My Reflector Is Invincible

10. What the Heck

The power of ＜Obedience＞ cannot make the strong kneel.

It can only make those weaker than themselves kneel.

That doesn’t mean they themselves can never be made to kneel.

If there was a power that could make a knight kneel…

‘It would have to be none other than the one known as the Strongest Knight.’

But Aiden couldn’t bring himself to ask.

He couldn’t say anything under Joo-in’s intimidating gaze.

“Can you really handle it?”

“……”

And to think he’d ask if I could handle it.

Aiden quickly came to his senses under the gaze of the giant that seemed to look down on him.

Ugh.

He gritted his teeth.

And shouted in a voice filled with genuine anger.

“I am Aiden Edmer. The descendant of the great [Knight King] who saved the continent with the hero of the past, and the future duke of the Edmer Dukedom. There is nothing I cannot handle!”

Haken turned pale at his outburst.

He had expected him to be more than just a common noble, but he was from a ducal family?

And Edmer at that?

However, Joo-in burst out laughing.

Yes, that’s why he had called that bastard a whelp.

＜Edmer Dukedom＞

That’s right, that bastard was from the [Knight King]’s family, who had the overwhelming support of all the knights on the continent.

Part of the heroic family that saved the continent from the Demon King.

‘To think the successor of the family I was going to visit would show up. How could I not like this?’

But the atmosphere among the knights changed as soon as Aiden revealed his name.

＜Obedience＞

It wasn’t simply a power that made them follow orders.

Those who truly obeyed their lord could gain new strength.

The knights’ momentum changed in an instant.

Joo-in rather enjoyed the pressure.

‘This is quite thrilling?’

It felt like he was being pricked by needles from all sides.

Haken was trembling in fear.

“L, Lord Joo-in!”

He couldn’t even think about running away.

He judged that it would be impossible to escape in front of the knights.

He was right.

‘At that level, they’d catch me before I could blink.’

His body and neck could be separated in an instant.

But Joo-in had no intention of running away.

He had rather provoked them.

“Do you want to lose your other arm?”

Use kind words when you’re trying to talk someone down.

The knights, realizing what he had said, were genuinely enraged.

Clatter.

They gnashed their teeth so hard that the sound of it filled the air.

“You dare to run wild, you wretch, relying on that trivial skill.”

“Do you think we retreated because we were afraid of you? If not for Lord Aiden’s safety!”

They looked ready to charge at him at any moment, but Aiden intervened.

“Hold, my knights.”

“But, my lord. Because of that bastard, Olson lost his arm….”

“I said hold.”

The knights’ ardor was dampened by Aiden’s fierce glare.

‘Of course, they’re still glaring daggers….’

In any case, they had definitely taken a step back at their master’s command.

Then Aiden spoke to Joo-Yeon.

“You surprised my knights. It seems you have quite an amusing ability.”

“Do you know what kind of ability it is?”

“I couldn’t see it properly. However… it doesn’t seem like my knights would be able to handle it.”

Joo-Yeon was taken aback.

Fighting reflections?

His words were incredibly arrogant, like those of a noble.

Well, perhaps it was to be expected, since he was a descendant of the [Knight King].

＜Strongest on the Continent＞

＜He who fought the Demon King at the forefront alongside the Hero＞

＜An unbreakable shield＞

As the successor to the strongest knightly house renowned throughout the continent, it was only natural for him to be so confident.

‘But you’ve picked the wrong person to mess with.’

He had no intention of going easy on him.

What’s more, thanks to the incident at the slave camp, he had developed a strong aversion to nobles.

The knights readied themselves to charge at the slightest command.

Haken also finished preparing to flee.

The situation was on the brink of exploding.

However, Joo-Yeon was the one who unexpectedly put away his killing intent.

‘Whew…. Right. I can’t just beat up a hot-headed kid.’

[Knight King]

In truth, he was a character who had been his comrade in the past, a character he himself had played.

In other words, he was someone he had raised.

Aiden was the grandson of that comrade.

‘I’d regret it if I just killed such a big shot after all this trouble.’

Originally, Juyeon had planned on becoming friendly with Hunter Jack and using him to find the lineage of the [King of Knights].

How was that possible?

It was possible because Hunter Jack was a former subordinate of the [King of Knights].

It was one of the pieces of information he had picked up while learning skills and a profession from him.

