The Duke's Son :Re-Chapter 200

Chapter 200
“Alright, come on out.”
“What? It’s... I’m allowed to go?”
Sword Demon Kwae Myeong-Su, member of the Association’s Enforcement Department, doubted his ears. It had been twelve days since he’d been thrown into solitary confinement after losing his duel to Jae-Hyeok—no, not only had he lost, but he’d lost in a single move before dozens of ers, personally freshening Jae-Hyeok’s resume for the National Treasure candidate exam... With how angry his higher-ups were, Kwae Myeong-Su hadn’t expected his punishment to end so soon.
“We’re short on manpower.” A senior Enforcement Department official handed him his uniform with a tired smile.
“The VIP attendance during today's National Treasure candidate exam will be the highest ever. We’re stretched thin as is and could use all the hands we can get.”
“Is the event that serious? Why task our department with security?”
The Enforcement Department served as the Association’s hunting dogs. Their usual role was to hunt down the Association’s enemies, not stand in as general security.
More than anything, Kwae Myeong-Su hadn’t been trained for such a role.
What do I look out for? How should I respond? What if one of the VIPs is suspicious—
“Relax.”
Seeing the worry on Kwae Myeong-Su’s face, the senior official explained. “You’ve got nothing to worry about. The professionals will handle the placement. Besides, our real job is to clean up any prey that wanders in.”
“Prey? What prey?”
“That’s obvious. You haven’t forgotten Kang Jae-Hyeok’s lineage, have you?”
“The Kang family... ”
Of course he couldn’t forget.
“
If you later have nowhere to go, come to the Kang family.
Originally, the Kang family was a sacred place for swordsmen.”
Kwae Myeong-Su’s eyes shook recalling Jae-Hyeok’s proposal. Even though he was still young, he was striving to revive his family. But he wasn’t the only son of the Yaksha. Jae-Hyeok was the youngest brother of the biggest lunatic in South Korean history—the criminal who’d beaten the Association’s president half dead before fleeing the country.
“Kang Dae-Seong.”
Indeed, they couldn’t rule out the possibility that Kang Dae-Seong would use the National Treasure candidate exam as a chance to return to South Korea.
Kwae Myeong-Su asked, “Do you think he’ll come back? If he makes trouble, he might ruin the chances of his younger brother becoming a National Treasure candidate.”
Kang Dae-Seong showing up and causing trouble during the exam would be a lethal blow to Jae-Hyeok’s reputation, who was still being criticized for his background.
The public was currently swept up in admiration for Jae-Hyeok’s talent and inspiring story. But if Kang Dae-Seong returned and chaos erupted, the public would be reminded of Jae-Hyeok’s roots, the fate of his two older siblings, and the dangers of letting a Kang hold power.
“Do you really think Kang Dae-Seong cares about that?”
“......”
His senior’s question caused Kwae Myeong-Su to shut his mouth. Kang Dae-Seong was a person who didn’t have much common sense. It was impossible to predict his pattern of behavior.
“Maybe he isn’t too thrilled about Jae-Hyeok’s examination. After all, if his younger brother becomes a National Treasure, Kang Dae-Seong will be deprived of his position as the Kangs’ successor.”
“Hasn’t he lost that chance already? Realistically, there’s no way the nation would allow Kang Dae-Seong to return as the Kang family’s successor.”
“That’s our thoughts. A madman like Kang Dae-Seong probably thinks differently.”
By then, the two of them had arrived at the venue for the examination.
“Well, no matter what... ” Kwae Myeong-Su was following his senior to his assigned post when he spotted the man on the exam stage. His words trailed off, and he came to a halt.
“Kim Byeok-Jae?”
It was none other than the guildmaster of Death God.
He was a character in stark contrast with the guildmaster master of the Sun Guild: where Geum Tae-Shin had built a reputation of goodness and righteousness, Kim Byeok-Jae was said to be death and chaos incarnate.
