Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Butler Hwang's Concern
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"Young Lord, are you doing well? I've been so worried about you that I haven't been able to sleep a wink."
*Butler Hwang, really.*
It was the first weekend since enrolling at Lion's Castle.
Kang Jae-hyeok, who had woken up early in the morning, read the message and broke into a pleased smile.
It had only been six days since leaving home, but he was already missing him this much? Worried to the point of sleepless nights?
*He really likes me too much. Does he think I'm his grandson or something?*
Looks like I'll have to support him for life.
Jae-hyeok's smile, which had been growing thicker by the moment, vanished as if by magic.
"Whether the Young Lord has swung violence at his classmates or picked a fight with a teacher—every moment, my heart races, and I can't catch a wink of sleep. I don't even expect you to excel in your studies. Just please build smooth relationships with your peers. Even your eldest brother, whom you so despise, had at least one friend during his school days."
"The food here's amazing. Thanks to that, I haven't thought of you even a little bit. Lol."
Jae-hyeok flicked past the long message and sent his reply, then let out a groan.
*And that's when Kang Dae-seong pops up out of nowhere?*
No, before that—*he doesn't even expect me to do well in studies?*
Butler Hwang is underestimating me.
*Butler Hwang, starting late isn't a flaw. If I work hard enough to make up for it, it'll be fine. I'll naturally take first place in studies too.*
More precisely, it was a vow to take first place *at least* in studies.
There was no guarantee that the heir to House Silla would excel in academics too.
*And as if I'd be crazy enough to bully classmates or argue with teachers... Huh?*
Huh? Am I already doing that?
Butler Hwang really...
He knows me too well. That must mean his affection runs deep.
Jae-hyeok's mood lifted again as he washed up and changed clothes.
Normally, he would've dashed to the cafeteria, but...
"It's the second-year dorms starting from the fourth floor, right?"
Instead of heading to the lobby, Jae-hyeok climbed the stairs.
"Uh? Yeah, that's right."
The second-year students nodded politely.
They couldn't imagine that this stranger barging into their living space and speaking casually was a first-year. They assumed he was an upperclassman from another building.
"Then, what's Baek Do-jin's room number?"
"Baek Do-jin...? He's in Class B, so the sixth floor, but the exact room..."
"Should I go ask around? Oh, could you guys look into it for me?"
"Sure..."
Wouldn't it be fine to just go to the supervisor's office?
The students tilted their heads but obliged Jae-hyeok's request.
Third-years held a special position at Lion's Castle.
Since classes focused mostly on hunting, their experience and levels were no different from active players.
In fact, many top performers were dispatched to guilds or associations right after becoming third-years, so underclassmen tended to see third-years not as fellow students, but as pros.
"What's up? What's going on?"
At the boys' dorm main building supervisor's office.
A man in the middle of shaving panicked as students came swarming in first thing in the morning.
The man's name was Lee Ki-buk.
He looked every bit the thirties, but he was still a fresh-faced student.
No, he was actually in his thirties as a second-year.
"A third-year senior came looking for Baek Do-jin. He wants the room number."
"A third-year?"
Breakfast time was approaching anyway, so they could've met on the way to the cafeteria, but he came all the way to the main building.
"For a senior to take the precious trouble of coming here himself, it must be urgent. That Baek Do-jin punk, seriously..."
Baek Do-jin must've caused trouble again.
What other reason would a third-year have to seek him out?
*If there's a commotion in the main building, I'll be the one with the headache.*
After a moment's thought, Lee Ki-buk took action himself.
"I'll guide you. You guys head out."
"Sure..."
The students exchanged glances.
Things seemed like they were about to get interesting.
Why was a third-year looking for Baek Do-jin?
Obviously, to give that mad dog a beating.
Lee Ki-buk wouldn't stand for that.
Any disturbance in the dorm meant the supervisor got demerits too, so it was a sensitive issue.
*Maybe Kibook hyung will throw down with the third-year...*
Being older, Ki-buk was naturally in Class C.
Class C students fell into two broad categories.
First, those who lived normally, trained steadily as a hobby, and awakened their first skill late.
Second, those who *deliberately delayed awakening* to acquire desired skills.
The latter awakened two or three first skills, then chose one. People who endured decades of asceticism rather than leave it to luck.
Lee Ki-buk belonged to the latter.
He had even turned the mana orb red—a prime candidate for high-rank player.
That's why he volunteered as dorm supervisor, a role only top students could take.
He wouldn't tolerate anyone, even an upperclassman, causing a ruckus in his domain.
*'Go eat breakfast already,' I said, so why are they following?*
Lee Ki-buk's burden grew with the trailing students.
He'd planned to placate the upperclassman and usher him out of the dorm, but with so many eyes now, it was awkward.
*I don't want to look like I'm groveling to some kid.*
Lee Ki-buk had endured over twenty years of hardship with the sole goal of becoming a high-rank player.
His efforts had paid off, but starting later than others was an undeniable fact.
