Chapter 101
Chapter 101
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Fifth Duel Evaluation
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Winner, first-year Class B, Kang Jae-hyeok!"
"It's finally over. I was about to lose my mind from boredom..."
"Hey, Kang Jae-hyeok! Even if you wanted to win that badly, that was way too sneaky!"
"Boooo!"
The fifth duel evaluation.
Jae-hyeok had only defended against the tanker.
He dodged and blocked attacks until his opponent collapsed from exhaustion, claiming victory that way.
Showing the essence of tanking against a tanker...
It seemed impressive at first glance, but it was a dull, petty fight.
The first-years jeered as a group, and even the Class B students couldn't defend Jae-hyeok this time.
In contrast, the second-years showed great interest.
"What a thorough personality. No wonder he pulled off five straight wins against Class A."
"Yeah. That patience to endure until a sure victory is in sight, backed by the stamina to support it—he's the type who will go far."
"Having a kid like that would really solidify a club."
There were an unusually high number of second-years watching the first-year duel evaluations today.
It was a scene that made the approaching club recruitment period feel real.
The upperclassmen wanted talented freshmen, so they naturally took notice of Jae-hyeok.
Of course, not every club was after Jae-hyeok.
"Dirty bloodline does dirty deeds, as expected."
Noble, in particular, was openly hostile toward him.
The boys' gazes at him were filled with intense contempt and disgust.
"His father and brothers are the problem, not him, right? Isn't it too harsh to call out a kid who doesn't know the ways of the world for his dirty bloodline?"
"The reason titles are inherited is because the nation and its people trust the nobles' bloodlines. They believe and expect the nobles of the day to perform like their ancestors, and treat them accordingly. But the descendant of a brainless noble? What's the reason to place trust in scum like that?"
Noble members countered the students who clicked their tongues, claiming there was no guilt by association in Korea.
They added nonsense about how commoners were the problem because they were ignorant.
Many students found their attitude distasteful.
But no one actually confronted them.
There was a fear that getting on the bad side of the nobles' social circle—who would lead Korea's future—would inevitably bring harm someday.
'Plus, they're one of the major clubs.'
Noble's influence was vast and strong.
Even looking just at the school situation, antagonizing them was foolish.
"He's out at last."
The Noble members, who had been glaring contemptuously at Jae-hyeok as he left the stage, brightened up instantly.
Silla Kyung.
The heir of Korea's top house had taken the stage.
He was a beautiful boy.
His radiantly shining silver hair seemed to sweep away the shadow of House Kang that had dirtied the stage moments before.
"Cute underclassman. Prove that you have what it takes to be Noble's future."
This was why connections, school ties, and bloodlines mattered.
If the Noble members had met Silla Kyung in society, they would have been polite, but this was Lion's Castle.
It was school, and they were his seniors.
The pleasure from that was immense.
"Woooaaah!"
The training ground shook.
Many students thrilled at the sight of Silla Kyung summoning thunder spirits and overwhelming his opponent without even drawing his sword.
"Crazy... That's a first-year?"
"What does grade matter to the child of a prestigious house? He's been steadily raiding Gates and consuming elixirs since before he was old enough to understand."
"He's a National Treasure Candidate from the start. With the Ducal House's bloodline skill awakened, even most active players couldn't match him."
Even the second-years were overwhelmed by Silla Kyung's skill.
Of course, the top-tier students were exceptions.
'Thunder spirits... Can I beat that?'
'I wanted to witness Silla House swordsmanship, but it's a shame his opponent is weak. Will he show his full power against me?'
The elites felt competitive instead.
They were at the point of hoping Silla Kyung would debut in the team matches soon.
"Hahaha!"
Noble was in a festive mood.
They were convinced that recruiting Silla Kyung would let them dominate Lion's Castle.
'Above all, we can't miss the chance to connect with a future National Treasure.'
They had to recruit him, no matter what.
The Noble members, having made their decision, moved swiftly.
They chased after Silla Kyung as he came down from the stage.
"Hey! Kyung!"
"Kyung?"
Oja-ha stared at them in bewilderment as they came running up, shouting breathlessly.
"You dare call the young lord by name? Are you insane?"
"Yeah, totally insane."
Oja-du unusually agreed with her twin brother.
Noble's behavior was that outrageous.
The Noble members laughed heartily.
"We're Noble. We're nobles, just like your master. And as school seniors, wouldn't calling him familiarly by name foster harmony between us?"
Nobles were generally respected.
Noble also had tons of high-status alumni.
Among students, a Noble name card was on par with Student Council in prestige.
But it didn't faze Silla Kyung's group at all.
"Yeah, they're crazy. If you're nobles, you should show even more propriety to the young lord. Unless your parents passed away, your status has to be lower than his, right?"
