Duke’s Son: Re

Chapter 41

“An assignment?”

An assignment was a mission for students to earn pocket money, accumulate credits, and build their reputation.

Its types varied tremendously, and the rewards depended on the difficulty level.

The difference from deployment was that it took place within the walls of the Lion’s Castle.

“On weekends, pharmaceutical company employees come to gather herbs. Originally, a second-year student was in charge of guiding and escorting them, but that position is now vacant as the student has been deployed elsewhere.”

“I will do it.”

“Haha.”

Kim Jinmyung was pleased yet slightly worried at the straightforward response from Jaehyuk, who showed no hesitation despite the mission being a senior’s task.

“Many of the herbs you need to gather are found in dangerous areas, with a high possibility of encountering C-rank monsters. Are you still confident?”

“Yes.”

After all, they shared a mentor-mentee relationship. Jinmyung had a vague insight into Jaehyuk’s real capabilities.

‘He caught the Mirage Thief Leader with a single strike using the lightning-like blade.’

The event had occurred so swiftly that the students hadn’t noticed.

The outward differences between a regular Mirage Thief and the Leader were only distinguished by the color of the band around the head, so it must have gone unnoticed.

‘This child can handle D-rank assignments.’

Jaehyuk’s stats were astonishing from the very first level, evidencing a life filled with hard work and toil. Trust naturally followed.

“Alright. I’ll let the person in charge know, so be at the school gate by 5 AM on Saturday.”

***

Two days later, at dawn.

“Has Kim Jinmyung gone insane? Are we here to freeload or something? Does it make sense to treat a customer doing official business with the school like this? What? A first-year? They’re actually giving a first-year as a guide?”

“They said he’s in Class B, too.”

“Ha, unbelievable. A Class B freshman is just about at the point of experiencing their first real battle, isn’t he?”

“That’s right. It’s the time when they’re all excited about leveling up for the first time.”

“Damn, then there’s no difference from a civilian. This is so ridiculous, I can’t help but laugh. Does our company look easy to them? It can’t be. Kim Jinmyung’s wife is suffering from Manastone Disease and is only waiting for the new medicine our company is researching.”

“It’s because our youngest master doesn’t know his place.”

The only entry to the Lion’s Castle was a massive gate swirling with deep purple mana.

It was more than five times larger than a typical S-rank gate, and as one of Korea’s few prides, it had extremely strict security.

Dozens of personnel, including ten high-ranking players, were stationed there, strictly controlling the entry of outsiders.

The gate’s massive presence, along with the overwhelming mana it emitted and the stringent security, was enough to intimidate anyone.

However, the employees of Jaekyung Pharmaceutical, who had just completed their entry procedure, remained unfazed.

They had been visiting the Lion’s Castle every week for the past five years and were confident they were more familiar with it than most students.

“Sorry for being late. Let’s get going.”

A young man ran over with a smile towards the grumbling employees. It was Jaekyung’s third son, Jo Sunghyun.

“Why do you keep getting later and later? Do you really need to stop and chat with the gatekeepers every time while giving them gifts? It seems way more efficient to meet higher officials rather than wasting time on mere gatekeepers.”

Department Head Gu Buseong, glanced unpleasantly at the players who were carrying the shopping bags given by Jo Sunghyun.

“They are people who work hard for us every week, so I want to repay them in some small way. These gifts are just snacks, really. I’ll make sure not to be late next time.”

“You’re too nice, it’s a problem. No wonder Kim Jinmyung’s treating us so lightly. After all, he’s no professor, just some lowly teacher.”

In comparison to his siblings, Jo Sunghyun was very young and tender-hearted.

Having entered the Lion’s Castle for training right after middle school, he didn’t have much formal education.

Unlike his siblings, who had been executives for over 20 years, his position in the company was only a manager.

Despite being a graduate of the Lion’s Castle, with no talent and stuck at a C-rank player level, he couldn’t even secure employment despite full support from the chairman.

