The Duke's Son :Re-Chapter 279

On this day, the country had bowed to Jae-Hyeok, shedding its regal pretense and humbling itself for his service. To some extent, it was only natural for Jae-Hyeok to be proud; he’d negotiated with a country. And the country had listened with reason: he was the world’s youngest National Treasure, after all.

But this?

To stroll around my Geum family’s estate, alone, unannounced, and without a care in the world... such arrogance.

***

Geum Tae-Byeok... is he actually dangerous?

The style and location of the Geum Estate said much about the man.

For one, the walls enclosing the estate were so tall and thick as to be called ramparts. And if that weren’t enough, the back of the property abutted a mountain chain. It was a design that leveraged every tactical advantage possible.

Yet instead of worry, this had caused Jae-Hyeok to relax.

The rules that transcendents played by were not those of ordinary soldiers.

If Geum Tae-Byeok was secretly at the level of a National Treasure, then why would he concern himself with trivial things like mountains and tall walls?

Jae-Hyeok reflected on his impending departure from Korea and shrugged.

Well, he can’t always be around. Maybe he designed it with his family's safety in mind.

Jae-Hyeok finished descending the back mountain and circled the Geum family’s premises to arrive at the front gate. A CCTV camera followed him on a swivel as he approached, a red dot blinking behind the camera’s black lens. Jae-Hyeok blinked back before approaching the gate and prying apart the thick metal bars as if they were Play-Doh.

As he stepped into the outer bailey[1], he frowned. Past the colorful gardens lining the main walkway were rows of lavish residences. Golden tiles plated their roofs, while the walls appeared to be some kind of black-iron composite, but the level of wealth on display didn’t end there; wherever the courtyards abutted, the boundaries were highlighted by scintillating rock gardens—every stone imported from a foreign dimension.

How embarrassing.

Jae-Hyeok shook his head.

Geum Tae-Byeok had earned his wealth by his own efforts, climbing to the position of count and establishing the Sun Guild with his new status. Strictly speaking, he could spend his wealth however he liked, but his obsession with garish opulence betrayed his lack of inheritance. None of the older count families were so childish.

Well, there’s no point in criticizing a dead man. Besides that... Jae-Hyeok expanded his senses, and his frown deepened.

All the residences were empty.

In fact, there wasn’t a single person anywhere in the outer premises.

Hmph. Whatever trick he’s playing at, if I leave now, he’ll only have more tricks in the future. Jae-Hyeok’s expression quickly settled as he picked up the pace, disappearing from where he stood and devouring the distance to the inner wall enclosing the Geum family’s mansion.

He arrived in a span of minutes, and there he was faced with another gate—this one solid metal.

The sun was just beginning to set, but the gate’s oversized handles and door knocker still shimmered brilliantly.

This old fart... he actually used mythril on something so useless.

Mythril was a highly sought-after ore, as scarce as it was expensive. Even high-grade gates might not have any.

Well, I may as well use it.

A mischievous glint flickered in Jae-Hyeok’s eyes. He grabbed the door knocker and knocked.

Bang bang!

“Geum Tae-Byeok, come out!”

“......”

Jae-Hyeok’s voice reverberated in the sky. But after several beats, silence was the only reply.

Don’t tell me he’s fled?

At that thought, Jae-Hyeok did become concerned. He closed his eyes and tried to focus his mana beyond the gate. Then he noticed it: A barrier.

Jae-Hyeok immediately drew his black hwando and slashed the gate.

As a weapon crafted by Elder Song, the black hwando could part ordinary metals like butter, and the Geum family’s inner gate was no exception. However, as Jae-Hyeok’s blade passed between the mythril door handles, they glowed and exploded.

Jae-Hyeok raised his scabbard to protect his body, but his face betrayed no surprise. In fact, Mythril was known for its high mana conductivity, so he’d suspected that someone might’ve infused volatile mana into the handles and knocker.

The smoke cleared, and Jae-Hyeok brushed the dust off his shoulders. Thankfully, I changed into ordinary training clothes before coming. Otherwise, I would’ve just disgraced my family’s ceremonial robe.

“What a grand welcome. Well, that’s good. I like that I don’t need to explain why I’m here.” Jae-Hyeok scanned the hundreds of presences before him and sighed. “Such impressive killing intent. I suppose you’re all resolved to die.”

The final embers of dusk faded from the sky. The world dimmed, and Jae-Hyeok stepped forward, briefly vanishing into the fabric of night as several swords split the air where he’d once stood.

The Geum family’s swordsmen were all elite talents at the level of sword demons, yet before anyone realized it, swordsmen who’d attacked Jae-Hyeok had lost their swords, which fell to the ground with a clang. Each of them clutched at the bloody stump that was their wrist and spun to face Jae-Hyeok, who’d reappeared several meters away.

Seeing the venom and resolve in their eyes, Jae-Hyeok sighed and the black hwando in his hand flickered.

For an instant, the swordmen seemed like they might scream or shout, but before they could, the light left their eyes and their heads tumbled to the ground.

Jae-Hyeok calmly returned his hwando to its scabbard.

Loyal to the end... Sigh.

He had wanted to spare them if possible, but even with their sword hands severed, the swordsmen’s killing intent hadn’t lessened at all.

Even knowing the futility, they showed no fear... As expected.

Jae-Hyeok frowned and rested a hand on his sword’s hilt.

“It seems like I really have to kill all of you.”

Time seemed to unfreeze, and sword demons swarmed out in droves from the railings and corridors on both sides, filling the small garden.