"...What's the point of school ties then? We were just showing friendliness..."
The Noble members tried to salvage the mood.
"Get to the point."
But Silla Kyung cut them off, clearly uninterested.
As the boy's ice-clear blue eyes emitted chill, the Noble members shrank back and became polite on their own.
"We hope the young lord would join Noble and elevate the honor of the nobility..."
"Does honor elevated by relying on one person hold any value?"
"...?"
Silla Kyung's baffling question left the Noble members puzzled.
Silla Kyung thought of Duke Kang Dae-guk.
The man who had protected the nation's territory and honor with overwhelming force.
During the time he was active, Korea had been mighty.
Even that great China and Japan hadn't dared to apply external pressure carelessly.
But after losing him...
"Honor only has meaning when built by one's own hands. Prove your worth, then come find me again, and only then will I take you in."
"No, what...?"
The Noble members looked at Silla Kyung like he was mad.
"You're the one being scouted, and you're spouting nonsense about taking Noble in? Forget it. Drop it! How can someone be that arrogant?"
The Noble members hurried away.
They judged there was no gain in dealing with him further.
Oja-ha sneered at their retreating figures.
"They must've underestimated you. Well, Jae-hyeok did spread weird rumors about the young lord's personality for a while."
"Yeah. The young master was especially kind to Kang Jae-hyeok."
Even Oja-du chimed in.
Silla Kyung didn't particularly deny it.
It was true that he had respected and shown goodwill to Kang Jae-hyeok.
But that was all in the past.
Kang Jae-hyeok was a disappointment, far from his expectations.
It was hard to believe he was Yaksha's son.
"Enough idle talk. Let's go."
Silla Kyung's group headed to the restricted area as always.
***
-Hoo, you've improved noticeably?
The House Kang formal style Jae-hyeok displayed was much more vigorous and nimble.
Thanks to massacring ogres and orc mages to hit level 45.
His boosted stats greatly aided the movements of the formal style.
"Yeah. Very satisfying."
Jae-hyeok's chest swelled with emotion.
Having elevated the House Kang formal style to a higher realm, he understood the martial wisdom embedded in it a bit better.
He felt himself growing stronger as he comprehended and internalized the wisdom of his ancestors flowing into his mind.
-The more I see you, the more you remind me of Deodor in his human days. I thought no genius like him would ever appear again, but transcending eras, here you are.
The Lion Statue, in a good mood from admiring the excellent formal style, gave high praise.
He had grown fond of Jae-hyeok, who visited every night to share the day's events, and now expressed his emotions openly. He treated Jae-hyeok almost like a friend.
"Does Silla Kyung still come by these days?"
-No. Not so much lately.
"Good."
Having Silla Kyung discover the Lion Statue's identity and become a quest rival would be the worst development.
As Jae-hyeok sighed in relief, the Lion Statue added,
-But lately, I've been catching unfamiliar scents now and then.
"Scents?"
-Beast stench. The musky smell suggests a carnivore.
"But you can smell too?"
-Of course! Would this nose be for show?
"Well, you are a statue... Sorry. Wasn't trying to tease."
Jae-hyeok thought of the orc packs lingering in the nearby forest.
He figured some higher monster was prowling around to prey on them.
***
"Our score keeps climbing? I thought it was temporary, but this is unexpected. The Noble guys must be sweating."
Club subsidy rankings.
Archery Club's rise showed no signs of stopping.
They weren't closing the gap on the overwhelming number one, Swordsmanship Club, but they were steadily pulling away from third place.
Thanks to Gugang International Hotel, Daeyang Shipping, and financial companies steadily sending commissions their way.
And paying extremely generously, too.
All thanks to Jae-hyeok's achievements.
Because he had a hold on Gugang International Hotel and Daeyang Shipping, and befriended Jo Seong-hyeon, Archery Club reaped the benefits.
'I never knew the club leader role was this important.'
No Jun-yeop clicked his tongue.
Comparing his time as leader to now, he reflected deeply.
These days, getting struck by lightning daily had nearly dispelled his grudge against Jae-hyeok.
'Even the lightning is my fault. I just suck at dodging what I could avoid—it's not Kang Jae-hyeok's fault to blame.'
Time for a new mindset.
The moment No Jun-yeop, fired up by the subsidy rankings, quickened his steps toward the archery range—
"Where are you off to in such a hurry?"
As soon as he entered the alley, mysterious students ambushed him.
"Archery Club Leader No Jun-yeop. You'll be staying with us for a while."
"W-Wai...!"
I'm not the leader anymore!
Terrified, No Jun-yeop tried to confess, but had no chance.
With a gag stuffed in his mouth and his body tightly bound, he was dragged off somewhere.