The Duke's Son :Re-Chapter 284

Japan, a mansion deep in the mountains.

“This...”

A man lowered the satellite phone from his ear. Around him, the men clad in samurai armor and tengu masks shifted uneasily. The pair of scabbards at their waists clicked together as they moved.

“What, still nothing?”

“I’m... afraid so.”

“Hmph. It’s been hours since we first tried to contact him. Master should’ve responded by now.”

One of the samurai thumped the table and rose. “Master Yamamoto must’ve fallen in battle—this means war!”

“Yes, war!”

“War!”

“War!”

In the blink of an eye, dozens of samurai had grunted and shouted their approval.

“Good. Set off at once. Let’s pay a visit to the Kang family!”

***

[Shadow Control Level 1 (passive).

A technique favored by Lantier, the leader of Eclipse.

* Raise Shadow Control’s level to unlock additional active Skills.

* Active shadow Skills:

[Shadow Clone Level 1.

Conjure a clone from your shadow.

*The clone’s stats are 30% of the caster’s stats.

*Maintaining the clone expends mana.

*Damage to the clone also applies to the caster.]

[Shadow Swap Level 1.

Swap positions with your shadow clone.]

On the way home, Jae-Hyeok practiced casting his new Skills. With his free-form control of mana, mastering them proved easy.

If I can make good use of this...

Cast on the moonlit wall, Jae-Hyeok’s shadow rippled, and soon a black figure emerged as if from a bottomless well.

Jae-Hyeok studied the clone appreciatively.

Its general height and figure mirrored Jae-Hyeok’s perfectly. Of course—pitch black as it was—the clone lacked a discernible face. Yamamoto’s fascination with masks suddenly made sense.

Shadow Swap.

Jae-Hyeok’s vision flickered black, and he felt a wall against his back. The clone stood motionlessly where Jae-Hyeok had once been.

As expected.

Jae-Hyeok was reminded of Do-Jin’s Flash Steps; he’d effectively just teleported four meters in the blink of an eye.

Overall, the applications of Shadow Control were limitless. He was certain it would be a great help in both combat and daily life.

Stepping from the alley, Jae-Hyeok strolled along the main road, but as he passed the windows of a brightly lit clothing store, he halted, stunned by his own reflection.

What a mess...

Leveling up had healed his wounds, but his training jacket, pants, and shirt were in tatters.

Uh... I should probably avoid making a scene.

Picturing Hae-Rin and the others’ worried faces, Jae-Hyeok shook his head and stepped through the door.

"Kyaaaaak!”

Chaos ensued.

The youngest National Treasure, an unmatched genius, the first to bear a title with “god” in the name... Jae-Hyeok’s presence caused the employees and customers to shout and stare with wide eyes.

Then, silence swept the store as everyone registered Jae-Hyeok’s bedraggled state.

Battle... He must’ve just returned from a battle.

Eyes flashing, the customers and clerks slowly resumed browsing aisles or folding clothes.

No one wanted to pester him.

Jae-Hyeok blinked, smiled, and moved to the Men’s Section. “Excuse me, could you help me pick an outfit?”

“Yes!”

The employee gave a professional smile and went about unhooking a selection of shirts and pants from the wall, his hands faintly trembling all the while.

***

“I see you’ve changed your clothes, Young Master.”

Butler Hwang’s expression immediately darkened when he saw Jae-Hyeok. He could guess what sort of “errands” Jae-Hyeok had been running.

“Sigh. Young Master, please be safe. If I can help in any way, please let me.”

Jae-Hyeok smiled.

“Butler Hwang, it’s done.”

“Done?”

“Father, he... he can rest at ease. I’ve finally done it.”

Butler Hwang’s eyes widened.

“You... you’ve avenged the master?”

“I’ve dealt with everyone who’s harmed Father or conspired against my family, so... yes.”

Jae-Hyeok nodded with a heavy expression. He’d killed dozens of people; it wasn’t something to take lightly, and he also had to worry about the new, unseen grudges that his revenge inevitably left behind.

Still, he could finally bring peace to his father's spirit. Jae-Hyeok felt emotional just thinking about it.

“...Thank you.”

Butler Hwang hugged Jae-Hyeok.

The boy had borne both his father’s duties and blood debt for eight years. At least now, he was free of the latter.

Butler Hwang said, “Thank goodness you survived.”

“...Isn’t your sense of gratitude a bit wrong? I just restored my family’s name.”

“Young Master, no matter where you are or what people say, the Kang family exists so long as you exist.”

Tears ran down the deep wrinkles of Butler Hwang’s face and fell onto Jae-Hyeok’s cheek.

“...You are really good with words.”

“I didn’t spend my life as a servant of the Kang family for nothing.”

For the past eight years, Butler Hwang had never lost his smile, but the pain behind Butler Hwang’s smiling eyes couldn’t be hidden. Jae-Hyeok had always sensed—until now.

Now, he was radiant; Butler Hwang’s tear-soaked face shone with true, genuine happiness.

I really did it... For the first time, Jae-Hyeok’s taut muscles relaxed as the darkness in his heart abated.

“Oh my, this isn’t the time for me to get all teary-eyed. You must be starving. Come. I’ll prepare dinner.”

Jae-Hyeok immediately tensed.

Can’t we just order in? Jae-Hyeok nearly asked. After a moment, however. Jae-Hyeok nodded with a weak smile.

“I—Um, well, thank you.”

It was a special day. At least for tonight, he should eat his family’s food.

Father, I will see you at night.

