The Duke's Son :Re-Chapter 77

“If it has been missing for nearly two hundred years... are you saying that Iyarugt’s transformation function isn’t the work of the Song family?”

The first time Jae-Hyeok had gotten his hands on Iyarugt, he had been in a quandary about a new scabbard. However, Iyarugt naturally reverted to the hwando when placed in the scabbard. Jae-Hyeok expected this convenient function to be the work of Craftsman Song, but the truth was completely different. frёeweɓηovel_coɱ

Elder Song replied, “That’s exactly what I’m saying. Iyarugt changes form not through design but through the will of the owner. It’s an ego sword. As far as I know, the Song family doesn’t have the technology to make ego weapons.”

“Didn’t you say that Iyarugt has lost its soul? How can it be an ego sword?”

‘Ego’ literally meant ‘self,’ so how could the soulless Iyarugt have an ego?

Elder Song explained, “Although the soul departed, I think the thoughts left behind have turned into an ego all of its own.”

“Ah... ”

Theodore had also said something similar when it first saw Iyarugt—saying it was a sword that had originally harbored the soul of a demon but was now forged by remnant thoughts.

It seemed it indeed deserved to be called a demon sword.

Jae-Hyeok wondered, “Whose work was it?”

“I’m not certain. The only thing I am certain of is that Iyarugt was hidden so others wouldn’t target it. But after reflecting on the prophecies passed down through my family's generations, I personally think the Blacksmith God had bestowed it.”

***

I have to avoid being targeted.

Ever since meeting Elder Song a few days ago, Jae-Hyeok realized the value of Iyarugt. A sword that had once been used by Peak Sword, one of the three great heroes of South Korea, the founder of the Kang family.

He couldn’t fathom how many wolves would be drawn to it when it was revealed to the world.

Unfortunately, the strength I’ve gained so far is limited.

Could he use Iyarugt proudly in front of the public? No, it was impossible.

It was unlikely that a foreigner would recognize Iyarugt, but the sharp eyes of veteran players who experienced various gates and quests couldn’t be ignored.

If I had awakened a Bloodline Skill, I could’ve pretended that Iyarugt was a Skill.

It wouldn’t matter what he did if his eyes were dyed gold. Even if he performed a ridiculous miracle, many people would be convinced it was done through his Bloodline Skill. However, Jae-Hyeok’s eyes were always black since he chose Noble Chivalry over a Bloodline Skill.

It’s a useless thought.

If he had awakened the Bloodline Skill, he wouldn’t have obtained Iyarugt, which implied that his foundation would have been wrong from the start.

In any case, without a proper cover, he couldn’t use Iyarugt openly.

Wait. Jae-Hyeok stopped in place, lost in thought. He lowered his gaze and looked at his boots. Customan—the custom craftsman he met in the Community.

He held the key to unlocking Jae-Hyeok’s constraints.

Of course, Jae-Hyeok didn’t intend to entrust Iyarugt to this person. He would definitely be cursed at if he recklessly modified the founder’s treasured sword. Instead, Jae-Hyeok’s solution was...

Maybe I can get a contact lens made of magic that adjusts eye color?

After all, it was rumored that he’d awakened a Bloodline Skill, so wouldn’t it be convenient in many ways to pretend to have one?

I’ll have to see.

But before connecting to the Community, he had to stop by one place first.

***

-You have come.

What story should he tell today? Whenever he had time, Jae-Hyeok came to the lion statue. He had no use for it until he met the requirements for its quest, but he felt sorry for the statue that was stuck alone in the castle ruins.

“Yeon-Ju and Roh Jun-Yeop accepted my commission. Here’s what happened... ”

......

-A white tiger beastman? What is that?

“Don’t you know the beastmen? They’re an intelligent race like humans, but they’re a mix of human and beast. For example, they have a lion face like yours but a human body like mine.”

-It sounds dubious.

“Hey, don’t discriminate. It gives away your age. I’m curious, were there no beastmen in the dimension you lived in?”

-I heard of humans turning into beasts or monsters, or beings who disguised themselves as humans, but I have never heard of a race called beastmen. Ah, I think it was said that similar beings dwelled on the continent beyond the Red Sea...

“What is the Red Sea?”

-Don’t ask for details. I always stayed in the same place in the world I originally lived in.

Constant communication with the lion statue helped Jae-Hyeok a lot. Consideration and goodwill toward each other gradually accumulated, so he was able to slowly gather information in this way.

-Even if I know a lot, it won’t be much help to you. As you can see from the fact that this island was moved to your world, the world I lived in must’ve changed a lot. Still, I can’t help thinking of Theodore.

“Why are you suddenly talking about Theodore?”

-That bastard has an obsessive temperament. Now that he’s missed you once, he should cling to you even more. It isn’t normal that he’s been so quiet. I’m worried he is playing some type of trick behind the scenes.

“Are you worrying about me?”

-Of course. I am looking forward to you gathering and performing the ceremonial drill with the knights. At the very least, you need to stay safe until then.

“hmm—I think you’re worried about me because we’re friends.”

-Hmph, in your dreams. How can a mere human match a great dimension master like myself?

“...Are you sure you’re great?” Jae-Hyeok asked innocently.

-......

The lion statue was silent. Its eyes might’ve rolled if it weren’t for the fact that it was a statue.

-Hey, you damn crazy human being! What type of friend are you, anyway? You hit me on the head with the scabbard the first time we met, and now you’re insulting me!

“Hey, why is it an insult to ask about your greatness?”

