Duke’s Son: Re

Chapter 36

The Death Knight was an S-rank elite monster. Its most notable feature was that it was a master of swordsmanship, befitting its background as an undead knight.

It had overcome the innate weaknesses of the undead through its swordsmanship. Let alone a named Death Knight, it might have been stronger than most S-rank bosses.

“Oh… Am I doomed?”

Monsters differed from players.

Players, no matter how much they increased their health stats, only saw growth in physical endurance and stamina.

In contrast, monsters had the concept of life force.

Even a precise strike to a vital point would only deplete their life force, not inflict instant-kill damage.

Of course, if one dealt damage exceeding their life force, they could be killed in one blow, and severing their neck or limbs could significantly reduce their combat ability, but…

‘High-grade monsters didn’t just have high life force; they also had immense defense.’

Moreover, undead creatures were vulnerable only to holy power and didn’t have specific vital points.

Even Jaehyuk, who could defeat stronger players with a single strike, found it unreasonable to even consider winning against a Death Knight.

The period of 120 days felt too short for him.

– Where did you hear that creature’s name?

“It spoke directly to me in my mind.”

– That rascal has already revived… But why did it reach out to you?

“Judging by its talk about an sword-obsessed specter, it seemed to mistake me for that spirit.”

The lion statue fell silent with a thoughtful hum.

– An sword-obsessed specter… Indeed, your fixation on swordsmanship might be similar to that of the spirit twelve years ago.

“Who on earth is this spirit?”

– It was one of the outsiders who participated when this land fell to war. There wasn’t an ounce of hesitation in ruthlessly slaughtering enemies. Both enemies and allies whispered only the name Yaksha, for the spirit seemed as wicked as a demon.

“Huh…?”

Yaksha?

– Its ferocity was so overwhelming that humans and monsters instinctively relied on each other and formed a coalition. Especially the sight of its sword, dulled by blood and oil, being licked with a grin—it looked like a demon crawling up from hell.”

The voice of the lion statue quivered as if recalling a chilling thought.

If it were a living being rather than a statue, its expression would have been quite a sight.

“……”

To Jaehyuk, his father was a figure as noble and admirable as could be, a paragon of nobility.

Thus, he had never deeply pondered the name Yaksha. Yaksha, another word for a cruel and harsh ghost that harms people…

While Jaehyuk silently kept his mouth shut in surprise, the oblivious lion statue continued chattering.

– That wicked spirit suddenly vanished after creating a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood here, perhaps ascending to the demonic realm. No wonder the rascal Theodor is obsessed with it. He must have idolized it. You should be careful. Theodor, being obsessive about the evil spirit, is a complete lunatic… Ugh! Why are you hitting me?

“Just…”

– Just? Juuuuuust? This human is completely insane! It’s clear why Theodor mistook you for the spirit!

“Ahem!”

A faint smile spread across Jaehyuk’s lips as he cleared his throat in embarrassment.

‘The fact that he mistook my fierce aura for my father’s means I resemble my father that much?’

Noble duties demanded being gentle to citizens and resolute against enemies.

Due to excessive historical distortion, he couldn’t know accurately, but twelve years ago was likely when foreign forces invaded the Lion’s Castle.

Jaehyuk was extremely proud that his father defended the nation’s territories and sovereignty by annihilating the enemy.

The image of his father smiling and licking a blade stained with enemy blood would have been overwhelmingly powerful in reality.

It must have been a performance to instill fear in the enemy and sap their fighting spirit.

‘Perhaps I’ll try imitating it someday if I get the chance.’

Jaehyuk felt various forms of joy.

He had discovered a new aspect of his father, was inspired by his father’s achievements of creating a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood with foreign enemies’ bodies, and most of all, he was inheriting his father’s legacy.

The named Death Knight, Theodor—his father’s unfinished matters seemed to be passed on to him like fate.

It felt like a revelation acknowledging him as the sole heir to the Kang family.

“I should not avoid it but take responsibility.”

– You insane human! Did you just hit the ruler of this dimension and are now smiling?!

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

– This isn’t the time to be complacent. Although it might take ten years to regain strength since he’s just revived, Theodor is nothing to be underestimated.

“Ten years? Not four months?”

– Four months…? Even if he recuperates for that long, he might barely manage to wield a sword. True, he is not the type to wait patiently. It’s not strange for him to start searching for you as soon as he regains mobility. But!

The lion statue gave a stern warning.

– Theodor bears the family name that signifies the lineage of the continent’s strongest swordsman duke a thousand years ago. That rascal could crush a mere fledgling like you with one finger. Abandon any false hopes and flee. Let’s pretend our promise never existed. I should just make the silver-haired brat complete your incomplete quest… Ack!

“The strongest dukes in the continent from a millennium ago?”

Jaehyuk’s eyes glistened as he struck the statue’s head with the hilt of his sword, retaliating against it continuously switching allegiances.

“I am the only remaining bloodline of the strongest duke of our era.”

His declaration was resolute, although Jaehyuk’s siblings were alive and well.

***

“Has Instructor Yun gone missing?”

“Could it be that he ventured into a danger zone?”

“He is a B-rank player, could monsters have gotten to him?”

“Areas near the shore are known for frequent appearances of A-rank or higher monsters. It’s not strange if he took a wrong turn at night and fell prey to one.”

The news of Professor Shim Yejin’s assistant’s disappearance quickly spread among the faculty staff.

Most suspected it to be the work of monsters. However, the staff from the Steel Guild knew the actual circumstances of the incident.