They know my level; they know it's pointless; yet they still charge to their deaths. This level of loyalty... It’s no different from fanaticism, and there are so many of them, too. Geum Tae-Byeok... Has he been using his guild as a front to capture and brainwash soldiers?

The more Jae-Hyeok saw, the less ordinary the old man seemed.

Well, he even dared to target my Kang family’s martial arts. It makes sense that he has a few tricks up his sleeve.

Thump!

A heavy stone slab slid in place behind Jaae-Hyeok, sealing the exit.

“Die!”

At the same time, the sword demons reached Jae-Hyeok. They slashed and stabbed without concern for their comrades, who were elbow to elbow with them.

The crush of bodies and blades swarmed Jae-Hyeok until he was pressed up against the stone slab, but he didn’t panic. If it were really a crisis, he could’ve used King’s Roar to bring everyone to their knees. Instead, he jumped before kicking off the stone slab to soar over the crowd.

He landed softly on the second-story railing of a distant residence. Looking down, he locked eyes with a crouched group of Geum family soldiers—no doubt a part of a second contingent who’d been lying in wait.

“Kill—”

They began to rise, but Jae-Hyeok hooked a foot on the railing and leaned forward until he was nearly perpendicular with the ground. The black hwando appeared in his hands, and with a flicker, a hole appeared in each of the men’s foreheads. Jae-Hyeok straightened then and spun to face the crowd of Geum family swordsmen, who by now had reoriented on him.

“He is like a slippery eel!”

They re-commenced their charge, but as they neared, the Geum family swordsmen, sword demon all, slowly lost their momentum. And by the time they arrived below Jae-Hyeok, they’d come to a complete stop.

Were they intimidated by the blood of their comrades?

No. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

They were stunned.

Two moons shone in their eyes—one in the sky, and one in Jae-Hyeok’s hand.

“Is this... the peak?”

Glowing hwando in hand, Jae-Hyeok released the condensed sword light with a flick of his wrist, whereupon it stretched from a thick arc into a thin thread that passed over the heads of the swordsmen and swept the entirety of the inner bailey[2]

Jae-Hyeok relaxed, and the glow on his hwando dimmed.

“Ah... ahhh...”

The eyes of the trembling sword demons gradually changed. Gone was the hatred and killing intent. Instead, admiration smoldered in their eyes. Their look was similar to Kwae Myeong-Su, who’d willingly sacrificed his life for Jae-Hyeok.

I think it worked.

Jae-Hyeok made a harsh face and said, “Step back now.”

The Geum family swordsmen glanced at one another and then, to Jae-Hyeok’s relief, obeyed. They slowly began to retreat.

As expected.

Sword demons were fanatics of the swordpath. And just as he’d hoped, it seemed this was the way to their hearts.

Jae-Hyeok inwardly sighed.

Ruthless, bloodthirsty, psychopath—these were names his enemies branded him with. But in reality, Jae-Hyeok had never been the sort to revel in needless slaughter. Moreover, right now, it was better to conserve his strength while he could.

After all, Jae-Hyeok’s opinion on Geum Tae-Byeok’s true power had been in constant flux since their encounter earlier that day. At this point, Jae-Hyeok wasn’t certain whether Geum Tae-Byeok was a high-level expert or not, so it was best to assume the worst and save his energy.

Just then, the trees and stones in every courtyard rumbled, and Jae-Hyeok staggered. He felt as if his eardrums had been pierced.

“......!”

"Ohhhhhh!"

The retreating Geum family swordsmen abruptly stopped. A vacant look stole over their faces before it was replaced with rage. Their killing intent once again erupted.

Damnit. I should’ve known.

There was a reason behind Geum Tae-Byeok’s displays of wealth.

It’s a trap.

A pungent stench filled the air, and the stones lining Jae-Hyeok’s courtyard turned a deep red.

Dudududududu.

The panels on two adjacent residences swung open, whereupon two rows of magic arrows shot toward Jae-Hyeok.

“Die!”

At the same time, the first of the Geum family's swordsmen rushed back into the courtyard and were no more than several dozen meters away.

Just as the situation reached a fever pitch—

“Step back.”

[King’s Roar Level 3.

Unleashes the pressure of an innate king, briefly terrifying the target.

The lower the target’s level or total stats compared to the user's, the more likely they are to be affected by the Fear status.

Applies to a maximum of 20 targets.

Cooldown Time: 7 minutes.]

As expected of a Lord-level Skill, its effects grew exponentially as the Skill level increased.

The Geum family swordsmen were overwhelmed by Jae-Hyeok’s voice, which reverberated like thunder in their ears. They dropped their weapons and sank to their knees in submission.

Meanwhile, Jae-Hyeok kicked off the balcony and shot through the air like a missile, easily outpacing the magic arrows.

I need to speed up.

[You have resisted the Mountain Poison.]

Several minutes later, Jae-Hyeok crossed the poison pond encircling the Geum family’s main mansion and blew through the front door.

In the depths of the mansion, Geum Tae-Byeok’s expression became gloomy as he stared at the monitor.

“How is this possible...”

How could the mansion he’d spent decades designing end up so useless?

“The Kang family’s swordsmanship...”

On the other hand, Yamamoto was gradually showing signs of excitement.

He’s worth devouring.

1. The outer bailey is the open area enclosed between the outer and inner walls of a castle. ☜

2. The inner bailey is the area enclosed by the inner walls of a double-walled castle. ☜