A player with no skills, but a son of a conglomerate chairman. Both the association and guilds avoided him as a cause of unnecessary trouble.

“Haha… Are you worried because a first-year student is going to be in charge today? Don’t worry. With you, along with Team Leaders Seol and Baek here, surely nothing will go wrong?”

“Hoo.”

Gu Buseong shook his head as he led the employees into the gate.

“Haven’t experienced hardship; everything looks rosy to you?”

“You plan to perform only the contractual work we were hired for. Don’t rely on us excessively in case of emergency.”

Team Leaders Seol and Baek snorted as they followed Buseong, those who had insulted Jo Sunghyun’s mentor, Kim Jinmyung.

“Let’s go.”

Jo Sunghyun entered the gate last, along with the only low-tier staff member who had stayed by his side.

***

『You have entered the Lion’s Castle.』

“You must be from Jaekyung, right?”

“… Yes.”

Gu Buseong grumbled with a nod.

A boy of such striking appearance greeted them in front of the grand and magnificent gate, but looking closely, he seemed quite young.

The white stripes on the black activity uniform evidenced the fact that the boy was indeed a first-year.

‘They actually sent a first-year rookie as a guide and escort.’

While their previous guide was only a second-year student, he was an ace over level 40, fully capable of taking care of himself.

Being well-versed in the geography of the Lion’s Castle, he had no noticeable shortcomings.

Yet the child in front of them seemed as useful as a piece of luggage.

“I’m Kang Jaehyuk. The senior who used to be in charge of your escort and guide duties is on assignment, so I’m standing in as a substitute. Rest assured, I will serve you well.”

“Kang Jaehyuk?”

People looked slightly surprised, but that was all.

He was the son of Yaksha who awakened a bloodline skill during the nationally broadcast entrance re-evaluation, making a brief sensation in Korea.

Only for a moment, though.

News related to Kang Jaehyuk quieted down as if nothing had happened immediately after the live broadcast.

The association had swiftly managed the media, but ordinary people remained unaware of the background story.

Figuring Kang Jaehyuk was of no consequence, akin to a collapsed family, they assumed the media lost interest.

“I question whether we can trust and rely on you. But, since the school decided so, there’s no room for debate.”

At Gu Buseong’s signal, the employees gathered their belongings and gathered in front of Jaehyuk.

“You’ve familiarized yourself with the route, I hope? We have quite a distance to cover, so please lead the way.”

The Lion’s Castle was vast and treacherous. Moreover, the herbs that Jaekyung needed mostly grew in remote areas near danger zones.

It was near impossible for a rookie who plagued to find the way there by map alone.

“It’s complicated and dangerous, so let me lead….”

Jo Sunghyun tried to help, but Manager Seol grasped his wrist.

“Stop that. What exactly is Kim Jinmyung relying on to send a freshman as a guide? It’s you. With you here, who would need a guide? This situation’s merely a mockery of Jaekyung by a self-important fool trying to save manpower. Let’s not play into his hands.”

“No way Sir Kim Jinmyung would….”

“He’s not like that? Then this little fellow should handle the guiding properly. Young master, please stay idle.”

“……”

***

Go on, guide us.

The moment you stray off-course, I’ll give you a scolding.

As they walked with Jaehyuk leading the way, the mouths of Gu Buseong and his team members slightly dropped open.

“You want us to climb this cliff? Why?”

“Because it’s quicker. Why ask the obvious?”

“……”

“Why those faces? You didn’t come through the gate to pick herbs with civilians, did you? Aren’t you all players? Should a mere cliff be an obstacle?”

“Climbing the cliff isn’t tough, but the question is whether there’s a path beyond it. You might not know as someone who just enrolled, but we’ve been marking our attendance here for five years, yet have never crossed this cliff.”

“If there’s no path after climbing, we can just come back down, right? By now, we could have gone and come back already instead of standing around.”