Of course, there was no solid evidence, but there were plenty of underground rumors about Kim Byeok-Jae’s involvement in kidnappings and assassinations. Moreover, he was strangely close to China.
No matter what, he wasn’t someone the Association should host at such an important time.
“Why is he... ”
Was he inspecting the facilities here?
The senior member of the Enforcement Department saw Kwae Myeong-Su’s look and explained. “Ah, right. You’ve been under disciplinary suspension and haven’t heard the news. That man is the examiner.”
“What?” Kwae Myeong-Su couldn’t help but frown. “Does the president of the Association... no, the entire Association, want to kill Kang Jae-Hyeok in broad daylight?”
In the System, Kim Byeok-Jae’s Profession was listed as an S-class assassin. Every one of his Skills was specialized for killing. And he was clearly no greenhorn in the act: even his mana was contaminated with bloodlust.
Players unfortunate enough to become Kim Byeok-Jae’s enemy would blink and find themselves waiting in line in the afterlife, not knowing what happened
“That’s right. They do want him dead.”
“How can they get away with killing a kid on national TV? What about the public backlash?”
Kwae Myeong-Su spoke as if he were worried about the Association, and the senior didn’t doubt him. They both relied on the Association to make a living, after all.
As for Kwae Myeong-Su’s earlier repulsion to Kim Byeok-Jae, that was everyone's first response on seeing the master of Death God.
The senior explained, “Kim Byeok-Jae won’t kill him instantly. He’ll bring him to the brink of death and then finish it after the exam is over.”
“Even so, the Association is sure to catch criticism, right? Kang Jae-Hyeok is young and a brilliant talent. The public will blame us for mishandling the exam.”
The senior waved his hand. “The public can be swayed later. The Association has done it for the past eight years, right? I’m sure they can do it again. In any case, it’s not our problem.”
The senior shrugged and turned away from Kwae Myeong-Su, unwilling to continue the conversation. That was just the nature of sword demons—if it wasn’t about a sword or swordsmanship, they hardly cared.
He’ll probably suspect me if I press him any further.
Kwae Myeong-Su’s knuckles turned white around the hilt at his waist.
Jae-Hyeok was a sword prodigy who’d crushed him in a single strike... Kwae Myeong-Su couldn’t stop thinking about that day. And the more he did, the more immaculate and brilliant Jae-Hyeok’s image became. Whenever he recalled how Jae-Hyeok recognized his talent and invited him to his Kang family, Kwae Myeong-Su’s old cheeks couldn’t help but turn rosy.
Naturally, the current situation left Kwae Myeong-Su torn. But his doubt didn’t last long.
No. This sort of divine sword talent shouldn’t die young.
Kwae Myeong-Su had an inexplicable feeling: if they both passed the decades safely, then through Jae-Hyeok, there would come a day when he, Kwae Myeong-Su, could witness the pinnacle of swordsmanship.
Perhaps those words sounded arrogant. After all, his experience as an A-class player counted for little in talks about the
pinnacle
of anything. However, in the domain of the sword, Kwae Myeong-Su had his pride as a sword demon. He trusted his gut.
I don’t care about anything else—
Whether Jae-Hyeok passed or failed today, Kwae Myeong-Su couldn’t care less. It wasn’t as if they were brothers. So what if Jae-Hyeok lost? So what if he became the laughingstock of the nation? But even so...
—
He has to live.
Even if Jae-Hyeok had to bow and scrape for his life, even if the whole nation criticised him, it would be worth it. He only hoped that Jae-Hyeok could survive, explore the peak of swordsmanship on behalf of all swordmen, and grant him a glimpse of that misty mountaintop.
Buzz buzz.
Several doors swung open then, and a finely dressed crowd began to file in. Every one of them was someone of influence. And as it happened, every one of them was favorable to the Association—they were sure to laugh, slander, and jeer at Jae-Hyeok throughout the judging.
The president brought in Kim Byeok-Jae as an examiner, and he’s made arrangements to cause external pressure as well. At this rate, Kang Jae-Hyeok doesn’t stand a chance...
