Duke’s Son: Re

Chapter 5

The curriculum included how to choose a profession based on the first skill series, a guide on selecting weapons according to the profession, and how to distribute stat points for maximum efficiency.

Students learned about the geography and environment of Gates in Korea, the monsters inhabiting the Gates, different types of quests, effective strategies, and the physiology of urban-type Gates, among other topics.

Lion’s Castle faithfully instilled essential knowledge for players in its students.

“Increasing the strength stat significantly boosts power while aiding speed and defensive stats. The agility stat enhances speed, reflexes, and slightly affects perception…”

Contrary to Kim Jinmyung’s and the students’ worries, Jaehyuk was passionate about the lessons.

Once the class began, he diligently noted everything with keen focus.

“Is there anyone who doesn’t know this? Even ordinary people should be aware of it.”

“… The way to increase stats is by leveling up or completing quests. With each level gained, the primary stat increases by 2, and other stats by 1. Completing quests grants a certain amount of stat points.”

“How much is the certain amount?”

“That depends on the quest details. Don’t you know even that?”

“I wouldn’t be sitting here if I did.”

“… Your main stat is determined by the profession you choose. For combat-based professions, the main stat is selected from strength, stamina, or agility. So ideally, a profession should be chosen based on the highest stat. However, realistically, that’s hard to achieve. The first skill should take precedence over stats when choosing a profession. Even if strength is your highest stat, if the first skill blooms in the magic series, you should change to a magic-related profession.”

“Who in their right mind wouldn’t wait to awaken a combat series skill if they trained their strength?”

“Ugh…”

However, regardless of his passion, Jaehyuk had an attitude problem.

His constant interruptions during the lessons stumped Kim Jinmyung several times and adversely affected the class progress.

If only there wasn’t a limit of 10 demerit points that a teacher could give a student per semester.

Kim Jinmyung felt confident he could have expelled Jaehyuk within the first period.

“To awaken the first skill, you need to exert more than a bloody effort, a fact you might not be unaware of. You must sustain a strenuous 10-year-long ordeal to awaken it. This is something every student in Class B has already experienced.”

“If you pushed past your limits instead of just up to them, it would have been quicker.”

“Considering that you, Kang Jaehyuk, are only 16 years old, I assume you awakened your first skill in about 5 to 6 years. Moreover, it seems like you obtained a first skill suitable for you right away and achieved awakening. However, the majority of people aren’t as lucky as you.”

Barely 1% of all players were like Jaehyuk, who was luckily granted the right skill from the start.

For many aspiring elite players, enduring over 20 years of hardship to gain a passable first skill was common.

“Don’t assume everyone else is the same just because you were lucky. Recognize that your deep arrogance will deceive and hurt many others.”

“But you see, I didn’t even awaken.”

“…”

This kid… is he a parrot?

Kim Jinmyung had an intriguing experience.

An experience where the anger boiling deep in his heart vanished like a lie.

It felt like attaining enlightenment.

With a wide smile, Kim Jinmyung dismissed Jaehyuk and resumed the lesson.

***

-Youngest one, I’m sorry. Hyung here couldn’t contain his anger and pummeled the association president for an hour. I probably didn’t kill him since I controlled my strength moderately… Anyway, if I wander around near home now, the association will seize the opportunity to wreck the house. How can I ever face the ancestors then? Youngest one, hyung will be away for a while. Until I return, listen to the nunas and take good care of dad.

“You irresponsible bastard. You’re supposed to be the eldest…. Huh? Hello? Hello! Hey! Kang Daesung!!”

-Heh heh, sorry. I got caught planting a bomb at the National Assembly and trying to abduct the President. A damn subordinate ratted me out… Anyway, don’t worry about nuna! I’ll eat well, sleep well, and endure in confinement! Heh, 15 years is nothing! I’ll personally kill the snitch subordinate later! Listen to the two, and you just focus on dad!

“Just rot in prison for life.”

-I’m going on a retreat. Can’t do it in Korea. Because of oppa and unni, it’s hard to move freely.

“If you leave too, I’ll be the only one left at home?”

-So what? You’re not a kid anymore.

“I’m 8, you lunatic!”

…

…

Jaehyuk often experienced nightmares.

Among those nightmares were the repeated phone calls from his siblings over three consecutive days.

Looking back now, those siblings were hopeless idiots.

Jaehyuk sometimes wondered.

If even he weren’t there, the children of Yaksha would have been universally branded as lunatics.

“He’s that crazy kid.”

“Is that for real? I couldn’t believe it when I heard.”

“I saw him yelling for Hyeji outside the girls’ bathroom during break time, so it seems true…”

“He’s the brother of fugitive Kang Daesung and traitor Kang Hyun-ah. With that, he’s genetically flawed from the start…”

During lunch.

On his way to the cafeteria, Jaehyuk felt many piercing stares.

It seemed the news that Yaksha’s son had transferred spread throughout the school.

“Urgh.”

Jaehyuk was in an unpleasant mood since morning.

The so-called teacher didn’t make sense, and the students’ level was unbelievably low.

Even now, most of the students walking didn’t have a proper balance in their bodies.

It meant they didn’t know how to handle themselves at all.

A testament to their negligence in physical training.

‘There’s a team project in the practical course; it’s going to be a headache.’

Father.

Why did you dedicate yourself to such people?

The blood and sweat you shed for the future of our country are so sorely missed that it’s revolting…

Among all things, Jaehyuk particularly loathed the demerit system.