Thus, he valued his three years at Lion's Castle more than gold.
Leading his young peers and underclassmen to build solid connections, then founding a guild on that network after graduation—that was his ambition.
He had to manage his image well.
*Hm...?*
Feeling his steps grow heavier as they neared the destination, Lee Ki-buk slowly came to a stop.
He had spotted Jae-hyeok.
The boy, dressed casually for the weekend, had a sturdy build and sharp features that made him look mature, but up close, he seemed subtly youthful.
*He looks a bit young for a third-year... Not a freshman, is he?*
Director Seol Sua had shown great favor to Kang Jae-hyeok's enrollment, providing many conveniences.
When assigning him to the dorm, she even instructed his secretary to guide him personally instead of a supervisor.
That's why even Lee Ki-buk found Jae-hyeok's face unfamiliar.
The boys' dorm main building had over a thousand rooms to begin with.
With so much to manage, there were multiple supervisors, and students rarely crossed paths unless their zones overlapped.
*No, not just a little young—a lot young?*
Of course, plenty of third-years were still in their teens.
Those who luckily awakened an outstanding first skill on the first try, or settled for a mediocre one.
But even they were mostly late teens.
"You brought some random kid saying it's Baek Do-jin's room? Who is he?"
"Th-the supervisor. He manages the rooms, so this guy's gonna show us Baek Do-jin's room."
"...A butler or something? Then hurry up and guide us."
Freshman or third-year?
Lee Ki-buk, who had been wavering, reached a conclusion.
*Third-year it is.*
That's why he's speaking so casually—as a senior.
"Senior, what's your business with Baek Do-jin?"
"Why? Do I have to report my reasons for meeting someone?"
As one might guess from having a thousand rooms, the dorm main building was unimaginably vast.
It had taken nearly twenty minutes for the students leading the supervisor to arrive.
Twenty minutes—enough time to swing a sword hundreds of times?
"I'm already starving to death, and I waited, and now what? You want my business? Sigh, being too nice is a problem too. Too nice, and people treat you like a pushover."
Even though it was still early.
While waiting in the hallway, countless students had passed by Jae-hyeok.
But Jae-hyeok hadn't asked them about Do-jin's whereabouts; he quietly waited for these people.
They had offered first(?) to look into Do-jin's location, so he repaid their kindness with trust.
But to be treated like this—only sighs escaped him.
"..."
Lee Ki-buk shot a glance at the second-years.
Asking what grudge this guy had to talk about favors and pushovers like that.
They all shook their heads.
Every one wore a baffled expression.
*What the...? Is he picking a fight on purpose?*
Anyway, it had been ages since he'd seen such a rude punk.
Even if Lion's Castle respected grade over age, Lee Ki-buk was pushing mid-thirties with an intimidating presence.
Upperclassmen usually knew their place, but this one seemed oblivious to boundaries.
*Even a third-year has limits.*
Deeply annoyed, Lee Ki-buk swallowed his anger.
A young third-year with a shitty personality likely meant one thing.
A powerhouse.
His unfamiliar face probably meant frequent dispatches.
*Rare, but some insanely skilled ones go on dispatch as early as second year.*
Better not poke the bear and get humiliated by a kid...
Composing himself, Lee Ki-buk politely apologized to Jae-hyeok.
"I'm sorry. I failed to consider your position as a senior. I'll fetch Baek Do-jin right away, so please wait outside."
This guy meeting that mad dog?
Disaster waiting to happen.
Stick to the plan—get him out of the building.
Lee Ki-buk decided quickly, but Jae-hyeok was uncooperative.
"Me, wait outside? Why?"
"...To avoid unsettling other students by creating tension in the dorm."
"Is meeting Baek Do-jin creating tension? No way, where's this nonsense coming from? You said you're a butler, but aren't you actually a teacher? You act just like Kim Jin-myeong—it's seriously pissing me off."
*What the actual fuck.*
Why is he talking so much? And what's this about a butler?
He looks like the quiet model type, but acts frivolously out of character.
*Hold on? 'Teacher?'*
Dorm supervisors at Lion's Castle are students, not teachers.
Yet a third-year doesn't know that?
"Kang Jae-hyeok? What're you doing there?"
Just as Lee Ki-buk sensed something off, a small red figure came scampering from down the hall.
The mysterious third-year(?) immediately whined in grievance.
"I just want to see you, and they tell me to get out of the building. Is that any way to treat people? Swarming in as a group first thing in the morning to harass one guy?"
"Crazy bastards. Full of delinquents, as always. Let's go eat first. Gotta fill up quick to start training sooner."
"Yeah."
"...Hold it."
Lee Ki-buk's temple throbbed as he halted the two boys.
"You... you're a freshman, aren't you?"
"Yeah."
"Then why the casual speech?"
"Oh, you *are* a teacher? Sorry, sorry. Thought you were a student too."
"..."
I don't need punks like this in my future guild.
No, absolutely not.
Lee Ki-buk nodded firmly, his gaze turning increasingly fierce.