-Even if I am the master of the dimension, I’m stuck in place and unable to move! Aren’t you sarcastically asking how a statue that can’t eat, drink, or sleep can be great?

“I-I didn’t think that...”

This statue couldn’t even sleep. Jae-Hyeok felt even more sorry for the statue after learning this. It sounded like a hell from Jae-Hyeok’s perspective, who had been living for his dreams. He suddenly jumped up and landed on the gate with the embossed lion statue.

“Watch me from now on.”

-...Eh?

The boy’s calloused hand caressed the lion’s bare head. “At the very least, you won’t be bored. One day, maybe I can bring about your dreams in this world.”

After a beat of silence, the lion statue softly said,

-No matter what, you are a person who turned out well.

Jae-Hyeok smiled and reassured the statue. “Don’t worry about Theodore. Maybe he wants me to grow up. I don’t think there is any ulterior motive. He’s just giving me time.”

-That sounds like something Theodore would do. However, time is on Theodore’s side. Even at this moment, he is regaining the strength he lost.

“I am getting stronger too.”

-...I see.

The lion statue was convinced. He was the master of the dimension. He wasn’t so ignorant that he didn’t know Jae-Hyeok’s growth was extraordinary.

***

[Welcome, player Kang Jae-Hyeok.]

Jae-Hyeok received a whisper the moment he logged in, startling him as A Conscientious Merchant’s voice rang directly in his head.

-You finally connected!

He wondered, Has he been looking at his Friends List all day? It couldn’t be. Unless this person was unemployed, it was probably a coincidence.

-There is something I would like to show you. Could you give me a chance to meet and talk? I won’t waste your time.

Jae-Hyeok thought it was about time he replied. A Conscientious Merchant had been sending a message to him every day. Most of them asked how he was doing, but the core purpose was always to introduce a product.

That blatant attitude never felt particularly unpleasant. After all, according to his activity name, he was a merchant, and there was nothing wrong with a merchant being faithful to their duty—being honest was best as far as Jae-Hyeok was concerned. It was the ones who hid their intentions that were always the most tiring to deal with.

Moreover, Jae-Hyeok was willing to buy goods from A Conscientious Merchant. Cursed items, which couldn’t get full price on the market, were a huge advantage for him.

-Let’s open a chatroom.

He notified A Conscientious Merchant before opening a private chatroom.

[A Conscientious Merchant is invited.]

“......”

He opened a room, sent out the invitation, and waited five minutes.

[A Conscientious Merchant has entered.]

[3,000 points have been acquired.]

A Conscientious Merchant entered the chatroom.

The face beneath the feather mask looked unusually pale today.

Jae-Hyeok mocked the trembling merchant, “Do you have gout? I thought you were quite young from the way you spoke, but I must’ve been mistaken.”

“If you don’t manage your diet properly, you can get gout in your twenties.” The merchant barely managed to answer as he sat across from Jae-Hyeok.

The merchant thought, This crazy person charged an entry fee.

Blake Borsus—that was the real name of A Conscientious Merchant. He was an S-class player of US nationality who had targeted a number of high-grade gates and unearthed numerous artifacts, accumulating immense wealth and fame. He acted casually in the Community where his identity was hidden, but he was a bigshot who usually got his way.

This was the first time he had spent days desperately trying to meet someone, and then he even had to pay for it—normally, it was the opposite.

Jae-Hyeok saw the other person trying to control his expression and leaned back deeply into the sofa. He asked, “Are you only playing a merchant in the Community?”

“Huh?”

“Protecting one’s pride doesn’t seem like something a businessman would do.”

“Haha... it’s a misunderstanding. I was just a bit flustered, so I was left speechless for a moment.”

“There’s a line of people paying billions to dine with me.”

In the Community, Jae-Hyeok had to act as a transcendent. So, for everything from his glances and facial expressions to his gestures, attitude, and speech, he referred to his father’s active duty days, and the effect was great. His voice echoed like they were in a cave and pressed heavily on A Conscientious Merchant.

Jae-Hyeok continued, “Rather than thanking me, you’re regretting spending 3,000 points. If you don’t recognize the value of my time, then the value of your goods is obvious. I will stop the deal.”

“I’m sorry. I have disrespected and offended you.” A Conscientious Merchant came to his senses and bowed respectfully.

“I think I subconsciously doubted you due to the anonymous nature of our meeting. Give me one more chance.”

There actually were people who paid billions to gain an opportunity to eat with someone. A Conscientious Merchant was well aware that the world of first-class people was beyond the imagination of an ordinary person.

Even so, I was unwilling to pay the entry fee.

To be honest, A Conscientious Merchant regarded the Community activities as a half-joke. He often sneered at those who relied on anonymity to pretend to be great and ignored them. Because of this habit, he’d made a mistake.

The man in front of him was likely one of the people he had been desperately searching for, but subconsciously, he had doubts and failed to show respect.

The merchant came to his senses, and his eyes regained focus.

“First of all, I would like to give you a gift as an apology. I would be glad if you could accept it.”

A Conscientious Merchant took out five items and spread them out on the table. They were all armor items, but each one was cursed differently.

His intention was to determine what type of curse the other person disliked or favored based on what they picked. In other words, he was using a crisis as an opportunity.

Jae-Hyeok read his intentions and was satisfied. Fortunately, this person wasn’t an idiot.

Now, which one should he pick? Jae-Hyeok looked at the information of each amazing item and reached out.

What? At that moment, the eyes of A Conscientious Merchant widened.

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