Lion’s Castle strictly evaluated students based on scores. The school rules stated that if demerits accumulated, the student, regardless of status, would be expelled.

The expulsion threshold was 50 demerit points.

However, Jaehyuk had already received 10 demerit points on his first day, resulting in his displeasure.

“Oh-ho.”

Arriving at the cafeteria, Jaehyuk’s face lit up as if a lie were told.

The aromas, which he’d encountered for the first time, were exhilarating.

In the center of the cafeteria, capable of hosting over a thousand people at once, a buffet was plentifully spread out.

‘How did Steward Hwang become a steward without a cooking license?’

Steward Hwang had no talent for cooking.

He’d either boil porridge by blending low-fat meat, vegetables, and nuts, or by blending fish and root vegetables, or by blending eggs and supplements…

Under the guise of needing to eat healthily to grow well, he’d regularly serve dog food mixed with rich nutrition.

Even in his childhood, where he swung a sword from morning till night, meal times were the only moments he’d stay alert.

‘Thanks to Steward Hwang, I could regain my senses?’

Surely Steward Hwang was someone precious.

To be angry and then grateful again like this.

“Hey.”

‘I should eat bread.’

Jaehyuk’s face brightened more as he picked up two trays.

In the morning, he went mad over eating rice, not porridge, and scarfed down 7 bowls.

For lunch, he intended to try all types of bread.

‘Looks about 50 pieces.’

“Hey.”

“Is this deep-fried bread?”

“Hey!”

“…?”

While stacking bread on his tray with a bright smile, Jaehyuk paused.

A young boy was glaring at him.

A messy-haired boy.

Jaehyuk found him fiery.

Not because of his red hair resembling a lion’s mane, but due to his raging eyes.

There was a peculiar spirit.

Hidden beneath was a deep-seated anger and longing, which Jaehyuk discerned.

They were familiar eyes.

Eyes he faced daily.

“What do you want?”

“You… cut in line? Especially as a freshman?”

“…?”

Jaehyuk wasn’t unfamiliar with the basic social understanding that one should stand in line when people are waiting.

Even without having experienced a social life, he’d learned as much from Steward Hwang.

Thus, he’d properly stood in line…

“Were you too small to see?”

“Small? Me?”

“Then, you think I’m small? Apologize.”

“Apologize…?”

“Because you were too small, you made me cut in line. You should apologize for that.”

“Did this kid lose his mind…?”

As the red-haired boy began to growl, the students watching the situation gasped.

Baek Dojin, a sophomore in class B, was notorious for his temper. His nickname was Mad Dog due to his savage demeanor.

He was especially prone to losing it whenever someone called him small.

It was a well-known fact across the second and third-year students.

An unfortunate first taste of reality for a freshman.

“Kyaaaah!”

With his eyes showing whites, Baek Dojin swung his hand abruptly.

‘No wonder his gaze felt remarkable.’

Something flashed in Jaehyuk’s eyes.

The screaming kid maintained excellent weight distribution in his stance.

‘Managing to balance the efforts in such a small body? Clearly a testament to his dedication to handling heavy weapons.’

His specialty was likely handling heavy arms.

The desperate efforts he put into overcoming poor physical conditions were vividly apparent.

Among all students he’d met in just half a day, he was the only one who seemed amicable.

‘You ought to become part of my team.’

Jaehyuk’s eyes gleamed. He carefully assessed the monkey-like boy’s skills. The more swings he took, the more Jaehyuk liked him. The boy thought, experimented with different strategies, and quickly executed plans when his initial techniques failed.

‘What is this kid executing?’

As Jaehyuk’s smile deepened, Baek Dojin’s face stiffened. Initially planning to teach the cheeky first-year a lesson by twisting his wrist, the attempts proved pointless. Every single strike rebounded, making it as if the devil were at work.

‘An awakened one? Could he perhaps have a passive skill?’

The sensation was like being caught in a vortex.

His body was continually pulled in the opponent’s intended direction.

Sensing that he couldn’t leave things as they were, Dojin balled up his fist. He released the power attributed to his strength stat.

‘Don’t blame anyone else if you get hurt, since you brought this upon yourself.’

The curriculum for awakened ones included hunting monsters.

While newly enrolled awakened students likely had a level as low as 1, Dojin, a sophomore, exceeded level 20.

Simply clenching his fist caused his arm muscles to swell.

‘Being excited caused his wonderful stance to falter.’

Jaehyuk clicked his tongue and tapped Dojin’s hand.

Surprised, Dojin stepped back after losing trajectory with his thrown punch.

‘Higher stats than me? Despite being a freshman?’

This indicated one thing.

The freshman’s level was higher than his.

“Are you… a noble?”

Nobles start off at a different starting point.

Once mature enough, they fill their second and third skill slots and embark on raid adventures of Gates, accompanied by players loyal to their family.

They receive what’s known as ‘power leveling’, allowing their levels to rise rapidly.

“You have discerned a truly remarkable lineage.”

Standing tall, Jaehyuk elegantly spread his arms.

“Indeed, I am the sole heir(?) of the Great Kang family…”

Just as Jaehyuk intended to formally introduce himself, considering Dojin to be favorable.

Thunk!

A tray landed behind Jaehyuk.

Dojin, stepping back in surprise, had accidentally let a tray fly over Jaehyuk’s head.

The issue involved the contents of the food on that tray.

Drip…

“Kang Jae… porridge?”

Why is porridge dripping down my face.

“Damn it! This accursed porridge again!!”

“Uh, uh?”

“You little brat is going to get it!!”

“Kyaaaah!!”