The Duke's Son :Re-Chapter 277

He disappeared?

Jae-Hyeok had been aware of Geum Tae-Byeok’s presence even before he’d accidentally revealed his killing intent. After all, Jae-Hyeok hadn’t forgotten his son Geum Tae-Shin’s mana signature, and Geum Tae-Byeok’s mana was starkly similar.

As for how Jae-Hyeok sensed Geum Tae-Byeok, that was simple. After transcending and killing Qilin, Jae-Hyeok’s Insight had reached a new realm. The differences in everyone’s auras stuck out as surely as the colors of a rainbow. Even in a crowd of a hundred thousand, Geum Tae-Byeok's aura couldn’t escape Jae-Hyeok.

The Geum family.

The Geums were the family behind the Sun Guild, one of Korea’s top five guilds. The guild’s success had especially soared in Geum Tae-Byeok’s era, thanks to his acquiring the title of count. Since then, Geum Tae-Shin had taken on his father’s legacy, inheriting the position of guildmaster.

Among the modern noble houses, their influence was one of the strongest in Korea. However, Jae-Hyeok hadn’t been worried until now.

Does he have more strength than I thought?

It hadn’t taken much effort to kill Geum Tae-Shin after returning from Reinhardt. Since the son was easy, Jae-Hyeok had thought the father’s tricks wouldn’t be too far removed. But...

Jae-Hyeok scanned the crowd once more and frowned.

Moments ago, Jae-Hyeok could’ve picked out Geum Tae-Byeok’s aura as easily as picking out a koi among goldfish. Yet now, Geum Tae-Byeok’s aura had vanished completely.

“Thank you for accepting the position of National Treasure, Thunder God.”

“It’s my honor.”

Jae-Hyeok smiled. Were it any other time, the president's humble attitude would’ve flustered him. But right now, Jae-Hyeok’s attention was on the crowd.

This level of concealment technique is on a different level from Geum Tae-Shin’s. I wouldn’t expect this from anyone below the level of a National Treasure.

There was nothing strange about Geum Tae-Byeok’s skills being better than his son’s. But for him to reach the level of a National Treasure?

Jae-Hyeok was immediately suspicious.

After all, if Geum Tae-Byeok’s skills were really at that level, Jae-Hyeok would not have noticed him in the first place. What’s more, Geum Tae-Byeok was a known S-class player. Could he really have hidden his true power for all these years?

Jae-Hyeok didn’t think so. He descended the stage while lost in thought.

“Today’s your big day. Let’s eat out～”

Hyeon-Ah slung an arm around Jae-Hyeok and dragged him along with a bounce in her step.

Jae-Hyeok stifled a rueful sigh. Even if one day he became master of the world, Hyeon-Ah, with her status as the elder sister, would still be ruling from on high. There simply was no way to climb over her head.

Now that she wanted to eat out, Jae-Hyeok could only swallow his concerns and bob his head like a chicken.

Buzz. Buzz.

Butler Hwang: I’ve prepared an elaborate banquet. Young Master, let us celebrate heartily!

Jae-Hyeok quietly slipped his phone back into his pocket. So that’s why he was out shopping all day...

Then he looked at his sister appreciatively.

Maybe this is for the best.

Ever since tasting real food at Lion’s Castle, Jae-Hyeok found it harder and harder to go back to Butler Hwang’s cooking. Although he appreciated Butler Hwang’s focus on health and nutrition...

Hm. How should I describe it? It tastes like dog... no, dog food probably tastes better. Those dog-food brands almost certainly consider taste more than Butler Hwang when making their food.

“H-hiccup!”

Jae-Hyeok arrived at the parking lot with Kang Hyeon-Ah and found Da-Hee and Hae-Rin waiting there.

“I invited them ahead of time to come eat with us,” Kang Hyeon-Ah explained with a smile.

Jae-Hyeok was casually nodding along, only to tilt his head as they neared.

“What’s up with you guys?”

Hae-Rin and the hiccuping Da-Hee were frozen stiff.

“That...”

“Y-you’re actually a National Treasure!”

Jae-Hyeok might not see them any differently. But to them, standing next to Jae-Hyeok felt like standing next to a mythic hero straight out of a storybook.

Come on, Hae-Rin, don’t forget to blink...

It’s Mr. Jae-Hyeok. Oh my gosh, it’s Mr. Jae-Hyeok...

Hae-Rin and Da-Hee felt more uncomfortable than they’d expected.

Was breathing the same air as him really okay? What about eye contact? In truth, they’d hoped there would be someone to brief them on these things before having dinner with Korea’s Thunder God.

“Hmm.”

Seeing his two friends staring at the ground, Jae-Hyeok studied them with a growing smile.

He’s up to something...

Hyeon-Ah’s eyebrows disappeared past her bangs when she saw Jae-Hyeok’s expression. He used to make the same face whenever they were young, and mischief had always followed.

Thinking back to the past, Kang Hyeon-Ah smiled. Back then, all four of them had gotten along quite well... at least for the most part.

Her younger sister, Du-Na, had a blunt side and was quick to forgive, but she and Dae-Seong were different. Hyeon-Ah had countless memories of grabbing Jae-Hyeok’s cheeks and stretching them whenever he got up to mischief. Of course, she’d drag him to the training ground after that. In reality, she had hoped Jae-Hyeok would cause even more mischief; that way, she had more excuses to spend time with him.

I will definitely bring back those days.

