Duke’s Son: Re

Chapter 45

The employees of Jaekyung Pharmaceutical, who had been passing the time by gathering herbs, gradually gathered in front of the waterfall. Jaehyuk and Jo Sunghyun’s martial forms drew their attention.

“What are they doing?”

They couldn’t make heads or tails of the situation and didn’t understand it from beginning to end.

However, no one felt the need to interfere.

Slow and soft, fast and intense, grand yet serious, elegant yet sophisticated.

Jaehyuk’s ever-changing martial form and energy were impressive enough to elicit admiration from onlookers.

“Wow!”

Before they knew it, people became entranced by Jaehyuk’s performance.

Some were captivated by its grandeur, causing them to hold their breath, while others were mesmerized by its splendor and cheered.

Each person experienced a different impression, watching the martial form as if it were a performance.

Jaehyuk’s flawlessly synced expressions and eye movements during each change in stance drew them further into the performance.

Even the red tassels attached to the hilt of the black sword seemed like a part of the production.

They harmonized exquisitely with the white foam created by the waterfall, giving the impression of observing a masterpiece.

“Even now it’s amazing, but just imagine how incredible it would be if many people performed together.”

The essence of the martial form was simple.

It referred to training in formation.

Yet, every organization had its own set of regulations and methods, and the essential nature shifted based on the situation.

In that sense, the martial form Jaehyuk performed was closer to a sword dance.

It was imagined that the more people participated, the more magnificent and grand the group dance would become, and such a spectacle was presumed to be breathtaking.

Hesitantly, a few employees aligned in formation with Jaehyuk, starting to mimic the martial form with clumsy movements.

Something cool naturally inspired admiration, and passionate people tend to chase after what they admire.

“Did they all eat something bad together?”

While the team leaders who arrived late were left speechless, Department Head Gu was pleased.

“Jo Sunghyun is finally becoming more sensible.”

The youngest master was engaging with Kang Jaehyuk’s ‘play’ by bringing along the employees.

It seemed that he began to ponder about whose favor they needed to curry to benefit Jaekyung.

“He’s doing well. If you’re part of the owner family, you should contribute to Jaekyung, even if it means going through some foolishness.”

Department Head Gu Busung nodded in satisfaction. At present, his level was 68.

Still growing, he was a promising candidate to become an A-rank player within a few years and was recognized by the chairman as the future of Jaekyung Pharmaceutical.

He was a character with outstanding talents.

Even so, he could not perceive the profound insight into the martial arts contained within the Kang family’s martial forms.

“That’s the difference between ordinary and genius.”

Jaehyuk glanced at Department Head Gu and the uninterested team leaders, taking in the sight of Jo Sunghyun who remained lost in trancendental focus with satisfaction.

He had noticed from when they first climbed the cliff that Jo Sunghyun’s skills in handling his body were exceptional.

Yet, he possessed such extraordinary martial talent that he saw through the essence of Kang’s martial form at once.

“Is his low level because he awakened late?”

Or it could be because he was targeted and couldn’t enter the gate recklessly.

The more Jaehyuk thought about it, the more he felt a strange sense of kinship, increasing the speed and precision of his martial form.

He continued to show glimpses of the Kang family’s martial arts, checking sequentially how much Jo Sunghyun could handle.

He didn’t consider that a deep yearning for the Kang family would be unconsciously engraved in Jo Sunghyun.

After all, it was his first experience like this too.

***

“Huff, huff….”

The first thing Jo Sunghyun felt as he came to his senses was intense pain.

His entire body convulsed as if his muscles were tearing apart, and his lungs and brain felt like they were burning up.

It was the first time he’d pushed his body this hard since he graduated from the Lion’s Castle.

“What on earth happened….”

Why had it suddenly become so dark?

Alarmed, he noticed that it was already past 7 PM when he checked the time.

Four hours had vanished.

As he scanned his surroundings to grasp the situation, he spotted a boy smiling.

“Ah.”

Forgotten memories flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.

He had found the martial arts integrated into the boy’s martial form.

Wanting to glimpse its true meaning, he instinctively struggled.

There hadn’t been time to consider manners.

He followed the boy’s martial form as if under a spell, driven by the thought that he would regret it forever if he missed the moment.

The boy neither criticized nor ridiculed him.

Instead, he kindly guided him.

Thud!

Recalling all his memories, Jo Sunghyun slumped down.

He didn’t know whether to first express gratitude or apologize, so he bowed his head in submission.

Then, the boy unexpectedly approached and lifted him by the arm.

“You’ve worked hard. Let’s cool off the sweat.”

Jaehyuk and Jo Sunghyun plunged into the valley.

Swoooooosh!!

The powerful waterfall poured mercilessly on their heads and backs.

Their tired bodies and confused minds rapidly awoke.

Jo Sunghyun’s eyes cleared up.

“No matter how many times I say thank you, a hundred times, a thousand times, it won’t be enough. I’ll show you through actions rather than words. Please, if there is anything you need help with, contact me.”

“Today you learned Kang Family’s martial form.”

“Kang Family’s…? Did I disrupt the duke’s family martial form practice?”

“What martial form would come from a completely ruined house?”

“Ah.”

Jo Sunghyun felt the heat rush to his face.

He had been so uninterested in worldly affairs that he momentarily forgot Kang’s situation.

No wonder the people around him were frustrated with him all the time.

As Jaehyuk chuckled lightly at his self-deprecation, he said with a smile.