‘Those guys must’ve come here knowing that too. To get help finding the escaped slaves.’

Of course, it was unexpected that a descendant of the King of Knights would appear in person, but there was no doubt that they were friendly with Hunter Jack.

‘Just look at how they’re not using force against Hunter Jack.’

This was something he could use to his advantage.

‘It would look better for a successor of the lineage to bring me than a recommendation letter from a former subordinate.’

It would be good to have a recommendation letter from Hunter Jack as well.

Above all else, there was no comparison in terms of efficiency.

If he went through Hunter Jack, he would eventually be able to meet the King of Knights, but he wouldn’t be able to meet him right away.

He would have to go through many miscellaneous quests and battles, gain recognition from his subordinates, receive a title, and finally meet the King of Knights.

The problem was that the process was long and somewhat annoying.

However, if he went through the successor, that entire process would be skipped. Considering the time limit of three years, this was naturally the better option.

That was why he had taken a liking to him.

‘It’s a hidden route that normally doesn’t activate, but did he come because of what I did in the concentration camp?’

Juyeon smiled.

‘Once I meet the King of Knights, things will naturally be resolved.’

That was why he went into the plan right away.

“You, first apologize for trying to attack us. I’ll listen to you if you do it now.”

Aiden was taken aback.

What the hell?

Was this guy really crazy?

Aiden asked seriously.

“You seem to be pretty easygoing, considering you came here after hearing the name of my family.”

“I’ll generously give you one minute. You’ll regret it if you don’t do it now.”

“Just in case, is there any reason I should spare you?”

“Master!”

“Such an insolent and vulgar man shall be castrated immediately……”

Aiden’s eyes turned cold.

“Am I not the one speaking right now?”

“……!”

The obedient knights were taken aback by his unusual appearance.

‘This is the first time I’ve seen Master this angry.’

‘If we carelessly intervene… something worse than a roar might happen.’

They resolved to never intervene again in the future.

Aiden looked at Juyeon as if he was strange.

He seemed to hold hatred toward nobles, but he was also enduring it.

This was the first time he had seen such a slave.

No, he seemed perplexed by such commoners for the first time.

Maybe there’s something to that guy…

“I warned you. You’ll regret it.”

…No, was I mistaken after all?

Aiden drew his sword menacingly.

“A slave who doesn’t value his life…”

“Isn’t there someone [The Knight King] has been looking for for a long time? Weren’t you supposed to find that person to become the Duke?”

“……?!”

At those words, Aiden and the knights couldn’t help but look at Joo-yeon in bewilderment.

As if he had expected that reaction, Joo-yeon smiled.

“Didn’t you want to get the position of Duke?”

“……!”

Aiden was confused.

[The Knight King], the late Duke, had gathered his successors and said this to them.

[It doesn’t matter who it is. I will give the position of the next Duke to the one who finds ‘that person’.]

He didn’t know who it was.

He didn’t know the gender, let alone the age or appearance.

The other successors of the family and the Duke’s guards were desperately searching for that person.

If he found them first, he could become the next Duke of Edmer.

That was why Aiden and the knights couldn’t help but covet Joo-yeon.

“Whose spy are you! Reveal your identity!”

“How could a mere slave know that!”

Then Joo-yeon burst out laughing.

How did he know?

“The late Duke of Edmer. The person he is looking for is me.”

“……?!”

What the hell?

* * *

Joo-yeon’s shocking declaration.

Aiden and the knights, who had been verbally and physically abusing him, were furious.

They were angry enough to cut off Joo-yeon’s neck right away.

However, he was the one who was currently.

Clatter, clatter.

Surprisingly, he was riding in a carriage heading towards the Duchy of Edmer.

In Aiden’s carriage, which was waiting outside the hunter’s lodge.

It made no sense in a normal frame of mind.

Joo-yeon was a convict in a labor camp, a criminal who had killed the warden and cut off the arm of Aiden’s direct knight.

From Aiden’s point of view, he was a commoner who deserved to be killed right away.

However, he couldn’t touch Joo-yeon.

How on earth did things turn out this way.

In truth, the reason was simple.

“You really are ‘that’?”

“How many times do I have to say it? Stop asking.”

“No, no matter how many times you say it… it’s still surprising.”

While looking at Joo-Yeon as if he couldn’t believe it, Aedirn apologized.

