The Duke's Son :Re-Chapter 32

“Is there another lion head here besides you?”

-Hah! You’ve finally opened your ears! Do you know how frustrating it has been for me to deal with the deaf?

“So it was out of frustration that you cursed me?”

After awakening, he’d found out that the curse he’d received was called the lion’s curse and that its effects were a decrease in stats and the inability to gain experience.

Fortunately, the curse also prevented me from awakening prematurely.

Of course, he didn’t think the curse was meant with good intentions. Things would’ve become pretty frustrating if the mysterious being called Iris hadn’t lifted the curse.

-Precisely! I cursed you because you frustrated me! Hmph.

“Why are you acting so proud? I want to kill you.”

Jae-Hyeok smacked the lion statue with his scabbard.

-Kuwek!

[The will of Lion’s Castle is astounded!]

-D-did you hit me?

“You actually reacted. Do you feel pain despite being made of stone?”

-It’s not my head that hurts. It’s my heart! A young bastard dares to hit the master of this dimension! There is a limit to rudeness!

The master of this dimension?

The area inside a gate was known as an otherworld or separate dimension, so ‘master of the dimension’ referred to the entity that was the master of a gate.

The owners of gates were diverse. It could be a monster, an Otherworlder, a spirit creature, or an inanimate object.

It’s said that the harder it is to communicate with the master, the harder it is to discover the quest. That’s why the quest for Lion’s Castle hasn’t been cleared in two hundred years...

The master of the gate often provided clues to clear the quest or was the purpose of the quest itself. But the master of Lion’s Castle appeared as an old and shabby statue, so very few people would’ve tried to communicate with it.

Of course, that couldn’t be all. Surely others had found and tried to communicate with the statue over the last two hundred years. Nevertheless, the quest had remained undiscovered.

Clearly, certain conditions were required before the statue would speak.

“Tell me what you want. You probably talked to me because you have a purpose,” Jae-Hyeok said bluntly.

He was happy and excited to be the first one to receive the quest of Lion’s Castle, but he kept his expression cool, worried that he would lose the initiative if he showed any weaknesses.

-Um... I saw you spare those fragile creatures and thought you were a magnanimous and dignified knight. But contrary to my expectations, you have a cheeky side.

Jaehyeok thought, Spare the fragile creatures? Aha. It seemed letting those orcs live in front of the statue had fulfilled the requirement to start the quest. He was quite lucky. He’d just been trying to postpone his awakening at the time.

Still, he didn’t intend to miss this good fortune.

Thinking of how the lion statue had discussed dignity, he said, “You’re calling me cheeky? You cursed me behind my back, and I almost died in a fight because of it. How can I speak nicely? It’s already kind of me to listen to you.”

-Gasp. You almost died? I only see you swinging your sword alone every day. You actually went out and fought some powerful monster? I...I didn’t know that my curse would put you in so much danger. I’m sorry.

The statue gave off an innocent impression like Baek Do-Jin and Chae Da-Hee. It seemed the lion statue’s inclination was closer to good than evil.

-How did a weak guy who used to faint while wielding a sword alone every day end up fighting a powerful monster?

“I was saving people.”

-Ah, you practice chivalry! I thought you were crazy when I saw you break your arm from swinging your sword so hard. But it turns out your mad training is for a noble purpose. Fortunately, I didn’t choose the wrong person.

“It is natural to get hurt while training. Why are you calling me crazy?”

-I’ve seen hundreds of thousands of aspiring knights over the past hundreds of years, but you’re the first human to break an arm while swinging a sword alone. Normally, it stops at the level of pulling a muscle or two.

“Aspiring knights? So this place was originally a school for knights?”

Seol Su-Ah had also mentioned that there were traces of training facilities in Lion’s Castle.

-That’s right. Tens of thousands of knights were born here, and they went on to practice chivalry throughout the continent. However, civilization faded into the river of history and, with it, Lion’s Castle. This place has been neglected and forgotten by people for hundreds of years...

The lion’s voice was filled with a mixture of emotions. It seemed that recalling the distant past had only reminded it of the bleak centuries since. The statue continued its story.