“Even if people nowadays don’t know, the Kang family has always been open to those who wish to learn. I’ve heard that our ancestor said something like this: ‘Anyone who is a citizen of Korea has the right, no, obligation to become strong.’ I’m just following the family tradition.”

Jo Sunghyun understood what the boy meant to say.

“I should repay not you, but the Kang family.”

He nodded firmly and pledged with a resolute face.

“To me, you are practically the Kang family. I will never forget or neglect your intentions.”

Jaehyuk intuited.

Today’s encounter would significantly aid him in the future.

“My father was right.”

A noble must act noble.

Acquire tremendous martial power and fulfill obligations, then wealth and people will naturally follow.

When I was a child and saw people with bruised faces visiting the mansion almost daily to offer gold and silver, my father told me so.

“Let’s start heading back.”

Jaehyuk summoned the employees.

Leaving now would get them to Arcane Canyon by 9 PM.

A plan to recreate their usual schedule.

Once they collected the rare sky flower, guiding them back to the school gates would complete the mission.

***

Arcane Canyon.

“I’m so tired.”

“It’s so sad not having a weekend to rest. What if my legs get so bulky from the muscle strain?”

The twins walked like zombies, wailing as they went.

Ignoring them, Silla Kyung stopped suddenly, searching for clues for the quest.

“When it’s the weekend, even the lowbies get bold.”

The Lion’s Castle was a peculiar gate where monsters perpetually respawn, even without clearing the quest.

Its astronomical value meant Seol Soo-ah couldn’t monopolize control over it.

Besides the White Night Foundation, the government, association, military, and several private guilds shared the stakes.

This was why faculty members hailed from diverse backgrounds, and why numerous factions constantly clashed.

Unlike the students frolicking in flower fields, staff members were players disguised as powerful forces who often went missing.

“Parasitic trash eating away at the country.”

With a cold murmur, Silla Kyung gestured, and lightning struck out of a clear sky.

Thunk!

The stealth of the ragged Evil Eye broke, and it fell to the ground.

It was the watchman left behind by the hobgoblin’s master who had perished at Jaehyuk’s hands, hoping for a miracle.

“Grilled demon’s got a stinky smell.”

“Aren’t demons much rarer than monsters? Whoever owns it must be boiling with rage.”

“If the sight was shared, their eyes would have likely popped, too?”

The twins, who had only been groaning before, excitedly chatted away.

Giggling.

What Evil Eye saw as it breathed its last was the smiling faces of the twins.

The bloody tears as they streamed from its large eyes mirrored its master’s sentiments.

***

“Good work.”

“Thank you. Let’s meet again sometime!”

Midnight.

Kang Jaehyuk and the employees of Jaekyung Pharmaceutical arrived at the school gates, having completed their schedule without incident.

The enormous gate beyond throbbed and emitted mana, creating a bizarre scenery, but the people’s expressions were bright.

Department Head Gu and the employees all hoped to reunite with Jaehyuk.

In contrast, from the first impression, the team leaders still had sour attitudes.

Jaehyuk paid no particular attention to them.

It’s common for people to dislike the Kang family due to Kang Daesung and Kang Hyun-ah.

After Jaehyuk exchanged farewells with the employees, they crossed the gate one by one, leaving Jo Sunghyun standing last.

His face was filled with regret.

“Well… it is a shameless request, but could you teach me again later? The scene keeps lingering before my eyes….”

“Of course.”

Jaehyuk nodded readily.

He determined that spreading the martial form to Jo Sunghyun and the Jaekyung Pharmaceutical employees would be beneficial for the quest.

Overcome with gratitude, Jo Sunghyun expressed his thanks several times before departing.

Once he returned to his accommodation, Jaehyuk logged into the community.

Having leveled up and achieved incredible feats twice more, his current community points stood at a staggering 199,000.

“With this amount, I should definitely be able to get what I want.”

Even at second glance, the figure seemed outlandish. It seemed that achieving such a number of points would be difficult for even an average A-rank player.

“Postponing my awakening turned out to be beneficial in various ways.”

He searched with keywords like mana increase, mana consumption reduction, accessories, and artifacts, and countless chat room listings appeared.

〈Necklace that increases Mana by 200 for sale – 8,000 points (1/2)〉
〈Ring that boosts Mana by 80 – urgent sale at a cheap price (1/10)〉

There were surprisingly few accessories available that simply increased mana.

Even in a marketplace used by players worldwide, only 21 items were listed, and none of them increased mana by more than 300.

Jaehyuk shook his head at the thought of adorning himself with rings and necklaces.

〈Artifact with Mana +6 for sale. Open to offers (1/10)〉
〈Bracelet with Mana +4 for sale – 40,000 points, no negotiations (1/10)〉

“This might be the better choice.”

Mana per Mana was only a mere 10 increase.

But Mana went beyond just raising mana.

It enhanced mental strength, speed, and power of skill and magic casting, as well as increasing resistance to status ailments.

It was widely believed that Mana had an influence on more aspects, even though those were yet to be revealed.

Being able to fortify one’s own dantian, rumors suggest that the higher the Mana, the more likely one would transcend human limits.

“But this is too expensive, no matter how you look at it.”

The price for Mana was mostly set at over 10,000 points each.

Perhaps due to these myths or tales, it was twice as expensive as other stats.

To Jaehyuk, who considered Magic one of his primary stats, the cost-effectiveness felt unsatisfactory.

“Maybe I could consider it when I reach a point where levels become stagnant… ah?”

A particular item for sale caught Jaehyuk’s interest as he browsed, and he clicked the entry button.

His consciousness was drawn into another space.