolding to a much younger junior, rather than resorting to violence.

“Lee Gibuk hyung, are you alright?”

“…what’s there to be bad about? Why are you all standing here? Go eat.”

After sending away the students, Lee Gibuk wiped the sweat trickling down his chin. His sleeve got drenched.

Could he manage to win if they truly fought?

Naturally, he still had a chance to win at this point.

Whatever Kang Jaehyuk’s skill might be, he was just a freshman.

In contrast, Lee Gibuk’s level exceeded 20, and the power of the skills he gained through arduous endeavors was extraordinary.

Would his mana be red for no reason?

Lee Gibuk had the potential to become an A-rank player.

He possessed the minimum qualifications to lead a guild.

Therefore, he had plans to rise above, and had been executing them.

‘But…’

Lee Gibuk realized his own dream was no more than a small well.

He was engulfed by an urge to dive into the vast sea he had just witnessed.

***

“Isn’t it ridiculous?”

On their way to the training ground after finishing their meal.

Jaehyuk, who had opened his phone thinking there might be a reply from Steward Hwang, grumbled.

“Why is it that the phone only works in the dormitory?”

“I heard those magic engineering transmission towers are incredibly expensive. Isn’t that why they’re only in safe zones?”

“That’s what’s funny. Emergencies happen in dangerous zones, not safe zones. If they were to set up transmission towers, they should have placed them in training grounds or monster respawn areas. They spend taxes ridiculously. Guess whose taxes my father earned are being wasted here.”

“I thought nobles didn’t pay much tax?”

“If it weren’t for the gates and cities my father protected, the overall tax revenue would have decreased. In current times, the fact that I even have to spell it out for you, what a pain.”

“I’m not interested in that kind of stuff; just explain the training plan.”

“Not interested in that kind of stuff? Stuff like that? Seriously, people these days don’t even know to be grateful to His Excellency, the Grand Duke. Ugh, it’s driving me crazy.”

While Kang Jaehyuk incessantly grumbled to himself.

The boys reached the third training ground.

Despite it being the weekend, students fervently engaged in personal training filled the space.

Everyone was earnest.

There wasn’t a single person there who treated training lightly.

That feverish zeal excited Jaehyuk.

‘I made the right choice enrolling here.’

He was gradually growing more fond of Lion’s Castle.

Especially, Jaehyuk couldn’t take his gaze off a green-haired boy.

The vibrant color seemed at first a bold dye choice, but looking at his features, he appeared to be a foreigner.

“… Why is a foreigner here?”

Now were they wasting tax money on foreigners too?

As Jaehyuk furrowed his brows.

The green-haired boy, sensing the stare, turned to look at him.

‘Oh?’

Jaehyuk flinched in surprise,

“Lauren…?”

Baek Dojin wore a shocked expression as if he’d seen a ghost.

The green-haired boy’s gaze landed on him.

“It’s been a while, Dojin.”

“You son of a…!”

“Your parents are safe within my care. So try not to get too worked up.”

“LAUREEEEEEN!!”

Before Jaehyuk had any time to piece the situation together, Baek Dojin lunged at Lauren.

Grasping the massive sword that exceeded his height.

He looked as if he would kill for sure.