-Later, a god in his days as a human left behind a legend of defeating his opponent in five seconds on this very stage. Ever since, this place has become sacred grounds... Still, I sometimes miss the distant past.

A god?

Jae-Hyeok’s eyes widened.

S-grade or higher gates often gave quests related to legends or myths. Those quests were treated as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity due to the tremendous rewards given.

Am I about to get such a precious opportunity?

He’d heard that even most top players never experienced it in their lives.

Jae-Hyeok’s fingers shook when a notification window popped up in his vision.

[A quest has occurred.]

[The Wish of Lion’s Castle]

The will of Lion’s Castle is longing for the glory of the distant past.

Perform a grand ceremonial drill on the stage under its watchful eyes.

Quest Clearance Reward (1): Depends on the completion rating.

Quest Clearance Reward (2): A linked quest will occur.]

“Ceremonial drill?”

The Kang family had produced the best swordsmen for generations.

In their prime, they had hundreds of vassals, most of whom were warriors who wielded swords as weapons.

It meant that sharp discipline and sword form were the symbols of the Kang family.

This was his specialty.

Jae-Hyeok slowly drew his sword and straightened his back.

He sharply raised the sword to the center of his chest and took several steps forward and back.

Thump, thump, thump!

His steps were so powerful that they echoed on the stage while his upper body didn’t sway in the slightest.

His gaze was fixed as if nailed to the air in front of him.

Only the sound of stomping feet and fluttering hair proved that he was moving.

Swish.

Loosening his grip, he allowed the hilt to slide from his hand with upward momentum.

Thump!

Jae-Hyeok took the final step; caught in one hand the hilt of his sword, which had risen above the level of his eyebrows; and slipped his left hand behind his back like a soldier at parade rest.

He concluded the Kang family’s formal military drill with a brief finishing gesture. Then he sheathed the sword with a flourish and looked up at the lion statue.

Did I do okay?

-......

For some reason, there was no response.

Jae-Hyeok knew that the reward for clearing the quest depended on the completion rating.

My drill wasn’t even worth evaluating? Jae-Hyeok started frowning.

-...S-so great!!

Finally, after a moment of silence, the lion statue praised him.

-It was a perfect ceremonial drill! You embodied a military disciple who is as sharp as a blade and as heavy as a knight’s advance! I especially liked the gorgeous but solemn finish!

[It is an amazing achievement!]

[The will of the Lion’s Castle is impressed by the wonderful ceremonial drill.]

[All stats have increased by 2.]

“You have discerning eyes.”

The statue’s reaction was stronger than expected, and it made Jae-Hyeok happy. He was more pleased by the lion’s reaction than by the fact that his stats had gone up.

In the prime of the Kang family, hundreds of swordsmen used to perform this drill.

It had looked so cool in the young Jae-Hyeok’s eyes, and it was one of the reasons why he took pride in his family. He was happy that the lion statue seemed to recognize the value of the Kang family.

“Then the first quest has been cleared?” freēwēbηovel.c૦m

-Huh? What does that mean?

The lion statue looked ready to praise him some more, but it suddenly became serious when it heard Jae-Hyeok’s question.

-The more people who participate in the drill and the more consistent their actions, the higher the value. The ceremonial drill I want to see is a thousand aspiring knights filling the stage, performing with one heart and one mind.

“One thousand?”

-That’s right. Only then will I be able to re-create the military discipline that filled the old Lion’s Castle and soared with enough strength to pierce the heavens.

“......”

Dammit. The entire first year didn’t even have one thousand students.

I’m not the principal or chairman. How can I call a thousand students together for a ceremonial drill?

In fact, the principal and chairman couldn’t do it either. The students of Lion’s Castle weren’t normal students; they were players. They would protest about being forced to do such a useless thing when they should be leveling up.

Jae-Hyeok was flustered and unsure of what to do. Do I have to call in the orcs?

Just then, the lion statue presented him with a new option.