“The moment he received orders to kidnap Kang Jaehyuk, Yun Sangho went missing…”

“Did that fool act rashly and catch the attention of the combat unit? I should avoid drawing involvements for a while.”

Steel was merely a medium-sized guild. Within the Lion’s Castle, only three, including Yun Sangho, were from the Steel Guild.

After one of them targeted a student and was captured by the combat unit, the remaining two would find it hard to escape suspicion.

Their Guildmaster would surely pressure them for a resolution, but what could they do?

For now, they could only lie low and make no noise.

“… No, a chance remains. There’s a way to blow your nose without touching it.”

“Kids should be dealt with using other kids.”

Dreading the Guildmaster’s wrath, they started gathering information on students recently associated with Kang Jaehyuk. They quickly discovered a name: Ha Kyungsoo.

A red evaluator from Class A. He had received demerit points during the Leech King raid because of Kang Jaehyuk.

“Level 23… Using this child, it would be simple to get Kang Jaehyuk into the infirmary.”

The duel evaluation scheduled for next week loomed. Manipulating a youngster before that was trivial.

As they exchanged cold glances, they prepared a gift to persuade Ha Kyungsoo.

The practical experience during three days in the swamp zone had brought the level of Class B students close to 6.

Hunting with guaranteed safety provided a tremendous advantage.

Ordinary players not enrolled in the Lion’s Castle had to fight for life and death daily at unfamiliar gates, struggling to raise even one level a day.

The astonishing growth achieved in just three days had given the students confidence that reached the heavens.

However, two hours into their new terrain adaptation training, their confidence shattered into pieces.

Desert.

Except for avoiding wormholes, the desert was not particularly challenging compared to the swamp zone.

The students, who had leveled up and grown considerably stronger, were confident in adapting with ease.

This notion, however, soon proved off the mark.

Adapting to the new environment, not to mention Jaehyuk’s interference, was exceedingly difficult.

Instructor Kim Jinmyung gathered the students to explain the reason.

“Just because your level and stats increase doesn’t mean your skills directly improve. Two times forward.”

Daesoo, Jinsung’s close friend, stepped forward at Kim Jinmyung’s call to do a pull-up on the barbell in front of him.

The instructors had installed more than 100 barbells in the area.

“Do a pull-up.”

“Uh… Yes!”

Is that all it was?

With a puzzled expression, Daesoo hung on the barbell. Then…

Snap!

The barbell broke under Daesoo’s strength.

While the students burst into laughter, Kim Jinmyung hung lightly on a nearby intact barbell.

“Adjusting the body to the increased stats is imperative. The moment the enhanced body doesn’t harmonize with perception, the balance in all actions can collapse, potentially worsening skills. Until you can completely control your body, don’t be complacent about feeling stronger. That’s false pride and arrogance.”

Having demonstrated ten pull-ups, he horizontally extended his body, holding it on the bar.

“Increased strength, stamina, and agility mean heightened muscular power, intensity, and flexibility. Use the barbells before you to diagnose precisely which muscles have grown, by how much, and how they have developed. Control them to the limit.”

Finally, he effortlessly folded the barbell with one hand and stepped back, signaling the start of physical adjustment training.

Crack! Thump!

Half of the students broke the barbells instantly when hanging on them.

The other half gave too little effort and failed to do even a single pull-up.

Only Jaehyuk smoothly performed the pull-ups, stood upside down, maintained a horizontal position, and eventually danced like he was performing pole dance.

“Wow, crazy… Was that the secret to his skill?”

“His stats are higher than ours, that’s amazing.”

“But, why the sudden dance?”

“He’s impressive at times but seems to have a screw loose usually.”

As the impressed reactions to Jaehyuk’s feats cooled, Kim Jinmyung clapped his hands and shouted bravo.

“Bravo, Kang Jaehyuk! Well done, Kang Jaehyuk! All of you, watch and learn from Jaehyuk. The intensity of pole dancing is beyond imagination. It’s perfect for adjusting the body since it uses the full body muscles, focusing on the grip and core.”

“Ooh…”

“I see, hence…”

Some students who had adapted their enhanced bodies began imitating Jaehyuk’s pole dance.

Notably, among them were Park Haerin and Chun Hyeji.

While Chun Hyeji seemed alluring due to her lush blonde hair and a tall, slender frame, Park Haerin, hanging on a pole for the first time like a fledgling kitten on a branch, appeared awkward and precarious.

Many students couldn’t hold back their laughter at their contrasting appearances.

Meanwhile, Chun Hyeji felt an urge for rivalry with Kang Jaehyuk.

“How about this? I have toiled over gymnastics!”

When it came to pole dance, she wouldn’t lose!

Flailing her long legs and performing various stunts on the pole, her radiant blonde hair became disheveled.

The sight of her hanging upside down with bloodshot eyes was reminiscent of a madwoman.

Jaehyuk, having come down from the pole, clicked his tongue.

‘I’m speechless.’

He’d just loosened up out of boredom, only to see everyone start dancing wildly.

Was acting like this on the sacred land his father had defended with his blood and tears appropriate?

‘This country is abnormal.’

I must quickly restore the Kang family’s honor and correct history for the people to regain their sanity.

As Jaehyuk refocused his mind, Kim Jinmyung approached him.

“There will be an advanced learning session on mana operations tomorrow. It’s merely introductory, but since the professor will personally teach it, it should be greatly beneficial for you.”

“Professor…”

Jaehyuk’s eyes sparkled.