In the end, Kwae Myeong-Su made a decision.
I’ll have to stop the exam before it can start. But how? Should I call Kang Jae-Hyeok and warn him not to come? No, that’ll never work...
I’ll have to use force.
Kwae Myeong-Su knew best that he had little chance of winning against Jae-Hyeok. But unlike before, when he’d been somewhat careless, now he fully understood Jae-Hyeok’s skills. If he acted wholeheartedly from the start, he could at least hurt Jae-Hyeok or drag out the time to make him miss the exam deadline.
Crossing the Association and disrupting a national event was no small matter. It wouldn’t stop with his being fired from the Association; most likely, he would be expelled from South Korea. Even so, Kwae Myeong-Su wouldn’t regret it.
The cost is high. But preserving his talent is worth it.
Pushing through the crowd of VIP guests, Kwae Myeong-Su reached the nearest emergency exit.
—Kwae Myeong-Su,
I don’t see you at your post. What’s going on?
The voice of the senior from the Enforcement Department crackled over the radio, but Kwae Myeong-Su ignored it.
Suddenly, a cold voice reached Kwae Myeong-Su’s ears.
“There’s something suspicious about you.”
Kwae Myeong-Su instinctively shivered and spun around—only for his face to pale.
Kim Byeok-Jae!
“Just what are you scheming, you little rat?”
Kim Byeok-Jae had cold eyes and an eerie smile that peeked from a curtain of dreadlocks. It was hard to tell if he was in good spirits or prepared to skin him alive—perhaps both.
“Did you really think you could leak killing intent in my presence and I wouldn’t notice?”
Kim Byeok-Jae’s mana condensed into an invisible blade that pressed against Kwae Myeong-Su’s throat—and Kwae Myeong-Su knew then that death loomed a breath away.
This guy is even more monstrous than the rumors.
Jae-Hyeok’s skills were indeed dazzling, but compared to Kim Byeok-Jae, one of South Korea’s most talented players, Jae-Hyeok’s life was like a candle in the wind.
There is no way I can win, but if I don’t try, then the sword legacy of Kang Jae-Hyeok will disappear before even being born
Kwae Myeong-Su cycled his mana and solemnly drew his sword. With a shout, he charged at Kim Byeok-Jae.
“Pathetic bastard.”
“Keuk!”
Kim Byeok-Jae caught Kwae Myeong-Su’s sword hand by the wrist and crushed it.
“I don’t want to ruin the entertainment, so I’ll kill you neatly. Not a soul will notice.”
“
Groan
... ”
Kwae Myeong-Su trembled, and blood started foaming from his mouth. Kim Byeok-Jae’s energy—some eerie amalgamation of mana and killing intent—was seeping through his broken wrist like a poison and wreaking havoc in his body.
It’s futile...
Wasn’t he an A-class elite? Hadn’t he refined his sword skills across decades of training? How could he die without even being able to scream?
Kim Byeok-Jae leaned in. “
Tsk, tsk
. How pathetic. What makes you any different from a bug?”
The fine veins in Kwae Myeong-Su’s eyes burst like fireworks. The power he’d dedicated his life to achieve was now being trampled and spat on as nothing by Kim Byeok-Jae’s mocking whispers.
Kwae Myeong-Su felt his determination crumbling. But what could he do? In the face of true strength, the weak could only blame themselves.
Kwae Myeong-Su’s consciousness began to darken.
Someone spoke up.
“His life is worth a thousand of yours.”
The voice was deep, yet tinged with a youthful clarity.
The voice resonated like thunder in Kwae Myeong-Su’s mind and heart. He recognized that voice. Before he could think further, he felt a hand on his shoulder.
Mana flowed into him, cool and soothing.
The foreign energy ripping through Kwae Myeong-Su’s blood vessels and mana circuits, heading for his heart, quickly disappeared without a trace.
“Crazy... Do you know what you just did?”