-You don’t seem to have any confidence, young human. If you can’t do it, then bring another human to me. If that person is as kind, proud, and hard-working as you are, I will make a deal with them.

"Don't make me laugh.”

Jae-Hyeok smiled in an eerie manner.

“I decided to do you a favor even though I almost died from your curse. You should at least show me some sincerity. Isn't that right?"

-Eh? Um...

“Don’t deal with anyone other than me. Don’t talk to anyone until I’ve completed the quest.”

It was a slight exaggeration, but he spoke his words with all seriousness.

Jae-Hyeok didn’t want to miss this rare opportunity, so he wouldn’t easily forgive the lion for the curse.

He wasn’t a fool, nor was he naive with his kindness. Those parts of himself had been discarded eight years ago when he decided to avenge his father.

-I-I see. I will be considerate of your position. In any case, it isn’t easy to find a human worth talking to.

The lion statue was so naive that it was easy to handle. It had been alone for two hundred years, so it couldn’t help being pure.

Looking at it, Jae-Hyeok felt sorry for its shabby appearance. The statue was moss covered and riddled with cracks.

Although Butler Hwang had been by his side, the past eight years had always been lonely and painful for Jae-Hyeok. He had no idea how the lion statue had endured two hundred years alone.

He removed the moss from the lion’s eyes and made a vow.

I will fulfill your wish with my own hands.

By clearing this quest, he could help soothe the lion’s loneliness, and he would be a step closer to fulfilling his revenge.

***

“Butler Hwang is overdoing it.”

Jae-Hyeok grinned when he came out of the bathroom and checked his text messages.

Butler Hwang: Master’s expression became much more comfortable when I turned on the news about Young Master. Congratulations again on awakening your Bloodline Skill. I’m so glad that your hard work has paid off (cheering penguin teary emoji).

He felt good knowing that his father could have heard the news. It was also gratifying to see Butler Hwang happy.

I’ll try harder to deliver good news more often.

He replied to the text message, put down his phone, and logged into the Community. This wasn’t just some Internet site but a service supported by the System.

[Make sure to use the Community in a safe place.]

[Welcome, player Kang Jae-Hyeok.]

He had heard many rumors about it, but it was amazing to experience it himself.

Jae-Hyeok’s view didn’t change.

It was the same dormitory room that he had been sitting in. However, reality had been augmented.

[Kang Jae-Hyeok, South Korea, male, sixteen years old, level 10, knight (growth type).]

[Your profile is visible.]

Jae-Hyeok saw the information in the upper right corner of his vision and changed his profile to private. Then he picked up the phone that he had left on his bed.

An anonymous forum that he couldn’t see in real life appeared on his phone screen.

The forum was extremely active since it was used by players all over the world. New posts in dozens of categories were being updated every second.

I heard that the forum’s language is adjusted according to the player’s nationality. It’s actually true.

He could see why there were so many players addicted to the Community. The convenience was excellent, and the quantity of information was vast. Of course, 99% of it was garbage.

He chuckled when he saw his name occasionally being mentioned. Then, he used the System Search function.

He entered the terms ‘Reinhardt,’ the Third Princess,’ and ‘Iris,’ but there was only one result.

[How to avoid the farmers and reach Area Nine (1/2).]

It was a chat room, not a post.

‘Reinhardt’ was tagged privately.

“I think I heard that when entering a chat room, the consciousness is transferred to the space where the room manager is?”

Just in case, Jae-Hyeok checked his appearance in the mirror.

Thanks to changing his profile to private, his face was covered with a mask, and his body shape was different from what it was in reality.

He was satisfied and clicked the Enter button for the chat room.

[500,000 points are required to enter the chat room.]

[Would you like to pay?]

“......?”

The value of community points overwhelmed the value of gold.

It was because the sources to acquire points were limited

Isn’t 500,000 points burdensome even for a National Treasure?

Yet this was just an entrance fee?

Jae-Hyeok could feel the strong will of the room manager to not let trash enter.

“Um... ”

Jae-Hyeok gulped and checked his points, only to be surprised.

Why do I have so many points?