“You were told the distance ahead, surely. Time’s precious when you’ve got to work all the way to midnight to fill the quota. Is frivolous time loss necessary?”

“You want to lead the way yourself, mister?”

“?

“I’m the guide, so am I not allowed to guide? If you keep interfering, how am I supposed to do my job? Should I just lie down here? Do we wait here until security arrives?”

Thirty minutes.

It had only been about 30 minutes since they started traveling with Jaehyuk.

Gu Buseong was feeling a raging fire inside him after just 30 minutes.

‘Did I make a significant mistake with Kim Jinmyung?’

Was sending a troublesome guide his idea of revenge?

‘… I may have made many mistakes, not knowing he would be the person in charge.’

Regretting past actions and trembling with clenched fists, Team Leader Baek spoke to him.

“Let’s just go. We’ll hold him accountable if he takes the wrong path.”

Looking at Jaehyuk like they wanted to devour him.

In the moment Jo Sunghyun tried to caution him against such threatening energy, he moved decidedly.

Jaehyuk climbed the cliff, seamlessly as if he were walking on flat ground, giving confidence to Jaekyung Pharmaceutical employees who obediently followed.

And within less than 10 minutes, cold sweat was running down their backs. The cliff grew steeper toward the top.

‘Who is this guy?’

‘Did he spend his whole life rock climbing for eight years straight?’

‘Fa, fast….’

The Jaekyung Pharmaceutical employees who had clearance to enter the Lion’s Castle were naturally all players.

Most were D-rank players, but there were few C-rank, and Team Leaders Seol and Baek were B-rank players.

Yet none of them could keep pace with Jaehyuk.

In order to see the back of the boy, they’d have to stretch their necks fully while clinging to the cliff.

‘They really do prioritize terrain adaptation training at the Lion’s Castle….’

Seeing the new recruit easily scale the cliff made it clear the Lion’s Castle was indeed prestigious.

Jo Sunghyun, a graduate of the Lion’s Castle, managed to maintain distance with Jaehyuk.

The gaze of the staff softened a bit while looking at Jo Sunghyun.

Team Leaders Seol and Baek didn’t appreciate such a shift.

Determined to surpass Jo Sunghyun, they even used skills.

And when they reached the top of the cliff, what greeted them was….

“… A swamp?”

A vast swamp spread below the cliff.

“Pass through there and you’ll reach the jungles where Alrus Fern and Black Vayvon inhabit. It’s far faster compared to the original route.”

The days Jaehyuk had spent wandering in search for training grounds had greatly helped.

He was prepared to guide customers through various shortcuts.

“Are you seriously suggesting this? Our shoes and clothes will get filthy.”

Team Leaders Seol and Baek didn’t thank him; instead, they glared at him.

Even Gu Buseong, who arrived at the summit a step late, showed a negative reaction.

Jaehyuk tilted his head.

“You can wash the clothes later, can’t you? Don’t you have a washing machine at home?”

“Huh?”

The team leaders were utterly dumbfounded.

Feeling a heavy impact on their rear, their bodies were flying through the air.

Being B-rank players, they attempted spinning acrobatics mid-air and reached to grab the cliff, but the blade sheath in Jaehyuk’s hands lightly flicked the back of their hands.

“What the hell is this lunatic…!”

“Ahhhhhhhh!!”

Splash, splash!

“Next.”

‘What next? You psycho!’

Gu Buseong instinctively leaped backward, unable to believe the reality before him.

But it was real.

Jaehyuk didn’t want to spend all day on what he could finish in half a day.

He’d gain more by swinging his sword once more in that time.

“I will officially lodge a complaint to the Lion’s Caste—Ahhhhhh!!”

Splash!

“What complaint? I’m letting you off early.”

Feeling sympathy for these workers who probably hadn’t grasped the concept of leaving work on time, the boy who pushed three B-rank players off the cliff offered silent condolences.

“Uh… should I jump off too?”

Jo Sunghyun, confronting a terribly junior, became modest.