It wasn’t the kind of attitude the successor of a great dukedom should give to a mere slave.

However, Aedirn couldn’t help it.

Why?

‘This kid is [that] person my grandfather spoke about?’

As if it were a lie, only the head of the family, the successors, and the late duke’s personal knights knew about this fact.

That meant that there was a high probability that Joo-Yeon really was ‘that’ person or related to them.

‘Even if it is a lie, I can’t just let someone who knows the family secret go. In that case, I need to figure out who’s behind this.’

Either way, Aedirn couldn’t let this opportunity go.

‘And that guy is special.’

No matter how restricted he was, he was the man who defeated ‘Whistling’ Hansen.

He even broke through the attacks of the knights of ＜Obedience＞ and counterattacked, taking one of their arms.

So, Aedirn had no choice but to take Joo-Yeon to his castle.

Of course, he still couldn’t believe it.

“……So, you’re really ‘that’ person?”

“Stop it. You’ve asked more than ten times already.”

“But I need to be absolutely sure before I move on……”

“Yes, you do. Okay? Now stop asking.”

Aedirn narrowed his brow at Joo-Yeon’s rude attitude.

‘This impudent little punk……’

Even if he was [that] person, he was still a slave, and yet he was acting so presumptuous.

However, he couldn’t get mad, no matter how angry he was.

‘My grandfather told me something like that when I was a child.’

A secret that only Aedirn knew, something he couldn’t even tell the knights.

[If there is a power in this world that can defeat me, there is only one. And that power no longer exists.]

‘If the power that punk was using is the power my grandfather spoke about.’

It would be troublesome if he provoked the punk for no reason and he ended up using ‘that’ power.

Hadn’t one of his own knights already lost an arm?

Aedirn carefully changed the subject.

“So, what is your relationship with my grandfather, or rather, the late duke?”

“What is my relationship, you ask?”

“There must be a reason why the late duke was looking for you. He told me to find ‘that’ person, but he didn’t tell me why he was looking for them.”

“Ah……. That’s.”

“That’s?”

Instead of answering, Joo-Yeon let out a small laugh.

“You’ll see once you meet the previous Duke. Just wait patiently as you pave your own path.”

This brat?

Aiden shot Joo-in a look as if asking if this guy was a fraud, but he couldn’t say anything.

Joo-in chuckled, watching Aiden.

‘Nobles, after all.’

They were the kind of people who pretended to be kind for their own benefit, but would spit you out like a fishbone if there was even a hint of danger.

‘Do you think I’ll just show you all my cards?’

Right now, meeting the [Knight King] was the key to everything. That was the only way to suppress Count Sanderson and achieve the final feat through the shortest route.

He was using this guy who could take him straight to the Knight King, but that was a two-way street.

‘If I use the successor, I can make the Edmer family my home base.’

In any case, since the final feat was something that no one had ever achieved, he needed as many weapons as possible.

If he could forge a deep connection with the Edmer family, it would be a great help in terms of financial resources.

‘If I just asked him to take me to the Knight King, I would’ve been ignored, so I provoked that guy on purpose.’

He recalled Aiden Edmer’s personality.

Of course, that alone wouldn’t be enough to completely absorb the Edmer family.

‘For now, [his] story worked, but it might not go as planned.’

He needed to plan more meticulously.

He also needed to increase his ability stats to the level where he could defeat the Demon King.

‘In my current state, I’ll die if the wind blows on me.’

But there was something more important than that right now.

“Excuse me, Joo-in-nim.”

Hunter Jack cautiously called out to Joo-in.

Joo-in raised an eyebrow at his vigilant demeanor, as if he was on guard against his surroundings.

“What? Are you scared to go to the dukedom with us?”

“Oh, no. Not at all. I’m well aware that you’re being considerate of my safety, since other prisoners might come.”

“Then?”

Hunter Jack took something out of his pocket.

“There’s something I’d like to give you. This is……”

Hunter Jack brought out two items.

But one of them was something he had never seen before.

“What’s this?”

“It’s nothing much. It’s a book that compiles some of my knowledge.”

“Hmm?”

Is this perhaps…?

[Special Feat Achieved]

[＜Loner Hunter’s Favorability Reached Max＞]

[You May Receive Hunter Jack’s Hidden Special Reward]

[Skill Acquisition Condition Satisfied]

Joo-in’s eyes sparkled.