Hyeon-Ah’s mind, dulled from years of imprisonment, regained some clarity. She vowed to help her younger brother, who had grown up before she knew it, and to revitalize the Kang family.

Flinch.

Jae-Hyeok felt a chill, and he instinctively turned to Hyeon-Ah.

“What is it?”

Kang Hyeon-Ah’s smile widened.

“Oh, nothing.”

Jae-Hyeok nodded doubtfully.

Maybe I’m still feeling uneasy after that earlier strangeness.

Thinking of Geum Tae-Byeok, Jae-Hyeok resolved to settle things with the Geum family as soon as possible.

Now that his mind was on serious matters, Jae-Hyeok dropped his intention of teasing Hae-Rin and Da-Hee. He coughed into his fist and said, “At the very least, you two don’t have to be intimidated by a National Treasure.”

“...Why? Mr. Jae-Hyeok... is it because we are close?” Da-Hee asked innocently. Her eyes were as big and clear as ever.

Jae-Hyeok regained his smile and shrugged.

“No. Putting aside your relationship with me, you two will also soon become National Treasures.”

“Ah?”

“Right...”

Da-Hee was dumbfounded, but Hae-Rin’s eyes shone. Her typically blank face showed a rare glimpse of excitement. No matter how unbearable Jae-Hyeok’s words seemed, since he said it, it had to be true.

Jae-Hyeok nodded.

“I guarantee your future.”

Da-Hee, Hae-Rin, and Do-Jin, who was currently in Lion’s Castle... the members of Jae-Hyeok’s Seed Team were all top talents. And of course they were. Jae-Hyeok had personally recruited them during his first weeks at Lion’s Castle for that very reason.

But like a seed, talent represented possibility, not certainty. Life was full of twists, so it was hard to know how people might end up. That was especially true of players, who faced life and death on a daily basis.

I’ll clear the land and ensure Korea becomes the best place for you to grow.

Sandwiched between China and Japan, Korea was far from safe for Korean talents, at least, that's how it had been for the last eight years. But Jae-Hyeok intended to change that.

“Don’t worry. Just keep doing as you’re doing.”

I’ll take care of the rest.

“And before you know it, you’ll be wearing this insignia, too.”

Jae-Hyeok hooked a thumb toward his golden crow insignia.

“Yes!”

“Yes...”

The sight of Hae-Rin answering forcefully made Da-Hee even more perplexed, but she still followed suit.

Could we really become National Treasures?

To be honest, Da-Hee struggled to imagine it.

Becoming an aristocrat like the Yaksha had long been her dream, but she wasn’t naive enough to believe dreams came easily. Whenever she imagined herself becoming a proud aristocrat, she pictured herself being much older than she was now.

As for becoming a National Treasure?

Not even in her dreams had she dared to imagine it. Unlike titles that could be obtained after reaching S-class, a National Treasure was a glorious status granted only to the strongest players in the country.

No, after seeing it today...

The word “granted” was inappropriate. As Jae-Hyeok had proven today, upon reaching the level of a National Treasure, a player decided for themselves whether to accept the title. No one could force them, not even the president.

“Alright, enough of this future talk. It’s time to live in the moment. Let’s go eat tteokbokki!”

“Okay... wait, tteokbokki? How is tteokbokki comparable to fried rice?”

“Do you really need rice? Then I’ll order you rice balls on the side.”

“Not that. I was hoping for something like soondae soup...”

“Then I’ll also order soondae as a side dish.”

Jae-Hyeok protested, “No, aren’t we going out to congratulate me? Sister, why do you get to choose the dishes?”

“‘Sister’? ‘Sister, what?”

“Sis, please...”

“‘Sis,’ what?”

“...Elder Sister.”

Hyeon-Ah nodded in satisfaction. “Elder is right. Maybe next time this big sister will let you pick the dishes.”

Seeing Jae-Hyeok’s miserable expression as he bickered with his sister, Da-Hee quietly vowed:

If I one day really do become a National Treasure, I won’t let it change me.

Just then, Hae-Rin grabbed her sleeve.

“Huh? What is it?”

Hae-Rin murmured, “...It is strange.”

“What is?”

“Sister Hyeon-Ah...”

Da-Hee tilted her head. Hae-Rin didn’t speak that much, so it took her a moment to interpret her words. But then she laughed.

“Her personality? Wasn’t her personality always ‘strange’?”

“......”

I should’ve expressed that it has changed. Hae-Rin pondered on this as the limousine carried the four of them to a snack bar on the outskirts of Seoul.

***

At the Geum family’s estate.

“Good. You must have quite the paranoid personality.”

Yamamoto was satisfied after examining the structure of the mansion. It seemed he had deciphered all the hidden traps at a glance.

Geum Tae-Byeok asked, “Aren’t you aiming for Kang Jae-Hyeok? Why did you ask to come here instead of the Kang Estate?”

“That should be obvious.”

Yamamoto sat down on the sofa and placed his three scabbards on the table.

“That boy will come here on his own.”

Yamamoto was a candidate for the title of world’s strongest. And unlike Qilin, he had an accurate assessment of Jae-Hyeok’s current capabilities after sensing his mana.

“What? Why?”

Yamamoto rolled his eyes, disappointed at the old man’s lack of awareness. “Because he’s coming for you. Now, hurry up and bring me the mansion's blueprints. With you as bait, I’ll hold an absolute advantage the moment he steps through your front door.”