Jae-Hyeok placed a hand over his chest and turned his gaze in the direction of his father’s bedroom.

Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum.

The Firebird’s Essence beside his heart was still hot.

***

Cheon Hye-Ji set down her spoon.

“This... isn’t good.”

“Hye-Ji, you sure know how to joke. Ahaha...”

Da-Hee smiled awkwardly and spooned the food into her mouth.

“......”

Most of the children, including Hae-Rin, didn’t even lift their spoons.

Since coming under Kang Hyeon-Ah’s tutelage, they had all been living in the mansion. They were well aware of the notoriety of Butler Hwang's food.

“This... is this really what we’re having tonight?” Du Bae-Su’s eyes were full of pain. He looked to the head of the table, where Jae-Hyeok sat eating.

“He’s actually eating it...” Du Bae-Su scratched his big head.

Jae-Hyeok had always led the charge when it came to avoiding Butler Hwang’s food. Yet today, he seemed content to let everyone suffer.

“Mm. It’s still bad...”

From Jae-Hyeok’s muttering, it was clear not even he liked the food.

Frowning, Cheon Hye-Ji finished rinsing her mouth with water and said, “Hey, Jae-Hyeok, what’s wrong with you? Does becoming a National Treasure make your personality a bit weird?”

Jae-Hyeok looked up from his plate.

Du Bae-Su coughed. “Jae-Hyeok, I heard you went somewhere after your National Treasure appointment ceremony. Cha Hye-Ji is just worried that something happened.”

Jae-Hyeok blinked, and he suddenly realized that it wasn’t just Cha Hye-Ji and Du Bae-Su—everyone was staring at him.

Is it the food or my mood that concerns them? Jae-Hyeok's lips tugged into a faint smile.

They had no idea that just a few hours ago, he’d claimed Yamamoto’s head.

Yamamoto... He’s not some small fry but a contender for the title of World’s Strongest. Signs of his death must have reached Japan by now. Just as Jae-Hyeok thought this, he sensed a cluster of players barreling through his property—their auras nearly identical to Yamamoto’s.

“Here so soon?” Jae-Hyeok wiped his mouth with a napkin and stood. At his side, Kang Hyeon-Ah lifted her chin from her palm and stared in the direction of the dining hall's door.

Everyone else broke into smiles.

“I knew it!”

“Hehe. Jae-Hyeok, did you sense the deliveryman? You really know how to joke.”

“Food! Food! Food!”

They’d trained all day with Kang Hyeon-Ah and were naturally famished. Thankfully, a real meal was just around—

Distant shouts reached the dining hall.

“Kill them all!”

“Let no one live!”

Smiles everywhere stiffened.

“Is that Japanese?”

Cha Hye-Ji and the rest quickly channeled mana into their ears; the dining hall fell quiet as they strained to hear.

“Erase the Kang family from the world!”

“Avenge Master Yamamoto’s soul!”

Everyone exchanged speechless glances.

Foreigners were invading the heart of Korea?

And they were even charging into Jae-Hyeok’s house?

Cha Hye-Ji pinched the bridge of her nose. “You know, if it were the Chinese avenging Qilin, at least it would’ve made sense. But the Japanese?... Sigh. Whatever.”

A round of sighs filled the dining hall. Still, no one hesitated; they summoned their weapons, prepared their Skills, and followed Jae-Hyeok out the dining hall.

Jae-Hyeok inwardly nodded along the way. His friends’ demeanors were the picture of calm—clearly, Kang Hyeon-Ah’s harsh training had paid off in more ways than one.

Even still, there was a limit to their mental fortitude.

“Hey, what’s that Cha-cha-cha sound I’m hearing?”

Cha Hye-Jie scoffed. “Du Bae-Su, is your big head only good for worrying? Whatever it is, can’t Jae-Hyeok take care of it?”

With that, Cha Hye-Ji hurried her pace, squeezed past Hae-Rin and Da-Hee, and followed Jae-Hyeok through the door like a piece of gum.

“Hey, I never said I was worried...”

Du Bae-Su trailed behind moments later. His muttering trailed off as he stepped outside and joined the others in staring up.

Multiple helicopters filled the sky—each of them a DN-088, the latest of a series of arcane helicopters in the US military’s arsenal.

“W-what?”

The United States and Japan?

Is this it? Is this how Korea falls?

Just as everyone had this thought, Jae-Hyeok spoke.

“Don’t worry. I can handle it.”

Everyone visibly relaxed at that.

Color returned to Cha Hye-Ji’s face, but just when she opened her mouth to speak, war cries shook the air, and the Japanese broke past the treeline.

There were thirty in total, all clad in traditional Japanese armor and long-nosed tengu masks.

The helicopters did give them pause—but then they spotted Jae-Hyeok; fury flared, and they swiftly swallowed a strange medicine.

Behind their masks, the red in their eyes deepened by several shades, and they charged toward Jae-Hyeok like frenzied beasts.

“Hmph.”

Lightning flickered in Jae-Hyeok’s eyes, while Hae-Rin, Da-Hee, and the rest raised their weapons with heavy expressions. But then—

Thud!

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Dozens of US players leaped from the helicopters, and the majority of them landed with their backs to Jae-Hyeok’s group.

They surrounded Jae-Hyeok as if protecting him.

“Looks like we’ve arrived just in time.”

The players ignored the confused Jae-Hyeok and directly unleashed their Skills on the Japanese.

The United States, the world’s most powerful country, had come to protect Jae-Hyeok.